44
ECHOES OF 1859
MORE OBSERVATIONS" ON EARLY HONGKONG
The following is a continuation of the article we published yesterday giving glimpses of early Hongkong, written by Mr. Montgomery Martin in 1844:-
Under the head of "Mortality," Mr. Martin writes: "Hongkong is not less fatal to the Chinese of whom there are on an average about six hundred dying monthly. Its geological character and the circumvalation of hills surrounding the town and island, render it a hot bed of disease, which may be more mitigated one year than another, but will ever and anon recur with increased violence. No drainage can obviate the destructive miasm - the rain will every year uncover large portions of the hills, washing the purifying substance down the deep ravines towards the sea, thus generating a fruitful crop of disease. Let it not be said that the dreadful mortality and sickness of Hongkong is the result of the newness of the Colony. I cannot name a single colony that was originally unhealthy, and that subsequently became salubrious,"
Under the head of "Population and Progress", this precious humbug writes: "In the Canton Register of 23rd February, 1841 it was stated that 'Hongkong will be the resort and rendezvous of all Chinese smugglers; opium smoking shops and gambling houses will soon spread; to those haunts will flock all the discontented and bad spirits of the empire; the island will be surrounded with Shameens and become a Gehenna of the waters.' Three years have completely fulfilled this prediction, and neither time nor circumstances will now ever alter the character of the place. He must be a sanguine visionary who expects that Hongkong will ever contain a numerous and respectable Chinese population."
Under the head of "Commerce, the same strain continues. "There does not appear to be the slightest probability that under any circumstances Hongkong will ever become a place of trade. For the trade of the Coast of China it is too far to the Southward; and if it were practicable to remove the foreign trade of Canton, the removal would either be to some of the open ports to the Northward, or to some island or place in the Canton river.
In the financial point of view, the Chancellor of the Exchequer must have felt dreadfully alarmed by the following observations. "Under the most favourable circumstances, there may possibly some years hence be obtained from the rent of the building land from £5,000 to £7,000 per annum. The markets, licenses, fines and fees of every description may realise hereafter about £1,000 per annum. The total revenue to be expected from this Colony cannot exceed £10,000 per annum, and to obtain this amount several years must elapse under the most favourable circumstances. The per contra side shows an expenditure at this moment for mere civil establishments, salaries and wages at the rate of £50,000 per annum irrespective of the cost of public works, roads, and buildings, which is estimated at £50,000 per annum for several years.
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Page 195
Page 196
44
ECHOES OF 1859
MORE OBSERVATIONS" ON EARLY HONGKONG
The following is a continuation of the article we published yesterday giving glimpses of early Hongkong, written by Mr. Montgomery Martin in 1844:-
Under the head of "Mortality," Mr. Martin writes: "Hongkong is not less fatal to the Chinese of whom there are on an average about six hundred dying monthly. Its geological character and the circumvalation of hills surrounding the town and island, render it a hot bed of disease, which may be more mitigated one year than another, but will ever and anon recur with increased violence. No drainage can obviate the destructive miasm - the rain will every year uncover large portions of the hills, washing the purifying substance down the deep ravines towards the sea, thus generating a fruitful crop of disease. Let it not be said that the dreadful mortality and sickness of Hongkong is the result of the newness of the Colony. I cannot name a single colony thatwas originally unhealthy, and that subsequently became salubrious,"
Under the head of "Population and Progress", this precious humbug writes: "In the Canton Register of 23rd February, 1841 it was stated that 'Hongkong will be the resort and rendezvous of all Chinese smugglers; opium smoking shops and gambling houses will soon spread; to those haunts will flock all the discontented and had spirits of the empire; the island will be surrounded with Shameens and become a Gehienna of the waters.** Three years have completely fulfill this prediction, and neither time nor circumstances will now ever alter the character of the place. He must be a sanguine visionary who expects that Hongkong will ever contain a numerous and respectable Chinese population."
Under the head of "Commerce, the same strain continues. "There does not appear t he slightest probability that under any circumstances Hongkong will ever, become a place of trade. For the trade of the Coast of China it is too far to the Southward; and if it were practicable to remove the foreign trade of Canton, the removal would either be to some of the open ports to the Northward, or to some island or place in the Canton river.
1
In the financial point of view, the Chancellor of the Exchequer must have felt dreadfully alarmed by the following observations. "Under the most favourable circumstances, there may possibly some years hence he obtained from the rent of the building land from £5,000 to £7,000 per annum. The markets, licenses, fines and fees of every description may realise hereafter about £1,000 per annum, The total revenue to be expected from this Colony cannot exceed £10,000 per annum, and to obtain this amount several years must elapse under the most favourable circumstances. The per contra side shows an expenditure at this moment for mere civil establishments, salaries and wages at the rate of £50,000 per annum irrespective of the cost of public works, roads. and buildings, which is estimated at £50,000 per annum for several years.
456
Page 195Page 196
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