HKG-CAR1844-1886 — Page 249

Administrative Reports 行政報告書 All AI Reviewed

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT

22. The police is notoriously inefficient for the purpose of prevention of offences and nuisances, but seems to answer its end as regards the protection of property by night. The whole system is under revision.

23. On the currency your Excellency has already addressed the Secretary of State.

24. Sir John Davis, in noticing the Blue Book for 1845, attached some importance to the establishment of foreign consulates here, and it will be seen that all the commercial countries of importance are now represented by consuls or other consular officers at this port.

25. I have already remarked on the absence of a custom house, and on the consequent impossibility of furnishing accurate returns of imports and exports, but the Harbour Master's tables will give valuable information on this head. It must not, however, be supposed that either the imports are consumed in the colony or the exports its production.

26. From the very nature of the island of Hong Kong little is to be said of its agriculture, and as little of its manufactures in the serious sense of the word. The fisheries are more noticeable, upwards of 1,100 boats belonging to the colony being engaged therein, and the outlying villages, such as Stanley and Aberdeen, being largely employed in drying and curing the produce.

27. Crime of the more serious kind is rare in comparison with the population, but larcenies and petty offences occupy much time before the magistrates' court.

28. Piracy, the chief hindrance to the prosperity of the colony, has been repeatedly reported on to the Home Government, and it is to be earnestly hoped that some effective decision may be speedily arrived at.

29. The gaol is fortunately situated in a very healthy part of the town, but as the inhabitants of Victoria have increased so have the smaller classes of crimes, and consequently the prisoners in confinement. It will be absolutely necessary, and that without delay, to extend the gaol buildings, and provide further accommodation on the ground reserved southward of the present premises. The lengthened illness and subsequent death of the gaoler has caused some little confusion in this department, but improvement is now apparent...

30. From the shipping report another and very fair proof of the favourable position of the colony may be gathered. Whereas in 1854 the number of vessels anchored in the harbour was 1,100 with a tonnage of 443,554, in 1855 the returns show 1,736 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 604,580. This gives a large increase of tonnage, and a comparatively large increase of ships, from which results, if statistics, or I should say if these statistics, are to be relied on, I would draw this inference, that the average of a ship being, in 1854, 55 tons over the average ship in 1855, the increase has been in the smaller vessels, that is, in those employed in the coasting trade, which trade is the life and strength of the colony.

31. On the subject of education, with special reference to the present and future provision of interpreters, your Excellency some time back appointed a commission of inquiry. This being a question so purely of personal and individual opinion has considerably embarrassed the commission in forming a conclusion, but I trust that a report may be shortly presented. In the meantime I may not be out of place in noting that negotiations are on foot for regaining the valuable assistance of Mr. Caldwell, whose secession from the service was attributable to no act of the Colonial Government.

32. In the month of November the Government, after full and mature reflection, published its project of a praya on the sea front of the city, and I remark this as one of the important events of the past year, and the introduction of a great future improvement and much benefit in many ways to the colony.

33. Another useful project was a new carriage road to Stanley, but this has been abandoned for the time, as the estimated outlay exceeded £6,000, a sum too large to be borne by the colony, now deprived, as it is this year for the first time, of all assistance by parliamentary grant.

34. There is one all-important subject for which I may observe no provision seems to be made in the headings officially furnished for the compilation of the Blue Book, but which cannot be, and I think never has been, passed over in this document. I refer to the subject of health, which is introduced in the annual report of the colonial surgeon.

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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941 REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT 22. The police is notoriously inefficient for the purpose of prevention of offences and nuisances, but seems to answer its end as regards the protection of property by night. The whole system is under revision. 23. On the currency your Excellency has already addressed the Secretary of State. 24. Sir John Davis, in noticing the Blue Book for 1845, attached some importance to the establishment of foreign consulates here, and it will be seen that all the commercial countries of importance are now represented by consuls or other consular officers at this port. 25. I have already remarked on the absence of a custom house, and on the consequent impossibility of furnishing accurate returns of imports and exports, but the Harbour Master's tables will give valuable information on this head. It must not, however, be supposed that either the imports are consumed in the colony or the exports its production. 26. From the very nature of the island of Hong Kong little is to be said of its agriculture, and as little of its manufactures in the serious sense of the word. The fisheries are more noticeable, upwards of 1,100 boats belonging to the colony being engaged therein, and the outlying villages, such as Stanley and Aberdeen, being largely employed in drying and curing the produce. 27. Crime of the more serious kind is rare in comparison with the population, but larcenies and petty offences occupy much time before the magistrates' court. 28. Piracy, the chief hindrance to the prosperity of the colony, has been repeatedly reported on to the Home Government, and it is to be earnestly hoped that some effective decision may be speedily arrived at. 29. The gaol is fortunately situated in a very healthy part of the town, but as the inhabitants of Victoria have increased so have the smaller classes of crimes, and consequently the prisoners in confinement. It will be absolutely necessary, and that without delay, to extend the gaol buildings, and provide further accommodation on the ground reserved southward of the present premises. The lengthened illness and subsequent death of the gaoler has caused some little confusion in this department, but improvement is now apparent... 30. From the shipping report another and very fair proof of the favourable position of the colony may be gathered. Whereas in 1854 the number of vessels anchored in the harbour was 1,100 with a tonnage of 443,554, in 1855 the returns show 1,736 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 604,580. This gives a large increase of tonnage, and a comparatively large increase of ships, from which results, if statistics, or I should say if these statistics, are to be relied on, I would draw this inference, that the average of a ship being, in 1854, 55 tons over the average ship in 1855, the increase has been in the smaller vessels, that is, in those employed in the coasting trade, which trade is the life and strength of the colony. 31. On the subject of education, with special reference to the present and future provision of interpreters, your Excellency some time back appointed a commission of inquiry. This being a question so purely of personal and individual opinion has considerably embarrassed the commission in forming a conclusion, but I trust that a report may be shortly presented. In the meantime I may not be out of place in noting that negotiations are on foot for regaining the valuable assistance of Mr. Caldwell, whose secession from the service was attributable to no act of the Colonial Government. 32. In the month of November the Government, after full and mature reflection, published its project of a praya on the sea front of the city, and I remark this as one of the important events of the past year, and the introduction of a great future improvement and much benefit in many ways to the colony. 33. Another useful project was a new carriage road to Stanley, but this has been abandoned for the time, as the estimated outlay exceeded £6,000, a sum too large to be borne by the colony, now deprived, as it is this year for the first time, of all assistance by parliamentary grant. 34. There is one all-important subject for which I may observe no provision seems to be made in the headings officially furnished for the compilation of the Blue Book, but which cannot be, and I think never has been, passed over in this document. I refer to the subject of health, which is introduced in the annual report of the colonial surgeon.

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230 368 Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941 REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT * 22. The police is notoriously inefficient for the purpose of prevention of offences and nuisances, but seems to answer its end as regards the protection of property by night. The whole system is under revision. 23. On the currency your Excellency has already addressed the Secretary of State. 24. Sir John Davis, in noticing the Blue Book for 1845, attached some importance to the establishment of foreign consulates here, and it will be seen that all the commercial countries of importance are now represented by consuls or other consular officers at this port. 25. I have already remarked on the absence of a custom house, and on the consequent impossibility of furnishing accurate returns of imports and exports, but the Harbour Master's tables will give valuable information on this head. It must not, however, be supposed that either the imports are consumed in the colony or the exports its production. 26. From the very nature of the island of Hong Kong little is to be said of its agriculture, and as little of its manufactures in the serious sense of the word. The fisheries are more noticeable, upwards of 1,100 boats belonging to the colony being engaged therein, and the outlying villages, such as Stauley and Aberdeen, being largely employed in drying and curing the produce. 27. Crime of the more serious kind is rare in comparison with the population, but larcenies and petty offences occupy much time before the magistrates court. 28. Piracy, the chief hindrance to the prosperity of the colony, has been repeatedly reported on to the Home Government, and it is to be earnestly hoped that some effective decision may be speedily arrived at. 29. The gaol is fortunately situated in a very healthy part of the town, but as the inhabitants of Victoria have increased so have the smaller classes of crimes, and consequently the prisoners in confinement. It will be absolutely necessary, and that without delay,' to extend the gaol buildings, and provide further accommodation on the ground reserved southward of the present premises. The lengthened illness and subsequent death of the gaoler has caused some little confusion in this department, but improvement is now apparent... . 攀 7 30. From the shipping report another and very fair proof of the favourable position of the colony may be gathered. Whereas in 1854 the number of vessels anchored in the harbour was 1,100 with a tonnage of 443,554, in 1855 the returns show 1,736 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 604,580. This gives a large increase of tonnage, and a comparatively large increase of ships, from which results, if statistics, or I should say if these statistics, are to be relied on, I would draw this inference, that the average of a ship being, in 1854, 55 tons over the average: ship in 1855, the increase has been in the smaller vessels, that is, in those employed in the coasting trade, which trade is the life and strength of the colony." 31. On the subject of education, with special reference to the present and future provision of interpreters, your Excellency some time back appointed a commission of inquiry. This being This being a question so purely of personal and individual opinion has considerably embarrassed the commission in forming a conclusion, but I trust that a report may be shortly presented. In the mean- time I may not be out of place in noting that negotiations are on foot for regaining the valuable assistance of Mr. Caldwell, whose secession from the service was attributable to no act of the Colonial Government. 32. In the month of November the Government, after full and mature reflection, published its project of a praya on the sea front of the city, and I remark this as one of the important events of the past year, and the introduction of a great future improvement and much benefit in many ways to the colony. S8. Another useful project was a new carriage road to Stanley, but this has been abandoned for the time, as the estimated outlay exceeded 6,000%, a sum too large to be borne by the colony, now deprived, as it is this year for the first time, of all assistance by parliamentary grant. S4. There is one all important subject for which I may observe no provision seems to be made in the headings officially furnished for the compilation of the Blue Book, but which cannot be, and I think never has been, passed over in this document. I refer to the subject of health, which is introduced in the annual report of the colonial surgeon.

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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT

23. On the currency your Excellency has already addressed the Secretary of State.

26. From the very nature of the island of Hong Kong little is to be said of its agriculture, and as little of its manufactures in the serious sense of the word. The fisheries are more noticeable, upwards of 1,100 boats belonging to the colony being engaged therein, and the outlying villages, such as Stauley and Aberdeen, being largely employed in drying and curing the produce.

27. Crime of the more serious kind is rare in comparison with the population, but larcenies and petty offences occupy much time before the magistrates

court.

29. The gaol is fortunately situated in a very healthy part of the town, but as the inhabitants of Victoria have increased so have the smaller classes of crimes, and consequently the prisoners in confinement. It will be absolutely necessary, and that without delay,' to extend the gaol buildings, and provide further accommodation on the ground reserved southward of the present premises. The lengthened illness and subsequent death of the gaoler has caused some little confusion in this department, but improvement is now apparent...

攀

30. From the shipping report another and very fair proof of the favourable position of the colony may be gathered. Whereas in 1854 the number of vessels anchored in the harbour was 1,100 with a tonnage of 443,554, in 1855 the returns show 1,736 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 604,580. This gives a large increase of tonnage, and a comparatively large increase of ships, from which results, if statistics, or I should say if these statistics, are to be relied on, I would draw this inference, that the average of a ship being, in 1854, 55 tons over the average: ship in 1855, the increase has been in the smaller vessels, that is, in those employed in the coasting trade, which trade is the life and strength of the colony."

31. On the subject of education, with special reference to the present and future provision of interpreters, your Excellency some time back appointed a commission of inquiry. This being

This being a question so purely of personal and individual opinion has considerably embarrassed the commission in forming a conclusion, but I trust that a report may be shortly presented. In the mean- time I may not be out of place in noting that negotiations are on foot for regaining the valuable assistance of Mr. Caldwell, whose secession from the service was attributable to no act of the Colonial Government.

S8. Another useful project was a new carriage road to Stanley, but this has been abandoned for the time, as the estimated outlay exceeded 6,000%, a sum too large to be borne by the colony, now deprived, as it is this year for the first time, of all assistance by parliamentary grant.

S4. There is one all important subject for which I may observe no provision seems to be made in the headings officially furnished for the compilation of the Blue Book, but which cannot be, and I think never has been, passed over in this document. I refer to the subject of health, which is introduced in the annual report of the colonial surgeon.

HKG-CAR1844-1886 — Page 249

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