August 12, 1899.1
FOREIGN TRADE,
Imports-The value of cotton piecs goods imported was about Hk. Tls. 174,000, as com pared with about Hk. Tls. 150,000 in 1897 and Hk. Tis. 158,000 in 1889. These figures include Japanese goods to the value of Hk. Tls. 10,200 for 1898 and Hk. Tls. 12,800 for 1897, which indicates a decreasing demand for Japanese fabrics The Indian yarn import jumped from 33,340 to 113,300 piculs, representing a value of Hk. Tls. 1,880,0.-the largest importation on record. Woollen fabrics have declined under all heads, and the value is Hk. Tls. 90,700, against Hk. Tls. 111,100 in 1897 and #k. Tls. 140,000 in 1889. The demand for this class of goods seems to be weakening year by year in the Canton province. Metals show a surprising evenness in each year's importations, and there is nothing very notable in the list. except an increas - iù old iron. The import of new yellow metal sheets ha declined steadily for years past in favour of old, the importations being now 8.576 piculs and 13,51C piculs respectively. The value of metals (mannfac. tured or unmanufactured) imported daring the year was Hk. Tls. 1,160,000, against Hk. Tls. 1,180,000 in 1897 and Hk. Tla. 760,000 in 1889. The trade has therefore made some progress in the 10 years. Of foreign sundries the leading import is rice, of which 3,021,000 piculs, valued at Hk. Tls. 6,646,000, were imported. In 1889 an import stion of 3,007,700 piculs was valued at Hk. Tls. 4.512,000, which is a fair measure of the tise in prices during the 10 years. The rics imports vary in inverse ratio with the crops in the two Kwangs. Rice bran (1.607,000 piculs, valued at Hk. Tls. 1,205, 00) comes next in order of value. Kerosene oil follows,.with Tale of Ak. Tis. 1,040,000, represent- ing 7,933,000 gallons. This is a decrease of nearly 1,340.000 gallons on the trade of 1897, but it exceeds that of 1889 by 3,400,000 gallons While the American oil has held its own it the 10 years, Russian has riseu from 631,000 to 2,155,000 gallons, and Sumatra, which first ap- peared in the Returns in 1895 with 700,000 gallons, has risen to 2,657,000 gallons. The shipments under foreign flag or by steamer to Canton and West River ports, together with the junk shipments from Kowloon, will prob. ably be found to equal, if they do not exceed those of 1897. The import of 51,300 tons of coal valged at Hk. Tis. 359,0 seeins ungecex- sary to a province reported to possess exien- sive coal-fields of good steam coal. The import in 1889 was only 13,600 tons. Nearly 29.00 picals of wheat flour presumably from America does not show much advance on the 26,000 picals shipped in the year 1889. 38,000 picals saltpetre 22.000 picuis of sandalwood 2,100 picnls of white sharks' fins, 486,000 pieces of stone slabs 28,000 piculs of white sugar and 15,400 pieces of hard-wood timber are other items which contribute largely to the value of the Imports. Native Imports from Hongkong contain bat few items of importance and are for the most part, produce from other parts of China brought by steamer to Hongkong and reshipped by junk. The most important item, however-dried and salt fish (247,000 piculs, valued at Hk. Tls. 1.384,000),may be consi. dered a Hongkong product, for most of the fishing boats engaged in the trade hail from the Colony. The value has declined somewhat as compared with 1897, but the figures have not varied greatly during the past 10 yea” 6.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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133
Coastwise Arrivals (¿.e., produce exchange between Chinese ports vid the Kewloen Sta. tions). The value of this trade has risen fre Hk.Tls. 1,415,900 in 18-9 to Hk.Tls. 2,533,000 in 1898, nearly two-thirds of which is buted by salt, amounting to 3,063,000 picula, valued at Hk.Tls. 1,6-5,000. This malt trade as nearly doubled in importance during the past 10 years, and the price of salt has risen from 40 to 55 tael cents a pioul. The bulk of the salt comes from the coast north-nest of Hongkong. Split bamboos, fish in brine, and packing mats are the other items of importance, which all show a remarkable development dur ing the decade.
Hongkong-Macao Trade via Changchow and Capsuimoon. The following are the compara tive values of this trade for the interval of 10 years:-
.889 1898
Hongkong
broider (Hk. Tls. 219,000) is doubled; fish-lines | The Yang-shan hills are reported by the agents (Hk. Tls. 37,100) more than five times greater. of the above company to contain plumbago o A large buyer of silk piece goods informs me inferior quality, silver, lead, iron, that, with the present low price of silver, minerals, besides various kinds of coal; and the the Canton manufacturers are well able to principal obstacles to their development appear compete with the products of Japanese and to be the roughness of the mountain ronds and European looms. Though their finish is not so the dangerous rapids of the rivers. "The removal high as the textures woven by modern of these obstacles is worthy of the attention of machinery, they are more durable. The trade the Government Coal we find represented by might be considerably extinded if the manufac. the very insignificant quantity of 209 tons; yet tarers would take the trouble to have good it's reported that there is plenty of good coal samples prepared of the different patterns and in the province. Small samples, said to be from frbrics their looms can produce, and if they the vicinity of Fatshan, have been tried in the would be careful that the goods when made blacksmith's forge of the dooks, and found correspond with the pattern. I am assured food: It is reported that plenty of this con! that large orders are lost though the failure to goes to Canton, and it may be anticipated that have full lines of samples ready to show would the wise policy of encouragement to mining sn- be purchasers when asked for. The item of terprise now being initiated by the Government next importance is the trade in matting, which, will lead to its production in sufficient quantities from a value of Hk. Tls. 6,000 in 1889, has now to at least compete with the coal from other reached the respectable figure of Hk. Tis. countries in its own markets, if not for export. 1,300,000. This article, and the almost equally Samples of good coal have also come to Hong- important item fire-crackers (valued at Hk. Tls. kong from the North River, but it is so badly 1,074,000 also a growing trade), are mostly formined and fall of dirt as to lose half ita valdk; the United States, and supply a large portion an inportant source of commercial profit and G6- of the return cargo of the fine sailing vessels vernment revenue is thus lost. trading from that country to Hongkong. Tobacco is another valuable export, 39,0.10 pionls of prepared tobacco and 17,00) piculs of leaf, worth Hk. Tls. 860,000, having been shipped to Hongkong during the year. The value in 1889 was Hk. Tls. 609,000. The trade in silk clothing has declined in almost inverte ratio with that in cotton clothing, but it is still worth half a million taels. The cassia trade varies greatly from year to year. 1898 shows a fair average trade, of Hk.Tls. 600,000; in 1889 it was only Hk.Tls. 275,000. Chinaware, principally coarse, represents Hk. Tls. 860,000. There has been a steady growth in the export of samshu, which comes chiefly from Shuntak, and is valued for the year at fIk.Tls. 385,000; it is mostly for Hougkong consumption. The export of paper, valued at Hk. Tls. 394.000, is the lowest for many years, and its decline is said to be caused by. the dearth of bamboos from which it is made and which, owing to drought, failed to grow with the usual profusion after cutting. Paper is therefore scarce and dear. The brick trade, valued at Hk. Tls. 259,000, is of growing importance to Hongkong, owing to the great amount of building done. The greater namber came from the Panu district of Can- ton. These bricks are of poor quality and do not stand the weather; they are also irregular in size. I am told that there is demand for a better quality of brick, and that the introduc. tion of m chinery in the manufacture would stimulate the sale in Hongkong. The timber exports are valued at about Hk.Tls. 300,000, as compared with Hk.Tls, 200,000 in 1889. It seems a pity that the immense area of wild moun- tainous country which spreads over the southern provinces of China, which must be well suited for the growth of valuable timber, should not be better utilised by planting and systematic Government control of forests. Capital laid out in forestry is slow in bringing a return, though the profits are considerable when they come; it is therefore rather a matter for a Gov- ernment than for an individual to undertake, the more so as the favourable influence of forests on the rainfall and the rivers of a country make their maintainance almost a national duty. The export of feathers steadily grew for many years until it reached the value of Hk.Tls. 331.000 in 1897. During 1898 it declined to Hk.Tls. ExportsThe exports shown in Table No. 278,000. Shoes and boots of silk and cotton Vare all of them to Hongkong. Their value present value of Hk.Tls. 540,000, and seem is estimated at Hk. Tls, 22,500,000. This total to be a steadily increasing export. The export indicates a fairly steady export trade, and, of tea has declined to a value of Hk.Tls. 800,000, though exceeded in the three previous years by representing 48,000 piculs of black and 2,300 half a million taels or less it compares very
piculs of green, besides dust, stalk, etc. These favourably with the Hk Tls. 14,400,000 which | figures, however, are still more than twice as represented the export trade in 1889. The great as those of 1889. 253,700 piculs of brown opening of the West River has no doubt handi- sugar and 7,200 piouls of white, valued at capped the junk trade, and it is pleasing to note Hk.Tis. 950,000, is the best record for many that it has held its own so well in the matter of years. Two products-mics and asbestos, exports. The class of export which appro- produced at Yang-shan, in the north-west corner priates the largest share of the above total of Kwangtung, are manufactured by the Mei is silk in its various kinds and degrees of Lan Company of Hongkong into a serviceable manufacture. its total value being returned lagging or non-conducting covering for steam- as Hk. Tls. 5,377,0 10. the value in 1889 being ship boilers, which has attracted some attention only Hk. Tls. 2,200,000 The silk piece from marine engineers and shipowners. It has Vroods, trade of Hk. TIA
2,800,000 has more
been used with success in several steamers, and than doubled in these 10 years; Refuse silk from its cheapness-55 cents a square foot-is (HE Th. 983,000) in 12 times greater; em-likely to compete on favourable terms with the "othernon-conducting compositions in the market.
Macao to to Macac. Hongkong.
Hk.Tls.
HETL 2,934,152 1,575,313 2.858,541 1,479,0:17 The value of commodities having risen, the decline in the trade is greater than would appear from the above figures.
SHIPPING,
The aggregate uumber of junks passing into China at all stations was 31,217, of which 6,878 were in ballast. In 1889 there were 23,751, of which 3,931 were in ballast. This shows an increase in the laden junks of 3,519. Passing out there were 30.212, of which 7,441 were in ballast, against 23.244, of which 6,140 were in ballast, in the previous decade, or an increase of 5667 in the cargo-carrying junks. The junks to and from Macao and Hongkong numbered 1,497 in 1898. against 1574 in 1839, a decline which may be mainly attributed to the opening of the West River and the increased steamer traffic in that direction, with which a decline in the whole junk traffle passing that way wa contemporaneons,
PASSENGER TRAFFIC.
record. A study of special table No. 11 b will The figures for the year are the lowest o show that the falling off is nearly all st Kow loon, and is due mainly to the suppression of gambling there, which at one time attracted many gamesters from Hongkong, and to im the frontier. The traffic to the other stations proved landing facilities on the British side ef has been fairly maintained or has lightly increased.
TREABUEE.
No treasure of any importance is carried junks as cargo.
OFIUM.
Foreign-The imports of opium by were 386 piculs, as compared with 471 piouls i 1897 and 2,452 piculs in 1889. A. consideratio quantity has certainly been smuggled from Hongkong, and the use of Native opium probably gained ground, though but little through the Kowloon stations, only 11 being recorded for the year. The importat of Foreign opium into the colony have clined in the same ratio as those into the tung province. The total importa for 39,392) chesta, while for the year 1899 they
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