215
Take the case of Yarn. South China has been purchased by Hongkong dealers and resold to Hai-phong, Canton, Swatow, and other ports. But the Japanese have started selling direct to these places, and as their steamers are able to go direct to these ports, Hongkong also loses the transhipping business. It is also reported that the Hongkong Mill is going past the dealers in Hongkong, and selling direct in the coast ports, and there are instances of sales by European importers to the Agents of Canton and Haiphong firms without the usual intervention of a Hongkong yarn merchant.
As regards Piece goods the dealers in Hongkong are complaining that much of their former business has been taken away by direct importations. The Japanese are said to be the most prominent in this direction, their competition being keenest in Swatow and Amoy. Their goods, principally of a low class, besides cutting into the trade of similar British and Indian productions, are also taking the place of cloths formerly manufactured from Bombay yarn, so that our trade is affected in more than one way. But apart from this Japanese competition there is also an effort being made by certain Hongkong houses to deal direct with Canton, Swatow, Amoy and Foochow. This is in addition to business done direct by firms already established in these ports. The travellers from Manchester and Bradford, who have been coming to China in such numbers of recent years, caused some trouble in the north by selling to Tientsin dealers direct certain goods for which they had already received orders in Shanghai, the Chinese in the latter port expecting to sell their purchases to Tientsin. In consequence double quantities were ordered and the market suffered severely. Something similar is evidently going to happen here, either through the pushfulness of travellers or salesmen. There is at least one recorded instance of a traveller booking orders through the Canton branch of a European firm here, to the annoyance it is said of the Hongkong office. It is certainly a fact that some firms here send their salesmen up regularly to Canton for orders, to the certain loss of such business to the Chinese firms in the colony. Others have acted in a similar way at the Coast ports.
In the case of Flour, as mentioned previously this Colony used to be the distributing centre for a large district, and when the trade of the most out-lying ports left Hongkong it was naturally hoped that Canton, Swatow, and other places near at hand, would certainly be left undisturbed. Large quantities, however, have within the last year been sold direct to Canton dealers, and several lots to those of Swatow. One big Swatow dealer in Flour has now a representative here who buys direct from European houses. It is also reported that the Japanese have done a fair business direct.
In Metals the tendency is not nearly so well marked. Certain Canton men have however visited Hongkong and placed orders direct with Europeans, such business being formerly transacted through Chinese merchants here.
As regards Sundries, such as Singlets, Socks, etc. it is now almost essential for European houses which wish to do a good business in these goods, to deal direct with Canton dealers. Representatives of the various firms in this trade visit that city regularly for the purpose of getting orders, which are becoming larger and more varied as time goes on.
The above are some of the principal branches of merchant business carried on between Hongkong and China; it may be that others would show a similar tendency.
With regard to Manila, which place Hongkong formerly supplied with goods of all classes, a falling off is particularly noticeable. This may be due to some extent to the fact that the American mail steamers run a service now calling at that port, giving
-3-
215
Take the case of Yarı. South China has been purchased by Hongkong dealers and resold to Hai- Hitherto all yarn intended for phong, Canton, Swatow, and other ports. But the Japanese have started selling direct to these places, and as their steamers are able to go direct to these ports, Hongkong also loses the transhipping business. It is also reported that the Hongkong Mill is going past the dealers in Hongkong, and selling direct in the coast ports, and there aro instances of sales by European importers to the Agents of Canton and Haiphong firms without the usual intervention of a Hongkong yarn mer- chant.
As regards Piece foods the dealers in Hongkong are complaining that much of their former business has been taken away by direct importations. The Japanese are said to be the most prominent in this direction, their competition being keanest in Swatow and Amoy. Their goods, principally of a low class, besides cutting into the trade of similar British and Indian productions, are also taking the place of cloths formerly manufactured from Bombay yam, so that our trade is affected in more than one way. But apart from this Japanese compoti- tion there is also an effort being made by certain Hongkong houses to doal direct with Canton, Swatow, Amoy and Foochow. This is in að- dition to business done direct by firms already established in these ports. The travellers from Manchester and Bradford, who have been coming to China in such numbers of recent years, caused some trouble in the north by selling to Tientsin dealers direct certain goods for which they had already received orders in Shanghai, the Chinese in the latter port expacting to sell their purchases to Tientsin. In conse quence double quantities were ordered and the market suffered severely. Something similar is evidently going to happen hero, either through the pushfulness of travellers or salesmen. There is at least one recorded instance of a traveller booking orders through the Canton branch of a European firm here, to the annoyance it is said of the Hongkong office. It is certainly a fact that some firms here send their salesmen up regularly to Canton for orders, to the certain loss of such business to the Chinese firms in the colony. Others have acted in a similar way at the Coast ports.
In the case of Flour, as mentioned previously this Colony used to be tho distributing centre for a large district, and when the trade of the most out-lying ports left Hongkong it was natur ally hoped that Canton, Swatow, and other places near at hand, would certainly be left undisturbed. Large quantities, however, have within the last year been sold direct to Canton dealers, and several lots to those of Swatow. One big Swatow dealer in Flour has now a represent ative here who buys direct from European houses. It is also reported that the Japanese have done a fair business direct.
In Metals the tendency is not nearly so well marked. Certain Canton men have however visited Hongkong and placed orders direct with Europeans, such business being formerly transcated through Chinese merchants here.
As regards Sundries, such as Singlets, Socks, etc. it is now almost ossential for European houses which wish to do a good business in these goods, to deal direct with Canton dealers. Repres- entatives of the various firms in this trado visit that city regularly for the purpose of getting orders, which are becoming larger and more varied as time goes on.
The above are some of the principal branches of mer- chant business carried on between Hongkong and China; it may be that others would show a similar tendency.
With regard to Manila, which place Hongkong formerly supplied with goods of all classes, a falling off is particulally noticeable. This may be due to some extant to the fact that the n- erican mail steamers run a service now calling at that port, giving
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.