Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 688

A446

WUCHOW

the year. Small quantities of foreign goods were imported through the Lappa and Luichow Customs for consumption in Wuchow, and petty lots of Wuchow native exports were sent abroad through the same channels, these goods being mostly borne by human carries. During November 1939 a Japanese landing was made on the south-west coast of Kwangtung and an advance 'made into Kwangsi. Many factories in the province were destroyed and others moved to the hinterland. All motor roads south of the West River were destroyed, and, in consequence, large numbers of human carrier were employed in carrying goods formerly transported by steamer. Shipping on the West River was confined to ordinary junks, steam-launches towing junks, and motor-launches, but owing to the difficulty in obtaining liquid fuel many motor-launches ceased to ply during the last quarter of 1939.

Y

The value statistics of the. trade of the port were as follows: direct foreign imports, $221,337 as compared with $5.7 million; coastwise importations of Chinese goods, $205,463 as against $15.8 million; direct exports abroad, nil as compared with $21,7 million; and ceastwise exports, $5.6 million, approximately the same figure as for 1938.

Few foreign commodities were imported from abroad. The import of kerosene oil was 160,387 litres only as compared with 879,390 litres for 1938, while only 1,436 litres of lubricating oil arrived as against, 161,001 litres during 1938. Liquid fuel imports totalled only 141 tons. The closure of the West River, coupled with the enforcement of foreign exchange control, caused the complete stoppage of all direct export trade. There was, however, a good demand for wood oil, this being sent abroad by way of Nanning, Lungchow and Indo-China. Many other domestic com modities were shipped by junk to places on the West River and carried thence to points on the coast for ultimate exportation abroad; no figures of such goods are, however, obtainable.

I

No movements of rice were recorded during 1939, rice grown in Kwangsi being more than sufficient to cover the needs of the province with some surplus being sent to Kwantung by junk.

The notes of the four Government banks circulated in the province during the year, the national currency taken the place of the provincial bank notes.

Owing to the closure of the river, no foreign shipping under General Regulations

entered or cleared during the year.

DIRECTORY

亞細亞 Ah Sai Ah

ASIATIC PETROLEUM Co. (S. C.), LTD.,:

General Merchants, Gasoline, Kerosene,

Fuel Oil, Wax, Candle and Lubricants ---Teleph. 301; P. O. Box 2; Cable Ad: Petrosilex

Leung Ping Sam, supt.-in-charge

Fil 天 Teen Woo BANKER & Co., Merchants and Com- mission Agents Shipping Office: Bankers' Pontoon Teleph. 264; Cable Ad; Banker

司公限有險保昌旗 Kee chong po him yau han kung sze

China Underwriters, Ltd., Life,

Fire, Marine and General Insurance-

Agent Lam Kuk Cho, 111, Kau Fong

Road; Teleph. 10

CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME

Ad: Custos, Tsangwu

Cable

Acting Commissioner-E. Bathurst Assistants-Huang Chih Chien and

Ho Chun-min

Boat Officer--Djung Hsin Fong Examiners-Chao Chun Chieh, Lui Man Pan, Fan Chung Man, Chan Lam, Lo Lim Po and Hui Kwei Yuen