(b.) INDUSTRIES.
During 1906 the decline in the selling prices of Sugar continued as the local refineries had to face keeu competition in all markets. The amount of sugar refined was also much less than in 1905.
1905.
1900.
Increase.
Decrease.
Beans...
2,113
Coal,
1,083.987
3,860 971,365
1,247
112,622
Cotton Yarn and Cotton,
32,949
41,871
8,922
Flour,
54.508
79,635
25,127
Hemp.
26,784
23,356
3,428
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The following Table in which the figures represent tonnage, shows the principal articles of import in the year 1906 tu vessels of European construction, compared with similar returns for 1905 :--
Articles,
7
Was
The total Revenue collected by the Harbour Department during the year $274,008.78 as against $302,787.76 (including $2,220 collected under the Sugar Convention Ordinance) collected in the previous year, showing a decrease of $28,778.98 :-
1. Light Dues,
2. Licences and Internal Revenue,
..$ 77,722.04
61,748.33 134,533.21
5.20
Total,...
.$274,008.78
3. Fees of Court and Office,
4. Miscellaneous Receipts,
Kerosine (bulk),
43,411
43,932
521
(case),
74.506
28,037
45,569
Liquid Fuel,
850
5,850
5,000
Lead,
800
800
Opium,
2,083
3.286
303
Rattan,
3,430
12.531
9,101
Rice,..
Sandalwood,.
566,171 3,386
624,369
58,198
Salphur,
2,561 100
825
Sagar,
Tea....
311,787 900
482,178
100 170,391
900
Timber...
66.324
General,
1,594,802
52.242 1,653,604
14,082
58,742
Total,
3,869,751
4,029,177
337,652
178,226
Transit,
3,415,418
2,878,360
Grand Total, ...
7,285,169
0,907,537
337,652
Nett..
537,058
715,281
377,082
During the year 1906, 15,519 vessels of European construction of 19,793,354 tons (net register), reported having carried 9,759,648 tons of Cargo, as follows:-
Import Cargo,.
Export
"
Transit
>>
Bunker Coal shipped,..
..4,029,177 tous. ..2,163,344 .2,878,300 688,767
1
27
31
9,759,648 tons,
In Imports there is an increase reported of 159,426 tons.
In Exports there is a decrease reported of 232,861 tons.
In Transit Cargo there is a decrease reported of 537,058 tons.
In Bunker Coat there is an increase of 24,349 tons.
The total reported Import Trade of the Port for 1906 amounted to 22,408 vessels of 11,249,233 tous carrying 7,372,075 tons of cargo of which 4,493,715 tons were dis charged at Hongkong. This does not include the number, tonnage, or cargo of vessels in
Local Trade.
Similarly, the Export Trade from the Port was represented by 22,142 vessels of 11,203,844 tons, carrying 2,778,441 tons of cargo, and shipping 690,689 tons of bunker coal.
Seventy-six thousand seven hundred and twenty-five (76,725) emigrants left Hongkong for various places during the year. Of these 63,830 were carried by British Ships and 12,895 by Foreign Ships; 134,912 were reported as having been brought to Hongkong from places to which they had emigrated, and of these, 105,780 were brought in British Ships and 25,586 by Foreign Ships.
The demand for Yara was most unsatisfactory during the greater part of 1906, and the local Cotton Mill worked on an average only 4 days a week during the whole year, with very disappointing results.
There was a strong demand throughout the year for Cement, and the local factory was kept fully employed. Two more rotary kilns are now being added at the "Green Island" Company's works at Hok Ün which will bring the output up to over 400 tous a day.
The profits of the Rope Factory at Kennedy Town were slightly higher than in 1905, but the business was restricted both by the high price of raw material at Manila and the rise in exchange.
The Engineering and Shipbuilding trade remained normal during the first half of 1906, but the disastrous typhoon of the 18th September which wrought great havoc among the Shipping in harbour at the time, kept the Dockyards working at full pressure for the re- mainder of the year.
Four hundred and forty-nine (449) vessels of 1,063,454 tons and 70 launches, lighters, &c., were docked and repaired, compared with 412 vessels of 975,174 tons and 43 lighters, launches, &c., in 1905. Of the vessels damaged, sunk, or stranded in the typhoon all, with three exceptions, were repaired locally. Of the three exceptions, one was sold to Japanese owners in her damaged condition, one has been salved and is awaiting contracts for repair, while the third still remains strandel, all endeavours to get the vessel off, having, so far, failed.
Forty-two Steam-launches and other vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 7,634 were built during the year.
A new and important industry, the Hongkong Milling Company, situated at Junk Bay in the New Territories, was inaugurated at the end of the year, the premises including reclama- tion, erection of buildings and installation of machinery, having been completed in a period of less than twenty months. The mill, which is of the very latest design and is under European management, is capable of turning out 8,000 bags of flour a day. The demand for the Hour is far in excess of this amount and it is contemplated to double the capacity of the mill during 1907.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deep- sea fishing, in which pursuit a large number of junks are engaged. The villages of Aberdeen, Stanley, Shaukiwan, and many others in the New Territories are largely dependent upon this industry for their prosperity. Fresh water fish is imported from Canton and the West River. There are oyster beds of considerable value in Deep Bay.
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