Besides the above weights and measures of China, those of Great Britain are in general use in the colony. Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Hong Kong. Report of Administrator W. H. Marsh, dated Hong Kong, Sept. 25, 1882; and of Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, dated July 18, 1883, in Papers relating to H.M.'s Colonial Possessions,' 1880-82. London, 1883. Statistics of Hong Kong; in Statistical Abstract for the several Colonial and other Possessions of the United Kingdom in each year from 1869 to 1883.' No. XXI. London, 1884. Trade of Hong Kong with Great Britain; in Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions in the year 1683.' Imp. 4. London, 1884. 2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Dennys (N. B.) and Mayers (W. T.), China and Japan: a Complete Guide to the Open Ports of those Countries; together with Peking, Yeddo, Hong Kong and Macao. 8. London, 1867. Topography of China and Neighbouring States, with Degrees of Longitude Latitude. 8. Hong Kong, 1864. Williams (S. Wells), Chinese Commercial Guide. 8. Hong Kong, 1863. INDIA. Constitution and Government. THE present form of government of the Indian empire is established by the Act 21 and 22 Victoriæ, cap. 106, called 'An Act for the better Government of India,' sanctioned August 2, 1858. By the terms of this Act, all the territories heretofore under the government of the East India Company are vested in Her Majesty, and all its powers are exercised in her name; all territorial and other revenues and all tributes and other payments are likewise received in her name, and disposed of for the purposes of the government of India alone, subject to the provisions of this Act. One of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, called the Secretary of State for India, is invested with all the powers hitherto exercised by the Company or by the Board of Control. By Act 39 & 40 Victoriæ, cap. 10, proclaimed at Delhi, before the princes and high dignitaries of India, January 1, 1877, the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland assumed the additional title of Empress of India. The executive authority in India is vested in a Governor-General, commonly, but not officially, styled Viceroy, appointed by the Crown, and acting under the orders of the Secretary of State for India. By Act 24 and 25 Victoriæ, cap. 67, amended by Acts 28 Victoriæ, cap. 17, and 32 and 33 Victoriæ, cap. 98, the Governor-General in Council has power to make laws for all persons, whether British or native, foreigners or others, within the Indian territories under the dominion of Her Majesty, and for all subjects of the Crown within the dominions of Indian princes and states in alliance with Her Majesty. Governor-General of India.-Right Hon. Frederick TempleBlackwood, Earl of Dufferin, G.C.B., K.P., G.C.M.G., born June 21, 1826; educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford; British Commissioner in Syria, 1860; Under-Secretary of State for India, 1864-66; and for War, 1866-67; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 1868–72; Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada, 1872-78; Ambassador to Russia, 1879-81; to Turkey, 1881-84. Appointed Governor-General of India as successor to the Marquis of Ripon, Oct. 28, 1884. The salary of the Governor-General is 25,000l. a year, exclusive of allowances, which are estimated at 12,000l. The following is a list of the Governors-General of India with the dates of their appointments : Warren Hastings Sir J. M'Pherson Earl (Marquis) Cornwallis Lord Teignmouth (Sir J. Shore) 1772 1785 . 1786 1793 1847 1855 . 1798 Lord Elgin 1862 Marquis Cornwallis The average term of office of the Governors-General, during the period from 1772 to 1884, was five years. The government of the Indian Empire is entrusted by Act 21 and 22 Victoriæ, cap. 106, amended by 32 and 33 Victoriæ, cap. 97, to a Secretary of State for India, aided by a Council of fifteen members, of whom at first seven were elected by the Court of Directors from their own body, and eight were nominated by the Crown. Vacancies in the Council are now filled up by the Secretary of State for India. But the major part of the Council must be of persons who have served or resided ten years in India, and not have left India more than ten years previous to the date of their appointment; and no person not so qualified can be appointed unless nine of the continuing members be so qualified. The office is held for a term of ten years; but a member may be removed upon an address from both Houses of Parliament, and the Secretary of State for India may for special reasons re-appoint a member of the Council for a further term of five years. No member can sit in Parliament. The duties of the Council are, under the direction of the Secretary of State, to conduct the business transacted in the United Kingdom in relation to the government of and the correspondence with India; but every order sent to India must be signed by the Secretary, and all despatches from the Governor-General of India and the Governors of Madras and Bombay must be addressed to the Secretary. The Secretary has to divide the Council into committees, to direct what departments shall be under such committees respectively, and to regulate the transaction of business. The Secretary is to be president of the Council, and has to appoint from time to time a vice-president. The meetings of the Council are to be held when and as the secretary shall direct; but at least one meeting must be held every week, at which not less than five members shall be present. 6 The Government in India is exercised by the Council of the Governor-General,' consisting of six ordinary members, and one extraordinary member, the latter the commander-in-chief. The ordinary members of the Council preside over the departments of foreign affairs, finances, the interior, military administration, and public works, but do not form part, as such, of what is designated in European governments a 'Cabinet.' The appointment of the ordinary members of the Council of the Governor-General,' and of the governors of Madras and Bombay, is made by the Crown. The members of the Council, together with from six to twelve 'additional members for making laws and regulations,' form a Legislative Council; these additional members are appointed by the Viceroy. The proceedings in the Legislative Council are public. The lieutenantgovernors and chief commissioners of the other ten provinces are appointed by the Governor-General, subject to the approbation of the Secretary of State for India. The governors of Madras and Bombay have each two Councils of their own; the lieutenant-governor of Bengal has a Legislative Council only; the other governors of provinces have no Councils and no legislative powers. Although the Viceroy is supreme, the governors of the various provinces enjoy a large measure of administrative independence. Each province is divided into districts (corresponding to the English county' or French department'), which form the units of administration. At the head of each district is an executive officer (collector-magistrate, or deputy-commissioner), who has entire control of the district, and is responsible to the governor of the province, or to an intermediate commissioner. Subordinate to him are deputy-collectors and assistant-magistrates. In some cases this executive officer is also judge, while in others the two functions are separate. India is administratively divided into British territory and native or feudatory states; the former is under the direct control in all respects of British officials. The control which the central Government exercises over the native states varies in degree; but they are all governed by the native princes, with the help and under the advice of a resident, whom the Viceroy stations at their court, the control exercised being rather diplomatic than administrative, which is expressed by the term 'political.' The authority of the princes is limited by treaties or engagements acknowledging their subordinate dependence upon the British Government. The chiefs have no right to make war or peace, or to send ambassadors to each other or to external states; they are not permitted to maintain a military force above a certain specified limit; no European is per. mitted to reside at their court without permission; and the supreme power can exercise the right of dethronement in case of misgovernment. Within these limits the more important chiefs exercise sovereign authority within their own territories. Some of them pay tribute and some pay none. Revenue and Expenditure. According to the Act of 1858, the revenue and expenditure of the Indian Empire are subjected to the control of the Secretary in Council, and no grant or appropriation of any part of the revenue can be made without the concurrence of a majority of the Council. Such parts of the revenues of India as may be remitted to England, and moneys arising in Great Britain, must be paid into the Bank of England; and paid out on drafts or orders signed by three members of the Council, and countersigned by the secretary or one of his under-secretaries. The subjoined table gives the total gross amount of the actual revenue and expenditure of India, distinguishing Indian and home expenditure, in each of the ten fiscal years, ending March 31, from 1874 to 1883. 1 The following table shows the distribution of the revenue and expenditure over the various presidencies and provinces in each of the two financial years ending March 31, 1882 and 1883, India including Territories and Departments under the Government of India, together with the military receipts and charges for the whole of India, except those relating to the armies of Madras and Bombay:- |