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adulteration, fali cking, and faulty prepara- It is evident that any attempt to raise by further enrdens on domestic trade must defeat the object in-view by impoverish-
the people: bu by
by the abolition of all internal taxation on native goods, except ain specified articles of luxury, together with in the treatment of opium and salt-the rmer being made an Imperial monopoly and the latter being taxed only at the place of pro- duction,—it is estimated that sufficient Revenne would be obtained to meet the needs of the Gov- ernment while the stimulus to production would lead to an increase of prosperity reacting on foreign commerce,
A REVENUE.
[April 11, 1903.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND | heavy that a considerablo quantity remained in equalled the Export Duty, it is to be feared ng the godowns of the Foreign importers at the that this half-hearted step towards
tors end of the year. Grey Shirtings rose from China Teas on a level with untaxed com 4,121,655 to 6,317,698 pieces; White Shirtings, will not be of much benefit to the trade = | from 2,476,846 to 2,743,104 pieces. T-Clot| 8 | transport of some 3 millions of pounds by the of all kinds advanced, especially Indian, which Siberian R ilway was a now departure, which rose from 15,320 to 126,485 pieces. There was will be watched with great interest, and one a good demand for Drills, and English Jeans which might lead to important developments if made the astonishing advance from 41,083 to the Cliinese could be induced to pay more allen-. 360,858 pieces, while Dutch and American about | tion to qulity. Some reduction in the heavy doubled. Sheetings also found an increased Import Duty charged in Russia would be of enquiry, the American trade oing alioad as great assistance to the trade, especially as usual. It is interesting to note, and is not Russia is now the principal purchaser of Black without significance, that Japanese Drills rose Teas. The total export of all kinds of Ten was from 23 to 11,621 pieces, and Japanose Sheet- about 31 per cent higher than in 1901; but the ings, from 13,006 to 115,366 pieces. Chintzes, shipments to Great Britain showed no improve- ✅ The report written last year hazırded the pre- etc., were nearly trebled in quantify, Twillsment, although the deliveries from bond in Lon- diotion that the collection during 1902 may doubled, and Turkey Reds rose from 192.930 to don from June to December were better by 3 mil. not fall far short of 30 millions of Laels." Not-276,996 pieces. Handkerchiefs and Towels lions of pounds The United States took 168,501 withstanding the reduction of the export duly showed satisfactory advance. English Cotton piculs of Black Tea, as against 96,820 piculs on tea, a short export of silk, and a decrease Yarn continued its downward course and has in the previous year, and 125,196 plouls of Green of over half a million taels in the amount col now fallen to 32,351 piculs, while Indian hins Tea, as against 86,747 piculs. 'I his is explained lected from native opium, the total collection reached 1,887,096 piculs, and Japanes”, 522,108 |by the fact that the War Tax of 20 gold cents por pound was to be removed on the 1st January, for 1902 amounted to HK TIs. 36,007,041, which piculs.
The trade in Woollen Goods showed that the 1903, and stooks had been roduced to a minimum was Hk. Tls. 4,469,470 in exce:s of the total in 1901 and Hk. Tls. 3,345,584 better than the improvement of the previous year was only to escape the expense of bonding. Moreover, it is anticipated that lower prices in consequence collection in 1899, which was then the highest temporary, and the importation fell off again. on record. Import duties show an adrance Metals were valued at Hk. T)s. 10 574,928, of the removal of the Duty will increase the over those of the previous year of Hk. Tis. about the same as in 1901, and the trade pre- demand. Black Tea via Kiakhta rose from 3,782,782; export duties, notwithstanding the souted no special features of interest except an 17,705 to 66,464 piculs. presumably because the drawbacks mentioned abov, of Hh. Tls. 186,331; increase in the importation of Copper, presum-route was safe again after the late disturbances. The export of Brick Tea showed a considerable coast trade duties, of Hk. Tls. 219,876; ton-ably for the coinage of the now cash.
advance, Black Brick having improved from nage dues, of Hk. Tls. 111,349; transit dues, of Hk. Tls. 686,647, opium lekin, of Hk. Tls.
241,563 to 493,103 piculs, and Green Brick 130,271. The only decrease is found under opaim
from 48,957 to 29,932 pionls. Congon· Tea“ consumed east of Iskutsk was formerly free duty, which fell off by Hk. Tls. 597,789; but as the loss on native opium amounted to Hk. T:s.
from Duty, which has now been imposed; the 646,566, there was a gain as far as the foreiga
consequence has been that its place is being taken finer quality import was concerned. The increase in tran-
by brick Tea, of which'n sit dues arises from a new system in Tientsin,
is now demanded. Ceylon Dust, which is where these dues did not formerly pass through
blacker in colour then China Dust, is imported - the Customs accounts. The extra receipts an-
to improve the quality and appearance of the der import duties must be principally ascribed
Bricks. It may be mentioned that the export to the operation of the effective
per cent.
of Green Tea from Ceylon to the United States, which was till lately the monopoly of collection during 10 months of the year.
FOREIGN TRADE.
China, rose from 797,796 pounds in 1901 to 1,968,456 pounds in 1902. It is to be regretted that the Chinese Government and the Tea guilds do not take more energetic measures to assist his valuable but moribánd trado.
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Conditions were not altogether favourable to commerce. A very severe outbreak of cholera throughout almost the whole Em- pire; droughts followed by floods in the South, where a rebellion is not yet suppressed; and a want of confidence in the northern_provinces, all had a retarding influence. The fall in exchange had no immediate effect in checking imports, as contracts are made some months in advance ; and, as exchango declined steadily throughout the year, with the exception of a faint recovery during the summer, native dealers were ready to close rather than risk & further rise in silver prices. The experience of the past shows that the import trade has pro- gressed in spite of a falling exchange, and pre- sumably it will gradually accommodate itself to a new scale of prices; but a fall of 20 per cent. in one year cannot fail to be a disturbing factor The which may make ilself felt in 1933, estimated value of the foreign trade, import and export, was Hk. Tig. 529,545,489, a figuro never before reached.
(a) Imports. The glue of the net imports was estimated at Hk. Tls. 315,333,905, and this. value, owing to the operation of the 5 per cent, ad valorem duty collected du.ing 10 months of the year, may be taken as approximately correct. It is a large advance on any previous year and should reassure those who imagine that China is becoming poorer.
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Sundries were valued at Ilk. Tls. 136,948,982, or about 17 millions higher than in 1901. The import of Rice was doubled, owing to bad crops in the South, and was valued at Hk. Tl, 23,611,125. Morphia was again imported in larger quantities, but it is to be hoped that this, was not due to increased demand, but to the higher duty soon to come into force. Cement, Clocks and Watches, Aniline Dyes, Window Glass, Japan Matches, Needles, and Sugar of all kinds all show progress. On the other hand, Kerosene Oil, with the excep- tion of the Oil from Borneo, shows decreases, Russian Oil baving fallen to 10,105,886 gallons from 32,486,070 gallons, thus losing the ground gained during the last 10 years.
(b) Exports.-The value of Exports was estimated at Hk. Tls. 214,181,594. or Hk Tis. 44,524,827 higher than in 1961. There is reason to believe that the trade might safely be estimated at a considerably higher figure, as the values adopted at the ports for Returns purposes appear in many instances The export of Sesamum to be too low. Feed, an increasing trade, rose from 297,365 to 882,302 piculs, due to the opening up of new country by the southern section of the Lu-Han Besncake and Beans, for which Railway, there is a large demand from Japan, Bristles. Cassia Lignes, Fea bers, Hemp, Hides, Nutgalls, Oils, Rhubarb, Animal Tallow, Tobacco, and Wood all showed satisfactory The demand for Straw Braid advances. continues to improve. There was a large export of Raw Cotton to Japan, whence it returns in the shape of Yarn, which is able to compete with the heavily faxed home-made product. The shrinkage in Mats, from 33,334,410 to 24,002,140 pieces, is said to be due to quantities passing through Kwangchowwan by steamer Lunder French flag to Macao, thus not passing through the Returns of the Customs. The falling off ia Kush Hats from 7,158,982 to 3,053,378 pieces was due to a smaller demand for these goods, which are being replaced, especially in America, by hats made of wood shavings (Hinoki) imported from Japan and plaited in Ningpo.
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The year was not favourable to the Silk industry. Warm weather in the early, part of April hatched the eggs before the mulberry leaves were ready, and a large proportion of the young worms had to be destroyed. The weather during the rearing seison was damp and cold, and the surviving worms, enfeebled by the disease which nothing has been done to check, and having no proper protection against variations in temperature, yielded a crop of silk poor in quality and quantity. The second- crop, produced under more favourable con ditions as regards weather, turned out un- usually well; but the total production is said to have been very short of the average. Owing to a steady demand from Europe and Americs, the short outturn, and the fall in exchange, prices rose so much that the silver value of the trade excorded that of the previous year. Steam filatures begin the year under unfortunato cir- cumstances, as the owners had made contracts for cocoons at reasonable prices early in March and April, and, having sold part of their production forward at prices yielding a fair profit, found the oncoon contractora unable to carry out their contracts, owing to the unprecedented prices asked for cocoons by the farmers. Fortunately cocoons of the second crop were obtained at comparatively, cheap rates, so that the final result of the year's working was fairly satisfactory.
The importation of Cpium was 50,801 piculs zagain a small advance! The demand through- out the year was brisk especially for the Bengal
Although the quality showed some improve- varieties, although the fall in exchange forced
(c.) Re-exports. The value of foreign_im- up prices. The consumption of Malwa fell off, ment as compared with that of 1901, there partly owing to its deerness and partly owing seems a consensus of opinion amongst expertsports re-exported to foreign countries was Hk. to its extensive adul eration in China with the that the Teas from all districts except Ichang, Tls: 10,182,406, consisting principally of piece native drug. The crop of Szechuen Opium have fallen off deplorably in quality and style goods, Indian yarn, lastings, Spanish stripes, The Chinese will iron sheets and plates, timplates, coal raw
machinery, was short, and the disturbances in that pro- during the last 20 years. vince interfered for a time with its free move-take no advice and refuse to listen to any sug- cotton, aniline dyes, ginseng. ment į this raised the price and assisted Indian gestions regarding change in cultivation and household stores, and Formosan tea, sent
manufacture while their great rivals in India America, Corea, Hongkong, and Japan Opium in the difficulties caused by exchange.
The value of Colton Goods of all kinds and Ceylon pay the closest attention to all imported was estimated at Hk. Tls. 127,545,300, details and ure ever on the lookout for improve compared with H. Tls. 99,651,999 during ments. Strong representations made in the 1901, and nearly all the principal staples spring induced the Chinese Government to shared in the increas Large purchases were reduce the Export Duty to one-half, but it ide towards the end of the previous year to still remains too high, being at least 120 per alessiah depleted Blocks and prepare for the cont. on Common Teas; and, as lekin and 1 revival of trade in the northern other internal taxes were not interfered and the arrivals during 1902 were so | with, although in some districts they almost
SHIPPING.
Entries from foreign ports were vessels, aggregating 7,224,000 tons, as pared with 7,757 vessals, having tonnage of 6339,000 tons, in 1901 wise entries were 25,678 Tessels 19,749,000 tons, as against representing 17.853,000 tons, total tonnage, eufries
The learances WBS
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