દ.ગ.
10¢ thew
GB
19
EXTENT OF TRADE PASSING THROUGH
HONG KONG FROM ONE PART OF CHINA TO ANOTHER.
1.
In discussions of Hong Kong currency it has 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 basis would hinder the
entrepôt trade of goods passing through Hong Kong from
one part of China to another, since every such
transaction would involve a double exchange from gold
to silver, which is avoided at present. Until recently,
however, it has been impossible to make any estimate
of the quantity of such trade as no trade statistics
have been compiled. The collection of the se
statistics was resumed from the 1st of April, 1930,
and the figures for the last three months received
(July-September) have been examined in an attempt to
estimate the relative importance of the inter-Chinese
trade.
2.
Excluding treasure, the imports from China
in this quarter were $40,004,000 out of $158,221,000,
and the exports to China were $54,112,000 out of $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 imports and exports from and to China
are summarised in a number of groups of goods, and by
3.
comparing these the maximum possible inter-Chinese
trade can be further limited.
Taking for each group
the import or export figures, whichever is lower, the
limit is reduced to $27,390,000.
4.