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HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
CONFIDENTIAL
Not for publication.
REPORT ON SHIPPING AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY, 14 th JULY,1939.
286
SHIPPING.
No fixtures reported though
The market continues very quiet. enquiries received for tonnage, Vladivostock area trading and Bangkok/ Indian coast, on time-charter terms. The closing of Swatow, etc., has seriously affected the regular rice trades from Saigon and Bangkok resulting in charterers being forced to seek other employment or sub- let.
No improvement to report on China coa st markets which generally remain in a very depressed state. This, however, is chiefly due to the political situation, i.e., blockade of ports by Japanese, than to actual suspension of the movement of cargo. At Chefoo, Weihaiwei and Tsingtau, shipments are offering, but the Japanese Naval Mission functioning at these ports are practising more stringent methods of discrimination against British tonnage, with consequent loss in support. An outstanding example is Tsingtau, where the Mission (alias the Asia Development Board) are sparing no pains to oust British coastal shipping from Tsingtau, and as they have already secured for the Japanese Shipping Companies all the tobacco and cigarettes shipped out of the port by the largest Tobacco Company trading in China (1.8., B.A.T), it appears it will only be a matter of time before exports by British coasting vessels will cease al- together. The usual method of "per sua si on" is for the Mission to give native shippers a hint that unless they switch bookings to Japanese steamers, permits for export would not be for th coming; recently a consignment of 4,000 baskets Groundnut Oil was lost to British steamers through this action. Another phase developing at the wharves, etc., at Tsingtau is the interference of labour working British ships; as soon as Japanese vessels arrive, th e Authorities "persuade" stevedores and dock labour to leave British ships and work Japanese, the result being British vessels are seriously delayed.
In the Tientsin area, passengers, cargo lighters, etc., connected in any way with British shipping and commercial interests are being seriously in terfered with by the Japanese. Recently it was reported the Japan ese hinted at closing of Haiho River to foreign trading, etc.
In the Yangtsze Delta the discrimination and interference by Japanese is seriously affecting British lines. In certain cases Japanese armed "drifters" shadow British vessels and drive away cargo and passengers.
Very little doing in the South, the blockade of Foochow and Swatow continues and trade is suspended. Occasionally coasters call at Swatow, but only for purposes of showing the flag, and to land mails, passengers. Demand from Hong Kong is very weak. Satisfactory support from Pakhoi, whilst steamers are securing sma 11 cargoes, chiefly sugar, from Hoihow. Canton remains closed to British trading and prospects of re-opening appear very remote.
SHIPBUILDING & REPAIRING.
(Please refer to the following particulars supplied by the two leading Dockyards): -
NEW BUILDING AT TAI KOO DOCKYARD, HONG KONG.
Details under this heading unchanged from last report. )
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