T
For the period 1900-1915 the assessment of the whole Colony
has risen from $10,900.203 to $14,305,370, an increase in value of 30:41%.
I
The circulation on the 31st December of notes of the three Banks having authorised issues was as follows:-
Hongkong & Shanghai Bank,
$21,793,800
Chartered Bank of India, Australia, & China, Mercantile Bank of India,
0,976,548
1,074,231
*
$29,844,585
The currency of the Colony consists, in addition to the notes of these Banks, of British, Hongkong, and Mexican Dollars and of subsidiary coin.
The rate of discount on Hongkong subsidiary coin, as compared with notes, varied during 1915 between the following limits :---
50 cent-pieces G per cent. to 133 per cent.
20
10
5
Copper coin
par.
1 F
**
יו
183 19 LD
11
par.
Compared however with the Mexican Dollar which is the standard
of the Colony the variations were as follows :—
50 cent-pieces 4 per cent. to 5 per cent.
l.
IL TRADE AND SHIPPING, INDUSTRIES, FISHERIES, AGRICULTURE, AND LAND.
(a.)-SHIPPING AND Trade.
forts in
The total of the Shipping entering and clearing at the Colony during the year 1915 amounted to 531,602 vessels of 33,884,919 tons, which, compared with the figures for 1914, shows an increase of 14,163 vessels, with a decrease of 2,872,082 tons.
Of the above, 50,148 vessels of 22,515,023 tons were engaged in Foreign Trade, as compared with 51,211 vessels of 25.279,824 tons in 1914, and were distributed as follows:-
19.14.
1915. Numbers. Numbers.
19 M. Tonnage.
1015. Tonnage.
British Ocean-
going ships, 83%
7·0%
13:0%
32.7%
Foreign Ocean-
going ships.
8.2
TR
33-9
311
British
River
Steamers,
130
13:3
15'9
178
Foreign River
Steamers,
35
אי:
30
41
Steam-launches
(under GO
tons),
134
13-7
10
1-1
Trading Junks, 530
540
126
192
100-0
1000
1000
1000
20
5%
103 +1
FO
11
5
Copper coin
par.
7!
par.
It will be seen therefore that bank notes were at a premium varying from 24 per cent. to 8 per cent,
The total issue of these coins, less those demonetized, now amounts to $20,202,370 nominal value, and they were up to the year 1905 readily absorbed at par, large quantities being taken by the neighbouring provinces of China. During 1915 ten cent pieces of the face value of $5,100,000 were shipped to England for purposes of demonetization. The discount which has prevailed since 1905 may be attributed to the immense quantity of similar coin which has latterly been minted at Canton as well as to the amount of Hongkong coin minted largely in excess of the neods of the Colony by itself. In 1905 the Hongkong Government ceased to issue any subsidiary coin and in 1906 it began a policy of demonetising all its subsidiary coin received as revenue. This policy has been continuous- ly followed since except during a brief period in 1911. Coin to the face value of $17,707,459 has thus been redeemed. The total issue by the Hongkong Government was of the face value of about $44,000,000.
N.B.—The movements of Fishing Junks are not included in the above figures.
Of vessels of European construction, 3,820 Ocean Steners, 4 Sailing Ships, 4,283 River Steamers, and 3,437 Stean-launches entered during the year, giving a daily average entry of 31'6 ships, as compared with 324 in 1914, and 299 in 1913.
The average tonnage of individus! Ocean Vessels entering the port has decreased from 2,6121 tous to 2,519-9 tons. That of British Ships has decreased from 2,6300 tons to 2,625 tons, while that of Foreign Ships has decreased from 2,590′2 to 2,441'2 tons.
During the past 20 years, the average tonnage of Ocean-going Vessels has increased from 1,208 tons to 1,8772 tons.
The average tonnage of River Steamers entering during the year has decreased from 582 1 tons to 4869 tons. That of British River Steamers has decreased from 6004 tons to 5192 tons, and that of Foreign River Steamers has decreased from 5135 tons to 414'4 tous.
سیم
420