9
Emigration and Immigration.
Seventy-seven thousand four hundred and thirty (77,430) Emigrants left Hongkong for various places during the year 1909. Of these 52,923 were carried in British ships and 24,507 in Foreign ships. These figures show an increase, compared with those for 1908, of 6,349 (or 8.93%), which may be accounted for by the return of the business to normal conditions, and to the resumption of emigration to Banka and Billiton.
It may be well to note the increasing proportion of Emigrants carried in Foreign vessels. This appears to be due to the increasing numbers going to Hawaii, who can only travel in United States ships, as well as to the resumption of emigration to the Dutch Indies, which is carried in Dutch vessels.
One hundred and forty-four thousand eight hundred and twenty-one (144,821) returning emigrants are reported to have been brought to Hongkong from the several places to which they had emigrated, either from this Colony or from Coast Ports, as against 157,809 in 1908. Of these 109,633 arrived in British ships, and 35,188 in Foreign ships.
(b.) INDUSTRIES.
(Under European Management.)
Engineering and Shipbuilding.-This is one of the most important industries in the Colony. The principal establishments are the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ld., and the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co., Ld. There are a number of smaller yards, some under European and others under Chinese management, which do a large amount of work.
The Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company is an old established company. The establishment is equipped with six dry docks, the largest of which is 700 feet in length with an entrance breadth of 86 feet and a depth over sill of 30 feet; two patent slips and workshops fitted with the most modern appliances for every class of constructional and general engineering work including locomotives and railway rolling stock.
The Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company is a newly established company. The establishment possesses a dry dock 787 feet in length with breadth of 88 feet and depth over sill of 34 feet 6 inches, besides three slipways and engine and boiler shops capable of dealing with the heaviest classes of engines. Two vessels of over 13,000 tons (gross) each were docked by this company during the year.
The building yard is laid out with furnaces and plant suitable for building vessels up to 20,000 tons.
The depression which existed in 1908 in this industry was continued during the year under review.
Sugar Refining.-The year 1909 was a favourable one for the Sugar Refining Industry of the Colony as there was a good demand in the China markets throughout that period, and in consequence of a general advance in sugar all over the world a satisfactory margin of profit was obtainable.
9
Emigration and Immigration.
Seventy-seven thousand four hundred and thirty (77,430) Emigrants left Hongkong for various places during the year 1909. Of these 52,923 were carried in British ships and 24,507 in Foreign ships. These figures show an increase, compared with those for 1908, of 6,349 (or 893 %), which may be accounted for by the return of the business to normal conditions, and to the resumption of emigration to Banka and Billiton.
It may be well to note the increasing proportion of Emigrants carried in Foreign vessels. This appears to be due to the increasing numbers going to Hawaii, who can only travel in United States ships, as well as to the resumption of emigration to the Dutch Indies, which is carried in Dutch vessels.
One hundred and forty-four thousand eight hundred and twenty-one (144,821) returning emigrants are reported to have been brought to Hongkong from the several places to which they had emigrated, either from this Colony or from Coast Ports, as against 157,809 in 1908. Of these 109,633 arrived in British ships, and 35,188 in Foreign ships.
(b.) INDUSTRIES.
(Under European Management.)
Engineering and Shipbuilding.-This is one of the most impor- tant industries in the Colony. The principal establishments are the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ld., and the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co., Ld. There are a number of smaller yards, some under European and others under Chinese management, which do a large amount of work.
The Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company is an old estab- lished company. The establishment is equipped with six dry docks. the largest of which is 700 feet in length with an entrance breadth of 86 feet and a depth over sill of 30 feet; two patent slips and work- shops fitted with the most modern appliances for every class of con- structional and general engineering work including locomotives and railway rolling stock.
The Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company is a newly established company. The establishment possesses a dry dock 787 feet in length with breadth of 88 feet and depth over sill of 34 feet 6 inches besides three slipways and engine and boiler shops capable of dealing with the heaviest classes of engines. Two vessels of over 13,000 tons (gross) each were docked by this company during the
year.
The building yard is laid out with furnaces and plant suitable for building vessels up to 20,000 tons.
The depression which existed in 1908 in this industry was continued during the year under review.
Sugar Refining.-The year 1909 was a favourable one for the Sugar Refining Industry of the Colony as there was a good demand in the China markets throughout that period, and in consequence of a general advance in sugar all over the world a satisfactory margin of profit was obtainable.
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