CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3] — Page 346

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

344

The Births for 1884 amounted to 1,551, of which 1,365 were Chinese, the remainder being among the British and foreign community, including every nationality except Chinese.

:)

The Deaths amounted to 4,318, (Chinese 4,159, other nationalities 159). The annual death rate per 1,000 for the whole population was 26.91 as compared with 30.04 in 1883.

The number of marriages celebrated was 53, and the number of baptisms 2,375.

5. RETURN OF LANDS.

The total number of grants of land during 1884 was 76 as compared with 30 in 1883; the number of acres being 25.3.81. The acreage in 1883 amounted to 60.1.26).

6.-SHIPPING.

The total arrivals, exclusive of junks, during the year 1884 amounted to 3,290 vessels, with a tonnage of 3,479,637 tons, being a decrease of 111 vessels, and an increase of 29,209 tons as compared with the arrivals in 1883. 23,478 junks with a tonnage of 1,687,594 tons arrived in the Colony in 1884, as against 24,258 junks and 1,851,239 tons in 1883, showing a decrease of 785 junks and 163,645 tons. The total tonnage of the shipping that entered this harbour in 1884 was, therefore, 5,167,231 tons. These figures show that the Chinese junks are being gradually superseded by steamers and sailing vessels built on the European model.

of

7.-CRIMINAL STATISTICS.

POLICE.

The number of offences reported to the Police was 10,203 as against 7,688 in 1883; the number persons convicted was 6,040 as against 5,192 in 1883; the number of persons discharged was 1,662 as against 1,509 in 1883. The general depression in trade, in consequence of the prolonged Franco-Chinese hostilities, has thrown large numbers of Chinese coolies out of employment; hence au increase in the criminal classes.

MAGISTRATES COURT.

The total number of persons tried was 15,935 as compared with 12,104 in 1883; the convictions amounted to 12,836, and the discharges to 2,562. 108 persons were committed for trial; the remaining cases were either undecided or the defendants had to find security.

SUPREME COURT.

The total number of cases tried was ...........

.101, as compared with 126 in 1883.

[

8.--GAOL.

* The total number of persons committed to prison was 4,023 as against 3,486 in 1883. 48 were summoned for debt; 683 were committed for safe custody till trial or for want of security, and 3292 for Penal Imprisonment. There were 32 committals for five years or more, and 128 for one year or more.

The daily average number in prison was 552. The daily average number on the sick list was 8.095. The number of deaths was 3.

9.-EDUCATION.

Of this

The total number of schools subject to Government supervision amounted to 83. number 16 are Government Schools; 19 Government aided; 48 Grant-in-aid Schools.

The total number of scholars attending these schools was 5,885, of whom 4,238 were males and 1,647 females.

The total expenditure of Government on Education amounted to $32,586.60; the expenses of the various schools being altogether $62,713.22.

10.-FORESTS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS.

The total number of trees planted during the year was 330,019, and of sites sown 384,140, as compared with 311,963 and 845,646 in 1883. Of Pinus Sinensis 318,859 trees were planted, and of different species of the Eucalyptus from Australia 9,293.

11.-POST OFFICE.

The following table shows the approximate statistics of the correspondence received and despatched during the year, and gives a comparison with that of 1883 :—

Ordinary paid letters,

Unpaid and short paid Articles....

Letters on Postal Business,.

COMPARISON WITH 1883.

INTERNATIONAL,

LOCAL.

DESCRIPTION OF CORRESPONDENCE.

TOTAL.

De- spatched.

Received.

De- spatched.

Total

Received,

Increase. Decrease.

in 1883.

1,400

1,000

30,000

6,100

1,000

562,000 437,000 $3,000 53,000 1,098,000 13,500 21,000 2,000 3,(૧) $5,500 1,600

700 4.140 1,100 18,200 14,400

908.600

91.400 37.600 7,900

5,300

1,200

6,800

++

Newspapers and Periodicals,

177,000 350,000

30,000

11.000 268,000 471.000

97,000

Patierns,...

Books, Circulars, Prices Current, &C...

155,000

306,000

8,000

9.000 278,000 340,000

22.006

1.000

14,000

260

100

15,460

76,360

940

Registered Articles,

Commercial Papers,

8.800

4,000

780

400

5,980

4.940

1,010

22,100

27,000

2,700

3,000

$1,800 47,200

7,600

Letters with value declared,

Parcels,

Registered Articles with Retorn Receipt,

200

1,2411

130

750

170

130

260

190

2,280 890

2,477 89-1

197

4

Post Cardan

Do. with prepaid reply,

1884.

1883.

Convictions.

65 as compared with 70

Discharged

20

>>

13

Cases which fell through

16

26

27

>>

Committed Suicide.

I

23

"

Postponed

2

"

"}

Total.........101

Total..... ...126

MARINE MAGISTRATE.

The total number of persons who appeared before the Marine Magistrate during the was 169, of whom 128 were convicted, and 41 acquitted, as compared with 58 in 1888, of whom 29 were convicted, and 29 acquitted.

year

1884

An important extension of Money Order facilities was made by the introduction of Postal Notes.

A Savings Bank was opened by the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation in May, and already a sum of more than $50,000 has been deposited.

There was an increase in the sale of stamps, the total receipts under that head being $106,820.54 as compared with $100,690.68 in 1883.

The total revenue of the Post Office was $117,352.01 as against $107,275.91 in 1883.

12. STAMP REVENUE.

There was a considerable decrease in the sale of Revenue Stamps, the total receipts under that hend being $151,494.73, as compared with $174,656.15 in 1883.

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