Directory_and_Chronicle_1882 — Page 231

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HONGKONGO,

wise disturbing the disintegrated granite of which the soil of the island mainly con- sists, and which appears to throw off malarious exhalations when upturned. At the present time, however, the Colony is one of the heal'biest 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 the crowded condition of the Chinese quarter of the town are consider d, the mortality is by no means excessive. The annual death rate per 1,000 for the whole population in 1880 was 28.71, for the British and foreign population, 16.71, or deducting non-residents, 15.95. The arnual average rain all is 71.54 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 1882 is $1,121,860, while the expenditure is estimated at $1,051,614.

Hongkong is a free port, and it is therefore impossible to give any return of its imports and exports. During the year 1880 the ollowing tonnage entered and cleared with cargoes:-

NATIONALITY

ENTERED

CLFARED

American

AnDameso

Austrian

Vessels

130.

Tons. 117,868

Vesse's. 110,

Tons, 18, 193

78

2

3,179

Belgian

1

1,125

1

1,8:7 1,125

olivian

1

710.

British.

2,043

1,851,791

Chinese

130.

124,197.

1,919 149

1,749 148

123,970

Chinese Junks

16,610.

1,240,988.

17,535.

1,281,213

Danish

N

6,390.

10.

6,539

Dutch

18.

12,208

9

6,199

French..

113.

163,182..

05

160,530

German

225.

131,6-5.

142

52,106

Honduras

510

Japanese

28

26,076.

27

25,635

Norwegian

3,68)

2

1,510

Portuguese..

432.

1

6.2

Russian

2

2,274

2.

2,274

Siamese

30

14,905.

21.

10,247

Spanish

63.

19,038..

63.

19,219

Swedish

678.

2

578

19,421

3,721,593

20,179

3,625,136

There also entered in ballast 7,380 vessels, with 461,252 tous, and cleared 6,239 vessels with 549,013 t ns. The total shows an increase as compared with the pre- vious year of 63,177 tons. There is a steady yearly increase in the steamer tonnage, and a corresponding falling-off in that of sailing ships.

The trade chiefly cousists in opium, sugar, salt, flour, oil, cotton gods, earthen- ware, amber, ivory, sandalwood, bôtel, vegetables, grani'e, &c., &c. The bulk of the European trade of China and Japan pass. s through this port.

Hongkong poss sses 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, and the Eastern and Australian Steamship Con pany and some outside steamers keep up a pretty frequ ni but irregular service with the Australian Colenies. In addition to all t⋅ ese, soveral great lines of merchant steamers maintain regular communication between Lorden, Liverpool, and Hongkong, of which the Ocean Steamship Company and the Gien and Castle lines are the most conspicuous. The Austro-Hungarian Loyd's steamers also run from Trieste to Hongkong. The Netherlands Indian Steain Navigation Company now maintain direct monthly communication between Java and Hongkong. Between the ports on the cast coast of China and Hongkong the steamers of Messrs. Douglas Lapraik & Co. ply regularly twice a week, and there is constant steam com- munication with Hoihow, Manila, Saigon, Haiphong, Bangkok, &c. With Shangnai 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 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.