110
In Imports there is a decrease reported of 280,888 tons.
In Exports there is a decrease reported of 262,160 tons.
In Transit Cargo there is an increase reported of 263,492 tons.
In Bunker Coal there is a decrease of 15,349 tons.
The total reported Import Trade of the Port for 1905 amounted to 25,764 vessels of 11,328,015 tons, carrying 7,830,424 tons of cargo, of which 4,415,006 tons were discharged at Hongkong. This does not include the number, tonnage, or cargo of vessels in Local Trade.
Similarly, the Export Trade from the Port was represented by 25,814 vessels of 11,325,601 tons, carrying 3,011,305, tons of cargo, and shipping 651,523 tons of bunker
coal.
64,341 Emigrants left Hongkong for various places during the year; of these, 48,289 were carried by British Ships and 16,052 by Foreign Ships; 140,483 were reported as having been brought to Hongkong from places to which they had emigrated, and of these, 113,796 were brought in British Ships and 25,586 by Foreign Ships.
The total Revenue collected by the Harbour Department during the year showed a decrease of $366.19 on that of the previous year and was as follows:-
2. Licences and Internal Revenue,
1. Light Dues,.....
3. Fees of Court and Office,
Total,
(.) INDUSTRIES.
..$74,233.45
62,668.45
163,665.86
$300,567.76
During 1905 supplies of all Sugars were greater than during 1904, and in sympathy with other markets local prices continued to decline throughout the year. There was how- ever a good demand for Refined Sugar in China, resulting in a profitable business for the two local Refineries, but demand from other markets fell off owing to their being overstocked with European Sugars.
As was anticipated at the end of 1904 the Cotton Spinning industry worked under very satisfactory conditions during the whole of 1905, and the comparatively low price of Cotton, combined with an active demand for Yarn, allowed of good profits being realized all through the twelve months.
The increased demand for Cement from the "Green Island" Company's factory at Hok Un necessitated the raising of further capital and the provision of new plant to increase the output from 150 to 240 tons a day.
The Rope factory at Kennedy Town did good business but was not working to its full output of 20,000 lb. a day throughout the year.
There was some falling off in the repairing and docking of ships at Hongkong probably due to increased competition from other places.
43 steam-launches and other vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 3,695 were built during the year.
A new industry under European direction-that of silvering mirrors-was started at Causeway Bay.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deep- sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan, and many others in the New Territory are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. Fresh water fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.