Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-03
TRADE OF HONG KONG.
Items of Interest to American Ex-
porters and Shfpowners.

pOrters and Shfpowners.
Consul General Wildman makes the fol-
lowing report of the trade of Hong Kong
during the year 1898:
AS Hong Kong has no custom house, the
only official source of Information concern
ing imports and exports is the annual re-
port of the harbor master. His report for
the year ending December 81, 1888, has just
been published. and 1t contains many items
of interest to American exporters and ship
owners who are interested in the commerce
of southern China and the Philippines. It
will also be interesting to note the increase
of American shipping in this port in 1898
over 1897. This has all taken place since
August, within a period of four months
The increase for 1899 will be fully double
that of 1898, because of the large number
of ships plying between Manila and Hong
Kong that have gone under the American
flag, and because of the greater conSump-
ton of American goods in Manila.
The total tonnage entering and clearing
this port for the year 1898 amounted TO
l., DO. $50 tons. an increase compared wit n
1897 of 49,, Ge6 tons. There arrived $3.50
vessels. aggregating S.64S. IA tons. Eleven
steamers flying the American flag entered
during 1898, as against 4 in 1897. Thirty
two sailing vessels came in under the Amer
lean flag, as against 80 in 1897. America
standing second to Great Britain, with :J6
under the British flag.
The year 1898 was marked by heavy trade
IN rice ana coal ana the introduction OF oil
from Langkat, Sumatra. The demand for
rice was largely from Japan, and that for
coal was a result of the late war with Spain
and the centering of so many foreign fleets
in this harbor. The American kerosene oil
trade remained practically the same as in
1897. American flour shows a considers BILE
increase, in spite of the fact that from
April to August the Manila market was
practically closed to it. Hong Kong i'm
ported from the United States 2I0204 tons
of cargo. as against 2TS. I'll tons from the
continent of Europe and 416.3I1 tons from
Great Britain. The imports from the Phil
ippine Islands amounted to 100. 52S tons. The
exports from Hong Kong to the United
States amounted to 14S, 525 tons and to the
Philippines to 152395 tons, leaving a ball
ance of trade heavily in our favor Among
the imports in which the United States is
tons of cotton and cotton yarn, 10 100 tons
OF hemp, 1892 tons of kerosene in bulk
and 59.115 tons of kerosene in cases, all of
which items except kerosene show an in
crease over 1897. There arrived during 1S9S
on vessels OF all classes 800 902 passengers,
Inc total revenue of the harbor DEPART
ment which is made up of light dues, IL
cehsss and internal revenue and court ami
office fees. amounted to S1S3, 62S.ol These
nSures IN some measure show Hong Kong's
Importance in the shipping world. The pc
cui1arity of the Hong Kong trade is that
the consumption of imports on the Island
user Is so small. as compared with the
bulk OF the trade, that 1t can be stated that
almost all imports are again exported
Hong Kong has often been called a vast
bonded warehouse and clearing house for
southern China and the surrounding coun-
tries.