Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 430

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TRADE.

7. The principal features to be remarked as to the trade of the port for the year 1899 are:

(i) A large increase reported in the Case Oil imported.

(ii) The import of Rice, which had more than doubled in 1898, shows a still further

increase.

(iii) A great decrease in the Coal trade reported.

(iv) Sugar and Hemp also show a great falling off.

Case Oil, which was stationary in 1898, appears to have increased by 21,473 tous in 1899, (or 36.4%) Bulk Oil, on the other hand, has declined by 6.335 tons.

Rice again shows an increase of 24,435 tons, or 3.2 %.

Timber increases by 14,511 tons, or 31.0 %.

Coal, which had increased unprecedentedly in 1898, now suffers a reaction, and falls off by 130,410 tons, or 25.25 %.

Hemp decreases by 22,292 tons, or 40.0 %, while Sugar declines 84,260 tons, or 31.8%.

The net decrease in imports reported amounts to 206,884 tons.

In exports there is also a decrease (net) of 237,298 tons.

The transit cargo return shows a net decrease of 62,619 tons.

As has already been pointed out in previous annual returns, these cargo statistics cannot be re- garded as accurately representing the trade of the port, as they are compiled from information. gratuitously given, without any special staff or power to demand accurate returns.

8. The total import trade of the port for 1899 amounts to 28,010 vessels of 8,570,204 tons, carrying 5,707,898 tons of cargo, of which 3,750,195 tons were discharged at Hongkong. This does not include tonnage, number or cargo of Local Trade Junks.

COUNTRY.

CLASS I.

Canada,.

Continent of Europe,

Great Britain,

Mauritius,....

United States,

CARGO.

SHIPS.

TONS.

Discharged.

In Transit.

20

56,740

21,766

130

111

279,458

106,815

194,306

156

431,791

229,155

492,461

3

2,671

1,665

136

319,719

204,860

107,462

426

1,090,349

564,261

794,359

CLASS II

Australia and New Zealand,

India and Straits Settlements,

Japan,

Java and Indian Archipelago,

North and South Pacific,

Russia in Asia,................

50

84,268

34,359

35,487

139

268,874

202,475

138,081

405

881,705

649,499

337,641

144

181,675

214,770

41,371

1

89

60

11

16,787

5,524

2,000

750

1,433,398

1,106,687

534,583

CLASS III.

North Borneo,

Coast of China,

Cochin-China.

Formosa,

Philippine Islands,

Hainan and Gulf of Touquin,.

Siam,

Macao,

15

22,765

28,480

3,000

1,129

1,441,014

247,992

540,897

246

269,648

446,586

7,200

150

118,479

32.150

148

153,854

77,559

300

298

235,947

225,483

49,964

166

171,932

268,230

7,400

33

2,832

2,185

2,416,571

1,326,480

608,761

CLASS IV.

River Steamers,-Canton, Macao and West River,

2,083

1,780,551

184,177

CLASS V.

Junks in Foreign Trade............

22,566

1,849,435

568,590

TOTAL,...........

28,010

8,570,204

3,750,195

1,957,703