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Chapter X.
COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORT.
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The external communications of Hong Kong are excellent both by sea and by telegraph, cable and radio. As regards the former, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, the Blue Funnel Line, the Messageries Maritimes, and several other British and foreign companies maintain regular passenger and freight services between Hong Kong and Europe. The trans-Pacific communications are well served by the Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd., the Dollar Line, the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and other steamship lines. To Australia three steamship companies, the Eastern and Australian, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and Australian and Oriental maintain regular passenger and freight services. In addition there are direct sailings to Africa, South America, and to New York. There is frequent and regular communication between Hong Kong and other Far Eastern ports in India, Java, Straits Settlements, Formosa, Indo-China, Japan and the China coast. Local steamship communication is by river steamer from Hong Kong to Canton and the West River ports with several sailings daily. In addition there is a vast traffic between Hong Kong and the adjacent provinces of China by junk and sampan.
2. The total shipping entering and clearing Ports in the Colony during the year 1933 amounted to 108,622 vessels of 43,043,381 tons which, compared with the figures for 1932 shows an increase of 4,507 vessels and a decrease of 781,525 tons. Of the above 51,492 vessels of 40,862,583 tons were engaged in Foreign Trade as compared with 52,359 vessels of 41,794,005 tons in 1932. There was a decrease in British Ocean-going shipping of 199 vessels and a decrease of 187,458 tons. Foreign Ocean-going vessels shew an increase of 166 vessels and an increase of 287,262 tons. British River Steamers showed a decrease of 260 vessels and a decrease of 677,298 tons. Foreign River Steamers showed a decrease of 782 vessels and a decrease of 305,409 tons. In steamships not exceeding 60 tons employed in Foreign Trade there was an increase of 678 vessels with an increase in tonnage of 5,879 tons. Junks in Foreign trade showed a decrease of 470 vessels and a decrease of 54,398 tons. In Local Trade (i.e. between places within the waters of the Colony) there was
decrease in steam launches of 366 vessels with an increase in tonnage of 4,109 tons. Junks in Local Trade show a decrease of 5,740 vessels and a decrease of 145,788 tons.
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3. The Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (British) by means of three cables to Singapore, one direct and one each via Labuan and Cape St. James respectively. provides good connections with Europe via India, with Australasia, and with the other British Colonies and Possessions.
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By their cable to Manila connection is made with the direct American cable, thence to San Francisco. Two cables to Shanghai, belonging respectively to the Eastern Extension and to the Great Northern (Danish) Companies, via Foochow and Amoy respectively, give a good connection with Shanghai, North China, Japan and Russia; the system of the Great Northern Telegraph Company gives a good service to Europe via Asiatic Russia.
4. The Government operates a commercial radio service with direct communication with Chinese stations, Siam, Indo- China, Formosa and the Dutch East Indies. Indirect com- munication between Hong Kong and America is maintained via Manila and between Hong Kong and Europe via Manila or Dutch East Indies.
5. The revenue collected by the Radio Office during the year from radio telegrams amounted to $643,217.94, a decreas of $36,814.64 or the amount collected in 1932. Advices of vessels signalled at the Lighthouses yielded $1,473.60. The total Revenue from the telegraph service amounted to $644,691.54. Ship Station Licences yielded $1,801.00, Amateur Transmission Station Licences $304.75, Broadcast Receiving Licences $29,048.00, Dealers' Licences $2,355.00 and Examina- tion Fee for Operators' Certificates of Proficiency $71.00.
6. The number of paid radio-telegrams forwarded during the year was 191,586 consisting of 1,518,215 words against 194,782 consisting of 1,607,233 words in 1932 and 207,339 were received, consisting of 1,757,629 words against 179,382 consisting of 1,653,046 words.
7. In addition to the paid traffic figures given above the wireless Service is responsible for the reception of time signals daily from Bordeaux, Rugby, Malabar and Nauen, for the transmission of time signals to ships in the China Sea, the reception of press messages amounting to 340 messages or 204,868 words from Rugby, the collection and distribution of meteorological traffic, 5,676 messages 218,153 words having been forwarded, and 16,907 messages 324,153 words having been received, the reception and dissemination of distress, piracy and navigation messages, the transmission and reception of Govern- ment messages, etc.
8. A telephone service between Hong Kong and Canton, a distance of 110 miles is in operation.
9. Mails. The number of mail receptacles of Hong Kong origin despatched during the year was 46,650 as compared with 47,615 in 1932-a decrease of 965, the number received was 49,449 as compared with 51,324-a decrease of 1,875.
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