CO129-279 - Public Offices - 1897 — Page 392

KIUNGCHOW.

3

388

Rates of exchange.

Hardly any

statistics of junk trade available.

Total values. Steamer trade,

Junk trade.

Imports. Foreign

opium.

2

CHINA.

TABLE of Contents-continued.

PAGR

Transit trade

5

Shipping

5

British..

5

Foreign..

5

Chinese flag and sailing vessels not seen here

Emigration

6

Straits and Siam passenger trade

6

British passenger steamers

Hong-Kong passenger trade..

6

6

7 to 9

Conclusion

Tables I, II, III, and IV

The rates of exchange which are employed in this report for the conversion into sterling of the Haikwan tael values given in the returns of the Imperial Maritime Customs are 3s. 4d. per Haikwan tael for 1896, 3s. 34d. for 1895, and 3s. 2 d. for 1894. These returns furnish the only statistice of the trade of the port, and the figures given hereafter are almost entirely based upon

them.

The tables appended to this report refer entirely to the trade in vessels of foreign type, as no statistics are as a rule obtainable of the considerable junk trade that is carried ou at this port. The chief exception to the latter remark is that certain particulars relating to the junk trade of Hoihow, or Hainan generally, can be obtained from the customs returns of the trade of Kowloon (Hong- Kong) and Lappa (Macao).

There was a very satisfactory increase in the total trade of this port during the year under review compared with 1895; though the figures of the trade for 1894 were not reached, except in the case of exports, which were of about the same value in the two years. The net total imports from abroad amounted to 244,6097. Gs. Sd, in value, and from Chinese ports to 2997. 10s. Od. Produce of local origin was exported to foreign countries to the value of 210,3007. 16s. 8d. and to Chinese ports to the value of 4,8211. 38. 4d. The net total value of the trade of the port was thus 460,030 16s. 8d., the corresponding value for 1895 being 390,0751. 38. 6d., and for 1894 495,8722

The total value of the goods of foreign origin brought to Hoihow by junk from Hong-Kong was only 32. in 1896, against 3641. 48. 2d in 1895. On the other hand, 1,605%. 68. 8d. worth of foreign goods were imported from Macao in this way and 1,3837, 8s. Od. worth in 1895. Junks brought to Hoihow in 1896 1,1107. Gs. 8d. worth of native produce from Swatow, 6067, worth from Macao, and 81. 3s. 4d. worth from Hong-Kong; there were also considerable shipments by native craft from Hong-Kong and Macao to several places within the trading area of this port; including 1,8001. worth of paddy and rice sent from Hong-Kong to Chikhom on the Leichow peninsula opposite this island.

There was a considerable increase in the quantity of foreign opium imported by steamer during 1896, being 435 ewts. 10 lbs., worth 31,5274. Gs. 8d., as compared with 388 cwts. 87 lbs. worth

28,2907. 88. 4d during 1895. This came almost entirely by way of Hong-Kong. No opium was re-exported during 1896, whereas 42 cwts. 19 lbs., wortli 3,245/. 16s. 3d., were sent back to Hong- Kong in 1895. Besides the above, 88 ewts. 36 lbs. of foreign opium, entirely Patna, were imported into Hainan ports during 1896 by junk from Macao, the figures for 1895 being 58 cwts. 84 lbs, considerably less; but for 1894 94 cwts. 80 lbs., only a little more than in 1896. No opium was brought from Hong-Kong during any of these years. Putting the above figures together, the net import of foreign opium into the island of Hainan was 523 cwts. 46 Ils, in 1896 and 405 ewis. 40 lbs. in 1895,

No native opium was passed through the foreign customs in Native opiam. the year under review. I have been informed that the total import last year was about 800 cases, each weighing 48 lbs., of Yunnan, Kweichow and Kwangsi opium, and a few pounds only of Ssuch'wan opium. The last variety is said to be not liked here.

The following remarks on the various kinds of native opium on Varieties, this market may be of interest.

price, &c.

Three kinds of Yunnan opium are imported; the first in balls weighing from 4 to 8 ozs., another, also in balls, but much larger, weighing between 18 and 30 ozs., and the third in cubes, wrapped up in bamboo leaves, measuring about 3 inches by 24 inches by 24 inches, and weighing about 1 lb. The last kind is said to be "milder" than the others, the first kind being the one generally preferred for smoking. All three kinds cost 31 c. per Chinese ounce (1 oz. av.).

The opium which comes from Kweichow province is practically similar in all respects to the Yunan opium.

Kwangsi opium is made up in the same way as Yünnan opium, but is a little cheaper, costing about 30 c. per Chinese ounce.

There is only one kind of Ssuch wan opium imported, namely large balls weighing 40 to 66 ozs. It is very soft-like mud, the Chinese say--and is not considered as good as the Yunnan, Kweichow and Kwangsi varieties. It costs 29 or 30 c. per Chinese

onice,

Yünnan, Kweichow, and Ssuch'wan opium come here by junk Trade routes from Pakhoi. Kwangsi opium comes either the same way as the of native others or by junk from the small ports to the north-east of the "pium. Leichow peninsula.

There is a considerable rise to be noted in the import of Kerosenc. American kerosene compared with 1895, and a corresponding fall in the quantity of Russian kerosene. The import of Sumatran oil remained pretty steady. The weight of the tins in all three cases is similar, and the Russian oil is even 5 or 10 c. a tin cheaper; but the Chinese say the American oil is better, as it has a bluish colour, the Russian being reddish. They say, moreover, that the Russian tins are not so good as the American tins, and oil is frequently lost through leakage.

Besides the 634,690 gallons of kerosene shown in Table II as Import by being imported during 1896, 1,080 gallons were brought to Hoihow, junk. and 12,740 gallons to Tamehow, 70 miles distant, by junk from

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