CO129-007 - Sir John Davis - 1844 — Page 65

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

28

A Form of Government was organised, a Chief Magistrate, and Harbour Master were appointed. 50 lots of land were sold in 1841, to Messrs Jardine Matheson & Co., Macgowan, Dent & Co., Fox Rawson & Co., Innes-Lindsay and various other persons, the annual rent of which amounted to £3224. Each lot was required to have a building erected within six months of the appraised value of $1000; and a deposit of $500 was required to be lodged with the treasurer as a security for the performance of this engagement.

Building commenced with great spirit; the Government spent very large sums of money on the island, and the harbour was filled with ships and transports. The island has now had a fair trial of more than three and a half years. We shall inquire what progress it has made.

63

On taking possession of Hong Kong it was found to contain about 1500 inhabitants scattered over 20 fishing villages.

The requirements of the fleet, and troops, the demands for labour to make roads, and houses, and the servants of Europeans increased the number of inhabitants, and in March 1847 the number was counted at 19,361. In April 1841 the number of Chinese on the island is computed at 19000, including about 1000 females, children, servants, and slaves.

There were 97 gambling houses, and several opium shops. After six years and a half of continued settlement, there is not one respectable Chinese inhabitant to be found.

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28 A Form of Government was organised, a Chief Magistrate, and Harbour Master were appointed. 50 lots of land were sold in 1841, to Messrs Jardine Matheson & Co., Macgowan, Dent & Co., Fox Rawson & Co., Innes-Lindsay and various other persons, the annual rent of which amounted to £3224. Each lot was required to have a building erected within six months of the appraised value of $1000; and a deposit of $500 was required to be lodged with the treasurer as a security for the performance of this engagement. Building commenced with great spirit; the Government spent very large sums of money on the island, and the harbour was filled with ships and transports. The island has now had a fair trial of more than three and a half years. We shall inquire what progress it has made. 63 On taking possession of Hong Kong it was found to contain about 1500 inhabitants scattered over 20 fishing villages. The requirements of the fleet, and troops, the demands for labour to make roads, and houses, and the servants of Europeans increased the number of inhabitants, and in March 1847 the number was counted at 19,361. In April 1841 the number of Chinese on the island is computed at 19000, including about 1000 females, children, servants, and slaves. There were 97 gambling houses, and several opium shops. After six years and a half of continued settlement, there is not one respectable Chinese inhabitant to be found. 20
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28 A Form of Govenment was organised, × Chif Murgistrate, and Haz-Master re were appointed 7 50 Sets of land in were sold cis alive 1841, to mess?! Jurdive Mathesion 160 Deutsl, Macticar Co- Ho Fox Rawson &C. Inxmmer-Lindsay s and various other persons, the annual rent of sluch amorented to £3224. Euch lot was required to have a building. exected within disk mouths of the appraised value of $1000; and Je deposit of $500, was required to lodged with the treasurer as a sequit a security & greet for the performance of this engagement : Building Commenced with ge spuit ; the Government spent very large ruins of money on the island, and the harbor was I felled inthe ships fear; has now-had a fair trial of than three and a half years. We shatt inquere ir hat progress it has made and transports. The island sie in population. jvad 63 On taking possesion of Hong King it - as found to contauvabout 1500 inhabitants :scattered over 20 fishing truslets, a sillages. The requ requirevcients of the fleet, rud trips, the demands for laburns to ofe erall make roads, and houses, and the servant Europea vas marcased the Hunter. of intrabitants, and in Inworth 1847 she wen mumbered at 19361. In Apect كل مسجد کیجیے 184117 the number of Chinese the island is computed at 19000, aust pure plan 1000 and childow. AA ON VAPU Ire the PODU are the included gymovnou 97 ales attendant females slaves, and 31 brottiel, 8 کردی مجھنے کی Gambling Housters, and leverity Opiame shops to A is litter alle terally live that counter = after shite years, and a half cmimbe =rupted settlement- there is not one respectable Chinese-mhabitaut o be the 20
2026-05-16 16:03:11 · Baseline
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28

A Form of Govenment was organised, × Chif Murgistrate, and Haz-Master re were appointed 7 50 Sets of land

in

were sold

cis alive 1841, to mess?! Jurdive Mathesion 160 Deutsl, Macticar Co-

Ho

Fox Rawson &C. Inxmmer-Lindsay s and various other persons, the annual rent of sluch amorented to £3224. Euch lot was required to have a building. exected within disk mouths of the appraised value of $1000; and

Je deposit of $500, was required to lodged with the treasurer as a sequit

a

security

& greet

for the performance of this engagement :

Building

Commenced with ge spuit ; the Government spent very large ruins of money on the island, and the harbor was I felled inthe ships

fear; has now-had a fair trial of than three and a half years. We shatt inquere ir hat progress it has made

and transports. The island

sie

in population.

jvad

63

On taking possesion of Hong King it -

as found to contauvabout 1500 inhabitants

:scattered over 20 fishing truslets, a

sillages.

The requ

requirevcients of the fleet, rud

trips, the demands for laburns to

ofe

erall

make roads, and houses, and the servant Europea vas marcased the Hunter. of intrabitants, and in Inworth 1847 she wen mumbered at 19361. In Apect

كل مسجد کیجیے

184117

the

number of Chinese the island is computed at

19000,

aust pure plan 1000

and childow.

AA ON VAPU

Ire the

PODU are

the

included gymovnou

97

ales attendant

females

slaves, and

31 brottiel, 8

کردی مجھنے کی

Gambling Housters, and leverity Opiame

shops to

A

is litter alle

terally

live that

counter =

after shite years, and a half cmimbe

=rupted settlement- there is not one

respectable Chinese-mhabitaut

o be

the

20

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