1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1914.
303
9
In local trade (i.e., trade between places within the waters of the Colony) there appears an increase under steam launches of 32,736 vessels, or 5.2 per cent., and a decrease of 441,148 tons, or 4.1 per cent., while in junks there is an increase of 1,781 vessels or 6.7 per cent. with a decrease of 2,855 tons, or 0.2 per cent. The causes of this are identical with those mentioned in the case of foreign trade junks, and the effect is well shown by the fact that, since the outbreak of the war, the reported arrivals and departures of local trade junks have increased by well over 100 per cent. compared with the corresponding period of 1913.
The above figures do not, however, show the real state of affairs, inasmuch that many conditions have materially altered since the outbreak of war, early in August. In the remarks which follow, the year is divided into two parts—the first seven months, before the war, and the last five months, since war was declared,—and confined to the ocean-going shipping, which alone was seriously affected by the war.
First Seven Months.—A continuation, more especially in British vessels, of the steady increase which has been noted during past years, amounting, in the case of British ships, to 206 ships of 408,109 tons, or 8.5 per cent. in number and 8.4 per cent. in tonnage, compared with 6.4 per cent. and 8.6 per cent. respectively in 1913.
Foreign ocean-going vessels increased by 119 ships of 624,458 tons or 4.4 per cent. in numbers, and 11.9 per cent. in tonnage, compared with 7.1 per cent. and 7.9 per cent. respectively in 1913.
The average tonnage of the British ships entering decreased from 1,995.2 to 1,992.4, while that of foreigners increased from 1,948.9 to 2,080.9.
A large decrease shown in the junk trade, which amounts to 1,731 vessels (8.5 per cent.) of 28,122 tons (13 per cent.), is, for reasons which will appear later, not borne out by facts, but is really due to the increasing habit on the part of the junk masters of failing to report themselves.
Last Five Months.—The effect of the war in the ocean trade of the port is apparent. In British ocean-going vessels there is a decrease of 152 ships of 537,790 tons, or 8.5 per cent. in numbers and 14.9 per cent. in tonnage.
Foreign ocean-going shipping decreased by 601 ships of 1,306,957 tons, or 30.2 per cent. in numbers and 32.3 per cent. in tonnage. Of this, the practical extinction of German and Austrian tonnage is responsible for 27.2 per cent. in numbers and 26.4 per cent. in tonnage, while the remaining 3 per cent. and 5.9 per cent. represent the net result of increases and decreases under other flags. Here are found increases under Norwegian (17.4 per cent. in numbers and 22.6 per cent. in tonnage, compared with the figures for the corresponding period of 1913), and Chinese (4.5 per cent. in numbers and in tonnage), while under the Dutch flag an increase of 8.9 per cent. in tonnage is
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