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From 1st January to 31st December, 1906, 9,198 Licences, Clearances, Permits, &c., were issued at Cheung Chau, 4,081 at Tai O, 5,953 at Tai Po, 3,156 at Deep Bay, 2,632 at Sai Kung and 3,909 at Long Ket.
The Revenue collected by this Department from the New Territories during 1906, was $18,944.25 or $780.55 more than in 1ông
13.-General.
33. During the year under review, some important changes have taken place, notably :- the vacating of the old Harbour Office for the present commodious new building, which has alleviated matters considerably for the better working of the Departinent.
The telegraph service from the outlying lighthouses, viz.: Gap Rock, Waglan and Green Island, has been installed and worked from this building. Additionally, shipping firms have been apprised of the passing of their vessels inward which hitherto was done by the Eastern Extension Telegraph Co.'s office.
The deplorable loss of life and damage done, due to the typhoon of the 18th September, will be indelibly marked in the Annals of the Colony. 59 merchant vessels of European construction suffered in the waters of the Colony, 5 of 1,812 tons foundered, 22 of 22,478 tons stranded, 5 of 1,344 tons broken against sea wall, 13 of 21,420 tons badly damaged, and 14 of 25,131 tons slightly damaged. There were in addition 16 lighters of European construction sunk, and badly damaged, 34 launches sunk, 50 damaged and approximately 1.796 native craft sunk, and in the majority of cases totally lost. It can be safely said that all craft suffered in the harbour, more or less damaged during the blow. The loss of life, I regret to say, must have been excessively high, amounting to approximately 5,000 though there are no positive records to show the actual number that perished.
It behoves me to add with deep regret, the demise of a valued, courteous and upright public Officer Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE, R.N., Harbour Master who fell a victim of duty through illness contracted at the time of the devastation alluded to above.
HARBOUR OFFICE,
18th February, 1907.
CHARLES WILLIAM BECKWITH, Lieut. R.N.,
Harbour Master, &c.
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