THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24 DECEMBER, 1904.
Notwithstanding the great increase here indicated with regna to British Imports and Exports, it must be borne in mind that fow countries have yet comprehensively adopted a liberal commercial policy, and that, consequently, the measures in that direction, which have already been for some years fully applied by Great Britain, cannot be said to enjoy the conditions necessary to the completo development of the system.
The tonnage of British and Foreign vessels which entered and cleared in the United Kingdom with cargoes, in the years 1812, 1853, and 1863, respectively, was:-
465
Navigation.
British, Foreign,
Total,.
1842.
1953.
1863.
Tons.
Tous.
5,415,821
1,980,983
9,001,705 6,316,456
Toms. 15.263,047
7,782,118
7,846,804
15,881,161
23,025,163
The coasting tonnage of the United Kingdom has likewise increased greatly, notwithstanding the severe competition of the Inland Railway Carrying Trade, as is shown by the accompanying tigures of the tonnage of British and Foreign vessels engaged with cargoes, in tlie coasting traile of the United Kingdom:-
British, Foreign,
Wals
Total,.
1842.
Tous. 10.785,450
None.
10,785,450
1853.
1963.
Tous. 12,820.745
Noue.
12,820,743
Tous. 17,405,035 31,597
17,547,602
Cousting trade.
The tonnage of vessels built and registered in the United Kingdom in the years 1842, 1853, and 1862, Vessels built, &c.
Sailing Vessels,.
Steam Vessels,
1812.
1953.
1802.
Fons.
Tons.
Tons.
116.213
13,716
129,929
154,956 40,215
203,171
161,061
77,339
211,399
In addition to the above, the following amount of foreign tonnage was registered in the United Kingdom :-
1842.
Tons Noue.
1853.
Zhns. 30.073
1802.
Tous. 74,629
The total registered tonnage of the United Kingdom (exclusive of the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) Registered tonage. was in the same years:-
1842, 1853. 1862,
Tons.
2.990.519.
3.969,138. 1,800,191.
The revenue produced by the Customs has been well sustained, notwithstanding the great reductions Customs' Revenue. effected in our Tariff since 1842. In that year almost every article imported was liable to a Customs duty, and the list of Tariff denominations amounted to many hundreds, whilst at prosent about twelve leading articles alone are taxed on importation.
The gross Customs' revenue amounted in the following years to:
1812,
1853,
1800-64,
£22,771,315.
22.500,443.
23,232,000.
During the same interval the excess of reduction of Customs duties above the amount imposed was :--
1848-58, 1854-63,
£10,168,749. 4,458,166.
Thus during the whole interval the Customs duties have been reduced by 14,624,0157, whilst the revenue produced, instead of being diminished, exhibits an actual increase of 400,6×57.