January 8, 1906.]
to Hongkong during 1905 amounted to 338,696 bales as against 214,605 in 1904, an increase of 50 per cent. Sales, on the other hand, have not been so brisk.
BILK.
The Canton silk this year shows a deficiency of 10 to 20 per cent, having suffered from Japanese competition. In addition to the short crop the Chinese have lost heavily through the rise in exchange, being able to buy less for the dollar; while the Japanese have had the advantage of a fixed basis. Trade has also been bad in America which is one of the principal outlets for Canton silk.
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
advices, owing to the lack of rain, it is not expected to turn out so well as was at first anticipated. Japan, where there has been a rice famine, will have to import a lot of rice. Already about 70,000 tons of Rangoon rice have been sold for shipment to Japan during the mouths of February, March and April. and about 50 tons of Saigon rice have been purchased for shipment during the same period.
The average rate ruling from South Japan coal ports to Hongkong has been $1-50/1.6, and to Singapore $164. From Saigont Houg kong the highest rate was 17 cants and the lowest 8 cents; from Saigon to Java, highest 33 cents, lowest 24 cents; Saigon to Philippines, diminution in export and is gradually becoming highest 35 cents, lowest 24 cents.
thing of the past.
TEA.
The Canton tea business shows a further
METALS.
In this department also the trade during the year was very slack. Dealers have only bad a hand to mouth business, partly on account o the disturbed financial condition and partly because of the Home markets steadily rising, in consequence of which local dealers hesitated to speculate. Still local markets have followed Home markets very closely.
OPIUM.
per month.
Bengal Opium.-Taking it all round the trade has not been lucrative. Heavy stocks and fluctuations have acted against all intests. The Indian Government sold during the year 48,000 chests, and next year the quantity to be sold has been increased by 400 chests
Malwa Opium.-During the early part of the year the trade was satisfactory but as prices advanced the consumption fell off owing to competition with the cheaper Bengal Opium.
Persian.-Owing to short supplies there has been considerable advance in values, with the result that it appears to have fallen into disuse.
FLOUR..
There was a big falling off in flour this year, the boycott and the financial state of China con- tributing to this result. About 3,400,000 sacks of American four were imported into Hongkong last year as against 4,645,000 in 1904 and 5,511,000 in 1903. There has however been a fair importation from Australia. Flour is moving very slowly here, and in French China the boycott is making itself felt in this com. modity.
KEROSENE.
The trade here has shown no development. What business has been lost by America on account of the boycott has been transacted by others, but there has beeu no increas nor decrease. The Standard Oil figures for the year are expected about the middle of the month.
:
LUBRICANTS.
1905 has been a prosperous year for the Vacuum Oil Company, who now that Hong- kong has become the first port in the world, have decided to establish their head office here, removing it from Singapore.
SUNDRIES.
This trade, in the hands of small dealers, suffered more than the others from the tight- ness of money, the small dealers not having the facilities for buying.
TONNAGE.
Business during the year has been fairly slack except for demands created by the war. Freights at home are good at present, and it is expected that a number of ships will leave the coasts. Already three small German ships have gone and five Norwegians have left or are going. Now that the war is over and the transport business likely to be finished by April or May, all the steamers taken by the Japanese on time charter will be returning, and competition is likely to be keener than ever.
The rice crop in Saigon was poor last year, and the exports to Hongkong from April 1st to November 17th only amounted to 584,60| piculs. To the Philippines there were exported 2,355,200 piculs during 1905 and 2,807,000 in 1904. To Japan the amount exported in 1905 was 1,161,500 in 1905 and 1,315,000 in 1904. The exports to Java in 1905 amounted to 498,800 as against 631,100 piculs the previous year. The total export from Saigon in 1905 was 6,503,600 piouls, as against 11,167,000 the year before, a material redntion.
Jara to
Hongkong-wet sugar, highest 35 cents, lowest 25 cents; dry sugar highest 24 cents, lowest 22 cents;
Owing to the great demand for goal in Japan with 's attendant raising of prices, steamship agents have had to make contracts for suppli s from India and Australia.
HONGKONG HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
Society advanced another stage in its progress The newly-formed Hongkong Horticultural towards complete organisation on the 3rd January when Sir Francis Piggott, president, presided over a good attendance in the City Hall. The following were appointed a committee: Miss Bowley, Mrs. Dickson, Mrs. L. A. M. Johnston, Mrs Seth, Mr. Barton (chairman), Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Dana (hon. secy.). This committee does not undertake the manage- ment of the forthcoming show, this being left to the original body, which became a sub- committee. Regulations for the forthcoming exhibition were drawn up, it being agreed that the price of admission on the first day should be $1 and on the second day up to 3 o'clock, 30 cents, after that hour, free. Subscribers to Sir Paul Chater's list were to be inade members of the society and to be admitted to the show free. Mr. L. Gibbs was elected secretary and treasurer. The committee which had arranged for the Flower Show submitted a lengthy report, in which it was stated that Sir Paul Chater had promised $2,000 towards the prize fund. Sir Francis Piggott remarked that he hoped the membership of the society would reach 100. When the menting opened there were 17 members
list and several additions were made at the close. The Chairman a'so took occasion to refer to & mistaken impression that the annual subscription was $25. As a matter of fact it was only $5.
It was reported that the new crop at Saigon was particularly good, but according to latest"
on the
THE "MEX." IN CHINA.
A TYPICAL CURRENCY INCIDENT.
Mr. Edward S. Little, of Shanghai, recently travelled by train from Hankow to Peking. While in the former place he secured a supply of coin for the journey and was given dollars turned out of the Government Mint at Wu- chang. He tendered these coins to the Govern ment. Railways both in Tientsin and Peking in payment for tickets. In both cases they were rejected. The clerks explained that the coins were outside the province," and could not therefore be accepted. Mr. Little then suc- cessfully tendered Mexicans and called their attention to the fact that these were not only "outside the province" but "outside the Empire" coins. The Chinese assistants at once saw the folly and inconsistency of the situation but stuck to the Mexicans.
-42
CANTON.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
28th December.
PEKING ANXIOUS FOR BÄILWAYS. The Board of Commerce in Poking has twice cabled to Viceroy Shum urging him to proceed without delay, to construct the Kwangtung- His Excellency has communicated the matter Fokien and the Kwangtung-Kiangsi railways. to Chan Pat Sze, the Minister of Railways, who has replied by cablegram that he is about to snoceed in raising the necessary capital for the Kwangtung-Fokien railway, but that as regards the other line, a separate scheme should be devised to raise the necessary capital.
"This incident, he very justly remarks," will illustrate the muddle existing in the coinage system or lack of system existing in this country. The British treaty provided for the elimination of this evil, bat like the rest of the treaty it is largely a dead letter. The coinage of the Empire is in greater confusion to-day than when the treaty was signed. Things have gone in from bad to worse and a critical condition sight unless strong hands are laid on the manu- facture of metal dises which are euphoniously called coins."
AN ANTI-FOREIGN VICEROY.
Viceroy Shum having been informed that go-ahead modern officials have lately been engaging the services of foreigners as teachers, instructors, constructors, etc., etc., on their own initiative without reference to the Provincial authorities, has instructed the Provincial Treasurer to issue the following orders to his subordinates throughout the Province: ---
*
All prefacts, sub-prefects and magistrates of the different districts are requested to notify the Viceroy in future of their intention of engaging the service of a foreigner or foreignois under agreement, and to submit such agreement for the Viceroy's approval, The same rule shall apply to officials purchas- ing machinery, etc., from foreigners by con- tract. The indiscriminate employment of foreigners under the present conditions is
liable to create international difficulties and no The officials, civil and military, end of trouble. who have already entered into contracts with foreigners are requested to send particulars and a copy of the agreement made so that they may be investigated and placed on record.”.
ཟ
the
CINEMATOGRAPH SHOWS. $ Formerly som Europeans came to Canton exhibiting Cinematograph views and reaped hand ome profits. The Japanese followed suit and gave similar shows in the City. It came to the knowledge of the authorities, and the Japanese, being interfered with, requested thoir Consul to apply to Viceroy for protection which was strictly in accordance with treaty rights. The Viceroy refused, however, and the show was stopped. It is now reported that the Italian Consul has applied to Viceroy Shum for protection on behalf of an Italian subject who has established a Cinematograph show in the Lag Ancestral Temple. We do not know whether Viceroy Shum has granted protection and permission to perform or not. [Shing-po]
It
appears from the above that shows opened without permission are not interfered with. Europeans who do the right thing and are demanding protection to which they are entitled
are
refused both permission and protection. This is another example of Chinese topsy-turvy administration, and we cannot but sympathise with the unfortunate foreigner who is made to suffer loss by complying with treaty obligations, which the Chinese on their side are constantly trying to evade.
THE NEW MINISTER TO ITALY,
His Excellency Huang Kao, Hanlin, late Head Chinese Master of the Canton Imperial College, who was recently appointed Chinese Minister to Italy has arrived in Canton. His Excellency is a bannerman and a native of Canton, Minister Huang is paying the usual official calls here and will leave Canton for Kome in about three. weeks. His Excellency will be accompanied by Tartar-General Thao's eldest son.
January 1st.
THE KWANGTUNG HIGH COLLEGE. Viceroy Shum proposed some time ago to establish a high school in Canton for the training of instructors for the lower Military and Civil Colleges. The site selected is the old examination hall, He decided to use the funds raised through the disposal of the Temple of Longevity, but fearing that the proceeds will be insufficient, has now started a subscription to raise the necessary funds. It is reported that Messrs Shewan, Tomes Co. have subscribed $1,000,