1904-1919
HUNG KONG, 1911.
205
11
Rope Manufacturing.-There is very little requiring special comment, and the trade for the year has gone on without any distinguishing feature. The power of absorption of the local and adjacent markets seems to vary very little. The price of hemp has been fairly steady throughout the year, the extreme fluctuation not exceeding $3 per picul in Manila.
Cement.-There has been a fair demand throughout the year. Brewing.-The Oriental Brewery, of which hopes of success were confidently expressed in 1910, was unfortunately unable to compete with other breweries and has passed into liquidation.
(ii.)--Under Chinese Management.
Rattan and Fibre Furniture.-Business showed a slight falling off. There are 41 firms, large and small, in the trade.
Native Tobacco.-There are 26 factories in existence. Business is still unsatisfactory owing to the competition in China of foreign tobacco corporations and the sale of foreign cigarettes. The local tobacco crops were fairly good.
Tinned Goods.-This business increased moderately, and considerable exports have been made to Annam and Singapore.
Samshu.-The local manufacturers of native spirits report having had a good year. The total output of all kinds of native spirits (including the New Territories) was nearly 1,100,000 gallons, as against 800,000 gallons in 1910. This increase is due to a decrease in import from China consequent on the recent unrest.
Vinegar.-All the large native distilleries produce vinegar as well as samshu. The yearly output of the seven largest firms amounted to some 850,000 gallons. The figures given for 1910 (two million gallons) were probably wrong.
Knitted Vests and Socks.-There are five factories in existence. A large local demand, which has lately still further increased, exists for these articles.
Leather.-There are eight local tanneries. The high price of hides affected the business adversely, and the volume of trade fell off by about 10 per cent.
Ginger and Preserves.-The volume of business done still showed a decrease and was affected by the price of sugar. There are 14 factories in the Colony.
Soy.-There is no improvement to report in this trade, which remains dull.
Paper.-The trade still shows satisfactory progress.
Vermilion.-The volume of this trade has again fallen off and at the end of the year the demand for this commodity was almost non-existent.
Lard.-Much of the lard manufactured in the Colony is exported to the Philippines, where regulations require the purity of animal products to be certified. The local manufacturers of lard made from animals killed in the Colony willingly comply with the regulations. The output still increases. During 1911 a lard and meat factory was started purely in the interests of the Philippine trade.