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Nippon Yusen Kaisha, the Blue Funnel Line, the Messageries Maritimes, and several other British and foreign companies maintain regular passenger and freight services between Hong Kong and Europe. The trans-Pacific communications are well served by the Canadian Pacific Steamship Ltd., the Dollar Line, the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and other steamship lines. To Australia three steamship companies, the Eastern and Australian, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and Australian and Oriental maintain regular passenger and freight services. In addition there are direct sailings to Africa, South America, and to New York. There is frequent and regular communication between Hong Kong and other Far Eastern ports in India, Java, Straits Settlements, Formosa, Indo-China, Japan and the China coast. Local steamship communication is by river steamer from Hong Kong to Canton and the West River ports with several sailings daily. In addition there is a vast traffic between Hong Kong and the adjacent provinces of China by junk and sampan.
2. The total shipping entering and clearing ports in the Colony during the year 1936 amounted to 83,571 vessels of 41,731,016 tons which, compared with the figures for 1935 shows a decrease of 11,084 vessels and 1,742,963 tons. Of the above, 40,626 vessels of 40,063,663 tons were engaged in Foreign Trade as compared with 45,553 vessels of 41,487,477 tons in 1935. There was a decrease in British Ocean-going shipping of 476 vessels and 567,247 tons. Foreign Ocean-Going vessels show a decrease of 438 vessels and 169,658 tons. British River Steamers show a decrease of 1,157 vessels and 772,460 tons. Foreign River Steamers show an increase of 508 vessels and 268,521 tons. In Steamships not exceeding 60 tons employed in Foreign Trade there was a decrease of 614 vessels with a decrease in tonnage of 16,393 tons. Junks in Foreign Trade show a decrease of 2,750 vessels with a decrease in tonnage of 166,577 tons. In Local Trade (i.e., between places within the waters of the Colony), there was a decrease in Steam launches of 1,859 vessels with a decrease in tonnage of 92,759 tons. Junks in Local Trade show a decrease of 4,298 vessels, with a decrease in tonnage of 225,390 tons.
3. The Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (British) by means of three cables to Singapore, one direct and one each via Labuan and Cape St. James respectively, provides good connections with Europe via India, with Australia, and with the other British Colonies and Possessions. By their cable to Manila connection is made with the direct American cable, thence to San Francisco. Two cables to Shanghai, belonging respectively to the Eastern Extension and to the Great Northern (Danish) Companies, via Foochow and Amoy respectively, give a good connection with Shanghai, North China, Japan and Russia; the system of the Great Northern Telegraph Company gives a good service to Europe via Asiatic Russia.