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CONFIDENTIAL Not for

publication.

238

HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

REPORT ON SHIPPING AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY, 17th March, --1939.

SHIPPING.

The market is slightly firmer. No fixtures

are reported, Saigon/ Hong Kong, but regular steamers

are lifting good rice cargoes. Two steamers were fixed,

Saigon/Manila. In the Bangkok trade, enquiries were

received for trip charter, Bangkok/Hong Kong, also for steamer to load 2,800 tons rice, Bangkok/Manila.

following "outside" charters were reported: Hong Kong/ Vladivostock (tea); Hong Kong/Swatow (monthly rates) and

Rangoon/Hong Kong (rates per ton).

The

Regarding the China coast trades, considerable

cargoes were shipped from Tientsin to the South, shippiers

desiring to clear as much of their stocks as possible

before enforcement of the Japanese "Exchange & Exports

Control" restrictions scheduled to operate on 10th March.

Recent press reports indicate that the restrictions have

apparently been postponed for a month, but in spite of

this, little or no business is being done. Except that

in some isolated instances shippers were able to arrange

with the Japanese Mission to ship small parcels, there is

no sign of a resumption of trade on any scale at Chefoo

and Weihaiwei. Fair support has been received from

Good

The

Tsingtau whilst that from Shanghai is moderate.

cargoes continue from Hong Kong to the north. reported "embargo" on exports from Swatow does not

appear to be so serious as at first expected;

steamers

The "ban" enforced

are doing quite well from that port.

at Foochow has been lifted as concerns cargo for Shanghai,

whilst there are prospects of modification of the "embargo

on certain commodities to North China, chiefly timber.

Conditions at Pakhoi are easier though the

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Japanese

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