Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 352

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

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A118

Under coastwise importations, the most noteworthy feature was the increase in all cereals, namely, kaoliang, millet, rice and paddy and wheat. Beans advanced from 20,706 to 107,477 quintals, due to the restriction imposed on the export of beans from Dairen and Manchurian ports in August. Matches increased from 876,110 to 1,158,300 gross, a fact attributed to the decreased output of the local match factory. Sugar receded, while the import. of cotton goods, although slightly lower, was satisfactory.

Though the value of direct exports showed a decrease, the increase under coast- wise exportations more than turned the balance. Under direct exports and coastwise exports, fresh fruits fell far below those of 1938, Dairen alone being a substantial buyer, Hongkong disappearing from the field of trade, taking only 42 quintals of pears, while Dairen took 3,351 quintals of apples, 2,250 quintals of pears, and 5,243 quintals of other fruits. The trade in pig intestines shrank by one-fifth 1938 figures, while the exportation of groundnuts and groundnut products showed all-round decreases, with the exception of those shipped to the United States of America and Canada, which registered increases. The autumn crop was reported to be only fair. Of vermicelli, only 1,420 quintals were exported as against 18,180 quintals 1938. Coast wise move- ments, however, remained fairly steady, 47,316 quintals being exported as against 49,296 quintals. Figures for the export abroad of cross-stitch work and embroideries as compared with 1938 showed a slight decrease, and those for lace and trimmings fell about 40 per cent. Drawn-thread exports were fairly close to those of the preceding year. The difference suffered under face and trimmings was, however, compensated by the increased coast wise movement, mostly to Shanghai, which was valued at $5.4 million as against $1.8 million for 1938. Trade in the export of Shantung silk pongees declined from 227,477 to 41,391 kilogrammes. The demand from England shrank to only 10 per cent of that for 1938, while a falling-off of exports to Hongkong any France was also responsible for the decline in the year's total. The business in hair-nets,on the contrary, showed a satisfactory increase, the total quantity exported being 803,904 gross as against 595,748 gross in 1938. The United States of America again led the list of buyers, taking 261,248 gross, closely followed by England with 212,042 gross.

The importation of foreign rice dwindled from 94,977 quintals in 1938 to 64,613 quintals, with interport imports showing an increase from 7,026 to 22,317 quintals. All cereals increased: maize from 47,266 to 52,773 quintals, millet from 6,851 to 51,175 quintals, and other grains from 5,740 to 27,792 quintals. Domestic importations of maize recorded an increase of 68,186 quintals, with millet, wheat, and kaoliang also increasing. Native wheat flour decreased in quantity from 119,964 to 97,472 quintals, whereas the importation of 272,928 quintals of foreign wheat flour recorded an increase of 225,303 quintals as compared with the 47,625 quintals of 1938.

The total tonnage entered and cleared under General Regulations amounted to 3,090,007 tons as against 3,437,219 tons during 1938, the share taken by the Japanese flag being 672,380 tons and by the British flag 1,529,561 tons. Coastal freight rates, which had reached an unprecedented height at the close of 1938, were considerably reduced due to competition in absorption of lesser demands on tonnage for dwindling exports. Ocean freights, however, advanced by 35 per cent to 40 per cent on the outbreak of the war in Europe in September.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 352

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