HONGKONG.
247
toria was returned at 141,494; that of Kowloon at 9,021; of Shau-ki Wan 3,274; of Alerdeen 1,805; and Stanley 829. The rest of the population is distributed among the smaller villages and the boat population other than in Victoria barbour. The total British and foreign ropulation numbered 7,990, but the residents proper are returned at 3,040, the former figures including the naval and military establishments, police, shipping in harbour, and temporary residents. The Indians and others of uixed blood numbered 1,722.
Hongkong formerly enjoyed a most unenviable notoriety for unhealthiness, and in years past the troops garrisoned hereindoubtedly suffered a verely. A great deal of the sickness in the early days of the Colony was caused by excavating and other- *ise disturbing the disintegrated grauite 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 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 the crowded condition of the Chinese 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 1883 was 30.04, for the British and foreign population 17.60, or deducting non-residents 13.93. The annual average rainfall is about 80 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 1885 s $1,212,188, and the expenditure $1,150,801,
Hongkong is a free port, and it is therefore impossible to give any return of its imports and exports. During the year 1883 the following tonnage entered and clared with cargoes:—
NATIONALITY
American
Aunamese
Austman
British
Chinese
IL
Tessela Tome. Tessa's, Toon,
(LEXD
INTRARD
93.. 109,129..
1...
130
47... 2
--
15 24,000
15
82,934
272
26,757
Baraban Italian Japanese Norweging Portuguese
542
CLEARED Fasada, Tone.
I...
NATIONALITE
1...
INTERED Tessals, Tons,
1 ..
5+2
ATE...
I
33...
35,561
27
R...
4,506.
3..
31,300
1,337
2..
1,384
LIL
Ruse.ab Siamese
10.
14.700
13...
12,771
--
-------IILJI
13.
Spanish Swedish
47
8,611... 22,884.
D..
4,392
50...
24,776
------------
*...
-M
*...
951
2,847 .. 9,517,647..... 2,177... 2,545,859
103 170,165... 175... 161,040
Chineer Junks.. 15,7 42 .. 1,284,901 .. 17,801... 1,513.794
Danish
Datch
French
German
28
8,399...
7,266 * 31,190... 24... 28,061 173... 214,200 102 307,651 341... 284,467.. 311... 155,500
- r
A total of 19,063 vessels, of 4,664,760 tons entered, and 20,847 vessels, of 4,591,292 tons cleared. There also entered in ballast 8,594 vessels, with 636,907 tons, and cleared 6,434 reasels with 673,515 tons. The total shows an increase as compared with the previous year of 325,434 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, eartheu- 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 P. & O. S. N. Co. and the M. M. Co. convey the European mail weekly, the P. M. S. S. Co. and the O. & 0.9. 8. Co. maintain a mail service with San Francisco, and the E. & A. S. S. Co., the A. C. J. & S. S. Co., and the C. N. Co. keep up a frequent but irregular service with the Australian Colonies. In addition to all tl ese, several great lines of merchant steamers maintain regular communication between London, Liverpool, and Hongkong, of which the Ocean S. S. Co. and the Glen and Castle lines are the most conspicuous. The Austro-Hungariau L'oyd's steaners als run from Trieste to Hongkon". The N. I. S. N. Co. maintain direct monthly communication between Java and Hongkong. Between the ports on the east coast of China and Hongkong the steamers of the Douglas S. S. Co. ply re ularly twice a week, and there is constant stea u communica- tion with Hoihow, Manila, Saigon, Haiphong, Bangkok, &c. With Shanghai and the ports of Japan there is frequent communication in addition to the English and French mail steamers, which leave weekly. Between Hongkong, Macao, and Canton there is a daily stam service. The telegraphic communication of the Colouy ext. nde to nearly every part of the world,
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