HKG-CAR1904-1919

234

10

Thus:

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

COLONIAL REPORTS--ANNUAL.

Flag. Steamers. No. of Times entered. Total Tonnage. 1911. 1912. 1911. 1912. British- Steamers 344 | 335 1,952 | 1,977 3,781,622 | 3,892,354 Sailing German 4 | 1 16,534 | 2,890 Japanese 111 | 98 657 | *** 637 | 1,133,786 | 1,129,054 Austrian *** *** *** Norwegian. 106 | *** 123 | 509 592 | 1,354,362 | 1,572,194 Danish 36 | 26 210 | 168 *** | 221,039 | 173,145 Dutch 6 | 10 24 | 46 96,380 | 153,624 Chinese 20 | 30 102 | *** 236 | 241,362 | 275,310 French 8 | 6 20 | 11 45,928 | 28,927 Italian 16 | * * * Portuguese *** Russian *** Swedish 11 | *** 18 | 130 112 | *** 235,881 | 246,352 26 | 152 142 | *** 242,469 | 229,532 2 | 4 12 | 13 31,188 | 31,403 4 | 5 79 | 101 32,842 | 49,494 18 | 20 35 | *** 53,080 | 103,998 6 | 6 14 | 14 *** | 25,778 37,262 U.S.A- Steamers Sailing *** | *** :: | 18 18 | 71 70 | 243,619 260,597 1 | 1 163 | *** Total 720 | 724 4,049 | 4,155 7,756,033 | 8,186,136

TRADE.

In the absence of a Customs Department, the details of the trade of the Colony which it is possible to give are meagre, and of little value, being derived from reports of ship masters, which are given in round numbers, and the several items of cargo are only too frequently returned under the heading "general." In a few cases, however, as opium and sugar, exact figures can be obtained; while in certain other items, from their nature, or for other reasons, approximately accurate returns are rendered. The following remarks are therefore confined to these few articles of trade.

Imports.-Under this heading, which includes all cargo brought by ocean vessels or river steamers (not in junks or steam-launches) and landed or transhipped in the Colony, 4,151,805 tons of cargo were reported during the year. This, compared with that reported during 1911 (3,995,793 tons), shows an increase of 156,012 tons, or 3.9 per cent.

Of this total, there appear increases in the import of coal, cotton, flour, sugar, and timber, while decreases are reported in kerosene oil, opium, and rice.

Coal. An increase of 10,212 tons or 1 per cent. is reported, 1,056,502 tons having been imported during the year. It is probably due to transhipments of coal to Canton, where there is an increasing demand for it.

Of the above total quantity, 73 per cent. was Japanese, Hongay and Fushun coming next with about 8 per cent. each, other