CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 155

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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E-CURRENCE:

mit

CPL

yese

The Currency of the Colony remains unchanged. For details, see I (E) of the Blue B Report for 1898, page 3.

Year 1899.

AMOUNT OF PAPER CURRENCY IN CIRCULATION.

Chartered Bank of India, Australia

and China.

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

National Bank of Cuina, Limited.

(5)

The totals in tons of Imports and Exports for the last 5 years are as follows:

Imports,

Exports,

1895.

3,485,504

1896. 3,425,436

2,704,974

2,661,873

In Transit, ...1,623,883

1897.

1898.

1899.

3,414,728 4,077,740 3,915,481 2,787,535 3,015,263 2,949,342 1,845,400 1,852,462 2,020,322 1,957,703

153

The following table shows the Imports and Exports of Junks in Foreign and Local trade during 98 and 1899:-

January,

February,

March,

April,

May,

June,

July,

August,

September,

October,...

November,... December,

$ 2,861,846

2,904,785

2,469,637

$ 7,380,937 8,276,109

6,902,870

$

446,085

448,083 448,721

Imports, Exports,

2,705,374

6,864,500

446,892

2,181,212

7,524,192

445,870

The principal exports are kerosine and rice.

2,049,940

7,974.167

446,538

2,053,858

7,245,418

448,800

2,605,052

6,256,547

448,410

2,832,696

6,307,833

447,072

2,966.243

6,779,418

442,294

2,990,414

7,531,433

446,265

2,919,855

7,526,644

444,374

TRADE, AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES.

A-IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

The following table shows the principal articles of Import in the years 1898 and 1899 in ves of European construction:--

Articles.

1898.

..689,251

1899.

..774,069

783,876

945,440

While British goods hold their own in the main with those of foreign manufacture, the following

ems may be specially noted:---

130,4104

2,14

Cements. Very little British Cement is now imported, the Hongkong manufacture being now chiefly used all over the East, with small quantities of Belgian make.

Rope. The local Company's article now entirely supplies the wants of the local market, to the exclusion of other manufactures, and in addition large quantities of the ped to all Eastern Ports, and Australia.

rope is ship-

Coal--Japan imports of Coal supply practically all the local market, both for steamer and manufacturing uses. Cardiff Coal is imported almost solely for Admiralty use.

Matches.--These goods are now imported entirely from Japan; few local companies also make for this market.

Metals. The principal demand in this market is for Belgian Iron owing to its cheap- ness; only small quantities of British are imported in comparison with Belgian. America will doubtless be very soon severe competitors for this trade, the facilities they have for manufacturing allowing them to import their metals as cheaply as from Belgium."

Wire Nails.-These goods up till two years ago were imported entirely from Germany, now the trade is almost entirely done from the United States, their nails being fully as good and cheaper than the German article.

Miscellaneous Articles including Hardware of all kinds, Glass, Cutlery, Beer, Cotton Hosiery and Woollen Goods come almost entirely from Germany, although America is now starting the importation of such also.

B. MINES, MANUFACTURES AND FISHERIES.

1898.

1899.

Increase.

Decrease

Beaus,

$

11,092

*

8,110

8

2.04

Bones,

600

1,800

1,300

Coal,

817,967

687,557

Cotton Yarn and Cotton,

36,011

34,470

Flour,

103,544

101,939

Hemp,

55,160

32,868

29.992

Kerosine (bulk),

67,862

61,027

6,

(case),

59,115

80,588

21.478

Lead,

4,200

6,468

2,268

Liquid Fuel,.....

2,150

2,13

Opium,

2,638

2,775

137

Pitch,

Rattan,

6,441

3,998

2.49

Rico,...

747,995

771,830

24,435

Sandalwood,.

Sulphur,

2,055 535

Sugar,

Tea, Timber, General,

267,422 6,554 46,599

1,282 506 183,162

8.1.260

The principal manufactures are :-

6,287

26

1,151,149

61,110 1,135,828

14,511

10,300

Total,...

3,388,499

Transit, ...

.$

2,020,322

3,181,605

1,957,708

64,124

271,000

62,41

Grand Total..........$ 5,408,811

5,189,808

64,124

333,127

269.500

The import of Coal had increased in an abnormal manner in 1898 which accounts for thei falling off in 1899.

There are no mines in the Colony,

Two large Sugar Refineries the products of which are exported to almost every part of the world. figures are available to show their present position, but they are in a flourishing condition.

A Rope Manufactory which entirely supplies the local market and does a large export business. de rope is made from the best Manila hemp.

A Cement Factory with a branch for the manufacture of bricks and drain pipes. The cement

this Company has practically ousted the British manufactured article from the local market, being for Civil and Military Works of all descriptions and by local engineers, architects and contractors, dis extensively exported to Japan, Manila, Straits Settlements, Australia and Pacific Coast Ports.

e works were originally situated at Macao, but a large extension has now been made in the Colony the output more than doubled. The price per barrel of 375 lbs. nett weight is from $4.00 to

50 (Silver). Bricks and pipes are largely used in the Colony and exported.

A Cotton Mill which so far, however, has hardly realised expectations.

Engineering and shipbuilding firms to the number of 8, which between them constructed 116 sels of various descriptions (principally steam vessels) of an aggregate tonnage of 5,9654 tous,

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