1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1909.
147
13
soap
Soap-Boiling.-Messrs. Blackhead & Co. manage a factory at Shaukiwan. It was established in 1896 and is equipped with modern plant capable of turning out 1,800,000 lbs. of soap per month. The principal manufactures are soft soap, salt water soap, toilet soap, and tar soap, which are locally consumed or exported to north China.
(b.)—INDUSTRIES.
(Under Chinese Management.)
Rattan and Fibre Furniture.-The making of rattan chairs has been an important industry in Hong Kong for many years. There has also been lately a large development in the use of what is called sea grass (arundo mitis) and hemp string. The ordinary rattan easy and garden chairs are used all over the Far East and are exported to Australia and latterly to South Africa, and sea grass "linen fibre" furniture is exported to India, Copenhagen, and America.
**
Tobacco.-There are thirteen or fourteen native factories which do a small manufacturing business, importing the tobacco leaf from Pakhoi and the Canton delta.
Tinned Goods.-The manufacture of tinned goods in Hong Kong and parts of the neighbouring province of Kwongtung has acquired considerable dimensions. The products of the factories are consumed locally and exported to other parts of China and to countries where there is a Chinese population.
Samshu.-Samshu or Chinese spirit is made from rice, the fermenting material being a substance composed of rice, bean flour, red earth, and leaves which are stated to be cassia leaves. Various well-known beverages are prepared by flavouring the spirit with plums, oranges, and other fruits.
The retail price of the ordinary Chinese spirit is under 7 cents a catty. The most expensive beverage distilled locally and composed of roses, ordinary spirits, and sugar costs 40 cents a catty. Medicated spirits have a considerable sale among the Chinese. The spirit principally used is one distilled from millet and obtained from the north of China. To this spirit are added various drugs and the mixture is used as a tonic.
There are seven Chinese distilleries exclusive of the village distilleries in the New Territories, which have an annual output of some 300,000 gallons, about one-tenth of which is exported.
Vests and Socks.-There are three small factories for the making of underwear and socks, and a fourth is shortly to open. This industry appears by now to be an established one. The first factory was opened five years ago, has increased the number of machines, and is now beginning to pay its way.
Hides and Leather.-There are seven or eight tanneries where an inferior kind of leather is manufactured. Gall-nuts from Japan are used in the manufacture. The greater part of the hides that reach Hong Kong from the interior is sent to the Straits Settlements, where suitable bark can be procured, to be tanned and sent back to Hong Kong as leather. There is an occasional export of hides by local dealers to Italy.