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“...$5,845 or 01)2^.
The rateable value of the whole Colony amounted to $14,410,103,
being an increase of $1,974,291 or equal to'15 87% over the value
of the previous year.
For the period 1905-1914 the assessment of the whole Colon v
lias risen from $10,511,103 to $J4,410,103, an increase in value of
37-09 X.
The circulation on the 31st December of notes of the three Banks
having authorised issues was as follows : --
Hongkong & Shanghai Bank : 23,482,903
Chartered Bank of India, Australia, & China 0,07.1,033
Mercantile Bank of India - 1,308,191
S30,8G2.727...”
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“...is the standard
of the Colony the variations were as follows :
50 cent-pieces 1} per cent, to 3} per cent,
20 2
10 2b 9^
"> 2" ,. 4
Copper coin jiar.
It will be seen therefore thai Hank notes were at a premium
varying from par (in .January) to 10,> per cent, (in December).
The total issue of these coins, less those demonetized, now
amounts to $31,392,720 nominal value, and they were up to the year
1905 readily absorbed at par, large quantities being taken by the
neighbouring provinces of China. During 19.14 ten cent pieces of
the face value of $5,000,000 Ave re shipped to England for purposes
of demonetization. The discount which has prevailed since 1905
may be attributed to the immense quantity of similar coin which
has latterly been minted at Canton as well as to the amount of
Hongkong coin minted largely in excess of the needs of the Colony
by itself. In 1905 the Hongkong Government ceased to issue any
subsidiary coin and in 1906 it began a policy of demonetising all its
subsidiary...”
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“...there was so
little demand that the imports declined. The causes which led to
this were, in the early part of the year, a heavy fall in prices and in
exchange. In May and June, however, trade revived, and there
seemed every prospect of a sustained improvement, when the floods
inland caused a severe set back. Then came the Avar, which had a
most deleterious effect on the trade inland, and increased freights
acted as a further deterrent to importers. Added to these, the
general financial state of China, throughout the year, has been far
from encouraging.
Flour.There is an increase reported of 12,504 tons or 18'4
per cent....”
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“...also a First Aid Class.
The Hongkong University is an institution that arose from the
joint enterprise of British and Chinese subscribers. It was founded
with funds representing about equal proportions of Chinese and
British money.
At the end of the year the number of students was 147, 79 of
whom were taking Engineering, 30 Medicine and 32 Arts. While
most of the students have studied in Hongkong schools a number
come from Canton, the Coast Ports of China and the Straits
Settlements.
The idea of the University is to provide, close to China,
education for Chinese similar to that given in the British Univer-
sities, but at a much cheaper cost; for if a Chinese goes abroad to
be educated he has to pay, besides travelling expenses, some $2,000
per annum ; whereas at Hongkong the expenses of the University
are $540 per annum for board and tuition, or, including extras,
from $000 to $050....”
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“...students belong. It is divided into three
branches: Civil, Electrical and Mechanical. The University has
an exceptionally large equipment of machinery and apparatus, and
has fourteen laboratories and workshops in working order. There
is practically no place in China where students have such an
opporUmity of seeing all kinds of machinery in actual working and
of learning their practical management.
The University insists upon all students having a proper
knowledge of their own language, although instruction at the
University is carried out in English. Students are required to pass
an examination in written Chinese before entering, and two Chinese
Professors, both Hani in graduates, give lectures on the classics and
history of China.
V.PUBLIC WORKS.
The New Magistracy was practically completed at the close of
the year. The building, which is four-storeyed, is situated near the
junction of Arbuthnot Road and Wyndham Street and contains, in
the basement, prisoners' waiting room, strong-rooms...”
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“...which exceeded,
those of the previous year by $28,222.02, while the Fanling Branch
Earnings amounted to $7,490.29 or $578.04 more than the previous
vear. The excess of Earnings over Expenditure for 1914 was
$90,241.93 against $87,824.74 for 1913.
The Expenditure on the Fanling Branch during the vear
amounted to $14,991.24 or $.1,018.24 over the estimate of 8.13,373,
due chiefly to the repairs to washouts which occurred in July.
1913. 1914.
Passengers booked by British Section to
Stations in China.............250,437 277,512
Passengers booked by Chinese Section to
Stations on the British Section, ...290,014 353,722
Passengers travelling on the British Sec-
tion, Main Line, ............230,339 245,527
Passengers travelling on the British Sec-
tion, Fanling Branch, ...47,119 48,997
AT.GOVERNMENT AND AIDED INSTITUTIONS,
(a.)Hospitals.
Government Hospitals consist of the Civil Hospital, to which is
attached an isolated Maternity Hospital, the Victoria Hospital for
Women and Children, and...”
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“..................................... 456,739
(/>.)Public Health and Sanitation.
The activity in building operations, which was so noticeable a
feature of 1912 and 1913 has only slightly abated, and the demand
for housing accommodation by the Chinese continued to be greatly
in excess of the supply, as manv of those who fled with their
families to Hongkong "during 1911, 1912 and 1913 elected to
remain in the Colony. However in August and September 1914
nearly 60,000 Chinese hastily returned to China, owing to fears of
a bombardment of the Colon v following the outbreak of the
European War. The Chinese quarters which had been in an over-
crowded condition throughout the Plague season were thus
relieved of their excess but not in time to prevent the severe
epidemic of Plague wliich had been predicted in the report for
1913. The relationship between overcrowding and Plague was
discussed at length in the report for 1912.
The general birth-rate for the year was 9"3 per 1,000 among
the Chinese...”
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“...34
passing of the Piracy Prevention Ordinance referred to under the
head of Legislation, in 'accordance with its provisions vessels
sailing to ports on the southern coast, of China, which are licensed
to carry passengers, have to comply with certain stringent re-
gulations.
With the assistance of the Chinese Government and the Macao
Authorities the Hongkong Police were enabled to trace the pre pet ra-
tors of both these outrages. They were tried by the Authorities in
the Kwangtung Province, and 17 of those concerned in the Tai
On" piracy and 9 of those concerned in the "Childar" piracy were
executed at. Can ton.
2. In the month of .July very serious Hoods occurred in the Fu
and West Rivers and an immense tract of country bordering on
these rivers was submerged. Great damage was done to embank-
ments which protect the riverine fields and much suffering was
occasioned to a large population who were deprived of food and
shelter.
The Government, contributed a sum of $;")(),()()(> in aid...”
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“...the
estimate are as follows:
(a.) Assessed Taxes,.......{55104,187
(/>.) Land Sales, -------- ID,186
(<.) Leased Lands, ------- 16,0] 9
(d.) Forfeitures, ------- 37,181
(.) Sunday Cargo Working Permits,- 11,950
(/.) Court Fees.......11,603
((/.) Possession Fees, 12,576
(A.) Water Excess Supply, ----- 29,440
(t.) Opium Monopoly, .....1,168,300
(j.) Markets, - - 12,506
(&.) Widows & Orphans' Pension Contributions, 13,865
Besides the above a bill against the British Post Offices in
China on account of 1910 and amounting to $12,440 was settled
last year.
The increase under (d) is due to numerous arms and cocaine-
cases and under (i) to adoption of direct Government control,
while the remainder with the exception of () which is a new item
may be taken as generally due to the growth of the Colony.
3. The principal decreases were :
(a.) Liquor Duties, ------ $58,044
(b.) Stamp Duties,......80,172
(c.) Medical Examination of Emigrants, - 44,528
(id.) Conservancy Contracts...”
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“...balance of $2,659,426 at the end of 1913
was increased to $2,910,474 at the end of 1914.
8. The following statement shows the Liabilities and Assets on the
31st December, 1914 :
Liabilities. $ c. Assets. $
Deposits not Available,... 2;>3,995.86 Subsidiary Coins, ... 989,863.08
House Service, ............ 1,855.75 678,906.71 Advances, ............ 126,352.37 118,336.64
Crown Agents' Advances, Imprest, ...............
Drafts, ... 571,428.57 Railway Construction, 3,932,633.98
Postal Ageneics in China, 8,745.43 Unallocated Stores,.. i 321,990.99 i
Overdraft, Bank, ......... 1,066,755.63 1 Crown Agents' Cur- rent Account,...... [
7,984.86
Total Liabilities,... 2,586,687.95
Balance,... 2,910,473.97
Total,. ..ft 5,497,161.92 Total,...$ I 15,497,161.92...”
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“...business depression and the War no permanent
result has yet appeared in the way of decreasing the discount on
the Colony's currency.
Owing to depression of trade silver dollars were in no great
demand during the end of the year and consequently bank notes
were at a premium ranging from 4 % to 10^ %.
16. The circulation in December of notes of the three Banks
having authorized issues was as follows :
Hongkong & Shanghai Bank, .....................$23,482,903
Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China,... 6,071,633
Copper par. to 11
Mercantile Bank of India,
1,308,191
$30,862,727
A. M. Thomson,
Treasurer.
9th April, 1915....”
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“...for
19131(57 and 33. The total number of persons reported missing,
including reports from China and Macao, was 223, of whom 45 were
found as compared with 43 out of 293 in 1913.
Emulation.
Emigration Ordinance No. 1 of 1880,
(as amended by subsequent Ordinances).
(i.)Emigration ok Womkn and Ciiilphkn, (Frf.k).
(Table [V.)
0. The number of women and children passengers examined
and allowed to proceed was 13,102 (women 8,158, girls 1,002,
and boys under sixteen 4,002) as compared with 2(5,080 in
.1913. The decrease in numbers, which may be said to have been
entirely due to the Avar, affected all the ports to which such
emigrants proceed, but the chief decrease is in the number of those
proceeding to Singapore and Penang, 11,249 as compared with
23,318 in 1913, the Government of the Straits Settlements having on
the outbreak of war entirely prohibited the immigration, of all deck
passengers from China. The figures for the first 7 months of the
year were nearly up to the average for the last...”
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“...- C 3 -
India, and the other to Bangkok, were also sent back and similarly
dealt with.
10. The year's work with women and children generally pre-
sented less difficulty than was experienced in 1913. The re-opening
of the Canton brothels to a great extent stemmed the tide of un-
desirable women which poured into the Colony in 19.13, but the
disturbed condition of South China still facilitated trafficking in
women and girls for prostitution. The prosecutions under the
Women and Girls Protection Ordinance undertaken by this Office
numbered only 4 with 2 convictions, as compared with 13 cases and
11. convictions in 1913.
Cii.)Malk Emiuration, (Assisted).
(Table V.)
11. As stated beforehand in last year's report ail "assisted"
emigration from Hongkong to other British possessions ceased as
from June 30th, 1914. Assisted emigration to the Dutch Indies
continued to some extent in July and August during which months
548 coolies were passed for Muntok and Billiton, but with the out-
break of...”
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“...since it appeared that in many
cases the men rejected did not. return to their homes. Under the
new system the Hongkong recruiting agents issue a money order,
with photograph affixed, payable in Swatow, for each emigrant so
rejected. These money orders are sent direct to this. Office with a
notification showing by what steamer the men concerned are return-
ing to China. The Emigration Sergeant then proceeds on board
the steamer and sees that each man is given his money order and
that no one goes ashore before the ship sails.
.19. One leper and 4 vagrants were sent back from Muntok
(Hanka), their expenses being paid by the Holland China Trading-
Co. who act as recruiting agents in Hongkong. Three insane per-
sons were repatriated from New York....”
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“...men, who
had already demanded with threats and obtained a higher rate of
wages than had been originally agreed upon, made farther and
unreasonable demands, which led to the arrest and banishment
of their ringleaders. The remainder of the hatch were later given
facilities for leaving the Colony.
25. The disappearance of all assisted emigration to British
possessions from July 1st and the embargo placed by the Straits
Settlements Government at the outbreak of war on all deck pas-
sengers from China were felt very severely by the emigration
boarding houses in Hongkong.
05 Emigration Hotel Licences (0 new) and 35 Assisted
Boarding House Licences (0 new) were issued in 1914. The former
had accommodation for 5,680 boarders and the latter for 1,637.
During the year 22 Emigration Hotels were found closed either
on account of distress for debt or because of dull business ; 2 of
them afterwards re-opened after paying off their debts. 25 Assisted
Boarding Houses closed their premises; one of them...”
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“...receipts of the Hospital.
Chinese Public Dispensaries and Plague Hospitals.
(Table.* XV to XX.)
53. The total number of cases treated at the Dispensaries during
the year was 77,207 as compared with 88,803 in 1.913. Of this total
50,905 were new, and 2(5,242 return cases.
The decrease 011 the 1913 figures may be put down to the war
and the consequent increased cost of living in the Colony which led
large numbers of Chinese especially of the respectable middle and
lower, classes to migrate back to China.
54. The number of vaccinations performed shows a similar
decrease from (3,005 in 1913 to 5,493 in 1914. (Table XV.)
55. The total expenditure 011 the Dispensaries was $29,670, as
compared with $33,000 in 1913. This figure inclules no extra-
ordinary items except one of $1,440, the cost of completing the new
Dispensary at Sham-shui-po which will shortly be opened.
The scheme mentioned in last .year's report of effecting economy
by the purchase of drugs through Dr. Gibson of the Alice Memorial...”
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“...Kuk on January 1st,
1914, was 62 and 435 persons were admitted during the yearas
against 635 in 1913. The circumstances of their admission and
the action taken in regard to them are set out in Table A.
Ill women and girls were committed under warrant, and 295
were admitted without warrant: of the remainder 18 were lost
children and 7 runaway maid-servants.
On leaving the Kuk 153 women and girls were restored to their
hushands or other relatives ; 10 were sent to Charitable Institu-
tions in China ; 37 were given in adoption and 23 married. The
number released under bond was 10 ; 8 cases were sent to the Eyre
Refuge, Italian Convent or Victoria Home. The number of inmates
remaining in the Kuk on the 31st December was 41.
The income and expenditure during the year, and the assets
and liabilities of the institution are set out in Tables B and C
attached.
The accounts of the Managing Committee in the customary
form have again been audited by Messrs. Chiu Chau-sam and Li
Yau-tsun. The balance...”
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“...Affairs.
s H £ Sent with their own consent by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
- £ w Sent with their own consent from Singapore. Manila and Swatow.
£ % £ o Sent with their own consent by the Police.
S China.
Sent to School, Convent or Refuge.
ss CS Adopted.
w £ Married.
to - - Dead.
£ g? Cases under consideration.
§ 8? S Total.
ffQ...”
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“...Number, Tonnage, Crews and Cargoes of Vessels entered
at each Port.
IV.dumber, Tonnage, Crews and Cargoes of Vessels cleared
at each Port.
V.-Number, Tonnage, and Crews of Vessels of each Nation
entered.
VI.Number, Tonnage, and Crews of Vessels of each Nation
cleared.
VII.-Junks entered from China and Macao.
VIII.Junks cleared from China and Macao.
IX.Licensed Steam-launches entered.
X.Licensed Steam-launches cleared.
XI.Number of Boat Licences issued.
XII.Statement of Revenue.
XIII.Chinese Passenger Ships cleared by the Emigration Officer
(Summary).
XIV.Return of Emigration.
XV.Return of Male and Female Emigrants.
XVI.Vessels bringing Chinese Passengers to Hongkong from
places out of China (Summary).
XVII.Return of Immigration.
XVIIIReturn of Male and Female Emigrants returned.
XIX.Vessels registered.
XX.Vessels struck off the Register....”
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“...there was so
little demand that the imports declined. The causes which led to
this were, in the early part of the year, a heavy fall in prices and in
exchange. In May and June, however, trade revived, and there
seemed every prospect of a sustained improvement, when the floods
inland caused a severe set back. Then came the war, which had a
most deleterious effect on the trade inland, and increased freights
acted as a further deterrent to importers. Added to these, the
general financial state of China, throughout the year, has been far
from encouraging.
Flour.There is an increase reported of 12,504 tons, or 18'4
per cent.
As in Cotton, this increase is due to errors and omissions in
the ship masters' reports in 1913. From enquiries I have made, I
gather that there was actually a falling off of 16,713 tons, or .15"4
per cent., the reasons for which are directly due to the war.
It appears that the bulk of the imports arrive here in the later
months of the year, shipments in large quantities...”
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