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CHINA AND ITS OPEN PORTS.
The annual average rainfall is 71 inches, while the average range of the ther- mometer has been from 48° to 89° for the past fire years.
The Colony was first ceded to Great Britain in January, 1841; the cession was confirmed by the Treaty of Nankin, in August, 1842; and the charter bears date 5th April, 1843.
Hongkong is valuable to Great Britain mainly as a factory for her commerce with China, and as a military and naval station for the protection of that commerce. Its distance from Singapore is about 1,520 miles.
Hongkong is the centre of trade in many kinds of goods. Amongst the principal are opium, sugar, and flour produced in Tungkoon; salt, earthenware, oil, amber, cotton and cotton goods, sandalwood, ivory, betel, vegetables, live stock, granite, &c., &c.
As Hongkong is a free port, it is impossible to give a correct return of imports and exports, but the extent of the trade with which it is connected may be approximately estimated from the fact that the amount of Foreign and British tonnage entering and leaving the port annually, averages two millions of tons. To this must be added the large fleets of native craft of all sizes and forms, by which much of the coasting trade of the Chinese Empire is carried on, and also that of Siam, Cochin China, and the Straits. The number of native vessels-independent of several thousand smaller boats, which visit Hongkong annually-is about 52,000, with a tonnage of nearly 1,300,000, raising the total tonnage, foreign and native, of arrivals and departures in each year, to upwards of three millions and a half.
The occupation of Hongkong at its outset was effected at considerable cost to Imperial funds, the vote from Parliament in the year 1845 being nearly £50,000, in addition to military expenditure.
The Government is administered by a Governor, aided by au Executive Council, composed of five officials besides the Governor. The Legislative Council is presided over by the Governor, and is composed of the Chief-Justice, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney-General, the Treasurer, and four unofficial members nominated by the Crown on the recommendation of the Governor.
There is a Police force in the Colony, numbering 650 men, of whom 110 are Europeans, 176 Indians, and 340 Chinese.
Hongkong pays £20,000 a-year to the Imperial Government as military contribution.
GOVERNORS.
1813. Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart., G.C.B. 1841. Sir John F. Davis, Bart., K.C.B. 1818. Sir George Bonham, Bart., K.C.B.
Revenue. Expenditure.
1848
£27,048
£60,351
1858
35,500
42,428
1866
163,359
196,458
1852. Major-General Jervois (acting).
1807
179,143
162,780
1853. Sir George Bonham, Bart., K.C.B.
1868
236,272
206,503
1851. Sir John Bowring, Knt.
1869
192,469
192,309
1854. Lieut.-Colonel Caine (Lieut.-Governor).
1870
180,620
182,755
1859. Sir Hercules (7. R. Robinson, Knt.
1871
175,962
186,675
1862. William T. Mercer (acting).
1872
192,714
174,681
1864. Sir Hercules Robinson, Knt.
1873
176,579
165,100
1865. W. T. Mercer (acting).
1874
178,107
192, 98
1868. Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, C.B.
1889. Major-General Whitfeild (Lieut.-Governor 1471. Sir Richard ‹7. MacDonnell, K.C M.Q., C.B. 1872. Sir Arthur Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B. 1874. J, G. Austin, Admínistrato“.
Population.
European and American.
1862 1872* Trade and Commerce.
Chinese, &c. Total.
1,804 4,931
121,907 123,611 117,004
1875. Sir Arthur Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B.
121,985
The commercial intercourse of Hongkong-virtually a part of the commerce of China-is chiefly with Great Britain, the United States, and Germany, Great Britain absorbing about one-half of the total imports and exports. There are no official returns of the value of the imports and exports of the colony from and to all countries, but only mercantile estimates, according to which the former average four, and the latter two, millions sterling.
The extent of the commercial intercourse between Hongkong and the United Kingdom is shown in the following table, which gives the value of the total exports
Inclu ive of naval, military, and shipping.
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