HONGKONG
981
Four successive years of comparative drought, 1898-1901, led to the assumption that the rainfall of Hongkong was decreasing. But such is not the case; the mean annual rainfall for the period 1902-11 was 84.21 inches against 68.29 inches for the period 1895- 1901. Until 1918 the rainfall was never so heavy as in the period 1888-1894, when the mean annual fall was 101.08 inches. In 1918 it was 101.605 inches, in 1919 76.14 inches, in 1920 107.88 inches, and in 1921 97.34 inches.
TRADE
The value of the trade of Hongkong was estimated for many years at about £50,000,000 per annum, but the returns compiled by the Statistical Branch of the Imports and Exports Department, established during the war, showed a total (excluding treasure) for 1921 of £135,834,936, as compared with £212,302,539 in 1920. Imports were valued at £68,143,059 and exports at £67,691,877. The falling off was largely due to the drop in the sterling value of the dollar.
United Kingdom
British Colonies, Dominions and Protectorates China
Japan, Korea and Formosa
Other Foreign Countries
...
...
+
Imports
Exports
(including treasure)
£8,457,269
£781,741
8,839,844
8,554,778
15,670,489
55,392,945
8,027,683
3,871,299
40,944,869
17,072,471
The imports from the U.S.A. were valued at £12,236,175 and the exports to that country at £2,937,226, as compared with £26,946,480 and £17,086,023, respectively, in the previous year.
The total of the Shipping entering and clearing at ports in the Colony during the year 1921 amounted to 672,680 vessels of 43,420,970 tons, which, compared with the figures for 1920, shows a decrease of 10,817 vessels but an increase of 3,298,443 tons. Of the foregoing, 52,222 vessels of 27,852,616 tons were engaged in foreign trade, as compared with 43,364 vessels of 24,194,022 tons in 1920. A comparison between the years 1920 and 1921 is given in the following table :—
Class of Vessels. No. British Ocean-going.. 4,173
1921.
No. Tonnage.
Increase.
Decrease.
No. Tonnage. No. Tonnage.
Foreign
5,418
1920.
Tonnage.
8,351,084 9,223,552
4,630 9,247,193
457 896,114
5,827 10,817,413
409 1,593,861
3,256,985
Foreign
""
1,741
577,270
5,743 3,519,29+ 605 262,309 1,810 580,088 69
2,818
Steamships under
60 tons (Foreign
5,028 167,248 6,687
195,727 1,659 28,479
British River Steamers 5,138
Trade)
Junks, Foreign Trade 21,866 2,617,883 27,525 3,491,736 5,659 873,853
Total, Foreign Trade.. 43,364 24,194,022 52,222 27,852,616 8,858 3,658,594
Steam launches)
-
plying in Waters 619,068 14,636,848 597,386 14,174,320 of Colony
Junks, Local Trade...*21,065 +1,291,657 *23,072 +1,394,034 2,007 102,377
Grand Total....
21,682 462,528
.683,497 40,122,527 672,680 43,420,970 10,865 3,760,971 21,682 462,528
Net Increase.
.3,298,443 10,817
The actual number of individual ocean-going vessels of European construction during 1921 was 988, of which 343 were British and 645 foreign. In 1920 the number was 927, of which 330 were British and 597 foreign. These 927 ships measured 2,713,098 tons. They entered 5,232 times and gave a collective tonnage of 10,044,422 Thus 61 more ships entered 425 more times, and gave a collective tonnage greater by 1,242,802. tons, an average of 2,924.2 tons per entry.
* Including 11,156 Conservancy and Dust Boats of 839,422 tons.
+
11,922
,, 895,788
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