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CHAPTER XX.

at Cape D'Aguilar, Cape Collinson and Green Island. An Ordinance (17 of 1873) was passed (December 9, 1873) giving the Government power to advance, for the purpose, out of the Colonial Treasury, funds to be subsequently repaid out of the light dues. At Cape D'Aguilar, a round stone tower was erected, 200 feet above the sea, and measuring from base to vane 57 feet. It was furnished with a fixed dioptric white light of the first order, which was lit for the first time on 16th April, 1875, and found to be visible at a distance of 21 nautical miles. The position of the lighthouse was calculated to be in 22° 12′ 14″ Lat. N. and 114° 15′ 44″ Long. E. The lighthouse erected (July 1, 1875) on Green Island was furnished with a fixed dioptric red light of the fourth order, visible at a distance of 14 miles. The third lighthouse, that on Cape Collinson (between Cape D'Aguilar and the Lyeemoon), was completed eight months later (March 1, 1876). It was supplied with a fixed dioptric apparatus of the sixth order, shewing a white light visible at a distance of 8 miles. Light dues were forthwith (March 30, 1875) levied on every ship, entering the waters of the Colony, at the rate of one cent per ton; men-of-war, Chinese junks, and river-steamers entering the harbour in daytime only, were exempt, and river-steamers entering by night had (since September 1, 1875) to pay only one third of a cent per ton.

It appears that, previous to Sir Arthur's arrival, the British Cabinet addressed some remonstrance to the Lisbon Government with reference to the undeniable horrors of the Macao coolie trade, whereupon the Portuguese Government replied, that the coolie emigration referred to, whether slave trade or not, flourished as much in Hongkong as in Macao. This was rather a home thrust. But whilst one unofficial Member of Council (J. Whittall) denied this insinuation and stated in Council (February 11, 1873) that English merchants in Hongkong had no interest in the Macao coolie trade, another unofficial Member (R. Rowett) subsequently alleged that London commercial houses and banks of the highest standing, as well as certain men and firms in Hongkong, had derived large profits from