1867 — Page 129

24

"ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE,

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

123

ADA FLAN

12. Trale among the Chinese, as may be expected, was far from flourishing. Great losses were sustained, more especially ia Gold, Rice, Peas and Sugar. In Salt-fish, too, owing it is reported to the action of the Chinese Authorities, and the string- ency of the regulations of the salt revenue, the business tell from about $700,000 in 1800 to $800,000 in 1307. Live stock paid bat badly, although the trade in Pigs alone is stated to have reached $300,000, and in Poultry $130,000.

13. Great losses in the Gold trade, which is calculated by the Chinese at about Four Million Dollars for last Year, seem at last to have induced the Dealers to turn their attention to the Mint, It appears to have been the custom for the seller to enter into a contract with the buyer that the Gold landed in India should on assay prove of the same touch as that stated at the time of sale. Much difference, however, has been alleged, which the Native Dealer has had to make good, and at last he has arranged that the assay should take place at the Hongkong Mint, when, before the purchase is completed, the position of all parties to the transactions can be well known.

14. The trade of the Opium Farm has been considerable during the past Year. No less than 614,200 taels weight of prepared Opium has been exported to California and Australia, and 232,800 taels weight has been sold in the Colony. The former is valued at 20 cents, and the latter at 65 cents per tael, thus making the value of the total exported $505,360 and of the latter FIM,320, or a gross total value of $744,620.

15. I do not think it would be out of place here to give some account of the working of the recently enacted Ordinance which almost entirely affects the Chinese. I refer, of course to the Victoria Registration Ordinance 1800," and in order that the material results of that Act may be seen, I annex certain Returns (A) shewing among other things the number of Certificates issued, the Fees received therefor, and the prosecutions which have been sustained.

18. Many defects have cropped up in the operation of the Ordinance, which it is unnecessary to enlarge upon in this Report, but on the whole, it can safely be said that the introduction of such legislation was a success, and that much public good has been derived from it.

17. There can be no doubt that the responsibility thrown on the Householders of preventing the Tenants or Occupants of their houses from committing any breach of the laws, relating to the illicit sale of Spirits, the keeping of un-registered Brothels or Public Gambling Houses, has materially assiste-l in putting down those offences. Nor as far as the Chinese are concerned has there been any opposition to carrying out what was required. Except ia a few instances, a realy compliance has been observed on all sides.

18. But these remarks refer more especially to the Registration of Houses. The Registration of Servants has been far otherwise, and I am inclined to consider its partial failure due more especially to the want of support which the measure has receive-l at the hands of the Foreign Community. Still much good has resulted and is likely to be strengthened as time progresses, for as any member of the body of Foreign Residents conscientiously observes, not only the letter, but the spirit of the enactment, so does he assist towards purging the community of a class of inen, who have an organized system for com- witting petty robberies.

19. Great laxity, however, is displayed by the Colonists in this matter, who, for the most part, seem to forget that the Ordinance was passed solely for their protection, and not as a means of Revenue. No law is perfect, but if the Community had rendered the assistance, which I believe they were bound to give towards allowing the Registration Ordinance a fair chance of remedying a very palpable defect in this portion of our municipal legislation, matters would bear a very different aspect to that which they do at present, and the Executive might have seen its way towards advantageously legislating afresh in the same direction. At it is, so great is the apparent passive opposition displayed, that I hesitate to suggest alterations, firmly believing that if the Police Court is the only means of compelling the Foreign Residents to assist efforts intended for their special protection, no good result is ever likely to arise.

20. I proceed, however, to that portion of the Registration Ordinance, by which has been established a body of men, acting as a help to the Police Force of the Colony. Some considerable time and labor was expended by myself in creating, ai it were, this auxiliary Force, and the month of August arrived ere I was enabled to state that the special Watchmen could be recognized by the Executive.

21. Much jealousy was at first displayed as to the powers which were to be exercised in controlling the Watchmen Some thought that a Central Committee of Chinese Merchants appointed by the Native Community would act as the best Medlinm between the Watchinen and the Government Police, who should receive and report on the information which might be gathered from this new aid to the Executive, while others held it advisable that each "District should have its own Council, to which the Watchmen in that District should be surbordinate.

22. The difficulty of my position in this matter will be understood when I call to mind that this additional Force was to be supported solely by the Inhabitants of the different Districts and was to receive no aid whatever from Government.

23. It is true that under the Ordinance, powers were conferred on the Registror General as regards the Watchmen, but they depended, in the first instance, on the action of the Chinese in recommending or not chosing to recommend fit Persons for the posts of Chief or other Watchmen.

24. After much discussion the Community of the Fire Districts to the West of the Parade Ground, agreed to elect certain number of their body to act as Watchmen, whose pay should be disbursed by themselves and be collected from house to house by men especially appointed for the purpose. Thus five Chief Watchmen, (and one subsequently appointed for Wanchai,) as well as 40 Ordinary Watchmen were recommended and appointed by His Excellency The Governor. The par

In addition, five Stations are rented for their occup of the former is at the rate of SM, and of the latter at $8 per mensem.

tion, and a uniform Coat provided from the special fund. The accounts are kept in this Office, and are open at any time b inspection.

25. Subject to correction,—for I know that there is much diversity of opinion as to the advisability of employing Chines at all as Police,-I consider that a very valuable nucleus for Police purposes has been formed, from which, if unanimity betwee the Government Constables and the Watchmen is maintained and cultivated, great public advantage may be reaped. The Report, however, would be greatly lengthened, and perhaps unnecessarily so, were detailed reasons given for this opinion, which I believe are patent to those who will bear in mind the great difference between the present and past times, because we now have men capable, however imperfectly, of communicating with, directly supervising, and understanding the class with which they have to deal.

26. Nor have the Watchmen been idle in the short time during which they have been doing duty, as the accompanying Return (B) will shew. Nevertheless, not having in the first instance instituted any accurate means of recording their acts, mistake since remedied-much labor would be incurred in tracing the assistance given, in all instances, in the interests of Justice

27. Writing generally, I may say that my expectations never led me to suppose that they would take a very prominest part in apprehending criminals, and become of much notoriety. It was rather as a detective force that much assistants was looked for, and, according to the recognized Chinese Custom, those who pay for their support expect them to keep the vagabonds and bad characters from congregating in their different Districts.

28. It is a fact, however, that during the latter portion of last Year, Crime had diminished, and some credit I considers due to the Watchmen appointed by the Native Community. Seeing them every day, much information, which could not otherwise be obtained, is learnt, and among themselves they are not likely to become very corrupt, as any instance of dis bonesty would surely come to the knowledge of one or other of the residents, from whom a well substantiated report irregularity in duty would entail instant dismissal and punishment.

9. This Report has reached a greater length than was originally intended, nevertheless, it would not be complete without 126 some allusion to the Stamp Act, and its effect on the Chinese Community. Indeed, were the subject passed by without comment it might be suggested that I adopted such a course purposely though my only reason for so acting would be that I had so recently handed in a general Report on the subject. Still, as I am now passing under review the state of the Colony so far as the Chinese are concerned, I may shortly state that no enactment, as it at present stands, could have been less bardensome or less vexatious to the Native portion of the Colonial residents. Instead of the Stamp Act being a blow to Chinese trade, it appears from personal observation and minute enquiry to have had no such influence, and I am quite sure that no satisfactory or reliable evidence of its unpopularity can be gleaned from those who are put forward by some as being of their own accord actively opposed to the measure.

30. Finally, I may add that although trade generally during the Year 1967 has been far from flourishing, yet the Colony appears to be on as sound a fuoting, and in as healthy a state as in muny previous Years when business of all kinds was thriving and increasing.

Europeans and Americans, ............................

Goa, Manila, Indian and others of mixed blood, Aliens chiefly Seamen and temporary residents, Chinese in employ, &c., of Europeans, &c., Chinese residing in Victoria, ... Chinese residing in Villages, Kowloong,

Boat Population in Victoria,

Boat Population other than Victoria,. Prisoners,

***

CECIL C. SMITH,

Registrar General.

No. 1.-Czxsus of Hongkong, 31st December, 1867.

POPULATION.

Na or

HOUSES.

Na or BOATS.

TOTAL

Men

1,157

Women.

501

Boys.

Girla.

264

229

2,151

933

137

18

37

1,150

250

250

5,463

620

104

264

6,451

48,634

14,912

6,138

6,009

75,743

6,131

2,126

1,057

634

9,951

7,012

2,435

2,05#

1,379

13,030

3,482

2,237

1,474

1,100

8,291

443

9

452

6,283

2.935 *73,628

21,022

11,169

9,652 117,471

CECIL C. SMITH,

Registrar Generat.

Registrar General's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 29th February, 1868.

VICTORIA DISTRICT,--------

No. 2. Rerrax of POPULATION of Hoxeroxa, 31st December, 1867,

Ware.

CHINESE.

COLORID.

TOTAL

Males. Females.

1,421

Males. Females.

Males. Females.

Males. Females

730

981

169

2,407

8.99

Chinese in employ, &c. of Europeans &c. Chinese residing in Victoria,

3,567 54,8-22

884 20,921

60,389

21,805

Villages,~~ Show-ke-wan, Shai-120,

Shek-o Tai-tam-tuk,.

Stanley, Aberdeen, Heong-kong. Potfolam,

Belcher's Bay, .............. Kowloon,

Boat Population, Temporary Resident, Prisoners, .********

፧፧

67

44

1,925

812

104

73

142

96

55

604

312

1,100

186

182

150

53

46

199

50

2,535

380

7,191

14,122

7,201

14,129

2,760 7,201

250

358

9

13

443

84,797

32,674

CECIL C. SMITH,

Registrar General's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 29th February, 1868.

Registrar General,