1888 — Page 3

No. 199

19

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE BLUE BOOK AND DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS FOR 1888.

Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

1.--TAXATION.

There have been no changes under this bead.

2.-REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

C. O.

20278

The Revenue amounted to $2,582,723.81, or excluding premiums from Land Sales to $1,557,300.03; nd the Expenditure amounted to $1,992,329.67, including Extraordinary Works; excluding these, o $1,461,459.64.

The Revenue and Expenditure for the past five years have been:-

Year.

Revenue,

Extraordinary Expenditure, including

Defensive Works.

Premiums from Land,

Ordinary

Expenditure.

1884,....................$1,173,071.48

$19,695.00

$1,254,634.77

$340,763.62

1885.......... 1,251,889.70

1886,....................... 1,367,977.74

66,658,50

1.146.103.15

475,147.24

84,731,59

1,195,236.81

825,624.84

1587,........ 1,427,485.79

155,238.02

1,278,181.68

744,820.38

1888,......... 1,557,300.03

160.688.64

1,461.459.64

530,870.03

3. LOCAL Revenues.

The Chinese inhabitants contributel in 1888, by voluntary assessment among them- dres, to the pay of the District Watchmen,

and received from the Government a grant-in-aid of.......

4. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.

.$4.094.78 2,000.00

On the 31st December, 1888, the assets of the Colony exceeded its liabilities by...$360,619.76 (a) The surplus assets in:-

1884, were 1885,

*

In 1886, the liabilities exceeded the assets by In 1887, the surplus assets were ...............

$ 729,562.02 ......$ 127,692.42

$ 191,512.29

..$ 631,374.08 (a)

No new loan has been raised.

5.-PUBLIC DEBT.

6. MILITARY EXPENDITURE.

The Military Expenditure (inclusive of the Volunteer Corps) defrayed by the Colony during the ast five years has been as follows:-

Military Contribution, exclusive of

1884,..****

1885,......

1886,.... 1887.

1888,..

Defensive Works, and inclusive of Volunteer Corps,

$114,498.78

$117,337.00

$124,561.6S

..$128,815.63

$134,594.68

Defensive Works.

$ 3,464.64 $ 72,564.45 $217,901.45 $258,444.28

$ 62,115.90

(4) A loan of £200,000 having been raised daring 1687 to le paid off on the 1st of March, 1967. To provide for the repayment of this

a tinking Fund of £7,072 was established.