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was harbour master between 1854 and 1858, gave a summary of the ships calling at Hong Kong. In 1842, 381 vessels totalling 136,336 tons entered the harbour; of this number 336 were British, with a total tonnage of 124,357. By 1847 approximately 60 vessels with an average displacement of 330 tons were calling monthly at Hong Kong and by 1853 the number showed an increase of approximately 250 per cent over 1842.

The years between 1848 and 1861 witnessed great commercial development. The earlier mood of despondency had passed, the rising Chinese population gave a fillip to business and the growth of an entrépôt trade to supply Chinese communities abroad was beginning to show promise. During this period, also, Hong Kong's subsequent role as a centre for the supply of British goods to China began to emerge, linking the Colony's prosperity with the vast population of China. It is difficult to obtain a reliable account of trade for this period, but shipping statistics provide some evidence of substantial growth. In 1848, 700 ships of 229,465 tons entered the port; by 1859 these figures had increased to 2,179 ships of 1,164,640 tons. Tea exports in 1849 were given as 5,570 chests and 910 boxes to the United Kingdom, 1,668 chests to Australia, and 1,869 chests to San Francisco. In 1855 official estimates of the Colony's imports and exports ceased, because some of the statistics were found to be wrong. Local industry developed around shipping and this is illustrated by the fact that in 1853 there were 240 ship-chandlers, two rope manufactories and two cannon factories in the Colony; by 1865 there were 427 ship-chandlers, 93 boat builders, 20 rope works and one drydock.

Most of the vessels which called at Hong Kong during the first 13 years of its existence were naturally sailing ships, but the port also had its quota of steam vessels, mostly paddle steamers. The first shipping company to operate a regular steamer service to the port was the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1840 and originally ran a service between the United Kingdom and the Iberian