(2)
EXPENDITURE.
On the expenditure side there is a nett increase of $166,499.34 during 18 as compared with the previous year of 1896, or a nett increase of expenditure excess of revenue of $89,463.58.
The most noticeable increases on the expenditure side were :-
Public Debt,
Pensions,
Public Works Department,
Post Office,
Lighthouses,
Medical Departinent,.
Transport,
Miscellaneous Services...
Public Works Recurrent,
Public Works Extraordinary,
€30,337.03
22,769.51 3,862.82
18,799.12 2,721.90
5,215.61
4,458.46
67,946.03
20,982.54
58,205.40
The amount expended on Public Works Extraordinary chargeable to the Lot amounted to $321,705.89 as agaiust $230,619.32 in 1896, and $186,970.87 in 189
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
The Statement of Assets and Liabilities shows a debit balance on the 31 December, 1897, amounting to $264,649.87, of which $262,091.95 were lor monies.
Against this apparent deficit, however, the Colony had a prospective asset $350,000 worth of coins which were paid for before the 31st December but we not yet in transit on that date.
It should also be mentioned that the expenditure for the year 1897 include
a sum of $116,000 on account of Her Majesty's Jubilee Celebration.
LOAN.
The Balance Sheet of the Loan Account showed at the end of the year a debi balance amounting to £336,025 0s. 9d.
MILITARY ACCOUNT.
The amount in sterling contributed by the Colonial Government during 189
in aid of Military Expenditure was £42,993 12s. 37, as against an expenditure e £162,588.
LEGISLATION.
The most important Ordinances passed during the year were :-
(1) An Ordinance to declare and amend the Law of Partnership.
(2) An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to th Construction of Ordinances, to further shorten the Language used in Ordinances, and for other like purposes,
These Ordinances assimilate the law of the Colony to that prevailing i England.
There was also an Ordinance passed to consolidate and amend the Laws relat ing to Proutes band Letters of Administration in this Colony,
Paskates and
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POPULATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
475
The population in 1887 numbered 212,951 as against an estimated population in the latter part of 1897 numbering 248,710, including members of the Army and Navy to the average number of 5,118. The European civil population during the year was estimated at 8,555.
The total number of deaths registered was 4,668 as compared with 5,860 during 1896, but in the latter year there were no fewer than 1,078 deaths from Bubonic Plague; deducting deaths from that disease, however, there has been a material reduction in the death-rate which for 1897 stands at 18.85 per 1,000 as compared with an average of 23 per 1,000 during the previous five sive of 1894, the year of the great epidemic of Bubonic Plagne).
years (exclu-
The above statistics show an improvement in the state of the Public Health, which may be regarded as satisfactory; notwithstanding the fact that 293 cases of small-pox and 65 cases of enteric fever were reported during the year, the latter being chiefly confined to Europeans and the origin traceable to the milk supply.
It is only natural that a port like Hongkong should be largely exposed, through the shipping, to epidemics of an infectious nature, and it is probably an indication of the adequacy of the Quarantine Regulations that such epidemics are not more frequent.
It is satisfactory to note that only 21 cases of Bubonic Plague were reported during the year.
CLIMATE.
CLIMATE
As bearing on the above, the flowing particulars regarding the climate during the year under review may prove of interest.
1896.
The average monthly temperature was 71.7° F. as compared with 72° F. during The maximum monthlyftemperature was attained in July when it reached 82.1° F. as compared with a maximum mouthly temperature in the same month of the previous year 88.1° F.; the maximum monthly temperature was recorded in February, as in 1896, being 42° F. as compared with 53.1° F. The highest recorded temperature was 91. F. in the month of September, and the lowest was 41.0° F. in the month of eruary.
The total rainfall for the year was 100.03 inches as compared with 71.78 inches during 1896, the test months being August with 25.55 inches and June with 23.355 inches, whilst the driest months were December with 0.48 inch and March with 0.815 inch of rain. No rainfall was recorded on 193 days of the year as compared with 20 days during the previous year. The largest rainfall for the 24 hours during the year was 6.03 inches on the 28th June. The relative humi- dity of the atmosphère throughout the year was, approximately, 80 per cent. The average daily amount of sunshine was 4.78 as compared with 4.8 hours in 1896. On 71 days only no sunshine was recorded,
SHIPPING AND TRADE.
The shipping returns for the year are not quite so satisfactory as might be expected. The total tonnage entering and clearing amounted to 15,938,174, being British shipping a decrease of 577,779 tons as compared with the year 1896. shows an increase of 329 ships and a decrease of 489,528 tons. This numerical increase with a tonnage decrease, is attributed to the number of small vessels which, since the opening of the West River in June last, have been plying on that route and increasing the number of entries and clearances without a proportionate in-
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