CO129-589-11 Port of Hong Kong- Report on future control and development 18-7-1941 - 10-10-1944 — Page 102

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factors." In other words, the then depression in Hong Kong's

trade was due mostly, if not entirely, to causes outside its

own control.

(21). Nature of the Fort's trade. Some Ports owe their

origin to raw materials found in the vicinity for which there

is an export demand, or to factories in the neighbourhood

whose products must be exported. Other Ports are centres of

big populations which have largely to be supplied with food,

etc., by sea. Others perform a useful function in connection

with entrepôt or transhipment trade.

(22) In the case of Hong Kong its production of raw

materials is negligible, while it produces only a small

fraction of the foodstuffs it consumes. There are industries

established in Hong Kong such as shipbuilding and ship

repairing, sugar refining, brewing, knitting and weaving, and

the manufacture of rope, ginger, aerated waters, bricks,

cement and tiles, etc.,

(23) The principal commodities imported into Hong Kong

are foodstuffs, piecegoods and textiles, oils and fats,

metals, Chinese medicines, fuels, live animals, vehicles and

machinery and engines; while the chief exports consist of

foodstuffs and provisions, treasure, oils and fats, metals,

wearing apparel, Chinese medicines, minerals and ores and

vehicles.

(24) The normal trade of Hong Kong falls into the

following broad categories:

(a) Imports for consumption in Hong Kong and raw

materials for certain industries, and exports

of Hong Kong origin.

(b) Chinese external trade passing through Hong Kong,

1.e. Chinese goods re-exported to non-Chinese

countries and non-Chinese goous re-exported to

China.

(c) Chinese coastal trade, i.e. goous in orted from