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“...disappointing.
The very small stocks remaining in the hands of many dealers
at the close of 1906, together with the opening of Nanning to foreign
trade, gave rise to sanguine expectations as regards the import
trade for 1907, but these expectations were not destined to be
realised.
Despite restrictions which have rendered the opening of Nanning
unsatisfactory, one would have thought that the opening of such a
well-known distributing centre would, in itself, have led to a
considerable increase in trade.
Causes of decrease of trade. Loss of financial facilities.—The
principal cause of the shrinkage of the trade in 1907 may
be attributed to the refusal of the Fatshan bankers, the chief
financiers of the trade of this province, to make such free advances
to merchants as in former years. Since the latter part of 1905,
when the trade in native opium began to fall off at Nanning, it has
not been possible to arrange so advantageously for remittances
from that city to Hong-Kong or Fatshan. The opium...”
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“...fancy cotton
goods. These were made up into small packages of about 40 lbs.
in weight, shipped from Hong-Kong to Canton or Wuchow by
steamer, and then, under cover of transit passes, forwarded by
means of junks and overland carriage to Yunnan via Nanning.
On account of the wholesale purchases made by the traders, the
Hong-Kong Chinese dealers regarded them as some of their best
customers. The traders are reported to have made very handsome
profits by their ventures. On their return journey from Yiinnan
they used to bring with them tin, opium and gold. The tin was
usually forwarded to Hong-Kong via Tonkin, probably on account
of there being less export duty to pay by that route. The opium
and gold were immediately exchanged on arrival at Nanning for
drafts on Hong-Kong or Fatshan. These Yiinnan traders have
gradually disappeared, and one does not now hear of their existence.
The amount of their purchases in Hong-Kong was probably from
25,000?. to 30,000?. annually.
Effect of disturbances...”
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“...expensive for the market.
Coal.—Japanese coal, which had gone down somewhat in price,
was in demand for the use of the few steam launches plying regularly
from this port up and down stream. Unless, however, steam
navigation is practicable as far as Nanning and more launches are
thus attracted to th;s part of the river it is unlikely that the daily
consumption of coal would be more than 12 to 15 tons. It is
reported that the San Ch'a Shan silver mines have been recapitalised
and are again working. When in full working order these should
take from 80 to 100 tons of coal monthly. The local coal mines
were not successful financially in 190T, and the output was less
than in the previous year. Among these mines was the Na P'o
mine, near Nanning, which, worked by the authorities as an official
speculation, had done fairly well in 1906. The coal from the local
mines, however, which is surface coal, worked by hand only, is of
poor quality for steaming purposes.
Miscellaneous goods. Flour.—The...”
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“...10
WUCHOW.
this 413 cwts. came down under transit pass from LiuchoU (38 cwts.),
Ch'ing Yuan (49 cwts.), Nanning (124 cwts.), Hstaichou (2 cwts.),
Pose (190 cwts.) and Lungchou (10 cwts.). The manufacture is
in its infancy, and until the camphor can be turned out as white
and clean as the Formosan product there will not be much demand
for it in Hong-Kong.
Wood oil.—The figures for the export of wood oil in 1907 were
26,529 cwts. and in 1906 48,329 cwts. A poor demand and the
low price ruling in Hong-Kong throughout the year would account
for this falling-off, and the same may be said of tea oil and aniseed
oil, the latter of which is classed among the essential oils.
Moxa.—During 1907 the export of moxa amounted to 417 cwts.
The figures for 1906 were 138 cwts., but it must be observed that,
for that year, no return of the amount exported through the native
customs was furnished. Of the 417 cwts. exported in 1907 345 cwts.
are reported as having been exported through the native customs...”
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“...WUCHOW.
u
(b) Table showing the Provinces from which Native Goods were
Brought under Transit Passes during the Year 1907.
Concluding remarks.—In conclusion I would remark that Nanning
has not, up to the present, been so effectually opened to trade as
to cause any appreciable change in trade conditions at Wuchow,
though it is truQ that the foreign firms here employ a con-
siderable number of chartered junks for the inter-port traffic
between Wuchow and Nanning.
My thanks are due to the Commissioner of Customs for kindly
giving me access to the customs returns before their publication
and to Mr. George Banker for information on various points.
From—
Kwangsi ...
Kwangtung
Passes. £
2,722 234,520
23 179
Total...
2,745 234,690...”
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