Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 259

HONGKONG.

This, the most eastern of British possessions, is situate off the coast of the Kwangtung province, at the mouth of the Canton river. It is distant about 40 miles from Macao and 90 from Canton, and lies between 22 deg. 9 min. and 22 deg. 1 min. N. lat., and 114 deg. 5 min, and 114 de g. 18 min. 3. long. The name of the island (Hung Kong) signifies Good Harbour. Hongkong is a Crown Colony and was ceded to Great Britain by the Chinese Government in 1841. The Government is admi- nistered by a Governor, aided by an Excutive Council of five officials. The Legia- lative Council is presided overly the Governor, an 1 is composed of the Chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary, ti e Attorney-General, the Treasurer, the Surveyor-General, and the Registrar-General, and fire unofficial members.

The island is about 11 miles long and from 2 to 5 broad; its circumference is about 27 miles. It consists of a broken ridge of lofty hills, with few valleys of any extent and scarcely auy ground available for cultivation. It is well watered by Lumerous streams, many of which are perennial, and from the waterworks at Pok- folum water of excellent quality bu' in limited quantity is supplied to all parts of the city of Victoria. New and extensive waterworks at Taitam to provide an ample supply were commenced at the close of 1882.

The bark our of Hongkong is one of the finest and most beautiful in the world, baving an area of ten square mil s, and with its diversified scenery and variel sbip- ping, presents an animated and imposing sp c'acle. It consists of the sheet of water between the island and the maillaud, and is enclosed on all sides by lofty bills, unfortunately bare of toliage, except where trees have been plant d near the city, but pleasingly green during the sout' -west monson. An extensive scheme of aff»re-ta- bon is, however, being carried out. The City of Victoria is

The City of Victoria is magnificently situ d, the houses, many of them large and handsome, rising, tier upon tier, from the water's edge to a height of several bu dred feet on the face of the Peak, while everal bungalows are visible on the very summit of the hills. Seen frm the water at night, aben lamps twinkle among the trees and hours, the city, spreading along the shore for upwards of four miles, affords a sight not to be forgotten.

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Nor on landling are the favourable impressions of the stranger dis-ipated. The city is well built, the roals and streets are for the most part admirably male and kept, the Public Gardens almost unrivalled for their beauty, and many of the thoroughfares delightfully shaded with well grown trees. The chief puble building is the City Hall, erected in 1866-9 by subscription; it contains au elegant theatre, numerous large rooms used for balls and public meetings, an excellent and valuable Library, and a Museum yearly increasing in importance. The Government Offices, Supreme Court House, and Post Office are plain but substantial edifices. Government Hou e occupies a cmmanding situation, in pieturvaque grounds pleasingly laid out, in ti a centre of the city. The Gaol is a large and massive structure, but the accommodation afforded by it is not in excess of the large demands made on it, owing to the inroads of the criminal population of Kwangtung being so constant and persevering. The Civil Hospital is a large but plain building in Taipingshen. The Govers.mert Central School, a most important institution, baving sou six hundred pupils, is very badly housed at present, but will soon he removed to a stately and commodious structure, to be called Victoria College, now in rourse of construction. The Tung Wa Hospital, a Chinese institution, occupies a large and roomy building. The Barraks for the garrison are large, and constructed with great regard to the health and comfort of the troops, and the buildings belonging to the Naval Estabius ment are substantial an-l spacious. The Central Market is a dirty and inconvenie: t place, which is ent rely given up to the natives owing to its repulsive condition; a new market is, however, about to be erected. The Praya wall, which was reconstructed in 1879-80, is a work of much solidity and strength, reflecting the greatest credit on the Survey Department. It is fed with large blocks of dressed granite and backed with concrete, and prints a good effect from the water. The Clock Tower, near Peddar's Wharf, was erect d by public subscription in 1862, and the iluminated clock was presented to the Colony by the firm of Messrs. Douglas Laprak & Co.

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