268
HONG KONG.
152
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
19. The land sales have not been numerous during the year, and require no special mention. Not much ground now remains available and of any value; and as I have already said, the Kowloong land is greatly wanted, not only for convenience, but it may be also said actually on the score of the health of the inhabitants of Victoria.
20. I now come to the state of the public departments, which one and all are very far from being efficiently conducted; and it is to be desired that Her Majesty's Government take into serious consideration the means of supplying a proper civil service to this colony, and thus giving the Governor that assistance without which the administration of the government can only be carried on under difficulty and discouragement.
Supreme Court
Treasury.
Audit Office.
Magistracy.
Harbour-master.
Legislation.
Education.
Crime.
Health.
Relations with neighbouring towns
21. The Supreme Court is worked by an acting judge, an acting attorney general, an acting deputy registrar, and an acting clerk of court, while the registrar has been compelled to undertake important duties in addition to his own.
22. The treasurer's department has been put in a better footing during the year, and the services of commissariat officers have been dispensed with. It should be noted that after three years' service the treasurer is forced to return home.
23. The audit office has been efficiently conducted, but the auditor general is compelled to leave the climate after two years' service.
24. At the magistracy the chief seat has been long vacant, and the holder of the second is absent on home leave. This, as will be seen from the returns, weakens the Supreme Court, and deprives the police force of its head.
25. The harbour-master's department has been the most unfortunate. The harbour-master is at home, and unlikely to recover his health so far as to resume his duties. The acting harbour-master who succeeded him died after a long illness. The naval officer who took his place, after a few weeks resigned for active service afloat, and the present acting harbour-master is only now restoring some order and regularity to a department which is one of the most important in the colonial government, but which has been long in a state of confusion, to which remedies have been applied in vain.
26. The legislative enactments during this year have been seven in number, of which none have been yet disallowed, and all confirmed, but the Appropriation Ordinance for 1860 and the Supplementary Estimates Ordinance for 1859. The legislation generally has not been of a nature to call for any special remark, beyond noticing the restoration of decorum in the conduct of the Legislative Council.
27. Under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Lobscheid Chinese education has made considerable advance, and the schools established throughout the island are increasing in number, and in good favour with the Chinese population.
28. There has been a slight increase over 1858 in the number of criminals, but not greater than may be accounted for by the increased population. I am unable to account for the large increase in the number of writs issued from police and petty sessions court, except by attributing it to police-rate defaulters.
30. The year has not been an unhealthy one, though several old residents have been forced to leave, and some have sunk before reaching home. There is a manifest improvement, year by year, in the sanitary condition of Hong Kong, and this will be shown yet more when Kowloong shall be finally and completely attached to the colony.
31. Our relations with the neighbouring towns and villages on the mainland of China have been undisturbed during the past twelve months, chiefly owing to our occupation of the provincial city of Canton, and the salutary lesson taught the people of the surrounding districts by the assault and capture of Manitao in August 1858. Our supplies come in plentifully and regularly; and indeed it has been matter for observation and surprise that provisions have been so abundantly furnished on the large demand recently made by the Expeditionary Force, French as well as English, assembled in our harbour.
32. The year 1859 has been one of transition, but of progress also; and to foretell the continuance of that progress is not a hazardous venture when we look to the evident and cheering improvement that has taken place in all the departments of Government since your Excellency's arrival in September last.
33. I admit myself one of the few who have never from first to last desponded as to the ultimate future of Hong Kong, and think confidently with Sir John Davis, who in the preface to the work published by him in 1852, wrote, "it may be predicted that a British colony with 25,000 [now 35,000] Chinese subjects in sight of the south coast of China is destined to play a part in the 'drama of the future.'"
His Excellency Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson,
&c.
&c.
&c.
I have, &c. (Signed)
T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
268
HONG KONG.
152
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
19. The land sales have not been numerous during the year, and require no special mention. Not much ground now remains available and of any value; and as I have already said, the Kowloong land Land Sales. is greatly wanted, not only for convenience, but it may be also said actually on the score of the health
Civil
of the inhabitants of Victoria.
20. I now come to the state of the public departments, which one and all are very far from being Departments. efficiently conducted; and it is to be desired that Her Majesty's Government take into serious consi- deration the means of supplying a proper civil service to this colony, and thus giving the Governor that assistance without which the administration of the government can only be carried on under difficulty and discouragement.
Supreme Court
Treasury.
Audit Office.
Magistracy.
Harbour- master.
Legislation.
Education.
Crime.
Health.
Relations with
21. The Supreme Court is worked by an acting judge, an acting attorney general, an acting deputy registrar, and an acting clerk of court, while the registrar has been compelled to undertake important duties in addition to his own.
22. The treasurer's department has been put in a better footing during the year, and the services of commissariat officers have been dispensed with. It should be noted that after three years' service the treasurer is forced to return home.
23.. The audit office has been efficiently conducted, but the auditor general is compelled to leave the climate after two years' service.
24. At the magistracy the chief seat has been long vacant, and the holder of the second is absent on home leave. This, as will be seen from the returns, weakens the Supreme Court, and deprives the police force of its head.
25. The harbour-master's department has been the most unfortunate. The harbour-master is at home, and unlikely to recover his health so far as to resume his duties. The acting harbour-master who succceded him died after a long illness. The naval officer who took his place, after a few weeks resigned for active service afloat, and the present acting harbour-master is only now restoring some order and regularity to a department which is one of the most important in the colonial govern- ment, but which has been long in a state of confusion, to which remedics have been applied in vain.
26. The legislative enactments during this year have been seven in number, of which none have been yet disallowed, and all confirmed, but the Appropriation Ordinance for 1860 and the Supple- mentary Estimates Ordinance for 1859. The legislation generally has not been of a nature to call for any special remark, beyond noticing the restoration of decorum in the conduct of the Legislative Council.
27. Under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Lobscheid Chinese education has made consi- derable advance, and the schools established throughout the island are increasing in number, and in good favour with the Chinese population.
28. There has been a slight increase over 1858 in the number of criminals, but not greater than may be accounted for by the increased population. I am unable to account for the large increase in the number of writs issued from police and petty sessions court, except by attributing it to police- rate defaulters.
**
**
30. The year has not been an unhealthy one, though several old residents have been forced to leave, and some have sunk before reaching home. There is a manifest improvement, year by year, in the sanitary condition of Hong Kong, and this will be shown yet more when Kowloong shall be finally and completely attached to the colony.
31. Our relations with the neighbouring towns and villages on the mainland of China have been undisturbed during the past twelve months, chiefly owing to our occupation of the provincial city of Canton, and the salutary lesson taught the people of the surrounding districts by the assault and capture of Manitao in August 1858. Our supplies come in plentifully and regularly; and indeed it has been matter for observation and surprise that provisions have been so abundantly furnished on the large demard recently made by the Expeditionary Force, French as well as English, assem bled in our harbour.
32. The year 1859 has been one of transition, but of progress also; and to foretell the continu- ance of that progress is not a hazarduous venture when we look to the evident and cheering improvement that has taken place in all the departments of Government since your Excellency's arrival in September last.
33. I admit myself one of the few who have never from first to last desponded as to the ultimate future of Hong Kong, and think confidently with Sir John Davis, who in the preface to the work published by him in 1852, wrote, "it may be predicted that a British colony with 25,000 [now $5,000] Chinese subjects in sight of the south coast of China is destined to play a part in the "drama of the future."
His Excellency Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson,
&c.
&c.
&c.
I have, &c. (Signed)
T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
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