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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
PAPERS RELATING TO
extent, and much of which, being in the centre of the town of Victoria, is of very great value. Unlike the other land of the Colony, this pays no rent, and, what is of more importance, contributes nothing to the rates from the expenditure of which the departments in question receive the benefit. When this is taken into account, and there is also added the interest of the cost of the defence works and other lesser items, I estimate that the real contribution of the Colony to its defence exceeds $300,000 per annum, a sum equal to nearly one-fifth of the revenue.
17. Judging from the information at my command, I question whether there is paid towards this object by any other Colony so large a proportion of its receipts, or anything like it; and it is moreover to be borne in mind that the defence of Hong Kong practically includes to a considerable extent that of all the British mercantile communities in the many Treaty ports of China and Japan, which contribute nothing to its revenue. All things considered, therefore, it seems open to question not only whether Hong Kong can be fairly called upon to increase its military contribution, but also whether additional areas of land (such as are continually being requisitioned for the military and naval departments) should not contribute to the Colonial revenue in the shape of either rent or rates or both.
Financial Position.
18. The only debt of the Colony is one of £200,000 raised in 1887 for defensive and other works. The sinking fund of £7,072 per annum is expected to discharge this debt in 1907. Though the total expenditure in 1888, $1,992,329, exceeded the total receipts (ordinary revenue and land premiums), $1,713,188, by $274,141, there was at the close of the year a Treasury balance to credit of $360,649·76.
Legislation.
19. Of the 29 Ordinances passed in 1888, only the following deserve notice:-
(1.) "The Vaccination Ordinance, 1888," constitutes the first effort made in this Colony to render general a protection which is especially required in consequence of (1) the frequency with which small-pox is introduced by steamers coming from all parts of the world; (2) the impracticability of its exclusion by effective quarantine; and (3) its fatal prevalence when it has once obtained a footing, owing to the density of the population and the unfavourable sanitary conditions in which a large portion of it habitually lives.
20. We have happily in the Colony none of those—or at least none have made themselves known—who look to the few cases in which evil has been caused, and who ignore the comparatively enormous good which vaccination has achieved for humanity. The Chinese are thorough believers in the advantage of this pro-
46
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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941
PAPERS RELATING TO
extent, and much of which, being in the centre of the town of Victoria, is of very great value. Unlike the other land of the Colony this pays no rent, and, what is of more importance, con- tributes nothing to the rates from the expenditure of which the departments in question receive the benefit. When this is taken into account, and there is also added the interest of the cost of the defence works and other lesser items, I estimate that the real. contribution of the Colony to its defence exceeds $300,000 per annum, a sum equal to nearly one-fifth of the revenue.
17. Judging from the information at my command, I question whether there is paid towards this object by any other Colony so large a proportion of its receipts, or anything like it; and it is moreover to be borne in mind that the defence of Hong Kong practically includes to a considerable extent that of all the British inercantile communities in the many Treaty ports of China and Japan, which contribute nothing to its revenue. All things con- sidered, therefore, it seems open to question not only whether Hong Kong can be fairly called upon to increase its military contribution, but also whether additional areas of land (such as are continually being requisitioned for the military and naval depart- ments) should not contribute to the Colonial revenue in the shape of either rent or rates or both.
Financial Position,
18. The only debt of the Colony is one of 200,000% raised in 1887 for defensive and other works. The sinking fund of 7,0721. per annum is expected to discharge this debt in 1907. Though the total expenditure in 1888, $1,992,3294, exceeded the total receipts (ordinary revenue and land premiums), $1,713,188, by $274,141, there was at the close of the year a Treasury balance to credit of $360,649 · 76.
Legislation.
19. Of the 29 Ordinances passed in 1888, only the following
deserve notice:-
(1.) « The Vaccination Ordinance, 1888," constitutes the first effort made in this Colony to render general a protection which is especially required in consequence of (1) the frequency with which small-pox is introduced by steamers coming from all parts of the world; (2) the impracticability of its exclusion by effective quarantine; and (3) its fatal prevalence when it has once obtained a footing, owing to the density of the population and the unfavour- able sanitary conditions in which a large portion of it habitually lives.
20. We have happily in the Colony none of those or at least none have made themselves known-who look to the few cases in which evil has been caused, and who ignore the comparatively enormous good which vaccination has achieved for humanity. The Chinese are thorough believers in the advantage of this pro-
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