140
CHINA
Goods to the value of Tls. 65,078,885 were conveyed to, and to the value of Tls. 21,758,529 were brought from, the interior under transit passes.
The total carrying trade, foreign and coastwise, was divided amongst the different flags as under (the Russian including tea carried overland viâ Kiakhta):-
Entries and Clearances
Tonnage
Values
Percentages Tonnage Duties
British.....
24,758
26,950,202 Tls. 631,898,843
49.92
50.50
Japanese.
6,898
7,350,515
>>
106,284,821
13.61
10.14
German
6,046
7,220,146
""
119,286,529
13:37
9*82
French..
1,511
833,759
33,158,573
154
3.26
American
1,295
493,831
""
12,512,848
*91
1:46
Russian
1.107
603,510
16,336,048
1:12
*99
Swedish and Norwegian
953
867,537
""
19,206,881
1.61
1.57
Other Countries
628
329,420
""
7,413,736
*62
3:32
Chinese
26,303
9,431,082
387,047,225
17:30
18'94
69,499
53,990,002
1,333,145,504
100'00
100'00
The vessels entered and cleared in 1902 were made up of 58,086 Steamers of 52,806,393 tons, and 11,413 Sailing Vessels of 1,183,609 tons.
The gross Coast trade in vessels of foreign build amounted to Tls. 365,363,074 outward, and Tls. 417,872,129 inward, the net native imports (that is goods not re-ex- ported) at the Treaty Ports being Tls. 136,259,955, and the exports to Treaty Ports Tls. 103,988,734.
The Imperial Maritime Customs revenue for the same year amounted to Haikwan Taels 30,007,044, and was derived from
Foreign Native..
Total
Imports Exports Coast T'de Opium Duty. Duty. Duty. Duty.
959,907 1,306,599 575,426 784,058
9,808,595 6,729,748 1,041,834 2,225,383
Opium T'nage Transit Lekin. Dues. Dues. 3,475,102 867,342 625,701 53,569
1,227,978 325,802
.10,850,429 8,955,131 1,535,333 2,090,657 4,100,803 920,911 1,553,780 Mr. F. E. Taylor, Statistical Secretary to the Imperial Martime Customs, in his report on the Foreign Trade of China for 1902, says:-
"Conditions were not altogether favourable to commerce. A very severe outbreak of cholera throughout almost the whole Empire; droughts followed by floods in the South, where a rebellion is not yet suppressed; and a want of confidence in the northern provinces,-all had a retarding influence. The fall in exchange had no immediate effect in checking imports, as contracts are made some months in advance; and, as exchange declined steadily throughout the year, with the exception of a faint recovery during the summer, native dealers were ready to close rather than risk a further rise in silver prices. The experience of the past shows that the import trade has progressed in spite of a falling exchange, and presumably it will gradually accom- modate itsself to a new scale of prices; but a fall of 20 per cent. in one year cannot fail to be a disturbing factor which may make itself felt in 1903. The estimated value of the foreign trade, import and export, was Hk. Tls. 529,545,489, a figure never before reached.
"Imports.-The value of the net imports was estimated at Hk. Tls. 315,363,905, and this value, owing to the operation of the 5 per cent. ad valorem duty collected during 10 months of the year, may be taken as approximately correct. It is a large advance on any previous year and should reassure those who imagine that China is becoming poorer.
"The importation of Opium was 50,801 piculs-again a small advance. The demand throughout the year was brisk, especially for the Bengal varieties, although the fall in exchange forced up prices. The consumption of Malwa fell off, partly owing to its dearness and partly owing to its extensive adulteration in China with the native drug. The crop of Szechuen Opium was short, and the disturbances in that province interfered for a time with its free movement; this raised the price and assisted Indian Opium in the difficulties caused by exchange.
"The value of Cotton Goods of all kinds imported was estimated at Hk. Tls. 127,545,300, as compared with Hk. Tls. 99,651,999 during 1901, and nearly all the principal staples shared in the increase. Large purchases were made towards the end of the previous year to replenish depleted stocks and prepare for the expected revival of trade in the northern markets, and the arrivals during 1902 were so heavy that a considerable quantity remained in the godowns of the Foreign importers at the end of
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