Directory_and_Chronicle_1933 — Page 1023

KONGMOON

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substituted for foreign products; while the well-organised smuggling associa- tions operating from Hong Kong, Macao, and Kwangcnowwan, were quick to seize the increased opportunities for profit afforded by the new tariff rates. In March the province declared itself independent of the Central Government at Nanking, and a policy of extreme caution and shortened credits was adopted. After the outbreak of the troubles in Manchuria. a rigid boycott of Japanese goods was maintained, which caused a sharp falling off in direct imports. The abolition of likin and extra-50 li Native Customs im- posts on the 1st January resulted in a brisk trade with the southern dis- tricts in goods of native provenance, and the abolition of the Native Cus- toms establishments at the ports on the 1st June excited further activity in this trade. The decline in the value of the importations of cotton piece goods from approximately Tls. 533,000 to the exceedingly low figure of Tls. 117,000 illustrate the effect of the adverse exchange, the higher tariff schedule, and the boycott of Japanese goods. Building activities in the interior account for the doubled importations of iron bars, sheets, and plates, and, together with road construction, for the increased demand for cement. Foreign matches practically disappeared from the market on account of cost and were replaced by the products of the local factory. The require- ments for motor traffic are continually growing, and 11 new sections of road- way in the district were under construction during the year. Exports of white raw silk again decreased, but silk products not otherwise enumerated left the port to a value of Tls. 137,000. The orange harvest was an exception- ally good one. Prices ruled high and 43,785 piculs went abroad, as against only 18,342 piculs during 1930. Results in the palm-leaf and the paper in- dustries also were satisfactory. Rice had to be imported from abroad, how- ever, owing to the poor local crops. Work was commenced on the long-con- templated bridge at Kungyifow on the Sunning Railway, the contract being for Hong Kong $56,000 and Gold $17,000; and the telephone trunk line be- tween Kongmoon and Canton was all but completed during the year.

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The net value of the port's trade in 1931 was Hk. Tls. 17,273,754 as com- pared with Hk Tls. 12,027,160 in 1930, Hk. Tls. 10,423,521 in 1929 and Hk. Tls. 9,009,888 in 1928.

The principal articles of export consist of prepared tobacco, joss-sticks, strawmats, paper, palm-leaf fans, fresh oranges and fresh vegetables; imports are largely represented by rice, foreign piece-goods, kerosene oil, sugar, wheat flour, and forign sundries, including a variety of Japanese commodities of a cheap nature. Large quantities of softwood poles are floated down in the form of rafts, which are dismantled here. These mostly come from beyond Wuchow and also from the North River. The yearly value of this branch of the trade is estimated at about $750,000. Owing to the frequent piracies in the delta, the cocoon market hitherto established at Yungki has been transferred to Kongmoon, and during the season the numerous steam launches and boats employed in this line of business give the port in front of the settlement a lively and animated appearance. There is a silk filature in the town which affords employment to about 300 women; the total cut-turn of silk amounts to about 100 cattics per day. An interesting local industry is the dredging of large shells, from which a good quality of lime is made. The annual pro- duction of these shells is estimated at 200,000 piculs, worth about $40,000. Quite an important industry has sprung up in Kongmoon, namely, the prc- serving and canning of Chinese fruit for export abroad, where it is consumed by the numerous Chinese in America, Australia and the Straits Settlements. Paper, which finds a ready market in Hongkong, is manufactured by the Kongmoon Paper Mill. The unique opportunities presented for transport by the unrivalled waterways of the delta have been well developed by native enterprise, and there is a large and lucrative_passenger trade with Canton, Fatshan, Sancheong, Hongkong, Macao, etc. Large, roomy native passenger boats towed by powerful launches are engaged in this trade. The surrounding country is picturesque, fertile and highly cultivated, and the inhabitants are

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