LAPPA TRADE REPORT,FOR THE YEAR 1899.
1°.
LOCAL.—The value of the trade carried on in junks through the Lappa Stations-exclusive of the portion borne by regular trading junks between Honking and Macao, which alone represented
Hk.Tls. 5,502,940—was Hk.Tls. 13,748,518. As compared with the net value in
1898—Hk.Tls. 12,030,939,—it is an increase of over 14 per cent., whereas if compared with that in 1897, which, with Hk.Tls.13,143,774, was the record year, it still shows an advance of over 4 per cent. These figures might lead one to adopt sanguine, but erroneous, impressions regarding the prospects of the junk trade which these Stations record. The Duty and Ship-ping tables fail to show a corresponding increase. The total collection was Tls. 436,881, as against Tls.459 , 783 in 1898 and Tls. 461,528 in
1897—a falling off of over 4 and 5 per cent .respectively; and the total tonnage was 760,002 tons, with 14,962 junks, as against 779,049 tons ,with 15,445 junks, in 1898 and 807,638 tons, with 15,879 junks, in
1897—a decline of over 2and 6 per cent. Respectively . This summary review tends to show that the increase in the junk-borne trade exhibited by the gross values is more apparent than real; in fact, it is due ,in the main, to the enhanced silver price of commodities resulting from the fall in exchange .The rise in prices has been general, and is particularly conspicuous in the cases of Patna Opium ,Metals , Kerosene, and Silk. A new factor also has to be reckoned with: I refer to the extended collecting functions thrown upon this Customs district on the giving up, on the 5th October last , of the Chang chow Station of the Kowloon Customs, in consequence of the extension of Hongkong. The Lappa Customs has now to take exclusive cognizance of all the Hongkong junk trade carried on with the west coast, and this has already affected the last quarter's Returns , and will tell considerably on the future statistics of these Stations. The 1898 Report pointed out a rapid decrease in the Macao junk-borne Foreign
trade,—the result of the opening of the West River ports to Foreign commerce and of inland waters to steam navigation ,steamers supplanting the junks at places hitherto dependent on this center . Business in Opium remained firm, and is not unlikely to continue so for years. Boiled Opium from Macao having a special reputation. But the decline is general among Foreign goods, and is so marked in Piece Goods that, upon the observations of the last two years alone, an early extinction of this trade may be looked for. Even the commendable efforts made by an enterprising firm towards establishing direct steamer communication between Macao and the river ports have failed to arrest the deflection of this business. The junks still hold their own in the carriage of Native commodities, and even, as will be noticed further on in this Report when dealing with the Kerosene Oil trade, in the case of certain Foreign items. They have shown a readiness to follow the lead of the steamers, and, rather than abandon to the latter certain branches of their freight, they now, by sailing from Hongkong instead of from Macao, compete with the steamers in shipping direct to inland places. The loss of the Piece Goods trade to Macao, which ,with Opium, formed the basis of its commercial prosperity, removes large interests from this district and bodes ill for the prospects of other branches of trade.
2°.
REVENUE.—The net Revenue is Tls. 436,881, and, in the aggregate, compares fairly with the records of the preceding 10 years. The slight decrease, about Tls. 25,000, on the pre-ceding year's collection is distributed under the various heads, and although more conspicuous in the case of Duty and Liken on Opium, yet the amounts collected on this commodity are the second best on record since the opening of the Stations. In General Cargo Duty and Liken, a slight decline can be traced among the Exports, but it is in the Ching-fei, mostly levied on Foreign goods, that the loss is accentuated. In 1898 a fall of 60 per cent. had to be noticed under this heading, and now a further decline, of 15 per cent., has occurred. Throughout the year the prohibition against the export of Rice and Paddy abroad, first enforced in 1898,
was maintained; this accounts for the " nil" in the Granary Tax.
3°. FOREIGN
TRADE.—(a.) Imports.—The enormous decrease pointed out in 1898 in European Cotton Goods continued during 1899; and whereas for a number of years Grey Shirtings averaged annually upwards of 75,000 pieces; White Shirtings , 85,000 pieces; and T-Cloths, 50,000
pieces,—these commodities have now fallen to 11,386 pieces for Grey Shirtings,15,000 pieces for White Shirtings, and 18,500 pieces for
T-Cloths—a loss of over 80, 80, and 60 per cent. Respectively . These figures point to an early exclusion of the Native junk from the Import trade in these commodities, which the Foreign importer now sends direct by steam, with greater speed and safety, to numerous subsidiary markets, instead of, as hitherto, to Macao, the distributing center . The decrease is also conspicuous in Turkey Reds and European Cotton Flannel. In Indian Yarn a slight falling off, of 4,000 pieces, is also noticeable. It is stated here that it proves cheaper for the trader to send his Indian Yarn to Canton, for despatch inland under Transit Pass. On the other hand, an increase occurs in cheaper fabrics. Dyed Shirtings rose from 4,685 pieces in 1898 to 6,301 pieces, and Figured Shirtings , from 4,301 to 6,754 pieces .Japanese Cotton Goods, owing to their relative cheapness, are yearly gaining a stronger hold on the market, at the expense of English, American, and German goods of a similar class, not with-standing the superior quality of these latter. From quantities under 8,000 pieces in 1896,1897, and 1898, Japanese Cotton Flannel has risen to 12,140 pieces; Japanese Cotton Cloth ,formerly varying from 4,000 to 6,000 pieces, has now increased to upwards of 10,000 pieces ;while Japanese Towels remained at the 1898
figure—19,000 dozens. Woollen Goods show everywhere a continual decline, well marked in Long Ells, but specially noticeable in English Camlets, which, averaging 5,000 pieces during the last few years, have now lost 50 per cent .of their importance. Metals show a considerable increase in all the staple
articles—Nail-rod Iron, Bar Iron, and Iron Wire,—the demand being enhanced by increased building of vessels and houses at Shikki and other flourishing marts. Among Sundries, Raw
Cotton—16.100 piculs—shows a large increase on the amounts formerly imported. One of the reasons assigned ,well worth being noted, is that Native weavers now develop the practice of working their own Yarn. Flour shows a rise of nearly 50 per cent., the year's yield of Native Wheat having been exceptionally poor, owing to drought. Japan Matches, the only kind used in these districts ,from enormous quantities imported in 1896 (764,000 gross) and in 1897 (394,000 gross), receded in 1898 to 209,000 gross, and have now further fallen off to 144,000 gross. There is no reason to believe, however, that the decrease points to a diminished demand in the consuming
districts, but rather to a progressive shifting of a long-centralised trade, now spreading over new markets .Kerosene Oil has shot ahead from 200,000 gallons in 1898 to 720,000 gallons in 1899, which naturally suggests that this flourishing branch of the Macao trade in years gone by has suddenly returned. Nothing is further from the truth. Of the total recorded, no less than 500,000 gallons were passed during the last quarter, of which hardly a case found its way to Macao .The increase is wholly attributable to the closing of the Changchow Station of the Kowloon district in October, which obliged Hongkong junks bound westwards to report at Lappa. From its awkward and heavy nature, Kerosene must continue to fall to the share of the junks, and competition with steamers now compels them to make Hongkong their terminus, not Macao, as in the past. American Oil was passed to the amount of 517,000 gallons; Russian, 100,000 gallons; and Sumatra, 112,000 gallons. Gambier Root and Mangrove Bark advanced in small proportions, and Timber shows a fair increase, chiefly remarkable in the case of Teak
and Hard-wood, which fact corroborates other evidence of the development of Native buildings ,notwithstanding the greatly enhanced prices of wood of all kinds in Southern China.
(b.)
Exports.—The increase is almost general throughout the list. Palm-leaf Fans
advanced by upwards of 5 million pieces; China ware and Pottery, by 3,000 piculs;
Grass cloth and Hemp, presumably for export abroad, by 176 and 2,485 piculs respectively. Aniseed and Cassia oils rose from 444 piculs in 1898 to 550 piculs, representing a total value of Hk.Tls. 110,028.Tobacco, mostly prepared for re-export to the Straits, Australia, and San Francisco, increased from 38,900 to 48,300 piculs, representing a value of over Hk.Tls. 600,000; Business in Silk was brisk as compared with previous years, the production being greatly enhanced by the rise in prices. One of the Silk filatures in Macao worked throughout the year, and is supposed to have turned out from 500 to 600 piculs of Reeled Silk, and realised good profit. On the other hand ,Brown Sugar shows a slight decrease, the Sugar Cane plantations having suffered, as Rice and other plantations, from persistent drought. Mats, for packing, a speciality of the west coast districts, receded considerably, having fallen from 23,000,000 to 19,000,000 pieces. The new Macao industry of Matting, which was started in 1898 by Tungkun men, is flourishing, 4,000 rolls being turned out during the year. In quality this Matting is said to equal the Canton article, with which it easily competes, the production here escaping all taxation. 70 per cent., it is stated, finds its way to America. Black Tea advanced from 26,810 piculs in 1898 to 30,217 piculs. Ground-nut Cake shows an enormous falling off, the export being only 629 piculs ,whereas in 1896 it stood at 32,335 piculs. Ground-nut Oil has also largely decreased: in1896 32,104 piculs were recorded, but a yearly falling off has brought the figures for 1899
down to 5,416 piculs.
(c.) Re-exports,—Nil.
4°. COAST
TRADE.—(a.) Original Shipments Coastwise.—No remarks.
(b.) Reshipments
Coastwise.—Nil.
(c.) Coastwise Arrivals.—Salt Fish, the main article of Native import, shows the enormous increase of 54,846 piculs, 274,187 piculs being imported, as against 219,341 piculs in 1898 and 245,861 piculs in 1897. Almost 60 per cent. of this increase of 54,846 piculs took place in
the first quarter of the year, owing to the stringent Opium regulations enforced at
Hongkong, which caused the masters of fishing junks to proceed to Macao, and there dispose of their season's catch, in order to enjoy the China New Year holidays free from the surveillance of the Opium farmer's runners, to which they would have been subjected in Hongkong waters. Ground -nut Oil receded from 97,965 piculs in 1898 to 78,978 piculs. It is stated that in some cases
the Oil is so scarce at the usual places of production that it commands higher prices there than
in Macao. Swatow and Kiaochow Oils consequently arrived for re-export to the lower prefectures.
5°. INLAND TRANSIT
.—Nil.
6°. SHIPPING.—14,962 junks, representing an aggregate of 826,203 tons, entered and cleared at the Lappa Stations, being a decrease of 483 vessels as compared with the total for 1898. Of these vessels, 13,654, of 654,518 tons, were engaged in the home carrying trade , and 1,308, of 171,685 tons, were employed in the Foreign trade, which was almost entirely with Hongkong, only 11 vessels trading elsewhere, with Annam and Siam. The two small Portuguese steamers Waon and Taiping were regularly employed on the Macao-Samshui run , trying hard to build up a trade. Their efforts have not been very successful, having secured only a very small share of the Kongmoon trade. Fortunately, passenger traffic contributed to make up a profitable balance; 16,818 passengers left for, and 14,189 arrived from, the West River. During the year 1,460 vessels passed into the West River, and 1,465 passed out, giving a total of 2,925. Of these, 1,329, taking the Motion, or Broadway, route, reported at Malow-chow, and 1,596, taking the Wangmoon route, reported at the Station established there.
7°. PASSENGER
TRAFFIC.—The number of passengers by junk noted at the Lappa Stations was 100,286 inwards and 100,369 outwards, a decrease of nearly 2,000 and 3,000 respectively as compared with the figures for 1898.
8°. TREASURE
.—Nil.
9°. OPIUM .—(a.). Foreign.—The total importation of Raw Opium in 1899, paying Duty and Likin at Lappa , was 2,404 piculs, as against 2,533 piculs in 1898, showing a falling off of 129 piculs. This total of 2,404 piculs consisted of Patna , 2,366 piculs; Benares, 30 piculs; and Turkey, 8 piculs. The quantity that passed the Lappa Stations in junks for the interior was 2,238 piculs , as against 2,521 piculs in 1898, showing a falling off of 283 piculs. This total of 2,238 piculs consisted of 2,219 piculs of Patna and 11 piculs of Benares, for the Shuntak
district, and 8 piculs of Turkey, for Shuitung and Chikhom, in the lower prefectures. The difference of 166 piculs between the total importation and the total that passed the Stations in junks is accounted for by this amount having been carried by the steamers plying on the Macao-Samshuirun; as, however, the Lappa office only accounts for cargo carried by junks, this amount of 166 piculs is not included in our Returns. The price of Patna advanced from $830 per piculat the beginning to 8930 at the close of the year.
(b.)
Native.—No Native Opium passed the Lappa Stations during 1899, there being no demand for it in this locality. It is believed that the Native growth in the surrounding
districts is utterly insignificant.
10°.MISCELLANEOUS.—Plague made but a short appearance, and was confined to sporadic cases, which caused no public alarm. In the Colony of Macao itself there is every sign of prosperity; property has nearly doubled in value during the last five years. Any available dwelling readily finds a tenant, and new buildings are springing up in all directions. The extensive public improvements to be noticed in the roads, gardens, and promenades vouch for prosperity and resources independent of commerce. In 1899 12 merchant steamers cleared from the outer
roadstead—6 for San Francisco and 6 for Australia.
The net value of the year's trade was as
follows:—
Hk.Tls.
Foreign Imports from Macao . . . . . . . . . 3,654,630
Native
” ” ”
. . . . . 3,920,609
Exports to Macao .............
6,173,279
” Macao to Hongkong ........
1,920,310
” Hongkong to Macao ..........
3,582,630
TOTAL ........
19,251,458
T. PIRY,
Commissioner of Customs.
LAPPA, 6th March 1900.
