1887-1903
COLONIAL REPORTS—ANNUAL.
Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China.
Month. July... August September ... October November December 191 11 Hong Kong National Bank. $ $ and Shanghai Bank of China, Limited. 2,914,252 5,087,096 450,000 2,917,093 5,747,676 444,905 2,873,076 6,180,333 445,879 2,534,743 6,419,676 449,538 2,583,714 5,721,000 439,057 2,873,594 6,799,128 448,875II-TRADE, AGRICULTURE, AND INDUSTRIES.
Under the heading (A.) I have endeavoured to give such statistics as are ascertainable with regard to exports and imports. The fact that Hong Kong is a free port makes it a matter of unusual difficulty to give anything like a complete statement on this important subject. In the absence of a Custom House it is necessary to rely upon returns which may be only approximately accurate, but which will probably be found useful in giving a general idea of the present state of Hong Kong commerce. The tax on opium renders that article of commerce the only one of which I can offer clear returns. In the following tables I present the export and import returns of opium for the last five years :-
(A.) IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF OPIUM FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. Imports 41,578 36,609 34,208 37,708 39,392 Exports 38,978 36,241 33,385 35,808 37,828 Through cargo reported in manifests but not landed. 22,986 16,190 14,838 13,739 15,482