(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
165
[May 11.]
SECTION 1.
Mr. Jamieson to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received May 11.) (No. 7.)
Shanghae, March 31, 1903.
My Lord,
THE Abstract of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Statistics for the year 1902 has appeared to-day, and, although a copy thereof may reach the Board of Trade by this mail, I have the honour to inclose a comparative Table of British trade for that period expressed in sterling.
Should this be published, a note, similar to that appended to Table A, page 4 of my Report for 1901 (Annual Series 2912), excluding the first two paragraphs on page 5, should accompany it.
In my despatch No. 2 of the 12th January last, I gave approximate Returns of revenue for 1902. The correct figures are as follows:----
Total revenue 1902 35,185,275 Haikwan taels or 3,900,917l. at 2s. 11¼d.
1901 30,007,044 Haikwan taels or 3,777,415l. at 2s. 7¾d.
The apparent excess for 1902 over 1901 expressed in currency is 4,469,430 taels (581,025l.), but the actual difference in sterling is only 123,502l., or one-half of my previous estimate.
Import duties show an advance of 3,782,782 Haikwan taels, due to the operation of the effective 5 per cent. Tariff; export duties have increased by 188,331 Haikwan taels; coast trade duties by 219,876 Haikwan taels; tonnage dues by 111,349 Haikwan taels, and transit dues by 636,647 Haikwan taels.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. JAMIESON, Commercial Attaché.
Inclosure in No. 1.
COMPARATIVE Table of China's Foreign Trade based on the Returns of the Imperial Maritime Customs.
Value Increase or decrease 1901* 1902† £ Total imports 27,801,060 30,693,946 + 2,892,886 Total exports 35,185,275 39,118,115 + 3,932,840 Total trade 62,986,335 69,811,061 + 6,825,126 Ratio of imports to exports as 100.. 79 per cent. 78 per cent. United Kingdom-- Imports from.. 6,100,000 7,491,199 + 1,391,199 Exports to 1,266,300 1,314,768 + 48,468 Hong Kong-- Imports from.. 17,798,250 17,358,141 - 440,109 Exports to 10,664,250 10,745,458 + 81,208 India-- Imports from.. 1,282,550 1,294,867 + 12,367 Exports to 465,650 362,195 - 103,455 Other British dominions-- Imports from.. 892,700 941,625 + 48,925 Exports to 493,970 468,014 - 25,956 Total British trade 41,963,020 43,012,267 + 1,048,647* At exchange, 2s. 11¼d. = 1 Haikwan tael.
† At exchange, 2s. 7¾d. = 1 Haikwan tael.