Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 392

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() VOLUNTEER CORPS.

The total establishment of the Corps is 443 of all ranks. The strength on the 31st December, 1907, was 289 made up as follows:-Staff 7; two Garrison Artillery Companies, 199; one Engineer Company, 45; Troop 38.

The members of the Corps are now all armed with the new M.L.E. short rifle and the latest pattern equipment.

The period for the annual Camp of Instruction was again 16 days, it was held in October, 1907, and was well attended.

The Mounted Troop Camp was held at Fan Ling in the New Territories. The Camp took place during the Christmas Holidays. Much useful work was done.

The Hongkong Volunteer Reserve Association numbered two hundred and twenty-eight members at the close of the year, a decrease of 23 members, as compared with 1906.

Members of this Association, who must be over 35 years of age, are afforded opportunity to make themselves proficient in rifle shooting, and undertake to enrol themselves under the Volunteer Ordinance in the event of hostilities.

A small Cadet Corps was commenced in May, 1906, with boys from the Victoria British School, there are now 18 in the school and 4 others. The Cadets are instructed in squad drill and semaphore signalling. They attended Camp, and many are already very efficient signallers.

The New Headquarter Building was opened in December, 1906, and is already very popular. A well equipped Gymnasium has been installed, and classes are held regularly. The cost of the building has been entirely defrayed and no debt remains.

The expenditure on the Volunteers, which is entirely borne by the Colony, was $45,253, compared with $47,351 in 1906.

XII. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

The year was characterised by continued severe depression in trade.

The Colony appears to have recovered from the over-speculation indulged in in antici- pation of the conclusion of the War between Russia and Japan, and her trade has resumed a healthier condition, though the volume is still restricted. The large stocks accumulated during the speculative period have taken a long time to work off, and fresh imports have been small; because for various reasons, one of which was caution induced by previous over- speculation, China has imported a smaller quantity of merchandise.

The assessment made in July for the year 1907-1908 showed that the rateable value for the whole Colony had decreased by 2.52%. In the Hill District, Shaukiwan, the Hongkong villages, and in Kowloon except in the important District of Yaumati, the assess- ment showed an increase ranging from 1.07% to 11.76%. But in the City of Victoria a decrease of 3.42% and in Yaumati a decrease of 5.65% were shown. In New Kowloon a remarkable increase from a rateable value of $38,930 to one of $61,835 or an increase of 58.83% was shown.

In the New Territories continued progress has been observable in the making of several roads by the private enterprise of villagers, and by the erection of new houses. The Crown Rent (Land Tax) was paid with an alacrity that was almost inconvenient; and there was a marked decrease in crime in spite of the large numbers of coolies employed on the Railway Works.

The loss and inconvenience caused by the depreciation of the subsidiary currency by the over-issue of small coins by the Mint in Canton continued.