Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 42

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At the close of last Session the vexed question of Gaol Extension was happily settled. I take this opportunity of repeating that the Government as well as the tax-payers are indebted to the Unofficial Committee appointed by me for their assistance in this matter which enabled a fair and reasonable compromise to be effected. In November 1892, when it was stated that the work would probably cost $250,000, it ought to have been explained that this was simply a rough estimate. The amount which was ultimately voted was based on carefully prepared specifications and estimates. But the difference between the two amounts, I should add in justice to our able Director of Public Works, was largely due to the Secretary of State having on my recommendation reduced his original requirements between November 1892 and the date on which the final vote was taken.

The Returns respecting the trade and shipping of this Port will, when completed and published, be found exceedingly interesting, not to say remarkable.

During the 10 months ending the 31st October last, there arrived in and sailed from Hongkong 7,243 European-constructed Vessels measuring 8,733,823 tons and 47,525 Junks measuring 3,191,068 tons making a total of 54,768 vessels and 11,924,891 tons.

These vessels carried 6,307,703 tons of cargo (discharged, shipped and in transit), and no less than 1,551,833 passengers.

The figures for the same period in 1892 were 59,380 vessels and 11,703,851 tons. This large number of vessels with a lesser amount of tonnage was mainly due to the employment of numerous small Junks in the local trade connected with the Praya Recla-

mation.

The Returns for 1893 up to date show an increase of 109,000 tons in British ships and of 87,000 tons in Foreign ships of European construction. They also exhibit an increase in the Foreign Junk Trade of 290,000 tons.

During the past 10 months, i.e., from the 1st January to 31st October, Emigration has considerably improved. The number of Emigrants has been 73,265 as against 43,024 during the same period in 1892.

I am, as you are probably aware, anxious that a well organized system of Emigration to certain countries friendly with England should be adopted.

Such a scheme would be of great advantage not merely to this Colony but to thousands of industrious persons in China who have now but little opportunity of making a living, or of even obtaining the barest necessaries of life. It is unfortunate that the Chinese Government do not seem to view the matter in this light and no doubt recent events in a neighbouring Colony will tend to confirm them in the opinions they are believed to entertain on this subject.

The Revenue collected by the Harbour Department up to the 31st October was $164,231 ----showing an increase of $13,970 over the sum collected for the same period in the previous year.

With reference to Crime I may mention that the number of cases tried in the Supreme Court this year was a little above the average of the two preceding years.

In 1891 there were

32 cases, in 1892 only 30 cases, the lowest record during the past 10 years. Up to the 30th September last there were 32 cases sent for trial. Two of these were especially serious, viz., that of ALVES for the Treasury defalcations in which the sentence passed was 6 years' imprison- ment with hard labour, and a murder case in which the sentence of death was passed and carried out. Until this penalty was exacted there had been no execution within the Colony for upwards of 10 years.

Amongst the 32 cases there was also one of wounding with intent to murder and 3 of robbery with violence. Out of these 32 charges, however, there was a verdict of acquittal, or no information, or a nolle prosequi in 14 instances, and out of the 47 prisoners brought up for trial 21 were discharged.

During 1893 as in 1892 there was an absence of charges involving offences of a piratical character which is an encouraging feature in the Criminal statistics.

You will be pleased to be assured that owing to past legislation and the efforts of the Police, public gambling in the Colony has practically ceased to exist.

There has also been a great falling off in the number of cases of kidnapping of women and robbery with violence. So far as the Magistrates are able to judge they are of opinion that the Government is to be felicitated on the conspicuous absence of serious crime' in Hongkong.

On the other hand I regret to state that during the last few months there have been an unusual number of larcenies of money and valuables by servants from their masters' houses.