CO129-528-1 Trade statistic returns- extent of trade passing through Hong Kong 29-12-1930 - 13-1-1931 — Page 26

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then the remainder of the exports to China (i.e.,

$15,000,000) must have consisted of non-Chinese

products. They may have been actually Hong Kong

products, but this fixes a maximum of trade

passing into China from the outer world through Hong

Kong. Similarly, deducting the total imports from

China, there remain $12,000,000 which is the maximum

of trade passing from China to the outer world throug

Hong Kong. We have, therefore:

Total Exports from Hong Kong.

Less inter-Chinese trade.

Imports into China from

the outer world.

$39,000,000

$4,000,000

$15,000,000

Exports from China to

the outer world.

$12,000,000 $31,000,000

$8,000,000

The balance of $8,000,000 gives an indication

of the amount of trade between one non-Chinese country

and another passing through Hong Kong, and it appears

safe to conclude that this is at least as extensive

Chinese

as the interchange trade.

The importance of this is that, while Hong

Kong remains

on a silver currency

exchange

from silver to gold is involved in respect of the

inter-Chinese trade, but this would be involved if

Hong Kong went on to gold. On the other hand, under

the