395
HONG KONG.
2
SIR,
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
N289
Enclosure in No.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hong Kong, April 25, 1856.
I HAVE the honour to forward your Excellency the Blue Book for the year 1855, the perusal of which will I believe fairly prove that the past year has been the most promising since the foundation of the colony.
2. The two points most worthy of notice are, the increase of the population and the favourable result of the land sales.
3. Within the last eight years the population has been more than trebled, while an increase of nearly 17,000 is shown over the returns of 1854. The number as given in the Registrar General's Comparative Table is, for the past year, 72,607; for the previous year, 1854, 55,715; and for 1848, 23,998.
4. The state, still somewhat unsettled, of the neighbouring province is of course the moving cause of this influx of people, and it is useful to observe that during each of the past years the increase has been at about an equal rate.
5. One natural and necessary result of the increased population is the increase of trade, which is admitted on all sides, though the Government is unprepared to prove it by statistics, owing to the, in all other respects, wise and judicious absence of a custom house.
6. Several merchants have, however, during the past six months, remarked to me on the large trade (and this a ready money trade) springing up here, in a manner for which they are unable to account; and only yesterday one gentleman informed me, that but a short time back he sold an entire ship's cargo, to the value of some 30,000, in the course of a single morning.
7. The class of Chinese traders, notwithstanding, is comparatively low, and not wealthy, as evinced in part by the high rate of interest ruling in the colony, which may be quoted at 3 per cent. per mensem, or 36 per cent. per annum.
8. But now that the large European and American houses have, to some extent, fixed branch or head establishments here, as many have during 1855, it is possible that the richer native men of business may be induced to follow; and I think we may now begin to entertain a hope that such firms as the Chin-Chew Hongs may settle here, and the project be realized which Sir John Davis did his utmost to encourage in the infancy of the colony, upwards of ten years ago.
9. The revenue of the colony may next call for remark, and of this the most important item comes under the head of rent from leased lands. The Surveyor General in his report, as will be seen, puts this down as 16,229, while the Treasurer shows the collection during the year to have been but 11,147l. 17s. 11½d.
10. I have examined into this discrepancy, and find that the Surveyor General must have fallen into some error, for he has overstated the rent roll, which stood at the close of 1855, and still stands, at exactly 14,779l. 3s. 7d., while the difference between this sum and the amount actually collected may be probably accounted for by casual arrears, and the collection of a portion of the rents between Christmas of 1854 and the new year of 1855, the same strict measures for the collection of a correspondent sum not having been taken during the final week of 1855.
11. The net increase on the rent roll during the year, subtracting reductions, &c., is 3,528l. 17s. 5d.
12. Akin to the rent roll revenue, as connected with land, is the large amount received as premium on the various lots exposed to public auction. This has been most remarkable in 1855. The number of land sales was nine, and the premia realized amounted to 15,720l. 16s. 8d., nearly half of which was derived from six valuable marine lots sold on 16th November last.
13. Of the other items of revenue those requiring any special notice are the opium and spirit licences, which show, especially the former, some increase, owing to the increased population, and to the same cause may be traced a similar increase under police assessment and fees of office.
14. On expenditure little comment is required, but it must not be lost sight of, that while the revenue rises with the colony so must the expenses, and the increase under this head of 6,178l. 11s. 1d. is attributable to public works, mainly, and to the necessarily increased police force, besides some additions to the now underhanded and always underpaid departments of government.
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
3
15. Of public works the most important is Government House, which was completed for your Excellency's reception on the first October last, and cost, up to 31st December 1855 the sum of 15,318l. 13s. 4d. Throughout the city of Victoria, culverts and side channels have been industriously proceeded with, and a great improvement in these respects has been effected. During the latter part of the year the erection of tanks for water for general purposes and in case of fire has engaged the Surveyor General.
16. I observe that the Surveyor General has noticed the irregular burials, and damage done to young trees by the Chinese, and I have to say that almost weekly I have called the attention of the Superintendent of Police to these offences, and I hope at last with some little effect; but these nuisances, with a large Chinese population and a very inefficient police, are most difficult of suppression.
17. The principal subjects into which the ordinances and notifications of the year have been connected are Chinese emigration, the administration of justice, and the registration of ships.
18. This port has become concerned largely in Chinese emigration, the returns showing that 14,683 left during the year, and this business is, I believe, on the increase. The emigration officer is useful and necessary, but it is to be hoped that as soon as circumstances permit the appointment will be transferred to an assistant harbour master, as far more convenient and suitable arrangement.
19. The ordinances for the administration of justice are adaptations of the law reforms introduced into the mother country.
20. The imperial act to amend and consolidate the laws regulating merchant ships and seamen, known as "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854," came into operation on 1st May 1855, and some notifications regarding it have been issued in the Gazette, while an ordinance, No. 4 of 1855, establishes a registry for colonial vessels.
21. Of the councils it is only necessary to say that their reconstruction is under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government.
22. The police is notoriously inefficient for the purpose of prevention of offences and nuisances, but seem to answer their end as regards the protection of property by night. The whole system is under revision.
23. On the currency your Excellency has already addressed the Secretary of State.
24. Sir John Davis, in noticing the Blue Book for 1845, attached some importance to the establishment of foreign consulates here, and it will be seen that all the commercial countries of importance are now represented by consuls or other consular officers at this port.
25. I have already remarked on the absence of a custom house, and on the consequent impossibility of furnishing accurate returns of imports and exports, but the Harbour Master's tables will give valuable information on this head. It must not, however, be supposed that either the imports are consumed in the colony or the exports its production.
26. From the very nature of the island of Hong Kong little is to be said of its agriculture, and as little of its manufactures in the serious sense of the word. The fisheries are more noticeable, upwards of 1,100 boats belonging to the colony being engaged therein, and the outlying villages, such as Stanley and Aberdeen, being largely employed in drying and curing the produce.
27. Crime of the more serious kind is rare in comparison with the population, but larcenies and petty offences occupy much time before the magistrates' court.
28. Piracy, the chief hindrance to the prosperity of the colony, has been repeatedly reported on to the Home Government, and it is to be earnestly hoped that some effective decision may be speedily arrived at.
29. The gaol is fortunately situated in a very healthy part of the town, but as the inhabitants of Victoria have increased so have the smaller classes of crimes, and consequently the prisoners in confinement. It will be absolutely necessary, and that without delay, to extend the gaol buildings, and provide further accommodation on the ground reserved southward of the present premises. The lengthened illness and subsequent death of the gaoler has caused some little confusion in this department, but improvement is now apparent.
HONG KONG
395
HONG KONG.
2
SIR,
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
N289
Enclosure in No.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hong Kong, April 25, 1856.
I HAVE the honour to forward your Excellency the Blue Book for the year 1855, the perusal of which will I believe fairly prove that the past year has been the most promising since the foundation of the colony.
2. The two points most worthy of notice are, the increase of the population and the favourable result of the land sales.
3. Within the last eight years the population has been more than trebled, while an increase of nearly 17,000 is shown over the returns of 1854. The number as given in the Registrar General's Comparative Table is, for the past year, 72,607; for the previous year, 1854, 55,715; and for 1848, 23,998.
4. The state, still somewhat unsettled, of the neighbouring province is of course the moving cause of this influx of people, and it is useful to observe that during each of the past years the increase has been at about an equal rate.
5. One natural and necessary result of the increased population is the increase of trade, which is admitted on all sides, though the Government is unprepared to prove it by statistics, owing to the, in all other respects, wise and judicious absence of a custom house.
6. Several merchants have, however, during the past six months, remarked to me on the large trade (and this a ready money trade) springing up here, in a manner for which they are unable to account; and only yesterday one gentleman informed me, that but a short time back he sold an entire ship's cargo, to the value of some 30,000, in the course of a single morning.
7. The class of Chinese traders, notwithstanding, is comparatively low, and not wealthy, as evinced in part by the high rate of interest ruling in the colony, which may be quoted at 3 per cent. per mensem, or 36 per cent. per annum.
8. But now that the large European and American houses have, to some extent, fixed branch or head establishments here, as many have during 1855, it is possible that the richer native men of business may be induced to follow; and I think we may now begin to entertain a hope that such firms as the Chin-Chew Hongs may settle here, and the project be realized which Sir John Davis did his utmost to encourage in the infancy of the colony, upwards of ten years ago.
9. The revenue of the colony may next call for remark, and of this the most important item comes under the head of rent from leased lands. The Surveyor General in his report, as will be seen, puts this down as 16,229, while the Treasurer shows the collection during the year to have been but 11,1447. 178. 111⁄2d.
10. I have examined into this discrepancy, and find that the Surveyor General must have fallen into some error, for he has overstated the rent roll, which stood at the close of 1855, and still stands, at exactly 14,779. 3s. 7d., while the difference between this sum and the amount actually collected may be probably accounted for by casual arrears, and the collection of a portion of the rents between Christmas of 1854 and the new year of 1855, the same strict measures for the collection of a correspondent sum not having been taken during the final week of 1855.
11. The net increase on the rent roll during the year, subtracting reduc- tions, &c., is 3,5287. 17s. 5d.
12. Akin to the rent roll revenue, as connected with land, is the large amount received as premium on the various lots exposed to public auction. This has been most remarkable in 1855. The number of land sales was nine, and the premia realized amounted to 15,720. 16s. 8d., nearly half of which was derived from six valuable marine lots sold on 16th November last.
13. Of the other items of revenue those requiring any special notice are the opium and spirit licences, which show, especially the former, some increase, owing to the increased population, and to the same cause may be traced a similar increase under police assessment and fees of office.
14. On expenditure little comment is required, but it must not be lost sight of, that while the revenue rises with the colony so must the expenses, and the increase under this head of 6,1787. 11s. 1d. is attributable to public works, mainly, and to the necessarily increased police force, besides some additions to the now underhanded and always underpaid departments of government.
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
3
15. Of public works the most important is Government House, which was completed for your Excellency's reception on the first October last, and cost, up to 31st December 1855 the sum of 15,318/. 13s. 4d. Throughout the city of Victoria, culverts and side channels have been industriously proceeded with, and a great improvement in these respects has been effected. During the latter part of the year the erection of tanks for water for general purposes and in case of fire has engaged the Surveyor General.
16. I observe that the Surveyor General has noticed the irregular burials, and damage done to young trees by the Chinese, and I have to say that almost weekly I have called the attention of the Superintendent of Police to these offences, and I hope at last with some little effect; but these nuisances, with a large Chinese population and a very inefficient police, are most difficult of suppression.
17. The principal subjects into which the ordinances and notifications of the year have been connected are Chinese emigration, the administration of justice, and the registration of ships.
18. This port has become concerned largely in Chinese emigration, the returns showing that 14,683 left during the year, and this business is, I believe, on the increase. The emigration officer is useful and necessary, but it is to be hoped that as soon as circumstances permit the appointment will be transferred to an assistant harbour master, as far more convenient and suitable arrange-
ment.
19. The ordinances for the administration of justice are adaptations of the law reforms introduced into the mother country.
20. The imperial act to amend and consolidate the laws regulating merchant ships and seamen, known as "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854," came into operation on 1st May 1855, and some notifications regarding it have been issued in the Gazette, while au ordinance, No. 4. of 1855, establishes a registry for colonial vessels.
21. Of the councils it is only necessary to say that their reconstruction is under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government.
22. The police is notoriously inefficient for the purpose of prevention of offences and nuisances, but seem to answer their end as regards the protection
property by night. The whole system is under revision.
of
23. On the currency your Excellency has already addressed the Secretary of State.
24. Sir John Davis, in noticing the Blue Book for 1845, attached some importance to the establishment of foreign consulates here, and it will be seen that all the commercial countries of importance are now represented by consuls or other consular officers at this port.
25. I have already remarked on the absence of a custom house, and on the consequent impossibility of furnishing accurate returns of imports and exports, but the Harbour Master's tables will give valuable information on this head. It must not, however, be supposed that either the imports are consumed in the colony or the exports its production.
26. From the very nature of the island of Hong Kong little is to be said of its agriculture, and as little of its manufactures in the serious sense of the word. The fisheries are more noticeable, upwards of 1,100 boats belonging to the colony being engaged therein, and the outlying villages, such as Stanley and Aberdeen, being largely employed in drying and curing the produce.
27. Crime of the more serious kind is rare in comparison with the population, but larcenies and petty offences occupy much time before the magistrates
court.
28. Piracy, the chief hindrance to the prosperity of the colony, has been repeatedly reported on to the Home Government, and it is to be earnestly hoped that some effective decision may be speedily arrived at.
29. The gaol is fortunately situated in a very healthy part of the town, but as the inhabitants of Victoria have increased so have the smaller classes of crimes, and consequently the prisoners in confinement. It will be absolutely necessary, and that without delay, to extend the gaol buildings, and provide further accommodation on the ground reserved southward of the present premises. The lengthened illness and subsequent death of the gaoler has caused some little confusion in this department, but improvement is now apparent.
HONG KONG
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