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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-
-ANNUAL.
brought to Hong Kong from the several places to which they had emigrated, either from this Colony or from coast ports, as against 157,809 in 1908. Of these 109,633 arrived in British ships and 35,188 in foreign ships.
(b.)-INDUSTRIES.
(Under European Management.)
Engineering and Shipbuilding.-This is one of the most important industries in the Colony. The principal establishments are the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company, Limited, and the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company, Limited. There are a number of smaller yards, some under European and others under Chinese management, which do a large amount of work.
The Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company is an old established company. The establishment is equipped with six dry docks, the largest of which is 700 feet in length with an entrance breadth of 86 feet and a depth over sill of 30 feet; two patent slips and workshops fitted with the most modern appliances for every class of constructional and general engineering work including locomotives and railway rolling stock.
The Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company is a newly established company. The establishment possesses a dry dock 787 feet in length with breadth of 88 feet and depth over sill of 34 feet 6 inches besides three slipways and engine and boiler shops capable of dealing with the heaviest classes of engines. Two vessels of over 13,000 tons (gross) each were docked by this company during the year.
The building yard is laid out with furnaces and plant suitable for building vessels up to 20,000 tons.
The depression which existed in 1908 in this industry was continued during the year under review.
Sugar-Refining.-The year 1909 was a favourable one for the sugar-refining industry of the Colony as there was a good demand in the China markets throughout that period, and in consequence of a general advance in sugar all over the world a satisfactory margin of profit was obtainable.
As was the case in 1908 beetroot sugar did not find its way into the China market in any appreciable quantity.
Cotton-Spinning-During the earlier part of the year the local mill was handicapped owing to the inadequate supply of labour, but this difficulty was overcome. Further difficulty was experienced in obtaining the raw material at the beginning of the cotton season as the crop, although large, was a late one.
Rope Manufacturing.-Business has kept steady and prices have remained the same throughout the year.
Cement. The conditions under which this industry has been carried on have been much as in 1908, and there has been a good demand throughout the year.
Brewing. The Oriental Brewery was at work during the year and its beer, in spite of the strong competition of the imported article, is gradually finding favour with the public. Its capacity is about 100,000 barrels per annum.