1934 — Page 432

430

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STATISTICAL OFFICE REPORT ON THE TRADE OF

HONG KONG DURING THE YEAR 1934,

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暨中中

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I. General

II. Imports & Exports Review

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III. Quarterly Values of Imports & Exports for years 1923-1934, in £s and $8

IV. Treasure Movements

V. Import Percentages, by Countries

VI. Total Values of Imports during years 1923-1934, by Countries

VII. Total Values of Exports during years 1923-1934, by Countries

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VIII. Total Values of Imports & Exports (including Treasure) during 1934, by Countries...

IX. Total Values of Imports & Exports during 1934, by Main Groups

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X. Total Values of Imports (excluding Treasure) monthly during 1934, by Countries ...

XI. Total Values of Exports (excluding Treasure) monthly during 1934, by Countries

XII. Total monthly Values of Imports, by Main Groups

XIII. Total monthly Values of Exports, by Main Groups

XIV. Imports & Exports by Main Groups and Countries

XV.

Wholesale Price Index

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$ 9

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$ 10

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$ 36

As anticipated at the close of the year 1933 the visible trade of the Colony during the year 1934 showed a still further decline, with little or no promise of any recovery in the immediate future.

2. The gloomy state of trade during the year was largely due to the still further diminished purchasing power of China, accentuated by tariff barriers, particularly in the adjacent province of Kwangtung.

3. The declared values of imports of merchandise during 1934 totalled $415.9 millions (£31.7 millions), as compared with $500.9 millions (£33.9 millions) in 1933, and exports amounted to $325.1 millions (€24.8 millions), as compared with $403.1 millions (£27.4 millions).

4. In terms of Hong Kong currency imports during 1984 declined 17.0% as compared with 1933, and 33.3% as compared with 1982, whilst exports declined 19.4% as compared with 1933, and 31.1% as com- pared with 1932.

5. In terms of Sterling values imports declined 6.5% as compared with 1933, and 22.7% as com- pared with 1932, whilst exports declined 9.5% as compared with 1933, and 20.0% as compared with 1932.

6. It is estimated that the quantum of the import trade declined 16.0% as compared with 1938, 19.0% as compared with 1982, and 25.2% as compared with 1931, but, of necessity, the volume of imports into the Colony cannot be calculated accurately on account of the lack of a suitable unit of quantity, and the fact that many commodities are declared by value only.

7. Imports of Treasure totalled $78.1 millions during 1934, as compared with $88.1 millions in 1933, and exports amounted to $128.5 millions as compared with $134.1 millions. The statistics of Tressure movements were adversely affected to a considerable extent by concealed imports of gold which were apparently smuggled out of China into Hong Kong for ultimate export abroad, chiefly to the United Kingdom and U.S.A. During 1984 there was an export excess of gold bars amounting to a value of $56.2 millions, as compared with $82.9 millions in 1983. Towards the close of the year there was a consider- able traffic in Chinese silver dollars, a total of $15.8 millions being exported abroad in the month of December alone.

8. China, Japan, Netherlands East Indies, U.S.A. and British Malaya all increased their shares of the import trade, whilst British Malaya, French Indo-China, Japan, Siam, U.S.A. and the Netherlands East Indies took greater shares of the exports. China accounted for 35.2% of the import trade in 1934, as