HONGKONG.
ANNUAL GENERAL REPORT FOR 1919.
PREFACE.
Hongkong is situated off the south-eastern coast of China between 22° 9' and 22° 17′ N. latitude and 114° 5' and 114° 18′ E. longitude. The island is an irregular ridge, stretching nearly east and west; its peaks rising to the height of nearly 2,000 feet above the sea level. Its length is about 11 miles, its breadth from 2 to 5 miles, its area about 32 square miles.
In 1898 an extension of Hongkong territory was agreed to by an area adjacent to British Kowloon, including Mirs Bay and Deep Bay, being leased for 99 years.
The Colony, then a desolate island, sparsely inhabited by fishermen, was ceded to Great Britain in January, 1841; the cession was confirmed by the Treaty of Nankin in August 1842; and the charter bears date 5th April, 1843.
Trade increased with the opening up of China to foreign trade. Large local banking, dock, steamboat, and insurance companies were established between 1865 and 1872, and the trade was greatly increased by the opening of the Suez Canal.
The city is the depôt for an incessant flow of Chinese emigration and immigration; excluding China ports.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
During the year, consequent on the cessation of the great war, the trade of the Colony began to recover, though the continued shortage of shipping and the high rate of freights prevented any hope of a return to normal conditions for some time.
The differences between North and South China, which caused continued fighting between the various factions in the adjacent provinces, had a very serious effect on the trade of the Colony, and an influx of bad characters to the City of Victoria was inevitable. The measures taken by the Police, however, checked to a large extent the crimes of violence which had been so prevalent in the previous year,
HONGKONG.
ANNUAL GENERAL REPORT FOR 1919.
PREFACE.
Hongkong is situated off the south-eastern coast of China be- tween 22° 9' and 22° 17′ N. latitude and 114° 5' and 114° 18′ E. longitude. The island is an irregular ridge, stretching nearly east and west; its peaks rising to the height of nearly 2,000 feet above the sea level. Its length is about 11 miles, its breadth from 2 to 5 miles, its area about 32 square miles.
In 1898 an extension of Hongkong territory was agreed to by an area adjacent to British Kowloon, including Mirs Bay and Deep Bay, being leased for 99 years.
The Colony, then a desolate island, sparsely inhabited by fishermen, was ceded to Great Britain in January, 1841; the cession was confirmed by the Treaty of Nankin in August 1842; and the charter bears date 5th April, 1813. The additions subsequently obtained on the mainland have been noted above.
Trade increased with the opening up of China to foreigu trade. Large local banking, dock, steamboat, and insurance companies were established between 1865 and 1872, and the trade was greatly in- creased by the opening of the Suez Canal.
The city is the depôt for an incessant flow of Chinese emigration and immigration; excluding China ports.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
During the year, consequent on the cessation of the great war, the trade of the Colony began to recover, though the continued shortage of shipping and the high rate of freights prevented any hope of a return to normal conditions for some time.
The differences between North and South China, which caused continued fighting between the various factions in the adjacent provinces, had a very serious effect on the trade of the Colony, and an influx of bad characters to the City of Victoria was inevitable. The measures taken by the Police, however, checked to a large extent the crimes of violence which had been so prevalent in the previous year,
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