Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
X-POSTAL SERVICE.
The total revenue from the Postal Service in 1913 was $439,189.37 and the total expenditure $622,587.51 leaving a debit balance of $183,398.14. The total amount of payments during the year exceeded that estimated for by $183,244.51 owing to the claims in respect of mails sent via Siberia during the years 1910 and 1911 and the share of the Peninsular and Oriental mail subsidy for the fourth quarter of 1912 being settled this year instead of in 1912.
During the period 1st-28th May, statistics, in accordance with the regulations of the Postal Union, were taken by all Union Offices to form the basis for calculating the transit charges payable on international correspondence for the years 1914 to 1919 inclusive.
XI.-GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The condition of the neighbouring Province of Kwangtung was in a very unsatisfactory state for the greater part of the year, and this condition reacted upon the Colony. There were constant intrigues against the authority of the central Government and it was necessary to adopt strong measures in order to prevent such intrigues from being fostered in Hong Kong.
The financial difficulties in which the Provincial Administration has been involved ever since the Revolution were accentuated by the depreciation of the unsecured note issue unwisely made by the Provincial Government; and this depreciation, coupled with further depreciation of the silver currency caused by continued issues of twenty-cent pieces and the prevalence of brigandage throughout the Province militated against trade.
The climax was reached when, in July, Governor-General, Ch'an Kwing-ming proclaimed the independence of the Kwangtung Province. This movement was short-lived, for, on the advance of Lung Chai-kwong from Kwangsi on Canton, Ch'an Kwing-ming fled and Lung Chai-kwong restored the authority of the Central Government.
Many acts of piracy were committed in the waters of the Canton River delta throughout the year. The s.s. Tai On, a steamer flying the British flag, was attacked on the 2nd April. Pirates who had embarked on the vessel in the guise of passengers succeeded in overpowering the officers and securing a large quantity of booty.
This outrage led to the enactment of the Protection against Piracy Ordinance referred to under the heading of Legislation, and to a considerable increase in the police whose duty it is to search passengers embarking on river steamers.
The embargo on the export of limestone from the Kwangtung Province was not moved in 1913. Although vigorous representations were made to the Chinese authorities at Canton and Pekin, the question remained unsettled at the close of the year.
Very great injury was occasioned to the Green Island Cement Company by its loss of a source of supply which it has enjoyed, by permission of the provincial authorities, for over twenty years.
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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
X-POSTAL SERVICE.
The total revenue from the Postal Service in 1913 was $439,189.37 and the total expenditure $622,587.51 leaving a debit balance of $183,398.14. The total amount of payments during the year exceeded that estimated for by $183,244.51 owing to the claims in respect of mails sent via Siberia during the years 1910 and 1911 and the share of the Peninsular and Oriental mail subsidy for the fourth quarter of 1912 being settled this year instead of in 1912.
During the period 1st-28th May, statistics, in accordance with the regulations of the Postal Union, were taken by all Union Offices to form the basis for calculating the transit charges payable on inter- national correspondence for the years 1914 to 1919 inclusive.
XI.-GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The condition of the neighbouring Province of Kwangtung was in a very unsatisfactory state for the greater part of the year, and this condition reacted upon the Colony. There
There were constant intrigues against the authority of the central Government and it was necessary to adopt strong measures in order to prevent such intrigues from being fostered in Hong Kong. The financial difficulties in which the Provincial Administration has been involved ever since the Revolution were accentuated by the depreciation of the unsecured note issue unwisely made by the Provincial Government; and this depreciation, coupled with further depreciation of the silver currency caused by continued issues of twenty-cent pieces and the prevalence of brigandage throughout the Province militated against trade. The climax was reached when, in July, Governor-General, Ch'an Kwing- ming proclaimed the independence of the Kwangtung Province. This movement was short lived, for, on the advance of Lung Chai- kwong from Kwangsi on Canton, Ch'an Kwing-ming fled and Lung Chai-kwong restored the authority of the Central Government. Many acts of piracy were committed in the waters of the Canton River delta throughout the year. The s.s. Tai On, a steamer flying the British flag, was attacked on the 2nd April. Pirates who had em- barked on the vessel in the guise of passengers succeeded in over- powering the officers and securing a large quantity of booty. This outrage led to the enactment of the Protection against Piracy Ordinance referred to under the heading of Legislation, and to a considerable increase in the police whose duty it is to search passengers embarking on river steamers.
The embargo on the export of limestone from the Kwangtung Province was not moved in 1913. Although vigorous representations were made to the Chinese authorities at Canton and Pekin, the question remained unsettled at the close of the year. Very great injury was occasioned to the Green Island Cement Company by its loss of a source of supply which it has enjoyed, by permission of the provincial authorities, for over twenty years.
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