248
too
mer-
advance is to some extent due to the heavy importation of rice already mentioned.- which, while not increasing the revenue, has considerably added to the total value of the trade. Imports have necessarily been hampered by the lowness and fluctuations of exchange, which often tended to render commercial transactions arranged for in advance speculative to be satisfactory; many chants suffered in consequence, but principally those whose contracts were made in the spring, when exchange was low, and whose goods. arriving when exchange had risen a little, were disposed of at a value too low to be profitable. Cotton piece goods have been in good demand, and a general all-round increase is noticeable. Grey shirtings have advanced to 152.731 pieces, as compared with 115,826 pieces during the previous year; dyed shirtings have likewise been imported in growing quan- tities; 42,581 pieces of T-cloths arrived, against and 32.196 pieces in 1902; and chintzes furuitures have advanced from 18.444 pieces in 1902 to 45.794 pieces. The importation of towels continues to increase; and it is gratifying in this connection to also be able to record a large demand for soap, which if judged by statistics. is becoming more popular year by year. The movement of cotton yarn does not call for special notice - 104,695′ piculs of the Indian article were imported. as compared with 103,0 6 piculs in 1902. The trade woollen goods shows no sign of improvement. or is there much probability of its ever increas. ing much in a district situated so far south as Canton. The importation of kerosene oil during the year is the largest yet recorded, and amounted to 10,720.297 gallons, or about million gallons more than during the previous year; most of this oil arrives in bulk, is tinned locally, and sent inland under transit pass. Japan matclies also show an increase, and over 1.200,000 gross were imported. against 1,100,000 gross in 1902.
Metals, like other bulky goods, come here principally by junk, and what passed through the Foreign Customs shows little flue- Nail-rod and tuation as compared with 1902. bar iron have considerably increased, but other items under this heading do not require special mention.
48,700,516, which
in
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[October 3, 1904.
The
being for Hongkong. majority of the foreigners are transient visitors, arriving, generally, in the morning and leaving again in the evening. The above figures do not include traffic inland by launches and their tows, of which we have no reliable statistios; a very large number of Chinese undoubtedly take advantage of the many facilities in this respect. and the number of launches engaged in this branch of the trade is very large and is increas- ing yearly.
has been adversely affected in consequence. | respectively There was considerable inquiry at home, how ever, during the spring, and exports were fully disposed of; but towards summer consumption is said to have slackened, with the result that values gave way with steadily increasing stocks, many of which are being taken into 1904. With few exceptions, the quality of raws-of which 34.709 picula were exported, against 37,514 piculs in 1902-shows no improvement; there is a noticeable increase in the number of good filatures. The export of waste remains much the same, and calls for no special comment. Cocoons have been in good demand and have been sent away in increased quantities-the figures being 3,440 piculs, against 2,531 picals in 1902. The fluctuations in exchange-referred to elsewhere--have not been conducive to steady profits, and the year has been far from u munerative one for native traders.
(c.) Re-exports—No remarks,
re-
4. COAST TRADE.—(a ) Original Shipments Coastwise. --The trade to coast ports continues to expand, and the total value of shipmen's daring the year amounted to Hk Tls. 4,638,703, or nearly Hk. Tls. 1,001,000 more than in 1902. The principal items exported coastwise were silk piece goods (valued at Hk. Tls. 700,607), | buttons, fans, guany bags, joss ornaments. and leather. mirrors, opium lamps, sugar, prepared tobacco.
trade:
On
(b) Reshipment Coastwise.--No remarks. (e) Coasticise. Arriva 8.---The value of this section of the trade was Hk. Tls, 38,927,489, and the corresponding figures for 1902 were This advance appears at Hk. Tls. 24,745,842. first sight very considerable and implies a closer general improvement of examination, however, it will be seen that the rice brought from the Yangtsze is responsible Large for over 40 per cent. of the total value. quantities of beans were also imported; the other principal articles calling for particular notice being native cloth and nankeens, ground. nuts (valued at Hk. Tls. 3,907,52), ground. nut oil, sesamum seed, and wheat.
INLAND TRANSIT. - -{a^} [nwards.--The steady increase of this branch of the trade observable. with few exceptions, for some years past still continues, while transit outwards has declined. Large quantities of cotton piece goods are sent inland for distribution in this province and in Kwangsi; of sundries, the most noticeable items are matches and kerosene; 1,553,600 gallons of the latter went to various localities in Kwangtung, 737,100 gallons to Kwangsi, and 368,750 gallons to Kweichow.
(b.) Outwards.--Transit outwards has fallen off considerably as compared with the previous year, and only 36 passes were surrendered.
The
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Exports. The total value of this division of the trade reached the large sum of Hk. Tls, Hk. Tls, 9,209,551 more than the figures for the previous year. Exchange favoured exports, and the year is said to be a fairly satisfactory one for traders. Nearly all the principal articles of export have increased. Cassia lignea has advanced some 6,000 piculs over the figures for 1902 to 55,220 pieuls for the period under review; firecrackers. from 17.481 piculs to 32,365 piculs; and paper, from 15,062 piculs to 19,143 piculs. Human hair continues to be sent away in large quantities, and this year the exportation amounted to 1,789 piculs, valued at about Hk. Tls. 65,000. The total export of tea compares favourably with 1902. The quality of scented caper-the principal branch of this trade-was poor, and although prices ruled high during the seasonthe supply was barely equal to the demand-14.011 piculs were shipped, as compared with 9.598 piculs in 1902. Scented orange pekoe has almost entire ly gone off the market, but Congou maintains its position and shows a slight advance over 1902. Considerable quantities of Kulos are exported for Chinese consumption abroad. The statistics in respect to matting record an increase of some 200.000 rolls exported as compared with the figures for 1962. The season, however, cannot altogether be regard- ed as a successful one from a trade point of view. The market opened well, but in the autumn an advance in the price of straw absorbed a portion of the profits. To meet the large demand in the spring it was found necessary to supply matting of inferior quality, and at one time it was feared that the trade would suffer in consequence. The Matting Guild interfered, however, and endeavoured to maintain a higher standard. It is hoped that its efforts will prove successful, as otherwise the ultimate
7. PASSENGER TRAFFIC.-The passenger effect on the matting business cannot but be harmful. About 80 per cent. of the matting traffic to and from Hongkong, Macao, and various shipped from Canton now goes by steamer, while smaller places in the neighbourhood is growing formerly most of it went by junk by reason of yearly. 7,639 foreigners and 764,895 natives the cheaper freight and more favourable fiscal'arrived. Of these, 6,353 foreigners and 695,049 treatment. The foreign demand for silk has natives were from Hongkong. 6,622 foreigners | weakened somewhat of late, and the trade here and 731,737 natives left-3,612 and 663,191
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6. SHIPPING,267 vessels exclusive of steam-launchies plying under Inland Rules) entered and cleared, representing a tonnage of 5,229,583—a guin of 684 vessels and 937.319 tous over 1902. This advance is explained by the fact that two new river steamers--one of which is over 1,000 tons register-have been placed on the daily run to Hongkong and also by the unusually large number of rice laden steamers which entered during the year. number of entries and clearances of steam-vessels working under Inland Steam Navigation rules was 149,519, ag/regating 3,284,038 tons. When Kongmoon and the additional ports of call " on the West River are opened to trade and the railway to Hankow completed, a fresh stimulus will doubtless be given to shipping interests and trade generally, and the unrivalled natural waterways of the delta will be taken advantage of and exploited to the greatest extent. There were no serious casualties to shipping during the year, beyond the minor mishaps to be expected on a busy and crowded river. A remarkable feature in connection with the large number of launches plying in the harbour and district is the admirable manner in which they are handled by their native crews, and. considering the large traffic, the immunity from accidents enjoyed by them is extraordinary and cannot be attributed solely to the proverbial luck of the Chinese.
8. TREASURE. ~The value of silver dollars imported from abroad was Hk. Tls. 3,515,855, and from Chinese ports, Hk. Tls, 9,420– aggre- gating. including Sycee, Hk. Tls. 4,391,925. The total export of silver, principally dollars. amounted to Hk. Tls. 14,192,291. These figures only refer, of course, to such bullion as is reported to the Custom House, and give an inadequa e idea of the total treasure arriving in. and sent away from, Canton.
9. OPIUM. -(a.) Foreign.—The importatiou of foreign opium has steadily increased during recent years, as will be observed by the com. parative figures below. The demand has been brisk throughout 1903, notwithstanding that the price rose in the case of Patna and Benares to about Hk. Tls. 800, including duty and likin. per picul, and the market quotation for Malwa also shows a considerable rise as compared with that for 1902. The Cantonese prefer the foreign to the inferior but cheaper native opium.
FOREIGN OPIUM IMPORTED INTO CANTON,
1999. 100 1.
1900 19 2.
Picule.
6,90%1
1903.
Piculs. 9,160
Picule. Piculs, Picula.
6.914
* 17 8,000 (b) Native-The amount of native opium passed through the Customis here continues insignificant, but considerable quantities reach It is used the province by overland routes. extensively to blend with the Indian article, and the mixture is largely availed of by the poorer classes, who find it preferable to the native, and cheaper than the foreign drug.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.-The most interesting and important event of the year was the opening of the branch line of the Canton-Hankow Railway to Fatshan and Samshui. The supervision of the Native Customs department continues to progress favourably and to work smoothly. The junk trade has decroased somewhat during the year in favour of steamers, and the falling off is more apparent in the case of regular traders between Hongkong and this port. The reason for this retrogression has been already referred to under the heading of Revenue."
All bulky goods, however, such as railway materials, stone. coal, etc.. continue to be carried in native boats. The revenue collection is estimated as about the same as that for the last corresponding period. The various barriers, or artificial obstructions to navigation in the Canton River, have been surveyed by the revenue steamer Feikoo, in anticipation of their being ultimately removed, in accordance with the stipulations of the Mackay Treaty recently ratified. It is expected that their removal will simplify dredging work in connection with the proposal to improve the accommodation for shipping in the harbour. besides rendering the approaches to Centon safer and easier.
The Imperial Post Office records for 1908 are encouraging roading, and it is satis- factory to chronicle a general increase and New agencies expansion in all departments. were established in 9 district cities and 21 towns The post office now functions during the year. in about 120 towns and villages in this district, and is being more availed of and appreciated The parcel post has become Over all
classes. dealt with, weighing 20,000 parcels were some 69 tons and valued at about $334,000, the duty on which amounted to Hk.Tls. 12,450.
year by year. with popular
very
+6
It has been decided, at the instance of H.M. Minister at Peking, and in conjunction with the Chinese Customs authorities, that in future Weihaiwei will receive the same treatment as a foreign port. Consequently no duties will be charged" on merchandise in transit, and drawbacks will be allowed on foreign goods re-exported thither which have paid import duty, or on native goods which have paid coast trade duty at a Chinese port. On the other hand, export duties will be collected on native goods, being an original export to Weihaiwei."
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