Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/197

Rh continued to be done until 1906, under difficulties, in later years, owing to want of room—for the staff had increased with the work to be done, though not in the same proportion; in insanitary surroundings—for the building had become old and decayed, and was built in on every side with lofty native tenement houses; and lack of a view of the harbour—for a new reclamation had been made in front of it, and was built upon—a fine new market directly in front effectually blocking out all sight of the harbour. In July, 1906, the present office, commenced in 1901, was completed and opened. This building is situated 350 yards to the eastward of the old office, fronting on the harbour, and is in every way satisfactory, being lofty, commodious, excellently arranged, and conveniently placed.

Harbour Masters.—Lieutenant William Pedder, the first Harbour Master, held the appointment until 1854, when he retired, and was succeeded by Captain T. W. Watkins, R.N. This officer died in 1858, and was succeeded by Mr. A. L. Inglis, who received the additional appointment of Emigration Officer during the same year, and in 1859 was appointed Principal Officer of Customs, a title still held by the harbour master, though Hongkong is, and always has been, a free port. The object in giving him the appointment would appear to be that he may have control of the Mercantile Marine Office under the Board of Trade. Mr. Inglis held the post until 1861, when Mr. Henry George Thomsett, Navigating Lieutenant, R.N., became Harbour Master, Marine Magistrate, and Emigration and Customs Officer. In 1867 he became Superintendent of the Government Gunpowder Depôt. In Captain Thomsett's time, which lasted from 1861 until 1888, many changes occurred. The shipping using the port increased from 1,300,000 to 6,400,000 tons. The staff of the department in 1861 consisted of the harbour master, one boarding officer, and three clerks, one of whom was in charge of the Mercantile Marine Office. Beyond these there were a few boatmen, and the signalman at the Peak Signal Station, which was opened in that year. In 1888 the staff comprised the harbour master, assistant harbour master, two boarding officers, two junk inspectors, five clerks, one, one Chinese and one Indian interpreter, two Chinese writers, the Peak signalman, and officer in charge of the Government Gunpowder Depôt, besides boatmen, &amp;c. In 1861 all the work of the department afloat was done in pulling boats. In 1888 there were four steam launches belonging to the department.

The following are some of the more important events of this period:—

In 1862 there was a strike of cargo-boat men to protest against registration which an enactment of that year made compulsory. In 1863 the Sailors' Home was opened. This establishment was started by the leading mercantile firms in the Colony, viz.: Messrs. Jardine, Matheson &amp; Co.; Gibb, Livingston &amp; Co.; Dent &amp; Co.; Russel &amp; Co.; Fletcher &amp; Co.; Gilman &amp; Co.; Augustine Heard &amp; Co.; The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company; Messrs. John Burd &amp; Co.; Holliday, Wise &amp; Co.; David Sassoon &amp; Co.; Smith, Kennedy &amp; Co.; Birley &amp; Co., and others. These firms and certain individuals subscribed to erect the building, the land was given by Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and the Government, though declining to subscribe, reduced the Crown rent payable, to a nominal sum. This establishment had certain ups and downs to begin with, but is now on a firm basis, pays its own way, and has been largely patronised by both officers and men of the mercantile marine. Owing to the gradual falling off, indeed, almost elimination, of the sailing-ship trade, and to the fact that few European seamen are discharged here from steamers, the number of men stopping at the home has greatly diminished of late years, but officers have increased in numbers. The home is well managed, comfortable, and conveniently situated, and the charges are very moderate.

During this same year, the Messageries Maritimes Company's steamers began to call at Hongkong, carrying mails, and a regular steam service was also started with British North Borneo. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company had been calling fortnightly with mails since 1845.

In 1865 the Hongkong, Canton, and Macao Steamboat Company was formed, and steamers started running. In 1866 the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company commenced business. These two companies, among the first large local enterprises, are still among the most important in the Colony.

In 1867 the Canton authorities instituted what was known as the "blockade" of Hongkong. Chinese cruisers patrolled all the neighbouring waters, levying taxes upon all junks, &amp;c., with the object of destroying the trade of the port. This continued until 1886. As will be seen later, the blockade, though an inconvenience, did not affect the trade to any appreciable extent, as the shipping increased, during its operation, from 2,500,000 to 6,500,000 tons.

In 1869 the opening of the Suez Canal had the effect of sending increasing numbers of vessels to the Far East, and greatly contributed to the future prosperity of the Colony. In 1871 the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf