HKG-CAR1904-1919

1904-1919

HONG KONG, 1915.

341

9

Timber.-Here an increase is shown, which is due to the falling-off of stocks at the end of 1914, which have been more than made up this year.

Opium.—The clearance of the old stock of certified opium has been proceeding quietly. Imports have come practically entirely from Shanghai. On the 1st October the Opium Suppression Commissioner for the Provinces of Kwang Tung, Kiang Si, and Kiang Su came to an agreement with the merchants forming the Opium Combine to purchase the whole of the stock of certified opium then lying in Hong Kong. The export of certified opium is now, therefore, confined to deliveries to the Kwang Tung Government.

Malwa, Chests.

Patna.

Benares.

Total.

Chests.

Chests.

Chests.

Imports..... 125 45 12 182 Exports..... 607 371 147 1,125

Eight hundred and fifty-two (852) chests of Persian opium were imported and 856 exported, the destination being either London or Formosa. Eight hundred and thirty-nine chests of uncertified Indian opium were imported from India, of which 500 chests were exported to Macao. The remainder was for the use of the Government Opium Monopoly. The table below shows the total imports and exports since 1908:-

Stock in hand on 1st January Imported during the year 1915. 1914. 1913. 1912. 1911. 1910. 1909. 1908. Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests. Chests. 2,256 4,580 5,560 7,587 7,123 4,509 5,808 4,707 1,873 3,059 9,108 12,361 21,286 31,743 35,734 41,821 Total.... 4,129 7,640 14,668 19,948 28,409 36,252 41,542 46,528 Boiled by Opium Farmer. 36 067 1,113 761 782 1,044 864 Boiled by Government. 340 413 Spurious Opium destroyed 17 19 2 14 51 247 Missing or stolen. 4 2 9 Exported during the year 2,469 4,911 9,419 13,264 20,061 28,333 35,938 39,609 Total 2,826 5,383 10,088 14,388 20,822 29,129 37,033 40,720 Stock remaining on 31st December.. 1,303 2,256 4,580 5,560 7,587 7,123 4,500 5,808

General.-The decrease here of 47,562 tons is small, only amounting to 2 per cent. This, of course, as in the preceding year, is due entirely to the war and the small amount of goods being exported from European countries.