HONGKONG.
266
tion, and bids fair to some day became an important town. A number of European houses and a club have been erected and numerous gardens laid out at Tsim-tsa Tsui. A fine praya, with a massive granite wall, has been constructed at Tsim-tsa Tsui, and some extensive godowns have been built and fine wharves made, for discharging cargo and coaling. 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. A Time Ball occupies a prominent posi- tion in front of this Staticn, and is dropped daily. Steam ferries ply regularly between Kowloon 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 had decreased. The total population of the city of Vic- toria 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 the smaller villages and the boat population other than in Victcria harbour. The total British and foreign population numbered 7,990, but the residents proper are re! urned at 3,040, the former figures including the naval and military establishments, police, Lipping in harbour, and temporary residents. The Indians and others of u.ixed blood numbered 1,722. The population is now probably not less than 190,000.
Hongkong formerly enjoyed 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- 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 1885 was 32.36, for the British and foreign population 20.90, or deducting non-residents 16.11. 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 1887 is $1,291,270 and the expenditure $1,243,772.
Hongkong is a free port, and there is no official return of the imports and exports compiled, but the value of its trade is estimated at about £40,000,000 per annum. During the year 1885 the following tonnage entered and cleared with cargoes:-
NATIONALITY
American
Apnamese
Austrian
British
Chinese
ENTERED
Vessels. Tons.
2,419... 2,964,993... 2,19 ·... 2,696,970 31... 39,842... 30... 38,331
Chinese Junks... 14,680... 1,190,596... 17,522... 1,458,193
NATIONALITY
ENTERED
CLEARED
159... 1:8,209...
CLEARED Vesse 8.
124... 157,414
Tons.
12...
23,764...
1... 12... 23,764
136
Hawaiian Honduras
2...
680...
Vessels. Tons. Vessels. Tons.
2...
680
1...
177...
Japanese
3...
3,152...
2...
2,510
Johorian
1...
993...
Norwegian
4...
2,921..
2...
933
Russian
7,105
5... 4,965
15... 5,090...
30... 35,6-45...
81... 138,443...
30... 86... 142,935 453... 312,81 ... 401......... 269,415
19...
6,489
Siamese
19
9,142...
34,724
Spanish
52...
16... 42...
8,672 20,424
Swedish
1...
1...
476
Danish
Dutch.....
French
German
(
25,040... 475...
A total of 17,974 vessels, of 4,958,090 tons entered, and 20,496 vessels, of 4,865,038 tons cleared. There also ntered in ballast 9,128 vessels, with 705,841 tons, and there cleared 6,136 vessels with 742,742 tons. The total shows an increase as com. pare with the previous year of 496,700 tons.
The trade chiefly consists in opium, cotton, sugar, salt, flour, oil, cotton and wool- len goods, metals, earthenware, amber, ivory, sandalwood, betel, vegetables, ranite, &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 Norddeutscher Lloyd Co. maintain a regular monthly mail service between Bremen and Hongkong, the P. M. S. S. Co. and
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