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“...No. 5123. Annual Series.
Reference to -previous Report, Annual Series No. 5035,
Report on the Trade, of the Consular District of Harbin for the
Year 1912
By Me. Acting Consul A. E. Eastes.
Trade and commerce. Movement of trade.—The Consular district
of Harbin comprises the whole of North Manchuria, including the
province of Heilungchiang and the northern portion (more than half)
of the province of Erin. The bulk of the population is agricultural,
and the chief products of large tracts of territory under cultivation
are cereals of all kinds, the principal article of export being the soya
bean.
Commercial conditions in North Manchuria during the year 1912
have been far from satisfactory. Even at this great distance from
the centres of the Chinese revolution which broke out in the autumn
of 1911, its effects have been manifested in lessening the already
sufficiently vague and shadowy authority exercised by Chinese
officialdom over the population. A direct incentive was thus given
to...”
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“...4
HARBIN.
however, satisfactory to be able to report that at the time of writing
(April, 1913) efficient military measures of repression have been carried
out, and in the chief producing centres within 100 miles' radius of
Harbin order and safety to life and property have again been
restored.
Besides brigandage, other features militated against success in
the soya bean export business ; the local custom in North Manchuria—
a custom which obtains in no other part of China—requires full pay-
ment in advance some six months prior to delivery. Owing also to
the strong and increasing demand in Japan, Formosa and South China
local prices were maintained at their high figure, while the excellent
crop of the competitive commodity of linseed in Argentina caused
a reduction in the purchases of and the prices fetched by beans in the
European market. The freight, too, advanced before the end of 1912
from U. 14s. to 21. per ton, while a further burden was inflicted by an
increase during the year...”
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“...commodities manufactured by Russian and Japanese establish-
ments along the routes of the Chinese Eastern and South Manchurian
Railways respectively. Firms already thoroughly established else-
where in China find themselves heavily handicapped in opening
branches in North Manchuria by the inevitable difference in business
conditions owing to the predominance of the Russian commercial
element with which they are less perfectly acquainted. The latter
factor would suggest the consideration that it might be worth
while for British firms already established in, or having large business
dealings with, European Russia to turn their attention to the possi-
bility of expanding their business field to Harbin and elsewhere in
Northern Manchuria.
A further impediment to commerce in this district is offered by
a feature with which merchants in other parts of China are thoroughly...”
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“...day), has very seriously
affected local industries in Harbin and other Russian settlements and
added to the commercial depression. The avowed intention of the
Russian Government in taking this step was to foster the industrial
development of Eastern Siberia, but the immediate effect has been to
cripple many thousands of Russian traders in Northern Manchuria.
The Harbin Chamber of Commerce has protested against this innova-
tion, but hitherto without success. At present Chinese export duties
are not charged on articles destined for the former free zone; should
these be imposed a still heavier burden will be laid on the industries
of North Manchuria.
For the information of home exporters it may be noted that goods
forwarded to Harbin by rail via European Russia and Siberia are
still compelled on entering the Russian frontier, to pay the full Russian
import duties, which are not refunded.
Facilities for commerce.—There is some prospect of the existing
through traffic arrangements between the...”
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“...as a fertiliser.
Other important raw products are millet, wheat (the bulk of which
is converted into flour in the many Russian flour mills situated in
the district), hemp seed, other cereals employed in the manufacture
of beer, vodka and other spirits, beetroot, tea, timber and lumber.
Out of the vast forest regions of North Manchuria only some 4,200
square miles are at present being worked by Russians as timber con-
cessions, some 13,000 labourers, Chinese and Russian in the propor-
tion of about two to one, being employed in the industry.
A movement is now on foot for the formation of a Chinese society
for the development of this industry throughout Manchuria, but
there seems little hope of a welcome being afforded to the sinking of
foreign capital in the proposed venture.
The chief manufactured articles produced in the district are
flour, clothing, nankeens and bean cake. The uses of the last-
named article have been indicated above.
Development of industries.—The chief industries...”
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“...in agricultural industries.
The total numbers of foreigners in the treaty ports in the Consular
district is about 50,000, of whom some 90 per cent, are Russians and
over 4 per cent. Japanese. The approximate number of British
subjects in the whole area is only 70.
No accurate information is available regarding public health,
but there has, happily, been no recurrence during 1912 of the dread
scourge of pneumonic plague which raged among the Chinese popula-
tion in many large towns in North Manchuria, especially Harbin, in
the winter of 1910-11.
Public works.—The only public works of any importance known
to be in contemplation are for the Russian Railway settlement of
Harbin itself, where proposals have been mooted for the inauguration
of a service of electric trams, for electric lighting of all streets, for a
municipal telephone system, including telephonic fire-calls, and for
the purchase of a motor fire-engine to cope with the large number of
fires which occur annually during the winter...”
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“...Values of the Net Imports of Foreign Goods from Foreign Countries into the Harbin Consular District through the Harbin,
Manchouli, Suifenho, Aigun and Sansing Custom-houses, with the Total Imports into North Manchuria in 1912 as
compared with the Total Imports of 1911.
Articles. Harbin. Manchouli. Suifenho. Aigun. Sansing. Total.
1912. 1911.
Animals, live— £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Cattle ...... 23 15,690 860 16,573 5,976
Horses 172 20,906 1,351 22,429 10,077
Other ...... 6 468 38 512 476
Aabestos 533 2,864 3,397 1,082
Bags of all kinds 2,526 521 82,581 232 85,860 46,614
Belting, machine Books and charts 939 879 1,818 1,270
6,360 97 6,457 12,595
Boots and shoes—
Leather, &c. 49,486 2,976 52,462 61,928
Brass and yellow metal 1,390 491 1,881 612
Bread-stuffs—
Rice... 158 15,318 15,476 8,942
Flour ......... 8,704 1,711 24,018 *84 34,517 2,816
Other ......... 141 2,274 474 2,530 5,419 1,430 .
Building materials, &c. ... 2,220 736 2,956
Butter and cheese...”
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“...Quantities of the Net Imports of Foreign Goods from Foreign Countries into the Harbin Consular District through the Harbin,
Manchouli, Suifenho, Aigun and Sansing Custom-houses, with the Total Imports into North Manchuria in 1912 as
compared with the Total Imports of 1911.
Articles. Harbin. Manchouli. Suifenho. Aigun. Sansing. Total.
1912. 1911.
Animals, live—
Cattle ......... Number 2 2,507 117 ,,, ... 2,626 1,478
Horses 8 2,932 155 •.« ... 3,095 1,858
Other ......... i) 5 6,187 471 6,663 10,418 2,982,883
Bags of all kinds >) 177,115 44,544 4,158,005 18,809 4,398,473
Boots and shoes—
Leather, &c. ... ... ... Pairs 161,789 7,546 169,335 181,937
Brass and yellow metal ...Cwts. 212 62 274 474
Bread-stuffs—
Rice... ... Tons 10 996 1,006 894
Flour ......... ... „ 938 181 1^337 7 2,463 473
Butter and cheese ... ...Cwts. 7,518 143 ... 7,661 6,985
Candles ... „ ' 143 500 2,893 18 3,554 1,929 6,190
Cement ... ,, 1,250 28,696 29,946
Chemicals...”
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“..."Values of the Exports of Native Goods to Foreign Countries from the Harbin Consular District through the Harbin,
Manchouli, Suifenho, Aigun and Sansing Custom-houses, with the Total Exports from North Manchuria in 1912 as
compared with the Total Exports of 1911.
Articles. Harbin. Manchouli. Suifenho. Aigun. Sansing. TotaL
1912. 1911.
Animals, live— £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Cattle, sheep, goats and pigs 122,059 48 39,351 126,131 86 287,675 155,381
Horses, mules, &c. 12,166 429 2,427 7,252 5 22,279 6,302
Poultry 677 1,650 1,097 716 1,217 5,357 3,967
Bean cake 1,486 41,017 • • • 7 42,510 25,444 1,829,734
Beans ... 10,203 431 1,461,471 11 1,472,116
Bread-stuffs—
Bran 19,818 294 10,617 30,729 26,366
Flour ............... 320,483 42,159 118,678 481,320 325,853
Grain of all kinds... 109,189 94,013 312,217 9,705 212,943 738,067 723,586
Vermicelli and macaroni... 8,497 280 40 19 8,836 9,523
China and earthenware ... ...... 719 ... • . > 719 1,670
Clothing, all kinds ... ...... 54...”
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“...Quantities of the Exports of Native Goods to Foreign Countries from the Harbin Consular District through the Harbin,
Manchouli, Suifenho, Aigun and Sansing Custom-houses, with the Total Exports from North Manchuria in 1912 as
compared with the Total Exports of 1911.
Articles. Harbin. Manchouli. Suifenho. Aigun. Sansing. Total.
1912. 1911.
Animals, live—
Cattle, sheep, goats and pigs Number 20,406 54 30,016 30,232 44 80,752 57,318
-r Horses, mules, &c. 1,632 54 415 1,033 1 3,135 103,851 1,284 129,168
Poultry j) 15,084 26,429 24,226 15.321 22,791
Bean cake ... Tons 508 12,294 3 12,805 14,293 353,326
Beans ... » .. j) 2,328 56 316,362 3 3.18,749
Bread-stuffs —
Bran ......... ' * • )t 5,033 72 4,298 9,403 12,875
Flour1 ......... 21,175 3,286 12,042 36,503 38,532 163,803
'■ Grain of all kinds...... • ? • )) 22,419 14,213 48,015 i,203 27*918 113,768
Vermicelli and macaroni... ...Cwts. 8,480 180 60 20 • 8,740 12,001
China and earthenware • • • . )J ■1,286...”
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