1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1917.
1916.
389
7
Macdonald & Co.
Taikoo Dockyard & Eng. Co., Ltd.
Kwong Took Cheong Kwong Hip Lung Co., Ltd.
Kwong Sing Loong
W. S. Bailey & Co. Hop On
Kwong Lee
Kwong Man Sang
I vessel of23 gross tons and80 I.H.P. 6 vessels of8,814** ****3 6416,800752 "**** ****4 521462** ****** 1 vessel of3645 >>>>7 vessels of449620 ********** **1 vessel of4356** 梦梦11624"" **"****2 vessels of136178 Tung Shing1 vessel of7592" >>*Kwong Hop Loong13244 #"Ah King23 vessels of5654** ****Sum Kee1 vessel of2850** ****12 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock, Co., Ltd.2 vessels of32120" ********** TotalTaikoo Dockyard & Eng. Co., Ltd.54 vessels of10,902 gross tons and9,377 I.H.P. 1917.4 vessels of8,919 gross tons and5,850 I.H.P.$2 14,954擎**9,400事 911296" Sum Kee34256** **W. S. Bailey & Co.65105" Total..26 vessels of24,092 gross tons and15,507 I.H.P.The increase of tonnage built by the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co., Ltd., is due to the building of vessels for the Straits Steamship Co. The Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Co. had several large vessels building, which are not shown in the return.
Sugar Refineries.-During 1917 the general shortage of tonnage available for the carriage of Java sugars was responsible for an accumulation of unprecedented stocks in godowns in Java, causing a slump in prices which involved severe losses to holders. One result in China-Hong Kong's main market-was a shortage of Javas, which was in part responsible for the strong demand for Hong Kong Refineds which obtained throughout the greater part of the year. Prices in China ruled low, governed mainly by the influx of heavy shipments of Japanese sugars, and the prevailing high rate of silver exchange which benefited Japan. Offtake of local Refineds would have been considerably greater but for the incidence of political unrest in China during the last two months of the year.. India and the Persian Gulf have continued to draw substantial supplies from Hong Kong.
Cotton Yarn.-During the twelve months under review, trade was smaller in volume than the previous year, due to war conditions, but the monetary turnover could scarcely have suffered owing to the enormous advance in values, and, taken all round, the importers and dealers had a successful year.
The year opened with the American cotton in Liverpool at 10'63 pence per lb., and closed at 22-84, and although this was offset to some extent by a corresponding rise in Exchange from 2s. 4d. to 3s..