CO129-549-12 Annual report of the Social and Economic Progress of the People of Hong Kong- 1933... 8-6-1934 - 11-6-1934 — Page 37

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

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Chapter XV.

PUBLIC FINANCE & TAXATION.

The following tables show the Revenue and Expenditure for the five years 1929 to 1933 inclusive.

Revenue. Expenditure. $23,554,475 $21,983,257

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7. The Assets and Liabilities of the Colony on the 31st December, 1933, are shown in the following statement ;-

LIABILITIES.

1929

Surplus. Deficit. $1,571,218

1930

1931

1932

27,818,473 28,119,646 33,146,724 31,160,774 1,985,950 33,549,716 32,050,283

$301,173

DEPOSITS :-

1,499,433

1933

32,099,278

31,122,715

976,563

C.

ASSETS.

--

C.

2. The revenue for the year 1933 amounted to $32,099,278 being $1,903,297 less than estimated and $1,450,438 less than the revenue obtained in 1932.

3. Duties on imported liquor and tobacco were less than estimated as they are on a sterling basis and were reckoned on an exchange rate of $1-1/2 whereas the average rate throughout the year was over 1/4/16. Assessed Taxes show a decrease of $65,031.30 due to vacant tenements and large decreases were shown by the Opium Monopoly of $1,347,148 and in Stamp Duties of $392,293. A considerable increase amounting to $328,907 was shown under Water Excess and Meter Rents due to general building development and to the institution of universal meterage. Land Sales were less than estimated to the extent of $327,139.

4. The expenditure for the year 1933 amounted $31,122,715 being $4,076,532 less than estimated and $927,568 less than the expenditure in 1932.

Contractors and

Officers Deposits

Suitors Fund

ADVANCES ---

Oil account of

Future Loan............................ Purchase of three Locomotives for Chinese Section Kowloon Canton

487,200.00

587,617.30

Miscellaneous De-

posits........

2,268,353.78

Railway.

Miscellaneous

Insurance Compan-

ies

Building Loans

Subsidiary Coin

Suspense Account

Exchange Adjustment

1,900,700.00 Imprest Account..

967,147.31 Crown Agents Re-

136,808.00

Trade Loan Reserve... 1,070,609.68

Praya East Reclama-

mittances

Investments;-

6,934,474.13

267,468.26

79,401.82

723,310.04

7,218.15

1,415,597.95

19,959.40

Surplus Funds Trade Loan

1,610.714.23

Out-

standing

574,500.50

tion

to

House Service Account

Government House & City Development Fund

112,303.45

10,478.98

Unallocated Stores,

(P.W.D.)....

486,713.30

Unallocated Stores,

(Railway)....

187,916.81

Cash Balance :--

1,227,666.28

Coal Account

2.126.52

* Joint

Total Liabilities... 8,771,011.30 |

Fixed Deposits:

Excess of Assets over

Liabilities

13,823,625.33

5. Ordinary expenditure amounted to $27,830,266, Public Works Extraordinary to $3,292,449. Large savings resulted under Personal Emoluments, compared with the amounts inserted in the Estimates, on account of the higher exchange prevailing throughout the year. Changes in personnel and vacancies in office also reduced the amount but most of this under-expenditure amounting to $1,489,791 was due to the rise in the sterling value of the dollar. Under Other Charges savings were also effected amounting to $877,763. Expenditure on Public Works Extraordinary fell short of the original estimate by $375,474 and $138,893 less than estimated was expended on recurrent maintenance and improvements.

6. Debt.—The total amount of sterling debt outstanding at the close of 1933 was £1,485,732.16.5, the sinking fund for its redemption amounting to £911,748. The 1927 Public Works Loan of $4,927,000 was converted on 1st August, 1933 to 4% under authority of Ordinance No. 15 of 1933; the sinking fund will be dealt with under section 10 (5) of that Ordinance.

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Total.....$ 22,594,636.63

Crown Agents....... Treasurer......

Fund...

Colonial

General $2,080,000.00 Insurance

Companies 1,900,700.00 Miscellaneous 450,000.00

40,792.69 3,574,679.79

2,241,189.57

Total ...

4,430,700.00

22,591,636.63

*Joint Colonial Fund £157,000..0s.Od.

8. Main Heads of Taxation. The largest item of revenue is derived from the assessment tax, the sum of $6,434,969 being collected in 1933. This represents 20.05% of the total revenue or 20.67% of the revenue exclusive of land sales. The rates vary

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