Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 721

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HANKOW

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witnessing a steady decline in all economic activity in the area. River com- munication with Shanghai, severed in August 1937 as a result of the booms laid across the Yangtze at Kiangyin and later at Matang, remained suspended throughout the year. Apart from the Eurasia Aviation Corporation's air service between Hongkong and Hankow, which could handle only a negligible number of parcels, the Canton-Hankow Railway-kept open by herculean efforts on the part of its repair gangs-remained the only means of transporta- tion between the Hankow area and the coast capable of carrying cargo in any appreciable quantity. The extensive use of this railway for the importation of Government supplies however, restricted the import of general merchandise from the coast to comparatively minor quantities, and although outward ship- ments of merchandise were larger, the restricted freight space available and the inevitable risks and delays en route resulted in a heavy and general decline in the port's export träde. As hostilities approached Kiukiang in June, a larye influx of refugees took place, while the removal of factories- both local and those recently transferred from points down river and shops commenced, so that by August all factories in Wu-Han had been dismantled and their inachinery sent up river to Ichang, Chungking, etc., to which places a considerable portion of the population also evacuated. This exodus continued up to the arrival of the Japanese forces on the 26th, October, by which time local business had come to complete standstill. The occupation of the three cities of Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang was generally peaceful, but complete stagnation of business existed locally during the last two months of the year.

Customs statistics for the port of Hankow were as follows according to value: direct imports from abroad, $2.7 million as compared with $33.4 million during 1937; coastwise importations of Chinese merchandise, $47.1 million as against $124.6 million; direct exports abroad, $0.4 million as against $9 million; and coastwise exportations of Chinese produce, $65.3 million as compared with $201.4 million. With regard to the Hankow Customs statistics of trade with foreign countries, it must be remembered that in the case of imports these include only steamer-borne import cargo paying duty at Hankow, excluding the considerable volume of goods on which duty may have been paid at another port (e.g., Shanghai); on the other hand, they include goods which, while destined for ports farther up river, have paid duty at Hankow. As regards outward cargo also, the Hankow Customs statistics of foreign trade include only cargo carried directly abroad by steamer from Hankow, other goods, even if declared for transhipment abroad at another port and paying duty at Hankow, being recorded under interport

trade.

Since the comparatively small quantities of cargo imported from Hongkong and Canton by rail are not recorded in the port's statistics but by the port of first entry into China, the value of $2.7 million under direct imports from abroad represents only parcels brought up by air and withdraws of small stocks of cargo still remaining in bond from 1937. Similarly, the value of $0.4 million under direct exports covers only parcels sent by air direct to Hongkong, goods carried outward by rail southwards-most of which are eventually shipped abroad-being recorded in the Customs statistics of the port of final shipment (e.g., Canton or Kowloon).

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A considerable decline took place in the consumption of kerosene oil, since only a comparatively small quantity remained in bond at the beginning of the year and only negligible quantities could arrive by rail from the South. With the exception of aviation gasolene, a large falling-off took place under most petroleum products, prices advancing considerably. Arrivals of sugar amounted to about half of the preceding year's figures and were made up largely of importations from Szechwan; prices were governed entirely by local conditions and difficulties of replacement, good profits being made from such stocks as were available. Disruption of communications much restricted the trade in chemicals, there being, however, a good demand for khaki sulphur dyes. Trade in piece-goods declined to insignificant proportions as a result of the continued closure of Japanese import firms and general dislocation

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