April 17, 1895.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. antine blockade," however, things began to im- 1,384,706 passengers and 6,168,172 tons, the prove, and at the end of December we had re-latter made up as follows:- duced our deficit in arrivals for the year to 306 European vessels and 1,336 junks.
12.-The river steamers, during the second half of the year, show a decrease of 27 entries aggregating 10,036 tons, owing in a great mea qure to the restriction on this branch of trade unavoidably made by the method adopted of examining all vessels, as far as practicable, ar- riving from the Canton River and its neigh- bourhood.
These river steamers, on the other hand, had the benefit of the general exodus of Chinese from Hongkong and their subsequent return, and though the passenger returns were not so good ss in the previous year, they yet reached the very respectable total of 941,958 carried. Some of these vessels also minimised their losses by a special mode of retrenchment, as remarkable for its ingenuity as for the small result at- tained. The "night boats" (which are the only ones which pay light dues and that at very reduced rate) finding that they would not be permitted to enter the harbour until the passengers had been medically inspected, remained in Chinese waters until daylight absolved them by law from paying their small contribution to the revenue of the colony; the saving thus effected aggregated $1,204.44, The report would not be complete without my mentioning that there was one night boat" which did not adopt this plan and she was the Chinese owned Tai On.
13.-The following tables illustrate the result of the combined influences at work during the year.
(Пere follow tables)
It will be seen from the second of these tables that 1894 opened very favourably, the first quar- ter showing a nett increase of 94 vessels of 114,149 tons, and thus that, at one time, there might have been expected an increase over last year of three quarters of a million of tons ic European constructed vessels, which would almost certainly have brought in its train a correspond- ing increase in the junk trade. Unfortunately, from causes already referred to, this expectation was not realised.
Imports were 2,625,610 tons, made up as fol-
ORE:****
Beans
Bones
Coals
Copra
Flour Kerosine
Oil Opium Rattan
Rice
.
Saltpetre Sandalwood
Sapanwood
Sugar
Tea ....
3,995
2,040
562,909
10
60,250 100,367
3,804
2,825
625 619,075
Import cargo Export Transit
Bunker coal shipped
Total
"
.... 2,746,385 tons.
1,598,588 1,469.844 .353.455
6,168,172
**
"
•
"
IMPORTS (EXCLUDING RIVER TRADE). Steamers ...2,767 measuring, 3,491,518 tons. Sailing vessels 93
104,486
Total 2,860
3,596,004 EXPORTS (EXCLUDING River trade). Steamers ......2,769 measur. 3,494.360 tons. Sailing vessels 94
104,491
3,598,851
Total......2,863
"
13
Grand total arrivals
2.892.998
Grand total departures, including
emigrants
2.951,217
5,844,215
58,219
Difference
REVENUE,
19-The total revenue collected by the Harbour Department during the year was $195,175.62, a decrease of $645 40 on the previons year. Compared with the average of the last five years it shows an increase of $39,086.41, The details are as follows:
31
(1.) Light Dues
92.909.31
(ii) Licences and Internal Revenue... (iii.) Fees of Court and Office
29,418.30
72,848.01
$195,175.62
exported 1,504,810 tons of cargo, amongst which were 16,743 tons of kerosine and 2.583 tons of opium. These 2,769 steamers shipped also 333,251 tons of bunker coal. Compared with last year this gives 137 ships less, measuring 64,825 less carrying 19,655 tons more, and ship. ping 53,350 tons less of bunker coal.
European vessels imported 1,147,697 tons in excess of exports. Janks exported an excess of 381,604 tons, thus the total excess of imports is reduced to 766,093 tons. From this must be deducted 353,455 tons of bunker coal shipped- exclusive of that supplied to Her Majesty's ships and foreign men-of-war-leaving a balance of 412,638 tons consumed, manufactured, and in stock in the colony or unaccounted for.
15.-2.729 river steamers, measuring 3,275,327 tons, imported 120,675 tons of cargo, exported 93,778 tons, shipped 20,204 tons of banker coal, and conveyed 1,041,958, passengers, i. e. imported less than last year 21,241 tons, exported 34,709 tons less, and carried fewer passengers by 185.673. Junks in local trade arriving carried... 6,064 Junks in local trade departing carried. 4,829
Launches in waters of colony arriving
carried
Launches in waters of colony departing
carried....
Total local arrivals Total departures..
10,893
| STEAM LAUNCHES. steam launches employed in the barbour, of these 19.-On the 31st December there were 131 60 were licensed for the conveyance of passen- gers, 55 were privately owned, 11 were the property of the Colonial Government, also a floating fire engine, and 5 belonged to the Im. authorities. perial Government in charge of the military
The
longed to Herajesty or any Foreign Govern- All these launches, except those which be ment, are required to have a certificated master and engineer, whose certificates are liable to suspension or cancellation should they prove negligent or incompetent. During the year oue master was reprimanded and cautioned. launches are handled deserves a word of com- generally seamanlike manner in which these mendation. I regret to say they don't always Fobserve the "rule of the road"; but this very fact, taken together with their absence from ac- cident, to a great extent points towards good judgment, and results" unfair criterion.
are, after all. not an
EMIGRATION. 20.-There has been, as might be expected, a great falling off in emigration. For the three months June, July, and August emigration was practically stayed, the last three months of the 969,307 year, however, made sopie amends, and finally the numbers amounted to 49.023 as against 1,930,597 | 82,336 in 1893, a decrease of 33,313; but it was not much under 1892, and it was better than the three years immediately preceding that one.
3899,904
.1,975.371 .1.935,426
3,910,797 16,-Junks in local trade discharged, in various parts of the colony, 90,964 tons, of which 82,443 were earth and stones, clearing from Victoria with 9,597 tons of general cargo, of which 987 tous were earth and stones.
50
1,625
17. PASSENGER TRAFFIC, 1894, British vessels arriving carried
1,300
170,499
350
Timber Vermecilli
British vessels departing (excluding Chinese passenger ships) carried...... British vessels 96 Chinese
130,767
16,040
passenger
ships carried
80,891 37,222
170
1,545,934
General..
1,079,666
2,625,610 .1,469,844
Foreign vessels arriving carried Foreign vessels departing (excluding Chinese passenger ships) carried .... Foreign vessels 34 Chinese passenger
ships carried
12046
248,8-0 51,544
30,523
11,801
4,095,454
93,868 $16,176 525,782
Transit.
Total... Compared with last year this gives 132 ships less, measuring 61,073 tous carrying 42,280 tons
14-Following up the attempt which was made in my last report to gauge the trade of the colony by means of Import and Export Returns, I am enabled by means of somewhat elaborate statistics. compiled by the Assistant Harbour Master, to give more complete returns for 1891. As before stated these do not profess absolute correctness, and they are obtained through the courtesy of the agents and masters.
In Returns Nos. I and II, and V. and VI. will be found, in addition to the customary informa- tion as to registered tonnage, &c., the amount of cargo reported as "shipped," "discharged,” and “in transit" to and from each country with which trade relations exist, and I hope that the information will be valued in proportion to the amount of time and trouble expended in its compilation.
During the year 8,452 European constructed egating 10,469,182 tons carried
River steamers arriving oarried River steamers departing carried
Macao launches arriving carried Macao launches departing carried
941,958 ||12,524 13,126 25.650
Launches other places arriving carried... 198,2.9 Launches other places departing carried 203,885
402.114
Junks in foreign trade arriving carried 108,387 Janks in foreign trade departing carried 112,561
Total arrivals Total departures
Total emigrants
220,948 917,627 966 768
1,884,395 49,023
1,933,418
During the year 451 ships reported having brought to Hongkong 96,095 Chinese passengers from various places to which they had emigrated. LIGHTHOUSES.
few remarks, the gist of which have already 35.-Under this heading I desire to make been put forward by me in previous reports.
The subject of the tax on shipping is one that, I think, deserves attention. In my opinion the present tax of "light dues" is an
ill-condi tioned
one, and an even larger amount of revenue than at present could be collected on a more equitable basis,
The principle advocated by me presents itself more and more forcibly as exchange gets lower and lower, and it means the amelioration of "local traders."
At present all European vessels, excepting river steamers, pay a tax of 2 cents a ton, which tax is called light dues.” The revenue derived from this tax is one of the important items of the income of the colony. It is larger than its name implies, and, "extraordinary works excepted, it is considerably in excess of what is required for the maintenance of the lighthouses for which the colony is responsible.
""
A larger revenue, for general purposes, might be raised, and at the same time a, to my mind. more equitable tax levied, by the substitution of a periodical payment, based, as light dues are, on tonnage," but on an entirely different principle
44
At the present time the local traders, whose earning are in local currency, whose shares are held locally, and most of whom purchase their stores and supplies in the colony, are on the same currency footing as the "trunk liners," some of whom lie here for lengthened periods paying per entry" the same as the local traders, while the bulk of their earnings are in gold, their stores purchased in Europe or America, and probably, most important consideration of all, whose owners or shareholders are not concerned with the prosperity of the trade of Hongkong beyond the extent to which for the time being it offers them a remunerative field as carriers.
36
Comparisons are odious," but for purposes