:
4
For the period 1910-1919 the assessment of the whole Colony has risen from $11,082,179 to $16.304.801, an increase in rateable value of 85,222,622.
The circulation on the 31st December of notes of the three Banks having authorised issues was as follows:-
Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation Chartered Bank of India, Australia, & China Mercantile Bank of India, Limited
$24,874,290 10,454,944 969,276
$36,298,510
The currency of the Colony consists, in addition to the notes of these Banks, of British, Hongkong, and Mexican Dollars and of subsidiary coin, which continued at par throughout the year.
The total issue of subsidiary coins less those demonetized, now amounts to $20,764,370 nominal value, and they were up to the year 1905 readily absorbed at par, large quantities being taken by the neighbouring provinces of China. During 1916 ten cent pieces of the face value of $5,028,000 were shipped to Calcutta for purposes of demonetization. The discount which prevailed between 1905 and 1916 may be attributed to the immense quantity of similar coin which was minted at Canton as well as to the amount of Hongkong coin minted largely in excess of the needs of the Colony by itself. In 1905 the Hongkong Government ceased to issue any subsidiary coin and in 1906 it began a policy of demonetising all its subsidiary coin received as revenue. This policy was continuously followed till Coin to the face value 1918 except during a brief period in 1911.
of $23,235.459 has thus been redeemed. The total issue by the Hongkong Government was of the face value of about $44,000,000.
IL SHIPPING AND TRADE, INDUSTRIES, FISHERIES, AGRICULTURE, AND LAND.
(a.) SHIPPING.
The total of the Shipping entering and clearing at Ports in the Colony during the year 1919 amounted to 649,168 vessels of 35,615,169 tons, which, compared with the figures for 1918, shows an increase of 69,627 vessels, with an increase of 6,096,980 tons.
Of the above, 41,985 vessels of 21,072,129 tons were engaged in Foreign Trade, as compared with 43,436 vessels of 16,955,332 tons in 1918, and were distributed as follows:-
1919.
1918. Numbers. Numbers.
1919.
BritishOcean-going Ships
5-6%
Foreign Ocean-going Ships.
9-8
12.6
361
1918. Tonnage. Tonnage 32·4%% 21.4% 9.2%
36-2
British River Steamers
13-3
13-2
20:3
15:4
Foreign River Steamers
3-5
3-8
3-6
2-9
Steam Launches (under 60
tons}
13.8
11.9
1.1
0-8
Trading Junks
54:0
49.3
17.5
12:3
100-0
100-0
100.0
100-0
N.B. The movements of Fishing Junks are not included in this Table.
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Of vessels of European construction, 4,571 Ocean Steamers, 4 Sailing Ships, 3,550 River Steamers, and 2,509 Steamships not exceeding 60 tons entered during the year, giving a daily average of 291 ships, as compared with 27-3 in 1918, and 29-9 in 1917.
The average tonnage of individual Ocean Vessels entering the Port has increased from 1,459 2 tons to 1,583 1 tons, that of British ships has increased from 1,482-6 tons to 1,772-6 tons while that of Foreign ships has also increased from 1,4457 tons to 1,449-2 tons. The average tonnage of individual River Steamers entering during the year has decreased from 484-7 tons to 448-8 tons.
That of British River Steamers has increased from 511.6 tons to 529-8 tons, and that of Foreign River Steamers has decreased from 439-9 tons to 336-6 tons.
There was an increase in British Ocean-going Shipping of 1,421 ships or 581 per cent., and an increase of 3,214,448 tons or 88-6 per cent. This is due to a partial recovery of shipping after war conditions owing to the release of many ships for commercial purposes.
British River Steamers have decreased by 305 ships and 190,664 tons or 5.2 per cent. in numbers and 55 per cent. in tonnage. This is due to two ships formerly British having been transferred to the Chinese flag, to one ship having been taken off the run for three months and another having been laid up.
Foreign Ocean-going vessels have increased by 1,040 ships with an increase of 1,507,930 tons or 24 5 per cent. în numbers and 24·6 per cent. in tonnage. This is due to partial return to pre-war conditions
Foreign River Steamers show an increase of 89 ships and a decrease of 20,638 tons or 52 per cent. in numbers and 33 per cent. in tonnage. This is due to the transfer of two ships formerly British to the Chinese flag and to two large ships having been taken off the run.
In Steamships not exceeding 60 tons employed in Foreign Trade there is a decrease of 967 ships and a decrease of 19,049 tons or 161 per cent. in numbers and 105 per cent. in tonnage. This decrease is due to a number of Steam-launches being laid up part of the year owing chiefly to the expense of coal and to two vessels formerly run as Steam-launches having been re-measured and run as vessels over 60 tons.
Junks in Foreign Trade show a decrease of 2,729 vessels of 275,333 tons or 11:6 per cent. in numbers and 126 per cent. in tonnage. This decrease is but apparent. It is due to the abolition of war time regulations, under which the movements of all junks were reported. Now many of them fail to report arrival or departure.
In Local Trade (i... between places within the waters of the Colony) there is an increase in Steam-launches of 87,086 vessels with an increase in tonnage of 2.631,944 or 175 per cent. in numbers and 24-5 per cent. in tonnage. This increase is due to more shipping frequenting the Port, the employment of Launches towing having considerably increased.
Junks in Local Trade show a decrease of 16,008 vessels and 651,761 tons or 43-2 per cent, in numbers and 35.6 per cent. in tonnage. This decrease is due to abolition of war time restrictions, under which the movements of all Junks irrespective of size were reported, whereas many of them now fail to report their movements.
(2360)
B
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