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“...superintended, undoubtedly restored
confidence amongst the local officials and the people, and helped to
stimulate trade. The lower classes still earn barely enough for a
livelihood, while the affluent are constantly subject to plunder and
outrage. Between the brigands on the one hand, and the Imperial
troops on the other, whole districts have been laid waste, and a large
portion of the country rendered unproductive and incapable of
consuming foreign goods. Fortunately the West River, as far as
Nanning on the south branch and Pose on the north branch, has,
speaking generally, remained open to mercantile traffic, although
trade is more and more hampered by the pernicious system of
military escort which has apparently become, from the point of
view of the Chinese authorities, indispensable to the safe transport
of merchandise.
Importance The provincial government would do well to recognise the vital
of the West River and its numerous tributaries as the
great trade route to South-West China, both...”
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“... from the
depression of 1902. There was a good demand from fanning
during the latter part of 1903 which still continues. A satisfactory
feature of the business was the unusually large quantity of piece-
goods taken by Yunnan and Kueichow. Cheap Japanese
cloths, crapes, towels, &c., continue to oust their more expensive
European rivals in this market. Native cloth from the Eatshan
mills is in increasing demand among the poorer classes.
Cotton yarn A good business was done in cotton yarn with Nanning and
for Nantring. pog£ 75 per cent o{ tlie totai imp0rt went up to these places under
transit pass.
Japanese coal, I must note the continued increase in the import of foreign coal,
imCrorted chiefly Japanese. It is really surprising that the local authorities
with deposits of coal known to exist in the neighbourhood of the
Wliy is local P03^5 no^ng encourage its production. Even if Kuangsi
coal not used ? coal is, as alleged, unfit for steaming purposes, and it must be
remembered that the only...”
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“...market there, and in the
Philippines, is now being supplied by Shanghai, Swatow, Singapore,
&c., and thus the chance which was offered Kuangsi last year of
developing a big cattle trade, to the manifest benefit of her poverty-
stricken people, has, owing to the shortsighted policy of the officials,
been allowed to slip away.
There are signs of a revival in the sugar trade, which, until Revival in
the disastrous floods in 1902, was one of the most valuable items sugar*
on the export list. The Nanning and Chingyuan districts produced
good crops last year, and the 1904 prospects of a big output are very
hopeful.
The value of foreign goods sent inland under transit pass last Value of
vear was : gds sen\
J inland under
---------------- - transit pass.
To
Value.
* £
Kuangsi 172,906
6,575
Kueichow 223,683
Yunnan 29,039
Total
432,206
This, as usual, amounted to about 60 per cent, of the total
import. Native produce came down under transit pass to the value
of 181,089?., or 52 per cent, of the total...”
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“...the first considerable
town on the West River across the Kuangtung border, where they
hope the opium will eventually find its way. Both from the point
of view of trade and the revenue, the recent action of the provincial
government is much to be deplored.
One of the most satisfactory features of the West River trade is
the steady development of steam traffic, both on the lower river,
i.e., between Hong-Kong, Canton and Wuchow, and the upper river,
between Wuchow and Kueihsien, I might even say Nanning. The
British flag has not hitherto taken its proper share in this develop-
ment, but there is every prospect of the present year seeing a
considerable increase of British tonnage on the river. The small
British owned steamers, referred to in my last report as being obliged
to fly the Chinese and other foreign flags owing to their inability to
carry three European officers, can now, under an ordinance specially
passed by the Colonial Government in the interests of British
shipping on the West...”
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“...West River
trade routes
could be issued in Canton for all towns on the river up to Kueihsien.
I may note that 496 foreigners travelled up and down the river
by steamer last year as compared with 262 in 1902.
The increase in the up-river passenger traffic is quite remarkable ;
over 118,000 native passengers were carried last year between
Wuchow and up-river towns, as against 74,000 the previous year.
An interesting item on the list is, to and from Nanning, 166
passengers.
Two small stern-wheelers, flying the British flag, succeeded in
reaching Nanning last year ; the service will be extended this summer
if all goes well. Launches, mostly under the red ensign, run daily
between Wuchow and Konghau, a flourishing town 75 miles up-
river, where they connect with smaller vessels for Kueiping (90
miles) and Kueihsien, 150 miles above Wuchow. The service to
the latter place is interrupted during the three winter months of
December, January and February; the Konghau service is maintained
all the year...”
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“...route will prove a serious competitor to the West River
route. It is therefore obviously to the interest of the Chinese
Government to attract trade to the West River as much as possible,
and this can be done by facilitating the safe transport of merchandise
through the Kuangsi province and lightening taxation along the
principal waterways. On their side, the shipping companies in
Hong-Kong should use their best endeavours to secure and exploit
the carrying trade of the West River, even as far as Nanning.
Once rapid, safe and cheap steam transit is firmly established
on this great waterway, I consider Hong-Kong's position as the
emporium for the trade of South-West China will he unassailable.
I append a sketch map of the West River basrn to illustrate
some of the points referred to in this report.
I am indebted to the Commissioner of Customs for kindly
allowing me to make use of the customs returns before publication....”
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“...Entered and Cleared at the Port of Wuchow during the Years 1898, 1902 and 1903.
1898. 1902. 1903.
Nationality. Number of Vessels. Tons. Number of Vessels. Tons. Number of Vessels. Tons. Remarks.
I. Steamers under West River Rules from Hong-Kong and Canton via ports of call British American French Gerlitan ,. .. ., Chinese 835 90 2 1,018 92,151 5,670 190 19,384 332 72 2 2,045 107,551 13,680 20 106,745 510 102 162 2,423 137,443 19,380 41,986 127,351 1903. Two British stern-wheelers, steamships Nanning and Sainam," and steamship Takhing," ran regularly between Canton and Wuchow One British owned cargo steamer, Woknai," on Hong-Kong-Wuchow run One French steamer," Lerone" or "Hong-Kong," with postal subsidy from Government of Indo- China between Canton and Wuchow Four British owned cargo steamers between Hong-Kong and Wuchow. Launches towing passenger boats, Canton-Wuchow
Total 1,945 117,395 2,451 227,996 3,197 326,160
II, Sailing vessels British American 293 32 35,175 950 2 66 106 11,400 6...”
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