CHINA
763
advance than has been customary under this flag in recent years. Chinese vessels of foreign type have increased their total tonnage by 791,000 tons, chiefly on the Shanghai- Ningpo line, where the Ningpo-Shaohsing Steam Navigation Company's steamers began to run regularly in August, and on the Yangtze. The new ports of Aigun, on the Amur, and Sansing and Harbin, on the Sungari, have added 570,000 tons under the Russian flag. German tonnage has increased at most of the ports and shows a total gain of 658,000 tons. Norwegian steamers have been fully employed and contribute an increase of 371,000 tons, chiefly at the ports of Tientsin, Chinwangtao, Swatow, and Kiungchow. At the last-named port they were frequent visitors, running under charter from Bangkok and Haiphong to Hongkong in competition with existing lines.
Balance of Trade. The excess of imports (c.i.f. value) over exports abroad (f.o.b. value) has been reduced by successive steps from 97 per cent. in 1905 to 23.5 per cent. in 1909. This approximation has been brought about chiefly by the development of the export trade, which has increased by 110 million taels since 1905, while imports have been reduced by about 29 million taels only.
SUMMARY OF THE COMMERCIAL LIABILITIES AND ASSETS OF CHINA IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
Liabilities.
A.-Value of merchandise imported into the treaty ports of China, 1909, at moment
of landing
.Hk.Tls. 418,158,067
B.-Value of bullion and coin imported into the treaty ports, 1909. C.-Principal and interest of loans and indemnities................. D.-Expenditure on Chinese Embassies and Consulates abroad. E-Expended by Chinese students and travellers abroad.... F-Net profits of foreigners remitted to home countries... G.-Net freights and net premia of insurance...
IL-Munitions of war, not included in value of merchandise imported
Total
Assets.
"
""
31,889,326 53,7 0,000 2,000,000 3,000,000
19,600,000
19
6,750 00 2,000,000
Hk.Tls. 537,097,393
a.-Value of merchandise exported from the treaty ports of China 1909, at moment of
shipment..........
b.—Value of bullion and coin exported from the treaty ports 1909 c.-Excess of exports over imports of unrecorded trade over land
fro tiers of China.............
d.--Expendilure on development of railways, mines, etc...... e.-Expenditure on foreign Embassies and Consulates, etc., in
China.
-Maintenance of foreign garrisons
-Expended on maintenance of foreign war vessels, including
money spent by crews
h.-Expended on
on maintenance of foreign merchant vessels, including money spent by crews
i. - Repairs to foreign vessels at Shanghai and elsewhere 4.-Expenditure on foreign missions, hospitals, and schools. 1. Expended by foreign travellers in China...
m.-Remittances from and money brought in by Chinese emigrants
RAILWAYS
Total............
Hk.Tls. 338.992,814
**
+3
: :
ང
21,840,459
2,600,00
13,00 00
5,300,000 8,60,000
9,000,000
3,000,0 0 12,500,000 10,50,0 0
6,000,000
11
77,000,000
Hk.Tls. 511,333,273
Although China is traversed in all directions by roads, they are usually mere tracks, or at best footpaths, along which the transport of goods is a tedious and difficult undertaking. It was owing to the imperfect means of communication that such a fearful mortality attended the famines in Shansi, Honan, and Shantung, as well as the famine in Kiangsi in 1903, when the scarcity of food was so great that in numberless instances men even publicly sold their wives and children when powerless to meet the responsibility for feeding them. The enormous mineral wealth of Shansi is practically non-existent for the same reason. A vast internal trade is, however, carried on over the roads, and by means of numerous
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.