CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9] — Page 504

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed
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501

Hong Kong, 1898.

10

COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.

(D) PUBLIC DEBT.

In 1893 the Government borrowed £311,799 15s. 1d. (sterling) for the purposes of certain extraordinary public works. The principal of these works were the Praya Reclamation, a central market, water, drainage and sewerage works. The loan was an inscribed stock loan, bearing interest at 3¼ per cent., to be paid off on April 15th, 1943. In 1896 a sinking fund was created for the purpose of gradually paying off the loan, and during that year the sum of £1,594 9s. 9d. (sterling) was devoted to it. In 1897 the sinking fund stood at £5,174 14s. 4d. (sterling), and during the past financial year it has risen to £8,854 8s. 1d. (sterling).

(E) CURRENCY.

COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.

Hong Kong

11

Month Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank National Bank of China, Limited July $2,914,252 $5,087,096 $450,000 August $2,917,093 $5,747,676 $444,905 September $2,879,076 $6,180,381 $445,879 October $2,534,743 $6,419,676 $449,538 November $2,583,714 $5,721,000 $439,057 December $2,573,594 $6,799,128 $448,875

The only legal tender is the Mexican dollar, and the British and Hong Kong dollar, or other silver dollars of equivalent value duly authorised by the Governor. Silver coins, representing some multiple of the cent or hundredth part of the said dollar, are legal tender for any sum not exceeding two dollars, and the copper or bronze coins representing the cent or one-hundredth part, and the cash or mil, representing one-thousandth part of the dollar, are legal tender for any amount not exceeding one dollar. There is also a large paper currency in use, in the form of notes issued by the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and the National Bank of China, Limited.

Amount of Paper Currency in Circulation.

The notes of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and the National Bank of China, Limited, in circulation during the year ending 31st December, 1898, were in amount as follows:-

II.—TRADE, AGRICULTURE, AND INDUSTRIES.

Under the heading (A) I have endeavoured to give such statistics as are ascertainable with regard to exports and imports. The fact that Hong Kong is a free port makes it a matter of unusual difficulty to give anything like a complete statement on this important subject. In the absence of a Custom House it is necessary to rely upon returns which may be only approximately accurate, but which will probably be found useful in giving a general idea of the present state of Hong Kong commerce. The tax on opium renders that article of commerce the only one of which I can offer clear returns. In the following tables I present the export and import returns of opium for the last five years.

Month 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 January $3,051,947 $8,126,528 $449,740 February $2,808,273 $7,676,009 $448,587 March $2,995,966 $6,609,031 $450,000 April $2,938,719 $6,764,001 $448,960 May $2,986,976 $6,489,800 $450,000 June $2,775,838 $6,176,267 $449,824 Chests 41,578 36,609 34,208 37,708 39,392 Through cargo reported in manifests but not landed 22,986 16,190 14,828 13,739 15,482

(A) IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF OPIUM FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

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501 Hong Kong, 1898. 10 COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL. (D) PUBLIC DEBT. In 1893 the Government borrowed £311,799 15s. 1d. (sterling) for the purposes of certain extraordinary public works. The principal of these works were the Praya Reclamation, a central market, water, drainage and sewerage works. The loan was an inscribed stock loan, bearing interest at 3¼ per cent., to be paid off on April 15th, 1943. In 1896 a sinking fund was created for the purpose of gradually paying off the loan, and during that year the sum of £1,594 9s. 9d. (sterling) was devoted to it. In 1897 the sinking fund stood at £5,174 14s. 4d. (sterling), and during the past financial year it has risen to £8,854 8s. 1d. (sterling). (E) CURRENCY. COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL. Hong Kong 11 Month Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank National Bank of China, Limited July $2,914,252 $5,087,096 $450,000 August $2,917,093 $5,747,676 $444,905 September $2,879,076 $6,180,381 $445,879 October $2,534,743 $6,419,676 $449,538 November $2,583,714 $5,721,000 $439,057 December $2,573,594 $6,799,128 $448,875 The only legal tender is the Mexican dollar, and the British and Hong Kong dollar, or other silver dollars of equivalent value duly authorised by the Governor. Silver coins, representing some multiple of the cent or hundredth part of the said dollar, are legal tender for any sum not exceeding two dollars, and the copper or bronze coins representing the cent or one-hundredth part, and the cash or mil, representing one-thousandth part of the dollar, are legal tender for any amount not exceeding one dollar. There is also a large paper currency in use, in the form of notes issued by the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and the National Bank of China, Limited. Amount of Paper Currency in Circulation. The notes of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and the National Bank of China, Limited, in circulation during the year ending 31st December, 1898, were in amount as follows:- II.—TRADE, AGRICULTURE, AND INDUSTRIES. Under the heading (A) I have endeavoured to give such statistics as are ascertainable with regard to exports and imports. The fact that Hong Kong is a free port makes it a matter of unusual difficulty to give anything like a complete statement on this important subject. In the absence of a Custom House it is necessary to rely upon returns which may be only approximately accurate, but which will probably be found useful in giving a general idea of the present state of Hong Kong commerce. The tax on opium renders that article of commerce the only one of which I can offer clear returns. In the following tables I present the export and import returns of opium for the last five years. Month 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 January $3,051,947 $8,126,528 $449,740 February $2,808,273 $7,676,009 $448,587 March $2,995,966 $6,609,031 $450,000 April $2,938,719 $6,764,001 $448,960 May $2,986,976 $6,489,800 $450,000 June $2,775,838 $6,176,267 $449,824 Chests 41,578 36,609 34,208 37,708 39,392 Through cargo reported in manifests but not landed 22,986 16,190 14,828 13,739 15,482 (A) IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF OPIUM FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
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501 Hose Koso, 1898. 10 COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.. (D) PUBLIC DEBT. In 1893 the Government borrowed £311,799 15s. 14. (sterling) for the purposes of certain extraordinary public works. The principal of these works were the Praya Reclamation, a central market, water, drainage and sewerage works. The loan was an inscribed stock loan, bearing interest at 33 per cent., to be paid off on April 15th, 1943. In 1896 a sinking fund was created for the purpose of gradually paying off the loan, and during that year the sum of £1,594 98. 9. (sterling) was devoted to it. 1897 the sinking fund stood at £5,174 14s. 47. (sterling), and during the past financial year it has risen to £8,854 8s. ld. (sterling). (E.) CURRENCY. COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL. Hong Kong 11 National Bank of China, Limited. HONG KONG, 1896. Month. Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China. and Shanghai Bank. July... * 2.914,252 $ & 5,087,096 450.000 In August September... 2,917,093 5,747,676 444,905 2,879,076 6,180,38# 445,879 October November ... December.** 2,534,743 6,419,676 449,538 2,583,714 2,573,594 5,721,000 6,799,128 439,057 448.875 The only legal tender is the Mexican dollar, and the British and Hong Kong dollar, or other silver dollars of equivalent value duly authorised by the Governor. Silver coins, representing some multiple of the cent or hundredth part of the said dollar, are legal tender for any sum not exceeding two dollars, and the copper or bronze coins representing the cent or one-hundredth part, and the cash or mil, representing one-thousandth part of the dollar, are legal tender for any amount not exceeding one dollar. There is also a large paper currency in use, in the form of notes issued by the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and the National Bank of China, Limited. Amount of Paper Currency in Circulation. The notes of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and the National Bank of China, Limited, in circulation during the year ending 31st December, 1898, were in amount as follows:- Chartered IL-TRADE, AGRICULTURE, AND INDUSTRIES. Under the heading (A.) bave endeavoured to give such statistics as are ascertainable with regard to exports and imports. The fact that Hong Kong is a free port makes it a matter of unusual difficulty to give anything like a complete statement on this important subject. In the absence of a Custom House it is necessary to rely upon returns which may be only approximately accurate, but which will probably be found useful in giving a general idea of the present state of Hong Kong commerce. The tax on opium renders that article of commerce the only one of which I can offer clear returns. In the following tables I present Month. Bank of India, Australia, and China. National Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank of China, Bank. Limited. the export and import returns of opium for the last five years (A) IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF OPIUM FOR THE FIVE YEARS. LAST 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. $ $ January 3,051,947 8,126,528 449,740 February 2,808,273 7,676,009 448,587 March 2,995,966 6,609,031 450,000 fimports April 2,938,719 6 764,001 448,960 Exporte May 2,986,976 6,489,800 450,000 Jane 2,775,838 6,176,267 449,824 Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests. 41,578 36,609434,208 37,708 39,392) 38,97836,241 33,385 35,808 37,8284 Through cargo reported in 22,98616,1904 14,828 13,739 15,482 manifests but not landed.
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501

Hose Koso, 1898.

10

COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL..

(D) PUBLIC DEBT.

In 1893 the Government borrowed £311,799 15s. 14. (sterling) for the purposes of certain extraordinary public works. The principal of these works were the Praya Reclamation, a central market, water, drainage and sewerage works. The loan was an inscribed stock loan, bearing interest at 33 per cent., to be paid off on April 15th, 1943. In 1896 a sinking fund was created for the purpose of gradually paying off the loan, and during that year the sum of £1,594 98. 9. (sterling) was devoted to it. 1897 the sinking fund stood at £5,174 14s. 47. (sterling), and during the past financial year it has risen to £8,854 8s. ld. (sterling).

(E.) CURRENCY.

COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.

Hong Kong

11

National Bank of China, Limited.

HONG KONG,

1896.

Month.

Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China.

and Shanghai Bank.

July...

* 2.914,252

$

&

5,087,096

450.000

In

August

September...

2,917,093

5,747,676

444,905

2,879,076

6,180,38#

445,879

October

November ...

December.**

2,534,743 6,419,676

449,538

2,583,714

2,573,594

5,721,000

6,799,128

439,057

448.875

The only legal tender is the Mexican dollar, and the British and Hong Kong dollar, or other silver dollars of equivalent value duly authorised by the Governor. Silver coins, representing some multiple of the cent or hundredth part of the said dollar, are legal tender for any sum not exceeding two dollars, and the copper or bronze coins representing the cent or one-hundredth part, and the cash or mil, representing one-thousandth part of the dollar, are legal tender for any amount not exceeding one dollar. There is also a large paper currency in use, in the form of notes issued by the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and the National Bank of China, Limited.

Amount of Paper Currency in Circulation.

The notes of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and the National Bank of China, Limited, in circulation during the year ending 31st December, 1898, were in amount as follows:-

Chartered

IL-TRADE, AGRICULTURE, AND INDUSTRIES.

Under the heading (A.) bave endeavoured to give such statistics as are ascertainable with regard to exports and imports. The fact that Hong Kong is a free port makes it a matter of unusual difficulty to give anything like a complete statement on this important subject. In the absence of a Custom House it is necessary to rely upon returns which may be only approximately accurate, but which will probably be found useful in giving a general idea of the present state of Hong Kong commerce. The tax on opium renders that article of commerce the only one of which I can offer clear returns. In the following tables I present

Month.

Bank of India, Australia, and China.

National Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank of China,

Bank.

Limited.

the export and import returns of opium for the last five years (A) IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF OPIUM FOR THE

FIVE YEARS.

LAST

1894.

1895. 1896.

1897. 1898.

$

$

January

3,051,947

8,126,528

449,740

February

2,808,273

7,676,009

448,587

March

2,995,966

6,609,031

450,000

fimports

April

2,938,719

6 764,001

448,960

Exporte

May

2,986,976

6,489,800

450,000

Jane

2,775,838

6,176,267

449,824

Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests. 41,578

36,609434,208

37,708 39,392) 38,97836,241 33,385 35,808

37,8284

Through cargo reported in 22,98616,1904 14,828 13,739 15,482

manifests but not landed.

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