68
them in the interior at a more advantageous rate than the small traders at Canton ever do. This is a very numerous class, the boats ply constantly between this colony and their respective native places. Individually they possess little capital; their dealings are beneath the notice of a British merchant, but could the whole be summed up, it would be something very large, though being very profitable, their numbers have considerably increased, and are likely to do so in the future. The market supplies have in consequence become as abundant, and various as those of the largest cities in Europe. A corresponding increase of fast-boats who trade to this port periodically has also taken place, and the local Government has not, as formerly, thrown obstacles in the way.
A great drawback upon this small trade, is the absence of capitalists here. Many men of desperate fortunes arrive and engage in dangerous speculations in order to obtain credit, and suddenly abscond after having sold the goods entrusted to them at a ruinous rate. There are others who early realize a fair profit, but withdraw from the colony as soon as they have accumulated a few thousand dollars, never to appear again, except to recruit their finances for another venture. There exists no local attachment, which may be ascribed to the absence of respectable families born on the island, with which the adventurers could contract marriages. As long as their relations live elsewhere, they will look upon Hong Kong as a mere temporary abode which they may abandon and revisit at pleasure, to suit their convenience.
This is a most serious obstacle to the increase of trade, though it cannot be charged to local arrangements made during our occupation
68
them in the interior at
a. more
advantageous
rate than the small traders at: Canton
ever do. This is a very numerous
very
CANI
class, the
boats ply constantly beleocen this bolony and their respective native places. Individually they possess little capital_; __ their dealings
are
beneath the notice of a British merchant, but could the whole be summed up, it
would be something very large, through the
being very profitable, their
year.
The returns
numbers have consid
considerably
likely
to do so
in
increased, and are
- future. The market supplies
have in consequence become as abundant, and
various ot
the
of large
those of the largest cities in Expire. A conresponding increase fast-boats who trade to this port periodically has also taken place, and the local-
Government has not as formerly thrown-
obstacles
in
the
way.
A great drawback upon this
smakt trade, is the absence of capitalists.
here,
2536
Many
men of desperate fortunes
3.
arrive
engage in dangerous speculations in orders to obtain credit, and suddenly abscond after
having sold. they
goo
e goods
entrusted to their
at a ruinous rate. There
are o
others who
carly
realize a fair profit, but withdraw from the bolony
as soon as
a.
they have accumulated.
to appear again,
few thousand dollars, never except to recruit . their finances
venture. There exists no
which
may
on a mu
local attachment,
be ascribed to the absence of
respectable families born on the island,
with which the adventurers could contract.
marriages. As long
as their relations live-
elsewhere, they with look upon Hongking abode which they
as a mere
may
temporary
abandon and revisit at pleasure, to
suits their
convenience.
This is a most
serious obstacle to the increase
of trade,
though it cannot be charged to local. : ts made during arrangements
our
occupation
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