Directory_and_Chronicle_1925 — Page 1081

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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:-

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., K.C.B. 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 Sir 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.. 1890 Francis Fleming, C.M.G. (Administrator 1890 Sir George William Des Voeux, K.C.M.9. 1891 Mjr.-Gen. G. Digby Barker, C.B. (Adm.) 1891 Sir William Robinson, G.CM.G. 1898 Mj.-GI. Wilsone Black, C.B. (Adminr.) 1898 Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G. 1902 Mj.-Gen. Sir W. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G. (Adr.) 1902 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., Admr. (1month) 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, K.C.M.G. (Administrator) 1910-12 Brig.-Gen. Sir F. D. Lugard, к C.M.G.. 1912 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn (Administrator) 1912. Sir Henry May, K.C M.G.

1913 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn (Administrator} 1914-19 Sir Henry May, K.C.M.G.

1917-18 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, c.M.G. (Admr.) 1918-19 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, c.M.G. (Admr.). 1919-24 Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs, K.C.M.G. 1922. Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, C.M.G. (a dmr.

The Government is administered by a Governor, aided by an Executive Counci of six officials and three 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 Capt. Supt. of Police, 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 of Chinese race but British nationality, are appointed by the Government. Demands for a greater measure of popular representa- tion were made by the British residents to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1916 and again in 1919, both times unsuccessfully. In 1922 a numerously-signed petition on the subject was presented to the House of Commons and the reply to this is still awaited.

FINANCES

The revenue for 1924 was estimated in October at $23,903,937, or about $2,500,000! more than the original estimate. The excess was chiefly due to largely increased land sales and to the continued high return from the Opium Monopoly. The revised estimate of expenditure for the year was $26,120,852. This was $1,200,000 more than the original estimate, due mainly to the fact that the amount provided for public works extraordin- ary was expected to be excecded for the first time since 1917 and to the heavy initial payments for the construction of typhoon moorings, patrol launches and the rescue tug for the Harbour Department. The balance of assets at the end of 1924 was computed at $13,754,580, as compared with $15,971,495 at the end of 1923. The revenue for 1925 is estimated at $21,812,700, and the expenditure (including the Military Contribution of 20 per cent. of the revenue) at $30,463,611, leaving a deficit on the year's working of upwards of 8 million dollars to be taken from the surplus remaining over at the end of 1924. 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 3% inscribed stock, thus bringing it into uniformity with the loan raised in 1893. In 1906 the Govern ment 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 con cession from the various persons who had acquired interests in it from the originale American concessionaires. The total cost of the loan, including expenses of issue, was si 1,143,933. It has now been fully repaid and expended on railway construction,

thin the Colony. A sum of $5,000,000 was presented in 1916 and 1917 to His ajesty's Government for war.