ENG-1947 — Page 145

The Port.

COMMUNICATIONS

Chapter 11.

The fortunes of a major port and commercial entrepôt are to a great extent dependent on the efficiency of its communica- tions both internal and external, and in particular on its shipping. Before the war frequent scheduled passenger and cargo services connected Hong Kong with Europe, Africa, Australia, America and the Middle East. Ships of many nations were to be seen in the Harbour, the most frequent callers, apart from the British P. & O., Blue Funnel, Ben Line, Bank Line, Ellerman's and Canadian Pacific lines being American, Scan- dinavian and French Ships. In addition to the ocean-going tonnage, there was a considerable traffic in cargo and passengers between Hong Kong and the neighbouring provinces of China; this was largely carried on by sailing and motor junks, but river steamers, British and foreign, also accounted for a fair propor- tion. A large number of steam launches and junks served the port as ancillary craft for the larger shipping. The year 1947 has seen the resumption, although at present with only one vessel, the R.M.S. "Canton", of the P. & O. passenger service from the United Kingdom, and also of commercial services to Japan. Other services, already resumed between the liberation of the Colony and the beginning of 1947, have continued in operation, and with more vessels becoming available, river steamer sailings to Canton, West River ports and Macao have increased in number, in spite of the severe import restrictions imposed by the Chinese Government, and the threats of terrorist organisations, for the purpose of extortion, to place bombs aboard particular vessels. Approximately 1,000 junks were engaged during the year under review in trading between Hong Kong and the ports of South China; of these 186 were mechani- cally propelled. Mechanical propulsion for junks first began in the year 1940 as a means of combatting the Japanese blockade of South China. The trend developed during the years of the Japanese occupation, as their losses in merchant shipping forced the Japanese to rely to an ever greater extent upon this type of craft for the maintenance of their communications. The manifest advantages of motor junks over sailing junks will undoubtedly result in a further marked development in this direction.

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