CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6] — Page 21

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secondly that imports are not distinguished according to countries of origin: thirdly that no attempt is made to assign values to items which are classified in (b) by other denominations and fourthly, that no attempt is made to comply with the suggestion of the Board of Trade endorsed in the Despatch under reference, to the effect that exports should be classified according to these countries of origin. The reason for these differences and omissions are respectively:-

(a). That the List of Hendings was only crystallised

into its present form in December, 1917, after

considerable discussion with the merchants

chiefly concerned. While the List was in the

making, the Statistical Office worked on a draft list which differed considerably from

the final version.

(b). That it was not possible to secure accommoda-

-tion for the staff required for this analysis, until 15th. December, 1917. Imports are being

so malysed as from the lat. January, 1918.

(c). That, while it is doubtless convenient to be

able to summarise the trade of any country or

port in terms of value it does not appear that

the absence of these data would be a serious

loss in the case of Hongkong. Since no details

whatsoever of the trade of Hongkong are on

record prior to the present compilation, such

information could only be of use for the pur- -pose of comparison with future Returns and

in view of the abnormal inflation of values

as a result of war conditions, such comparison

would seem to have little value. It may be

added that until the new offices for the

Imports and Exports Department are completed it is improbable that sufficient accommodation