7
806
6
The following tables, as showing the relative importance of the Shipping con- ducted under the various national flags, will be of interest:-
*
ENTERED.
CLEARED.
=
NATIONALITY OF VESSELS.
Vessels.
•
Tons.
Vessels.
Tons.
American,
111
155,667
104
147,711
Austrian,
53
128,483
51
122,632
Belgian,
9
British,
3,360
12,407 4,615,022
9
12,407
3,355
4,598,617
Chinese,.
138
18,932
140
19,113
Chinese Junks,
17,736
1,631,272
17,658
1,634,896
Corean,
1
796
1
796
Danish,
12
25,903
12
25,903
Dutch,
29
40,872
29
40,872
French,
328
243,588
328
238,427
German,
844
1,242,642
843
1,239,967
Italian,
13
18,782
14
19,502
Japanese,
336
692,981
333
688,140
Norwegian,
79
78,004
75
73,821
Portuguese,
83
10,456
83
10,456
Russian,..
8,797
4
8,797
Siamese,
2
407
Spanish,.
1
784
784
Swedish,
7
6,923
7
6,923
No Flag,
80
7
2,747
the Colony,
Steam launches trading to ports outside}
1,542
82,564
1,542
82,564
Total,........
24,687 9,014,955
23,056
8,892,918
(b.)-INDUSTRIES.
During the year 1901, most of our local industries, which are chiefly carried on upon joint stock principles, were well employed throughout the year, with satis- factory results.
'Cotton spinning by the local company was hampered by the plague. The results to original shareholders were not good, owing to the initial cost of the Mill being higher than originally estimated. However, the capital was written down largely, and fresh capital brought in, with the effect that the present condition of the Company is very satisfactory, and the future outlook promising. Improved dwell- ings for their operatives are shortly to be erected, and the system of piece work has been successfully introduced. >
The sugar industry has been hampered by the large importations of Continental bounty fed sugar into Japan and other markets which used to draw their supplies from here.
The shipping industry during 1901 was presperous throughout the year. Over-speculation in shares both here and in Shanghai has in many cases ad- versely affected the value of shares in several of the local undertakings, but I think that this is merely a temporary condition and that things will come to their normal level before long.
If the heavy fall in silver becomes permanent, it must eventually stimulate local productions in many directions, particularly in the repairing and docking of ships, as this work can be excellently done by Chinese under European supervision.
The local Dock Company is a large and will equipped institution, and the docking facilities of the colony will, in the course of the next few years, be largely augmented by the Admiralty Dock and by considerable works of the same sort at present under construction by Messrs. Butterfield & Swire at Quarry Bay.
The Hongkong Dock Co. are at present building a large river steamer for the Canton route, and if the result is satisfactory a considerable development in ship building may shew itself, especially if silver remains low.
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