Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 832

KOWLOON FRONTIER DISTRICT OF THE CHINESE MARITIME CUSTOMS

This is the inclusive name given to the Chinese Maritime Customs stations adjacent to Hongkong and established in 1887 in accordance with the Chefoo Agreement of 1876 and its Additional Article of 1885 for the purpose of recording the movement of opium and of collecting duty on the trade carried on by Chinese junks between Hongkong and Chinese ports. In 1899, when the New Territory was taken over by Hongkong, the Customs stations were removed from their former locations, which had been brought within the British boundary, and the present Stations and Barriers, naming them from west to east, are as follows: Lintin Station and Taishan Station (in the Canton Delta), Shehow and Kwaimiao Stations (on the shores of Deep Bay), Shatao Barrier (at the mouth of Shum- chun River), Tsoc Yuk Wai Barrier (Shumchun River Station), Shumchun Railway Station and Lower Barrier (at Shumchun-nearby is Shumchun H.Q. and Wireless Station, a group of buildings on a hill not classed as a Customs Station), Lofong and Lentong Barriers and Shataokok Station (at the mouth of starting inlet). Yumtu and Sha-u-chung Stations and Namo Barrier (on the shores of Mirs Bay), Samun Station (on Tu Niang Island beyond Mirs Point and further up the coast of Swabue Station). In addition there are certain minor posts for purely preventive work. Of these. Stations Taishanluk and Samun are temporarily evacuated due to the destructive activities of the Japanese fleet,

TRADE IN 1937

The total value of direct foreign trade in the Kowloon district for 1937 amounted to $99.3 million, an increase of $35.6 million as compared with the figure for 1936. This figure is not gratifying as it would at first sight appear. It is, in the main, the result of the closing of the Yangtze and of the Japanese blockade of the China coast with the consequent diversion of import and export trade from Shanghai to Kowloon. The increase in trade through the Kow- loon district cannot therefore be considered altogether natural or healthy. The following are the figures for the value of direct foreign trade during the year, with the comparative figures for 1936; imports, $82.7 million as against $57.5 million in 1936; exports, $16.6 million as against $6.2 million. There was a decline in the quantity of rice imported from abroad, what was imported be ing for the most part brought in either duty-free for relief purposes or at half the duty rate. During the year 1 million quintals of rice was imported compared with 1.3 million quintals during 1936. Although during the first part of the year there was a considerable fall in the amount of gasolene im- ported, due to the increased use of Diesel and charcoal-burning vehicles on the roads of Kwangtung, this decline was more than compensated for by the enormous demands during the past few months of the year, 32.3 million litres being imported as compared with 20.7 million litres during 1936. The im portation of kerosene oil increased from 12.7 million litres for 1936 to 45.8 million litres for 1937. This was due to the financial failure of many of the native distilleries, brought about by their inability to pay full Customs duty on liquid fuel with a high kerosene content and the consequent greatly increased demand for imported oil. Liquid fuel, of which 131,500 metric tons was im- ported in 1935 and 98,000 metric tons in 1936, declined to 60,634 metric tons in 1937 for the same reason, viz., the failure of the native distilleries which