STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 151
Attempts have been made to introduce sulphur, rhubarb, coarse china, earthenware, and other items; but the demand was not of such nature as to make the speculators desirous to revisit our ports. Where imports, however, find no customer, exports cannot be expected to be much coveted as long as bullion alone will purchase them.
4. The whole Chinese marine commerce appears to approach a great crisis. The keenest Chinese merchants are convinced that our ships can carry goods cheaper and safer than their junks, and that merchandize of any value is better put on board of them. This will throw the carrying trade of the dearest articles into our hands, and most goods will be brought up from the Indian Archipelago in British bottoms on Chinese account, and proceed directly to the ports of their destination without touching here or elsewhere. We might have had otherwise a considerable emporium here for the Straits produce, but this change has prevented it. A few junks that touched at Victoria to buy these articles were obliged to proceed to other ports to get a cargo, whilst others that wished to collect the exports for the Archipelago, could not find a sufficient quantity on the spot, and had to send to Canton to purchase them.
4. As a great drawback upon our commercial prosperity, we may mention the absence of respectable Chinese firms, and especially of Chin Cheu merchants. Up to the present moment no man possessing a considerable property has ventured to engage in the Hong-Kong trade, or to establish a house on the island. To the repeated questions put to men of substance why they did not carry on their business under a free government, with full protection of their property, the answer has always been, that it was more advantageous at Canton, or other large cities, and would not answer at Hong-Kong. We must, certainly, make some allowance for the colony being still in a state of infancy, but yet the living in the same settlement with the large English houses, and the having nothing to fear from the rapacity of the mandarins, ought to be a great inducement for large Chinese merchants to come and reside at Victoria. After all the endeavours to fix a colony of Chin Cheu merchants in our possessions, men who are the soul of the whole commerce in the Indian Archipelago, matters remain as they were before. The privileges assigned to them by the government, and the facilities afforded, have not made them willing to repair to this place; and yet in our Straits colonies they come of their own accord, and are only too happy to amass wealth under the British flag which does not allow extortions. Even at Macao, there have been for many years back three very respectable houses, the managing members of which came over to Hong Kong to ascertain whether they could not here do some business and establish a branch or remove entirely. But, after long investigation, they gave up the idea. There appears to exist a fear of laying out money without a moral certainty of the returns, and as the trade has first to be created, there is no prospect yet of securing a large profit.
With all its disadvantages, Hong-Kong possesses likewise great facilities. Though situated in a corner of the empire, many junks, on their passage to the various southern ports, pass here. Auctions being of frequent occurrence, many articles are sold at a far reduced rate from what they would fetch in other places; and there are a number of small dealers who constantly speculate in such transactions, and sell a great deal to these vessels. Thus there has existed for a long while a small trade as far as single sales are concerned, but a large one when the whole is summed up, without even the knowledge of our own merchants, and beneath the notice of our great houses. This is still carried on with great spirit, and should the percentage on auctions be taken off would likely grow more brisk. Long before a junk from Canton, on her way up to the northern ports arrives here, orders are given to brokers to attend the sales and provide the cargo, and there is always a probability that the purchases will be cheaper than at Canton. The boats which come from the neighbouring cities do likewise much business in this way, and frequently invest the returns of the goods sold at this place in manufactures thus obtained.
The salt trade is the most flourishing of all the branches, and entirely in the hands of the natives.
The people that bring it hither come from Taechoo, Haehong, and Tamshuy, in the neighbourhood of which places there are extensive flats, often overflowed by the sea, and useless for all other purposes, except to collect in pans the salt, by the evaporation of the brine, which has been left. As it is, when boiled, much cheaper than the salt produced in the interior, and, moreover, not subject to the gabello, it finds at Hong-Kong a ready sale, for salting fish and for taking it illegally up to Canton.
Next to it the stone trade is deserving our attention. The only produce of Hong-Kong, for exportation, is granite, and, though a very contemptible article, still it employs many hands, a great number of boats, each about 70 to 100 tons, and some capital. There are seldom less than a hundred of the above craft which monthly leave this with a full cargo for the interior; and it is considered a profitable trade, because stone blocks are constantly in demand, and will always fetch a good price in proportion as buildings are in course of erection.
The fisheries carried on from Aberdeen and Stanley are in a flourishing condition, and consequently, also, the trade in salt fish, which the mass of the people use generally for seasoning their rice. How many smacks belong to these places has never been ascertained; but at New Year, when they make up the accounts with their partners and owners, the harbours are full of them. It would be well to inquire into the tonnage, and issue regular passes to these boats.
For some months past small vessels have been clearing out for Haenam, Teen-pak, and the west coast of Kwang Tung province in general. They take a good quantity of raw cotton, and, likewise, opium, and carry on a thriving commerce.
The junks that pass the harbour come principally from Teochco and Hachong districts in Kwang Tung, and from Chio-po and Chaongan in Fokien.
77
1841-1886
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 151
Attempts have been made to introduce sulphur, rhubarb, coarse china, earthenware, and other items; but the demand was not of such nature as to make the speculators desirous to revisit our ports. Where imports, however, find no customer, exports cannot be expected to bo much coveted as long as bullion alone will purchase them.
4. The whole Chinese marine commerce appears to approach a great crisis.. The keenest Chinese merchants are convinced that our ships can carry goods cheaper and safer than, their junks, and that merchandize of any value is better put on board of them. This will throw the carrying trade of the dearest articles into our hands, and most goods will be brought up from the Indian Archipelago in British bottoms on Chinese account, and proceed directly to the ports of their destination without touching hore or elsewhere. We might have had otherwise a consider- able emporium here for the Straits produce, but this change has prevented it. A few junks that touched at Victoria to buy these articles were obliged to proceed to other ports to get a cargo, whilst others that wished to collect the exports for the Archipelago, could not find a sufficient quantity on the spot, and had to send to Canton to purchase them.
4. As a great drawback upon our commercial prosperity, we may mention the absence of respectable Chinese firms, and especially of Chin Cheu merchants.. Up to the present moment no man possessing a considerable property has ventured to engage in tlie. Hong-Kong trade, or to establish a house on the island." To the repeated questions put to men of substance why they did not carry on their business under a free government, with full protection of their property, the answer has always been, that it was more advantageous at Canton, or other large cities, and would not answer at Hong-Kong. We must, certainly, make some allowance for the colony being still in a state of infancy, but yet the living in the same settlement with the large English houses, and the having nothing to fear from the rapacity of the mandarins, ought to be a great inducement for large Chinese merchants to come and reside at Victoria. After all the endeavours to fix a colony of Chin Cheu merchants in our possessions, men who are the soul of the whole commerce in the Indian Archipelago, matters remain as they were before. The privileges assigned to them by the government, and the facilities afforded, have not made them willing to repair to this place; and yet in our Straits colonies they come of their own accord, and are only too happy to amass wealth under the British flag which does not allow extortions. Even at Macao, there have been for many years back three very respectable houses, the managing members of which came over to Hong Kong to ascertain whether they could not here do some business and establish a branch or remove entirely. But, after long investigation, they gave up the idea. There appears to exist a fear of laying out money without a moral certainty of the returns, and as the trade has first to be created, there is no prospect yet of securing a large profit.
,
With all its disadvantages, Hong-Kong possesses likewise great facilities. Though situated in a corner of the empire, many junks, on their passage to the various southern ports, pass here. Auctions being of frequent occurrence, many articles are sold at a far reduced rate from what they would fetch in other places; and there are a number of small dealers who con- stantly speculate in such transactions, and sell a great deal to these vessels. Thus there has existed for a long while a small trade as far as single sales are concerned, but a large one when the whole is summed up, without even the knowledge of our own merchants, and beneath the notice of our great houses. This is still carried on with great spirit, and should the per 'centage on auctions be taken off would likely grow more brisk. Long before a junk from Canton, on her way up to the northern ports arrives herr, orders are given to brokers to attend the sales and provide the cargo, and there is always a probability that the purchases will be choaper than at Canton. The boats which come from the neighbouring cities do likewiso much business in this way, and frequently invest the returns of the goods sold at this place in manufactures thus obtained.
The salt trade is the most flourishing of all the branches, and entirely in the hands of the natives.
The people that bring it hither come from Taechoo, Haehong, and Tamshuy, in the neigh- bourhood of which places their are extensive flats, often overflowed by the sea, and useless for all other purposes, except to collect in pans the salt, by the evaporation of the brine, which has been left. As it is, when boiled, much cheaper than the salt produced in the interior, and, moreover, not subject to the gabello, it finds at Hong-Kong a ready sale, for salting fish and for taking it illegally up to Canton.
Next to it the stono trade is deserving our attention. The only produce of Hong-Kong, for exportation, is granite, and, though a very contemptible article, still it employs many hands, a great number of boats, each about 70 to 100 tons, and some capital. There are seldom less than a hundred of the above craft which monthly leave this with a full cargo for the interior; and it is considered a profitable trade, because stono blocks are constantly in demand, and will always fetch a good price in proportion as buildings are in course of erection.
The fisheries carried on from Aberdeen and Stanley are in a flourishing condition, and con- sequently, also, the trade in salt fish, which the mass of the people use generally for seasoning their rice. Ilow many smacks belong to these places has never been ascertained; but at New Year, when they make up the accounts with their partners and owners, the harbours are full of them. It would be well to inquire into the tonnage, and issue regular passes to these boats.
For some months past small vessels have been clearing out for Haenam, Teen-pak, and the west coast of Kwang Tung province in goneral. They take a good quantity of raw cotton, and, likewise, opium, and carry on a thriving commerce.
The junks that pass the harbour come principally from Teochco and Hachong districts in Kwang Tung, and from Chio-po and Chaongan in Fokien.
77
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