1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1916.
365
7
The nationality of the crews in British and in foreign ships was as follows:-
Vessels. British Crew. Americans and Europeans. Asiatics. 1915. 1916. 1915. 1916. 1915. 1916. 1915. 1916. British 414 310 281 436 20,253 16,902 1,155 Foreign 310 281 533 128,160 126,283 1,078 10,791 10,640 114,516 110,982 Total 724 717 901 21,408 17,980 11,692 11,173 242,676 237,265Hence in British ships :-
And in Foreign ships:-
1915. 1916. 1915. 1916. 13.57% 11.76% of the crews were British. 0.91% 0.88% of the crews were British. 0.60% 85.83% 0.37% of the crews were other Europeans. 87.87% of the crews were Asiatics. 8.53% 8.67% of the crews were other Europeans. 90.56% 90.15% of the crews were Asiatics.TRADE.
As pointed out in previous years the figures which are given are meagre, and of little value, being derived from reports of ship masters which are given in round figures and several items of cargo are only entered under the heading "General.”
In a few cases, I can however give more accurate figures, and these are :
IMPORTS.
These show a decrease of 26,946 tons compared with the year 1915. Increases are shown under the headings-Coal, cotton yarn and wool, hemp, kerosene oil in cases, rattan, rice, sandalwood, and sugar, while decreases are shown in beans, flour, kerosene oil in bulk, liquid fuel, timber, and general.
Beans.-A decrease of 10,812 tons is shown, due to Japanese competition: close proximity to Tientsin and Dalny with direct steamship lines and lower freight rates than Hongkong can procure.
The trade with America in this northern product together with that of peasants has gone over almost entirely to the Japanese, and what promised to be a large and lucrative business to Hongkong has been lost.
Coal.-There is an increase of 62,811 tons over the last year, which is due to local and Canton manufacturing concerns laying in stocks as a protective measure against advancing prices due to shortage of tonnage. A large part of the surplus coal is from Formosa and Yaeyama.
Cotton Yarn and Cotton.-Once again there is a decrease of 2,274 tons, due to most of the cargo being transhipment cargo.