A comparison between the years 1907 and 1908 is given in the following table:-
Class of Vessel 1907 1908 Increase Decrease No. Tonnage No. Tonnage No. Tonnage No. Tonnage British Ocean-going 3,706 7,216,169 3,869 7,505,270 113 289,101 Foreign Ocean-going 4,621 7,720,875 4,132 7,397,836 489 323,039 British River Steamers 6,828 4,630,364 6,246 4,287,482 582 342,882 Foreign River Steamers 1,310 743,992 1,297 733,063 13 10,927 Steamships under 60 tons (Foreign Trade) 1,581 70,021 4,060 181,142 2,479 111,121 Steam-launches Junks in Foreign Trade 20,561 2,051,470 25,833 2,201,242 Total plying in waters of the Colony Junks in Local Trade 17,660 23,032,891 15,437 22,306,037 2,592 400,222 4,815 1,127,076 419,202 11,216,532 445,724 10,460,682 20,522 40,772 1,778,887 40,951 1,848,522 179 69,635 69,635 755,850 Grand Total 607,634 36,028,310 512,112 34,615,241 29,293 1,382,926 3,731 450,228 4,815 1,127,076 NETT 24,478 1,413,069* Including 18,090 Conservancy and Dust Boats of 20,958 tons. Including 16,808 Conservancy and Dust Boats of 862,256 tons.
There is an increase in British Ocean shipping, entered and cleared during the year, of 113 ships of 289,101 tons (59-26,698 increase in 1907). This increase appears to indicate a very considerable revival of trade during the last quarter of the year after the general depression, for in each of the first three quarters decreases were shown as compared with the corresponding periods of 1907.
British River steamers are shown to have decreased by 582 entries and clearances with a collective tonnage of 342,882 tons. This decrease is due to the loss of two large, regularly running, steamers, the "Powan" and "Ying King", and the withdrawal of a third, the "Hoi Sang", from the run, during the year.
Foreign Ocean vessels, which increased by 334 ships of 627,380 tons in 1907 due to the resumption of the Japanese carrying trade, have decreased by 489 ships of 323,039 tons. This decrease is general, but is most noticeable under the Norwegian, Japanese and German Flags, and may undoubtedly be attributed to the general trade depression throughout the world.
Foreign River steamers show a falling off of 13 ships of 10,927 tons which is due to the laying up of several of these vessels after the typhoon of July 27, in which they were damaged. Had it not been for this, the number and tonnage would have been considerably in excess of those for 1907. The increase in 1907 was 238 ships of 76,075 tons.
The typhoon, combined with the effects of the trade depression, which certainly has reacted upon Junk traffic as it has upon shipping, may also be held responsible for the decrease in Junks in Foreign Trade.
The increase shown in Steamships under 60 tons is due to the inclusion of unlicensed, privately owned, steam-launches, which have not previously figured in the returns.
The actual number of individual Ocean Vessels of European Construction entering during 1908 was 745, being 365 British and 380 Foreign. The figures in 1907 were respectively 800, 362, and 438.
These 745 ships aggregated 1,824,237 tons. They entered 3,991 times and gave a collective tonnage of 7,452,498 tons, Thus compared with 1907, 55 fewer ships of 36,008 less tons, entered 191 fewer times and gave a collective tonnage decreased by 15,013 tons.