1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1907.
23
The Hong Kong Volunteer Reserve Association numbered two hundred and twenty-eight members at the close of the year, a decrease of 23 members as compared with 1906.
Members of this Association, who must be over 35 years of age, are afforded opportunity to make themselves proficient in rifle shooting, and undertake to enrol themselves under the Volunteer Ordinance in the event of hostilities.
A small Cadet Corps was commenced in May, 1906, with boys from the Victoria British School; there are now 18 in the school and 4 others. The Cadets are instructed in squad drill and semaphore signalling. They attended Camp, and many are already very efficient signallers.
The new headquarter building was opened in December, 1906, and is already very popular. A well-equipped gymnasium has been installed, and classes are held regularly. The cost of the building has been entirely defrayed and no debt remains.
The expenditure on the Volunteers, which is entirely borne by the Colony, was $45,253, compared with $47,351 in 1906.
XII—GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The year was characterised by continued severe depression in trade.
The Colony appears to have recovered from the over-speculation indulged in in anticipation of the conclusion of the war between Russia and Japan, and her trade has resumed a healthier condition, though the volume is still restricted. The large stocks accumulated during the speculative period have taken a long time to work off, and fresh imports have been small, because for various reasons, one of which was caution induced by previous over-speculation, China has imported a smaller quantity of merchandise.
The assessment made in July for the year 1907-8 showed that the rateable value for the whole Colony has decreased by 2.52 per cent. In the Hill District, Shaukiwan, the Hong Kong villages, and in Kowloon except in the important District of Yaumati, the assessment showed an increase ranging from 1.07 per cent. to 11.76 per cent. But in the City of Victoria a decrease of 3.42 per cent. and in Yaumati a decrease of 5.65 per cent. were shown. In New Kowloon a remarkable increase from a rateable value of $38,930 to one of $61,835, or an increase of 58.83 per cent., was shown.
In the New Territories continued progress has been observable in the making of several roads by the private enterprise of villagers, and by the erection of new houses. The Crown Rent (Land Tax) was paid with an alacrity that was almost inconvenient; and there was a marked decrease in crime in spite of the large numbers of coolies employed on the Railway Works.
The loss and inconvenience caused by the depreciation of the
103
Page 110
Page 111
1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1907.
23
The Hong Kong Volunteer Reserve Association numbered two hundred and twenty-eight members at the close of the year, a decrease of 23 members as compared with 1906.
Members of this Association, who must be over 35 years of age, are afforded opportunity to make themselves proficient in rifle shooting, and undertake to enrol themselves under the Volunteer Ordinance in the event of hostilities.
A small Cadet Corps was commenced in May, 1906, with boys from the Victoria British School; there are now 18 in the school and 4 others. The Cadets are instructed in squad drill and semaphore signalling. They attended Camp, and many are already very efficient signallers.
The new headquarter building was opened in December, 1906, and is already very popular. A well equipped gymnasium has been installed, and classes are held regularly. The cost of the building has been entirely defrayed and no debt remains.
The expenditure on the Volunteers, which is entirely borne by the Colony, was $45,253, compared with $47,351 in 1906.
XII-GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The year was characterised by continued severe depression in trade.
The Colony appears to have recovered from the over-specula- tion indulged in in anticipation of the conclusion of the war between Russia and Japan, and her trade has resumed a healthier condition, though the volume is still restricted. The large stocks accumulated during the speculative period have taken a long time to work off, and fresh imports have been small, because for various reasons, one of which was caution induced by previous over-speculation, China has imported a smaller quantity of merchandise.
The assessment made in July for the year 1907-8 showed that the rateable value for the whole Colony has decreased by 2:52 per cent. In the Hill District, Shaukiwan, the Hong Kong villages, and in Kowloon except in the important District of Yaumati, the assessment showed an increase rang- ing from 1.07 per cent. to 11.76 per cent. But in the City of Victoria a decrease of 3·42 per cent. and in Yaumati a decrease of 5.65 per cent. were shown. In New Kowloon a remarkable increase from a rateable value of $38,930 to one of $61,835, or an increase of 58-83 per cent., was shown.
In the New Territories continued progress has been observ- able in the making of several roads by the private enterprise of villagers, and by the erection, of new houses. The Crown Rent (Land Tax) was paid with an alacrity that was almost inconvenient; and there was a marked decrease in crime in spite of the large numbers of coolies employed on the Railway Works.
The loss and inconvenience caused by the depreciation of the
103
Page 110Page 111
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