May 14, 1906.1
Hk. Tls: 1,145,532, more by Hk. Tls. 224,934. Tonnage Dues were more by 10 per cent. In- land Transit Dues were Hk. Tis. 2,034,408, an increase of Hk. Tls. 247,156, almost entirely from foreign goods inwards, and fully accounted for by development in the traffic at Tientsin alone.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
1903 based on market valu's, which the addition | of Duty and shipping charges would increase by about Hk. Tls. 20,000,000, to which agaio, for the Customs values of most countries, must be added freight and insurance. Here, again, | we are able to analyse the trad with British India, Indian recepts from Chius amounting to Hk. Tls. 10,030,000, while declared shipments from Chinese Treaty ports were vained at Hk. 't Is. 1,944,043. Among the Indian receipts are shown Raw Silk and Silk Piece Goods valued at Hk. Tls. 4,927,000, and Tea valued at Hk. Tls. 747,000, these two categories being_prety certainly of Chinese origin; also Refined Sugar valued at Hk. I'ls. 1,740,000, and Copper Ingots Hk. Tls. 499,000, the bulk of the former and all the latter probably originating else. where than in China.
Making due allowance for the fact that Hongkong acts to a minor extent as a receiving and distributing centre for neighbouring ports Kwangchowwan. Formosa, Manila, eto.-and for a difference in some cases in the fiscal period and in systems of valuation, it would seem safe¦ to say that the distribution shown in the first and third columns of figures in the table gives a fair approximation to the true division of the foreign trade of China in 1903, both direct and through Hongkong.
(a.) Imports.-The total value of net Imports was Hk. Tls. 447,100,791, to which the northern, Yangtze, and central ports contributed 76 per cent.; the southern ports, 22 per cent,; and the frontier ports, 13 per cent. This total was Hk. Tls. 103,40,183 more than in 1904, the increase being provided, roughly, a half by Cotton manufactures, a fourth by Metals, and a fourth by Sundries.
349
circulation being thereafter exempt from tax in eight provinces, to be later on extended to 15 provinces. The tax (including customs levy) now amounts to a uniform rate of Hk. TË 118.93 a pioul for junk-borne Opium, while for steamer-borne Opium it is Hk. Tls. 134.79 for the four "inner" provinces and Hk. Tls. 104 for the four satisfactory index of the internal movement of outer" provinces. Our only
Native Opiam is found in the statistics of the Iohang Customs, and there, including both steamer-borne and junk-borne, the quantities have during the part six years been as follows:-- 1930 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905
Piculs Pionls Piouls Picula Picals Piculs 26,443 30,555 22,098 24,888 36,856 36,311 The legitimate importation of Morphia com- tinues trifling, 54 ounces. The only comment is to be found in an incident in a village near Amoy, where a bag of American Flour, imported from Hongkong, caused the death of over 20 people from a concealed packet of Morphia which had beem broken up in it.
Cotton manufactures rose to the abhormal value of Hk. Tl. 181,452,953, which was 811 per cent, more than in 1904, on the inflated valuation of that year, and 30 per cent. more than the highest previously recorded import, that of 1902, when Cotton values were more normal. Plain fabrica (undyed Shirtings Sheet ings, T-Cloths, Drills, and Jeans) Increased heavily, the importations in four years past having been as follows:-
1903.
1902.
1934.
1905.
Pieces.
In considering the geographical distribution of the Revenue, it must be borne in mind that, on the Import trade of the northern and Yangtze | ports, the principal part of the 1 uties is collected at Shanghai, the primary importing port, and that only that part of the Import trade pays Duty at the subsidiary ports which is shipped in direct steamers or is under through bill of lading, to be transhipped directly at Shanghai. Taking the consumation ("net Import") of foreign goods in the Customs districts of Shang- hai and of Tientsin and Chinwangtao together, it will be observed that the value of the trade iu the two districts, in 19 4, was in the proportion of 52 to 48, the year 1904 being taken because in 1905 so much of the net Import at Shanghai was made пр of stocks in the warehouses carried over to 1906; the relative proportion of Import Duties collected was, in 1901, as 91 to 9, and in 1905, as 86 to 14. With this proviso borne in mind, it is to be noted that Nowchwang has collected a total greater than in any previous year except 1899; Export Duty was less than in 1904, but collection on Imports, Foreign and Native, was more than double. The ports in Chihli are more by a half than in 1904, chiefly on the Import trade, from which the collection was doubled. Shantung ports are more by a fourth, Chefoo and Kiaochow maintaining their relative position. On the Szechwan trade the
Piecor. Pieces. Pieces. collection improved by a fifth, an increase pearly
18.710,469 13,562,460 12,640,084 27,724,980 measured by the larger Revenue from Native Opium was importal in smaller quantities, The price of Raw Cotton in the Western Opium. The Hunan ports improved their 51,190 piculs of all kinds, the quantity being markets was low at the end of 1904 and collection slightly; Changsha is taking its 5 per cent, and the value 8 per cent. less than continued low for the first three months natural position as the principal original port. in 1904. Bengal Opiam (Benares and Patna) of 1905; during this period, as stated in for Exports. Hankow shows a small falling off more than recovered the loss of 1904, being 1,343 my last Report, orders were placed for in the total, but with collection from direct piculs more than in 1903 and 4,666 piouls more future delivery of large quantities of Piece Foreign Imports greater by a half. The than in 1904; Malwa and Persisa together were Goods, and the subsequent increase in the Lower Yangtze maintain its position, Wuhu | 7,931 picals less than in 1903 and 7,542 piculs price of Cotton (an increase of 67 per cent.. showing some increase, and Kinkiang and less than in 1904. The northern ports took a from 31d. per lb. in January to 6d, in l'ecom. Chinkiang a decrease. The collection at slightly large quantity, 690 against 657 piculs,ber) operated only to the benefit of the indenters Shanghai exceeded that of 1904 by Hk. Tls. mainly due to the difficulty of getting Man in China. Of the plain fabrics named above, 1,756,752, being half the total increase at the churian drug. The Yangtze ports consumed supplies came from the principal producing 36 ports; the increase in general Import Duty much less of the Indian drug, 7, 169 against 9,745 countries in the following proportions :- was Hk. Tls. 1,860,192; there was a decrease piculs, the void being filled by increased use of
1903.
1904. of Hk. Tls. 155,475 in Export Duty with smaller Chinese Opium. Shanghai consumed and sent differences under other heads. The Chehkiang inland 14,811 piculs, against 15,23 piculs in ports show decreases considerable in their 1904, the consumption of the Soochow district proportions, generally distributed over all heads being included in these figures; while the Of Fuhkien ports, Foochow continues its down. Chelikiang ports took 4,041 piculs, against 4,813 ward course, with a reduced export of Tea and picals. Coming now to the area supplie I from a smaller consumption of Opium; and Amoy Hongkong as a distributing centre. Fabkien was unchanged. Ports in Kwangtung (includ-took 6,600 piculs, against 7,273 piculs ia 1904; ing Wuchow) gave a collection of Hk. Tls. 6,621,871, against Hk. Tls. 6,385,015 in 1904; Kowloon and Lappa show considerable increase, due to larger quantities of Opium taking the junk channel; and Kiungohow show some development in its Export trade and a markedly increased consumption of Opium. The frontier ports present__no distinctive characteristics, except that, at Mengtsz, Import Duties were less and Export Duties more.
The total value of the Foreign trade in 1905 was Hk. Tis. 674,988,988, an increase of 16 per cent. To this total the northern, Yangtze, and central ports, from Newchwang to Wenchow, contributed 72 per cent.; the southern ports, from Santuao to Pakhoi, 263 per cent.; and the frontier ports, 1 per cent. The share of Shanghai alone, as a primary importing and ultimate exporting port, was 53 per cent. of the whole trade of China and 74 per cent, of that of the district commercially subsidiary to it. The disproportion of Imports to Exports has gone on increasing: Imports were greater than in 1904 by 30 per cent., and Exports were less by per cent.; while Imports exceeded Exports by 43 per cent, in 1904 and by no less than 97 per cent. în 1905.
A large portion of the trade of China (usually 40 per cent, each of Imports and Exports (passes through. Hongkong, and must be assigned in our records to that port, though it can produce or consume but little; this fact throws much obscurity over the figures of the annual value of the direct trade with each country.
Exports from China show a total of Hk. Tls. 258,769,000 according to the statistics of the several countries, against Hk. Tis. 194,868, 854 by our own figures; the latter sum was in
|
Great Britain America
Japan
**
1905.
Pieces. Pieces. Pieces. 7,841,605 8,109,020 13,548,025 4,782,141 3,703,548. 12,566,493 73,723 607,312 780,580 India
53,806 183,461 650,036 To the import of 1905 the English mills con- tributed 49 per cent.; the American, 45 per cent.; the Japanese, 3 per cent.; and the Indian, a little over 2 per cent. Fancy goods, with reduced cost for raw material, increased in value from Hk. Tls, 24,162,260 in 1904 to Hk. Th. 27,320,865 in 1905. The increase in quantities is very general, and is most marked in Chintses and Prints, Cotton Italians and Lastings, and Cotton Blankets. Cotton Yarn inoressed generally, even English spinnings sharing in the advance; the total increased from 2,280,878 to 2,553,797 piouls, of which India contributed 1,846,846 | piculs and Japan 681,442 piculs. For this year Yarn has been swamped in the inflow of fabrics, and from a general average taking one year with another, of a half of the value of all Cotton manufactures, the value of Yarn has fallen to 36 per cent. of the whole. The mills of China have, however, had a busy and profitable your and have supplied a larger proportion of the demand than formerly, being helped out by a fall in the Shanghai price of Čotton, coinciding with the rise in the price elsewhere.
Kwangtung ports (including Wuchow), on the other hand, show an increase, 18,609 against 17,001 picals, increased consumption being reported from all but Swatow. The Lappa Commissioner notes, with reference to the increase (518 piculs, 4) per cent.) in the quantity passing his stations," that a significantly corresponding decrease of 838 piculs took place in the shipments from Hongkong to Kwang- chowwan ; the Kiungchow Commissioner comments in the same sense on the increase (from 450 to 1,075 picula) in the quantity re- ported to his office: arrangements made for the development of the legitimate trade of this leased territory bave involved greater regard being shown for the rights of the leasing Power in the adjoining terri- tory. The reduction in the total is account- ed for by diminished consumption in Central China-the Yangtze basin with Chehkiang; and in that area the place of Indian Opium is being taken by its Chinese rival. The rise in exchange reduced the cost of laying down the Foreign drug, and its consumption would have been stil less but for this fact and for the action of the Indian Opium Department in increasing its sales of Bengal Opium and lowering the price. For Chinese Opíum a new generation is coming on which is not wedded to any other flavour, and which finds its flavour not unattractive and its lower cost decidedly attractive, and it is likely to tend more and more to replace Indian Opfam. The Chinese governmentisawake to the necessity of regulating the internal traffic in Opium and to the possibility of deriving a large Revenue from it; and since 3rd July has instituted the simultaneous levy of a collective tax on the drug | Quantity Piculé 91,971 289,528: 964,621 coming down the Yangtze past Iobang, ́ Valne Hk, Tls. 2,506,741 8,704,322 31,133,551^.
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The import of Metals was more than doubled in value." Brass, Lead, Tin, and Quicksilver were less in quantity and valus, the reduced import of lead being attributable to the reduced export of Tes and, to some extent, to the increased price in Western markets. Iron and Steel were considerably increased in nearly every kind. Of the total value of all Metals, Hk. Tls. 45,428,998, Copper contributed over two-thirds, the importation (excluding Wirs) in the past three years having boen as follows :---
1903 1904
1005