Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 158

HONGKONG.

155

No. 12

93

RETURNS OF SUPERIOR AND SUBORDINATE COURTS FOR 1892.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, on the 5th April, 1893,

No. 44.

REGISTRY SUPREME COURT,

HONGKONG, 23rd March, 1893.

SIR,--I have the honour to forward herewith the following annual returns:

1. Returns of all sums received as Revenue in the Registry of the Supreme Court during

the year 1892.

2. Same returns as compared with the receipts of 1891.

3. Indictments and Informations in the Supreme Court of Hongkong for the year 1892. 4. Return of Criminal cases that have been brought under the cognizance of the Supreme

Court during the last ten years.

5. Comparative table showing the number of offences, apprehensions, convictions, and

acquittals for the last five years.

6. Return of Criminal cases tried in the Supreme Court of Hongkong during the year 1892. 7. Civil cases commenced and tried in 1892,-

a. In Original Jurisdiction.

b. In Summary Jurisdiction.

Appeals commenced and tried.

8. Probates and Administrations granted in 1892.

From Returns 1 and 2 it will be seen that there is a decrease in the Revenue of 1892 as compared with that of 1891 amounting to.....

This decrease has taken place chiefly in the following items of Revenue:-

A. Court Fees (proper) paid by stamps,

....$6,526.13

There was considerably less litigation in 1892. In 1891, 127 Original Suits and 1,632 Summary Suits were commenced against 71 and 1385 in 1892.

B. Official Administrator's and Official Trustee's Commissions,......... C. Registrar of Companies' Fees,

In 1891 there were 19 new Companies registered with a capital of $7,622,000, and in 1892 there were only 12 new Companies registered with a capital of $2,076,000.

D. Official Assignee's Commission,

Under the new Bankruptcy Ordinance, No. 20 of 1891, which came into force on the 1st January, 1892, the office of Official Assignee in all new cases is abolished, and this Commission is now only chargeable on sums recovered in Bankruptcies prior to that date and will ultimately disappear as a source of revenue.

E. There is an increase

Under the head of Fines and Forfeitures of $189.50, and of Land Office Fees of $652.

CRIMINAL REturns.

Decrease. $2,291.04

763.53 1,593.50

1,179.61

The number of cases tried in the Supreme Court in 1892 were 30, or only 2 less than in 1891. The returns show a considerable reduction in the number of cases tried since the year 1889.

The average for 1st five years from 1883 to 1887, was

17

2nd

There were no Maiden Sessions.

""

from 1888 to 1892, was

.834 .624

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

The Honourable

COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&&.,

& Car

&c.

Your most obedient Servant,

BRUCE SHEPHERD,

Acting Registrar.