HONG KONG ("Fragrant Streams "), a British island off the s.e. coast of China, is situated in the estuary of the Chu-Kiang, about 100 DE s.e. of Canton It is 9 m. long, from 2 to 6 broad, and has an area of about 29 sq. miles. The capital, Victoria, is situated in lat. 22° n., long. 114° 8i' east. Pop. 72, 121,985-115,564 of whom were Chinese, 4,931 Europeans and Americans; the remainder, 1490, were Manila men and others of mixed blood. The total public income in 1875 was £186,818; the expenditure, 1.181,337.
The island is covered to the shore with mountains, the peaks ranging from 1000 to nearly 2,000 ft. high. The mountains consist chiefly of granite, syenite, serpentine, and trap; granite quarries are skillfully worked by the Chinese. In the early years of the colony, when the ground was being broken up for building purposes, European settlers suffered much from febrile and other diseases, and an unenviable reputation for unhealthiness was justly earned. Now, however, in this respect Ilong-Kong may compare favorably with any other British possession in the east. For about six months, from May to Oct., the heat is oppressive in the extreme, being accompanied with much rain and damp. During four of the winter months, the weather is cool, dry, bracing. sometimes even cold; but the change from the high and moist temperature of summer to a dry cold is apt to produce dangerous diseases, more especially of the kidneys. The temperature in summer ranges from 83° to 90°, and in winter from 40° to 75°. On the mainland, opposite the northern shore of the island, and separated from it by the harbor, which varies from half a mile to 4 in. in width, is the Kow-loong peninsula, a. strip of roast territory and portion of the township of the same name, winch was ceded to the British government by the convention of Pekin, Oct. 24, 1861.
Victoria, tire capital, is situated on the northern shore of the island, on a small bay surrounded by mountains, It is laid out in magnificent streets and terraces, and has an abundant supply of good water from a large reservoir on the southern side of the island.
The harbor is commodious and safe; the roadstead has a depth of from 3 to 7 fathoms, and affords good anchorage. At Aberdeen, on the s. side of the island, and at Kow loon., there are docks capable of taking in the is steamers. Between Victoria and Canton and Macao, communication by steam is maintained daily, and since the opening of the Suez canal the same may almost be said of Shanghai, Yokohama, Bombay, Calcutta, and Singapore, so that the magnificent harbor presents a most stirring appear ance. In 1875 the total tonnage of vessels entered and cleared amounted to 3,150,200 tons. here mercantile houses centralize their operations and conduct their money transactions; yet Ilong-Kong occupies only a secondary rank in the commerce of China. The bulk of the merchandise from Europe goes direct to the place of its destina tion, without touching this port; in the same manner, teas and silks pass through Hong Kong only when it is a port of call for the steamers carrying them. The import trade of Hong-Kong is chiefly in opium, in English cotton and woolen goods, and in metals, in repairing vessels, and in the transfer of passengers. One of the most flourishing of British colonies, Ilong-Kong is destined to further extension and importance, and will rise with the gradual increase of the commerce of eastern Asia. A small species of deer is found on the island. Among reptiles there are several species of non-poisonous snakes, one species of the boa which reaches a length of eight or nine feet, and the cobra. Lizards also abound.
In 1843 this island was ceded in perpetuity to her Britannic majesty by the treaty of Nankin, having been occupied as a preliminary measure in 1841. Its affairs are ruled by a governor and legislative council.