Details for 1920
In his report on the trade of Kongmoon for 1990 Mr, H. D. Hil-liard, acting Commissioner of Customs, makes the following comments upon the import trade:—The value of foreign imports for the period under review totals Hk. Tls. 5,115,62T, as against Hk. Tls. 3,298,136 for 1919. The increase shown is due to two outstanding reasons: firstly, the political troubles in this locality, which have diverted goods accustomed to pass under the eggs of the Native Customs into Maritime Customs control: and. secondly, the cessation of the Japanese boycott, which has notably affected cottons and matches, Sateens jumped from 1,314 pieces in 1919 to 10,279 pieces; printed. shirtings show an increase of 2,602 pieces, and plain dyed cotton Italians of 1,103 pieces. Velvets quadrupled and 7'-cloths trebled the 1919 values. Matches increased by 19,692 gross.
Metals show an increase throughout. Iron bars rose from 4,548 to 7,919 piculs, and iron and steel manufactures from 1,903 to 2,474 piculs. Remarkable increases have to be noted in groundnuts, especially shelled groundnuts, which have risen from 8,731 to 47,791 piculs. This is partly due to trade being diverted from the Native Customs and partly to an increased demand by the local oil presses. Other outstanding increases are those of beans, wheat flour, and cigarettes, which have risen 18,479 piculs, and 19,370 piculs, and 19,010 mille respectively. The wheat flour, which comes chiefly from—Chinkiang, was replaced during the period of outlawry by supplies from Hongkong.
American kerosene oil has dropped 207,454 gallons, and the Borneo product 29,532 gallons. Difficulty was experienced during the troubles in forwarding consignments to remote village consumers. White sugar, chiefly on account of its prohibitive cost, decreased from 39,307 to 32,384 piculs. the cigarette competitors, Nanyang Brothers continue to expand their trade and, by dint of propaganda operations emphasizing the panacea
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.