Directory_and_Chronicle_1926 — Page 602

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CHINA

out, therefore, at £160,633,627. These figures, should not be taken as an accurata: indicator of the volume of the year's import trade. Values assessed in Haikwan tael are naturally subjected to exchange fluctuations, and, moreover, economic and politicaji conditions in the countries of origin have a great influence on the value of goods importent into China, so that the same quality and quantity of a certain merchandise which on year was valued at 100 may have been valued at 95 in the preceding and may rise to 10 in the following year. These fluctuations will naturally affect the figure for the tota value of imports during any particular year, independently of the expansion or shrink age of the volume of trade. The table which follows is of interest, as it shows the values of the principal groups of articles of import-cotton goods, woollen goods metals and minerals, and sundries-for the last six years. The values entered for the first three groups refer to the aggregate value of all the items comprising these group as actually passed through the Customs during the years referred to. In the case of the last category-sundries-only about 50 per cent. of the articles have been included The total for each year must be taken to represent about three fourths of the tota direct foreign import trade of China.

Imports Direct from Foreign Countries

[In thousands of Haikwan taels (000 omitted).]

.Cotton goods

Woollen goods

Metals and minerals

Sundries......

......

1919 Hk. Tls.

1920 Hk. Tls.

1921 Hk. Tls.

1922 Hk. Tls.

1923

Hk. Tls.

1924 Hk. Tls

209,786

246,813

208,663

218,523

173,520

188,501

3,614

4,791

7,408

8,794

19,042

17,693

56,609 61,572

60,077

49,928

44,938

67,77C

206,522

261,545

356,279

410,007

446,523

486,372

684,023

760,336

Total... Hk. Tis. 476,531 574,721 632,427 687,252

[In thousands of Haikwan taels (000 omitted).]

Gross Imports

Exports

Country

1922 Hk. Tls.

1923

1924

1922

1923

1924

Hk. Tls.

Hk. Tls.

Hk. Tls.

Hk. Tls.

Hk. Tls.

Hongkong

239,348

248,083

243,919

169,996

175,796

173,163

Macao

11,502

6,236

7,705

4,685

3,968

5,087

Singapore, Straits, etc.

...

8,169

9,214

9,322

15,314

17,928

19,617

Dutch Indies

13,844

13,600

20,733

9,129

8,085

9,317

British India

43,140

55,241

38,828

9,817

12,329

11,436

· Great Britain.

.....

Germany Netherlands

Belgium

France

145,293

120,397 126,011

38,508 43,207

50,251

24,744

32,456

38,688

9,805 11,915

15,949

7,628

3,908

20,460

5,728

8,511

13,501

11,152

10,879

18,278

2,349

2,753

3,420

4,556

7,549

10,560

40,756

39,578

45,096

Italy.

2,319

3,735

6,273

6,050

9,468

8,948

Russia and Siberia

14,276

10,203

10,098

39,244

34,092

46,359

Korea

9,686

11,955

11,505

21,237

30,281

30,855

Japan (incldg. Formosa).

231,429

211,024

234,762

159,754

198,517

201,176

Canada....

8,401

10,327

15,576

1,274

2,001

1,107

U.S. of America (including

Hawaii)

Other Countries

169,005 154,448 190,957 97,579 30,542 39,379 35,427 23,667

126,804

100,755

27,684

35,747

Total

975,034

948,634 1,039,102 654,892

752,917 771,784

Less Re-exports to Foreign

Countries....

29,985

25,231 20,891

Net Total ....

945,049

923,403 1,018,211 654,892

752,917 771,784