1
PONJKONG.
245
There are three daily papers published in English: the Hon kong Daily Press, which appears in the mining, the China Mail, issued in the creuing, and the Hongkong Telegraph, published in the afternoon. There are also two fort nightly papers, which are published on the morning of the departure of the English nail, amely, the China Overland Trade Report (the commercial journal of the Far East), and the Ocerland China Mail. The Hongkong Catholic Register is a religious paper published weekly. The Chronicle and Directory for China, Japan, &e, appars annually, and is issued from the Daily Press office. The China Review, which is devoted to reviews and papers on Chinese topics, is published ouce every two months. The native Press is represented by three daily papers-the Chung Ngoi San Po, which is the oldest and mest influential, published at the Daily Press Office; the 1 Taz Yat Po, or Chinese Mail; an I the Tsun Wan Yat Po, or Universal Circulating Herald. There are also two bi-weekly papers called the Kam Sz Ling Luk and the Wai San Yat Po. The Government Gazette is published once a week.
Manufactures are represented by three large sugar refineries, the China Sugar Refining Co.'s establishment at Fast Point, the Lee Yuen Suyar refinery, at Bɔw. rington, and the Taikoo Sugar Refinery at Quarry Bay. There is also in nnection with the first-named a Distillery, where a considerable quantity of rum is manufac tured. Among the industries pursued by the Chinese are glass blowing, vermillion manufacture, tanning, dying, bean cord, tooth-powder, match, cigar naking, &c.
There are several villages on the island, the larg st of which is Shauki Wan, situate in a bay in the Li-ü Mun Pass. Aberdeen, on the south of the island, possesses a well sheltered little barbour, inch frequented by fishing craft. Two large docks of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company are situated there, and add to the importance of the place. Pokfolum, on the road to Aber leen, about four miles from Victoria, is a place of resort for European residents in the bot w.ather, and some elegant bungalows have been erected in pleasant au picturesque situations, commanding fine sea views and col breezes. The sanitarium of the French Missions is located at Pokfelum, and is a fiue building with an elegant chapel attarbed. Stanley, situated in a small bay on the south-east of the island, was once the site of a military station, but the barracks were pulled down a few years Lack, and the village is stagnant. There are good carriage roads from Victoria both to Aberdeen and Shau-ki Wan, and a bridle road to Stanley. A good bridle road leads up to the summit of Victoria l'eak, with other paths branching off from it along the adjoining bills. Within the past three years the number of bungalows on and about the Peak bas à creased so much that they now form quite an alpine village. The Military bave recently erected a sanitarium on the heights; and in June, 1883, a small church was opened for worship the re.
Across the harbour is the dependency of British Kowloon. This peninsula was ceded to Great Britain in 1861. It has an area of four square miles, and, though formerly a most arid and desolate strip of land, bas latterly made considera le pro- gress. Yau-ma Ti, the principal village, has latterly increased in population, and bids fair to become au important town. have been erected and numerous gardens laid out at Triu-tsa Tsui, which place is A number of European houses and a club mich resorted to by the British and foreign residents. A fine praya, with a massive granite wall, has been constructed at Tsi-tsa Tsui, and go lowns are fast being built, for coaling purposes. An Observatory was also completed at the end of 1883 on Mount Elgin; and a large and handsome Police Station for the Water Police has been erected on an eminence just above the new praya. Steam ferries ply regularly between this place, Yan-ma T, and Victoria.
The total population of the Colony of Hongkong, according to the census of 1881, was 160,402, showing an increase of 21,258 since 1876, when the preceding. census was taken. The European community was larger by 273, but this increase was in women and children among the British, German, and Portuguese residents. The male adult population bad de reased. The total population of the city of Vic- teria was returned at 141,494; that of Kowloon at 9,021; of Shau-ki Wan 3,274; of Aberdeen 1,305; and Stanley 829. The rest of the population is distributed among
216
HONGKONG.
the smaller villages and the boat population other than in Victoria harbour. The tal British and foreigu population numbered 7,990, but the residents proper are re'urud at 3,040, the former figures including the naval and military estabi.sbinents, polic, shipping in harbour, and temporary residents. The Indians and others of
ixed blood numbered 1,722.
Hong kong formerly enj yed a most unenviable notoriety for unhealthiness, and in years past the troops garrisoned here undoubtedly suffered severely. A great deal of the sickness in the early days of the Colony was caused by excavating and other- wise disturbing the disintegrated granite of which the soil of the island mainly con- At the sists, and which appears to throw off malarious exhalations when upturned. present time, however, the Colony is one of the heal biest spots in the world in the same latitude, and when the inorance of newcomers respecting the climate, the rashness and excesses of seamen, and the squalor and the crowded condition of the Çin se quarter of the town are consider d, the mortality is by no means excessive. New sanitary regulations were inau urated in 1883. The annual death rate per 1,000 for the whole population in 1882 was 28.92, for the British and foreigu population 17 29, or deducting non-residents 13.56. The annual average rain all is about 80 incles, while the average annual range of the thermometer is from 43 deg. to 89 deg. The finances of the Colony have or several years gone on improving, and the estimate revenue for 1884 s $1,213,598, and the expenditure $1,190,842.
Hongkog is a free port, and it is therefor. impossible to give any return of its imports and exports. During the year 1882 the following tonnage entered and clared with cargoes:-
NATIONALITY
American Antamese, Austmas
Bratwi Chinese
ENTERED
CLEARED
1...
82... 79,413... 56...
136...
1...
12...
20,064...
11...
Tessela Tiina. Tease.. Tons.
76,057 136 18,543
2,434 .. 2,3 6,44 !... 2,304 .. 2,209,074 128... 121,430... 121... 117,048 Chinese Junks... 16,511... 1,274.576... 18,240 .. 1,454,944
57...
93,625... 42... 20,257 20...
18.159...
20...
18,158 127... 173,692... 112... 166,254
Danish Dutcb French
•
NATIONALITY
Gernian It+dian
382... 247,575...
I...
EXTERED
CLEARFD Vessels. Tons. Ves-cla. Tons.
156,729
257...
435...
1...
Japanese Norwegian Portuguese
32... $2,63-1...
1...
632.
27... 8...
435 20,774
8,631
1...
6.32...
-
Russino
17. 18,432
13...
Siamese
24 11,204...
9...
9,643 3,31
Spanish
33... 9,781... 34... 11,200
4... 1,530...
1...
289
Swedish
A total of 19,855 vessels, of 4,368,565 tons entered, and 21,264 vessels, of 4,304,008 tons cleared. There also ntered in ballast 8,813 vessels, with 607,668 tons, and cleared 6,884 vessel with 634,547 tons. The total shows an increase as compared with the previous year of 442,929 tons. 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, regetables, granite, &c., &c. The bulk of the European trade of China and Japan passes through this port.
The Peninsular and
Hongkong 108sses unrivall-d steam communication. Oriental Steam Navigation Company and the Messageries Maritimes convey the European mail weekly, the Pacific Mail Company and the Occidental and Oriental Steamship Company Daintain a mail service with San Francisco, and the Eastern and Australian Steamship Con pany and some outside steamers keep up a pretty frequent but irregular service with the Australian Colonies. 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 Austro-Hungariau L'oyd's steamers also run from Trieste to Hongkon.". The Netherlands Indian Steam Navigation Company maintain direct monthly communication between Java and Hongkong. Between the ports on the cast coast of China and Hongkong the steamers of the Douglas Steamship Co. ply regularly twice a week, and there is constant steam com- munication 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 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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