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HONG KONG.
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No. 9.
2
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
first instance to the unpaid magistrates, which I thought was likely to afford more satisfaction to the public, than if they had been merely nominated by myself.
Population.
8. The white population has decreased by 61 European males and 10 females. This may be attributed to the return of many Portuguese familes to Macao since the panic of 1849, as well as to several Europeans having migrated to California. The native population on the contrary exhibits an increase of 3,690 souls. The following is a comparative abstract of the population in 1849 and 1850.
1849
1850
Increase. Decrease,
Europeans
656
585
Goa and Macao Portuguese Indians and Malays
331
295
71 36
223
276
Chinese.
28,297
31,987
53 3,690
Total,.
29,507 33,143
3,743 107
The enclosed returns, furnished by the officiating Registrar-General, will show in detail the population of Hong Kong on the 31st December 1850. The deaths amongst the white population (which embraces English, Americans, and Portuguese), are returned at 89, being at the rate of 10-11 per cent. This per centage must not, however, be taken as a correct estimate of the mortality in this part of the community, the greater number of the deceased being sailors and sojourners, who cannot properly be considered to belong to the fixed popu- lation of the colony. The average monthly number of prisoners confined in the gaols during the year was 150, and the deaths amounted to 8, giving an average mortality of 5:33 per cent., as appears by the enclosed return from the sheriff. The average monthly number of European prisoners was 20, among whom no casualty occurred. With regard to the mortality amongst the Chinese population, my Despatches forwarding the Blue Books for former years will have shown your Lordship the impossibility of obtaining accurate information on the subject.
The Colonial Surgeon's Report, attached to the Blue Book, contsins all the information that it is possible to collect with reference to the general state of health, sickness, and mortality during the past year,
9. I beg to append a memorandum, drawn up at my request by the Brigade- Major, showing the number of deaths which have occurred in the garrison during the year 1850. This shows the mortality amongst all branches of the military service to have been 17.89 per cent., being 23 per cent. amongst the European, and 10 per cent. amongst the native part of the force, which averaged during the year 625 and 409 respectively.
Education.
10. From the return, at page 193 of the Blue Book, it will be seen that there are 12 schools on the island, 7 of which are under the superintendence of Christian tutors. Some of these are supported by the several religious institu- tions established in Hong Kong, and others maintained by voluntary contri- butions, and by the parents of the pupils. With regard to the progress of the four Chinese schools at Victoria, Aberdeen, Stanley, and Wongneichung, whose teachers are paid by the local Government, the enclosed Report from the Committee superintending the same will place before your Lordship all necessary information.
Trade.
It
11. The total number of vessels which arrived in Hong Kong in 1850 was 884, and their tonnage amounted to 299,093 tons, showing a decrease of 12 vessels, but an increase of 5,382 tons, when contrasted with the year 1849. is also satisfactory to remark, that the number of vessels from Great Britain and the United States of America has greatly increased, as will be seen by a glance at the following table:-
STATE OF HER MAJESTYS COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
In 1849 In 1850
From Great Britain.
Ships. Tons. Ships. 39 16,938 16 65 31,213 90
From United States of America.
Tons. 9,087 37,809
Increase in 1850.
26 14,275 74
28,722
The number of vessels from India in 1849 and 1850 was, respectively, 127, measuring 61,747 tons, and 125 of the burthen of 63,128 tons, thereby showing a decrease of two vessels, but an increase of 1,381 tons in 1850.
Of the shipping arrived in Hong Kong during the past year, the Harbour Master's Returns, appended to the Blue Book, under the head of " Imports and Exports," show that 160 vessels imported, and 121 exported, goods into and from the colony. From the same returns it appears, that treasure to the value of 6,071,183 dollars, equivalent to 1,264,8297. 15s. 10d., has been shipped here for India, the greater part of this amount being, no doubt, in return for opium sold in China.
I may here add, that in 1850 sixteen vessels were registered in the colony measuring 3,399 tons, two of which measuring, conjointly, 225 tons, were built at Hong Kong.
With respect to the native trade of the colony, I beg to enclose a memorandum prepared by the Assistant Chinese Secretary.
Crown Lands.
12. The fixed revenue derivable from Crown lands for the year ended 31st December 1850, was as follows:-
Mercantile firms Private individuals Chinese
Total
£. 8. d. 5,440 0 41 4,298 18 111 1,554 13
2
£11,293 12 53
Which amount, when contrasted with the years 1848 and 1849, gives a trifling increase during two years of 1851. 17s. 6d. I think, therefore, that our annual fixed revenue under this head for years to come may be fairly estimated at about 1,000l.
Police.
13. I consider that our police force is perfectly competent for the prevention of crime within the precincts oi Victoria, where its service is mainly required. I attach a Return, drawn up by Mr. Superintendent May, showing the number of felony cases coming under the cognizance of the police from 1847 to 1850 inclusive, from which it will be perceived that felonies have fallen from 856 cases in 1849 to 674 during the last year.
I likewise forward several Returns, showing the criminal cases tried in the Supreme Court, and the causes brought before and decided by the chief magistrate and the Court of Petty Sessions, respectively, during the past year, as well as a Return of the number of civil cases tried by the Chief Justice, and actions commenced within the same period.
14. On the whole, my Lord, I have no hesitation in reporting the state of this colony to be satisfactory. The native population is certainly on the increase, and from the police returns it would seem that crime is on the decrease. This may be attributed to the arrival here during the past year of a number of artisans and tradesmen from Canton, who have been, in a great measure, induced to resort to the colony by reason of the trade which is now carried on between it and California. The Chinese inhabitants have also become more accustomed to our institutions. Hong Kong, as I have already reported in separate Despatches on this subject, will not, in my opinion, ever be the port of trade, which on its first formation it was expected to become; and I think it not impossible that three or four of our larger British commercial establishments will be at no distant period broken up, as from competition and
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