June 26, 1895.[
CHINA. OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
.........18,031,721
487 to 48.33 per cent. (a gain of 2 per cent.); goods from Chinese ports to Chinese ports equalled 5.55 per cent., or a gain of 1.55 per cent.
GREVENUE.
568,967
18,600,688 1,442,539
The total collection amounted to Tls. 515,188, a decrease of Tls. 7,241, or only 1.40 per cent., Exports, value at moment of shipment 20,043,226 played the following peculiarities, vis. :—
when compared with the total of 1893, and dis-
rice famine was apprehended. The timely [Original exports, market value removal of the restrictive regulations, however, Add duty paid at Canton........... succeeded in averting that calamity, and before the year closed supplies became so plentiful as Exports, plus duty to cause an important reduction in the greatly | Add 8 per cent. on market value for enhanced cost of rice. In wheat the falling off is significant; this is, I am told, due in a certain
exporters' profit, eto. measure to the closing, during the prevalence of the plague, of the numerons eating-houses in the city where eatables made from wheat are chiefly consumed.
INLAND TRANSII.
This system was not made use of during the twelve months under review.
SHIPPING.
KOWLOON TRADE REPORT FOR
1894.
The following is the report of Mr. H. E. Hobson, Commissioner of Customs, on the trade passing the Kowloon Customs stations during
1894
LOCAL.
The list shows an increase over the figures for 1893 in the total number of vessels entered and cleared, which is sccounted for by the growing number of native-owned steam-launches plying for hire in the waters of Canton. Under the
When it is mentioned that during the busiest British flag the number of entries and clear-months of the year in connexion with trade in auces is slightly below that of the preceding stations, including the colony of Hongkong, was the East the neighbourhood of the Kowloon year, but the carrying capacity of the vessels visited by the much-dreaded bubonic plague, gives an increase of over 100,000 tons. Of the which struck terror into the minds of the Chinese total tonnage, 84 per cent. falls to the share of population, causing merchants, boat people, and the British flag, 7 per cent. to the German, and the working classes alike to think only of flight 8 per cent. to the Chinese.
and how to escape contagion, it will be readily but a falling off in mercantile transactions conceived that, when compared with 1893, nothing could be anticipated. In reality. might have been very much less satisfac. tory; but before proceeding to review the
figures contained in
PASSENGER TRAFFIC.
Compared with the statistics of 1893 the fall ing off in the number of native passengers to Hongkong is 75,000, and from Hongkong 36,000. The clue to this may be traced in the prevalence of the plague at Hongkong, the dread of this disease stopping for a time the usual stream of na- tives to and from the colony. The decrease in for- eign tourists should be put down to the same ca uso. TREASURE.....
The amount of silver imported is valued at Hk Tls. 4,000,000, and the amount exported at Hk. Tls. 2,400,000, thus showing, for the first time since 1891, a large excess of imports. The im ports consisted chiefly of bullion and the exports of coined silver.
matters
Opium duties
Import likin...
Export likin.....
DECREASE.
Ching-fei on piece goods, etc........
INCREASE.
Tis. 30,2663
(18.88 per cent.)
7,711
1,349
2,618
5,887
1,010
21,570
758
4,626
Import duties (opium excluded) ... Export duties FAN LUI SORES # 643 616 25E STO Ching-fei on kerosene oil............................ Ching-fei on wax
Granary tax on rice and paddy .........
FOREIGN TRADE.
Coal Cotton, raw.
Cotton yarn and thread
Cotton piece goods
Flour... Ginseng Matches
Total quantity. Decrease.
3,986 pioula 1,119
397,340 grosg
37,728 tons
1,853
2,797 piouls
$1,399
46,647 pieces
14,046
683 piculs
1,008
26,859 piouls
5,825
208 piouls
181
37,777
13,499 664,625
72 075
8,444
tioned, which resulted in a shrinkage in value by (a.) Imports,-An all round diminution in
Hk. Tls. 2,336,469. In rice and paddy alone the importation of foreign goods has to be men- (chiefly Siamese) the supply was 2,399,284 piculs behind that of 1893. There were increases in Russian kerosene oil of 3,660,470 gallons, the 2,760 mille, the total being 49,668 mille; sugar total import beir 7,589,735 gallons; needles, 5,048 piculs, the total being 22.858 picals; wood (red, ebony, etc.), Hk. Tls. 42,047, the total be.
on the plague ravages, which may be described
our returns it willing Hk. Tls. 120,061. The important decreases probably be as well to offer a few remarks
were as under
Description of Goods. as having had, for the time being at any
Bicho de Mar rate, a paralysing effect. From our stations, observation, since they are situated at distances which proved excellent vantage grounds for varying from 3 to 10 miles to the south, east, that the disease known to the Chinese as and west of Hongkong, the fact was established wen-i, and supposed to have been introduced (a). Foreign-The decline in the opium trade by an infected passenger arriving from Yan- at Canton has been again progressive, the aan via the West River and Canton, or from total falling off, compared with the figures for the same region by steamer via Pakhni, made 1893, being 1,585 pienis. The reason for this May. The first case that came under observa- its appearance in different directions early in continued decrease is to be found in the tion was at the Fotochow station on the 12th diminished supply of the drug-caused by of that month, and the infliction continued, legislation and unfavourable conditions weather in India--and in the extremely high by which time the number of cases coming under with varying virulence, until early in August, prices ruling for it in China. Canton dealers the immediate cognizance of the members of the declare themselves satisfied with the profits Customs staff, which included the patients realised during the year.
(b). Native.-Owing to the irregular channels via Capsuimoon, together with the admissions transferred from Hongkong to Canton in junks through which native opium flads its way to the to the Laichikok hospital, equalled 933 in all. consumer, it is difficult to form an idea of its The victims growth in and about Canton, and one can only crowded western portion of the British colony. By were more numerous in the imagine that the supply increases in proportion proclamation bearing date 10th May Hongkong to the decrease in the foreign_article. The average prices per pical quoted for the various kinds of native opium in 1894 were as follows:- Szechwan, Tis. 368; Kweichow, Tls. 328; and
Yunnan, Tls. 376.
OPIUM.
MISCELLANEOUS.
*
of
was declared an infected port, and it was not until the 3rd September that this proclamation was revoked. By that time, and in spite of the numerous preventive measures adopted by the colonial authorities, the number of registered The most momentous occurrence of the year occurred in the month of June alone. During deaths was 2,552, of which no less than 1,688 affecting Canton was the appearance of the most of this period the harbour of Hongkong pest known as the bubonic plague,” to which, it is computed, as many as 100,000 souls fell had a deserted appearance; it was difficult to victims in the city. The people chiefly affected the usual busy hum of men and traffic was obtain either coolies to work cargo, and by the disease were of the lower classes, living absent, both ashore and afloat. This is hardly the ander poor conditions and occupying unclean dwellings; while the boat population, opium fuller details regarding a visitation which will place, even if space permitted, for entering into smokers, and workmen employed in tea factories are said to have enjoyed a comparative freedom long be remembered in the Kowloon district from attack. The death rate among plague misfortunes which followed in its train; but it from its malignant character and the general patients was the highest at the commencement of the epidemio, and towards the end a successful from the highest to the lowest, educated and may be of interest to observe that the Chinese, treatment became more general.
ignorant alike, viewed it from a distinctly fata- little faith in medicines, and more particularly listic standpoint. Apparently, they had but those prescribed by European practitioners. Their only desire when stricken was to be left infection to relatives, friends, and neighbours; at home undisturbed, regardless of danger by they lay down to live or die, as-so the better Informed put it-" the will of Heaven decreed.” As soon as the adverse circumstances above related were removed, a tide of prosperity set in; Net imports
and although it was impossible to make up all Deduct duties and likin paid at Canton 1,264,023 the lost ground, yet the total value of the trade for 1894 as conducted via the Kowloon stations was estimated at Hk. Tls. 40,687,681, or but 26,121,853 Hk. Tls 899,202 short of the figures of the
previous: a 1,828,530 57.67 per cent of this total value (a decline of season. Foreign imports represented Imports, value at moment of landing...24,293,323 nearly 5 per cent.); native imports were station: ary at 8.45 per cent.; native exports amounted
As worthy of record, the destruction by fire in September of the famous flower-boats may be noted. Their want has not been long felt, how ayer, as newly built boats are rapidly occupying the vacant place.
Import and export values in 1894 were as
follows:-
Net foreign imports, market value Net native imports, market value
Not imports, minus duty..
Hk. Tls. ...13,699.233 .13,686.593
.27,385,876
Deduct 7 per cent. for importers' profi“,
eto.
Metale, chiefly iron, lead Oil, kerosene, American... in pigs, copper, and steel Opium, Indian Rice and paddy Seaweed
Timber, beams, logs, etc... Woollen piece goods
6,819,095 gallons 244,894 piouls
641 piouls
4,977,856 pionls 2,399,284
4,480 piouls
207,296
value, Hk. Th.
58,081 9,350 pieces 5,781
figures of the previous season, and it is evident advance of 3.85 per cent. as compared with the (b.) Exports.-In exports there was an
that the plague troubles had little influence on the general producing capabilities of the neigh- chinaware, cushions, embroidered goods, feather bourhood. Manufactured articles, such as fine and paper fans, fire-crackers, artificial flowers, ung, pens, shoes, wild silk, silk cocoons, gold leaf, joss ornaments, joss paper, mat- silk piece goods, tin-foil, and tobacco, were in fuller supply than usual; whilst drugs and fresh fruit, lard, antgalls, olives, orange peel. comestibles, such as cassia lignea, cuttle-fish,
in excess. Shipments of cassia, which in 1893 potatoes, rice, black tea (66,864), piculs), were all
of 21,833 picals. Short quantities, however, fell off by 54,214 picals, recovered to the extent must be noted in connexion with white and green alum; gunny and straw bags; bricks, tiles, and fish; hides and horus; straw and packing mats; building materials; charcoal; feathers; dried first quality paper; preserves; salt; brown and white sugar; green tea (1819 piouls); and white [raw silk.
(c.) Re-exports.- Nil.
COAST TRADE.
a gain in
between. Chinese ports via the Kowloon sta
(a.) Original Shipments Coastwise,-Nil. (b.) Coastwise Arrivals (i.e., produce exchanged tions). Owing chiefly to largely increased the value of cargoes reporting direct from consignments of salt, there was Chinese ports of Hk. Tls. 603,321, and in those via Hongkong of Hk. Tls. 100,163. Fishery pro- than usual, but in connexion with firewood, ducts and salt vegetables were more plentiful grasscloth, ground-nut cake, joss paper, and packing mats, supplies were short. Prepared bpiam, packed in jars, covered by passes issued by the Canton Hoppo, passed the stations to the total of 18 piculs, and though described as foreign was suspected of being native, and possibly slightly admixed.
Capsuimoon.--Seven steam-launches were em- Hongkong-Macao Trade viâ Changchow and
luring the season, and, in addition, there were bloyed off and on between the sister colonies 101 more junks engaged than in 1893, the result being that the cargoes from Hongkong Macao?
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