June 13, 1908.]
value of the foreign trade last year was Tls. 680,782,066, as compared with Tls. 646,726,821 in 1906. The proportion of this docketted to Hongkong was Tls. 252,868,450, the largest amount recorded during the last seven years. Of this amount, imports to China are put at Tls. 155,642,016 (as against Tls. 144,936,957 in 1906) and exports Tis. 97,226,434 (as against Tls. 82,740,427 in 1906). Great Britain, ex- clusive of British India, &c., bad a direct trade with China to the value of Tls. 89,670,345, the next biggest slices (nct counting Japan or America) being France. Tls. 33,817,211, and Germany, Tls. 22,286,595. The difference between the contributions to China's foreign trade of France and Great Britain was this, that while the latter was mostly British goods to China (Tls. 77,562,700) the former was mostly Chinese goods to France, (value 11s. 30,658,585). Germany's trade was in the proportion of sixteen millions German goods against six millions China goods. The imports from British India were valued at Tls. 32,913,847 and the exports to British India at 11s. 3,179,695. As might have been expected, Japan was easily the biggest customer, selling China Tls. 57,461,410 worth and buying Tls. 39,347,476 worth. This total (nearly 97 millions) compares with 94 millions in 1906, and nearly 81 millions at the beginning of the lus- trum. The direct trade with the Unitel States amounted to Tls. 63,507,136, a further decline (from Tls. 70,107,637 in 1906, and Tls. 103,947,610 in 1905. For the trade of various ports of China, readers are referred to the highly interesting abstract of foreign trade just published by the statistical department of I.M.C. [Part 1 | (a) for 1908, price 82, Kelly and Walsh Ltd.]
The shipping entered and cleared during 1907 is shown as 217,932 vessels with a tonnage of 80,109,424. This is the highest in the last six years. British shipping shows a decline, the figures being
number
year
1907
27,495
1906
28,192
1915
30,442
1904
31,299
1903
1902
25,297 24.758
tons
33,316,618 33,45,56 35,095,658 32,933,873
28 122,987 26,950,202
These figures are interesting. So are the parallel figures of Japanese shipping, which we extract and tabulate as follows:
year
ships
1907
29,296
1906
25,108
1905
25,851
1904
5,755
1903
1902
7,554 6,891
tons 15,593,213
11,376,430
6,238,918
4,290,350
7,965 358 7,350,515
Barring Chinese owned craft these are the two biggest items in China's entrances, and clearances. Gerinany sent 5,864 ships, of 6,639,767 tons, and France 5,072 of 4,712,188 tons, both showing a persistent decline in the last three years.
We published only the other day the fir-t part of the general report by Mr, J. L. CHALMERS, the Acting Statistical Secretary at Shanghai, and there is no need to repeat any of it. Further on, Mr. CHALMERS notes that the increase in the net value of imports was inconsistent with the undoubtedly de- pressed condition of trade in general, and with the decrease in import duties. He explains it by reference to exceptional imports paying no duty, such as flour, rices and railway materials. The anti-opium to March 20th last had
measures up
C
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. Looking at the origins of the imports, he saw little change from the position of 1906. The value assigned to Hongkong bad increased by eleven million taels, thereby merely adding so much to an unknown and disturbing factor," All the leading European countries showed slightly smaller values, and the United States showed a decrease of Tls. 7,532,733, which, in view of the almost complete suspension of their piece goods trade, was surprisingly small, and pointed to compensating prosperity in other directions. British Indian importy were maintained, and Japanese had a slight set back, which was traceable in part to Formosa ten. China exported far more tea than usual last year, after a highly favour- able season, and silk exports were greater, and would have been more but for the financial difficulties in America. Reverting to the shipping figures given above, it appears that the decrease in British tonnage represents a fall from 44 per cent. of the whole to 41.59 per cent, while German tonnage fell from 9.86 to 8.29 per cent. The Japanese increase was from fifteen to 19.47 per cent of the total. Discussing the unprecedented fluctuation in exchange, Mr. CHALMERS notes the power of go unstable an exchange to injure legitimate trade, and attributes the collapse of silver to the financial stress in America, throwing silver on the market, and to the fear of impending agricultural disasters in India. At the same time he notes the significantly interesting facts that in 1906 the world production of gold reached the highest recorded annual total of £83,000,000 (in itself enough to cheapen silver considerably) while in the same year the production of silver was the lowest since 1898, only £43,600,000.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on June 9th at the Board Room. The Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (president), presided, and there were also present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, (Vice-President, Hon. Mr. H..W. Slade, Hoa. Mr. Irving, Captain Lyons, Messrs. Shelton Hooper, Fang Wa Chuo, Lau Cha-pak, and the following officials-Dr. Pearse, (Med:cal Officer of Health), Dr. Macfarlane, (Assistant Medical Officer of Healt'), and McI. Messer, (Secretary.)
THE DRAFT ESTIMATES. The draft estimates for the Sanitary Depart- ment for the year 19 8 were submitted.
Mr. HOOPER said he did not propose to discuss the estimates that day as they had not teen circulated, but he would like if the President would ask His Excellency how he arrived at the saving of between £9750 and £14240 which he said in his speech in the Legislative Council would be effected in contemplated in the Sanitary 1 epartment.
the various changes The PRESIDENT consented and the discussion was accordingly postponed.
REMOVAL OF GARDEN REFUSE.
Correspondence was read with reference to the removal of garden refuse from the Peak.
The MEDICAL OFFICER of HEALTH miaated: The custom in England is for the coutractor to remove free only that garden refuse that cin go in the ordinary dust-bio, but that anything extra in the way of garden rafuse must be paid for. Evidently the Crown Solicitor, whose opinion had been asked, thinks that we cannot make the contractor remove large amounts of garden refase.
The HON. PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDIC L (FFICER also minuted: these complaints against the scavenging on. Most likely mauy of
tractor are really the fault of the owners of
houses who let their servants dump garden refuse on their own lots, or on the nearest con- not borne fruit in diminished consumpthey must make their own arrangements for venient land. The people should know that tion, but Mr. CHALMERS points out
reliable conclusions
the removal of garden refuse, It is hardly to be expected that the ratepayers should pay for not to be drawn from figures. hose who wish to keep large gardens.
that
are
on this head
375
The PRESIDENT remarked that this was It was
circulated for public information. scarcely reasonable to expect the contractor to remove garden refuse.
Hon. Mr. SLADE said that the owner of the garden ought to burn it.
3) loads of garden refuse was removed.
The PRESIDENT mentioned that in one case
Mr. Fuxa WA-CHUN thought an arrange- ment should be made with the contractor to be paid extra for the removal of such refuse.
The PRESIDENT considered that 10 cents a
load would be a fair charge.
The mat'er ended.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The
May 16 the show that the death rate in the British
The mortality statistics for the week ending and Foreign population was 27.7 per 1,000 as against 20.5 per 1,000 for the corresponding week of last year; in the Chinese community 37.3 par 1,000 as against 19.6, per 1,000. figures for the week ending May 23 were:- British and Foreign population 35.6 per 1,000 last year; in the Chinese community 40.0 per as against 8.2 for the corresponding week of 1,600 as against 20.5 per 1,000.
THE LATE COLONEL MARTIN,
The Board unanimously passed the following resolution : It is with deep regret that the Board have heard of the sudden death of one of Officer of the South China Command, whilst on its members, Colonel Martin, Principal Medical holiday in Japan.
¡
THE POWAN
39
WRECKED.
SUNK OFF LANTAO ISLAND.
**
On June 9th a sensation Was created in Hongkong when the report was passed from mouth to mouth that the steamer "Powan was wrecked and that many of her passengers bad lost their lives. As is usual the first tidings of such disasters are presented in their gravest aspect to eke out as it were the ack-o detail, aud though later information showed that the news of the wrecking of the steamer was only too true, it did not however confirm the large number of deaths which the first intel- ligence associated with the disaster. On her way from Hongkong to Canton the steamer south west of the entrance to Capsimun Pass struck a submerged rock some two miles to the
rapidly filling with water the captain attempted and as the soundings showed that she was to run her ashore at Lantao but she sunk not far from the rock in about eight fathoms of water. Other steamers and launches came to the assistance of the unfortunate crew and passengers and while only one body has been found as many as fifty passengers are reported missing. Probably several of these made their escape by swimming or floating ashore or were taken on board the rescuing steamers..
The "Powan" left the wharf at nine o'clock She had an ordinary cargo on Monday night. and her list of passengers numbered somewhere about 200 all Chinese. During the blinding rain. storm which occurred shortly afterwards the vessel struck a submerged rock. Instantly there was the greatest excitement on board. The Chinese passengers noticed that something untoward had happened and when they rushed on deck they were quick to realise that the vessel was doomed. Fortunately the panic which prevailed among the passengers did not lead to a stam- pede, A few there were who lost their heads and jumped over-board but they were saved with one exception. Land was visible at the time the ship struck the rock and Captain Black, after having learned from the soundings the safety of the passengers his first considers- that the water was gaining rapidly, made tion. His officers loyally supported him in this trying hour and the crew behaved with considerable gallantry and composure. The
the
steamer's whistle was blown for assistance and a rocket was fired. Fortunately these appeals did not go unanswered and soon the Chinese owned launch Kam Shua" appeared on scene and assisted in the rescue of the passengers from the ill fated steamer which by this time had been gradually
elicited sinking. The heroism and unflagging seal in this noble work of the master of the launch the warmest commandations from those who benefitted and doubtless the sction of the master and his subordinates will not be allowed to pass unnoticed.
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