424
TRADE.
7. The principal features to be remarked as to the trade of the port for the year 1899 are:
(i) A large increase reported in the Case Oil imported.
(ii) The import of Rice, which had more than doubled in 1898, shows a still further
increase.
(iii) A great decrease in the Coal trade reported.
(iv) Sugar and Hemp also show a great falling off.
Case Oil, which was stationary in 1898, appears to have increased by 21,473 tous in 1899, (or 36.4%) Bulk Oil, on the other hand, has declined by 6.335 tons.
Rice again shows an increase of 24,435 tons, or 3.2 %.
Timber increases by 14,511 tons, or 31.0 %.
Coal, which had increased unprecedentedly in 1898, now suffers a reaction, and falls off by 130,410 tons, or 25.25 %.
Hemp decreases by 22,292 tons, or 40.0 %, while Sugar declines 84,260 tons, or 31.8%.
The net decrease in imports reported amounts to 206,884 tons.
In exports there is also a decrease (net) of 237,298 tons.
The transit cargo return shows a net decrease of 62,619 tons.
As has already been pointed out in previous annual returns, these cargo statistics cannot be re- garded as accurately representing the trade of the port, as they are compiled from information. gratuitously given, without any special staff or power to demand accurate returns.
8. The total import trade of the port for 1899 amounts to 28,010 vessels of 8,570,204 tons, carrying 5,707,898 tons of cargo, of which 3,750,195 tons were discharged at Hongkong. This does not include tonnage, number or cargo of Local Trade Junks.
COUNTRY.
CLASS I.
Canada,.
Continent of Europe,
Great Britain,
Mauritius,....
United States,
CARGO.
SHIPS.
TONS.
Discharged.
In Transit.
20
56,740
21,766
130
111
279,458
106,815
194,306
156
431,791
229,155
492,461
3
2,671
1,665
136
319,719
204,860
107,462
426
1,090,349
564,261
794,359
CLASS II
Australia and New Zealand,
India and Straits Settlements,
Japan,
Java and Indian Archipelago,
North and South Pacific,
Russia in Asia,................
50
84,268
34,359
35,487
139
268,874
202,475
138,081
405
881,705
649,499
337,641
144
181,675
214,770
41,371
1
89
60
11
16,787
5,524
2,000
750
1,433,398
1,106,687
534,583
CLASS III.
North Borneo,
Coast of China,
Cochin-China.
Formosa,
Philippine Islands,
Hainan and Gulf of Touquin,.
Siam,
Macao,
15
22,765
28,480
3,000
1,129
1,441,014
247,992
540,897
246
269,648
446,586
7,200
150
118,479
32.150
148
153,854
77,559
300
298
235,947
225,483
49,964
166
171,932
268,230
7,400
33
2,832
2,185
2,416,571
1,326,480
608,761
CLASS IV.
River Steamers,-Canton, Macao and West River,
2,083
1,780,551
184,177
CLASS V.
Junks in Foreign Trade............
22,566
1,849,435
568,590
TOTAL,...........
28,010
8,570,204
3,750,195
1,957,703