ECONOMIC RESOURCES COMMITTEE.
Report of the Shipping and Shipbuilding Sub-Committee.
The following report has been compiled by the Shipping and Shipbuilding Sub-Committee, and is based upon the most expert advice in the Colony, and also upon facts supplied by the Captains of various ocean-going vessels.
SHIPBUILDING.
Materials. All supplies of materials, such as steel plates sections, billets for forgings, pig iron for castings, etc., are imported from Britain or America. As compared with Great Britain, Hongkong is thus at least two months later in commencing work on a contract, due to the time required to ship materials out. In addition to this, the freight on materials adds at least 10 per cent. to their cost. Auxiliaries of a special nature are also purchased from home or America and are affected in the same way as steel by time of delivery and freight charges. Timber for decks, ceilings and cabin furniture, In the case of teak or hardwoods, is procured from Siam or Borneo, and soft wood, such as Oregon pine, from the Pacific coast. Timber cannot, however, be considered as costing more in Hongkong, as Great Britain has to import both hard and soft woods. The foregoing aro the principal items for which we have to rely on outside sources for our supplies, but there are many other details in the outfit of a vessel which have to be purchased abroad and which, if the demand were sufficient, could be economically produced in Hongkong.
An important factor in the absolute determination as to whether shipbuilding in Hongkong is ever to be a progressive industry is the production of iron and steel in China. If this ever eventuates Hong- kong as a shipbuilding centre will be well established.
In the event of minerals being procurable in South China, steel works would have to be on a very large scale to cover the large variety of plates, sections, etc., used in shipbuilding. In Great Britain, Steel Works' output is specialized, some firms turning out plates only and other firms sections only.
Auxiliary Machinery is specialized in by many firms in Great Britain and could only be turned out economically in Hongkong if the demand were sufficient.
Local China Fir is only suitable for rough work. Whether supplies of suitable hardwoods to take the place of teak and Borneo hardwoods are procurable within easy reach of Hongkong, is a matter which might be investigated.
Freight rates on timber from Borneo to Hongkong have recently been reduced and timber merchants are increasing their plant with a view to a larger output in the near future.
Pig Iron, in large quantities, has been shipped from Calcutta to Japan, the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha being the principal shippers, and the material being used, it is said, for shipbuilding purposes in Japan. No doubt the Government is kept fully advised for what other purposes it is used.
It has been proved that in Hongkong we are quite capable of building practically any type of merchant ship as cheaply as, or possibly cheaper, than any other country, Japan included. To be quite independent, however, cheap supplies of pig-iron and coal to run roll- ing mills are necessary, With a guaranteed supply of coal from nearby provinces in China, the question of the establishment of rolling mills is purely a matter of time, and there would then remain only the question of auxiliary machinery. This, it is assumed, will have to be imported from England or the United States for some years to come, as we have neither the expert advice nor the facilities for manufacture here.
Labour. This is plentiful, but to maintain efficiency busy yards are essential. Efficiency has increased since the introduction of steel ships. In connection with apprentices, a system of technical educa- tion would prove of great benefit in the way of training them in modern practice. A study of the English language should be com. bined with their studies in engineering.
332
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.