EXTENT OF TR DE F..SSING THROUGH
HONG KONG FROM ONE P RT OF CHINA TO ..NOTHER.
1.
In discussions of Hong Kong currency it hus
often been argued that it is very important for the
Colony to keep on a silver basis (so long as China is
on silver) because a gold busis would hinder the entrepôt trade of goods passing through Hong Kong from
one part of China to another, since every suoh
transaction would involve a double exchange from gold
Until recently, to silver, which is voided at present.
however, it has been impossible to make any estimate of the quantity of such trade as no trude statistics
have been compiled. The collection of these
statistics was resumed from the 1st of April, 1930,
and the figures for the lust three mouths received
P
(July September) have been examined in an attempt to
estimate the relative importance of the inter-Chinese
trude.
2.
Excluding treasure, the ports from China in this quarter were $40,004,000 out of $158,221,000, and the exports to Chins were $54,112,000 out of
th
$113,742,000, In the first place, therefore, the exports to China of Chinese produce could not exceed $40,004,000, the value of the total imports from China.
The importa and exports from and to China
are summarised in a number of groups of goods, and by
comparing these the maximum possible inter-Chinese
3.
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trade can be further limited. Teking for each group
the import or export figure, whichever is lower, the
limit is reduced to $27,390,000.
4.
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