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factors." In other words, the then depression in Hong Kong's
trade was due mostly, if not entirely, to causes outside its
own control.
(21). Nature of the Fort's trade. Some Ports owe their
origin to raw materials found in the vicinity for which there
is an export demand, or to factories in the neighbourhood
whose products must be exported. Other Ports are centres of
big populations which have largely to be supplied with food,
etc., by sea. Others perform a useful function in connection
with entrepôt or transhipment trade.
(22) In the case of Hong Kong its production of raw
materials is negligible, while it produces only a small
fraction of the foodstuffs it consumes. There are industries
established in Hong Kong such as shipbuilding and ship
repairing, sugar refining, brewing, knitting and weaving, and
the manufacture of rope, ginger, aerated waters, bricks,
cement and tiles, etc.,
(23) The principal commodities imported into Hong Kong
are foodstuffs, piecegoods and textiles, oils and fats,
metals, Chinese medicines, fuels, live animals, vehicles and
machinery and engines; while the chief exports consist of
foodstuffs and provisions, treasure, oils and fats, metals,
wearing apparel, Chinese medicines, minerals and ores and
vehicles.
(24) The normal trade of Hong Kong falls into the
following broad categories:
(a) Imports for consumption in Hong Kong and raw
materials for certain industries, and exports
of Hong Kong origin.
(b) Chinese external trade passing through Hong Kong,
1.e. Chinese goods re-exported to non-Chinese
countries and non-Chinese goous re-exported to
China.
(c) Chinese coastal trade, i.e. goous in orted from