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“...Yau-ma-ti, $4,285 or 1'67%.
Mong Kok Tsui, $20,020 or 14-94%.
Decreases.
Hung Horn and Hok Un, $6,385 or 2'11%.
New Kowloon, $1,969 or .1/62%.
Kowloon Villages, $2,545 or 2'59%.
For the period 1903-1912 the assessment of the whole Colony has
risen from $8,788,063 to $12,312,306 an increase in value of 40i0#.
The circulation on the 31st December of notes of the three Banks
having authorised issues was. as follows :
Hongkong & Shanghai Bank >19,784,469
Chartered Bank of India, Australia, & China 5,329,419
Mercantile Bank of India - 496,323
$25,610,211...”
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“...is prohibited by Ordi-
nance ^so. 11 of 1912, and there is now none such to be found.
The rate of discount on Hongkong subsidiary coin varied
during 1912 between the following limits :
60 cent pieces 1 percent, to 4 percent.
20 ,. 8
10 H 8f
5 par 5
Copper coin 8 ,, ,,12
The total issue of these coins, less those demonetized, amounts
to some $37,432,370 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 19.12 twenty and ten
cent pieces of the face value of $40,000 and $1,000,000 respectively
were 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. In 1905 the Hongkong Government ceased to issue any
subsidiary coin and in 1906 it began a policy of demonetising all its
subsidiary coin received as revenue. This policy has been continuous-
ly followed...”
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“...re-exported as yarn.
Flour.Here an increase of 16,620 tons, or 20 per cent, was
reported. This is explained by the prices being moderate on
account of the high rate of exchange. The wheat crop in North
China, also, has been poor for the past two seasons, thereby creating
a demand for foreign flour, while the Chinese are quickly learning
new uses for this commodity, which in man}^ parts is taking the
place of rice. Among these is a very fine description of vermicelli,
now manufactured at Amoy and Chefoo. which is in great demand,
and 20 per cent, of the flour imported at Amoy (through Hongkong) is
used for this purpose ; considerable quantities are consumed at Amoy
and Chefoo and large shipments are made to Hongkong, Canton, the
Philippine Islands, Singapore, and other ports out of China. This
increased use of flour is evident in the Colony, being noticeable
even among the boat population of the Harbour, where it is a
common thing to see cakes and "flapjacks" being cooked and eaten,
instead...”
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“...shows an increase of 2,724 tons imported, or 15'4
per cent. This is due to the greater number of vessels now using
this form of fuel instead of coal.
Opium.The imports of raw opium show a decrease of 8,925
chests or 42 per cent, and the exports a decrease of G,79G| chests or
34 per cent. This decrease is the natural outcome of the Opium
Agreement of May, 1911, but has been intensified by the uncertainties
and variations of provincial policies in China with regard to opium
generally and by the absolute exclusion of Persian opium from the
China market. The figures for the last five years are shown in the
following table :
1912. 1911. 1910. 1909. 1908.
Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests.
Stock in hand, 1st Jan.,... 7,587 7,123 4,509 5,808 4,707
Imported during the year, 12,361} 21,286 31,743 35,734 41,821
Total,...... 19,948} 28,409 36,252 41,542 46,528
Boiled by Opium Farmer, 1,113 761 782 1,044 864
Spurious Opium, destroyed, 2 ... 14 51 247
Exported during the year, 13,264} 20...”
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“...junks are usually built of native woodChina pine the
import of which is not included in these figures.
Emigration and Immigration.
122,657 emigrants left Hongkong for various places during
the year 1912, (135,565 in 1911)'. Of these 88,749 were carried in
British ships and 33,908 in foreign ships. These figures show a
decrease of 12,908 (or 9"5 %) under 1911, due undoubtedly to the
fact that most of the poorest classes instead of emigrating to foreign
countries joined the Revolutionaries in China during the year.
Statement of Number of Emigrants to Straits Settlements
.1908 to 1912 com/pared with Total Chinese
Emigration 1908 to 1912.
No. of Emigrants to Straits Settlements. Total No. of Emigrants.
1908, ... 49,639 71,081
1909, ... 48,016 77,430
1910, ... 76,705 11.1,058
1911, ... ... 100,906 135,565
1912, ... 84,024 122,657
163,248 returning emigrants are reported to have been brought
to Hongkong from the several places to which they had emigrated,
either from this Colony or from...”
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“...
Sugar Refineries.The year 1912 has on the whole been an
unfavourable one for the local refined sugar industry. China has
not yet recovered from the effects of the Revolution, and until con-
fidence is fully restored merchants are apparently content to adopt a
hand-to-mouth buying policy. Apart from this the European beet
crop has been a record one, latest estimates promising an excess of
about million tons over that of 1911; and, with beet and cane
combined, a surplus in the world's production of about million
tons over that of any previous season. The result has been a very
considerable decline in the world's prices, with a consequent unset-
tling reaction in Far Eastern markets.
Cotton Spinning.Since the termination of the Revolution in
China there has been considerable improvement in the Yarn trade,
and the year closed with the industry in a healthy condition in China.
The local mill has worked full time throughout the year and has
benefited by the better conditions....”
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“...14
Leather and Hides.The leather manufactured at the local tan-
neries is of such an inferior quality that it is gradually being driven
out of the market by the competition of .imported products : it cannot
compete with leather tanned in the Straits.
The export of raw hides to Penang where they are tanned and
re-exported to Hongkong in the form of very fair quality leather
increased largely owing to the extraordinary demand throughout
China for foreign style women's boots and shoes and for military
equipment.
*
Ginger and Preserves.Very small profits were made by the
ginger manufacturers during the year owing to the rise in the price
of raw ginger by §2 a picul. Tavo shops failed and had to close
during the year.
Soy.This trade still remains dull ; exports to Singapore and
the South have again fallen off.
Paper.The trade has not been quite so good, a large stock
remaining unsold at the end of the year.
Vermilion.The output has remained about the same, but the
demand has still further...”
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“...have been rebuilt with modern terraces and
dwelling houses for the accommodation of the better class Chinese.
The rate of interest charged on good mortgage securities is now
usually $7 per cent, per annum whereas three years ago it was rarely
less than $8 per cent.
The granite quarries, of which there are a large number on the
coasts both of the island and in New Kowloon, were wholly or par-
tially closed down for a greater part of the year owing partly to
the fact that the export of stone to China had practically stopped
since the Revolution and also to contracts in Hongkong requiring a
large amount of stone having been completed. Reductions of
one-third of the annual rents were in many cases granted to
the lessees and the leases of only two of the quarries which
expired on 31st December were re-let.
Sales of land in the New Territories continue even, consisting
chiefly of small building sites for native occupation and patches of...”
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“...board and residence, with a deposit of $25 caution money. All
fees are payable in terminal instalments.
The University has shown abundant proof of vitality. At the
end of the year the number of students was 72, 31 of whom were
taking Engineering and 21 Medicine. There is a Provisional Arts
Course which gives courses in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics,
Chinese, English, History and Economics. While most of the
students have studied in Hongkong schools a number come from
Canton, the Coast Ports of China and the Straits Settlements.
V.PUBLIC WORKS.
Of the important works in progress, the Law Courts were
completed and formally opened by H.E. the Governor on the 15th
January. The building contains 3 courts, the Court Library, the...”
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“...923 and shows a saving on the Grant of $520,170
which was largely due to a profit on exchange.
The Working Expenses compared with gross receipts show a
marked decrease on the previous year, expenditure amounted to .
$207,351 or $6,378 more than was estimated.
The Revenue derived from Local Traffic was #116,824, Through
and Joint Sectional $118,572 and Fanling Branch #6,252, the
excess of income over expendit ure being #34,298.
Railiocuj.
Passengers booked by British Section to Stations
in China, .............................................
122,390
Passengers booked by Chinese Section to Stations
on the British Section, ...........................
134,583
Passengers travelling on the British Section, Main
Line,...................................................
300,337
Passengers travelling on the British Section (Fan-
ling Branch), ......................................
42,940...”
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“...- 26
unrest which ultimately led to the overthrow of the dynasty and the
establishment of a Republican Government in China.
Pending the erection of sufficient dwellings for the accommoda-
tion of so large an increase in our normal population, the existing
'dwellings became greatly overcrowded, but any very strict enforce-
ment of the overcrowding laws was deemed, impossible while the
penalty which had to be paid for this abnormal state of affairs
amounting practically to the conversion of Hongkong into a huge
refugee campwas a severe outbreak of Plague, no less than 1,847
cases being recorded. These cases were generally distributed
throughout the City, except in the European business quarter
(where only a few cases occurred), and throughout Kowloon, and the
most probable determining cause of the epidemic was a considerable
augmentation of the rat population consequent on the general over-
crowding of the native dwellings. The overcrowding naturally led
to a marked increase in the amount...”
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“...territory adjoining the New Territories was in
a disturbed condition during the greater part of the year owing to
the Avithdrawal of the military posts along the frontier to meet
exigencies elsewhere. As a result some-serious raids were made
by armed bands of robbers into British territory. To guard against
these incursions 354 officers and men of the 8th Rajputs and 153
officers aiid men of the 126th Baluchistan Infantry were, by the
courtesy of His Excellency the General Officer Commanding, South
China, drafted on the 26th of June to various places along the
frontier. This force furnished patrols which moved about the
country at various hours by night and by day. It was withdrawn
on the 30tli of November for annual training in Camp in the New
Territories. These patrols proved most efficient and the thanks of
the Colonial Government were conveyed to the officers and men
concerned and to the Military Authorities for the valuable assistance
thus rendered.
On the night of the 19th of August an...”
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“...Government.
The policy of the Government in controlling the consumption
of morphia and compounds of opium was continued by amending
the regulations so as to prohibit their sale except on a medical
prescription.
This action has resulted in the stoppage of a trade in cough
lozenges" and similar confections containing morphia which had a
large sale among the Chinese owing to their use as a substitute for
opium or as an alleged remedy against the opium habit.
The importation of Persian Opium into China was prohibited
as from the 1st January and during the year strict supervision was
kept, there having been instituted four prosecutions for attempts to
smuggle the article. Numerous prosecutions were also undertaken
against illicit opium smoking divans although there is considerable
difficulty in the way of finding them out.
Although the transit trade in morphia and cocaine has been
stopped there was still a certain amount of illegal business done and
several seizures of these drugs were made...”
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“...A 2
Statement of Assets and Liabilities on the 31st December, 1912.
LIABILITIES.
Deposits not Available, .......................
House Service, ...................................
Crown Agents' Advances, ....................
Postal Agencies in China, ....................
Overdraft, Bank, ................................
Crown Agents' Current Account,
Total Liabilities, ...........
Balance, ................
Total,............$
223,777.48
3,805.52
1,913,452.80
140,803.79
633,282.61
960.32
2,915,582.52
2,805,129.79
5,720,712.31
ASSETS.
Subsidiary Coins,.....
Advances,..............
Imprest,.................
Railway Construction,
Unallocated Stores, ..
Statement of Funded Public Debt or Loans borrowed for Fixed Periods outstanding on the
31st December, 1912, and of: the Accumulated Sinking Funds at the same date.
Designation of Debt
or Loan.
Hongkong
scribed :
34 o/0 in-
[tock.
OnlinancesNos.
1 & 2 of 1893
and No. 11 of
1905.
JOINT SINKING FUND 1912.
Amount of...”
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“...Licences, ---------- 17,982
(h.) Payment on account in respect of British
Postal Agencies, --------- .15,484
These increases are due generally to the following causes:
(a.) Death duties were paid on certain large estates, and trade
was prosperous.
(e.) A new assessment, made during the year, showed a con-
siderable increase in rentals, which increase is attributed to the
influx of Chinese into the Colony on account of the unrest in South
China.
(&) Arrears on account of 1911 were paid in 1912.
(e.) The influx of Chinese owing to the unrest in South China
led to a considerable increase in Police Court cases.
(/.) Certain unclaimed monies lapsed from bankrupt estates to
the Government and the balance of the Praya Reclamation Fund
was transferred.
(g.) An improved system of licensing was introduced, under
which junk owners were required to pay the sum of $1 for perma-
nent licence books.
(h.) Arrears outstanding. When the estimates were framed
the amount of these and the probable date of...”
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“...-- -- -- -- - 17,982
(h.) Pa3^ment on account in respect of British
Postal Agencies, --------- .15,484
These increases are due generally to the following causes:
(a.) Death duties were paid on certain large estates, and trade
was prosperous.
(c.) A new assessment, made during the year, showed a con-
siderable increase in rentals, which increase is attributed to the
influx of Chinese into the Colony on account of the unrest in South
China.
(d.) Arrears on account of 1911 were paid in 1912.
(ie.) The influx of Chinese owing to the unrest in South China
led to a considerable increase in Police Court cases.
(/.) Certain unclaimed monies lapsed from bankrupt estates to
the Government and the balance of the Praya Reclamation Fund
was transferred.
(g.) An improved system of licensing was introduced, under
which junk owners were required to pay the sum of $1 for perma-
nent licence books.
Qi.) Arrears outstanding. When the estimates were framed
the amount of these and the probable date...”
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“...-$180,481
Attributed to the unsettled state of the
Kwong Tung Province.
(6.) Liquor Duties, ---------- 19,425
An increase in the rates of duty did not
bring in the revenue anticipated.
(c.) Postage, ------------$ 18,956
Anticipations based on the facilities
afforded by the through railway traffic to
Canton were not realised.
(d.) Imperial Contribution on account of loss of
Opium Revenue, --------- 15,880
Due to rise in exchange.
(e.) Stone Quarries, -- -- -- -- 8,095
The unrest in South China caused stagna-
tion in the trade with the Kwong Tung
Province.
Expenditure.
4. The total expenditure amounted to $7,202,543, being
$650,135 under the estimate, and $125,366 more than the expen-
diture in 1911. Compared with the estimates there was decrease
under every head with the exception of Miscellaneous Services,
Military Expenditure, Public Works Recurrent, and Charitable
Services. The excess, amounting to $12,054, under Miscellaneous
Services was largely due to charges in connection with...”
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“...) Post Office Building, ----_-_-$ 28,236
Due to settlement of a claim made by the
Contractor and to extension of the heat-
ing apparatus.
(d.) Waterworks : Maintenance of City and Hill
District, ------------ 27,952
Explained above.
(<3.) Railway : Locomotive Carriage and Wagon
Expenses, ------------ 22,694
Due largely to an under estimate of the
amount of coal required.
(/.) Police : additional launch and motor boat, 19,354
These were considered necessary owing
to the unrest in South China, which
brought many criminals to the Colony.
(g.) P.W.D. Miscellaneous Works, ----- 18,841
This expenditure is spread over a large
number of small items.
(7i.) Military Contribution, -------- 17,068
Explained above.
(i.) Printing and Binding, -------- 13,349
Largely due to expenses in connection
with a revised edition of the Ordinances.
(j.) Compensation for damages by Disinfection, 11,994
Due to the removal of a large number
of ceilings on account of the prevalence
of plague.
6. The...”
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“...9. The following statement shows the Liabilities and Assets on the 31st December, 1912 :-
Liabilities.
c.
Deposits not Available,.....................j 223,777.48
i
House Service, ..............................j 3,805.52
Crown Agents' Advances,..................I
Postal Agencies in China,..................
Overdraft, Bank, ...............
,, Crown Agents' Current Account,
Total Liabilities,
Balance,........
1,913,452.80
140,303.79
633,282.61
960.32
2,915,582.52
2,805,129.79
Total, ...............$ 5,720,712.31
Assets.
Subsidiary Coins, .....
Advances, ..............
Imprest, .................
Railway Construction,
Unallocated Stores,
Total,
251,583.66
6,461.00
919.89
5,249,535.29
212,212.47
5,720,712.31...”
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“...bond it was found that
the man in whose charge she had been placed had induced her to
become his concubine. She was sent back to the Po Leung Kuk,
and the offender's bond of $150 was forfeited.
The number of persons reported by Hongkong residents to the
Po Leung Kuk as missing during the year was 239 of whom 55
were found, as compared with 39 out of 244 in 1911. The number
of boys reported missing was 90 as against 71 in 1911. The total
number of persons reported missing, including reports from China
and Macao, was 384 of whom 65 were found. The corresponding-
figures for 1911 were 416 and 59 (for 1910, 395 and 75).
Emigration.
Emigration Ordinance, No. 1 of 1889,
(as amended by subsequent Ordinances).
(i.)Emigration of Women and Giiii.dr-ex.
(Table IV.)
The number of women and children passengers examined and
allowed to proceed was 23,248 as against 24,-630 in 1911. There is
a slight falling off in the numbers going to the Straits Settlements,
20,328 as compared with 22,168 in 1911 but...”
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