HKG-CAR1844-1886 — Page 329

Administrative Reports 行政報告書 All AI Reviewed

310

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

REPORT EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE

first must have been inconsistent with the economy recommended by sound trading principles, as indeed the result has shown.

63. Nevertheless, though individuals and firms have disappeared, the great field for commercial enterprise, so far from being thereby contracted, is extending, and I propose to give here some particulars descriptive of what I may call the movement of this port; because I question if any adequate conception has been formed by the general public of the large interests centered here, or the extraordinary life and movement which distinguishes this great emporium of eastern trade, though it seems scarcely noticed by those habitually engaged in it.

64. It may be conceded that the convenience and importance of a port are best tested by the number of vessels which find it their interest to resort there. If we judge of Hong Kong by this standard, or by the class of vessels which frequent the port, and the value of their cargoes, it must be regarded as occupying a very high position. Even during the commercial depression of 1866 throughout China, no fewer than 3,783 British and foreign vessels, equal to 2,015,747 tons, entered and cleared from here. I may remark that, large as that amount was, the tonnage does not include the shipping between this port and Macao and Canton. The number only of those vessels is given in the Harbour Master's enclosed report. This will be corrected in future returns. Of the above total, 1,727 vessels were British, with an aggregate of 1,047,447 tons.

65. I have already explained that till the passing of the Harbour and Coasts Ordinance of last year there had been no means of giving the least account of the native craft frequenting the harbour and colonial waters. I am, therefore, much gratified at being enabled now to supply that omission for the first half of the present year, and we may thence approximately infer, by allowing double a similar amount for the whole of last year, what was the real number of vessels and tonnage resorting to this harbour during that period.

66. I therefore annex a return of those vessels for the first half of the current year, and your Grace will perceive that during the six months computed from the 1st January last to the 30th of June last native vessels amounting in number to 26,856, and equal to 648,825 tons, arrived and cleared from Hong Kong. Doubling these figures, we obtain a probable approximate total for the whole year 1866 of 53,712 native vessels, equal to 1,297,650 tons.

67. If we add the latter figures to those previously given of the British and foreign vessels using the harbour during 1866, we obtain a total of vessels 57,495, tonnage 3,313,397.

68. It must further be remembered that the above figures do not include the vessels, cargo-boats, sampans, and passenger boats, &c. which are licensed by the Registrar General. These, according to that officer's return, enclosed in the Blue Book, amount in number to 3,445 with a floating population of nearly 27,000 persons.

69. I am enabled further to complete this picture of the business carried on in the waters of the Colony by giving for the first time an approximate estimate of the number of persons arriving and departing from the Colony. As the Harbour Master's returns now comprise the numbers of the crews and passengers in every native vessel for the first six months of the current year, and given as 105,501, adding to these the passengers carried to and fro in the various Hong Kong, Canton, and Macao steamers, which considerably exceed 1,000 daily, and of whom, through the courtesy of the directors, I have received accurate returns, and also computing 20,000 arrivals and departures for the same period in passenger boats and vessels licensed by the Registrar General, I find the total for the first six months of 1866 exceeds 321,000, or 642,000 in the year.

70. Therefore the "movement" in the port for 1866 and other average years may be approximately estimated at 57,495 vessels, equal to 3,313,397 tons, exclusive of British and foreign shipping to Canton and Macao, and carrying 642,000 persons to and from Hong Kong annually.

71. As probably 900,000 tons at the least of the native craft arrive and leave for foreign ports, and cannot therefore be included in the "coasting trade," within the sense intended in the Board of Trade's returns, we may regard the total tonnage entered and cleared seawards from Hong Kong in 1866, exclusive of coasting trade, as not having been less than 2,900,000 tons, notwithstanding the large decrease for that year commented on in the Harbour Master's report.

Edit History

2026-05-10 16:57:41 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

310 28 Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941 REPORT EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE first must have been inconsistent with the economy recommended by sound trading principles, as indeed the result has shown. 63. Nevertheless, though individuals and firms have disappeared, the great field for commercial enterprise, so far from being thereby contracted, is extending, and I propose to give here some particulars descriptive of what I may call the movement of this port; because I question if any adequate conception has been formed by the general public of the large interests centered here, or the extraordinary life and movement which distinguishes this great emporium of eastern trade, though it seems scarcely noticed by those habitually engaged in it. 64. It may be conceded that the convenience and importance of a port are best tested by the number of vessels which find it their interest to resort there. If we judge of Hong Kong by this standard, or by the class of vessels which frequent the port, and the value of their cargoes, it must be regarded as occupying a very high position. Even during the commercial depression of 1866 throughout China, no fewer than 3,783 British and foreign vessels, equal to 2,015,747 tons, entered and cleared from here. I may remark that, large as that amount was, the tonnage does not include the shipping between this port and Macao and Canton. The number only of those vessels is given in the Harbour Master's enclosed report. This will be corrected in future returns. Of the above total, 1,727 vessels were British, with an aggregate of 1,047,447 tons. 65. I have already explained that till the passing of the Harbour and Coasts Ordinance of last year there had been no means of giving the least account of the native craft frequenting the harbour and colonial waters. I am, therefore, much gratified at being enabled now to supply that omission for the first half of the present year, and we may thence approximately infer, by allowing double a similar amount for the whole of last year, what was the real number of vessels and tonnage resorting to this harbour during that period. 66. I therefore annex a return of those vessels for the first half of the current year, and your Grace will perceive that during the six months computed from the 1st January last to the 30th of June last native vessels amounting in number to 26,856, and equal to 648,825 tons, arrived and cleared from Hong Kong. Doubling these figures, we obtain a probable approximate total for the whole year 1866 of 53,712 native vessels, equal to 1,297,650 tons. 67. If we add the latter figures to those previously given of the British and foreign vessels using the harbour during 1866, we obtain a total of vessels 57,495, tonnage 3,313,397. 68. It must further be remembered that the above figures do not include the vessels, cargo-boats, sampans, and passenger boats, &c. which are licensed by the Registrar General. These, according to that officer's return, enclosed in the Blue Book, amount in number to 3,445 with a floating population of nearly 27,000 persons. 69. I am enabled further to complete this picture of the business carried on in the waters of the Colony by giving for the first time an approximate estimate of the number of persons arriving and departing from the Colony. As the Harbour Master's returns now comprise the numbers of the crews and passengers in every native vessel for the first six months of the current year, and given as 105,501, adding to these the passengers carried to and fro in the various Hong Kong, Canton, and Macao steamers, which considerably exceed 1,000 daily, and of whom, through the courtesy of the directors, I have received accurate returns, and also computing 20,000 arrivals and departures for the same period in passenger boats and vessels licensed by the Registrar General, I find the total for the first six months of 1866 exceeds 321,000, or 642,000 in the year. 70. Therefore the "movement" in the port for 1866 and other average years may be approximately estimated at 57,495 vessels, equal to 3,313,397 tons, exclusive of British and foreign shipping to Canton and Macao, and carrying 642,000 persons to and from Hong Kong annually. 71. As probably 900,000 tons at the least of the native craft arrive and leave for foreign ports, and cannot therefore be included in the "coasting trade," within the sense intended in the Board of Trade's returns, we may regard the total tonnage entered and cleared seawards from Hong Kong in 1866, exclusive of coasting trade, as not having been less than 2,900,000 tons, notwithstanding the large decrease for that year commented on in the Harbour Master's report.

Baseline (Original)

310 28 Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941 REPORT EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE first must have been inconsistent with the economy recommended by sound trading principles, as indeed the result has shown. 63. Nevertheless, though individuals and firms have disappeared, the great_field for commercial enterprise, so far from being thereby contracted, is extending, and I propose to give here some particulars descriptive of what I may call the movement of this port; because I question if any adequate conception has been formed by the general public of the large interests centered here, or the extraordinary life and movement which distinguishes this great emporium of castern trade, though it seems scarcely noticed by those habitually engaged in it. 64. It may be conceded that the convenience and importance of a port are best tested by the number of vessels which find it their interest to resort there. If we judge of Hong Kong by this standard, or by the class of vessels which frequent the port, and the value of their cargoes, it must be regarded as occupying a very high position. Even during the commercial depression of 1866 throughout China, no fewer than 3,783 British and foreign vessels, equal to 2,015,747 tons, entered and cleared from here.. I may remark that, large as that amount was, the tonnage does not include the shipping between this port and Macao and Canton. The number only of those vessels is given in the Harbour Master's enclosed report. This will be corrected in future returns. Of the above total, 1,727 vessels were British, with an aggregate of 1,047,447 tons. 65. I have already explained that till the passing of the Harbour and Coasts Ordinance of last year there had been no means of giving the least account of the native craft frequenting the harbour and colonial waters. I am, therefore, much gratified at being enabled now to supply that omission for the first half of the present year, and we may thence approximately infer, by allowing double a similar amount for the whole of last year, what was the real number of vessels and tonnage resorting to this harbour during that period. 66. I therefore annex a return of those vessels for the first half of the current year, and your Grace will perceive that during the six months computed from the 1st January last to the 30th of June last native vessels amounting in number to 26,856, and equal to 648,825 tons, arrived and cleared from Hong Kong. Doubling these figures, we obtain a probable approximate total for the whole year 1866 of 53,712 native vessels, equal to 1,297,650 tons. 67. If we add the latter figures to those previously given of the British and foreign vessels using the harbour during 1866, we obtain a total of vessels 57,495, tonnage 3,313,397. 68. It must further be remembered that the above figures do not include the vessels, cargo-boats, sampans, and passenger boats, &c. which are licensed by the Registrar General These, according to that officer's return, enclosed in the Blue Book, amount in number to 3,445 with a floating population of nearly 27,000 persons. 69. I am enabled further to complete this picture of the business carried on in the waters of the Colony by giving for the first time an approximate estimate of the number of persons arriving and departing from the Colony. As the Harbour Master's returns now comprise the numbers of the crews and passengers in every native vessel for the first six months of the current year, and given as 105,501, adding to these the passengers carried to and fro in the various Hong Kong, Canton, and Macao steamers, which considerably exceed 1,000 daily, and of whom, through the courtesy of the directors, I have received accurate returns, and also computing 20,000 arrivals and departures for the same period in passenger boats and vessels licensed by the Registrar General, I find the total for the first six mouths of 1866 exceeds 321,000, or 642,000 in the year. 70. Therefore the "movement" in the port for 1866 and other average years may be approximately estimated at 57,495 vessels, equal to 3,313, 397 tons, exclusive of British and foreign shipping to Cauton and Macao, and carrying 642,000 persons to and from Hong Kong annually. 71. As probably 900,000 tons at the least of the native craft arrive and leave for foreign ports, and cannot therefore be included in the "consting trade," within the sense intended in the Board of Trade's returns, we may regard the total tonnage entered and cleared seawards from Hong Kong in 1866, exclusive of coasting trade, as not having been less than 2,900,000 tons, notwithstanding the large decreasc for that year commented on in the Harbour Master's report.

2026-05-10 16:57:41 · Baseline

View content

310

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

REPORT EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE

first must have been inconsistent with the economy recommended by sound trading principles, as indeed the result has shown.

63. Nevertheless, though individuals and firms have disappeared, the great_field for commercial enterprise, so far from being thereby contracted, is extending, and I propose to give here some particulars descriptive of what I may call the movement of this port; because I question if any adequate conception has been formed by the general public of the large interests centered here, or the extraordinary life and movement which distinguishes this great emporium of castern trade, though it seems scarcely noticed by those habitually engaged in it.

64. It may be conceded that the convenience and importance of a port are best tested by the number of vessels which find it their interest to resort there. If we judge of Hong Kong by this standard, or by the class of vessels which frequent the port, and the value of their cargoes, it must be regarded as occupying a very high position. Even during the commercial depression of 1866 throughout China, no fewer than 3,783 British and foreign vessels, equal to 2,015,747 tons, entered and cleared from here.. I may remark that, large as that amount was, the tonnage does not include the shipping between this port and Macao and Canton. The number only of those vessels is given in the Harbour Master's enclosed report. This will be corrected in future returns. Of the above total, 1,727 vessels were British, with an aggregate of 1,047,447 tons.

67. If we add the latter figures to those previously given of the British and foreign vessels using the harbour during 1866, we obtain a total of vessels 57,495, tonnage 3,313,397.

68. It must further be remembered that the above figures do not include the vessels, cargo-boats, sampans, and passenger boats, &c. which are licensed by the Registrar General These, according to that officer's return, enclosed in the Blue Book, amount in number to 3,445 with a floating population of nearly 27,000 persons.

69. I am enabled further to complete this picture of the business carried on in the waters of the Colony by giving for the first time an approximate estimate of the number of persons arriving and departing from the Colony. As the Harbour Master's returns now comprise the numbers of the crews and passengers in every native vessel for the first six months of the current year, and given as 105,501, adding to these the passengers carried to and fro in the various Hong Kong, Canton, and Macao steamers, which considerably exceed 1,000 daily, and of whom, through the courtesy of the directors, I have received accurate returns, and also computing 20,000 arrivals and departures for the same period in passenger boats and vessels licensed by the Registrar General, I find the total for the first six mouths of 1866 exceeds 321,000, or 642,000 in the year.

70. Therefore the "movement" in the port for 1866 and other average years may be approximately estimated at 57,495 vessels, equal to 3,313, 397 tons, exclusive of British and foreign shipping to Cauton and Macao, and carrying 642,000 persons to and from Hong Kong annually.

71. As probably 900,000 tons at the least of the native craft arrive and leave for foreign ports, and cannot therefore be included in the "consting trade," within the sense intended in the Board of Trade's returns, we may regard the total tonnage entered and cleared seawards from Hong Kong in 1866, exclusive of coasting trade, as not having been less than 2,900,000 tons, notwithstanding the large decreasc for that year commented on in the Harbour Master's report.

HKG-CAR1844-1886 — Page 329

Edit History

Comments

Private Research Note