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163

No. 29.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Report of the Harbor Master, with Returns annexed for the Year 1867, is published

for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 7th March, 1868.

SIM,

CECIL C. SMITH,

Acting Colonial Becretary.

HARBOR MASTER'S DEPARTMENT, VICTORIA, HONGxoxo, 19th February, 1868.

1. I have the honor to enclose the andermentioned Annual Returns of the Shipping and other matters connected with the

Marine Department of this Colony,

1. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels, entered at Ports in Hongkong from each Country in the Year 1887.

II. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels, cleared at Ports in the Colony of Hongkongt o each Country in the Year 1867. III. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels, of each Nation entered at Ports in the Colony of Hongkong in the Year 1867. IV. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels, of each Nation cleared at Ports in the Colony of Hongkong in the Year 1867. V. Total Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels, entered at each Port in the Colony of Hongkong in the Year 1887. VI. Total Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels, cleared in 1867.

VII. Return of Junks entered at the Port of Victoria from the Outstations of the Island and the Villages in British

Kowloon during the Year 1867.

VIII. Return of Junks cleared from the Ports of Victoria for the Outstations of the Island and the Villages in British

Kowloon during the Year 1867.

IX. Summary of Arrivals and Departures.

X. Return of Vessels Registered at the Port of Hongkong, during the Year 1807.

XI. Return of Vessels Registered and struck off in the Port of Hongkong during the Year 1807.

XII. Return of Emigrant Ships cleared by the Emigration Officer, Hongkong, during the Year ending 31st December, 1867. XIII. Return of Vessels bringing Chinese Passengers to the Port of Victoria, "Hongkong, from places out of China,

during the Year 1807.

XIV. Amount of Fees received under Ordinance No. 10 of 1860, in the Harbor Master's Department during the Year 1807. XV. Return of Marine Cases tried at the Marine Magistrate's Office during the Year 1807.

SHIPPING.

1. This is the first occasion on which the Arrivals and Departures of the Canton and Macao Steamers, and of the native Junks trading between this Port and the Ports of China, &c., are included in the Returns. The grand total, conse quently, exhibits a very large increase on the Year 1860, of 21,837 Vessels with 1,012,072 tons entered, and 20,089 Vessels with 1,693,769 tons cleared, or that of Foreign trade, a grand total of 42,320 more Vessels with a capacity of 3,206,441 tons and manned by G02,781 Seamen were Registered in the books of this Office in 1867, than were noted in the preceding Year.

1. It must not be taken that these figures indicate a positive increase to the trade of the Colony, but rather that recent legislation has in addition to other important matters (hereafter treated of) enabled this Department to keep more detailed

and accurate accounts than previously of the amount of trade actually being done between this Port and Foreign Countries. But extraneous of the tonnage thus added, there has been an increase in the gross trade of the Colony during the Year, amounting to 9,118 tons; this increase is in a great measure due to the establishment of the Pacific Mail Steam-Ship Company and to the increased steam Coasting trade with China. There is a decrease of 29,484 tons, in the trade between this Port and British India, which is somewhat due to the Abyssinian campaign; Her Majesty's Government having engaged some of the Vessels, usually frequenting Hongkong, to carry Troops and Stores for the expedition.

1. In view of the general unsatisfactory condition of the mercantile world, the Returns of Shipping, other than in Chinese bottoms, evince a better result than could have been anticipated.

JUNK TRADE.—“ Harbor and Coasts Ordinance, No. 0 of 1866.”

1. It will be gratifying to Her Majesty's Government to know of the great success, which has attended the introduc- tion of this very important Ordinance. Previous to; and for some time subsequent to its inauguration, it was surmised by many that the effect of this Law would be to drive the owners and Masters of Junks from the pursuit of a legitimate trade, to