E 13
extracted for profit purposes made possible by the depreciated state of Canton currency.
43. The demand for monthly and annual issues of the Trade Returns showed a further increase, stocks held by the Statistical Office and the Government Printers being exhausted in several instances, despite the printing of additional copies.
44. In June the Statistical Office was removed from the Beaconsfield Arcade premises which were immediately afterwards demolished, to the first floor of No. 18, Johnston Road, the building formerly known as the Seamen's Institute. The change-over has proved satisfactory in every way, but on account of the comparative inaccessibility of the Wanchai Office to the majority of firms which are located in the Central and Western districts, a branch receiving office was established on the ground floor of the Fire Brigade Building, in Connaught Road, Central.
45. In order to estimate with greater accuracy the actual volume of the trade of the Colony than is possible by a statement of values only, an index figure was constructed, taking the year 1931 as a base. Two hundred and two articles including the commonest which could be enumerated by quantity were selected. The comparison is given below.
1931 Base year equals 100 compared with 100 by value
1932 92.3 >" 89.9 by value
1933 89.1 73.2 by value.
28th February, 1934.
J. D. LLOYD,
Superintendent.