CHINA
591.
Year.
1901 1902
1903 1904 1905 1906 1907
1908
1909
...
...
...
...
1910 1911... 1912
...
1913§... 1914 ||... 1915
Average Exchange.
Imports.
Exports.
s. d.
Hk. Tls.
£
Hk. Tls.
£
2 11
...
280,472,693
41,559,625
169,656,757
25,139,243
2
...
...
7}}
335,601,739
43,628,226
214,181,584
27,843,605
...
...
...
...
...
223
73
343,300,115
45,296,542
214,352,467
28,282,616
2
103
3
...
...
3
3
...
...
348,603,090 49,966,442 458,340,485 68,942,047 414,184,061 68,167,793
239,486,683
34,326,424
2 7,888,197
34,278,183
236,456,739
38,916,838
...
...
...
2
...
...
...
...
WWNNNN W
3
3
422,838,531
68,711,261
264,380,697
42,961,863
396,261,991 52,834,931
276,660,403
36,888,053
417,586,237
54,264,460
338,992,814
44,051,410
462,437,260
62,260,433
380,833,328
51,273,653
473,517,685 63,628,938 377,338,166
50,700,286
471,809,192
72,000,048 370,520,403
56,544,517
...
...
570,064,696
86,103,508
403,305,546
60,915,191
8
...
...
546,425,219
74,564,285
345,280,874 47,116,943
...
1916
3
...
...
2W4
454,475,719
58,939,820
418,861,164
54,321,457
516,406,995
86,767,390
481,797,365
78,820,556
...
...
4 311
549,518,774
118,633,090
462,931,630
99,940,188
5
...
...
37%
554,893,082
146,670,958
485,883,031
128,430,019
6
4
...
...
646,997,681
204,882,600 630,809,411
199,756,3:3
1917 1918 1919
It will be observed in this table that an increase in silver values does not always mean an increase in trade when measured in sterling.
CUSTOMS REVENUE FOR 1920
The Maritime Customs Revenue for 1920 amounted in round numbers to Hk. Tls. 49,500,000 (at average exchange value of 6s/93d equal to £16,809,375) and showed an increase of 3 million taels on the previous record collection for 1919. The gold equivalent of the 1920 collection at average exchange was £2,242,709 higher than the collection for 1919.
The 1920 revenue of the Native Customs under the Inspector General's control amounted in round numbers to Hk. Tls. 4,380,000 (at average exchange value of 6s/93d. equal to £1,487,375), showing a decrease of Hk. Tls. 111,000 on the 1919 collection but still surpassing the 1918 collection by Hk. Tls. 406,000.
All Foreign Loan and Indemnity obligations secured on the Customs Revenues, including the Service of the Recorganisation Loan, were fully met, and a sum of Sh. Tls. 23,150,000 was released to the Central Government.
RAILWAYS
Although China is traversed in all directions by roads, they are usually mere tracks, or at best footpaths, along which the transport of goods is a tedious and difficult undertaking. A vast internal trade is, however, carried on over the roads, and by means of numerous canals and navigable rivers. The most populous part of China is singularly well adapted for the construction of a network of railways, and a first attempt to introduce them into the country was made in 1876, when a line from Shanghai to Woosung, ten miles in length, was constructed by an English company. This little railway was subsequently purchased by the Chinese Government and closed by them on the 21st October, 1877. Since that time the principle of railways has been fully accepted. The railway from Shanghai to Woosung was re-opened in 1898, as forming part of a line to Soochow, which the provincial authorities had obtained per- mission from the Throne to construct. A tramway, a few miles in length, begun in 1881 to carry coal from the Kaiping coal mines, near Tongshan, to the canal bank, has been extended to Taku and Tientsin on the one hand, and to Kinchow and Newchwang on the Gulf of Liao-tung on the other. This track was only completed in the early part of 1900, and during the summer months was, between Kinchow and Newchwang, largely destroyed by the Chinese so as to preclude the advance of Russian forces on Peking viâ Manchuria. A line from Peking to Tientsin was opened in 1897, the Peking terminus being at Machiapu, a point two miles from the Tartar city, whence a short electric line connected it with one of the principal gates; the traffic developed so rapidly
Revolution in October.
§ Rebellion in summer.
European war from August.