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“...and public
gardens and recreation grounds. The island is leased to the British and
French Governments in perpetuity, two-thirds of the area being under
British and one-third under French control.
The number of foreign residents, which until ten years ago remained
stationary at between 300 and 350, had increased in 1905 to 1,200, and
is now (April, 1909) close on 1,350.
The total foreign population of Canton is probably over 1,500.
But few lots on either concession now remain unbuilt on, and the
value of land and house property has risen to such an extent that a lot
on the British concession, measuring 12,645 square feet, which changed
hands in 1885 for some 4,000 dol. was recently sold by public auction for
37,800 dol. (3,150?.). This works out to 21,745 dol. per Chinese mcu
(1 acre equals 6 -6 mou) or 2 -98 dol., say 5s., per square foot.
) It is dangerous to prophesy in the East, but everything seems to
point to Shameen becoming more and more the business centre of
Canton. The settlement...”
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“...record a conviction and impose
an exemplary fine on the score that if he did so the firm importing the
goods would lose all their business in Canton.
The port of Canton.If the description applied to Canton in an old
Commercial Directory of the year 1842, one of the greatest emporiums
in the East, ranking as a port of trade either before or immediately after
Calcutta no longer holds good, Canton, the oldest Treaty port in
China, still ranks amongst the four largest ports in China.
Taking the whole value of the steamer-borne trade, Canton in 1907
took third place, after Hankow and Shanghai, and, as regards direct
trade with foreign countries, Canton was second only to Shanghai.
(137)...”
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“...Messrs. P. S. King and Son, 2 and 4 Great Smith Street,
Westminster, London, S.W.
The Haikuan tael has been converted into sterling at the rate of
2s. 8d.; the rate taken for the 1907 report was 3s. 3^.
Comparative value of trade of Canton in 1908.A drop of no less than
Id. in the average sterling value of the Haikuan tael in 1908, compared
with its average value in 1907, renders a comparison of the sterling
values of the trade of Canton during 1908 and preceding years somewhat
misleading.
In the subjoined statement of gross and net trade values during the
past three years, I give both sterling and tael values, and it will be seen
that whereas the totals of last year's trade expressed in sterling show a
big falling-off, these same totals expressed in silver show that the gross
value of the trade of Canton is actually greater than in 1907, a record
year, and the net values but little less....”
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“...8
canton.
Foreign imports would have shown a decline but for the large
increase (2,059,906 taels) in the value of Indian opium, and an increase
in kerosene oil (1,251,349 taels).
The considerable rise in native imports (7,999,706 taels) is due to
increased imports of beans, groundnuts, native opium and rice, the
latter a special import to relieve the distress caused by the disastrous
floods in the Canton Delta in June and July of last year.
Exports of native produce show a falling-off of 7,589,764 taels,
chiefly owing to a decrease in the values of those staples of Canton,
matting, silk and tea.
Re-exports of foreign goods consist chiefly of kerosene oil tran-
shipped to West River ports, and native re-exports are made up of
beans, groundnut oil, and other northern produce imported by direct
steamer and returned to Canton for sale.
An idea of the close commercial relations existing between Hong-
Kong and Canton may be gathered from the fact that, of the total
trade of Canton with foreign...”
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“...quite as good as ever it
was, but dealers, being able to dispose of their goods in China and the
markets above mentioned, take little interest in the European
market.
It is a pity that the Cantonese do not, in view of the present revival
of China tea in the United Kingdom, make some attempt to recapture
this important market.
Imports. Opium.It will be noticed on Table 2 at the end of
this report that, whereas the import of foreign opium into Canton
decreased by only 409 cwts., say 286 chests, the value rose, in spite of
the drop in exchange, by 123,9827, that is to say by 2,059,906 Haikuan
taels. This extraordinary rise in values is due to the enhanced sale
prices of the drug in India, the maximum and minimum prices
obtained for Bengal, Benares and Malwa opium in 1908, as will
be seen from the subjoined table, being much higher than those
obtained in 1907:
Price per Chest.
1907. 1908.
Highest. Lowest. i Highest. Lowest.
Patna ...... Benares Malwa ...... Dollars. 980 960 960 Dollars...”
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“...obtained in China. British manufacturers are too often
content to be represented by merchants in China, who, however willing
they may be to push their wares, have not the time to devote to the
business are without with the necessary expert knowledge.
I am convinced that it is for this reason that so many large orders for
railway material have, during the past year, gone to German and
American firms.
Shipping.The total tonnage entered and cleared at the Canton
custom house in 1908 was 4,691,181, the value of the cargo being
14,169,7847
Of this total the British share was 3,256,970 tons, with cargo valued
at 9,905,3747, or a percentage of 69 and 70 respectively.
The volume of tonnage was practically the same as in 1907, but the
sterling values of cargo, owing to the fall in exchange, show a considerable
falling-off.
British shipping is made up of the Canton-Hong-Kong river
steamers, seven in number, which maintain a regular day and night
service, one river steamer running to Macao and two light...”
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“...CANTON.
27.
Table 4.Showing the Total Value of all Articles 'Exported from and
Imported into Canton from and to Foreign Countries and Chinese
Ports during the Year 1908.
Country. Imports, Exports.
1907. 1908. 1907. 1908.
Hong-Kong United Kingdom ... Singapore, Straits, &c. ... British India ......... Australia, New Zealand, &c. Macao ............ French Indo-China ...... Dutch Indies ......... Germany............ France ............ Japan, including Formosa United States (including Hawaii) £ 4,096,266 39,926 368,708 15,304 118,210 178,937 £ 3,554,100 3,306 15,563 34 13,752 36,871 38,247 49,991 6,272 455 52,864 229,371 £ 8,305,816 £ 5,823,745 38,953
Total, foreign countries ... Chinese ports ... ...... 4,817,351 3,165,626 4,000,826 3,630,129 8,305,816 798,763 5,862,698 676,131
Grand total 7,982,977 7,630,955 9,104,579 6,538,829...”
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