HONGKONG.
ANNUAL GENERAL REPORT FOR 1923.
PREFACE.
The Colony of Hongkong is situated off the south-eastern coast of China between latitude 22° 9' and 22° 17' N. and longitude 114° 5' and 114° 18' E. The island is about 11 miles long and 2 to 5 miles in breadth, its circumference being about 27 miles and its area 28 square miles. It consists of an irregular ridge of lofty hills rising to a height of nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, stretching nearly east and west, with few valleys of any extent and little ground available for cultivation.
The island, then desolate and sparsely inhabited by fishermen, was ceded to Great Britain in January, 1841; the cession being confirmed by the Treaty of Nankin in August, 1842; and the charter bears the date 5th April, 1843. All that part of Kowloon peninsula lying South of Kowloon Fort to the northernmost point of Stonecutter's Island together with that island was ceded to Great Britain under the Convention signed at Peking in October, 1860, and under the Convention signed at Peking in June, 1898, the area known as the New Territories including Mirs Bay and Deep Bay was leased to Great Britain by the Government of China for 99 years.
The area of the New Territories and Islands is about 345 sq. miles.
Trade gradually developed as China became accustomed to foreign intercourse and it increased greatly owing to the opening of the Suez Canal. It now stands at about 200 million pounds sterling per annum.
Large local banking, dock, steamboat, and insurance companies were established between 1865 and 1872, and their numbers are being continually added to.
The Colony is the centre of an incessant flow of Chinese emigration and immigration.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
Throughout the year the demand for land for building purposes continued and very high prices were realised at the auction sales. The result of this demand was that a sum of nearly three and a half million dollars was received in premia on new leases of Crown Land. Land in the Kowloon Peninsula increased in value to an extraordinary degree, many lots changing hands several times, the ultimate price being in some cases three or four times the price of a year before.
HONGKONG.
ANNUAL GENERAL REPORT FOR 1923.
PREFACE.
The Colony of Hongkong is situated off the south-eastern coast. of China between latitude 22° 9' and 22° 17' N. and longitude 114° 5' and 114° 18′ E. The island is about 11 miles long and 2 to 5 miles in breadth, its circumference being about 27 miles and its area 28 square miles. It consists of an irregular ridge of lofty hills rising to a height of nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, stretch- ing nearly east and west, with few valleys of any extent and little ground available for cultivation.
The island, then desolate and sparsely inhabited by fishermen, was ceded to Great Britain in January, 1841; the cession being confirmed by the Treaty of Nankin in August, 1842; and the charter bears the date 5th April, 1843. All that part of Kowloon peninsula lying South of Kowloon Fort to the northernmost point of Stonecutter's Island together with that island was ceded to Great Britain under the Convention signed at Peking in October, 1860, and under the Convention signed at Peking in June, 1898, the area known, as the New Territories including Mirs Bay and Deep Bay was leased to Great Britain by the Government of China for 99 years.
The area of the New Territories and Islands is
about 345 sq. miles.
Trade gradually developed as China became accustomed to foreign intercourse and it increased greatly owing to the opening of the Suez Canal. It now stands at about 200 million pounds sterling per annum.
Large local banking, dock, steamboat, and insurance companies were established between 1865 and 1872, and their numbers are being continually added to.
The Colony is the centre of an incessant flow of Chinese emigration and immigration.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
Throughout the year the demand for land for building pur- poses continued and very high prices were realised at the auction sales. The result of this demand was that a sum of nearly three and a half million dollars was received in premia on new leases of Crown Land. Land in the Kowloon Peninsula increased in value. to an extraordinary degree many lots changing hands several times, the ultimate price being in some cases three or four times the price of a year before.
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