Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL,
CLIMATE.
As bearing on the above, the following particulars regarding the climate during the year under review may prove of interest.
The average monthly temperature was 71.7° F., as compared with 72° F. during 1896. The maximum monthly temperature was attained in July when it reached 82.1° F., as compared with a maximum monthly temperature in the same month of the previous year 88.1° F.; the minimum monthly temperature was recorded in February, as in 1896, being 54.2° F., as compared with 53.1° F. The highest recorded temperature was 91.8° F. in the month of September, and the lowest was 41° F. in the month of February.
The total rainfall for the year was 100.03 inches, as compared with 71.78 inches during 1896, the wettest months being August with 25.55 inches and June with 23.355 inches, whilst the driest months were December with 0.48 inch and March with 0.815 inch of rain. No rainfall was recorded on 193 days of the year, as compared with 208 days during the previous year. The largest rainfall for the 24 hours during the year was 6.03 inches on the 28th June. The relative humidity of the atmosphere throughout the year was, approximately, 80 per cent.
The average daily amount of sunshine was 4.78 as compared with 4.8 hours in 1896. On 71 days only no sunshine was recorded.
SHIPPING AND TRADE.
The shipping returns for the year are not quite so satisfactory as might be expected. The total tonnage entering and clearing amounted to 15,938,174, being a decrease of 577,779 tons as compared with the year 1896. British shipping shows an increase of 329 ships and a decrease of 489,528 tons. This numerical increase, with a tonnage decrease, is attributed to the number of small vessels which, since the opening of the West River in June last, have been plying on that route and increasing the number of entries and clearances without a proportionate increase of tonnage, whilst British ocean-going steamers show a decrease of 201 entries, aggregating 275,360 tons, the chief causes of which are attributable to the continued failure of the rice crop and the deflection of the Siamese rice trade owing to the plague and famine in India.
Foreign shipping, on the other hand, shows an increase of 263 ships, and of tonnage aggregating 280,731 tons, the shipping under the Japanese flag having been more than doubled since 1896, and showing an increase of 153,343 tons. German shipping, on the other hand, shows a decrease of 41,000 tons. Shipping under other foreign flags shows a more or less substantial increase, but there has been an appreciable falling off of vessels classified as "Junks in Foreign Trade" and "Junks in Local
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