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INDUSTRIES.
(Exclusive of Agriculture.)
The principal industries under European management are ship- building and repairing (Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co., Ltd. and the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co. of Hongkong, Ltd.), sugar refining (Taikoo Sugar Refining Co., Ltd, and China Sugar Refining Co., Ltd.), and cement works (Green Island Cement Co., Ltd.)
Under Chinese management there are numerous smaller industries such as tobacco, kuitting, vermilion, soy, and paper factories, distilleries, tanneries, boat-building, tinning of fruits, etc., etc.
The ship-building industry benefited greatly by the demand for ships consequent on the war and a large number of ships and tugs were built. Recently a demand by the Chinese employees for increased wages has been conceded, which will considerably increase the cost of ship-building. The varying rate of the dollar also affects the output of the shipyards.
The dock accommodation of the Colony is excellent. The establish- ments of the two European companies mentioned above are fitted with all the best and latest appliances, and have several docks of various dimensions, the two largest being 787 and 700 feet in length and 120 and 86 feet in breadth respectively.
TRADE AND COMMERCE.
The trade of the port consists essentially in its being a market for the exchange of goods between China and the rest of the world.
The total exports of the Colony for 1920 were valued at £108,000,000, of which £53,000,000 went to China, £5,000,000 to the Straits Settle- ments and Federated Malay States, £4,500,000 to Japan, £9,000,000 to French Indo-China, £10,500,000 to the United States of America, and between £2,000,000 and £3,000,000 each to the United Kingdom, India, and Dutch East Indies.
The total imports for 1920, exclusive of those from South China except ores, and tobacco), were valued at £103,000,000, of which £10,000,000 came from the United States of America, £19,300,000 from French Indo-China, £14,500,000 from China, £12,000,000 from Japan, £9,250,000 from India. £15,000,000 from the United Kingdom, £1,500,000 from Siam, £13,000,000 from the Dutch East Indies, and £1,500,000 from Australia.
The principal articles of both export and import were foodstuffs. metals, oils and fats, piece goods, and tobacco. Treasure is not included.
The largest of the old established British firms are Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. and Messrs. Butterfeld & Swire. In addition there are many smaller British and American firms, and, most numerous of all, Chinese firms.
Hongkong is also an important centre for banking and insurance
business,
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OPENINGS FOR PERSONS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM.
The Government Service and the various commercial and industrial enterprises provide many openings for persons from the United King- dom.
The higher administrative posts in the Civil Service are filled by candidates selected on the results of an examination held yearly in Lon- don in connection with the Home Civil Service Class I, the Indian Civil Service, and the Ceylon, Hongkong, Straits Settlements, and the Feder ated Malay States Services.
Other Government appointments for which professional or technical qualifications are required are filled by candidates selected by the Colonial Office or by the Crown Agents for the Colonies. Candidates for appointment in the Police Force and for minor miscellaneous appointments are selected by the Crown Agents.
The various dockyards and other industries afford employment to a large number of Europeans, as do also the commercial firms. The latter have in many cases connections in other Asiatic ports and employees are liable to be transferred to posts in Japan, China, the Straits Settle- ments, or elsewhere.
Hongkong however holds out no prospects for Europeans coming out merely on the chance of finding employment without having made definite arrangements beforehand.
AGRICULTURAL LAND AND NATURE OF TENURE.
All land in Hongkong and the New Territories belongs to the Crown. Leases are granted for various terms. In Hongkong and on the Kowloon peninsula the usual period is seventy-five years renewable for one further period of seventy-five years. In the New Territories the period is limited by the 99 years lease (dating from 1898) of the New Territories themselves.
There is very little agricultural land on the island of Hongkong, the slopes being too steep. On the south side of the island, apart from the Dairy Farra property, the small areas of land suitable for agriculture are occupied by Chinese villagers,
On the mainland the better agricultural land in the valleys is all occupied by Chinese villagers, and is mostly used for growing rice.
Some of the lands at present uncultivated might prove suitable for cattle-grazing and for camphor and other plantations, and leases could readily be obtained at a cheap rental both on the mainland and in the islands.
AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES.
No one without a wide experience of local conditions could be cer- tain of making a success of any agricultural enterprise in Hongkong. Such an undertaking would necessarily be of the nature of an experiment and would require a considerable amount of capital.
At present agriculture is entirely in the hands of the Chinese villagers, and it would appear to be doubtful whether European enterprise in this direction would be successful.
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