1841-1886
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
267
151
SIR,
Enclosure in No. 21.
REPORT OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARY ON THE BLUE BOOK for 1859.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hong Kong,
May 26, 1860.
In placing before your Excellency the Blue Book of Hong Kong for the year 1859, I think it necessary to explain that the chief delay in its completion has been caused by the disorganization of the Harbour Master's department, to which I shall make subsequent and more detailed reference.
2. The shipping returns only reached me on the 12th ultimo, since which date I have been so fully occupied, that it has been only at uncertain intervals that I have found time to make the customary review of the affairs of the colony during the past year.
3. In 1858 the revenue amounted to £63,721. 8s. 5½d., while in 1859 it reached £65,225. 2s. 2¼d.; the increase or decrease in the several items is generally incidental, and in no case large, and the main increase may be attributed to the fees under Ordinance, No. 12, of 1857, which had not in 1858 been accounted for, an omission which as it originated in my absence in England I am unable to explain.
4. The expenditure which in 1858 was £63,582. 4s. 10½d. was £66,109. 3s. 9¼d. in 1859. This is shown chiefly in the purchase of a building for a civil hospital, and the temporary addition to the police force during the last summer.
5. A considerable augmentation of the population is shown, to the extent of 11,433, being the difference between 75,503 last year and 86,941 in 1859. On this head I must repeat what I said in my last report, and express my opinion that the population of Hong Kong is still considerably under estimated, though I admit the difficulty of arriving at a correct calculation.
6. The European houses show an increase of 8, or 724 against 716, and the extravagance of house rent, which is still rising, will lead of necessity to further building of this kind, so far as our now limited space will permit.
7. The Chinese houses are increased by 261; and here I think it right to explain, lest the increase of the houses should not seem in ratio to that of the population, that a large portion of the population is housed on boats in the harbours.
8. But the fact is that our population has outgrown our means of accommodation, and the only remedy is the occupation of Kowloong on the opposite side of the harbour, where level ground and convenient water frontage will draw off the superabundance of people, invite settlers, and improve trade.
9. The steps taken in this matter are well known to your Excellency, and were reported up to date in Colonel Caine's Despatch to the Colonial Office, No. 109, of 17th June last year. Since that date the state of our political relations with China has rendered it impossible to complete the transfer of the land, but with the sanction of his Excellency Mr. Bruce, Mr. Parkes has procured a lease of it from the Kwangtung Government, and Her Majesty's military forces are now encamped upon it.
10. These proceedings will be found reported in your Excellency's Despatch, No. 33, of 26th ultimo, and it is earnestly to be hoped that on the final settlement of our affairs in China the otherwise worthless Kowloong peninsula will be ceded to us, and incorporated with the colony of Hong Kong. Should this negotiation be overlooked, anarchy and confusion will, on the retirement of our troops, resume possession of the ground, public justice will be daily thwarted, and the Government of Hong Kong placed in a constant state of embarrassment.
11. There is not much to be inferred from the returns of square-rigged vessels entering the port, as these show an increase in number but a decrease in tonnage; the fair conclusion being that the coasting trade has improved; but in a free port there is no documentary proof of this.
12. The Chinese or native trading craft show an increase of 337 in number over the previous year, while the native boat-building trade has risen some six or seven fold over 1858, and the number of fishing boats frequenting the bays and harbours of Hong Kong is estimated at 2,500, against 2,000 of the previous year.
13. As for public works, the civil hospital has been purchased and refitted, the gaol extension has been commenced, as has been the reconstruction of the magistracy. New roads have been opened for the purpose of giving access to such building sites as seem eligible, the drainage of the city has been furthered, and the road to Aberdeen has been widened so as to render it passable for carriages.
14. In addition to this a large amount of minor services will be noticed.
15. The Aberdeen road just mentioned leads to the important granite dock, a work of private enterprise, situated six miles from Victoria, and destined, when opened, as it shortly will be, to enhance the value of Hong Kong as a shipping and commercial station.
16. This structure is singularly solid and well executed, and I believe not to be equalled in the east. Mr. Lamont, long resident at East Point as a shipwright, is the owner, designer, and builder.
17. In the last Blue Book Report reference was made to a system of waterworks that was much desired. The necessity for this was seriously proved during the past year, the first half of which was remarkable for a continued drought; and it was not till 15th June, after eight months of dry weather, that the rains began to fall. There was much inconvenience and even suffering in consequence.
18. The waterworks, however, have not been lost sight of, and a practicable plan has been advertised for and accepted; but as the matter belongs more immediately to the present year than to the late, it is only necessary to note that this important work is in satisfactory progress.
1841-1886
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
267
151
SIR,
Enclosure in No. 21.
REPORT OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARY ON THE BLUE Boox for 1859.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hong Kong,
May 26, 1860.
In placing before your Excellency the Blue Book of Hong Kong for the year 1859, I think it necessary to explain that the chief delay in its completion has been caused by the disorganization of the Harbour Master's department, to which I shall make subsequent and more detailed reference.
2. The shipping returns only reached me on the 12th ultimo, since which date I have been so fully occupied, that it has been only at uncertain intervals that I have found time to make the customary review of the affairs of the colony during the past year.
3. In 1858 the revenue amounted to 63,7217, 8%. 51d, while in 1859 it reached 65,2251. 2s. 24d. ; the increase or decrease in the several items is generally incidental, and in no case large, and the main increase may be attributed to the fees under Ordinance, No. 12, of 1857, which had not in 1958 been accounted for, an omission which as it originated in my absence in England I am unable to explain.
HONG KO
Eni, in No.
Revenu
4. The expenditure which in 1858 was 63,5821. 4s. 101d. was 66,1091. 3s. 94d in 1859. This is Expenditu shown chiefly in the purchase of a building for a civil hospital, and the temporary addition to the police force during the last summer.
5. A considerable augmentation of the population is shown, to the extent of 11,433, being the Populati difference between 75,503 last year and 86,941 in 1859. On this head I must repeat what I said in my last report, and express my opinion that the population of Hong Kong is still considerably under estimated, though I admit the difficulty of arriving at a correct calculation.
6. The European houses show an increase of 8, or 724 against 716, and the extravagance of house rent, which is still rising, will lead of necessity to further building of this kind, so far as our now limited space will permit.
7. The Chinese houses are increased by 261; and here I think it right to explain, lest the increase of the houses should not seem in ratio to that of the population, that a large portion of the population is housed on boats in the harbours.
8. But the fact is that our population has outgrown our means of accommodation, and the only remedy is the occupation of Kowloong on the opposite side of the harbour, where level ground and convenient water frontage will draw off the superabundance of people, invite settlers, and improve trade.
9. The steps taken in this matter are well known to your Excellency, and were reported up to date in Colonel Caine's Despatch to the Colonial Office, No. 109, of 17th June last year. Since that date the state of our political relations with China has rendered it impossible to complete the transfer of the land, but with the sanction of his Excellency Mr. Bruce, Mr. Parkes has procured a lease of it from the Kwangtung Government, and Her Majesty's military forces are now encamped upon it.
10. These proceedings will be found reported in your Excellency's Despatch, No. 33, of 26th ultimo, and it is earnestly to be hoped that on the final settlement of our affairs in China the otherwise worthless Kowloong peninsula will be ceded to us, and incorporated with the colony of Hong Kong. Should this negotiation be overlooked, anarchy and confusion will, on the retirement of our troops, resume possession of the ground, public justice will be daily thwarted, and the Government of Hong Kong placed in a constant state of embarrassment.
Kowloon
Vessels.
11. There is not much to be inferred from the returns of square-rigged vessels entering the port, Square-rig as these show an increase in number but a decrease in tonnage; the fair conclusion being that the coasting trade has improved; but in a free port there is no documentary proof of this.
12. The Chinese or native trading craft show an increase of 337 in number over the previous year, while the native boat-building trade has risen some six or seven fold over 1858, and the number of fishing boats frequenting the bays and harbours of Hong Kong is estimated at 2,500, against 2,000 of the previous year.
Native Cr Boat-build
Trade.
Fishing B
13. As for public works, the civil hospital has been purchased and refitted, the gaol extension has Public We been commenced, as has been the reconstruction of the magistracy. New roads have been opened for the purpose of giving access to such building sites as seem eligible, the drainage of the city has been furthered, and the road to Aberdeen has been widened so as to render it passable for carriages.
14. In addition to this a large amount of minor services will be noticed.
15. The Aberdeen road just mentioned leads to the important granite dock, a work of private enterprise, situated six miles from Victoria, and destined, when opened, as it shortly will be, to enhance the value of Hong Kong as a shipping and commercial station.
Aberde Dock.
16. This structure is singularly solid and well executed, and I believe not to be equalled in the east. Mr. Lamont, long resident at East Point as a shipwright, is the owner, designer, and builder.
17. In the last Blue Book Report reference was made to a system of waterworks that was much Waterwol desired. The necessity for this was seriously proved during the past year, the first half of which was remarkable for a continued drought; and it was not till 15th June, after eight months of dry weather, that the rains began to fall. There was much inconvenience and even suffering in consequence.
18. The waterworks, however, have not been lost sight of, and a practicable plan has been advertised for and accepted; but as the matter belongs more immediately to the present year than to the late, it is only necessary to note that this important work is in satisfactory progress.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.