CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6] — Page 26

4.

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This omission does not seem to be of any serious importance

from a world-trade point of view since any information desired as to the Imports & Exports of China via Hongkong can be

obtained from the Export Statistics of the Fort, local con-

•

sumption for most articles being relatively negligible. view is endorsed by the General Chamber of Commerce.

This

An attempt will be made from the beginning of 1918 to compile returns of goods broughto Hongkong for tranship- ment on through Bills of Lading. But as at present the information in the possession of the local firms charged with the duty of making the arrangements for transhipment is often quite inadequate for statistical purposes too much must not be expected under this Head, Fortunately shipping companies are for the most part unwilling to grant through Bills of Lading insolving transhipment at present.

Imports and Exports will be further divided according to countries of origin and destination respectively. The territorial divisions at present in use are those in

the annexed table, Many countries are of course, absent from the list owing to the war, but any such country will be added to the list as soon as it shows any trade of

importance with Hongkong.

29th December, 1917.

Aoting Superintendent,

Imports & Exports,