114
8
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
It may not be out of place to draw a comparison here between these figures and those of 20 years ago. In 1888, 2,614 British ships, of 3,265,751 tons, entered the port, against 10,115 ships, of 11,792,752 tons, in 1908. For foreign ships the figures are in 1888, 1,206 ships, of 1,252,862 tons, and in 1908, 5,429 ships, of 8,130,901 tons. These figures are those for ocean and river steamers, which were not distinguished in 1888, and ocean-going sailing ships (not junks).
Since Hong Kong is a free port no accurate returns based on Customs entries can be given of the exports, imports, and goods in transit.
There are, however, certain items of cargo dealt with in the Colony, of which, either from their nature and the circumstances under which they are imported, or from the fact that they are required by law to be specially reported, substantially accurate returns can be given. These items are coal, kerosene oil (which includes all products of petroleum), opium, morphine, compounds of opium, and sugar.
1,018,753 tons of coal were imported during the year. This shows a negligible increase of 13,886 tons (1.3 per cent.) over the imports during 1907.
Of bulk oil 61,818 tons arrived, an increase of 17,938 tons, or 40.8 per cent. This appears to have no special significance, but to be entirely due to the cheap freights ruling and to the installation by the Standard Oil Company of oil tanks at Lai-chi-kok, which required filling.
40,018 tons of case oil arrived, being an increase of 3,289, or 8.9 per cent. over the 1907 figures. Here again the cheap freights were taken advantage of to fill up stocks.
Liquid fuel, which has increased from 3,272 tons in 1907 to 13,832 tons in 1908, was probably affected by the same causes as were bulk and case oil, in addition to which there has been an increased demand for this product owing to more steamers using liquid fuel having visited the Colony during the year.
Although, as has been said, no reliable figures can be given for general cargo, it would appear from returns received that there has been a considerable decline in the imports of rice and flour. The falling off in rice is due to the exceptional crop in northern and central China, as a result of which, prices at Shanghai and the Yangtze ports were lower than in Siam and Annam, and the imports from those countries declined in consequence. It is also stated that the rice merchants of Bangkok instituted a boycott against the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamers (late Scottish Oriental) which monopolise the carrying trade between that port and Hong Kong. The rice trade from the south having now reverted to its usual conditions, I see no reason to doubt that this year will see it restored to its former channels.
Flour shows a large decrease, from 147,000 to 91,000 tons, which appears to be due to the fact that the Colony is ceasing to be the distributing centre for this commodity. Shipments are now made direct from ports on the Pacific Coast of North America to
114
8
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
It may not be out of place to draw a comparison here between these figures and those of 20 years ago. In 1888, 2,614 British ships, of 3,265,751 tons, entered the port, against 10,115 ships, of 11,792,752 tons, in 1908. For foreign ships the figures are in 1888, 1,206 ships, of 1,252,862 tons, and in 1908, 5,429 ships, of 8,130,901 tons. These figures are those for ocean and river steamers, which were not distinguished in 1888, and ocean-going sailing ships (not junks).
Since Hong Kong is a free port no accurate returns based on Customs entries can be given of the exports, imports, and goods
in transit.
There are, however, certain items of cargo dealt with in the Colony, of which, either from their nature and the circumstances under which they are imported, or from the fact that they are required by law to be specially reported, substantially accurate returns can be given. These items are coal, kerosene oil (which includes all products of petroleum), opium, morphine, compounds of opium, and sugar.
1,018,753 tons of coal were imported during the year. This shows a negligible increase of 13,886 tons (1'3 per cent.) over the imports during 1907.
Of bulk oil 61,818 tons arrived, an increase of 17,938 tons, or 40.8 per cent. This appears to have no special significance, but to be entirely due to the cheap freights ruling and to the instal- Iation by the Standard Oil Company of oil tanks at Lai-chi-kok, which required filling.
40,018 tons of case oil arrived, being an increase of 3,289, or 8.9 per cent. over the 1907 figures. Here again the cheap freights were taken advantage of to fill up stocks.
Liquid fuel, which has increased from 3,272 tons in 1907 to 13,832 tons in 1908, was probably affected by the same causes as were bulk and case oil, in addition to which there has been an increased demand for this product owing to more steamers using liquid fuel having visited the Colony during the year.
Although, as has been said, no reliable figures can be given for general cargo, it would appear from returns received that there has been a considerable decline in the imports of rice and flour. The falling off in rice is due to the exceptional crop in northern and central China, as a result of which, prices at Shanghai and the Yangtze ports were lower than in Siam and Annam, and the imports from those countries declined in conse< quence. It is also stated that the rice merchants of Bangkok instituted a boycott against the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamers (late Scottish Oriental) which monopolise the carrying trade between that port and Hong Kong. The rice trade from the south having now reverted to its usual conditions, I see no reason to doubt that this year will see it restored to its former channels.
Flour shows a large decrease, from 147,000 to 91,000 tons, which appears to be due to the fact that the Colony is ceasing to be the distributing centre for this commodity. Shipments are now made -direct from. ports on the Pacific Coast of North America to
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