1866 — Page 165

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TILUC.O. 133

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No. 39.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Report of the Harbor Master, with Returns annexed for the Year 1866, is published for general information.

By Order,

Na 23.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 4th March, 1867..

W. T. MERCER,

Colonial Secretary,

Hanbor Master's Department, Honokona, 20th February, 1887.

SIR,-In forwarding my Annual Returns and Report of the Shipping of this Port for the year ending the 31st December, 1866, I regret having to report a large decrease in the arrivals amounting to 113,403 Tons the whole of which is in British bottoms; the arrivals în foreign bottoms remaining at about the same tonnage as in 1865,

Shipping

The British trade with India has fallen off 91,880 Tons, and with the ports in China (exclusive of Macro and Canton) we Ricer Trade, 25,758 Tous; with America, Java, and Jopen there is also a decrease amounting to 19,267 Tons, but against this large decrease from the places mentioned it is satisfactory to find the trade from Great Britain, Australia, and Siam has increased 24,158 Toas, still leaving with a few trifling differences on other Countries the large falling off before mentioned.

With respect to the arrivals in foreign vessels, the trade with India, North and South America, Java, and Japan bas decreased to the amount of 44,923 Tons, against an increase from Great Britain, Australis, Siam and Ports of Chins of 44,290 Tons, which with a few slight differences from other Countries will shew in the whole an increase of 57 Tona

Of the difference in the numbers of vessels arriving at this port during the last year, there is a falling off on the whole

of 810, of these 230 are British. The Danish Flag in these waters, since the war in the Schleswig-Holstein Duchies has nearly ceased to exist. In 1865, 141 vessels of that nation were entered, this last year, shews a Return of 33 only. The Prussian Flag is becoming more common and will during the current year show a still farger number of vessels wearing it. The American, Dutch, French and Spanish vessels have also increased in numbers.

The depressed state of Trade between China and India during the last year will account for the great falling off of British Shipping, nearly the whole of that Trade in 1865 having been done by English Steamers. There was then a strong inducement

for vessels to bring cargoes here en ronta to India and Great Britain and several large vessels were employed in bringing Indian produce for China; during 1866 there was no such inducement and many vessels were consequently kept running between the Northern ports of China, while others were sold to the Japanese.

River Trade.

Hitherto the Trade with the neighbouring ports of Macao and Canton, has not been included in the Returns; it is now entered, but as an addition, so that it shall not appear in the comparative statement of Trade between 1865 and 1806; it will for the future be included under the common beading of "Coast of China and Formosa." This Trade (with the exception of that conveyed in Junks) is now entirely under the British Flag, the vessels engaged in it being owned by the "Hongkong, "Canton and Macao Steam Boat Company, Limited,”- Company composed of Foreign and native residents.

My next Report will include the Junk Trade between this and the coast of China.

Exports and Imports.

These sheets are forwarded in a blank state as from the absense of a regular Custom House the Returas cannot be collected.

Emigration.

There has been little doing in this branch of the Department for the year 1866. The Emigration to California at one time averaging from seven to nine thousand Chinese per annum has lessened considerably; but there is a probability of its increasing with the advent of the new American Steam line. While Emigration hence to the British West Indies has wholly ceased; the Dutch Government appears desirous of introducing Chinese agricultural laborers from Hongkong into its colonies. The total number of Emigrants returning to their native country is 9253, the greater number being from Singapore, San Francisco, Bangkok, Sydney and Saigon. The arrival of Bullion from Australia is 20,821) onacts of gold, and 13,446 Sovereigna; and from San Francisco 1,612,001 Dollars.

Registry of Shipping.

Under the Merchant Shipping Act 17 Vexels Lave received Registers at this Port, but the total remaining tonnage on

the Register Back bes decreased ciderably, for the reasons given in a former part of this report.

The amount of Fecs received under the same Act is a littls in excess of the year 1865.

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