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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
Seven thousand seven hundred and fifty (7,750) steamers, eleven (11) sailing ships, and two thousand and thirty (2,030) steamships not exceeding 60 tons, in foreign trade, entered during the year, giving a daily average entry of 26.8, as compared with 24.8 in 1907.
The average tonnage of ocean vessels visiting the port has again increased, from 2,325.3 tons to 2,448.6 tons. That of British vessels has increased from 2,552.2 tons to 2,593.06 tons, while that of foreigners has increased from 2,136.8 tons to 2,309.9 tons.
In this connection it is interesting to note that during the past 20 years the average tonnage of ocean vessels visiting the Colony has risen from 1,186.9 tons to 2,448.6 tons.
The average tonnage of river steamers entered during 1908 was 665.5 tons, as against 661 tons in 1907. British river steamers have increased in average tonnage from 678 tons to 686.5 tons, while foreigners have again decreased from 567 tons to 565.2 tons.
A comparison between the years 1907 and 1908 is given in the following table:-
Class of Vessel 1907 1908 Increase Decrease British ocean-going No.: 3,758Tonnage: 7,216,169 No.: 3,869
Tonnage: 7,505,270 No.: 113
Tonnage: 289,101 Foreign ocean-going No.: 4,621
Tonnage: 7,720,875 No.: 4,132
Tonnage: 7,397,836 No.: 489
Tonnage: 323,039 British river steamers No.: 6,828
Tonnage: 4,830,361 No.: 6,246
Tonnage: 4,287,482 No.: 582
Tonnage: 342,892 Foreign river steamers No.: 1,310
Tonnage: 743,999 No.: 1,297
Tonnage: 733,065 No.: 13
Tonnage: 10,927 Steamships under 60 tons (foreign trade) No.: 2,030
Tonnage: 70,021 No.: 2,479
Tonnage: 111,321 No.: 449
Tonnage: 41,300 Junks in foreign trade No.: 4,060
Tonnage: 2,651,470 No.: 3,731
Tonnage: 2,201,242 No.: 329
Tonnage: 450,228 Steam launches plying in waters of the Colony No.: ...
Tonnage: 419,202 No.: ...
Tonnage: 445,724 No.: ...
Tonnage: 26,522 Junks in local trade No.: *40,772
Tonnage: 1,778,887 No.: †1,848,522
Tonnage: 1,848,522 No.: 179
Tonnage: 69,635 Grand total No.: 507,634
Tonnage: 36,028,310 No.: 332,112
Tonnage: 34,615,241 No.: 29,993
Tonnage: 1,413,069 Nett No.: 24,478
* Including 18,090 conservancy and dust boats of 820,958 tons.
† Including 16,808 conservancy and dust boats of 862,256 tons.
There is an increase in British ocean shipping, entered and cleared during the year, of 113 ships of 289,101 tons (59=26,698 increase in 1907). This increase appears to indicate a very considerable revival of trade during the last quarter of the year after the general depression, for in each of the first three quarters decreases were shown as compared with the corresponding periods of 1907.
British river steamers are shown to have decreased by 582 entries and clearances with a collective tonnage of 342,882 tons. This decrease is due to the loss of two large, regularly-running steamers, the "Powan" and "Ying King," and the withdrawal of a third, the "Hoi Sang," from the run during the year.
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