CO129-284 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [7-8] — Page 474

COLONIAL REPORTS.

The following, among other, reports relating to Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions have been issned, and may be obtained for a few pence from the sources indicated on the title page :-

No,

ANNUAL.

Colony.

Year.

219

Lagos

1896

220

Gold Coast

学节

221

Labuan

222

British Guiana

"

1896-97

223

Rodrigues

1896

224

Basutoland

1896-97

225

Jamaica

14

226

Bechuanaland Protectorate

227

Leeward Islands

1896

228

Bermuda

1897

220

Gambia

""

230

Turks and Caicos Islands

231

Barbados...

SIR,

>>

232

Lagos

وو

233

St. Vincent

27

234

Sierra Leone

235

Falkland Islands

>

236

Straits Settlements

237

British New Guinea

1896-97

238

Bahamas

1897

239

St. Lucia...

"

240

St. Helena

241

Trinidad and Tobago

242

British Honduras

""

34

Leeward Islands

COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.

3

No.

HONG KONG.

(For Report for 1896, see No. 209.3

ACTING Governor BlaCK to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

Government House,

Hong Kong.

31st August 1898.

I HAVE the honour to forward to you the Blue Book for 1897, together with the subjoined report on that year.

Mauritius and Rodrigues

Malta Fiji

Subject.

5

>>

2

Economic Agriculture. Forests.

Geology and Botany.

MISCELLANEOUS.

No.

Colony,

1

Gold Coast...

2

Zululand

3

Sierra Leone

4

Canada

5

Bahamas

Sisal Industry.

&

Hong Kong

7

Newfoundland

8

Western Pacific

9.

Dominica

10

Virgin Islands

11

Grenada

Emigration.

Bubonic Plague. Mineral Resources.. Solomon Islands.

Agriculture.

.

FINANCES.

The revenue collected during the year amounted to $2,686,914.70, as against $2,609,878,94 collected in the preceding year, and as against $1,427,485.79 collected in the year 1887: this shows an increase of revenue during the last ten years of $1,259,428.91 (or approximating to 100 per cent.), whilst the population, during the same period, has only increased by 35,759 or 1679 per cent.

The receipts from land sales during the year show a decrease of $48,358.40, but this is necessarily an uncertain and, in a sense, a speculative source of revenue during any fixed period, the receipts on other more settled accounts are necessarily more satisfactory.

Under the more reliable items of revenue the following most substantial increases are shown as compared with the year 1896:--

Assessed Taxes

26,924,21

Stamps

36,699.20

Official Signatures

13,895.11

Queen's College Fees

3,512.00

Sunday Cargo-Working Permits.

4,275,00

Condition during 1897. Agriculture in Carriacou,

Postage

23,336.15

Leased Lands

24,516.31

Interest

4,576.84

Profit on Coins

4,819.71

Water Account

21,207.41

704-6-10/98 Wt 21620 D & S-5 (B)

Hong KoXGA 1897.

P

471