D 9
Flour. Here our returns show the enormous falling off of 26,279 tons, or 44.9%. This was due to the virtual cessation of the flour trade in the Colony during the first six months of the year, owing to high prices of American flour, and the competition of the Shanghai Mills, which shipped their products direct to Chinese ports, instead of to Hongkong, for distribution. Matters improved during the last six months, owing to the Shanghai Mills being short of wheat, while such as they had was of poor quality. The result was a recrudescence of trade with Hongkong on the part of Canton, Amoy, Foochow, &c., which ports had previously been served by Shanghai, and the import of American flour immediately recommenced, in unusually large quantities.
Rice. There is a very considerable increase in this item of 183,662 tons, or 33.9%, added to the decrease of 25 per cent. last year. This is undoubtedly due to the almost total failure of the Chinese first crops, owing to the continued drought in the spring and summer, and to the partial failure of the second crop in parts of Kwangtung. The demand for Saigon and Bangkok rice was consequently unusually large, and the supply was equal to the demand. However, during November shipments declined, because the local supply was sufficient for the needs of the districts. In December, shipments increased, owing to renewed demands from the interior.
11. The total reported Imports during the year amounted to 4,298,194 tons as against 4,195,968 tons in 1909, an increase of 102,226 tons, or 2.4%. Exports also show an increase, of 23,000 tons, or 10.2%. Transit cargo shows a decrease, of 12,039 tons, or 0.3%. These figures are not, however, reliable, there being no means of collecting accurate information, in the absence of any Customs Staff.
The number and tonnage of ships of European type of construction carrying cargo for import and transit, compared with 1909, was as follows:-
1909 1910 INCREASE No. Tonnage. No. Tonnage. No. Tonnage. Steamers, 4,191 7,778,693 4,276 8,095,184 85 316,491 River Steamers, 3,576 2,218,977 3,910 2,354,268 334 135,291 Sailing Vessels, 7 17,683 8 17,801 1 118 Total, 7,774 10,015,353 8,194 10,467,253 420 451,900 Increase, 420 451,900