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# Chapter VIII.
## WAGES AND THE COST OF LIVING.
A great proportion of the workers in Hong Kong are paid on a piece-work basis and in some trades are engaged and paid on curiously complicated systems involving payment of a bonus or a share in the yearly profits.
The depression in local industries seemed to have reached its lowest ebb at the beginning of the year and during the first nine months there was little, if any, improvement in business.
A number of the smaller knitting and weaving factories closed down altogether and some of the larger factories worked shorter hours. During the last three months, however, various industries, especially those engaged in the manufacture of cigarettes, rubber shoes, felt hats, electric torches, dry batteries and confectionery, began to improve. It is probable that this improvement was mainly due to better export trade consequent upon the fall in value of the local dollar vis-a-vis sterling and there is reason to hope that this improvement will be maintained.
As usual, the knitting and weaving industry has done better business with the approach of the cold season. Joss-stick making has been prosperous for the greater part of the year. A new industry, the making of Bakelite wares, has started but so far the output has been limited to samples. One enterprising rubber factory which had hitherto confined itself to the manufacture of shoes is now making a bid to increase business by making rubber knee-boots and, still more recently, leather shoes, using leather from England and Australia.
The number of factories has maintained its level. In spite of fifty-three having closed down during the year, over sixty new factories have been registered. There are now 506 registered workshops and factories in operation.
Owing to the fact that Chinese who are unable to find employment in the Colony tend to return to their native districts in China it is difficult to form an accurate opinion on the question of unemployment in Hong Kong. There can be little doubt, however, that there has been a slight increase in unemployment during the year and that the average rates of wages for labour, especially for skilled and semi-skilled labour in factories and workshops, have decreased. Wages for unskilled labour do not appear to have suffered to the same extent. A natural corollary of this general decrease in prosperity is that many people who formerly rented rooms and
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Chapter VIII.
WAGES AND THE COST OF LIVING.
A great proportion of the workers in Hong Kong are paid on a piece-work basis and in some trades are engaged and paid on curiously complicated systems involving payment of a bonus or a share in the yearly profits.
The depression in local industries seemed to have reached its lowest ebb at the beginning of the year and during the first nine months there was little, if any, improvement in business.
A number of the smaller knitting and weaving factories closed down altogether and some of the larger factories worked shorter hours. During the last three months, however, various industries, especially those engaged in the manufacture of cigarettes, rubber shoes, felt hats, electric torches, dry batteries and confectionery, began to improve. It is probable that this improvement was mainly due to better export trade consequent upon the fall in value of the local dollar vis-a-vis sterling and there is reason to hope that this improvement will be maintained.
As usual, the knitting and weaving industry has done better business with the approach of the cold season. Joss-stick making has been prosperous for the greater part of the year. A new industry, the making of Bakelite wares, has started but so far the output has been limited to samples. One enterprising rubber factory which had hitherto confined itself to
to the manufacture of shoes is now making a bid to increase business by making rubber knee-boots and, still more recently, leather shoes, using leather from England and Australia.
The number of factories has maintained its level. In spite of fifty-three having closed down during the year, over sixty new factories have been registered. There are now 506 registered workshops and factories in operation.
Owing to the fact that Chinese who are unable to find einployment in the Colony tend to return to their native districts in China it is difficult to form an accurate opinion on the question of unemployment in Hong Kong. There can be little doubt, however, that there has been a slight increase in unemployment during the year and that the average rates of wages for labour, especially for skilled and semi-skilled labour in factories and workshops, have decreased. Wages for unskilled labour do not appear to have suffered to the same extent. A natural corollary of this general decrease in prosperity is that many people who formerly rented rooms and
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