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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH MARCH, 1871.
X. Return of Junks cleared at each Port from China and Formosa.
XI. Gross Total Number of Junks entered at cach Port.
XII. Gross Total Number of Junks cleared at each Port.
XIII. Return of Junks (Local Trade) entered.
XIV. Return of Junks (Local Trade) cleared.
XV. Summary of Arrivals and Departures of all Vessels, and of all Chinese Passengers. XVI. Return of Vessels registered."
XVII. Return of Vessels struck off the Register.
XVIII. Return of Emigrant Ships cleared by the Emigration Officer.
XIX. Return of Vessels bringing Chinese Passengers to Hongkong from Places out of China.
XX. Amount of Fees received under Ordinance No. 10 of 1860.
XXI. Return of Marine Cases tried.
XXII. Comparative Statement of the Trade of the Colony from 1859 to 1870, inclusive.
SHIPPING.
2. In my last Report I was enabled to show an improved state of the Trade of the Colony as compared with the preceding year.
3. It is satisfactory to find that the year under review exhibits a still further improvement, although the fortnightly French Mail has ceased running; and the Pacific Mail Steam-ship Company have not as yet increased the number of their vessels, but there seems every prospect that such will shortly be the case.
4. The gross increase of Ships and Tonnage on the year 1869 is 2,433 Vessels, with a carrying capacity of 311,028 Tons. Of this increase, there are 20,543 tons from Great Britain; 48,349 tons from India; 28,436 tons from Siam; 86,615 tons from Japan; 32,166 tons from Macao; and 109,594 tons from the Ports in China and Formosa; whilst from other places, there is a decrease.
5. Of the ships of different Nations arriving at this Port, it will be seen that there is a marked increase in those under the British Flag, consisting of 133 Vessels and 161,520 Tons. The Number and Tonnage of Vessels under the French and American Flags have also increased, whilst those under the North-German Flag, in consequence of the War, have 87 vessels with 26,148 tons less than in 1869, and this large diminution is but the effect of a few months' hostilities.
6. To this Report I have appended a Comparative Statement of the Trade of the Colony during the several years I have been connected with Hongkong.
7. Some idea can be formed of the necessity for increasing the number of Employés of this De- partment when it is seen that the total of Arrivals and Departures, combined, in 1870, is 62,572 Vessels and 5,864,514 Tons as against 2,179 Vessels and 1,164,640 Tons in 1859, or 2,771 per cent more Vessels' movements are recorded, and 403 per cent more Tons are registered now than in the year brought forward for purposes of comparison.
JUNK TRADE.
8. In my last Report on this subject, I attributed the then falling off of this Trade to the cffect of the Customs Stations in the vicinity of the Colony. Whether it is that the Officers in charge of them are less zealous in the performance of their duties, or that brighter days have dawned on the Com- mercial prosperity of the Colony, I am unable to say, beyond, that the latter would seem probable. But certain it is, that Trade in native bottoms has increased, and now stands at its highest since the "Harbor and Coasts' Ordinance, 1866" was introduced.
9. The former opponents of this measure, it is to be hoped, will now rest satisfied that its antici- pated baneful effects have not been realised, but that on the contrary, the general trade of the Colony, whether Native or Foreign, is in a highly healthy condition, and Piracy, once so rife in these waters, and their neighborhood, is now seldom, if ever, heard of.
EMIGRATION.
10. Under this heading, there is a sensible decrease, amounting to 3,460 men, 1,549 women, 204 boys and 80 girls.
11. The opposition evinced in the United States of America to the introduction of Chinese labor is having its effect, whether for good or evil remains to be seen.
12. Emigration under Contract is at present prohibited at Hongkong, except to British Pos- sessions, but to these the restrictions and difficulties are so great, that only 70 Chinese left, for Labuan, during the year.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
H. G. THOMSETT, R.N.,
Harbor Master, &c.
The Honorable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
&c.,
Colonial Secretary,
&c.,
&c.
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