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“...No. 1907.
Reference to previous Report, Annual Series A7o. 1719.
CHINA.
FOOCHOW.
Consul Allen to the Marquess of Salisbury.
(Received at Foreign Office, April 29, 1897.)
My Lord,
I have the honour to submit herewith my Report on the
Trade of Foochow during the year 1896.
X hftvG (Ssc«
(Signed) ' CLEMENT F. R. ALLEN.
Report on the Trade ancl Commerce of Foochow for the Year 1896.
Table of Contents. Page
Total gross value 2
'Foreign imports.. 2
Native imports .. ■ ..5
Exports .. ., 6
Shipping and freights . .. 12
Dues and duties ., .. 14
Banking and exchange . .. 14
"General remarks.. .. 15...”
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“...Total gross value of trade
Total gros-< I append a table showing the total gross value of the trade of
value. Poochow during the past three years : —
Value.
1894. 1895. 1896.
Foreign imporla Native „ Exports £ 815,192 228,248 1,112,294 £ 865,020 227,337 1,258,762 £ 832,704 265,678 1,244,484
Total...... 2,155,73-1* 2,351,119+ 2,342,764}
* At 3s. 2d. to the Ilaikwan tiiel = 13,615,162 Haikwan taeU.
t At 3s. id, „ „ 14,100,714
Z At 3s. 2rf. „ „ 14,796,406
This gives us an increase of more than per cent, in the
volume of the trade. I showed by a table in my last report that
the trade of Foochow since the year 1890 had gradually been
growing. The growth continues, but I would gladly see the ratio
of the increase set rather higher.
Foreign Imports.
rorcipi The following table shows the quantities of the principal
import-'. articles of import brought into Foochow during the three last-
years :—...”
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“...427
Steel ji t t 90
Opium—
Malwa Lbs. 327,188 277,883 220,351
Patna.. .. .. » 199,766 168,208 173,417
Benares it • • 23,238 22,260 16,946
Persian 56,080 30,401 65,204
Sundries —
Clocks Pieces 1,367 1,368 2,312
Window-glass Boxes 3,062 3,555 3,681
Isinglass Lbs. 118,654 57,867 92,266
Lamps Pieccs 31,970 43,363
j " ■ • Value £ .. 2,301
Needles Mille 19,86o 17,352 23,220
Matches, European .. Gross 573
„ Japanese .. > j • • 170,027 144,290 163,131
Kcresine Gallons 1,126,080 1,941,460 . .
„ Sumatra .. »i • ■ 550,000
„ American.. js • • 577,870
„ Eussian .. , , 1,475,995
White sugar.. Tons 138 15 10
Machinery Value £ 5,344 238 1,897...”
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“...Russian Gallons. G23,150 502,930 Gallons. 1,126,080 1,941,460 2,108,865
1895 American.. Russian Sumatra 544,950 1,381,510 15,000
1896 American.. Russian .. £77,870 1,475,995 55,000
In two years the imports have been neaiiy doubled, and yet
in many parts of the country kerosine oil is not used, and is
probably unknown. I see no reason why the imports should not
go on steadily increasing for some years yet.
I am glad to notice a slight increase in the value of machinery Machinery,
imported. No doubt part of this was the value of the tea-rolling
machinery recently introduced with such signal success. I am
informed by the President of the Anglo-Chinese College that he
has procured a cane-crushing machine for a native friend, and
that this has been worked with good results, extracting 25 per
cent, more juice than the rough machines at present in use in this
vicinity. The same individual is now enquiring for an oil-engine
to be employed for various purposes. All this tends to show that...”
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“...and pros-
perity being near at hand for those who take up the manufacture
of China tea in an Indianisecl form. The only difference between
China and Indian and Ceylon teas is one of manufacture—n
question of retaining the tannin in the one case, and extracting
most of it in the other—and there is no reason why a rough,
strong-flavoured tea should not be produced in China as elsewhere.
With this in view, and given a continuation of the present
exchange advantages to China owing to the artificial value of the
O O
rupee, and with prospects of reduced duties when the approaching
revision of the tariff takes place, there is a hopeful prospect for
Foochow-—and, indeed, the other tea ports. The machine-made
tea was catalogued as being sold by order of the ' Foochow Tea ,
I inprovement Company.' With such results as these, sales show
that there is every reason to expect a large import of similar teas
over the next few years, and during the forthcoming season it is
expected some 100,000 half-chests...”
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“...into existence, but I see that such n
bank, to be called the Imperial Bank of China, is to be started
this spring under the presidency of His Excellency Sheng Hsuan-
liuai, who intends to model it after the Hong-Kong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation. It is not only to issue notes, but to hnvw
the right of coining money. No doubt a branch of it will In-
opened at Foochow.
The Russian Bank has not opened a branch here.
Treasure. During the year treasure was imported to the value of
287,473/., and exported to the value of 194,153/.
The Pioe''ow Mr. Hughes of this Consulate lately paid a visit to the Foo-
mint. ' chow Mint, established last year in the premises formerly 'Jur
godown and offices of Messrs. I). Sassoon, Sons, and Co., for tlu;
coinage of subsidiary silver money,, that is of coins representing a
fractional part of a dollar. He reports that there are 4 presses
worked by hand. Over 100 workmen are employed daily. 1m>
to the present only 10 c. and 20 c. pieces are coined, but when...”
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