1841-1886
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS
291
159
HONG KONG.
No. 24.
Copy of a DESPATCH from the OFFICER Administering the GOVERNMENT to the Right
Honourable Edward Cardwell, M.P.
(No. 62.)
Hong Kong, May 23, 1865.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to transmit the Blue Book for 1864, covered by a report from the Acting Colonial Secretary.
In this report I concur, and trust that Her Majesty's Government may see cause for much satisfaction in the progress that the Colony has continued to make during the past year, in spite of commercial depression and other difficulties.
I have little to add to Mr. Alexander's remarks, and shall only notice specially the completion of the water scheme, as originally contemplated; the introduction of gas to this part of the East on a large scale, and with perfect success; the settlement, as I hope, of the vexed Kowloon question; the circulation of the much wanted subsidiary currency; and the commencement of the Hong Kong mint.
I should remark on the subject of population, and the Acting Colonial Secretary's comment thereon, that while I quite agree with him that we can only here arrive at approximate results, the apparent decrease is to be accounted for otherwise than as he puts it.
Being in charge of my own office at the beginning of the year when the Registrar-General's returns were sent in, I had several communications with that officer on the subject of the decrease shown. His explanation was that his predecessors had allowed too large a margin under certain heads, and that he had made the census on a stricter and more defined system.
Judging from very intimate personal observation I should guess that the number of the people was neither greater nor less, and at any rate no conclusion can be drawn from the seeming numerical deficiency of the present census prejudicial to the Colony.
Page 310
Page 311
1841-1886
OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS
291
159
HONG KONG.
No. 24.
Copy of a DESPATCH from the OFFICER Administering the GOVERNMENT to the Right
Honourable Edward Cardwell, M.P.
(No. 62.)
Hong Kong, May 23, 1865.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to transmit the Blue Book for 1864, covered by a report from the Acting Colonial Secretary.
In this report I concur, and trust that Her Majesty's Government may see cause for much satisfaction in the progress that the Colony has continued to make during the past year, in spite of commercial depression and other difficulties.
I have little to add to Mr. Alexander's remarks, and shall only notice specially the completion of the water scheme, as originally contemplated; the introduction of gas to this part of the East on a large scale, and with perfect success; the settlement, as I hope, of the vexed Kowloon question; the circulation of the much wanted subsidiary currency; and the commencement of the Hong Kong mint.
I should remark on the subject of population, and the Acting Colonial Secretary's comment thereon, that while I quite agree with him that we can only here arrive at approximate results, the apparent decrease is to be accounted for otherwise than as he puts it.
Being in charge of my own office at the beginning of the year when the Registrar- General's returns were sent in, I had several communications with that officer on the subject of the decrease shown. His explanation was that his predecessors had allowed too large a margin under certain heads, and that he had made the census on a stricter and more defined system.
Judging from very intimate personal observation I should guess that the number of the people was neither greater nor less, and at any rate no conclusion can be drawo from the seeming numerical deficiency of the present census prejudicial to the Colony.
Page 310Page 311
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