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“.....28
Tables—
1.—Gross value of the foreign trade of China, 1908-12—
(а) Currency values ............................................................................................................29
(б) Sterling values ..................................................................................................................29
2.—Net value of the foreign trade of China, 1908-12 (showing propor-
tion between exports and imports)—
(а) Currency values ............................................................................................................30
(б) Sterling values ..................................................................................................................30
3.—Total imports. Value of imports direct from each country, 1910-12 31
4.—Net imports of principal articles from foreign countries, 1910-12
(showing countries from which chiefly imported) ..........................................32
5.—Total exports. Value of exports direct to each...”
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“...tables are taken from the returns
of Chinese Maritime Customs, the values there stated in Haikuan taels being
converted into sterling at the following rates, which represent the average
exchange for each year :—
1 Haikuan tael— s. d.
1910 ............... 2 8T"jj
1911 ............... 2 8t\
1912 ............... 3 Of
It should be noted that the Haikuan tael is not a coin but a weight in silver
(f>83'3 grains of silver 1,000 fine) by means of which duties are paid to the
foreign customs. Its value in local currency varies in eveiy treaty poit; thus,
100 Haikuan taels in Tientsin equals 105 local taels ; in Hankow, 10875 ; and
in Shanghai, IH'40.
Table of Chinese Weights.
1 tael (liang)
16 taels = 1 catty (chin)
100 catties 1 picul (tan)
f 583 '3 grains (lj oz. avoir.)
\ 37 '783 grammes
J lbs. avoir.
\ 604 '53 grammes
J 133£ lbs. avoir.
1 60 453 kilos,
Table of the Open Ports of China, with estimated Chinese Population of each
Port and Province.
Population.
Three Manchurian provinces...”
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“...5
Table of the Open Ports of China, with estimated Chinese Population of
each Port and Province—continued.
Note.—British Consular officers are stationed at the ports marked with an
asterisk (*), and also at the following provincial capitals :—Mukden (Manchuria),
Tsinan (Shantung), Chengtu (Szechuan) and Yunnanfu (Yunnan).
(For value of trade at open ports see Table 15, page 63.)
Estimated Foreign Population of China during the Year 1912.
Population.
Japanese ..................75,210
Russian ..................45,908
British ..................8,G90
American ... ... ... 3,809
French ... : ............3,133
German ..................2,817
Portuguese..................2,785
Other nationalities ... ... 2,342
Total......... 144,754
(fi83)
Population.
Anhwei............ 36,000,000
Wuhu* ......... 98,000
Kiangau 26,920,000
Nanking* ......... 269,000
Chinkiang* ... 184,000
Shanghai* ......... 651,000
Soochow 500,000
Chekiang 17,812,000
Hangchow*............”
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“...Annual Series.
Reference to previous Report, Annual Series No. 4979
Report on the Foreign Trade of China for the Year 1912 by
Mr. W. P. Kerr, Commercial Attachi to His Majesty's Legation
at Peking.
I.—General Summary.
Depression in import trade.—In one respect the course of foreign
trade in 1912 offered a marked contrast to that of 1911 ; for while
1911 was a year of successive disappointments, the year 1912, opening
with the gloomiest possible prospects, closed nevertheless with a
record value of foreign trade to its credit. Throughout the first six
months of the year traders, as well as Chinese authorities, were
hampered by the prevalent financial stringency, and watched with
interest the vicissitudes of the negotiations for a big foreign loan,
which it was hoped would relieve the market and inaugurate an era
of commercial prosperity. The negotiations came to nothing, while
on the other hand, merchandise ordered in advance during the hopeful
times of 1911 kept piling up without an...”
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“...Exports and exchange.—As regards exports, it has been already
remarked that the disturbed state of the country districts during the
earlier part of the year had not so serious an effect as might have
been anticipated, and was amply compensated by the unusually fine
harvests. It will be seen that the silver value of the native produce
exported, though less than in the two preceding years, was well over
the average of the previous three or four years, and that the sterling
value constitutes a record. As prices were generally low, the volume
must have been unusually large, and it is to be noted that this increase
was effected in the face of a substantial rise in exchange, the average
value of the Shanghai tael during the year being 2s. 9d. against
2s. 4_Ud. in 1911. The rise in exchange followed closely the price
of silver in the world's market, which increased continuously from a
minimum of 2s. Sy^d. per ounce in January to a maximum of 2s. 9 \{.d.
in December. A high exchange is naturally...”
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“...the proceeds will be directly available for the
redemption of the excessive amount of paper money mentioned above
as having been issued by the provincial authorities. The deplorable
effects of this reckless issue of " military notes " are dwelt on in re-
ports from several provinces. In Kwangtung the amount in circulation
in March, 1913, was admittedly 30,000,000 dol., and it was estimated
that another 10,000,000 dol. might be added on account of duplicates
and forgeries. The average purchasing value of the Canton Republican
government notes in the last four months of 1912, in comparison
with Hong-Kong, was as 120 to 100. In Hunan the notes issued by
the provincial government are said to be valid for payment of taxes
and other contributions for public purposes, but not exchangeable
for silver or copper either on demand or at any fixed date. These
new issues brought the total liabilities of the Hunan government
in paper money issued under the present and under the Manchu
regimes up to a total...”
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“...1910 and 1911. The gross value
in 1912 was 868,875,532 Haikuan taels or 132,594,0262. as compared
with 870,986,477 Haikuan taels or 117,265,6272. in 1911. The net
value of foreign imports, whether reckoned in silver or in sterling,
was greater than in any previous year, being 473,097,031 Haikuan
taels or 72,196,5782., that is to say, the silver and sterling values
exceeded the record of 1911 by 1,593,088 Haikuan taels and 8,715,4482.
respectively. The value of exports of native produce was 370,520,403
Haikuan taels or 56,542,9572., a decrease reckoned in silver of
6,817,763 Haikuan taels but an increase reckoned in gold of 5,739,8762.
compared with the figures of 1911. The increases in the sterling
value of foreign imports are distributed tinder every one of the main
heads except metals, especially cotton goods and sundries ; the chief
increases under the head of sundries being in raw cotton, arms and
munitions, sugar and clothing. The increase in the sterling value
of exports is attributable...”
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“...12
china.
Opium.—The foreign opium imported in 1912, that is the opium
released from bond on payment of duty at the several ports, amounted
to approximately 19,968 chests against 24,928 chests in 1911. The
value given in the returns is about 500,000 taels less than in 1911,
but the higher rate at which the tael is reckoned makes the sterling
values show an increase of nearly 800,000?. Prices went down
seriously in the course of the year as the result of the severe anti-
opium measures adopted by the Chinese authorities, and the trade
was a disastrous one for all concerned. The opium agreement of
May 8, 1911, referred to in last year's report, was designed to bring
the trade gradually to an end by decreasing the export of opium from
India to China concurrently with the diminution of production of the
native drug, and several outlets were duly closed as one province
after another was examined and found to be free from poppy cultiva-
tion and from import of native opium. In addition, however...”
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“...of which in 1912 was treble
that of 1911. As regards the Shanghai mills they enjoyed an excellent
year throughout. It has been observed that the Japanese com-
petition renders a useful service in keeping up the quality of the Chinese
yam. The number of spindles in China in December last was reckoned
at about 900,000, of which more than half were situated in Shanghai.
Several thousand more have been added in Shanghai since that time.
Woollen and cotton mixtures and woollen goods.—Although the value...”
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“...of the imports
into China, the figures for the last three years are worth noticing on
account of the increase shown. The quantity of mixtures unclassed
in 1912 was more than double that of 1911, and the total value of
woollen and cotton mixtures has in 1912 actually exceeded that of
woollen goods. The increase under both heads is doubtless due to
the growing adoption of foreign styles of dress, but there is no indica-
tion yet that woollen goods are likely to supersede cotton as the
material for Chinese clothing.
Metals.—The increased import of copper ingots and slabs points
to renewed activity at the mints, while the decrease in iron rails is no
more than might have been expected in view of the industrial
depression throughout the year.
Sundries. Arms and ammunition.—The value of arms and
ammunition imported was three times that of the previous year.
Cement, like all other materials used in railway building, shows
a considerable decrease. The Green Island Cement Company of
Hong-Kong...”
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“...spond with the increase in foreign flour ; indeed, the quantity of rice
imported from abroad was only about half the import of the previous
year. It will be seen from the table on page 11 that the value
of rice imported from foreign countries, which was in 1910 over ten
times and in 1911 more than double that of flour, was in 1912 actually
less (reckoned in silver) than the value of imports of flour. It must
be admitted that the statistics of the last two years do not tend to
confirm the opinion expressed in previous reports in this series, to the
effect that American flour cannot long survive the growing competition
of the produce of mills situated in Chinese territory; but the experience
of two years only is not sufficient to test the correctness of this forecast.
Machinery.—The total value of all kinds of machinery and parts
fell from 855,2021, in 1911 to 689,1022. in 1912. It was remarked
in last year's report that the unsettled conditions caused by the
revolution had rendered, the...”
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“...16
china.
cotton spinning and weaving industry having as already indicated
formed a marked exception to the general depression. The machinery
under this sub-head all comes from the United Kingdom.
The import of embroidering, knitting and sewing machines more
than trebled in value. Attention has already been drawn, in connec-
tion with clothing, to the extended use of knitting machines in the
south of China. It is noted in the Consular report for Yunnanfu
that the trade in sewing machines has made great progress in
the province of Yunnan, and that in many cases the machines are
successfully sold on the hire-purchase system.
Manures.—The value of manures imported rose from 79,7391, to
107,899?., a figure still far below the potential requirements of this
vast agricultural country. There is obviously an opening for the
introduction of chemical manures, and it is somewhat discouraging
to see to what a comparatively slight extent the Chinese agriculturists
have responded to the efforts made...”
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“...es by
selling cheap in the Yangtse Valley, and Chinese merchants would
have had a profitable trade in the second half of the year had not
restricted credit still prevented them from taking full advantage of
their opportunity.
Vehicles.—Under this head it has to be noted that the value of
locomotives and tenders is less than half that of 1911. Railway
carriages and wagons have more than doubled their value, which,
however, stands only at 352,410?., a low figure in view of the paying
possibilities of Chinese railways, to which attention will be called
later. The other entries under this head present no features of special
interest.
Wines, beer, spirits, &c.—The returns show a slight increase in
the total value of foreign imports under this head, chiefly in spirits,
but nothing, so far, to confirm the apprehensions that have been
expressed that the Chinese may take to drink in place of opium smok-
ing. Unfortunately there are no statistics of the consumption or
production of native spirits...”
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“...6 12
Unclassed 9 14 31 70 156 157 158
Total ...... 62 78 87 159 381 377 370
With regard to the first of the above tables, the same observation
as in the case of imports has to be made, namely, that Hong-Kong
is in most cases merely a port of transhipment.
The most remarkable feature of the second table is the increasing
variety of the products exported. Raw silk and tea, which in 1870
accounted for 82 per cent, of the value of the exports, now amount
together to little more than 27 per cent.; the value of beans and bean
cake alone now exceeds that of tea; and the value of exports not
included in the eight principal classes in the table has risen from 14
to 43 per cent. A detailed list of most of these will be found in Table 6
appended; and it will be seen that in addition to the eight classes
enumerated above, viz., raw silk, silk piece-goods, tea, raw cotton,
beans and bean cake, skins and hides (undressed), sesamum seed and
tin in slabs, the next articles in order of importance in 1912...”
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“...against 4,237,000
in 1911. These figures are the more remarkable because owing to
the change of calendar the statistics for 1912 cover a period of only
10J months, that is, from February 18 to December 31, instead of
13 moons (January 30, 1911, to February 17, 1912) in 1911. A
further impetus was given to the dissemination of newspapers and
printed matter by a reduction in the postal rates for these articles by
one-half, this reduction having come into effect on April 1, 1912.
Table 1.—Gross Value of the Foreign Trade of China during the Years
1908-12.
(a) Currency Values.
Year. Gross Imports. Native Produce. Exports. Foreign Produce. Total. Grand Total.
1908 ... 1909 ... 1910 ... 1911 ... 1912 ... Hk. taels. 409,554,653 430,048,606 476,553,402 482,576,127 485,726,080 Hk. taels. 276,660,403 338,992,814 380,833,328 377,338,166 370,520,403 Hk. taels. 15,049,175 11,890,539 13,588,508 11,072,184 12,629,049 Hk. taels. 291,709,578 350,883,353 394,421,836 388,410,350 383,149,452 Hk...”
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“...30
china.
Table 2.—Net Value of the Foreign Trade of China during the Years
1908-12, showing Proportion between Exports and Imports.
(a) Currency Values.
Year. Net Imports.* Exports. Total. Percentage of Exports to Imports.
Hk. taels. Hk. taels. Hk. taels.
1908 ...... 394,505,478 276,660,403 671,165,881 70
1909 ...... 418,158,067 338,992,814 757,150,881 81
1910...... 462,964,894 380,833,328 843,798,222 82-3
1911...... 471,503,943 377,338,166 848,842,109 80
1912...... 473,097,031 370,520,403 843,617,434 78-3
* Net imports, i.e., the value of the foreign goods imported direct from foreign
countries less the value of the foreign goods re-exported to foreign countries
during the year.
(b) Sterling Values.
Year. Net Imports.j- Exports. Total. Percentage of Exports to Imports.
£ £ £
1908 ...... 62,600,730 36,888,054 89,488,784 70
1909 ...... 54,447,665 44,139,689 98,587,354 81
1910...... 62,331,472 51,273,654 113,605,126 82-3
1911...... 63,481,130 50,803,081 114,284,211 80
1912......”
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“...china.
31
Table 3.—Value of Total Imports direct from each Country during
the Years 1910-12.
Country. 1910. 1911. 1912.
(a) United Kingdom and British dominions— United Kingdom ...... Hong-Kong ......... India Singapore, Straits, &c....... Other British dominions* £ 9,552,267 23,085,393 6,918,334 1,118,621 244,186 £ 12,116,791 19,959,611 4,986,093 1,041,523 179,791 £ 11,423,368 22,555,104 7,118,370 1,313,144 320,338
Total ......... 39,918,801 38,283,809 42,730,324
(6) Non-Asiatio countries (excluding United Kingdom)— Russia, European ports Russia and Siberia (via. land frontier) Russia, Amur and Pacific ports Prance ......... Germany Belgium ... Italy ............ Other countries of Europef ... United States ... South America, Asia Minor, &c. 121,381 1,196,708 842,371 371,719 2,876,856 1,555,131 68,345 467,045 3,338,890 22,588 19,517 1,258,300 1,046,754 406,376 3,023,463 1,463,142 90,894 513,459 6,496,202 25,186 38,777 1,798,827 1.402.513 447,492 3,224,618 1.335...”
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“...cluding sandalwood, timber and dye-woods) Unenuinerated ... Total, sundries Grand total £ 169,275 4,282,757 £ 120,577 4,228,922 £ 128,703 4,730,359 Hong-Kong, Japan
33,019,670 33,524,616 138,592,887
62,331,471 63,481,130 72,190,577
Note.—The column showing countries fro:n which the articles are chiefly imported is compiled from the customs analysis of imports for
1911. When only one country is indicated it is to be understood that the value imported from that country in 1911 exceeded 75 per cent, of the
gross import value....”
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“...china.
52
Table 5.—Value of Exports Direct to each Country during the Years
1910-12,
Country. 1910. 1911. j 1912.
(a) United Kingdom and British £ £ £
dominions—
United Kingdom 2,518.133 2,328.469 2,426,348
Hong-Kong 14,637,956 13,957,619 15,776,854
India 610,520 782,196 1,155,626
Singapore, Straits, &c.... 756,424 762,000 967,432
Other British dominions* 299,710 276,937 222,507
Total ...... 18,822,743 18,107,221 20,548,767
{b) Non-Asiatic countries (excluding
United Kingdom)—
Russia, European ports 875,330 1,102,338 710,073
Russia and Siberia (via land
frontier) 675.836 419,271 555,460
Russia (Amur and Pacific ports) 4,636,939 5,306,805 5,631,685
France ... 5.227,830 5,264,558 5,922,436
Germany 1,796,294 1,897,779 2,188,164
Belgium ... 880,645 911,685 1,000,317
Italy 1,457,640 1,258,292 1,654,626
Other countries of Europef ... 1,343,073 1,287,863 1,605,397
United States ... 4,347,220 4,572,983 5,348,761
South America, Asia Minor, &c. 1,190,867 571,665 616,559
Total 22,421...”
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“...Tientsin, &c.
Changsha, Hankow
Kiukiang, Hankow, Shanghai
Suifenlio
Hankow, Shanghai, Tientsin
Tientsin
Chungking, Hankow
Kiaochow, Shanghai
Swatow, &c.
Swatow
Amoy
Kowloon, Canton
Hankow, Tientsin, Kiaochow, &c.
Hankow
Hankow. Kiukiang, Foochow
Hangchow, Ningpo, Kiukiang, Santuao
Hankow
Hankow
Kiukiang, Fuchow, Hankow
Foochow, Hankow, Antung
Hankow, Kiukiang, Canton, Swatow
Hankow, Ichang
Chefoo
Tientsin
Tientsin
Tientsin
Table 8.—Re-exports of Foreign Goods to Foreign Countries, Value
during the Year 1912.
£
Macao 321
French Indo-China ...... 5,930
Siarn 5,010
Singapore, Straits, &c. ... 23,705
Dutch Indies 100,588
British India 47,717
Turkey, Persia, Egypt, Aden, &c. 738
United Kingdom... 44,950
Norway ... 792
Sweden ............ 328
Denmark ... .... 1,027
Germany ... 23,479
Netherlands 1,397
Belgium ... 6,640
France 7,152
Spain (including Gibraltar) 258
Switzerland 31...”
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