not so
TSINGTAO (KIAOCHAU)
!
A137
carried by passengers from Dairen, assisted by shore gangs of ruffians and loafers. The decrease caused by the falling-off in those classes of goods principally smuggled was partly offset by the importation of a large number of railway locomo- tives, which, valued at $3.9 million, brought the "vehicles heading into the first place of imported goods with a total value of $ 0.7 million. Second and third places were taken by machinery and tools valued at $6.5 millions, and metals valued at $5.8 million, the figures representing a slight decrease and a slight increase respectively when compared with the quantities imported during the proceeding year. Decreases occurred under the following heading; raw cotton, sugar, artificial silk yarn and piece goods, timber, and cereals and flour. Demand for raw cotton is declining, as requirements are increasingly met by home supplies. A serious drop from 270,281 to 110,595 quintals occurred in the import of sugar, which was seriously affected by the wholesale illicit import of this commodity through Eastern Hopeh. Similarly with artificial silk yarn, which declined from 355,631 to 67,449 kilogrammes only. The year's total importation of timber was valued at $3.4 million only as compared with $3.9 million during 1935. Imports of rice from abroad declined by 48,647 quintals, while the domestic import showed an increase of 144,948 quintals. Kerosene oil imports stood at 41,881,233 litres, of which 32,141,742 litres came from Netherlands India, 6,637,850 litres from the United States of America, and 3,100,731 litres from Japan. Of staple exports, a 50 per cent rise in average prices was instrumental in. lowering the demand from abroad for shelled groundnuts, exports being valued at $5 million only as against $10 million. Coastwise exports were mantained at a value of $13 million. Of total exports abroad, amounting to 297,159 quintals, the Netherlands took 107,254 quintals, while demand from France dropped from 158,215 quintals in 1935 to 5,483 quintals during 1936. Groundnuts in shell were much affected by the rise in price, but total exports declined from 111,586 to 71,336 quintals. Despite the high price ruling during the year, the demand for groundnut oil from America remained firm, and of the total export of 292,307 quintuls, the United States took 225,761 quintals. As compared with that of the preceding year the quantity exported showed a decline of 61,220 quintals, but the value increased from $9.6 million to $10.3 million. Exports of raw cotton to Japan improved from 15,245 to 22,695 quintals, while cotton yarn was also in firm demand, the total value of these two commodities not falling far short of $4 million. Excellent crops led to increased trade in leaf tobacco. Exports abroad (of which the Kwangtung Leased Territory was, as usual, the principal buyer, with 89,400 quintals) totalled 119,113 quiatals valued at $5.8 million, while domestic demand called for an export of 201,558 quintals valued at over $ million. Egg and egg pro- ducts exported were valued at $3.7 million as against $3 million during 1935, Great Britain being the principal customers. Other major articles of export abroad were, in order of value: beef, $3.4 million; coal, $2.7 million: millet, $2.3 million; and salt, $2.1 million. Throughout the year law and order were effectively maintained in Tsingtao and district by the municipal authorities under the capable leadership of Admiral Shen Hung-lich. The completion of the new mole in the Great Harbour at the com- mencement of the year for the special accomodation of coal and timber vessels and improvements at other of the piers are only a part of the contemplated programme of harbour work the realisation of which will make still more secure Tsingtao's claim to be in the front rank of maritime cities in the Far East The total number of vessels entered and cleared under General Regulations to and from domestic and foreign ports during 1936 was 4,500, with on aggregate tonnage of 7,536,206,, representing an increase of 422 vessels and 314,670 tons as compared with the previous year's figures. As compared with 1935 the percentage of vessels under the Chinese flag increased from 18 to 23 per cent and under the British flag from 27 to 31 per cent, while vessels under the Japanese flag declined in percentage from 37 to 33 per cent. It may here be mentioned that, since the adoption of the through transport system by the Lung-Hai Railway Administration, the port of Tsingtao is losing business owing to goods being forwarded from the interior of Shantung and other northern provinces direct to destination without passing through the port of Tsingtao. A new motor road from Lienyunchiang, the sea-port of Haichow Maritime Customs Station, to Hsinpu, parallel to the Lung-Hai Railway, was opened to traffic in December. From a small fishing village to an up to date harbour within the course of three years is the record for the port of Lienyunchiang. The harbour works already consist of a massive breakwater and two large moles capable of berthing six ocean- going steamers of fair size. The continued extension of the Lung-Hai Railway into
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