Directory_and_Chronicle_1881 — Page 206

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192

HONGKONG.

wise disturbing the disintegrated granite of w.ich the soil of the island mainly con- sists, and which appears to throw off malarious exualations when upturned. At the present time, however, the Colony is one of the healthiest spots in the world in the same latitude, and when the ignorance of newcomers respecting the climate, the rashness and excesses of seamen, and the squalor and crowded condition of the Chinese quarter of the town are considered, the mortality is by no means excessive. The annual death rate per 1,000 for the whole population in 1878 was 29.60, for the British and foreign population, 18.73, or deducting non-residents, 14.90. The annual average rainfall is 78.54 inches, while the average annual range of the thermometer is from 43 deg. to 89 deg.

The finances of the Colony have for several years gone on improving, and the estimated revenue for 1880 is $1,080,173, while the expenditure is estimated at $986,422.

Hongkong is a free port, and it is therefore impossible to give any return of its imports and exports. During the year 1879 the following tonnage entered and cleared with cargoes:

American British

NATIONALITY

ENTERED

CLEARED

Chinese

Chinese Junks

Vessels

85. 1,959.. 116.. 16,661.

Tons.

90,264.

Vessels.

76..

1,878,218.

1,834.

Tons. 84,207 1,769.231

91,007.

113.

92,511

1,223.171.

17,269..

1,287,612

Danish

17..

10,826.

9..

5,373

Dutch

8.

4,289.

5

2,780

French..

107.

160,099.

96.

156,022

German

234..

126,580.

174.

94,712

Italian

3..

2,100..

1..

724

Japanese

6.

6,574.

6.

6,574

Nicaraguan.

1

173

Norwegian

10.

6,098.

5

3,826

Portuguese...

1.

632.

2

1,262

Russian

4.

4,020

4.

3,278

Siamese

41

20,931..

12.

5,506

Spanish

63.

Swedish

1.

22,520. 1,190.

59.

20,873

2.

788

19,322

3,652,402

19,668

3.535,485

There also entered in ballast 7,915 vessels, with 470,266 tons, and cleared 7,019 vessels with 582,247 tons. The total shows a decrease as compared with the previous year of 230,000 tons, of which amount trade in British bottoms only shows a reduction of 1.46 per cent. There is a steady yearly increase in the steamer tonnage, and a corresponding falling-off in that of sailing ships.

The trade chiefly consists in opium, sugar, salt, flour, oil, cotton goods, earthen- ware, amber, ivory, sandalwood, betel, vegetables, granite, &c., &c. The bulk of the European trade of China and Japan passes through this port.

Hongkong possesses unrivalled steam communication. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company and the Messageries Maritimes convey the European mail weekly, the Pacific Mail Company and the Occidental and Oriental Steamship Company maintain a mail service with San Francisco, the Eastern and Australian Mail Steamship Company have a monthly service with the Australian Colonies, and several outside steamers run between Hongkong and the Australian ports. In addition to all these, several great lines of merchant steamers maintain regular communication between London, Liverpool, and Hongkong, of which the Ocean Steamship Company and the Glen and Castle lines are the most conspicuous. The Netherlands Indian Steam Navigation Company now maintain direct monthly communication between Java and Hongkong. Between the ports on the east coast of China and Hongkong the steamers of Messrs. Douglas Lapraik & Co. ply regularly twice a week and there is constant steam communication with Hoihow, Manila, Saigon, Haiphong, Bangkok, &c. With Shanghai and the ports of Japan there is frequent communication in addition to the mail steamers which leave weekly, while the steamers of the Mitsu Bishi Mail Steamship Company run fortnightly between Yokohama, Kobe, and Hongkong. Between Hongkong, Macao, and Canton there is a daily steam service. The telegraphic communication of the Colony extends to nearly every part of the world.

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