{
September 12, 1903.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Hence we cannot be too careful to minimise | Tls. 1,203,323; in 1902 it was Tls. 5,572,492. the opportunities of its introduction into All the time the island has remained Hongkong, even if it be at some expense undeveloped, so that the steady growth of to commerce and shipping.
trade has been most satisfactory. The introduction of foreign enterprise could not but be attended by striking results. The island is rich in gold, silver, copper, lead, and tin. Of course native superati- tion would have to be overcome, but even now in famine years the aborigines show willingness to modify their prejudice against mining. At present, as when Kiungchow was first opened, it is the food-supply for the Hongkong market, and to a less degree for that of Canton, which is the po.t's chief utility. The substitution of steamship for juuk enabled many articles of food to arrive here in a more edible state.
It is far from our intention to advocate retaliatory measures, but we must point out that the port of Hongkong, where a single Chinese case of plague has occurred in nine days, is quarantined still by Manila, Netherlands India, Singapore, Rangoon, Shanghaj, Siam, Indo-China, and British North Borneo and Labuan, as the last Government Gazette testifies. Yet we hesitate to declaren port infected when a disease far more deadly to Europeans and equally fatal to Asiatics has made its presence most distinctly felt. Supposing that no further plague cases occur here, and that gradually, in the course of one to three months, we are freed by the neighbouring ports from quarantine on account of plague: can we imagine that, were cholera to be introduced here from Shanghai and were it to obtain any slight hold, we should not | be immediately laid under a ban once more by our neighbours for the new disease? The answer is obvious, and it therefore seems to us extremely short-sighted to neglect any means of keeping cholera out of our midst, for fear of damaging com- merce, when the smallest suspiciou of an outbreak of cholera here would condemn Hongkong to restrictions in other ports which would at least last until plague begins again, as there is no reason to hope that it will not, next year. There is every cause for us to be wise in time and do our utmost to save the Colony from a course which threatens it with far more loss, pecuniary and otherwise, then any small damage inflicted by the restriction of intercourse between us and Shanghai.
HOIHOW'S TRADE IN 1902.
|
(Daily Press, 8th September.) Mr. Consul WERNER'S report to the Foreign Office on the trade of Kiungchow (Hoihow) in 1902 is practically a report on the island of Hainan, for as far as European trade is concerned Hainan and Hoihow, the port of Kiungchow, capital of the island, are synonymous. Mr. WERNER. states the situation roughly when he says that the central and most inaccessible part of Hainan is inhabited by "wild" Li, or Loi, abori- gines; surrounding these are the "tame” Lis, and surrounding these again a broad fringe of Chinese agriculturists and traders, which has so far been impinged on by European commerce at one point only, Hoihow. Being the only port open to foreign trade, Hoihow is where foreign goods enter Hainan and native produce leaves the island. Direct trade with the aborigines is impossible, the Chinese keeping it all to themselves and refusing to allow foreign merchants to reside in the interior. The products of the island are simple, and the imports are of the nature of necessities rather than luxuries. Except opium and kerosene little but food and clothing materials go into Hainan. From the Chinese officials no help can be looked for, since the increase of foreign trade takes from them yearly a larger portion of the revenue by which they and their subordinates supplement their small salaries; they foster, therefore, rather the junk trade and increase inland taxation to make up for their losses. Yet, in spite of its handicap, the trade of Kiungehow and its port, Hoillow, has increased steadily since its opening as a treaty port in 1858. A Consular representative was established at Kiungchow in 1877. In that year the total value of trade in foreign vessels was
year,
1902 was Kiungchow's record the total value of trade being as we have said, Tis. 5,572,492, or £724,612. This is £11,024 above the figures of 1899, the previous best year. The increase, writes Mr. WERNER, may be attributed chiefly to the large import of rice necessitated by the failure of the local rice-crops, and also in a minor degree to the larger demand for brown sugar, which is one of Hainan's staple exports.
Foreign goods were imported to the value of £440,065, rice being brought in to the extent of 582,093 cwts. (£194,048) more than in 1901 and 553.093 cwts. (£184,017) more than in 1900. Hongkong imports showed an increase to the value of £46,932 from the previous year. The value of exports declined by £27,647, from £311,763 in 1901 to £284,116 in 1902. More than a third of the exports of 1902 was brown sugar. Exports to Hongkong alone decreased by £29,313, only a little less than the advauce made in 1901 on the previous year. But the general figures of trade between Hainan and Hongkong work out favourably and Mr. WERNER is able to write:-" Most of the trade of Hainan is transacted with Hongkong. In 1901 the import from that colony were valued at £335,615, and theexports to it at £306,833. In 1902 the figures were: £382,546 (imports) and £277,520 (exports), the "total value of the trade being thus greater 'by £17,618. Considering the very large increase in the previous year this must be looked upon as in every way satisfactory, "since it shoes an increase of £96,248 in
two years."
46
་་
เ
CANTON'S TRADE IN 1902.
(Daily Press, 11th September.)
A little over two months ago we noticed
191
to the extent anticipated. In fact, the Hk. Tls. 79,744,707, the highest on net value of trade for the year reached
record, and Hk. Tis. 19,754,448 in advance of the figures of 1901. Revenue showed increases, and the total All headings of
amount collected was Hk. Tls. 2,592,260 no less than Hk. Tls. 83,969 ahead of the previous best year, 1888. This substantial increase was accounted for by (1) a general improvement in trade; (2) the application of an effective 5 per cent. ad valorem rate of duty; (3) the carriage by steamer of com modities travelling by junk previous to the placing of the native Custom under the control of the I.M.C.
the
|
As we so recently examined the report prepared for the British Foreign Office on which are based on the Customs returns, Canton's trade in 1902, the figures for
will confine ourselves to mentioning some we need not again go into the details. We
of the more interesting remarks in Mr. JOHNSTON's report.
"There has," he says,
"been considerable activity in the building "trade in the foreign concessions, but the "house accommodation is yet insufficient for
present requirements, the consequence being a big rise in the value of property "and house-rents. There has been a good "deal of talk about acquiring land on the "southern side of the river, on the Honam "back reach, for a general foreign settle-
ment, but the question has not so far "taken any definite shape." As was mentioned in the 1901 report, it was proposed to erect godowns to facilitate the discharge of steamers on the ground re- claimed on the north bank of the river im- mediately above Shameen. This Hwang Sha reclamation has been transferred by the Chi- nese authorities to the railway administration for the Canton terminus of their line. Another reclamation scheme has been in contemplation for years, the tract to be reclaimed and bunded being on the north bank of the river, from the Tien Tzu Matou wharf to the Shameen.
*The adoption "of a system of wharfage-dues," says Mr. JOHNSTON, "would doubtless go a long way "towards providing sufficient funds for carrying out such a desirable and much "needed improvement."
"L
រ
04
..
Naturally Mr. JOHNSTON has something to say about piracy, which from time immemorial has flourished in the Canton Delta. While native junks only," he writes, "traversed inland waters, little was heard of piracy cases; but how that steam- launches are plying everywhere, every "attack is recorded and, in many instances, After mentioning the EVANS case, he goes magnified into a very serious affair."
on to say that it is due to the Chinese authorities to state that " strenuous efforts are being made by them to suppress piracy, and that a more thorough system of 'patrolling and searching is being intro- duced." Unfortunately it cannot yet be said that the efforts recorded by Mr. JOHNSTON have met with marked success, though in the Canton neighbourhood, no doub, things are much batter than they were a year ago,
"
$3
66
64
the report on the trade of Canton by the British Consul-General at that port. The Imperial Maritime Customs returus of trade in 1902 have now reached us, including a report on Canton by Mr. J. C. JOHNSTON, deputy commissioner. Mr. JOHNSTON says, in his introductory remarks, that statistics give no indication of any com- mercial depression alleged by some people to have existed at Canton during 1902, but on the contrary show an increased voluma of trade. This was the impression conveyed also by Mr. Scorr's report. Yet droughts oc- curred both in spring and in autumu, seriously damaging the first rice-crop and ruining the second. On the knowledge of the second failure becoming public, famine and disorder were feared, but, says Mr. JOHNSTON, the local authorities and a few of the well- known charitable institutions of Canton came to the rescue and, with the aid of subscriptions, arranged for the importa- tion of rice from the Yangtze Valley. Prices were thus kept within reasonable bounds, and trade was not disturbed the vessel,
Two Japanese doctors are said to have dis- covered 2 serum whose injection will cure asthma.
Shanghai into the wreck of the Spol will be The testimony deduced at the enquiry at forwarded to the home government, as well as to the owners of the Spol at Christians. The Norwegian Consulate Court which sat in the osse did not deal with the question of the blame or otherwise attaching to the master of