Sessional_Paper_1904 — Page 451

No. 1904

28

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE BLUE BOOK FOR 1903.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

HONGKONG. No. 202.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 12th May, 1904.

SIR, I have the honour to submit for your information the following general Report on the annual Blue Book for the year 1903.

I. FINANCES.

The Revenue for the year exclusive of Land Sales amounted to $4,728,692.17, or $398,979.69 more than the previous year. Land Sales amounted to $510,165.71, or $61,195.51 more than in 1902. The total Revenue from all sources was there- fore $5,238,857.88, or $337.784.18 greater than in any previous year, and $305,562.88 more than the estimate. All the main sources of revenue show an excess over 1902 with the exception of Miscellaneous Receipts and Land Sales, and all items similarly show an excess of actual over estimated receipts with the ex- ception of Rent of Government Property, Miscellaneous Receipts, and the Water Account. Licences and Internal Revenue not otherwise specified show an excess of $187,836.09, while Fees of Court or Office, &c., and the Post Office yielded, over $50,000 and slightly under $30,000 respectively over the estimate.

The Expenditure for the year was $4,746,838.44 exclusive of Public Works Extraordinary; inclusive of that item it was $5,396,669.48, or $512,879.03 less than the total expenditure of 1902. Deducting from the actual expenditure for 1903 the total actual receipts, there was a deficit $157,811.60 on the actual work- ing of the year, though the surplus of Assets on December 31st amounted to $177,830.83 exclusive of arrears of Revenue.

(a.)-GENERAL REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

The following is a brief abstract of Revenue and Expenditure for the years 1902 and 1903 :-

.--

1902.

1903.

Increase.

Decrease.

$

$

7.

en.

ť.

Light Dues,

66,106.52

Licences and Internal Revenue not

otherwise specified,

Fees of Court, &c.,

Post Office,

74,960.00

2,600,520.55 2,849,936.09 296,709.19 352,719.02 387,066.19 414,867.20

8,853.48

249,415.54

56,009.83

27,801.01

Rent of Government Property,

572,286.15 | 615,683.01

43,396.86

Interest,..

2,003.92

5,964.73

3,960.81

Miscellaneous,

233,070.49

178,602.00

54,468.49

Water Account,

171,949.47

235,960.12

64,010.65

Land Sales,

571,361.22 510,165.71

61,195,51

Total,.....

4,901,073.70 5,238,857,88 453,448.18 115,664.00

Deduct Decrease,...... 115,664.00

Nett Increase,

The Right Honourable

ALFRED LYTTELTON,

His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,

&c.,

c.,

&c.

$337,784.18