Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 990

904

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.-Gen. 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 Maj.-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.G. 1891 Maj.-Gen. G. Digby Barker, c.B. (Adm.) 1891 Sir William Robinson, G.C.M.G. 1898 Maj.-Gen. Wilsone Black, c.B. (Adminr.) 1898 Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G. 1902 Maj.-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.) 1919-25 Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs, K.C.M.G. 1922 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, C.M.G. (Admr.) 1925 Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.M.G. 1927 Hon. Mr. W. T. Southorn, c.M G. (Admr.)

for three months. 1928-30 Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.M.G. 1930 Sir William Peel, K.B,E., K.C.M.G,

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 Inspector-General of Police, the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services the Harbour Master, and eight unofficial members, one of whom is elect- ed by the Chamber of Commerce and another by the Justices of the Peace. The remaining six, three of whom are of Chinese race but British nationality, are appointed by the Government. Demands for a greater measure of popular representation 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.

FINANCES

The revenue for 1928 was $24,968,399 and the expenditure $21,230,242. On January 1st, 1929, the balance at credit of the Colony's surplus and deficit account was $8,091,634. The expenditure for 1929 was estimated to be $24,799,650, and the actual expenditure was $21,983,257. It budgeted 1929 for an estimated revenue of $22,278,600, but actually collected $23,554,475. The Colony therefore began 1930 with a balance at credit of the surplus and deficit account amounting to $9,662,852, an increase of $1,571,218 over the figures of the previous twelve months.

The rateable value of the whole Colony 1930/31 was $33,069,602, showing an increase of 4.59 per cent. over the previous year. The rateable value of the Colony shows an increase of 76.87 per cent. in the past ten years.

As from January 1st, 1927, the charge for water supplied to shipping by water boats was increased from 50 cents to $1 per 1,000 gallons and for wharf and building supplies from 75 cents to $1 per 1,000 gallons. The Colony having expended very large sums in increasing and improving the water supply, it was felt that these increased charges were fully justified. The rates for water for shipping previously charged in Hongkong were far below those in force in most of the other Far Eastern Ports. The Shing Mun Valley supply is beyond reproach both in quantity and quality and the charge (the Government point out) will be only $1 per 1,000 gallons as against $2 and Rs. 5 per 1,000 gallons in Singapore and Colombo respectively.

Page 990Page 991