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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
Opium.-The imports of raw opium show a decrease of 8,925 chests or 42 per cent. and the exports a decrease of 6,796 chests or 34 per cent. This decrease is the natural outcome of the Opium Agreement of May, 1911, but has been intensified by the uncertainties and variations of provincial policies in China with regard to opium generally and by the absolute exclusion of Persian opium from the China market. The figures for the last five years are shown in the following table :-
1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 Stock in hand, 1st January 7,587 7,123 4,509 5,808 4,707 Imported during the year 12,361 21,286 31,743 35,734 35,734 Total 19,948 28,409 36,252 41,542 40,441 Boiled by opium farmer 1,113 2 761 782 1,044 Spurious opium destroyed 14 51 247 864 Exported during the year 13,264 20,061 28,333 35,938 33,609 Total 14,379 20,822 29,129 37,033 40,720 Stock remaining 31st December 5,560 7,587 7,123 4,509 5,808The legitimate importation of morphia and cocaine has ceased except for such quantities as are required for medicinal purposes in the Colony. The trade in compounds of opium is now confined to exportation to Java for the use of the Dutch Government monopoly.
Rice. Here is reported a decrease of 21,072 tons, or 36 per cent. The rice crops in the two Kwang Provinces have been good, thus the demand for foreign rice has not been so great as usual. The Siamese, Annamese and Cochin China crops were very poor and prices high. Siamese rice used to sell here at $4.50 per picul. This year as much as $7.00 has been asked, and paid. The increased and increasing use of flour among the native population, noticed in the remarks under that heading, no doubt affects the rice market to a certain extent. The import of Japanese rice has apparently entirely ceased.
Timber.-An increase of 13,169 tons or 22 per cent. is here reported. Although it is unlikely that this is all a genuine increase, it is certain that the timber trade has received a considerable impetus recently, by reason of the increased demand for foreign woods for the building and furniture trades in Canton and the interior. The principal descriptions of timber imported are teak and ebony from Siam, and hardwoods, such as billion and yacal, from Borneo. The demand for European styles of furniture among the Chinese is responsible for large increases in the import of teak. Ebony is used for the manufacture of the Canton "blackwood" now so popular among foreigners. Billion, a very hard, heavy wood, white ant proof, is being increasingly used for beams, rafters and joists, in the building trade. Billion is also used almost exclusively for the manufacture of those universal necessities of life in China-chopsticks. Yacal has become very popular for boat and ship building, being easily