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to Manila, Borneo, Siam, and the Coast Ports of China; while of the steam-ships of the other great lines, the P. & O., the Messageries Maritimes, the German Lloyds, the "Ocean," "Glen," "Shire," and "Ben

Shire," and "Ben" Lines which proceed onwards to Shanghai or Japan, there are very few which do not leave here on the outward voyage, and take in on the homeward, a considerable portion of their cargo.

AFFORESTATION.

41. The work of Afforestation, begun in 1881, is being still continued. According to a return furnished by Mr. FORD, the Superintendent of the Depart- ment, 374,882 trees were planted in 1887 and 682,325 in 1888, the number planted altogether having been 5,676,207. In so far as I have been able to judge from personal observation, a very large proportion of these plants have either failed altogether, or are merely stunted shrubs. I am awaiting a report from Mr. FORD as to the actual extent of success, with the causes of failure, before considering what measures should be taken under the circumstances.

GAOLS.

42. It is satisfactory to note that the number of prisoners in the Gaol which was 4,600 in 1886, fell to 4,308 in 1887 and to 3,627 in 1888, the daily average having similarly fallen from 674 in 1886 to 584 in 1887 and to 531 in 1888, the total decrease in both cases being over 20 per cent. The returns of prisoners tried in the Courts show also a falling off, which if it may be taken to indicate a decrease of crime is probably due to the severer discipline introduced into the Gaol. The number of prisoners still bears an abnormal proportion to the population, and the fact can scarcely excite surprise in view of the hard struggle for livelihood among the people of China, and the immediate neighbourhood to the Colony of the Pro- vince of Kwangtung of which the extremely dense population is said to be the most lawless in the Empire.

POPULATION.

43 Statistics of the estimated population are given in the Colonial Secretary's Report; but it may be well to point out here that the difference between the number returned at the census of 1881 (160,402) and that estimated for 1888 (215,000) shews an increase of 344 per cent. in 7 years and that the ratio of women to men which was 1 to 2.56 in 1881 is now estimated at 1 to 2.52. This great, and appa- rently permanent, disproportion between the sexes would appear to justify special caution in applying to Hongkong that deprivation of protection from certain disease, which has been deemed expedient in England.

PUBLIC WORKS.

44. The Tytam Water-Works have been already mentioned under the head of Expenditure. During the period under review the great dam of the main re- servoir, the tunnel and conduit received their finishing work, and the service reservoir and filter beds were commenced and completed.

45. Victoria College, which has been several years in construction, was also completed in July last. It is unquestionably a very handsome building of which the Colony may be proud, but it has cost a large sum ($251,587) and promises also to be extremely costly in maintenance. Seeing how grievous is and must have been the need of other public works, and noting that provision might have been made for the same number of pupils in a more modest building, I cannot but feel that it would have been better if much of the expense incurred, and time devoted to this edifice, had been diverted in other directions.

46. A building has been commenced and completed for the reception of girls, in charge of the Registrar General, who have been rescued from kidnappers or from brothel slavery, their maintenance, as hitherto has been customary, in a building connected with the Tung-Wa Hospital having proved unsatisfactory.

47. Of the works now most urgently required, the Filter-beds for the Pokfu- lam Water-Works, which previously to the construction of the Tytam Works afforded the chief supply of the Town, have been commenced; and, it may be hoped, will be completed before next summer, which is the season of the heaviest rain. The water of this reservoir, which is carried into the Town round the base of Mount Davis and the Victoria Peak by a conduit some 34 miles in length, has