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“...and under the Convention signed at Peking in June, .1898,
the area known as the New Territories including Mirs Bay and
Deep Bay was leased, to Great Britain by the Government of China
for 90 years. The area of the New Territories and Islands is
about 345 sq. miles.
Trade gradually developed as China became accustomed to
foreign intercourse and it increased greatly owing to the opening
of the Suez Canal. It now stands at about 200 million pounds
sterling per annum.
Large local banking, dock, steamboat, and insurance companies
were established between 1865 and 1872, and their numbers are
being continually added to.
The Colony is the centre of an incessant flow of Chinese
emigration and immigration.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
An important incident of the year was the visit of His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales who arrived in the Colony in H.M.S.
"Renown" on the 6th April. The residents of the Colony of all
nationalities lent their assistance in giving His Royal Highness a
hearty welcome...”
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“...remained in a depressed state owing to the
feeling of unrest which prevailed in the adjacent provinces of
South China. Shipments of rice, in particular, which have been
an important item in the trade of the Colony, were considerably
reduced through facilities being opened up in Si am and Saigon for
direct export to the United States of America.
Exchange during the year declined considerably the Dollar
which on January 1st stood at 2s. l\d., at the close of the year had
fallen to 2.?. 2fcZ.'
The development of the Colony during the year still continued
and the influx of capital from South China resulted in considerable
sales of land for building purposes, and unduly inflated the value
of property. So long as China remains in the present unsettled
state it is to be expected that the Colony will be made the tem-
porary home of many of the merchants of Canton and other parts
of South China.
A serious case of piracy occurred on the 19 th November on
board the s.s. Sui An" whicji runs between Hongkong...”
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“...New Territories ..." 54,391
The rateable value of the whole Colony amounted to
$19,805,929 having increased by $1,109,269.
During the period 1913-1922 the assessment of the whole
Colony has risen from $12,435,812 to $19,805,929, an increase in
rateable value of $7,370,117.
The circulation on the 31st December of notes of the three
Banks having authorised issues was as follows :
Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Cor-
poration ..................$ 34,974,774
Chartered Bank of India, Australia, &
China ..............................11,239,602 '
Mercantile Bank of India, Limited 1,364,413
$ 47,578,789
The currency of the Colony consists, in addition to the 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 $18,789,370 nominal value, and they were up to the...”
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“...6
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 Calcutta for
purposes of demonetization. The discount which prevailed be-
tween 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 demonet-
ising ali its subsidiary coin received as revenue. This policy
was continuously followed till 1918 except during a brief period in
1911. Coin to the face value of $21,235,459 has thus been
redeemed. The total issue by the Hongkong Government was of
the face value of about $44,000,000.
II.-SHIPPING AND TRADE, INDUSTRIES, FISHERIES,
AGRICULTURE, AND LAND.
(a.)Shipping.
The total of the shipping entering and clearing at...”
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“..... o 'J ,, 174 340
Kwong Hip Lung Co., Ld......... o 48' U4
A King.,............................... 2 29 260
K-uag Tuck Cheung ................. 1 88 400
Tong Lee ........ .................... i 41 80 ..
Total ...........22 vessels of 23,309 gross tons and 17,074 I.H.P.
Sugar.The year 1922 saw many .fluctuations in price but on
the whole was an uninteresting period. We still look for a more
satisfactory state of affairs when normal production and consumption
definitely returns. Trade in China was bad owing to the political
unrest.
Ya,vn.The yarn trade during 1922 was very unsatisfactory
from the point of view of importers but the local dealers are said to
have closed the year on a profitable basis.
The total quantity of yarn imported into the colony during
the year amounted to 120,00.0 bales and 14,000 bales were brought
forward from the previous year....”
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“...reduced to an absolute
minimum. The actual turnover locally was much the same as last
year.
(ii).Under Chinese Management.
Tin.Business was fairly good and United States bought
freely and Dealers were given, ail opportunity of clearing somewhat
large surplus stocks carried over from 1921. The comparative
table is as follows:
Im/ports. 1921 1922. Exports. 1921. 1922.
tons. tons. tons. tons.
From Straits....... .. 700 47 To United
Kingdom . ..2,000 863
China ....... -.8,250 8,566 United States. ..1,000 7,043
China .......... ..2,100 2,878
,, Japan .......... ..1,000 1,271
Total. ..8,950 8,613 Total . ..6,100 12,055
Native Tobacco.-Very little business done during the year
and total exports are estimated at £471,252 as compared with
£513,478 for 1921....”
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“...besides travelling expenses,
in the case of a Chinese student going abroad for his education.
Numerous scholarships are available, including the King
Edward VII Scholarships founded by His Majesty's Government,
the President's Scholarships founded by His Excellency the Pre-
sident of China, together with Scholarships (some of which are in
the nature of bursaries) given by the Hongkong Government, the
Chinese Government, the Metropolitan District of Peking, the
Provincial Governments of Canton, Chihli, Yunnan and Hupeh, the
Governments of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay
States, the Government of Keclah and the Siamese Government.
Students are also drawn from the Philippines, French Indo-China
and Australasia.
During 1922 honorary degrees were conferred upon His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, Sir Charles Addis, k.c.m.g., and the
late Mr. E. H. Sharp, it.c., a member of the Governor's Executive
Council. A benefaction of $500,000 were received from the
Rockefeller Foundation...”
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“...Workshops at Hunghom an Oil Fuel Depot was
installed for serving the Motor Coaches.
The three sidings to the east of the new carriage shed were
extended 500 feet each, and a crossover road laid between two, to
facilitate repairs and cleaning of rolling stock.
A contract was let for the building of a second bay to the
new carriage shed, which will accommodate two more trains of
500 feet each, and it is anticipated that the shed will be completed
by May, 1923.
During the year the premises of the China Light and Power
Co., which adjoined the Locomotive Yard were acquired by the
Railway Department together with the buildings thereon. The
tall chimney stack, for which no use could be found was razed.
The buildings formerly used as offices and staff quarters were
renovated, and the first floor is now used as quarters for the Traffic
Inspector, while the basement serves as a store. A contract was
entered into for converting the remaining buildings-into Work-
shops and stores for railway purposes...”
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“...tower facing the 'harbour
fronts, including the goodshed, was picked out in red electric
lights on the night of the 6th and 7th.
The Gross Roceipts for the year were $710,295.75 as against
$603,980.77 for 1921, an increase of $106^314.98. The balance
after paying working expenses stands at $148,151.40.
The Through and Joint Sectional Passengers carried were as
follows :
1920. 1921. 1922.
Passengers booked by Stations
in British Territory to
Stations in China .........
365,665 435,933 526,111
Passengers booked by Stations
in China to Stations in
British Territory .........
373,776 462,379 522,909
The Local Passengers carried were as follows :
Main line.........
Fanling Branch
1920. 1921. 1922.
392,206 429,133 639,709
47,787 43,733 52,431...”
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“...follows :
20 cents, ..............................$ 80,000
10 ... ........................460,102
5 ............... 257,560
Copper....................................... 8,500
s 815,270
The nominal amount of coins in circulation is ^18,780,370,
and the market value is now practically par.
11. The local circulation in December of notes of the three
Banks having authorized issues was as follows :
Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation,...* 34,074,774
Chartered Bank of'lnd'm, Australia & China,... 1 1,230,602
Mercantile Bank of India. Limited, ... 1,364.413
s 4 7,578,789
The specie in Reserve came to, ............... 832,300,()00.
1.2. The rate of exchange for the Esl i mates 'was taken at 2 6
whereas the average rate for purposes of conversion in the Treasury
books was 2/6^.
C. Mel. Mksser,
17th May, 1923. Treasurer....”
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“...leave after investigation was 13 or 50'0%, as com-
pared with 57 or 6P>'2% in 1921 ; 1 was sent to her native place ; 2
were restored to their husbands or relatives; 7 were sent to
Charitable Institutions in China; 1 died ; while 4 cases were still
under consideration on December 31st.
4. Tn this year no name was added to the list of girls under
bond to report themselves periodically to the Secretary for Chinese
Affairs. The name of one girl who was married, was struck off the
list. The number of names on the list on December 31st was 0.
5. The number of persons reported by Hongkong residents to the
Po Leung Kuk as missing during the year was 82. of whom 17 were
found, as compared with (50 and 20 in 1921. The total number of
persons reported missing, including reports from China and Macao,
was 90, of whom 18 were found, as compared with 24 out of 99 in
1921....”
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“...O 4
(a.) From. Banca.Seventy-six (76) assisted coolies rejected
by the medical officer were repatriated from Banca, as compared
with two hundred and fifty-five (255) in 1921. All were sent home
by the Tung Wa Hospital and the expenses incurred refunded by
the Holland China Trading Co., by whom the coolies were recruited.
(b.) From Balik Papan.Nine hundred and thirteen (913)
assisted coolies rejected by the medical officer were repatriated
from Balik Papan as compared with one hundred and fity-five (155)
in 1921. All were sent home at the expense of the Holland China
Trading Co.. by whom they had been recruited.
(c.) From Deli, Sumatra.Six hundred and ninety-eight (698)
assisted coolies and undesirables were repatriated from Deli,
Sumatra, as compared with twenty-four (24) in 1921. They were
sent to their homes at the expense of the Consul General for the
Netherlands in Hongkong.
15. Bedemption of Assisted Emigrants.Eleven (11) appli-
cations of this nature were received as compared...”
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“...- c 5 -
There are only two houses o I his class in the Colony, the Great
Eastern and the Stag. Both applied for and were granted fresh
licences after October 31st.
20. Chis* II, First China Ilak V.'These are large boarding
houses, which cater principally for independent emigration and
interport passenger business. During the year three (3) new
boarding houses of this class were opened. At the end of the year
the houses numbered twenty-one (21) all of which had renewed
their licences. The lawful accommodation provided by these
twenty-one (21) houses is three thousand two hundred and twenty-
three (3,223) persons as compared with two thousand nine hundred
and seven persons (2,907) for eighteen (18) houses in 1921.
21. Class III, Second (1las* If ah U.These are small board-
ing houses for independent emigration mostly to and from the
Straits Settlements and Java ports. No new houses of this class
were opened during the year, nor any existing houses closed. The
number of houses at the end...”
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“...the settlements of these disputes.
True economic questions undoubtedly arosethe position of labour
in the rest of the world could but be reflected here : but they were ex-
ploited to an extent with which the main body of the labourers had
no sympathy and which carried the disputes into a realm where
the economic origin had little to do with the demands made by agita-
tors as the minimum required for a settlement. The principal
cause of this effect was the political position of China, and par-
ticularly of South China : the services of labour, and of such funds
as the Guilds could provide, had been enlisted in a purely political
struggle in a manner that went, far towards putting the control of.
the balance of political power in the hands of its leaders. It. is
impossible to deny that this power was unscrupulously used or to
believe that the objects of the leaders when they had realised ihe
extent of their opportunity were to forward either the interests of
Iheir country or the wishes of the...”
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“...to the managing Committee. This
Committee meets every evening from Monday to Friday at 7 p.m.
the principal meeting of the week is held at 12 noon on Sunday.
It not only manages the Po Leung Kuk, but acts as an advisory
Committee to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, in ail cases affect-
ing women and children, and Chinese family life generally, which
are often extremely difficult and tedious. It corresponds when
necessary .with charitable institutions and private persons in
various parts of China, traces parents of lost children or ill-treated
muitsai, and shelters for the night any Chinese woman or girl who
chooses to go. When parents or relations cannot be traced, the
Committee arranges for the girls in its care to be given in marriage
('never as concubines) or in adoption, always under bond and always
with the consent of this office ; and in every case this office ascer-
tains the girl's willingness before giving consent to either adoption
or marriage.
In addition to the annual Committee...”
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“...c 48
26 women and girls were committed, under warrant and 163
were admitted without warrant. Of the remainder 23 were lost
children, 1.3 were accompanied by parents or guardians, and 32
were runaway maid-servants or muitsai ".
On leaving the Kuk 125 women and girls were restored to hus-
bands or other relatives, 26 were sent to charitable institutions in
China, 11 were given in adoption, 5 married and 63 released. 7
sent to the Italian Convent and three died. The number of inmates
reamining in the Kuk on December 31st was 59.
The income and expenditure during the year and the assets
and liabilities of the institution are set out in Table B and C
attached.
The accounts of the Managing Committee in the customary
form have been audited by Messrs. Wong Wut-clum and Yu To-
sang. The balance to the credit of the Society at the end of the
year was $6,766 as compared with S 6,520 at the end of 1921.
The institution was visited monthly by Justice of Peace,
Messrs. H. W. Bird and Chau Siu-ki...”
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“...Tonnage, and Crews of Vessels entered at each
IV.Number, Tonnage, and Crews 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-launches cleared.
XII.Number of Boat Licences issued,
XIII.Statement of Revenue.
XIV.Chinese Passenger Ships cleared by the Emigration Officer
(Summary.)
XV.Return of Immigration.
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.
XX.Vessels Registered.
XXI.Vessels struck off the Register.
XXII.Comparison in Number and Tonnage of Vessels in Foreign
Trade entered and cleared since 1910.
XXI1LRevenue...”
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“...$9,475.27, Boat Licences $4,112.50, Junk
Licences $4,237.50, Engagement and Discharge of seamen ^6,919.40,
(due to more changes of crews on account of Seamen's Strike), Fees
for use of Government Buoys $16,628.22, (due to prolonged stay of
ships in Harbour during the Seamen's Strike), Registry fees $1,510,
Survey of Steamships $3,223 and Sunday Cargo Working Fees
$29,550.00.
The principal decreases are under Medical Examination of Emig-
rants $27,131 which is due to the disturbed condition in China and the
Seamen's Strike, and Gunpowder Storage Fees of $2,378.19.
Tbe Expenditure of the Harbour Department for 1922 was
$280,625.57 as against $246,295.53 in 1921, showing an increase 1'
$34,330.04. This increase is principally due to revised scale of salaries
to certain European Staff of this Department and the Launches crews,
and stipulated increments.
Under special expenditure a sum of $18,755 was expended for
providing a new launch for the Department in place of the <; H. D. 2 ",
a sum...”
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“...Table VII.
Total Number, Tonnage, Crews, Passengers, and Cargoes of Junks ENTERED in the Colony of Hongkong,
from Ports on the Coast of China and Macao, in the Year 1922.
Carg-o. Ballast. Total.
Vessels. Tons. Crew. Passen- gers. Cargo, Tons. Ves- sels. Tons. Crew. Passen- gers. Vessels. Tons. Crew. ¡ Passen- gers. Cargo. Tons.
Canton,............ 762 151,363 554,074 34,316 15,352 96,856 2,225 19,039 2,115 89,519 501,546 19,994 1,736 2,137 279 361.522 3-1,286 2,498 512,885 815,084 65,496 168,606 17,858 46,638 131,921 7,006 19,665 3,000 89,519 501,546 19,994 130,418 2,087
West River....... Macao............. 5,715 1 198 128,639 260,990 31,180 3,421 6.001 35,065 4,781 626 885 2.710 7,852 477 131,349
East Coast, ...... West Coast....... | 1,821 ¡ 167 ¡ 165,185 11,857 12 ! 130,418 2,087 77 60 1,898 227 12
Total, 1922,...... 8,663 916,815 135,587 128,651 743,564 4,289 663,114 72,643 2,710 12,952 1,579,929 20S,230 131,361 743,564
Total, 1921,... . 9,157 1,035...”
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“...Table VIII.
Total Number, Tonnage, Crews, Passengers, and Cargoes of Junks CLEARED in the Colony of Hongkong for
Ports on the Coast of China and Macao, in the Year 1922.
Cargo. Ballast. Total.
Vessels. Tons. Crew. Passen- gers. Cargo, tons. I Ves- 1 ,,, seis. ¡ lons- Crew. Passen- gers. Vessels. Tons. Crew. Passen- gers. 141,042 Cargo, tons.
Canton, ......... 3,521 5,598 364 1,252 152 624,770 628,014 49,395 70,134 21,316 63,743 99,859 5,225 11,104 2,493 138,599 627,448 414,499 34,348 26,176 9,494 17 2.620 1 1.566 109,558 65 10,578 647 I 9S.840 68 ¡ 1,550 1 | 256 20.668 715 7,962 446 2.443 1 3,538 7,164 429 1,899 220 13,250 627,390 737,572 59,973 168,974 22,866 61999 120.527 5,940 19,066 2,939 627,448 414,499 34,348 26.176 9,494
West River, ... Macao, .........
East Coast,..... West Coast, ... Total 1922....... Total 1921,......
10,887 1,393,629 182,424 138,599 1,111,965 1 2,363 223,146 i ! 30,047 2,443 1,616,775 212,471 200,569 141,042...”
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