Sessional_Paper_1886-1887 — Page 316

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE BLUE BOOK FOR 1886.

313

No. 22

87.

Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government,

on the 22nd April, 1887.

1.-TAXATION.

The following changes were made in 1886 in the taxes of the Colony:-

Piers and Wharves.

(a.) By an Order of the Governor in Council, conveyed in Colonial Secretary's Office Document No. 495 of 1886, a fee of $74 is levied for every Permit to erect a Pier or Wharf in the Villages, other than a Pier or Wharf authorised by Ordinance.

Spirit Licences.

(b.) By Ordinance 21 of 1886, the fees for Spirit Licences were re-adjusted. A scale of the same will be found at page A 2 of the Blue Book.

Coffee Houses and Restaurants.

(c.) By the same Ordinance a fee was also fixed for Coffee Houses and Restaurants.

Stamp Duties.

(d.) The Stamp duties were re-adjusted by Ordinance 16 of 1886. A scale of the same is published at page A 3 of the Blue Book.

Bills of Sale.

Sale.

(e.) By Ordinance 12 of 1886 a scale of fees was fixed for the Registration of Bills of Sale. A schedule of the same is published at page A 13 of the Blue Book.

Vehicles and Chairs.

(f.) By an Order of the Governor in Council of the 22nd October, 1886, made under. Ordinance 5 of 1883, the half-yearly fee for a wheeled Vehicle was raised from $3 to $6 per annum.

Fees.

There were no changes in the personal fees received by the several Officers in the several Depart-

ments.

2.-REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

The Revenue, omitting Premia from Land Sales, amounted to $1,367,977.74; and the Expendi- ture, including Extraordinary Works, amounted to $2,020,861.65. Premia from Land Sales realized in 1886, the sum of $34,731.59.

The Revenue and Expenditure for the past five years have been :-

Year.

Revenue.

1882,..........................

.$1,209,517.08

Premia from Land,

$ 18,330.77

Ordinary Expenditure.

$1,094,804.92

1,162,247.14

Extraordinary Expenditure.

*

1883,

1,289,448.29

25,718.65

$180,052.10

1884,

1,173,071.48

19,695.00

1,254,634.77.

340,763.62

1885...

1,251,889.70

66,658.50

1,146,103.15

475,147.24

1886,

..... 1,367,977.74

34,731.59

1,195,236.81

825,624.84