Sessional_Paper_1887-1888 — Page 287

HONGKONG.

No. 18

88.

REPORT ON THE BLUE BOOK AND DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS FOR 1887.

Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

1.-TAXATION.

There have been no changes under this head.

2.--REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

The Revenue amounted to $2,582,723.81, or excluding premiums from Land Sales to $1,427,485.79; and the Expenditure amounted to $2,023,002.06, including Extraordinary Works; excluding these, to $1,278,181.68.

L

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

Revenue.

.$1,289,448.29

1,173,071.48

Fear.

1883, 1884,

;

1885.

1,251,889.70

1886, 1887.

1,367,977.74

1

1,427,485.79

Premiums from Land.

Ordinary Expenditure.

$1,162,247.14

Extraordinary

Expenditure, including Defensive Works.

$ 25,718.65

$180,052.10

19,695.00

1,254,634.77

340,763.62

66,658.50

1,146,103.15

475,147.24

34,731.59

1,195,236.81

825,624.84

155,238.02

1,278,181.68

744,820.38

3.-LOCAL REVENUES.

The Chinese inhabitants contributed in 1887, by voluntary assessment among them- selves, to the pay of the District Watchmen,

and received from the Government a grant-in-aid of

4.-ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.

.$3,012.17 2,000.00

On the 31st December, 1887, the assets of the Colony exceeded its liabilities by $631,374.08. (a.) The surplus assets in:--

1883, were 1884, 1885.

1

and in

1886, the liabilities exceeded the assets by

5.-PUBLIC DEBT.

$1,067,200.52 $729,562.02 $ 427,692.42

$191.512.29

A Public Debt of £200,000 was raised in England by the Crown' Agents for the Colonies in virtue of Ordinance 11 of 1886.

6.-MILITARY EXPENDITURE.

The Military Expenditure (inclusive of the Volunteer Corps) defrayed by the Colony during the last five years has been as follows:-

1883, 1884,..

1885,

1886,.

1887,...

Military Contribution, exclusive of Defensive Works, and inclusive of Volunteer Corps.

.$111,962.09

.$114,498.78

$117,337.00

$124,561.68

.$128,815.63

Defensive Works.

$ 3.464.64 $ 72.564.45

$217,901.45

$258,444.28

(a.) A loan having been raised during the year.