In spite of fighting and piracy in the vicinity the net value of the trade of Samshui during 1920 amounted to Hk. Tls. 4,900,593 as against Hk. Tls. 4,881,914 in the preceding year. The report expresses the hope that the Military Government of Canton will take measures to repress the piracy now prevailing which is the worst enemy of trade. Mention is made of the salutary effect of the presence of two powerful British gunboats on the West River, which combined with the action of the British Consul-Genera] at Canton succeeded in restoring confidence in commercial and shipping circles.
The tonnage entered and cleared from the port was 1,526,000, an increase of 17,000 tons. The net value of foreign goods imported from foreign countries, Hongkong and Chinese ports was Hk. Tls. 2,748,984, an increase of Hk. Tls. 93,885. Since 1914 there has been a steady decline in the imports of cotton piece goods, the high price of these and the movement to use local fabrics being largely responsible for this. Indian cotton yarn still holds a prominent place with goods are decreasing year by year. Increases were seen in American and Sumatra oil but there was a heavy drop in Borneo oil.
The total value of the exports to Hongkong and foreign countries was Hk. Tls. 499,092, an increase. of Hk. Tls. 34,036, and exports to Chinese ports were Hk. Tls. 1,002,- 948. Increases were seen in nankeens, native made clothing, boots and shoes and matches.
Cutxwanetao's Cos, Exports.
The net value of the trade of Chinwangtao during 19290 was Hk. Tls. 17,180,516, an advance of Ts. 1,480,076 over 1919, while the revenue collected, Hk. Tls. 476,187 was the highest on record. The output of the Kailan Mining Administration during the year was 4,000,000 tons of coal, while attention is drawn in the report to the production of anthracite at the Liukiang mine. A grade known as "special nuts," said to compare very favourably with Cardiff coal, is all being exported to England in spite of high freights. In the vicinity of Liukiang three more anthracite mines are now working under foreign methods, and_ there is talk of them coming under foreign ownership in the near future.
The tonnage of shipping dealt with in the port amounted to 2,342,386 tons, 70 per cent. of which was Japanese. British tonnage came second. The value of foreign goods imported was Hk. Tls. 3,500,000 as compared with Hk Tls. 2,000,000 in the previous year (excluding munitions of war imported for government use.) Cotton goods showed an increase of 36 per cent, due largely to the cessation of the anti-Japanese boycott. Eng-ligh White Shirtings increased by 6,331 pieces. In exports coal, firebricks and cement showed increases.
Trape Conpitions at TienTsin.
The report on the trade of Tientsin for 1920 begins by describing the extraordinary conditions during the year, and after mentioning a state of affairs now only too familiar, says:—
The condition at the end of the year is that Chinese purchasers, foreign' importers and the banks are all so deeply involved that normal trade conditions cannot arrive until this incubus is removed, which is estimated at 15 million pounds sterling, equivalent to 7} million taels at exchange current at December 31, 1920. Nor will conditions improve unless drastic measures are promptly evolved to cut losses.
The report then goes on to detail the factors militating against the export trade, but points out that in Spite of this, the additional troubles of civil war and famine, j the gross value of the trade of the port, Hk. Ts. 176,213,790, was the second best on record. The total revenue of Hk. Ts. 5,019,902 is lower by two lakhs than that of local desiers, but woollen piece: 1919, Foreign goods imported were valued at Hk. Tls. 89,201,594. There was a shrinkage in cotton goods, largely borne by the Japanese, but metals were well over the importations of 1919, as also were dyes. The two oil companies imported 30,000,000 gallons of oil.
There was a decline in practically every item of export, heavy drops being registered in wool, cotton, linseed, goatskins and strawbraid.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.