2.—Trade.
10. As pointed out last year, and in many previous years, the figures which used to appear under this heading were as a whole never accurate, and, in some cases, actually misleading. However, in the few items of Import Trade of which substantially accurate details can be given, the following remarks may prove of interest. These items are Coal, Kerosene Oil (including all products of Petroleum), Opium, Morphine, Compounds of Opium, and Sugar.
Coal. Here I find that 1,126,826 tons were imported into the Colony during the year. This shows an increase over the imports of 1908, of 108,083 tons, or 10.6%. This would appear to be due to nothing more phenomenal than an increased demand, and to a general improvement in business and manufactures. It is a curious fact that although the imports of coal have increased to this extent, the shipment of bunker coal in the Colony has decreased. This is due to the fact that an increasing number of vessels, calling at Hong-kong, prefer to take their bunker coal elsewhere, e.g., Japanese and most transpacific liners in Japan, Chinese in Canton—whither a considerable quantity of coal passes through Hongkong in transit—and many vessels on the home run at Singapore, &c. This may be due in part to the fear of detention in Hongkong, enhanced by the prevalence of typhoons of late years.
Kerosene Oil.—Decreases are shown in all classes of this product, viz.:—26,235 tons of Bulk Oil, 3,853 tons of Case Oil, and 9,493 tons of Liquid Fuel. These decreases are only what might have been expected after the phenomenal increases in 1908, (indeed, my remarks on the subject foreshadowed them), and do not indicate any falling off in the trade. Liquid Fuel has increased considerably (32%) over the figures for 1907—the last normal year.
Opium.—The imports of Raw Opium show a decrease of 6,087 chests, or 11.5 per cent., while the exports declined by 3,620 chests, or 9.7 per cent. During the year 1909, the raw opium trade of the Colony is described by the following figures:—
Stock in hand, 1st January, 1909, 5,808 chests. Imported during the year, 35,794 Total, 41,602 Boiled by Opium Farmer, 1,044 Spurious Opium destroyed, 51 Exported during the year, 35,928 Total, 37,023 Stock remaining on 31st December, 1909, 4,579Of the several varieties of opium exported, Malwa decreased by 343 chests, or 6.1 per cent., Patna by 1,074 chests, or 78 per cent., Benares by 1,223 chests, or 12.6 per cent., Persian by 410 chests, or 1 per cent., while no Turkish opium was either imported or exported, and Chinese opium has never formed any appreciable part of the trade of the Colony. It is obvious from the above figures that the supply does not meet the demand, as 1,800 more chests were...
D&
2.-Trade.
10. As pointed out last year, and in rany previous years, the figures which used to appear under this Leading vere as a whole never accurate, and, in some cases, actual y n isleading. However, in the few items of Import Trade of which substantially accurate details can be given, the following remarks may prove of interest. These items are Coal, Kerosene Oil (including all products of Petroleum), Opium, Morphine, Compounds of Opium, and Sugar.
Coal. Here I find that 1,126,826 tons were imported into the Colony during the year. This shows an increase over the imports of 1908, of 108,083 tons, or 10.6 %. This would appear to be due to nothing more phenomenal than an increased demand, and to a general improvement in business and manufactures. It is a curicus fact that although the imports of ccal bave increased to this extent, the shipment of bunker coal in the Colony has decreased. This is due to the fact that an increasing number of vessels, calling at Hong- kong, prefer to take their bunker coal else here, eg, Japanese and most transpacific liaers in Japan, Chinese in Canton-whither a considerable quantity of coal pisses through Hongkong in transit- and many vessels on the home run at Singapore. &c. This may be due in part to the fear of detention in Hongkong, enhanced by the prevalence of typhoons of late years.
Kerosene Oil.--Decreases are shown in all classes of this product, viz. :-26,235 tons of Bu`k Oil, 3 853 tons of Case Oil, and 9,493 tons of Liquid Fuel. These decrcases are only what might have been expected after the phenomenal increases in 1908, (indeed, my remarks on the subject foreshadowed them), and do not indicate any falling off in the tra-lo. Liquid Fuel has increased consider- ably-(32%) over the figures for 1907-the last normal year.
Opium.-The imports of Raw Opium show a decrease of 6.087 chests, or 115 per cent. while the exports declined by 3,620 chests, or 97 per cent. During the year 1909, the raw opium trade of the Colony is described by the following figures :-
Stock in hand, 1st January, 1909, Imported during the year,
5,808 chests. 35,794
15
Total,
41,542
Boiled by Opium Farmer,
1,044
Spurious Opium destroyed,
Exported during the year,
51 35,928
19
3?
Total,
Stock remaining on 31st December, 1909,..
37 033 4,500
Of the several varieties of opium exported, dialwa decreased by 343 chests, or 61 per cent., Patna by 1074 chests, or 78 pr ceat, Benares by 1.223 chests, or 126 per cent., Persian by 410 chests, or 1 per cent, while no Turkish opium was either imported or exported, and Chinese opium has never formed any appreciable part of the trade of the Colony. It is obvious from the above figures that the supply does not meet the demand, as 1,800 more chests were
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