Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 174

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Thus, the proportion of Foreign Officers serving in British vessels was 0.44%, com- prising 4 nationalities. A decrease of 0.41% with a decrease in number of Officers and ships.

The 438 Foreign vessels carried 3,304 Officers, of whom 152 were British, as follows:-

In Chinese vessels,

Dutch

French

"

??

German

21

>;

"5

Japanese

:)

United States vessels,

Total,

64

3

3

58

18

152

Thus, 4.6% of the Officers serving in Foreign vessels visiting the Port were of British nationality. A decrease of 0.43 % with a decrease in number of ships and of Officers

therein.

8. The 362 British vessels carried, as Crews, 22,976 British, 638 other Europeans and Americans and 115,308 Asiatics; while the 438 Foreign vessels carried 1,699 British, 29,721 other Europeans and Americans and 115,174 Asiatics.

Hence in Britsh vessels :-

16.5% of the crews were British.

0.5% of the crews were Other

Europeans.

83.0% of the crews were Asiatics.

And in Foreign vessels :-

1.2% of the crews were British.

20.2% of the crews were Other

Europeans.

78.6% of the crews were Asiatics.

2.-Trade.

9. The figures given in previous years under this heading have, as pointed out annually been based upon information which can only be characterised as unsatisfactory and the result as erroneus and misleading. As it is obvious that such returns have no value, it has been decided to discontinue them in the form they have hitherto taken, but the aggregates of the reports received are shown, for purposes of comparison, in round numbers. These include imports of Sugar and imports and exports of Opium, of which accurate returns are rendered under the heading "Import and Export Office"."

10. The returns in this form show increase of bout 360,000 tons in Imports, of about 191,000 tons in Exports and of about 518,000 tons . Transit Cargo.