1841-1886
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 303
(No. 30.)
HONG KONG.
No. 39.
Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor BONHAM to Earl GREY.
Victoria, Hong Kong, April 26, 1851.
(Received July 21, 1851.)
147
HONG KONG.
No. 39.
MY LORD,
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Lordship the Blue Book of Hong Kong for the year 1850.
Revenue and Expenditure.
2. The total revenue of the colony has amounted to 23,526l. 16s. 4d., or 90l. 6s. 10½d. less than in 1849, and the expenditure to 34,314l. 12s. 3d., or 4,671l. 9s. 3¼d. less than in the preceding year. This decrease is owing to reductions in the establishments, to the small number of public works undertaken during the year, and to arrears of salaries due to officers on leave, which latter amounts to 538l. 6s. 8d.
3. The difference between the local receipts and disbursements, amounting to 10,786l. 15s. 10½d. will be met by the Parliamentary vote for the year 1850-51. I may here remark, that although this vote was for 20,000l., the surplus of 9,213l. 4s. 1d. which remains will be reserved for the construction of the proposed Government house, which has been estimated at 14,940l. 7s. 7d., and has already received your Lordship's sanction, for the payment of certain stores, amounting to 1,319l. 0s. 11d. sent out from England for the Government offices, of which no account has yet reached me, as well as for that of sundry public works in progress. The arrears alluded to in the preceding paragraph will also have to be paid from this source.
Military Expenditure.
4. The military expenditure of 1849 and 1850, is respectively 75,943l. and 64,628l., the decrease being caused principally by a reduction of the troops serving here.
Public Works.
5. There have been no public works of any magnitude undertaken during the past year by the department of the Surveyor-General. The erection of a Government house has not been commenced, as is known to your Lordship by my Despatch No. 97 of the 25th October last. The Surveyor-General's Reports, herewith attached, enter so fully into all the details of his department, that it is quite unnecessary for me to offer any remark, beyond noticing that the cost incurred by Government on account of the prisoners incarcerated in Victoria gaol during the last year amounted to 634l. 16s. 5d., against which may be set 403l. 12s. 1d., the estimated value of their labour during the same period.
Legislation.
6. The five Ordinances passed during the year have been severally reported on in separate Despatches; and I have therefore no further observations to make with regard to them. Her Majesty's confirmation of the three first, as signified to me by your Lordship, has been notified to the inhabitants of the colony.
Councils.
7. An alteration has taken place in the Legislative Council during the year 1850. That body had hitherto consisted solely of members holding office under Government, but, on my recommendation, two unofficial members were added to the Board by appointment under the Queen's warrant. The selection of these members, of course subject to Her Majesty's approval, was left in the
No. 1.
No. 2.
1841-1886
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 303
(No. 30.)
HONG KONG.
No. 39.
Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor BONHAM to Earl GREY.
Victoria, Hong Kong, April 26, 1851.
(Received July 21, 1851.)
147
HONG KONG.
No. 39.
MY LORD,
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Lordship the Blue Book of Hong Kong for the year 1850.
Revenue and Expenditure.
2. The total revenue of the colony has amounted to 23,5261. 16s. 41d., or 90%. 6s. 1012. less than in 1849, and the expenditure to 34,3141. 12s. 3d., or 4,6711. 9s. 34d. less than in the preceding year. This decrease is owing to reductions in the establishments, to the small number of public works under- taken during the year, and to arrears of salaries due to officers on leave, which latter amounts to 5381. 6s. 8d.
3. The difference between the local receipts and disbursements, amounting to 10,786. 15s. 101d. will be met by the Parliamentary vote for the year 1850-51. I may here remark, that although this vote was for 20,000%, the surplus of 9,2137. 4s. 1d. which remains will be reserved for the construction of the proposed Government house, which has been estimated at 14,940l. 7s. 7d., and has already received your Lordship's sanction, for the payment of certain stores, amounting to 1,319. Os. 11d. sent out from England for the Govern- ment offices, of which no account has yet reached me, as well as for that of sundry public works in progress. The arrears alluded to in the preceding paragraph will also have to be paid from this source.
Military Expenditure.
4. The military expenditure of 1849 and 1850, is respectively 75,9431. and 64,6281, the decrease being caused principally by a reduction of the troops serving here.
Public Works.
5. There have been no public works of any magnitude undertaken during the past year by the department of the Surveyor-General. The erection of a Government house has not been commenced, as is known to your Lordship by my Despatch No. 97 of the 25th October last. The Surveyor-General's Reports, herewith attached, enter so fully into all the details of his department, that it is quite unnecessary for me to offer any remark, beyond noticing that the cost incurred by Government on account of the prisoners incarcerated in Victoria gaol during the last year amounted to 6341. 16s. 5d., against which may be set 4037, 12s. Id., the estimated value of their labour during the same period.
Legislation.
6. The five Ordinances passed during the year have been severally reported on in separate Despatches; and I have therefore no further observations to make with regard to them. Her Majesty's confirmation of the three first, as signified to me by your Lordship, has been notified to the inhabitants of the colony.
Councils.
7. An alteration has taken place in the Legislative Council during the year 1850. That body had hitherto consisted solely of members holding office under Government, but, on my recommendation, two unofficial members were added to the Board by appointment under the Queen's warrant. The selection of these members, of course subject to Her Majesty's approval, was left in the
No. 1.
No. 2.
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