CHINA.
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remained for over a year. Meanwhile, the great revolution broke out in China. The Tibetans seized the opportunity to proclaim their independence, and again a military expedition was sent to Tibet, but more conciliatory methods nad to be adopted. The Chinese troops were withdrawn and the Dalai Lama re- turned to the Tibetan Capital. The tripartite conference at Simla in 1914 to determine the status of Tibet and delimit the boundaries ended in failure, no agreement being arrived at. The Dalai Lama visited Peking in 1921 and was received in audience by President Hsu Shih-chang.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY.
The ports open to trade are:-Newchwang, Chinwantao, Tientsin, Chefɔo, Woosung, Shanghai, Soochow, Chinkiang, Nanking, Wuhu, Kiukiang, Hankow, Yochow, Changsha, Shasi, Ichang, Chungking, Hangchow, Ningpo, Wenchow, Santu, Foochow, Amoy, Swatow, Canton, Samshui, Wuchow, Kongmoon, Pakhoi and Chengteh. Lungchow, Mêngtsz, Szemao and Tengyueh, on the frontiers of Tonkin and Burmah, are stations under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs. Mukden, Antung and Tatiengkow and other inland places in Manchuria, Kweihuichang, Kalgan, Dolonor, Chihfeng, Taonanfu, Hulutao, and Lungkow have also been declared open to foreign trade. The import trade, exclusive of the Colony of Hongkong, centres chiefly at Shanghai, Tientsin, Hankow and Canton, while the bulk of the exports pass through the ports of Shanghai and Canton. The annual value of the trade of China coming under the supervision of the Maritime Customs was as follows:-
Net Imports from Foreign Countries.
.Hk. Tls. 1,012,931,624
Net Exports to Foreign Countries. Hk. Tls. 918,619,662
Total of Foreign trade Hk. Tls. 1,931,551,286
1927 1928.. 1929 1930..
,,
1,195,969,271
99
""
""
1.265,778,821 1,309,755,742
99
991,354,988 1,015,687,318 894,843,594
""
2,187,324,259
2,281,466,139
""
2,204,599,336
FOREIGN TRADE.
In
According to the report of the Maritime Customs the total foreign trade of China in merchandise (treasure excluded) during 1930 was valued at 2,204 million Haikwan taels, representing a decrease of 77 millions over the preced- ing year's level, but it nevertheless remains the second highest on record. view of the world-wide trade depression this may at first sight appear some- what surprising, but has resulted solely from a fictitious increase in the value of imports, due to inflated laying-down costs in silver consequent on a lower silver exchange, and the value of net imports increased by approximately 44 million Haikwan taels to a new high record of 1,309.8 million Haikwan taels. Exports, on the other hand, achieved the unenviable distinction of recording a drop in value of over 120 million Haikwan taels, thereby relegating China's position as an exporter to that of five years ago and breaking the hitherto uninterrupted sequence of yearly increased sales of produce which has characterised her trade for considerably over a decade. The net result of these transactions has been to place China's visible commercial liabilities at the highest figure yet recorded of approximately 415 million Haikwan taels, and, although this figure when reckoned in gold represents an increase of some £6,000,000 only over last year's balance, it exhibits certain somewhat bewilder- ing features. In last year's Trade Report an appendix was published showing the various pertinent factors which must be considered when assessing China's actual balance of trade. It was pointed out that it probably was not within the competency of any statistical bureau then established in China to formulate a comprehensive survey on the lines indicated, but attention was called to cer- tain specific basic points and especially to the tremendous development of the tin and rubber trades in the Straits Settlements and its influence on remittances, especially from emigrants abroad. It is true that a low silver exchange en- courages the transfer of profits and savings from these sources for investment
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