1898.
30
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL
EUROPEAN INDIAN CHINESE TOTALS Warrant Officers. Officers. N.C.O.'s and Men. 966 1,010 Warrant Officers. Officers. N.C.O.'s and Men. 1,419 N.C.O.'s and Men. 3,222IX.-MILITARY FORCES AND EXPENDITURE.
(A.) REGULAR FORCES.
The following table shows the numbers and nature of the forces employed in the Colony during 1898-
CORPS Warrant Officers. Officers. N.C.O.'s and Men. Royal Artillery ... 44 182 Hong Kong-Royal Engineers Battalion, R.A. - ~ TAB Chinese Sub.-Miners ... 21 60 1/K.O. Royal Laner. Regiment. 2 46 Hong Kong Regiment ... 3 T Army Service Corps Royal Army Medical Corps Ind. Sub-Mod. Department A.O.D. and Corps A.P.D. and Corps Educational Total ... 1,806 12 General Stat... Garrison Staff *** **COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
(B.) VOLUNTEER FORCES.
31
The field battery numbered 117, of whom 93 were efficient; while the figures for the Machine Gun Company were 58 and 43 respectively.
X.-GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The most important event of the year 1898 as regards this Colony was the grant by China of a lease for 99 years of a portion of the mainland and some of the surrounding islands to Great Britain as an extension of the Colony. The Honourable J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, who was on leave in England, returned to Hong Kong, and in August visited the territory thus granted, upon the capabilities of which he made an exhaustive report. The occupation of the extended area was not effected during the year under review, and will be more properly dealt with in the report on the Blue Book for the current year.
The year 1898 witnessed a recurrence of the plague, which carried off 1,175 people. The proportion of Europeans attacked was somewhat greater than during the preceding epidemic. So far medical science appears to be equally at fault as to its prevention or its cure. The most active measures were taken by the health officers and the Sanitary Board, but without any apparent effect upon the course of the epidemic, which appeared, increased, declined, and disappeared synchronously with the epidemic in Canton and other towns where no attempt whatever was made to check its ravages. The terror inspired by the epidemic of 1894 among the Chinese has apparently ceased as there was no exodus during 1898. The coolies who are almost exclusively the victims seem to accept the possibilities with stoical equanimity.
Emigration decreased as compared with 1897. At the Emigration Office 8,497 women and children were examined under the "Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1889," and allowed to proceed to their destination. In 1897 the numbers were 8,501. Immigration from China to the Colony is considerable, and among the immigrants, as is inevitable, there are many representatives of the vicious and criminal classes of the mainland, who add considerably to the difficulties with which the Hong Kong police have to contend.
The increase of piracy on the West River is a serious hindrance to the advancement of our trade. Chinese government seem to be unable to cope with it, and the time is coming when this question must be taken up if our trade is not to be strangled. It is at present one of the most important factors in the future condition of the trade of this Colony with the West River.
HONG KONG,
1898.
511
1898.
30
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL
EUROPEAN.
INDIAN.
TOTALS.
Warrant
Officers.
Officers.
N.C.0.7%
and Men.
Warrant
Officers.
Officers.
N.C.O.'s
and Men.
N.C.O.'s
and Men.
IX.-MILITARY FORCES AND EXPENDITURE.
(A.) REGULAR FORCES.
The following table shows the numbers and nature of the forces employed in the Colony during 1898 -
CHINESE.
CORTS.
...
44
-
~
TAB
182
966
1,010
21
2
1,419
60
3,222
46
T
Royal Artillery ...
Hong Kong-
Royal Engineers Battalion, R.A.
Chinese Sub.-Miners
...
1/K.O. Royal Laner. Regiment.
Hong Kong Begiment ...
Arny Service Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
Ind. Sub-Mod. Department A.O.D. and Corps
A.P.D. and Corps
Educational
Total
...
...
ww
***
...
...
****
...
General Stat...
Garrison Staff
...
***
**
1,806
12
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
(B.) VOLUNTEER FORCES.
31
The field battery numbered 117, of whom 93 were efficients; while the figures for the Machine Gun Company were 58 and 43 respectively.
X.-GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The most important event of the year 1898 as regards this Colony was the grant by China of a lease for 99 years of a portion of the mainland and some of the surrounding islands to Great Britain as an extension of the Colony. The Honourable J. II. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, who was on leave in England, returned to Hong Kong, and in August visited the territory thus granted, upon the capabilities of which he made an exhaustive report. The occupation of the extended area was not effected during the year under review, and will be more properly dealt with in the report on the Blue Book for the
current year.
The year 1898 witnessed a recurrence of the plague, which carried off 1,175 people. The proportion of Europeans attacked
was somewhat greater than during the preceding epidemic. So far medical science appears to be equally at fault as to its prevention or its cure. The most active measures were taken by the health officers and the Sanitary Board, but without any apparent effect upon the course of the epidemic, which appeared. increased, declined, and disappeared synchronously with the epidemic in Canton and other towns where no attempt whatever was made to cheek its ravages. The terror inspired by the epidemic of 1804 among the Chinese has apparently ceased as there was no exodus during 1898. The coolics who are almost exclusively the victims seem to accept the possibilities with stoical equanimity.
Emigration decreased as compared with 1897. At the Emi- gration Office 8,497 women and children were examined under the "Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1889," and allowed to proceed to their destination. In 1897 the numbers
were 8,501. Immigration from China to the Colony is considerable, and among the immigrants, as is inevitable, there are many representatives of the vicious and criminal classes of the mainland, who add considerably to the difficulties with which the Hong Kong police have to conteud.
The increase of piracy on the West River is a serious hindrance to the advancement of our trade Chinese fiørermment sewn to be unble to empo with it, and the time is coming when this question must be taken up if our trade is not to be strangled. It is at present one of the most important factors in the future condition of the trade of this Colony with the West River.
HONG KONG,
1898.
511
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