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“...13'91%.
Decrease:
The Hill District, $1,375 or 0'42%.
The rateable value of the whole Colony amounted to $ 15,638,736
being an increase of $1,228,583 or 8'52%."
For the period 1909-1918 the assessment of the whole Colony
has risen from $10,750,902 to $15,638,736, an increase in rateable
value of 44-53%.
The circulation on the 31st December of notes of the three
Banks having authorised issues was as follows :
Hongkong & Shanghai Bank,.........$22,401,355
Chartered Bank of India, Australia, & China, 8,718,777
Mercantile Bank of India, 1,098,380
$32,218,512...”
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“...4
The currency of the Colony consists, in addition to tlie notes
of these Banks, of British, Hongkong, and Mexican Dollars and of
subsidiary coin, which continued at par throughout the year.
The total issue of subsidiary coins, less those demonetized, now
amounts to $20,764,370 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 1916 ten cent pieces of
the face value of $5,028,000 were shipped to England for purposes
of demonetization. The discount which prevailed between 1905 and
1916 may be attributed to the immense quantity of similar coin which
was 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 coin
received as revenue. This policy has been continuously followed
since except during...”
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“...and sold.
In Steamships not exceeding 60 tons employed in Foreign Trade
there is a decrease of 529 ships and a decrease of 17,322 tons or 8*8
per cent, in numbers and 9 0 per cent, in tonnage. This is due to
a great number of launches being laid up through coal being too
expensive to run them with any margin of profit.
Junks in Foreign Trade show a decrease of 2,628 vessels of
244,712 tons or 11 "2 per cent, in numbers and 8'2 per cent, in tonnage..
This is due to the unsettled state of South China and the greater
prevalence of piracy in the Canton Delta during the year.
In Local Trade (i.e., trade between places within the waters of
the Colony), there is a decrease in Steam Launches of 49,434 vessels
with a decrease in tonnage of 1,689,078 tons or 9'9 per cent, in
numbers and 15'7 per cent, in tonnage. This is also due to the
number of launches being laid up through the high cost of coal.
Junks in Local Trade show an increase of 487 vessels and
306,181 tons or 1*3 per cent, in numbers...”
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“...9
Beans.Show an increase of 36,534 tons. This trade came
practically to a standstill in 1917 owing to the troubles in North
China.
Flour.Shows an increase of 3,937 tons due to larger ship-
ments from Shanghai.
Liquid Fuel.Shows an increase of 24,979 tons due to a greater
demand by shipping on this commodity for bunkers.
Bice.Shows an increase of 47,952 tons due to the high freights
obtainable during the year and large quantities having been dis-
charged at this Port for re-shipment to Japan.
Sandalwood.Shows an increase due to one vessel being
available solely for this trade during the year.
Sugar.Shows an increase of 115,423 tons due to former restric-
tions placed by the Dutch Authorties in Java being removed.
Timber.Shows a small increase chiefly accounted for through
small shipments from Pacific Ports.
General Cargo.Shows an increase of 80,246 tons principally
due to larger quantities being discharged at this Port waiting tran-
shipment.
Decreases:
Bvlk and Case Oil.Show...”
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“...... 6 150 200
Kwong Tuck Cheong, ..................... 2 1,723 900
Lau Sum Kee,................................. 1 1,030 480
Total,............17 vessels of 11,848 gross tons and 9,090 I.H.P.
Sugar Refineries.The year 1918 was remarkable for the un-
precedented rise in the price of Java raw sugarsfrom less than
f. 5.00 in July to about f. 12.50 in November. Demand in China
was strong throughout the major portion of the year, but business
was severely curtailed in the early summer through the tonnage
restrictions imposed by the Authorities in Java. Thereafter imports
were on a heavy scale, and China readily absorbed all available sup-
plies of Hongkong Refined8, until the last two months of the year,
when the increasing tightness of money, coupled with advances in
rates, checked business very considerably. Demand from the Per-
sian Gulf continued strong, but business bulked much less than in
1917 owing to the very restricted tonnage available, the greater part
of the carrying...”
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“...quantity of Yarn (as of all merchandise) coming to the
Colony has been considerably below that of former years, but statis-
tics based on values, however, would probably not reveal this
conclusively, owing to the high cost of raw materials, freight,
insurance, and other charges, which of course swell the value figures
as compared with those of quantity.
The off-take by Southern China has been curtailed owing to the
high prices now required for most goods, and to the decreased pur-
chasing power due to war conditions adversely affecting China's
export trade.
Trade lias suffered by the political chaos that exists in China
and there has been a lack of confidence in native circles caused by
many of the usual trade routes being infested by pirates and bandits
recruited from the disbanded but unpaid soldiery, which has served
to check the free flow of goods and money.
The statistical position of trade in most goods however is
sound, and granted settled conditions the prospects of business are
e...”
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“...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 224, 76
of whom were taking the Engineering Course, 75 Medicine, and 73
Arts. While most of the students have studied in Hongkong schools,
a number come from Canton, the Coast Ports of China, the Straits
Settlements, Siam, Japan, and Russia. There are numerous scholar-
ships, including those founded in honour of King Edward VII,
the President of the Republic of China and various Provincial
Governments.
The idea of the University is to provide, close to China, education
for Chinese similar to that given in the British Universities, but at.
a much cheaper cost; for if a Chinese goes abroad to be educated
he has to pay, besides travelling expenses, some $2,500 per annum;
whereas at Hongkong the expenses of the University are $540 per
annum for board and tuition, or including extras about a minimum
of $1,000 per annum...”
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“...20
of machinery and apparatus,, and has a number of laboratories and
workshops. There is practically no place in China where students
have such an opportunity of seeing all kinds of machinery in actual
working and of learning their practical management. Several
graduates have obtained an Honour's Degree awarded by the
Examiners of the London University.
The University insists upon all students having a proper know-
ledge of their own language although instruction at the University
is carried out in English. Students are required to pass an examina-
tion in written Chinese before entering, and two Chinese Professors,
both Hanlin graduates, give lectures on the classics and history of
China.
V.PUBLIC WORKS.
The extension of the Central Police Station referred to in last
year's report was practically at a standstill throughout the year as
the iron girders and stanchions required did not arrive until Decem-
ber. .An extension of the Harbour Office building, erected in 1907,
which will...”
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“...to beyond Tsun Wan Village was completed and an
extension of the same road along the coast to Castle Peak Bay, a
^distance of about 10^ miles was undertaken early in the year, the
work being well advanced by its close.
Kowloon Marine Lot 83 and Kowloon Inland Lot 1178, situated
in Hunghom Bay, Avere resumed by Government with a view to
future railway developments and the provision of facilities for
discharging and loading vessels. With the same objects in view,
arrangements were made with the China Light and Power Company,
whereby their present premises, situated on Hunghom Inland Lot
226, will revert to Government whenever their power station has
been transferred to a new site granted by Government.
For the improvement of roads in the City of Victoria, I.L.1375
and a portion of I.L.59 were resumed in order to improve dangerous
bends in Caine Road, whilst a portion of M.L.239 was resumed in
order to widen Belchers Street to 50 feet. In Kowloon, several
resumptions and readjustments were...”
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“...Kut and Li Long and
through traffic was suspended until August 9th.
The Revenue derived from Local Traffic amounted to $ 167,579.05
and from Through and Joint Sectional Traffic to $265,694.78.
The Working Expenses amounted to $356,221.07 showing a
balance of Earnings over Expenditure of $77,053.36.
The Through and Joint Sectional Passengers carried were as
follows :
1916. 1917. 1918.
Passengers booked by Stations
in British Territory to
Stations in China,........... 307,310 309,394 307,494
Passengers booked by Stations
in China to Stations in
British Territory, ............ 344,220 352,008 323,642
VI.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 the Kennedy Town Infectious Dis-
eases Hospital. There is an Observation Station capable of accom-
modating 1,500 persons in the event of an outbreak of infectious
disease on board...”
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“...31
In order to protect as far as possible the essential interests of
the Colony the Government took over early in the year the control of
seventeen British ships registered in Hongkong and Shanghai.
These vessels were the only British ships remaining on the China
Coast which were not under the Imperial liner requisition scheme
and had not been taken over by the Imperial Government, for whose
purposes they were unsuitable. The owners gave their loyal co-
operation, and the tonnage thus acquired served a irost useful
purpose, the ships being diverted as occasion demanded to meet the
Colony's more pressing needs.
The political dissensions and domestic disputes, which have for
some time past formed so unfortunate a feature of Chinese national
life, continued throughout the year, to the grave detriment of trade
in the Ivwong Tung and Kwong Sai Provinces. The prevalent
lawlessness led to a considerable influx of bad characters into
Hongkong, with a consequent increase in crimes of violence...”
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“...20 ............ ... ............73,961
10 ..........................................773,878
5 ..........................................145,777
Copper, ......... ...... ... 3,962
$1,008,322
The nominal amount of coins in circulation is $20,764,370, and
the market value is now practically par.
12. The local circulation in December of notes of the three
Banks having authorized issues was as follows :
Hongkong & Shanghai Bank, .........$22,401,355
Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China, 8,718,777
Mercantile Bank of India, ........................1,098,380
$32,218,512
The specie in Reserve came to............ $22,550,000
13. The rate of exchange for the Estimates was taken at 2/-
whereas the average rate for purposes of conversion in the Treasury
books was 3/2f.
C. Mcl. Messer,
Treasurer.
16th May, 1919....”
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“...C 2
being forced into prostitution. The names of 10 girls were struck
off the list, of whom 2 were married and 8 were sent back to their
relatives. The number of names on the list on 31st December,
19J 8, was 16 as compared with 22 on January 1 at, 1918.
5. The number of persons reported by Hongkong residents to
the Po Leung Kuk as missing during the year was 60 of whom
28 were found as compared with 60 and 50 in 1917. The total
number of persons reported missing, including reports from China
and Macao, was 89 of whom 31 were found, as compared with 63
out of 111 in 1917.
Emigration.
Asiatic Emigration Ordinance No. 30 of 1915.
(i.)Emigration of Women and Children, (Free).
(Table IV.)
6. The number of women and children passengers examined
and allowed to proceed was 5,366 (women 3,013, girls 404, and
boys under sixteen 1,949) as compared with 16,709 in 1917. These
figures show a very great decrease in this type of emigration, for
which the shipping shortage, and the prohibition for...”
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“...against 450 in 1917. The circumstances of their admission and
the action t^iken in regard to them are set out in Table A.
One hundred and thirty-eight (138) women and girls were
committed under warrant, and .146 were admitted without war-
rant. Of the remainder 39 were lost children, 1.1 were accom-
panied by parent or guardian, and 22 were runaway maid-servants.
On leaving the Kuk 135 women and girls were restored
to their husbands or other relatives, 13 were sent to charit-
able institutions in China, 19 were given in adoption, and 8
married. The number released under bond was 9, and 4 cases
were sent to the Eyre Refuge, Italian Convent, or Victoria Home.
The number of inmates remaining in the Kuk on the 31st Decem-
ber was 53.
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. Li Wing-kwong and Li
King-lau. The...”
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“...the Emigration Office. Pending the opening of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs. Sent with their own consent by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. Sent with their own consent from Singapore. Manila and Swatow. Sent with their own consent by the Police. _ Lost Children. Accompanying parents or guardians. Runaway maid-servants. Total. Released after enquiry. T3 a o fH China. | Sent to School, Convent, 1 or Refuge. Adopted. Se § 1 Sent to French Consul to be sent home. Died. Cases under consideration. cS -4-S o H 51 356 407
In the Po Leung Kuk on 1st ) January, 1918. ............ j 4 15 11 ... 19 8 9 51 8 154 1 2 8 96 3 10 3 1 14 3 j ... i 5 > ... i 2 2 7 46
Admitted during the year, ... 121 17 53 3 75 39 11 11 22 356 407 8 29 5
Total, ............ 12 r, 17 15 64 3 94 47 31 162 9 31 104 13 4 19 8 4 53
Remaining in the Po Leung ) &uk on the 31st Decern-...”
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“...Cargoes of Vessels entered
at each. Port.
IV.Number, 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 for China and Macao.
IX.Summary of Arrivals and Departures of all Vessels.
X.Licensed Steam-launches entered.
XI.Licensed Steam-launch.es cleared.
XII.Number of Boat Licences issued.
XIII.Statement of Revenue.
XIV.Chinese Passenger Ships cleared by the Emigration Officer
(Summary).
XV.Return of Emigration.
XVI.Return of Male and Female Emigrants.
XVII.Vessels bringing Chinese Passengers to Hongkong from
places out of China (Summary).
XVIII.Return of Immigration.
XIX.Return of Male and Female Emigrants returned....”
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“...In Steamships not exceeding 60 tons employed in Foreign
Trade there is a decrease of 529 ships and a decrease of 17,322 tons
or 8'8 per cent, in numbers and 9'0 per cent, in tonnage. This is
due to a great number of launches being laid up through coal
being too expensive to run them with any margin of profit.
Junks in Foreign Trade show a decrease of 2,628 vessels of
244,712 tons or 11'2 per cent, in numbers and 8'2 per cent, in ton-
nage. This decrease is clue to the unsettled state of South China
and the greater prevalence of piracy in the Canton Delta during
the year.
In Local Trade (i.e., trade between places within the Waters of
the Colony), there is a decrease in Steam-launches of 49,434 vessels
with a decrease in tonnage of 1,689,078 tons or 9'9 per cent, in num-
bers and 15 7 per cent, in tonnage. This is also due to the number
of launches being laid up through the high cost of coal.
Junks in Local Trade show an increase of 487 vessels and
306,181 tons or 1'3 per cent, in -numbers...”
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“...ENTERED AT PORTS in the COLONY of HONGKONfr from EACH COUNTRY, in the YEAR 1918.
r.
f Vessels,...............
I Tons...................
{ Crews,.................
I
- | Transit, .....
1 & ( Discharged, ,
5 I i g
£ 1 §
f Vessels..
I
-I Tons,...
I
L Crews,..
COUNTRIES WHENCE ARRIVED.
Tons,..
i I
\ { Crews,..
' | i i)Tramit* -..........
^ t ^ 1 Discharged,.......JS^.
Australia and 1 New Zea- land. British North Borneo. Canada. J Coast of China, Ships. 1 Coast of China, Steamships under 60 tons. Coast of China, Juuks. Cochin China. Continent of Europe. Formosa. Great Britain. India and Straits Settlements. Japanese Ports. Java and other Islands iu the Indian Archipelago. S ti P M Macao, Ships. Macao, Steamships under 60 tons. Macao, Junks.
13 13 19 2,460 88 2 34 77 j 18 11 38 96G j
8,676 20,840 83,311 1,873,730 92,797 6,905 144,442 160,056 60,121 24,411 7,368 595,725
802 1,178 5,121 135,383 5,556 308 2,856 7,926 1,833 696 1,545 35,476 j ...
7,500 16,900 288,100 ...”
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“...D 18
Table IINUMBER, TONNAGE, CREWS, and CARGOES of VESSELS CLEARED AT PORTS in the COLONY of HONGKONG to EACH COUNTRY, in the YEAR 1918.
COUNTRIES TO WHICH DEPARTED.
| Australia and | New Zealand. British North Borneo. c3 a c c3 o Ccast of China Ships. Coast of China, Steamships under 60 tons. 1 | Coast of China, j Junks. i Cochin China. 1 Continent of Europe. c3 CO o a o j Great Britain. India and Straits Settlements. Japanese Ports. 1 Java and other Islands in the Indian | Archipelago. ce 0 5 " Macao, Ships. Macao. Steamships under 60 tons. Macao, Junks. (A £ North America. Philippine Islands. Ports in Hainan and Gulf of Tonkin. Port Arthur. Russia in Asia. a a m South Africa. South America. South Pacific. Cy Th H United States of America. Wei-hai-wei. Total.
r. CO '"Vessels, . 13 13 27 2,474 67 3 9 109 34 4. 48 54 j 1 50 1 3 3,972
967 9o j ... ...
o Tons...... 16,697 20,329 111,738 1,918,149 73,093...”
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“...Table VII.
Total Number, Tonnage, Crews, Passengers, and Cargoes of Junks ENTERED at Ports in the Colony of Hongkong,
from Ports on the Coast of China and Macao, in the Year 1918.
Cargo. Ballast. Total.
Vessels. Tons. Crew. Passen- gers. Cargo, Tons.' Ves- sels. Tons. Crew. Passen- gers. Ves- sels. Tons. Crew. Passen- gers. Cargo, Tons.
Canton, ..... ... 2.655 447.872 47.139 356,326 250,38S [ 17,640 | 107,894 | 5,759 772 169,645 14,387 27,034 3,179 6,699 567 3,427 5,297 455 617,517 61,526 j 356,326
West River, ...... Macao, ........... 3,551 258 536,668 25,6S3 61,270 8,571 17,743 2,167 62.405 1,746 197 167,720 23,342 55.654 3,330 420 704,408 49,025 160,473 15,250 88,304 6,750 62,825 250,388 17,640 107,894 5,759
East Coast, ...... West Coast,..... 1,795 172 104.819 11,920 59 12 612 56 22 5 2,407 228 24,442 2,734 81 17
Total, 1918, ..... 8,431 1,126,962 131,890 62,476 ; 738.007 1 3,383 419,691 51,866 447 11,814 1,546,673 183,756 02,923 738,007
Total. 1917, .. 8...”
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