274
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
16. A commencement of the waterworks scheme has been made, and, it is hoped that by the beginning of 1868 the city of Victoria will be amply provided for in this respect...1
17. Great and satisfactory progress has been made with the Esplanade or Praya, on the sea front of the city.
18. Every attention has been given to education, and an improved scheme, designed by Dr. Legge, is about to receive trial.
19. The want of a place of transportation for convicts is much felt, and it would be a great relief to the Colony if it could be arranged to draft off annually, a certain number of prisoners sentenced to penal servitude. This failing, it will be necessary to build a distinct gaol for such prisoners, and to appropriate Stone Cutter's Island for this purpose. The evil is really pressing, for even after the conclusion of the new gaol buildings, the presence of so large a number of long-sentenced convicts will render it a difficult matter to classify crime correctly and conveniently.
20. In a review of occurrences during 1860, it is impossible not to mention the transit through the Colony of the large expeditionary force, British and French, military and naval.
21. It was a subject of wonder how the markets of Hong Kong furnished supplies for the enormous number of men (not less than 30,000 in all) thus suddenly quartered in the Colony and its waters for a period of from five to six months; the island of Hong Kong could not well have afforded the level ground, and the acquisition of Kowloon, under lease from the Chinese provincial Government, was a necessary consequence.
22. As the final cession of this ground under convention, and its subsequent incorporation with the Colony, are events of the current year, I make no further allusion to them here.
23. But besides that the land was admirably suited and indispensably wanted, for temporary occupation by our passing troops, it was required in permanence eventually for the commercial purposes of the Colony; and I entertain sanguine hope that, if full consideration be given to the wants of the community and the wishes of the local Government, the acquisition of this new territory will prove of much importance to Hong Kong as a mercantile entrepôt.
24. I have referred to the sojourn and passage of the expeditionary force, because it is a point of interest, and I am not aware that it has been duly noted elsewhere.
25. It deserves, however, to be put on record, as showing the utility of this possession, and justifying the opinion of one of the members of the commission for enquiring into the military defences of the colonies (Mr. Elliot) when he classed Hong Kong among the "places which, irrespectively of any intrinsic value, as colonies, may be deemed 'stations important to the general strength of the empire.'"
His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, Knight,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief,
I have, &c.
(Signed). W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary.
&c.
&c.
&c.
274
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
*
16. A commencement of the waterworks scheme has been made, and, it is hoped that by the beginning of 1868 the city of Victoria will be amply provided for in this respect... 1
17. Great and satisfactory progress has been made with the Esplanade or Praya, on the sea front of the city.
18. Every attention has been given to education, and an improved scheme, designed by Dr. Legge, is about to receive trial.
19. The want of a place of transportation for convicts is much felt, and it would be a great relief to the Colony if it could be arranged to draft, off annually, a certain number of prisoners sentenced to pepal servitude. This failing, it will be necessary to build a distinct gaol for such. prisoners, and to appropriate Stone Cutter's Island' for this purpose. The evil is really pressing, for even after the conclusion of the new gaol buildings, the presence of so large a number of long-sentenced convicts will render it a difficult matter to classify crime correctly and conveniently, landi
+
20. In a review of occurrences during 1860, it is impossible not to mention the transit through the Colony of the large expeditionary force, British and French, military and
naval.
421. It was a subject of wonder how the markets of Hong Kong furnished supplies for the enormous number of men (not less than 30,000 in all) thus suddenle quartered in the Colony and its waters for a period of from five to six months; the island of Hong Kong could not well have afforded the level ground, and the acquisition of Kowloon, under lease from the Chinese provincial Government, was a necessary consequence.
22. As the final cession of this ground under convention, and, its subsequent incorpo- ration with, the Colony, are events of the current year, I make, no further allusion, to them here.:
+
:
#28. But besides that the land was admirably suited and indispensably wanted, for temporary occupation by our passing troops, it was required in permanence eventually for the commercial purposes of the Colony; and I entertain sanguine hope that, if full consideration be given to the wants of the community and the wishes of the local Government, the acquisition of this new territory will prove of much importance to Hong Kong as a mercantile entrepôt.
* 24. I have referred to the sojourn and passage of the expeditionary force, because it is a point of interest, and I am not aware that it has been duly noted elsewhere
25. It deserves, however, to be put on record, as showing the utility of this possession, and justifying the opinion of one of the members of the commission for enquiring, into the military defences of the colonies (Mr. Elliot) when he classed Hong Kong among the "
places which, irrespectively of any intrinsic value, as (colonies, may be deemed "stations important to the general strength of the empire.".
His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, Knight,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief,
I have, &c.
像
*
(Signed). W. T. MERCER,:
Colonial Secretary.
&c.
&c.
&c.
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