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secondly that imports are not distinguished according to countries of origin: thirdly that no attempt is made to assign values to items which are classified in (b) by other denominations and fourthly, that no attempt is made to comply with the suggestion of the Board of Trade endorsed in the Despatch under reference, to the effect that exports should be classified according to these countries of origin. The reason for these differences and omissions are respectively:-
(a). That the List of Hendings was only crystallised
into its present form in December, 1917, after
considerable discussion with the merchants
chiefly concerned. While the List was in the
making, the Statistical Office worked on a draft list which differed considerably from
the final version.
(b). That it was not possible to secure accommoda-
-tion for the staff required for this analysis, until 15th. December, 1917. Imports are being
so malysed as from the lat. January, 1918.
(c). That, while it is doubtless convenient to be
able to summarise the trade of any country or
port in terms of value it does not appear that
the absence of these data would be a serious
loss in the case of Hongkong. Since no details
whatsoever of the trade of Hongkong are on
record prior to the present compilation, such
information could only be of use for the pur- -pose of comparison with future Returns and
in view of the abnormal inflation of values
as a result of war conditions, such comparison
would seem to have little value. It may be
added that until the new offices for the
Imports and Exports Department are completed it is improbable that sufficient accommodation