Directory_and_Chronicle_1921 — Page 1049

964

HONGKONG

The following is a list of those who have administered the Government from the date on which the Island was erected into a Colony:-

K.C.B.

1843 Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart., G.C.B. 1844 Sir John Francis Davis, Bart., K.C.B. 1848 Samuel George Bonham, C.B. 1851 Major-General W. Jervois (Lt.-Governor) 1851 Sir S. George Bonham, Bart., 1852 John Bowring, LL.D. (Acting) 1853 Sir S. George Bonham, Bart., K.C.B. 1854 Sir John Bowring, Kt., LL.D. 1854 Lieut.-Colonel Wm. Caine (Lt.-Governor) 1855 Sir John Bowring, Kt., LL.D. 1859 Colonel Caine (Lieut.-Governor) 1859 Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, Kt. 1862 William Thomas Mercer (Acting) 1864 Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, Kt. 1865 William Thomas Mercer (Acting) 1866 Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, Kt., c.B. 1870 Maj.-Gl. H. W. Whitfield (Lt.-Governor) 1871 ir Richard G. MacDonnell, K.C.M.G., C.B. 1872 Sir Arthur E. Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B. 1875 John Gardiner Austin (Administrator) 1876 Sir Arthur E. Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B. 1877 Sir John Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G. 1882 Wm. Hy. Marsh, c.M.G. (Administrator) 1883 Sir George Ferguson Bowen, G.C.M.G. 1885 Wm. Hy. Marsh, c.M.G, (Administrator)

1887 Mjr.-Gen. W. G. Cameron, c.B. (Adminis.) 1887 Sir George William Des Voeux, K.C.M G. 189 Francis Fleming, c.M.G. (Administrator) 1890 Sir George William Des Voeux, K.C.M.G. 1891 Mjr.-Gen. G. Digby Barker, c. B. (Adm.) 1891 Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G.

1898 Mj.-Gl. Wilsonę Black, C.B. (Adminr.) 1898 Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G. 1902 Mj.-Gen. Sir W. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G. (Adr.) 190: Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.c.M.G. 1903 Francis H. May, C.M.G. (Administrator) 1904 Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G. 1906-7 Hon Mr. F.H.May,c.M.G.,Adır. (1 month) 1907 Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G. 1907 Brigadier-Gen. Sir F D. Lugard, K.C.M.G. 1907 Hon. Mr. F. H. May C.M.G. (Adminis.) 1909-10 Sir H May, к.C.м G. (Administrator). 1910-12 Brig.-Gen. Sir F'. D. Lugard, K.C.M G. 1912 Hon. Mr. Claud Seven (Administrator) 1912 Sir Henry May, K.Ç M.G.

1913 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn (Administrator) 1914 Sir Henry May, K.C.M.G. 1917-18 Hon. M. Claud Severn, C.M.G. (Admr.)· 1918-19 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, C.м G. (Admr.) 1919 Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs, K.C.M.G.

The Government is administered by a Governor, aided by an Executive Council! of six officials and two unofficials. The Legislative Council is presided over by the Governor, and is composed of the Officer Commanding the Troops, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney-General, the Treasurer, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Director of Public Works, the Director of Education, and six unofficial members, one of whom is elected by the Chamber of Commerce and another by the Justices of the Peace. The remaining four, two of whom are Chinese but British subjects, are appointed by the Government.

FINANCES

The revenue for 1920 was estimated in October at $14,177,478 or $1,137,322 less than the original estimate. The deficit was more than accounted for by the reduction in the receipts from the Opium Monopoly. The revised estimate of expenditure for the year was $13,768,830. This was $1,117,643 below the original estimate, the explanation being that less money was spent upon public works extraordinary than had been allocated. The balance of assets at the end of 1920 was computed at $4,698,835, as compard with $4,290,187 at the end of 1919. The revenue for 1921 is estimated at $15,336,350, and. the expenditure (including the Military Contribution of 20 per cent. of the revenue) at $17,349,150, leaving a deficit on the year's working of $2,012,800 to be taken from the surplus remaining over at the end of 1920. The Colony has a small public debt. A loan of £200,000 was contracted in 1886. Another loan of £200,000 was contracted in 1893, and in 1894 the unredeemed balance of the first loan was converted from 4 per cent. debentures into 33% inscribed stock, thus bringing it into uniformity with the loan raised in 1893. In 1906 the Government raised a loan of £1,100,000 in London at an average price of £99 1s. per cent., bearing interest at the rate of 3 per cent. This money was originally lent to the Chinese Government for the purpose of redeeming the Canton-Hankow railway concession from the various persons who had acquired interests in it from the original American concessionaires. The total cost of the loan, including, expenses of issue, was £1,143,933. It has now been fully repaid and expended on railway construction within the Colony. A sum of $5,000,000 was presented in 1916- and 1917 to His Majesty's Government for war purposes, three out of the five million. dollars thus voted being raised by a local loan in the former year. In 1918 a sum of £550,000 was given for the same object, while the special war assessment produced $504,984 in 1917 and $1,052,760 in 1918, all of which was paid over to the Imperial authorities. The outstanding liabilities are being reduced annually by a sinking fund.

The rateable value of the whole Colony in 1919 was $17,408,959, showing an increase of 677 per cent. over the previous year. The rateable value of the Colony

-