Sessional_Paper_1889 — Page 283

281

No. 19

89.

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE BLUE BOOK AND DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS FOR 1888.

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 $1,557,300.03; and the Expenditure amounted to $1,992,329.67, including Extraordinary Works; excluding these, to $1,461,459.64.

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

Extraordinary Expenditure, including

Defensive Works.

Year.

Revenue.

Premiums from Land.

Ordinary Expenditure.

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

1887,.........

1,427,485.79

155,238.02

1,278,181.68

744,820.38

1S88,... 1,557,300.03

160,688.64

1,461,459.64

530,870.03

3.-LOCAL REVENUES.

The Chinese inhabitants contributed in 1888, 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.

.$4,094.78 2,000.00

On the 31st December, 1888, the assets of the Colony exceeded its liabilities by...$360,649.76 (a) The surplus assets in :-

1884, were

1885,

"J

In 1886, the liabilities exceeded the assets by. In 1887, the surplus assets were

$729,562.02 ..$427,692.42 $191,512.29 $631,374.08 (a)

No new loan has been raised.

5.-PUBLIC DEBT.

6. MILITARY EXPENDITURE.

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

1884,. 1885,.......

1886,..

1887, 1888,

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

$114,498.78

$117,337.00

.$124,561.68

$128,815.63

.$134,594.68

Defensive Works,

$ 3,464.64 $ 72,564.45 $217,901.45 $258,444.28

$ 62,115.90

(a.) A loan of £200,000 having been raised during 1887 to be paid off on the 1st of March, 1907. To provide for the repayment of this loan, a Sinking Fund of £7,072 was established.