Directory_and_Chronicle_1937 — Page 506

A130

LUNGKOW

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units ruling during the greater part of the year were factors leading to improved import trade. The legitimate importation of cotton piece goods, white refined sugar, and sugar candy from Dairen at regular intervals and in considerable quantities was a new feature in the trade of the port. In summer the Yellow River overflowed its banks in many places in the western part of the province, inundating several cities and devastating thousands of houses. A Flood Relief Commission was inaugurated at Lungkow in August and relief funds raised. A branch office of the Asiatic Petroleum Company was established in July. The local telephone system came into operation in April, with a total installation of 73 telephone sets. Two new wharves and one godown were constructed adjacent to the Customs establishment in the latter.. half of the year. Adverse factors in the trade situation were the incessant rainfall in the summer months, resulting in suspension of traffic the Chefoo-Weihsien motor road for many days and the early freezing of the harbour towards the close of the year. A Customs examination and storage; godown for storage of foreign imports prior to duty payment and release was inaugurated on the 1st January. An upward tendency in the trade under Customs cognizance is exhibited by the value statistics as follows: direct imports from abroad, 2.8 million dollars as against 2.3 million in 1934; coast- wise importations of Chinese merchandise, 6.3 million dollars as against 6 million; direct exports to foreign countries, 3.3 million dollars as against 3.2 million; and coastwise exportations of Chinese inerchandise, 2.7 million dollars as against 2.4 million dollars. The appearance of only 123,793 kilogrammes of confiscated artificial silk yarn as against 140,854 kilogrammes in 1934 in the import statistics and the recording of 7,696 quintals of white refined sugar legitimately imported (total quantity imported, including seizures, 8,959 quintals) as against 16,377 quintals in 1934, which were entirely contributed. by seizures, may be taken as illustrative of the decline of smuggling activities along this part of the Shantung coast. Kerosene oil of Japanese origin, though inferior to the American product, was welcomed for its cheap price and dominated the market. Of the total of 1,317,199 litres imported, 915,044 litres were of Japanese origin. Timber was imported from Antung in increasing quantities, but Fushun and Peipiao coal, being unable to compete with native coal, decreased by 5,798 metric tons. Of export staples, shipment of vermicelli to foreign countries (principally Hongkong) increased by 1,570 quintals to a total of 80,064 quintals, but the increased shipments did not bring much prosperity to the port, as prices ruling at Hongkong fell to as low as $20 per quintal. The statistics for coastwise exportations of this commodity also showed a quantitative increase of 6,372 quintals. Shipment of live.cattle to Dairen, for subsequent transhipment to Japan in cold storage after being slaughtered, reached another high record of 2,723 head. Heavy increases were also recorded for fresh vegetables 137,019 quintals as against 72.545 quintals in 1934) and groundnut oil (9,871 quintais as against 4,932 quintals in 1934): the former was exported by junk to Dairen and the latter shipped to Hongkong for transhipment to the South Sea Islands as a substitute for the costly bean oil. Straw hats, joss sticks, and Chinese pens fell articles are now being manufactured in Manchuria. Owing to the poor harvest pens fell considerably, as such and the flood, importations of rice and wheat flour from Chinese ports increased by 13,896 quintals and 63,796 quintals respectively. The revenue of the port increased by 10 per cent over that of the previous year. Of the total collection, 22 per cent was contributed by seizures and 18 per cent by the 13 Maritime Customs stations under Lungkow control. During a period of 20 years since the opening of the port on the 1st November 1915, remarkable increases have been made in the revenue collection and in the amount of fines and confiscations. For the year 1935 the port contributed per cent. to the total Maritime Customs revenue of the country, and Lungkow

approximately 0.50 also occupies a very important place from the viewpoint of prevention of clandestine trade.