May 7, 1898.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Elour
Formosa, Philippine Islands, Hainan aud Gulf | Cotton yarn & cotton of Tonquin, Siam. Class IV-River steamers between Hongkong and Canton and Macao. Class F.-Junks in Foreign trade.
Homp
Kerosine (bulk) Kerosine (1,235,612
Casas)
Lead
Using this classification we find that the total import trade of 1897 was represented by 33,963 vessels aggregating 7,782,379 tons carrying 5,130,772 tons of cargo, of which Optum 3,278,310 tons were discharged in Hongkong.
Similarly, the export trade of 1897 was repre- sented by 33,784 vessels, aggegating 7,783,515 tons, carrying 2,777,323 tous of cargo, and ship. ping 445,999 tons of bunker coal.
From this we find that in 1897 the import trade was stimulated from Europe and distaut countries (Class I.) to the extent of 27 ships of 78,085 registered tons, carrying to and through the port an increase of 90.388 tons of cargo. In Class II., on the other hand, we find a de- crease of 31 ships of 19.463 registered tons, but an increase of 12,534 tons of cargo. The de- crease in ships was notably under the heading of "India and Straits Settlements," and the in-
Australia," crease of cargo under
'Japan," and “Java," Class III. differed from either I.or II., showing an increase of 116 ships, with a de- crease of 146,826 registered tons, and a decrease of 135,924 tons of cargo. The increase of ships was made up in the "China Coast,' Formosa," and Hainan and Tonkin" routes, while the de- crease of tonnage and cargo comes under "Co- chin-China" and "Siam."
•
面素
46
Turning next to exports, we find under Class I. an increase of 71 ships of 189,213 registered tons, with 35,256 tons of cargo. In Class II., a decrease of 30 ships of 89.730 registered tons, but an increase of 276,751 tons of cargo, princi- pally under "Australia," "Japan," and Java.“ În Class II. an increase of 99 ships, a decrease of 212,863 registered tous, and an increase of 180,959 tons of cargo.
44
The result of this analysis is shortly summed up in the words fuller ships," while the deficiency, where it occurs, is accounted for in the shortness of the Southern rice crop, or the divergence of the rice trade, probably to India,
and the restrictions on trade with India which were the inevitable result of the plague.
Looking a little further, and comparing with 1896, we find, with regard to the ocean-going ships, that there was au increase in the numbers of ships, and a decrease in the total tonnage, indicating smaller ships; together with this there was an increase in the total cargo carried, indicating fuller ships.
Smaller ships probably means lessened ex- penses (dues, &c., being paid on register tons), and faller ships, increased earnings, and these two, taken together, point fairly conclusively to a good year for shipping, notwithstanding the lowness of freight at one period.
During the year, 9,944 vessels of European construction, aggregating 12,124,599 registered tons, carried 7,144,737 tous, made up follows:-
Import cargo,.
...2,743,061
Export do.,
.2,103,215
'Transit do.,
.1,852,462
Bunker coal shipped,
445,999
Total,.
7,144,737
as
The total number of tons carried was there- fore 59 per cent. of the total registered tonnage, or 78 per cent. exclusive of River Steamers, and was apportioned as follows :---- Imports,→→
British Ships,. .
2,103,215
Foreign do.,
1,521,568 .1,221,493
2,743,061
Exports,
British Ships....
Foreign do.,
.1,154,883 948,332
Transit,
British Ships,.
Foreign do.,
1,115,706 736,756
Bunker Coal,----
British Ships,.. Foreign do.,
261,242 184,757
Pitch Rattan Rice
Sandalwood Sulphur Sugar Tea
Timber.. General
Total Transit
Grand total.
11,090 30,581 19,491 85,021 85,904 883 32,790 43,36 10,570 41,758 47,782 6,024
(1,689,688 44,129 60,346) .16,217
cases
5,498 4,581 2,531
915 2,299
232
1,700 1,700
2,140 2,920
313,400 248
704,530 361,137
2,040 1,820
3,707 220 186,759
8,459
211,777 25,018
5,447
5,929 482
49,363 64,802 15,499 1,077,090 1,211,700 134,610
220
2,791,889 2,743,061 298,950 347,778 1,845,400 1,852,462, 7,062
4,637,289 4,595,523 306,012 347,778
Nott
41,766
Junks imported 671,667 tons as under :-
Tea
2.787 tons.
Oil
1,761
Rice
39,301
Earth and Stones General
.132,099
495.719
Total...
.671,667
Junks exported 684,320 tons as under:-
Kerosine...
21,253 tons. 209,197
Rice and Paddy Earth and Stones.. General
Total
453,870
684320 European-constructed vessels imported 639,8-46 tous in excess of exports; junks exported an excess of 138,859 tons. The excess of imports is thus reduced to 500,987 tons; from this must be deducted 445,999 tons of bunker coal, ex- clusive of coal shipped by men-of-war, leaving a balance of 54,988 ions consumed, manufactured, in stock in the colony, or unaccounted for.
Plague and famine in India affected trade from thence, and probably deflected the Siamese rice trade, short though it was, from this colony.
The river steamers, aggregating 3,384,721 tons, inwards and outwards, imported 146,603 23,742 tons of bunker coal, and conveyed 988,016 tous of cargo, exported 90,544 tons, shipped
passengers.
PASSENGER TRAFFIC.
British ships. Foreign ships River steamers Launches (outside waters of the colony) Junks
trade)...
Arrivals Departures.
.139,893 150,809 including Emigrants.
68,679 63,575 .505,080 482,968
88,102 9',415
BY23,455
(foreign111,263 123,155
914,017 912,220
وو
31
Excess of arrivals over departures (For- eign Trade)
Junks, local trade Launches
...1,797 Arrivals. Departures,
3,203 1,793 2,349,553 2.321,003
2,352,786 2,322,796
51
Excess of arrivals over departures (lo- cal trade)
29,990
Difference-Excess of arrivals ...31,787
OCEAN-GOING VESSELS.
369
different, coincident with a large increase in tonnage, heavier cargces have been carried.
In 1893, 3,400 British ships, aggregating 4,517,089 tons, carried 79.9 per cent, in 1897, 3.688 vessels with a total of 4,883,745 tons carried 77.7 per cent, or a tonnage increase of 7.5 per cent, and a decrease in carrying of 2.22 per cent, equal to a nett increase in five years of 5.3 per cent.
In 1893, 2,602 foreign vessels, measuring 2,803,664 tons, carried 82.2 per cent in 1897, 3,161 foreigners, carried 80.2 per cent of their total tonnage, 3,856,135, equivalent to an in- crease of 27.3 per cent in measurement, with a decrease in carrying of 2 per cent or a nett increase in 5 years of 25.1 per cent.
Whilst British and foreign shipping import pro rata much the same, foreigners appear to carry more exports and British more transit cargo. Foreign vessels also appear to ship slightly more coal in the colony,
Tables are given which show the annual per- centages of cargoes per registered ton, for the five years during which returns have been col- lected in this Department. The mean for this period gives for British shipping 78.5 per cent., for foreign shipping 76.8 per cent. The best year for carrying for British shipping was 1894 viz., 82.5 per cent. (the plague year when quar- 1,852,462 antine requirements on leaving the colony caused many vessels to forego calling). Both 1893 and 1894 were good years for foreign vessels; they carried 82.2 per cent. each year. The gradual decrease of the total percentages after 1894 appears to show that the carriage offering is in excess of cargo requirements. There has been a marked rise in the total per centages. In the case of British shipping this is due to a decline in tonnage (lower than both 1895 or 1896); with foreign shipping the case is
415,999
Total,........ 7.144,737
Articles imported :—
Beans
1896. 1897. Increase, Decrease
250
250 3,660
3,660 529,721 601,544 61,823
Вопез Coal...
Between the first quarter of 1893, and the fourth quarter of 1897, British tonnage in- creased 181,386 tons, or 14.4 per cent, and decreased in carrying 0.6 per cent, or a nett increase of 13.8 per cent. For the same period, foreign shipping increased 402,360 tons or 38 per cent, and advanced in carrying 3.3 per cent, equivalent to a total gain of 41.3 per cent. During the five years under review 20,182,512 tons of shipping, on entry, paid light dues at 24 cents a ton.
RIVER STEAMERS, &C., call for little remark, sare that they are to be cougratulated on the remarkable economy of fnel apparent as against the expenditure in ocean-going vessels. The passeuger trade in 1897 was good, exceeding 1896 by 90,203. As might be expected their percentage of cargo is very low.
crease in imports. and a gain of 33,612 in pas- Junks in foreign trade show a decided in-
sengers carried over 1896. A fair average has been maintained. The diversion of the rice trade is very apparent in their percentages of exports.
Junks in local trade discharged mainly earth and stones at Victoria for the Reclamation.
REVENUE.
The total revenue collected by the Harbour was $234,233.12, a Office during the year decrease of $757.04 on the previons year.
1-Light Dues,
$114,176.41
2. Licences and Internal Re-
venue,
3.-Fees of Court and Office,...
Total,.....
STEAM LAUNCHES.
31,382.30
88,674.41
.234,233.12
On 31st December there was 155 steam launches employed in the barbour; of these 65 were licensed for the conveyance of passengers, 73 were privately owned, 12 were the property of the Colonial Government, and 5 belonged to the Imperial Government in charge of the Military Authorities.
One master's certificate was suspended for one month, and two master's certificates were suspended for two mouths each.
EMIGRATION,
62,831 emigrants left Hongkong for various places during the year; of these 50,317 were carried by British ships, and 12,514 by foreign ships; 115,207 were reported as having been brought to Hongkong from places to which they had emigrated; and of these, 91,056 were brought in British ships, and 24,151 by foreign ships.
SUNDAY CARGO-WORKING.
under the provisions of the ordinance; of these, During the year 160 permits were issued, 39 were not availed of owing to its being found unnecessary for the ship to work cargo on the Sunday, and the fee paid for the permit was refunded in each case. Permits were issued free of charge to mail steamers. The revenue collected under this beading was $11,850; this was $4,275 more than 1896.
Telegraphic and telephonic communication has been kept up with the Gap Rock and Cape D'Aguilar during the year. From the former station 568 vessels have been reported as passing, and in addition 139 messages were received and 3,110 sent including the daily weather report for the Observatory.
From Cape D'Aguilar 1,158 vessels were
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.