HONG KONG
Library Copy No. 376
DR
Date 6 OLD 1958
000
Library Book No.351.06
ANNUAL
DEPARTMENTAL
REPORTS
1957-58
HKS ств
PRICE: $3
DIRECTOR OF
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
#2149833
Library Book No.351.06
HONG KONG
ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT
BY THE
DIRECTOR OF
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR 1957 - 58
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. F. C. JENNER, GOVERNMENT PRINTER
AT THE GOVERNMENT PRESS, JAVA ROAD, HONG KONG
ол
58
MARINE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY
EXCHANGE RATES
Where dollars are quoted in this Report, they are Hong Kong dollars. The official rate for conversion to pound sterling is HK$16=£1 (HK$1=1s. 3d.). The official rate for conversion to US dollars is HK$5.714= US$1 (based on £1=US$2.80) but a more realistic, though approximate, rate based on the local fluctuating open market would be nearer HK$5.90=US$1.
Chapter I and Tables 1-5 relate to the calendar year, 1957. The remainder of the report relates to the financial year 1957/58.
Chapter
CONTENTS
Paragraphs
I. THE COLONY'S TRADE, 1957
General
Exports of Products Wholly or Principally of
Hong Kong Origin
II. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
General
Industrial Sites
Proposed Federation of Industries
III. GENERAL Review of DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES
General
Industry
1 - 16
17 - 23
24
24
-
27
28 - 30
31 32
-
33 - 35
Trade Promotion and Overseas Developments
affecting Trade
Certification of Hong Kong Products
Dutiable Commodities
Trade Licensing
The Preventive Service
Supplies
Statistics
Accounts and Stores
Staff and Welfare
Revenue
Expenditure
Public Relations
36 - 38
-
39 42
43. 44
45 - 46
47
48 - 50
51
52 - 54
55
56 - 57
58 - 60
61
IV. TRADE AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
i
62 - 63
64 - 67
Chapter
V.
TRADE PROMOTION
Local Exhibitions
Overseas Trade Fairs
Trade Fairs in 1958/59
Paragraphs
68
69 - 76
77
Display Cabinets on Royal Interocean Line Ships
Trade Publications
+
Departmental Reference Library
Miscellaneous
VI. CERTIFICATION OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS
General
Inspection and Registration of Factories for
issue of Certificates
Standard Certificates of Origin
78
79 - 85
86
87 - 90
91 - 92
93
94 - 95
Imperial Preference Certificates
96 - 101
Comprehensive Certificates of Origin
102 - 106
Miscellaneous Certificates
107 - 108
Statistics and Enforcement
VII. OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING HONG
KONG'S TRADE
United Kingdom
109 111
-
112 118
119
120 - 121
122
123 124
-
Canada
Union of South Africa
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Federal Republic of Germany
North Borneo
Morocco
France and French Overseas Territories
The Treaty of Rome and the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade
European Free Trade Area
125
+
126
127 - 128
129
130
•
New Zealand
131
·
Indonesia
132
Relations with Overseas Customs Authorities
133
•
General
134
ii
Chapter
VIII. DUTIABLE COMMODITIES
Revenue from Duties
Revenue from Licences
IX. STATISTICS
Trade Statistics
Statistics of Trade by Parcel Post
Mechanization
Retail Price Index
Assistance to other departments
X. TRADE CONTROLS
Import Licensing
Export Licensing
XI. THE PREventive SERVICE
General
Re-organization
Discipline
Searches
•
Dutiable Commodities
Narcotics
Strategic Commodities Certificates of Origin Dangerous Goods
Merchandize Marks Bullion
Court Actions
XII. RESERVED COMMODITIES AND GOVERNMENT
SUPPLIES
Rice
Frozen Meat
Coal
·
Firewood
Foodstuffs
Accounts
iii
·
Paragraphs
135141
142
143 144
145 - 149
150 - 151
152
153 - 156
·
157 - 159
160 163
-
164
·
165 - 166
167
168
169 - 170
·
171 - 172
173
*
174
175
176
+
177 178
179
180 - 182
·
183 - 185
186 - 188
189 - 191
192
193
Chapter
XIII. THE LONDON OFFICE
Paragraphs
Imperial Preference
194 - 195
Trade Fairs
196 - 199
Commercial Relations
200 - 202
Public Relations
203 - 206
Miscellaneous
207 - 212
XIV. THE TOKYO OFFICE
General
Trade with Japan Trade Promotion
Trade Fairs
Conferences
Visits
Tourism
Publications
Procurement
Immigration Facilities
Other Activities
Staff
XV. LEGISLATION
XVI. DEPARTMENTAL WELFARE
213 - 214
215 - 216
217
218
219 - 220
221
·
222
223
224
225 - 228
229 - 230
231
232 - 237
General
238
Housing of local officers
239 - 241
Amenities in Departmental Quarters
242
Education
243
Canteens
244 - 245
Revenue Inspectors' Mess
246 - 251
Leave
252 - 254
Promotion Prospects for Class V Officers Sports and Recreation
255
256 - 258
XVII. STAFF
General
Staff Changes
259 - 260
261 - 266
iv
Table
1.
2.
LIST OF TABLES
Total Values of Imports into and Exports from Hong Kong, by Countries, 1956 and 1957 .
Total Values of Imports into and Exports from Hong Kong, by Commodities, 1956 and 1957
Page
(Ch. I)
55
(Ch. I) 59
3.
Total Values of Exports of Products Wholly or Principally of Hong Kong Origin, by Countries, 1956 and 1957
(Ch. I) 63
4.
Total Values of Exports of Products Wholly or Principally of Hong Kong Origin, by Com- modities, 1956 and 1957
(Ch. I) 65
5.
Volume of Exports of Selected Products Wholly or Principally of Hong Kong Origin, 1956 and 1957
7
(Ch. I)
66
6.
Organization of the Department of Commerce
and Industry
(Ch. III)
67
7.
Certification of Hong Kong Products
(Ch. VI)
68
8.
Net Revenue Collected from all Sources
(Ch. III)
69
9.
Duty from Dutiable Commodities (Gross)
(Ch. VIII)
70
10.
Revenue from Dutiable Commodities
Licences
(Ch. VIII) 71
11.
13.
12.
Confiscations under the Dutiable Commodities
and Dangerous Drugs Ordinances
Major Confiscations under other Legislation.
Distribution of Staff
(Ch. XI)
72
(Ch. XI)
73
(Ch. XVII)
2 2 2
74
V
. .
7
:
I. THE COLONY'S TRADE, 1957
GENERAL
IN 1957 the combined value of Hong Kong's imports and exports of merchandise stood at HK$8,165.7 million, higher by 5% than that for 1956.
2. Exports fell by 6% compared with 1956 to HK$3,016.3 million, due to a decline in the value of purchases by Asian countries, especially Indonesia, Thailand and Japan.
3. Imports rose by 13% to HK$5,149.5 million, the principal in- creases being from the United Kingdom, the United States and China.
4. The total values of imports and exports by countries and by commodities during 1957, with comparative figures for 1956, are given in detail in tables 1 and 2.
5. The volume figures, in terms of total trade, were 6,653,088 tons in 1955 and 6,880,885 in 1957.
6. The principal destinations of exports and sources of imports are shown below in order of importance by value and compared with figures for the same countries in 1956.
Exports
Imports
Country
1956
$ million
1957
$ million
Country
1956
$ million
1957 $ million
Malaya
373
373
China
1,038
1,131
United Kingdom
298
337
Japan
811
763
Indonesia
501
312
United Kingdom
513
667
Japan
318
228
U. S. A.
424
539
U. S. A.
117
198
Switzerland
132
193
Thailand China
320
188
Thailand
185
192
136
123
:
Germany (Western)..
119
159
Indonesia
59
126
Belgium
109
118
Australia
100
113
Malaya
152
102
7. The principal imports during the year were textile yarn, fabrics and made-up goods, $941 million; base metals, $332 million; textile fibres, $309 million; cereals and cereal preparations, $288 million;
1
•
scientific and controlling instruments, photographic and optical goods, watches and clocks, $238 million; fruits and vegetables, $233 million; mineral fuels and related materials, $213 million; inedible animal and vegetable crude materials, $181 million; live animals, chiefly for food, $179 million; non-electrical machinery, $178 million; and paper and paper manufactures, $130 million.
8. The principal exports were: textile yarn, fabrics and made-up goods, $752 million; clothing, $439 million; miscellaneous manufactured articles n.e.s., $183 million; manufactures of metals, $123 million; fruits and vegetables, $119 million; inedible vegetables and animal crude materials, $115 million; base metals, $107 million; ores and metal scrap, $90 million; medicinal and pharmaceutical products, $82 million; footwear, $74 million.
9. China. China supplied imports valued at $1,131.1 million which represented 22% of total imports, and was $92.8 million higher than in 1956. China supplies 45% - 50% of the Colony's imports of food- stuffs, and the increase over 1956 was partly accounted for by larger imports of fruits and vegetables, dairy products, cereals and cereal preparations; imports of non-metallic mineral manufactures (e.g. articles of fine earthenware, chinaware and porcelain) and textile yarn and piecegoods also increased. Exports to China have again fallen and at $123.4 million reached the lowest level since 1951. Exports of manu- factured fertilizers fell from $36 million in 1956 to $7.8 million in 1957.
10. Japan. Although Japan was the second most important source of imports, and the fourth most valuable market in 1956, the value of trade declined considerably in 1957. Imports at $763 million fell by $47.2 million compared with the previous year and textile yarn and piecegoods, base metals, and non-metallic mineral manufactures all recorded lower values. Exports to Japan were valued at $228 million, a fall of $89.7 million compared with 1956. The chief exports were metalliferous ores and metal scrap at $88 million (of which $4 million represented locally mined iron ore), textile fibres, oil seeds and oil nuts, fruits and vegetables and inedible animal and vegetable crude materials.
11. United Kingdom. Both imports from and exports to the United Kingdom rose in value in 1957; imports by $153.9 million to $667 million and exports by $38.4 million to $337 million. Imports consisted chiefly of base metals ($102 million), textile yarn, fabrics and made-up articles ($101 million), transport equipment and machinery; while exports of textile yarn, fabrics and made-up articles ($130 million)
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MARINE DEPAK,MENT LIBRA
together with clothing ($93 million) accounted for two-thirds of the value of all exports to the United Kingdom.
12. United States. Increases in value on both sides of the account were also recorded in trade with the United States. Imports increased by $115 million compared with 1956 to $539 million, and exports by $82 million to $198 million. The most important imports were textile fibres, textile yarn, fabrics and made-up articles, tobacco and tobacco manu- factures, and metal scrap. Fifty per cent of the increase in exports was accounted for by clothing which was valued at $66 million; other important items of export were miscellaneous manufactured articles (toys, games and basket ware) and furniture and fixtures. The value of goods covered by Comprehensive Certificates of Origin rose from $65 million in 1956 to $127 million in 1957.
13. Malaya (including Singapore). Malaya regained first position on the Colony's export list, but the value of exports, at $373 million, remained the same as in 1956. The most important items exported were fruits and vegetables, followed by clothing and miscellaneous manu- factured articles. Imports from Malaya were worth $102 million, nearly one-third of which consisted of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.
14. Indonesia. Although Indonesia took exports to the value of $312 million and was the Colony's third most important customer, this figure represented a fall of $189 million compared with 1956. Exports of textile yarn and piece goods were recorded at $225 million but were down by $92 million compared with 1956, while decreases were also shown for clothing, non-electrical machinery and non-metallic mineral manu- factures. The second most important export in 1957 was base metals at $40 million. Imports from Indonesia rose by $67.4 million, compared with 1956, to $126 million, the increase being almost entirely due to heavier purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.
15. Thailand. Exports to Thailand fell in value by $131 million compared with 1956, due mainly to decreased purchases of textile yarn and piece goods and base metals. Exports in 1957 were valued at $188 million, a third of which was accounted for by textile yarn and piece goods while manufactures of metals, clothing, medicinal and pharmaceutical products, and base metals were next in importance. Imports, were valued at $192 million of which rice accounted for $136 million.
3
16. Switzerland. In 1957 Switzerland came into fifth place on the import list with an increase of $61.4 million over 1956 to a total of $193 million. This increase came mainly under the heading of scientific instruments (including photographic and optical goods, watches and clocks) which accounted for an increase of $49 million.
EXPORTS OF PRODUCTS WHOLLY OR PRINCIPALLY OF HONG KONG ORIGIN
17. The value of exports of the limited range of local products which are at present classified separately in the Trade Statistics as of Hong Kong origin does not give a true picture of the importance of local manufactures entering into international trade. An analysis of export declarations has shown that normally 90% of the value of the following commodity items is accounted for by manufactures of local origin, and these items have therefore, since January 1958, been added to the 'separately classified' list and taken into account in evaluating domestic exports as distinct from re-exports.
Item No.
055-021
Description
Ginger, preserved in syrup, in airtight containers.
055-022 Ginger, preserved (dry), in airtight containers.
055-032 Ginger, preserved in syrup, not in airtight containers.
055-033 Ginger, preserved (dry), not in airtight containers.
665-012
821-010 821-091
Vacuum flasks (glass inners only).
Wood furniture and fixtures.
Furniture of vegetable plaiting materials (bamboo, straw, willow, etc.). 831-010 Travel goods (trunks, suitcases, travelling bags, dressing cases, shop- ping bags, haversacks, packs and similar articles) of all materials. 831-020 Handbags, wallets, purses and similar articles of all materials. 841-010 Stockings and hose. 841-023
Underwear and nightwear, knit or made of knitted fabrics (except
cotton singlets and shirts).
841-030 Outerwear, knit or made of knitted fabrics.
841-055
841-070
Outerwear, other than knitted, not embroidered, n.e.s.
Clothing of rubberized, oiled and similar impermeable materials
(including plastics).
841-120 851-010
899-030
Gloves and mittens of all materials (except rubber gloves). Slippers and house footwear of all materials except rubber. Umbrellas, parasols, walking sticks, and similar articles.
899-050
899-120
Buttons and studs of all materials except those of precious metals. Articles of basketware or of wickerwork, n.e.s.
899-150 Toys and games (including baby carriages, playing cards).
18. The value of exports of Hong Kong products (as newly defined) was $1,202 million in 1957 compared with $1,115 million in 1956—an
4
increase of 8% and representing 40% of total exports. An analysis of these figures is given in tables 3 and 4, while table 5 gives an indication of the volume of some of the principal exports of local products.
19. The most important items by value were:
cotton piecegoods; outerwear, other than knitted, not embroider- ed; cotton yarns; shirts; footwear; enamelled household utensils; gloves and mittens of all materials (except rubber gloves); and toys and games (including baby carriages and playing cards). 20. The principal markets for the Colony's products in 1957 are listed in the table below in order of importance by value:
1956 $ million
1957
$ million
United Kingdom
255
281
U. S. A.
Malaya
Indonesia
71
133
110
97
133
83
Thailand
63
43
Philippines
27
40
French Equatorial and West Africa
*
36
South Africa
25
36
Australia
31
36
Nigeria
*
27
British East Africa
26
25
Laos
*
25
Canada
13
23
Africa, n.e.s.
*
23
Germany (Western)
8
21
Central America, n.e.s.
21
* Not available due to change of classification in 1957.
21. The United Kingdom remained the most important single market for Hong Kong products taking 23%, while the British Commonwealth, as a whole, took 52%. Exports to the U.S.A. increased by 89% over 1956 which was largely accounted for by clothing.
22. Hong Kong has also expanded her markets in Africa, Central America, and Western Germany competing, as in all markets (including her own), with the textile industries of Japan and India.
23. Although Malaya, Indonesia, and Thailand occupied third, fourth and fifth positions respectively, yet compared with 1956 they recorded a total fall in exports from Hong Kong of $82 million.
5
II. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
GENERAL
24. During the year industry continued to expand with emphasis on improvements in quality, design and production techniques to offset increasing competition in overseas markets and to fulfil new demands for Hong Kong products. No outstanding or entirely new products made their appearance but the scope, range and variety of products of exist- ing industries were extended. A notable feature was the number of manufacturers who moved into new factories or made structural altera- tions and improvements in existing premises.
25. The total number of factories registered and recorded by the Labour Department increased by 475 to 3,765 during the year ended 31st March 1958 and employment in those undertakings rose by over 28,500 to 167,609 over the same period. Principal increases in numbers of factories took place in the weaving, knitting and garment making sections of the textile industry and among the metalware and plastic- ware manufactories.
26. Cotton spinning and weaving continued as the most important industries by value of exports. Twenty three thousand spindles and 2,500 looms were added during the year. Heavy industries were active and shipyards consistently busy on both new construction and repair work. The building of yachts, native type vessels and other pleasure craft for export to the United States showed considerable increase. Air- craft servicing and repairs contributed to the Colony's invisible exports and the building industry continued to boom.
27. The department continued to act in an advisory capacity on industrial development and as liaison between industrialists, representa- tive organizations and other Government departments. Many inquiries were dealt with, and advice was given to overseas organizations and persons interested in setting up manufactories in the Colony.
INDUSTRIAL SITES
28. Experience at auctions of industrial sites at Kwun Tong Reclamation area showed that the practice of selling sites with user restricted to specific industrial groups had created practical difficulties and anomalies and tended to inhibit sales. In May 1957 on the recommendation of the Kwun Tong Advisory Committee, sales of in- dustrial sites at Kwun Tong were opened to general industrial use and
+
6
the industrial groupings discarded. During the year, in addition to the sale of twenty seven industrial sites varying in size between 8,000 and 178,830 sq. ft., two sites of 28,000 and 25,000 sq. ft. were sold for the erection of flatted factories to accommodate smaller and ancillary industries. The sale of sites for housing at Kwun Tong commenced in November 1957. Since sales began in September 1956, and up to the end of March 1958, seventy seven sites aggregating some 1,657,000 sq. ft. have been sold for industrial purposes, two sites totalling 53,000 sq. ft. for the erection of flatted factories, three sites totalling 15,700 sq. ft. for housing purposes and one site of 4,000 sq. ft. for a filling station.
29. The upset price for industrial sites is $5.00 per square foot and realized prices during the year under review varied between $10.25 and $28.75. The three housing sites at an upset price of $16.00 per square foot realized $34.14, $26.37 and $23.02 per square foot respectively. Several purchasers of industrial sites in Kwun Tong have taken advantage of the concessionary terms available to them for grants of land by private treaty sale for the erection of workers' housing.
30. A number of factory buildings were completed at Kwun Tong by the end of March 1958, and the area is now developing rapidly.
PROPOSED FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIES
31. At the opening of the Fifteenth Exhibition of Hong Kong Products sponsored by the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, Sir Alexander Grantham proposed the formation of a Federation of Hong Kong Industries to which all industries could belong, irrespective of size, ownership and of the language in which their business was done. This suggestion met with an immediate and favourable response and, in January 1958, the following committee was appointed by the Officer Administering Government:
The Director of Commerce and Industry (Chairman)
Col. J. D. Clague, C.B.E., M.C., and Messrs. W. C. Gomersall, L. Kadoorie, Y. K. Kan, Daniel H. Lam, Paul Lau, P. Y. Tang, U Tat Chee, O.B.E. and Haking Wong.
Two officers of the Department of Commerce and Industry were appointed to be joint secretaries. The Terms of Reference of the Committee are:
(1) To consider and advise Government what form of organized
representation of the Colony's manufacturing industries should be created or evolved in the best trading interests of the Colony.
7
(2) To recommend whether it is desirable for other interests to be associated with such an organization and, if so, to what extent and in what manner...
(3) To make recommendations on the functions and organization of such body as the Committee may recommend should be creat- ed or evolved.
32. The Committee held five meetings before the end of March 1958 but its work was not completed at the end of the financial year.
III. GENERAL REVIEW OF DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES
GENERAL
33. The appointment of a fifth Cadet Officer to the department provided an opportunity to re-group the various branches into three instead of four divisions, each headed by an Assistant Director. These are the Administration, Control and Development Divisions. In the two latter the presence of an additional Cadet Officer afforded consider- able relief to the Assistant Director.
34. It has, in recent years, become increasingly clear that the basic unit in the department is the branch rather than the division, and that constant changes in the nature and relative importance of the duties undertaken by the department call for flexibility in overall organization. Relaxations of trade controls, for example, which are referred to in Chapter X, have brought about a diminution in the volume and com- plexity of the work in the Trade Licensing Branch and have enabled the staff of the branch to be reduced. There has, in recent years, been a similar run-down of the responsibilities of the Supplies Branch. On the other hand, the need for a new approach to the complex problems of the certification of Hong Kong products (see Chapter VI) has been accompanied by an increase in the volume and pressure of work in the Certification Branch which has called for a considerable increase of staff. Marked shifts of emphasis such as these called for an adjustment in the responsibilities allotted to members of the directing staff, which was achieved by the regrouping of branches under the Assistant Directors and Administrative Officers.
35. The alterations to and redecoration of those floors of the Fire Brigade Building occupied by the department, which started towards the end of the previous financial year, were completed during the period under review. A new colour scheme of soft green and pale grey against
8
00
MARINE DEPARTMENT_LIBRARY
white walls has made a sombre building seem lighter and Additional ceiling fans and venetian blinds, improved lighting and the replacement of stone tiles by wooden floors and similar improvements have made for more comfortable working conditions.
INDUSTRY
36. The staffing position and the need to expand the Certification Branch has continued to limit the time and effort which could be devoted to assisting the development of industry. Such assistance as it has been possible to afford is referred to in Chapter II.
37. The department continued to advise on the allocation of official U.S. dollar exchange for the purchase of a limited range of industrial raw materials and essential supplies.
38. During the year arrangements were made for visits to nine factories by the previous and present Governors.
TRADE PROMOTION AND OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING TRADE
39. Increasing attention has been paid throughout the year to developments overseas which are likely to affect the Colony's trade. In appropriate cases the department initiated counter-action against measures by other territories which would hamper Hong Kong's trade and endeavoured to keep commercial and industrial associations informed of such developments. The Trade and Industry Advisory Committee was regularly consulted on such matters, and the assistance of the Colonial Secretariat or Colonial Office was sought in some instances. The more important examples of this aspect of departmental activities are described in Chapter VII.
40. The Trade Development Branch, in conjunction with the London Office, was responsible for organizing the Colony's exhibits at trade fairs in New York and Frankfurt. Details will be found in Chapters V and XIII. The London and Tokyo Offices worked in close liaison with the department on a wide range of topics.
41. The 1957 edition of the Commerce, Industry and Finance Directory was published early in the financial year, and work began immediately thereafter on the preparation of a revised edition for 1958. The Trade Bulletin continued to appear monthly, and a number of improvements were made in the style and presentation of the articles and other information which it contains.
9
42. The alterations to and redecoration of the department referred to in paragraph 35 made it possible to open a small library of reference books in which a display of Hong Kong products is also housed. Members of the public made increasing use of the library throughout the year.
CERTIFICATION OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS
43. Throughout the year under review there has been emphasis on re-organization of departmental requirements and procedures for the issue of certificates of Hong Kong origin and imperial preference certi- ficates. The work of this branch has expanded rapidly over the past few years due to the continued development of industries in the Colony and to the tendency of overseas customs to insist on the department's certification in support of normal commercial documents of origin for Hong Kong products imported into their territories. With the increase in exports of locally produced goods the benefits of imperial preference have also become increasingly important to local manufacturers and merchants.
44. Re-organization was directed towards handling a greatly increased volume of work while imposing the minimum inconvenience and restriction on the industrial and mercantile community compatible with the maintenance of the reliability of the department's certificates. These activities are described in greater detail in Chapter VI.
DUTIABLE COMMODITIES
45. Revenue from duties continued buoyant, the return from every type of duty being the highest ever attained.
46. Arrangements were completed for the introduction on 1st April, 1958 of a mechanized system of licensing and accounting.
TRADE LICENSING
47. Relaxations in trade controls have already been referred to in paragraph 34 above. As indicated in Chapter X, these comprised, in the main, an easing of the embargo on the export of certain types of strategic goods to China, and the removal of controls on imports of goods from Japan.
THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE
48. The activities of the Preventive Service are outlined in Chapter XI. The number of officers in the junior ranks again remained
10
well below the approved establishment. Towards the end of the financial year, approval was obtained for a re-organization of the service designed to ensure that all vacancies would in future be filled.
49. In spite of handicaps arising from the shortage of staff, a number of notable successes were achieved, and the steady improvement in efficiency and morale which have been noted in recent years was maintained.
50. Particular attention has been paid to the traffic in narcotics in collaboration with the Police Narcotics Bureau. A number of notable seizures were made including one of 47.5 lbs. of morphine hydrochloride and another of 1,076 lbs. of raw opium.
SUPPLIES
51. The Supplies Branch continued to maintain records of commercial stocks of rice, frozen meat, coal, firewood and certain essential foodstuffs. No changes occurred in rice import policy, but control over the import of frozen meat was removed apart from the registration of importers with the department and the requirement that imports and exports continued to be licensed. A buffer stock of firewood was maintained. The activities of this branch are outlined in Chapter XII.
STATISTICS
52. Since January 1958 two improvements have been made in the presentation of statistics of the Colony's trade.
53. The printed volumes of statistics which are published monthly now contain information on the value of commercial imports and exports by parcel post. The submission of these figures by merchants is on a voluntary basis and it is evident that only a fraction of the trade moving through the postal services is at present being recorded in this way.
54. The departmental monthly reports and the Trade Bulletin contain information on the value of exports of Hong Kong products. Since January 1958, the range of items taken into consideration in compiling the figures has been extended beyond the limited selection of local prod- ucts which are at present classified separately in the Trade Statistics. The result has been to show that each month Hong Kong products represent between 40% and 47% of all exports instead of about 25% or 30% as was supposed. It is believed that a complete separation of domestic exports from re-exports would reveal that the former con- stitute over 50% of the total.
11
ACCOUNTS AND STORES
55. The storage, documentation and disposal of seized and confiscated goods and of departmental uniforms and other stores has been improved in consultation with the Treasury and Audit Department. The control of expenditure from departmental votes has been strengthened, and steps have been taken to ensure prompt collection of miscellaneous items of revenue and to simplify the payment of staff salaries.
STAFF AND WELFARE
56. Several useful advances were made in the provision of welfare facilities for the staff, which are described in Chapter XVI.
57. Preventive Service standing orders have been in force for some years. Departmental and branch standing orders for all branches other than the Preventive Service were promulgated in January 1958. These contain instructions on the conduct of business within the department, and also amplify the disciplinary provisions in General Orders.
REVENUE
58. Net revenue collected by the department amounted to $110,806,124, an increase of $940,929 over the previous year. If business registration fees collected during 1956/57 are disregarded, collection of these becoming the responsibility of the Inland Revenue Department from 1st April, 1957, the increase in revenue came to $7,356,851.
59. Net revenue from duties alone reached the record figure of $105,722,730, the first year in which this source has produced over $100 million.
60. Details are given in Tables 8 - 10 and in Chapter VIII.
EXPENDITURE
61.
Expenditure from departmental votes amounted to $5,123,381, which was $444,869 under the approved estimate. Personal emoluments accounted for $4,394,773, an increase of $39,903 over the previous financial year.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
62. The department continued to maintain effective liaison with trade commissioners and foreign consular officials in the Colony. Close co- operation was maintained also with chambers of commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, and other trade and industrial organizations,
12
particularly through the medium of the Trade and Industry Advisory Committee which met regularly under the chairmanship of the Director. Local merchants and manufacturers consulted the department frequently on a wide variety of topics and the department itself sought the advice and assistance of many individuals during the course of the year. The co-operation of these organizations and individuals is gratefully acknowledged.
63. The department received visits from overseas government officials, trade commissioners, trade fair representatives, and business visitors and arranged factory visits and conferences for them with business leaders in the Colony. Visitors included Mr. F. J. Erroll, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (in October 1957); a Government trade mission from the Sudan led by Mr. I. O. Ishag, Director of Commerce, Industry and Supplies; Mr. K. B. Lall, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Delhi; Mr. E. E. Baggerly, President of the Guam Chamber of Commerce; Mr. A. P. Wales, Director of the U.S. World Trade Fair, New York (in January 1958); the Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson, P.C., M.P., O.B.E.; Mr. Ernest Thornton, M.P., M.B.E.; Mr. Alvin Roseman, Director of the U.S. Operations Mission to Cambodia (in February); the Rt. Hon. Walter Nash, Prime Minister of New Zealand; Mr. Eugene Melville, C.M.G., Assistant Under Secretary of State for the Colonies; and Sir Frank Lee, K.C.B., C.M.G., Permanent Secretary to the Board of Trade (in March). Visitors from the United Kingdom were interested mainly in Britain's textile problems in relation to imports from Hong Kong.
IV. TRADE AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
64. The Trade and Industry Advisory Committee, which came into being on 1st January, 1954, has the following terms of reference:
'To advise the Director of Commerce and Industry on all matters, other than labour, which affect the Colony's trade and Industry'.
It consists of the Director of Commerce and Industry as Chairman, two members appointed by the Colonial Secretary, and one representa- tive each from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, and the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong. Members, other than the Chairman, hold office for one calendar year and are eligible for re-appointment. The
13
Secretary of the department is secretary of the committee. The Chair- man is empowered to co-opt advisers and to appoint sub-committees.
65. During 1957 the committee was constituted as follows:
The Director of Commerce and Industry (Chairman)
The Honourable Dhun Ruttonjee, O.B.E., and
The Honourable Kwok Chan, O.B.E., appointed by the Colonial
Secretary.
Col. J. D. Clague, C.B.E., M.C., representative of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, for the months of April and November-December.
Mr. G. M. Goldsack, representative of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce during Col. Clague's absence on leave from May to October inclusive.
Mr. Allen C. C. Ng, representative of the Chinese General
Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. U Tat Chee, O.B.E., representative of the Chinese Manu-
facturers' Association of Hong Kong.
From January 1958, Mr. G. M. Goldsack replaced Col. Clague as the representative of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
66. The committee held ten meetings during the period under review. In April 1957 members heard a report by the then Acting Financial Secretary, Mr. J. J. Cowperthwaite, on his visit to London to attend the conference of representatives of Colonial Governments on the pro- posed European Free Trade Area. The committee was consulted on a wide range of subjects which included the publication of the Commerce, Industry and Finance Directory and the Trade Bulletin; participation in trade fairs and exploratory trade missions; the possibility of setting up a permanent display of Hong Kong products overseas; the mechanization of the Statistics Branch of the department and consequential changes in the form of the Colony's trade statistics; the collection of statistics of articles imported or exported by post; action to combat proposals to raise the Canadian tariff against rubber footwear imports and South African tariffs against imports of textiles and enamelware; the campaign by the Lancashire cotton industry to limit textile imports from certain Commonwealth territories including Hong Kong; improvements in the procedure for the issue of certificates of origin; trade malpractices and the payment of rewards to informers; the protection of designs and the prevention of plagiarization of foreign patents and designs; and the
14
D
proposal that a Federation of Hong Kong Industries should be established. A number of these topics are discussed elsewhere in the report.
67. Once again the department is indebted to members for devoting so much of their time and attention to the business of the Trade and Industry Advisory Committee. They have been a valued means of liaison with commercial and industrial interests in the Colony, and their wise and helpful advice on a wide variety of topics is gratefully acknowl- edged.
V. TRADE PROMOTION
LOCAL EXHIBITIONS
68. As usual, the department helped the Chinese Manufacturers' Asso- ciation with administrative arrangements for the Fifteenth Exhibition of Hong Kong products, which was inaugurated by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham, G.C.M.G., on 4th December, 1957, and lasted one month. There being no other site of suitable size avail- able, the Exhibition was held in Kowloon on the same site as the Twelfth Exhibition. Despite the restricted space, the Exhibition was well planned and featured a number of new and improved products.
OVERSEAS TRADE FAIRS
69. The two trade fairs in which Hong Kong participated were the First U.S. World Trade Fair, New York, (14th - 27th April, 1957) and the Frankfurt International Autumn Fair (1st - 5th September, 1957). This was the second successive year that the Colony had exhibited at Frankfurt, but the first occasion on which a Hong Kong exhibit had ever been mounted at an international fair in the eastern part of the United States.
70. New York. The Hong Kong exhibit at New York, covering 1,100 sq. ft., attracted great interest from buyers and the general public, and business inquiries recorded at the stand and numbering about 1,300 covered every type of product displayed. The official delegation, led by Mr. U Tat Chee, O.B.E., included Messrs. E. G. A. Grimwood, Director of the London Office and B. I. Barlow, formerly an Assistant Director of Commerce and Industry. Other delegates were Messrs. Haking Wong, J. B. Kite, Paul Lau, POON Wing Kai and I. J. Law from Hong Kong and Messrs. R. P. Edwards and A. F. Hulse from New York.
15
71. Participation in the fair was very expensive, the net cost being just over HK$128,000, and its value to Hong Kong's trade and industry is likely to remain imponderable; however, the Colony's delegates were all of the opinion that the effort and expense were worthwhile. Grateful acknowledgement is made to the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, the staff of whose New York branch co-operated to an outstanding degree.
72. Frankfurt. The return visit to Frankfurt was on a larger scale than in 1957 and the pattern of the exhibit included an innovation in the form of a prestige display featuring eleven different products. After passing through this part of the pavilion, buyers could examine duplicate samples and a range of utilitarian goods in the neighbouring area, which also housed the alcoves rented to Hong Kong firms for the transaction of business. Hong Kong's participation in the fair was considered satisfactory by all concerned. The exhibit covered an area of approximately 5,500 sq. ft. and the net Government expenditure on mounting it came to just over HK$76,000. Seven local firms rented between them a total of ten alcoves. Three hundred trade inquiries were dealt with by the official delegation.
73. The official delegation to the Fair was led by Col. J. D. Clague, C.B.E., M.C. and included Messrs. E. G. A. Grimwood, Director of the London Office, T. D. Sorby, Assistant Director of Commerce and Industry, and Li Fook Kow, an Administrative Officer in the Hong Kong Government. Other delegates were Messrs. J. H. Hamm, G. C. Moutrie and D. W. Leach.
74. In the last two years, and particularly in the first quarter of 1958, the Colony's trade with Western Germany and Scandanavia, especially in the export of domestic products, has increased considerably and it would seem justifiable to attribute the improvement in part to interest aroused at the two displays mounted at Frankfurt.
75. The department's leaflet, prepared for distribution to the public at trade fairs and giving an impression by word and picture of the Colony's industry and tourist attractions, was translated into German with the assistance of the German Consulate-General in Hong Kong for use at Frankfurt.
76. The part played by the London Office in organizing the Colony's exhibit at these two fairs is described in Chapter XIII.
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ཀ་
TRADE FAIRS IN 1958/59
77. The department made inquiries through correspondence and personal discussions with visiting representatives to ascertain the potential value to local firms of independent participation in overseas trade fairs scheduled for 1958, and gave assistance to those who decided to exhibit at Seattle. Initial steps were also taken to pave the way for Hong Kong's participation in the Melbourne International Trade Fair early in 1959.
DISPLAY CABINETS ON ROYAL INTEROCEAN LINE SHIPS
78. In May 1957 the showcases on the m.vs. 'Ruys' and 'Tegelberg' were lent to the Hong Kong Exporters' Association for the use of their members. The response was disappointing, however, and in February 1958 an offer was made to the Hong Kong Tourist Association, which readily accepted the use of them for advertising the tourist attractions of Hong Kong.
TRADE PUBLICATIONS
79. The Commerce, Industry and Finance Directory. Approximately 17,000 copies of the 1957 edition of the Commerce, Industry and Finance Directory were distributed free of charge to airlines, shipping companies and to a very large number of overseas firms and trade associations; just under 3,000 copies were sold locally.
80. Compilation of the text and classified section for the 1958 edition, the selection of photographs and cover, and the examination of artwork for all advertisements were completed by the end of the year under review for publication early in May 1958.
81. The text, which includes twenty nine tables, runs to 116 pages, the last part consisting of a classified section of Hong Kong products with lists of firms dealing in them. Despite the despatch of over 800 letters to selected firms, individually signed and addressed, the response to invitations to advertise in the classified section was much less than had been expected in a Directory with an assured overseas circulation of about 17,000 copies. Securing suitable photographs proved an un- expectedly difficult and time-consuming task, but the results were rewarding. The Directory is illustrated by twelve pages of multi-coloured and twenty four pages of black and white photographs and carries fifteen coloured and eighty eight black and white or monochrome advertise- ments by local firms. The standard of printing of the text and photographs, particularly the coloured photographs, is very high and
17
the department acknowledges with thanks the co-operation received from both printing firms.
82. Trade Bulletin. The value of the monthly Trade Bulletin as a medium of trade promotion was well illustrated by the number of letters received during the year, containing requests from overseas merchants to advertise their interests in the local supplement, and to receive regular copies of the department's publications. A total of nearly 1,300 trade inquiries were received from bulletin readers overseas during the twelve months and 900 requests to be added to the regular mailing list. During the year a survey was carried out to establish whether all those on the overseas distribution list wished to continue receiving the Trade Bulletin. The result showed a list of 5,500 regular readers, a number increasing by an average of sixty to seventy a month. Firms in no less than 157 different territories receive copies.
83. A special effort was made to vary and improve the style of the bulletin and to advance its publication date to coincide with the month of issue. Despite staff difficulties, both objectives have to some extent been achieved, but the department is well aware that further improvements can be made within the existing scope and compass of the bulletin. Starting with the November 1957 issue, the composition of the bulletin has been planned to provide a special theme for each issue, supported by subsidiary articles and photographs on different subjects for variety. Main themes have included enamelware, cotton spinning and weaving, the annual local exhibition, paint manufacture and a broad review of Hong Kong's trade during the last five years; the review was supported by tables of comparative statistics assembled in a form not readily available elsewhere. In preparing a more accurate and informative lay-out of statistical tables, in advancing the publication date and in attempting to introduce other improvements in the bulletin, excellent co-operation and sound technical advice has been received from the printers, which the department acknowledges with grateful thanks.
84. Local sales of the Trade Bulletin increased slowly but steadily during the year and by the end of March 1958 the figure stood at about 900. Each issue carried an average of forty pages of advertisements, representing between them just over sixty Hong Kong firms.
85. The Trade Promotion Branch also distributed to overseas Chambers of Commerce and trade associations 240 copies of the Hong
18
Kong Annual Report 1957 and nearly a thousand copies of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Report for 1956 to Chambers and Consulates abroad.
DEPARTMENTAL REFERENCE LIBRARY
86. With the completion of structural alterations in the Fire Brigade Building and the provision of a suitable room for a trade reference library, it was possible to start organizing the library so as to make it a useful source for consultation by local businessmen. Old publications were weeded out and scores of letters despatched asking for up to date editions. During the second half of 1957 more than 500 books and magazines arrived covering a wide field of commercial subjects in most parts of the world. The library now consists of about a thousand books, among them many useful commercial guides and directories, and a number of folders containing up to date information on customs and tariff regulations in many parts of the world.
MISCELLANEOUS
87. One of the other main functions of the Trade Promotion Branch is to deal with business inquiries received by letter or by personal visits. A large correspondence was maintained with overseas firms requesting information about Hong Kong products and the names and addresses of firms handling them. The branch also received approximately 200 business visitors from overseas, arranged introductions and factory visits for them and gave advice as required. A very large number of local businessmen consulted the branch and received assistance in a wide variety of ways.
88. A small standing display of Hong Kong products was mounted in the trade reference library, which proved of interest to business visitors from overseas.
89. At the request of both overseas and local firms, the department mediated in a number of commercial disputes and in several cases persuaded the firms concerned to reach satisfactory settlements.
90. On several occasions the department was asked by aggrieved parties to intervene in cases where their registered trade marks had been forged or falsely applied to goods by other persons. The normal means of redress is by way of a private prosecution under the Merchandise Marks Ordinance and the circumstances in which the department may undertake an official prosecution are limited. Complainants were advised
19
in general terms of their rights under the Merchandise Marks Ordinance and were encouraged to consult a solicitor if they wished to institute legal proceedings. In practice, official prosecutions were only under- taken during the year in cases in which investigation revealed offences under other legislation for which private prosecutions would be in- appropriate. It is expected that certain amendments of the Merchandise Marks Ordinance, referred to in Chapter XV, will make it easier for private parties to obtain redress in the courts.
VI. CERTIFICATION OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS
GENERAL
91. On 2nd December, 1957, due to a re-organization of procedures within the Certification Branch and an increase in staff, it was found possible to accept applications for certificates two, instead of four, days before shipment. While this innovation assisted merchants, it limited the time available to the department for spot inspections of goods to be exported, and allowed little or no time for re-application if the original application required amendment or correction. The latter difficulty was accepted by Chambers of Commerce and other representa- tive bodies who had been consulted regarding the change, and the new procedure was instituted on the understanding that a strong line would be taken by the department in cases of carelessly completed, incorrect, or late applications.
92. During the year, two further steps were taken to speed up the issue of certificates and to minimize inconvenience to the public. The issue office was removed from the fourth to the ground floor, and a new method of paying fees was introduced on 1st March, 1958. In place of the former arrangement whereby payment was made on collection of the certificate, fees are now paid by postage stamps affixed or franked on the application, completed certificates being issued without charge. The fees themselves remained unchanged. The procedure greatly simplified collection, permitted a reduction in staff, and acts as a sanction against carelessly completed or incorrect applications.
INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION OF FACTORIES FOR
ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES
93. A vigorous inspection policy was carried out by the Industry Section of the Preventive Service attached to the Certification Branch in connexion with factories seeking initial registration, routine inspections
20
of factories already registered, and spot-checks on goods under application. This work was somewhat complicated by an increase in the number of inspections and inquiries prompted by requests and complaints from overseas customs authorities. Comparative figures of inspections carried out during the last four years will be found at paragraph 174. At the end of the year 3,230 factories were registered with the department, an increase of 106 over the number registered on 31st March, 1957.
STANDARD CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN
94. The number of standard certificates of origin issued was on a level with that for 1956/57. Some consolidation and revision of the criteria for the issue of these certificates was carried out and the depart- ment endeavoured to make overseas customs authorities more fully aware of their value in support of claims to Hong Kong origin.
95. The issue of certificates of origin for French territories, which require endorsement that the goods attain 50% British Commonwealth content, was brought into line with the normal preference costing procedure. It was made known that from 1st April, 1958, cost statements would be required in support of all applications for such endorsed certificates.
IMPERIAL PREFERENCE CERTIFICATES
96. H. M. Customs and Excise in London continues to be respon- sible for scrutiny of cost statements prepared by approved accountants in Hong Kong in support of claims to Imperial Preference for goods exported to the United Kingdom. As indicated in paragraphs 194 and 195, the London Office was involved in correspondence arising out of such claims.
97. Customs authorities in all other Commonwealth countries which grant Imperial Preference rates of duty for Hong Kong products look to this department to ensure that, when a certificate is issued, it is a valid claim to preference in accordance with the requirements of the country of destination.
98. The number of imperial preference certificates issued during the year increased by 6.2% compared with 1956/57.
99. The department continued its efforts to secure uniformity among approved accountants in the preparation of cost statements for, and claims to, imperial preference. Two important letters containing in- structions on imperial preference principles and procedures were
21
addressed to approved accountants. A staff increase enabled cost statements presented by approved accountants to be more closely scrutinized.
100. Incorrect and misleading descriptions of goods for export under imperial preference certification, especially for garments and particularly to the Central African Federation, was a constant problem during the year. In an increasing number of such cases the department had to resort to the power of revocation after issue of the certificates conferred by the Exportation (Imperial Preference Certificates) Regulations 1956.
101. A number of changes in imperial preference tariffs applied by overseas territories were circulated to merchants and accountants. These amendments will be incorporated in a revised version of the Imperial Preference Chart published by the department, which was under prepara- tion at the end of the year under review.
COMPREHENSIVE CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN
102. There was a marked increase in the number of Comprehensive Certificates of Origin of all types issued during the year. Commercial certificates alone, which cover the most valuable part of the trade, in- creased by 17.7%, while the total value of all goods exported under comprehensive certificates of origin was more than double that for the previous year.
103. A revised comprehensive certificate of origin application form was introduced on 1st January, 1958. The layout of the new form is similar to that for standard certificates of origin but calls for more information from the manufacturer.
104. During the year approval was given by the United States Foreign Assets Control for the addition of white and black olives to the Agricultural Products procedure. New items cleared for import into the United States and its dependencies under comprehensive certificates of origin included jade, quartz and hardstone figurines, joss paper, junks and sampans, and paper fans.
105. 'Western style' cotton shirts, dolls' clothes, and semi-embroider- ed woollen gloves were excluded from the list of presumptive items.
106. With the approval of the United States Foreign Assets Control, the import of fresh frozen shrimps and prawns from Hong Kong into the United States and its dependencies, which was suspended in January 1957 was resumed in June 1957, under a revised procedure.
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MISCELLANEOUS CERTIFICATES
107. The Certification Branch continued to issue Letters of Support, where goods are processed in the Colony but to a degree insufficient to claim Hong Kong origin, and general certificates, which testify to the ability of a firm to manufacture a product for which an import licence is sought overseas.
108. It also continued to certify exports and verify the signature of the Superintendent of Gardens on phytosanitary certificates, the Director of Marketing or the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on certificates of origin for natural produce exported, and medical practitioners on phytopathological, hide and hair certificates.
STATISTICS AND ENFORCEMENT
109. Table 7 shows the number of factories registered with the department for the issue of the various types of certificates, the number of certificates issued during the year and the value of goods certified, with corresponding figures for the previous year.
110.
Fees collected for the services of revenue officers in connexion with the issue of certificates amounted to $173,422.
111. Certificates were revoked in eleven cases, and ten successful prosecutions for offences under the Certificate of Origin or Imperial Preference Regulations were concluded during the year. Fines between $250 and $750 were imposed.
VII. OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING HONG KONG'S TRADE
UNITED KINGDOM
112. The campaign by Lancashire manufacturers against the un- restricted entry into the U.K. of duty free cotton piecegoods initiated some years back gained momentum during 1957 and over-shadowed all other overseas developments affecting Hong Kong's trade.
113. A mission representing the United Kingdom Cotton Board and led by Sir Cuthbert Clegg attempted in January and February 1957 to negotiate a voluntary limitation on exports of Indian and Hong Kong piecegoods to Britain and, later, visited Pakistan during May with a similar object in view. While in Karachi, the mission was notified by the Hong Kong Cotton Spinners' Association that its members had
23
decided that they could not agree to any voluntary limitation of exports to the United Kingdom.
114. Mr. F. J. Erroll, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, passed through Hong Kong on his way to Peking early in October 1957, and took the opportunity to discuss the question of United Kingdom imports of cotton textiles. He visited a textile mill, met leading textile manufacturers and was given as comprehensive a picture as possible of the problems of the local textile industry, its current and estimated future capacity, and its general characteristics. The information was not readily to hand and its assembly was a matter of some difficulty to the department, because of the fragmentation of the industry itself and the absence of reliable information about its marginal constituents. However, it could be said that the information was sufficient to give H.M. Government a clear general picture of the situation as seen in Hong Kong, to remove some misunderstandings, and to correct some misrepresentation.
115. His Excellency the Governor referred in the following words to the problem of Lancashire on 4th December, 1957, at the opening of the Fifteenth Exhibition of Hong Kong products:
'You are aware of the pressure being exerted by the textile industry of Lancashire to restrict the import into the United Kingdom of cotton yarn and textiles from India, Pakistan and Hong Kong. Our friends in Lancashire are particularly concerned to put a ceiling on the import of cotton piecegoods from Hong Kong, now running at the rate of seventy million square yards in a year, about forty per cent of our total production of the type of piecegoods suitable for the British market. When the Parlia- mentary Secretary of the Board of Trade was here in October, I took the opportunity of discussing the matter with him very fully. The British Government has made it well known that it is reluctant to restrict imports from its Colonies, and I in turn made it plain that this Government would not consider enforcing an export control. I also pointed out that Hong Kong with its free, unsubsidized economy, which permitted free access of all the world's goods, could not be compared with any other country supplying cotton textiles to the United Kingdom. I said that when people from other countries talked about making voluntary agreements to restrict imports or exports, it was unreasonable to link Hong Kong with such talk because our circumstances are different.
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Some of our Lancashire critics have pointed out the danger of relying too strongly on exports of a single product to a single market. This is a very real danger of which our textile industrial- ists are well aware. I was fortunately able to tell Mr. Erroll that expansion of our textile finishing industry already in progress would help us to avoid that danger, and would also mean that in the not too distant future I foresaw that we might have less unfinished cloth to sell overseas'.
116. On 24th March, 1958 Sir Frank Lee, K.C.B., C.M.G., Permanent Secretary of the Board of Trade, arrived in Hong Kong charged by Her Majesty's Government with the task of discussing with representatives of the textile (piecegoods) industry the possibility of a limitation of exports and ascertaining their views prior to a meeting between representatives of the U.K. Cotton Board and of the industries in India and Pakistan.
117. The department arranged for Sir Frank to meet three representa- tives each from the Hong Kong Cotton Spinners' Association, the Hong Kong Weavers' Association, and the Hong Kong Cotton Weaving Manufacturers' Association, together with a representative of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, and the Exporters' Association. Collectively there was thus formed a negotiating committee representative of the textile industry, and of industry and commerce in general. The committee selected Col. J. D. Clague, C.B.E., M.C. to be its spokesman and chairman at the several meetings with Sir Frank Lee. The department provided statistics and factual information for the committee.
118. Sir Frank's negotiations were difficult, but a level of common agreement was ultimately reached, and he departed on 6th April. Briefly, the committee expressed willingness on the part of the Hong Kong textile industry to carry on further negotiations for a ceiling on exports of Hong Kong grey cloth, subject to certain conditions, and after the results were known of the industry-to-industry talks between representa- tives of Lancashire, India and Pakistan, which were scheduled to take place later in April.
CANADA
119. The Canadian Tariff Board, referred to in last year's report, finished its investigation into the production, consumption, marketing, imports and exports of waterproof footwear and rubber-soled canvas footwear, and presented in March 1957, a statement of its findings as
25
to fact with no recommendations. Following this, representations were made by five Canadian rubber companies to introduce alternative specific import duties, which would have the effect of raising very substantially the duty on Hong Kong rubber footwear. The department assisted the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Exporters' Association in the preparation of a joint brief to the Canadian Tariff Board, setting forth reasons against the adoption of these changes. A public hearing was held by the Board in March 1958, and the final decisions of the Canadian Government are awaited by manufacturers and exporters in Hong Kong.
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA
120. With a view to giving more protection to her industries against imported goods, especially from Hong Kong, the Union of South Africa increased its customs duties on a number of commodities, including clothing, hosiery and buttons, with effect from May 1957. Alternative specific duties were also introduced in respect of most of these items. The effect of these changes on the Colony's trade is being watched. 121. Amendment No. 5 of 1958 to the South African Customs Act, 1955, was promulgated to take effect from February 1958. Hitherto, South African Customs legislation has required that, to claim Common- wealth preference, imports from a Commonwealth territory must have a 25% value content from the Commonwealth territory of origin. The legislation also enjoined that the 25% value content could only be varied by agreement with the territory concerned. However, the new amendment provides for unilateral changes in the necessary territorial value content on the authority of the Minister of Finance, acting on the recommendation of the Board of Trade and Industries. The expressed purpose of this enactment is to give the Minister power to put an end to the entry of competitive goods primarily produced in 'behind the iron curtain countries and especially in the East and at very low costs, but further processed in and then exported from countries in Western Europe to the Union under favourable rates of duty'. The department and the local trade associations are keeping abreast of developments.
FEDERATION OF RHODESIA AND NYASALAND
122. As forecast in last year's report, the action taken by the Federation to protect local industries by a revision of the preferential tariff regulations has resulted in a decline in our trade in cotton piece- goods, towels and enamelware.
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FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
123. As a result of further representation made through the United Kingdom Government, the quota for Hong Kong's exports of rubber footwear to Western Germany has again been increased, resulting in a bigger volume of trade in this line.
124. In May 1957 the German authorities announced the removal of quantitative restrictions on the import of 'Eastern tissues of pure silk, being tissues of the tussah variety or habutai and corah in a plain weave, undischarged or wholly or partly discharged, but not otherwise worked', but added that this relaxation would not extend to fabrics woven in Hong Kong. Appropriate action was immediately taken through the United Kingdom Government, and it is now confirmed that silk brocades manufactured in Hong Kong are not classified under the item in question and can therefore be imported into Western Germany under Open General Licence.
NORTH BORNEO
125. The North Borneo Customs Tariff has been substantially amended by the promulgation of the Customs Duties Order, 1957, which came into force in November 1957. In some cases, such as textiles and apparel (including footwear), enamelware, aluminiumware, flashlight bulbs and soap, ad valorem duties have been changed to specific duties. There have also been adjustments in the percentage empire content required to claim preferential duty; in particular, the empire content required for toys, leather goods, brooms and brushes has been raised from 25% to 50%. Some items such as firecrackers, matches, soap, stationery, sugar and tea have also been removed from preference. It is likely that some of these changes will operate to the detriment of the Colony's export trade.
MOROCCO
126. During the trade talks in respect of 1958 held between the Moroccan and the United Kingdom Governments, the latter attempted to negotiate an import quota of green tea on behalf of Hong Kong. Although this was not successful, the position is still being kept under review.
FRANCE AND FRENCH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES
127. Despite representations made by the United Kingdom Govern- ment, the French authorities have not felt able to increase the annual
27
quotas for the import of Hong Kong torches and electric light bulbs into metropolitan France.
128. However, quotas for the period March to December 1958 have been opened for import from the sterling area into French Equatorial Africa and the French Cameroons of a number of commodities, of which the following are of interest to Hong Kong: cotton fabrics, knitwear, clothing and accessories and miscellaneous metal products.
THE TREATY OF ROME AND THE GENERAL AGREEMENT
ON TARIFFS AND TRADE
129. The department has followed closely the examination, by countries participating in the G.A.T.T., of the Treaty of Rome which created the European Common Market or Customs Union with France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg as partners. The sections in the Treaty concerning common tariffs and quantitative restrictions, and the reactions of countries participating in the G.A.T.T. towards them, are likely to have an important bearing on Hong Kong's future trade with countries of the Common Market.
EUROPEAN FREE TRADE AREA
130. The department continues to keep abreast of progress made in the proposed formation of a European Free Trade Area, because a number of aspects of the Colony's trade will be affected by the proposals under discussion. The definition of origin to be adopted is likely to be of considerable importance to local industry if the Free Trade Area comes into being.
NEW ZEALAND
131. To conserve its reserves of overseas funds, the New Zealand Government issued a new import licensing schedule which is effective from 1st January, 1958 and makes the licensing arrangements more restrictive. The schedule is expected to have an adverse effect on exports of Hong Kong goods to New Zealand during 1958.
INDONESIA
132. The civil disturbances in Indonesia have disrupted Hong Kong's normal trade with that country. In addition, all Government imports have been temporarily suspended. This further measure to curb imports in order to conserve foreign exchange follows the recent ban on imports of luxury and semi-luxury goods, and the raising from 20%
28
to 100% of the c.i.f. value of the goods, of the guarantees that Indonesian importers are required to deposit when submitting import applications.
RELATIONS WITH OVERSEAS CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES
133. Close co-operation exists between the department and the overseas customs authorities of Commonwealth countries, especially those in New Zealand, Rhodesia, Mauritius, North Borneo and Malaya. Doubts or queries about certificates of origin or imperial preference certificates issued by the department, have been promptly resolved or answered. Information as to changes in customs legislation and related matters was freely exchanged.
GENERAL
134. The preceding paragraphs illustrate only some of the develop- ments overseas which have affected, or are likely to affect the Colony's trade. Other general developments, such as industrialization in countries within the Colony's traditional trading area which invariably leads to the adoption of protective measures in the form of increased tariffs or quantitative restrictions, the tendency to negotiate bilateral trade agree- ments involving the Colony's present trading partners, and the drift towards policies of direct supply all have repercussions on Hong Kong either as an entrepot or as a manufacturing centre. The department endeavours within the limitations imposed by the paucity of experienced staff, to keep informed of developments overseas and to relate them to the Colony's trade and industry.
VIII. DUTIABLE COMMODITIES
REVENUE FROM DUTIES
135. Net revenue from duties, as compared with collections in the previous year, are summarized in the following table:
1956/57
$
1957/58 $
Tobacco
40,774,038
45,163,230
Hydrocarbon oils
24,477,764
26,145,514
Liquor
24,659,782
26,566,105
Toilet Preparations and Proprietary
Medicines
4,779,955
5,188,186
Table Waters
2,607,760
2,653,268
Methyl Alcohol
6.427
$97,299,299
$105,722,730
29
This represents an increase in 1957/58 of $8,423,431, about 8.7% above the figure for the previous year. The return from every type of duty was the highest ever recorded. A further breakdown is given in Table 9.
136. Tobacco retained its established role as the principal source of revenue with an increase of more than $4 million over 1956/57.
137. Liquor has also maintained its position this year as the second highest producer of revenue, and collections on this commodity have increased by almost $2 million when compared with 1956/57 figures. Strict control of exports and the supply of liquor for ships' stores coupled with increased vigilance by the Preventive Service are mainly responsible for the increase in duties from imported liquor. The increase in revenue from locally manufactured liquor is for the most part attributable to the fact that dealers in Chinese wine are now more selective in their purchases after public criticism which arose when it was discovered that methyl alcohol, a highly toxic fluid, had been used to adulterate local liquor during the latter half of 1956.
138. With the continued expansion of industry and an increasing number of motor vehicles, revenue from hydrocarbon oils continued to increase, the collection for the year under review exceeding that for 1956/57 by over $1 million. Other factors contributing to the increase have been the mechanization of local sailing craft and the continuing change-over from firewood to kerosene as domestic fuel.
139. Evasion of duty on toilet preparations and proprietary medicines has been checked to a considerable degree and as a result $408,230 more revenue was collected from this source than during the previous financial year.
140. Revenue from table waters remained fairly consistent with the previous year's collection showing only a very slight increase of $45,500.
141. Methyl alcohol was brought within the scope of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance in order to control the movement and use of this poisonous liquid. The control has proved to be effective and methyl alcohol has almost disappeared from the local market having been replaced in industry by denatured ethyl alcohol. This is well illustrated by the fact that in the whole year only $6,427 was collected on this item.
30
REVENUE FROM LICENCES
142. Revenue from licences issued under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance shows a slight increase over last year as may be seen from the table below:
1956/57
1957/58
$
$
Liquor
989,603
1,045,444
Tobacco
371,557
378,021
Hydrocarbon oils
37,376
39,752
Toilet Preparations and Proprietary
Medicines
129,220
133,000
Table Waters
6,467
6,230
$1,534,223
$1,602,447
Further details of licences and revenue derived therefrom are given in Table 10.
143.
IX. STATISTICS
TRADE STATISTICS
Itemized and summarized trade statistics continued to be com- piled within a few days of the end of each month, and throughout the year printed trade statistics were available to the public within a month of the period to which they related.
144. Revenue derived from trade declarations, landing certificates, ships' manifests, statistical services rendered to firms, etc. totalled $747,695 for the financial year ending 31st March, 1958.
STATISTICS OF TRADE BY PARCEL POST
145. With effect from January 1958 the monthly published Trade Statistics have included information on the value of imports and exports of commercial transactions through the post. This has been done with the advice of the Trade and Industry Advisory Committee and with the co-operation of the leading trade associations to close a major gap in the Colony's trade statistics.
146. Congestion in the General Post Office, particularly when mail ships are in port, made it impracticable to obtain the necessary informa- tion from that source. It was therefore decided to ask merchants to co-operate on a voluntary basis by completing a simple form each month indicating the total number and total value of packages they had imported or exported through the post during the previous month. These forms are
31
then totalled and shown in the Trade Statistics as item 911 010 'Postal packages, not classified according to kind”.
147. Where merchants, through usage or convenience, continue to record their postal transactions on import and export declaration forms, these are included in the Trade Statistics under the appropriate com- modity and country classification.
148. The coverage is far from complete and steps have been taken to encourage more merchants to co-operate in the provision of these statistics.
149. The values recorded during January to March 1958 totalled HK$4.40 million for imports and HK$2.29 million for exports.
MECHANIZATION
150. The decision was taken during the year to order an installation of punched card machines to permit a complete separation of exports of Hong Kong products from re-exports in the Trade Statistics, and to enable details of trade with a larger number of countries to be published. The equipment will also afford to other departments the advantages of mechanization in the provision of statistics.
151. An order was placed with the British Tabulating Machine Company for one Senior Rolling Tabulator, one Collator, one Reproducer Summary Card Punch, and one Sorter, to be delivered so that the Trade Statistics for January 1959 will be produced by this means. This involves a considerable amount of administrative and technical re-organization, work on which began during the year.
RETAIL PRICE INDEX
152. The Retail Price Index continued to be published monthly and the figures for the end of each quarter, on the basis March 1947 100, were as follows:
June
Sept. Dec.
March
1957
1957
1957
1958
I.
Food (including drink)
126
131.
115
121
II.
Rent
119
119
119
119
III.
Clothing (including footwear)
88
89
87
90
IV.
Fuel, light and cleaning:
(a) Fuel
(b) Electric light
(c) Cleaning
2625
99
99
99
100
63
63
62
95
96
99
100
32
June
Sept.
Dec.
March
1957
1957
1957
1958
V√.
Other items:
(i) Education
140
140
140
140
(ii) Tobacco and Cigarettes
113
113
113
113
(iii) Doctors and Medicines
105
105
105
105
(iv) Fares
100
100
100
100
(v) Household Equipment
106
105
108
108
(vi) Hairdressing
117
117
114
114
(vii) Newspapers and Stationery
153
153
153
153
(viii) Shoe Repairs
77
78
77
77
(ix) Rates
100
100
100
100
General Retail Price Index
118
121
112
116
ASSISTANCE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS
153. Apart from trade statistics, the work of the office included routine statistical analyses for the Royal Observatory, the Urban Services Department, and the Criminal Investigation and Traffic Branches of the Police Force. It also included routine returns to the United Nations and its specialized agencies, the collection of retail commodity prices, the calculation of the Retail Price Index and the preparation of the monthly statistical supplement to the Government Gazette.
154. In addition, Hollerith cards have been punched for the Resettle- ment Estate Survey, the Housing Survey and the Radio Listeners Survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong, and the sorter machine has been made available to the University for the analyses of these cards.
155. A start was made on an analysis of Pomar Code Reports for the Royal Observatory covering wind directions and speed at specific levels in specified areas.
156. A total of 84,609 Hollerith cards has been punched during the year.
X. TRADE CONTROLS
IMPORT LICENSING
157. In June 1957, those countries subscribing to the United Nations Resolution of 19th May, 1951 made a reassessment of the strategic significance of certain commodities. As a result, it was possible to make a considerable reduction in local import controls in conformity with action taken by the United Kingdom. Restrictions were maintained on the import of goods having a high strategic value. Such commodities, generally raw materials required for Hong Kong industry, were subject
33
to strict quantitative or end-use import control, and local end-users were required in many cases to submit documentary evidence of their use of the materials concerned. Inspections of individual factories were made by officers of the department to ensure that highly strategic chemicals and metals permitted import for specific factories were being properly used.
158. The department issued 632 Delivery Verification Certificates during the year to verify the landing of strategic goods in Hong Kong. This compared with 844 issued in 1956/57 and 461 during 1955/56.
159. Japan, Iran and the Argentine were placed on the Open General Licence No. 1 on 1st April, 1957. The effect of this and the relaxation of the embargo on goods which were formerly strategic has been to reduce the number of import licences issued during the year by more than half, the number being 44,757 for 1957/58 compared with 101,224 for 1956/57.
EXPORT LICENSING
160. The 1957 relaxation in the embargo on the export of strategic goods to the Soviet Bloc has resulted in a considerable reduction in Hong Kong export licensing requirements. Various procedures which had been in use for almost two years and which had been established to permit the export of goods of a low strategic significance to China are no longer necessary. Local exporters also know more clearly which items may or may not be exported to China, North Vietnam and North Korea.
161. The total prohibition on exports to North Korea came to an end with the rescission in August 1957 of the Exportation (Prohibition) (North Korea) Order of 1950. This has had the effect of permitting free export of non-strategic goods to that country, subject to exchange control.
162. Delivery Verifications and Landing Certificates are required to support export licences issued for highly strategic goods. Many hundreds of these have been supplied by local exporters to verify the landing of these goods in approved territories.
163. The majority of export licences are still issued for exchange control reasons. The total number issued during 1957/58 was 225,221 compared with 225,754 for 1956/57 and 193,991 for 1955/56.
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XI. THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE
GENERAL
164. The enforcement branch of the Department, the Preventive Service, remained under strength throughout the year, and at the 31st March, 1958 was sixty two short of the approved establishment of 343, representing a loss of 18% in manpower. This was due to the difficulty in obtaining suitably qualified recruits, particularly in the junior ranks.
RE-ORGANIZATION
165. At the beginning of the year, the Assistant Chief Preventive Officer who had previously been in charge of training was put in charge of the co-ordination of the various operational sections of the service. At the same time a new post of Senior Revenue Inspector was created, the officer appointed to this post being responsible for the initial training of new recruits and refresher courses for serving officers.
166. In the course of the year proposals were submitted to the Secretariat for a re-organization of the Preventive Service designed to bring salary scales and qualifications for appointment to ranks below Revenue Inspector in line with those applicable to the Police Force. These recommendations were approved and provision was made accordingly for inclusion in the estimates for 1958/59. The salary scales will be commensurate with the qualifications and responsibilities expected of officers of the new grades, and it is hoped that it will thereby be easier to fill outstanding vacancies and to retain recruits in the service.
DISCIPLINE
167. Seven Revenue Inspectors and three Revenue Officers were commended by the Director during the year. In addition, one Revenue Inspector and ten Revenue Officers received favourable entries in their Records of Service for good work. Disciplinary punishments were awarded as follows:
Admonishments
Reprimands
Severe Reprimands
Deferment of increment
Termination of Service Dismissal
1956/57
1957/58
5
2
6
2
2
1
3
61
2
·
35
SEARCHES
168. A total of 1,773 ocean-going vessels were inspected and 33,758 native craft searched within and outside harbour limits, as compared with 816 and 39,287 respectively during the previous year. Macau ferry boats were also searched daily. Sixty aircraft were searched under the supervision of trained mechanics.
DUTIABLE COMMODITIES
169. The control of dutiable commodities continued to be the main task of the Preventive Service. Seizures of tobacco, liquor, proprietary medicines and toilet preparations were maintained at a high level, the majority of which resulted in confiscations by the courts as listed in Table 11. Service launches on deep-sea patrols looked inwards towards the harbour and were able to follow incoming vessels, particularly from Macau, in order to detect dutiable cargoes dumped overboard. Similar measures were adopted in respect of incoming deep-sea vessels and it was found possible to board these immediately after immigration and port health formalities were completed in Kowloon Bay.
170. During the year, Revenue Officers engaged on harbour launch patrol duties found that there were discrepancies between lists of ships' stores supplied to them and the actual stocks of dutiable commodities held on board ocean-going vessels on their arrival in the Colony. Measures were taken to suppress the evasion of duty on these com- modities which, in many cases, crew members intended to be brought ashore. Extensive searches were made and rummaging parties were successful in locating the following quantities of ships' stores concealed on board ship:
Cigarettes Liquor
Cigars
805 lbs.
488 gallons
44 lbs.
With the assistance of the shipping companies, this illegal flow of dutiable goods to the local market has largely been brought under control.
NARCOTICS
171. Eighty five seizures of narcotics were made during the year, and details of subsequent confiscations by the courts are given in Table 11. The formation of the Anti-Narcotics Section has been fully justified, and the continued close co-operation between this section and the Narcotics Bureau of the Police Force has been of mutual benefit.
36
172. Narcotics were located both on vessels and on aircraft arriving from various ports. The largest seizure during the year under review was 1,076 lbs. of raw opium discovered in a cargo of cotton waste which had arrived from Karachi. One hundred and fifty lbs. of raw opium were found hidden in the hold of a deep-sea vessel, covered by a large number of sacks of peas. Another seizure of 984 lbs. of raw opium and 174 lbs. of morphine-hydrochloride was made in a dunnage hatch concealed under sacks of sawdust covered by steel hawsers. The largest single seizure of morphine-hydrochloride for many years weighing 47.5 lbs. occurred during the year; it was found in the possession of a passenger arriving by air from Bangkok. A further seizure of interest was 12,200 heroin pills concealed in a secret compartment of fishing junk from Macau. An attempt to export 4 lbs. of morphine-hydrochloride to Macau was thwarted by Revenue Officers.
STRATEGIC COMMODITIES
173. As a result of the relaxation of export controls, referred to in paragraph 160, which permitted a variety of previously embargoed goods of low strategic value to be exported to China, there were no seizures of strategic goods during the year.
CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN
174. The following table shows the number of inspections carried out by Officers in the Industry Section compared with the three previous
years:
1954/55
1955/56
1956/57
1957/58
13,180
24,252
42,735
42,171
Further details of the work carried out by this section will be found in paragraph 93.
DANGEROUS GOODS
175. Negligible quantities of dangerous goods were seized during the year.
MERCHANDISE MARKS
176. Four infringements of the Merchandise Marks Ordinance were detected during the year, being the same number as in the previous year.
37
The offences concerned the trade description of cotton shirts, Chinese joss-sticks and ladies' gloves.
BULLION
177. Gold seizures in various forms totalled 878.64 lbs. One hundred and thirty three pounds were found concealed in a cargo of sweets destined for Singapore, and a further 100 lbs. of gold in bars were located in the exhaust pipes of generators that were still running prior to the departure of a vessel. A third seizure of 88 lbs. of gold bars was found in the propeller shaft tunnel wall of another vessel about to leave the Colony.
178. All seizures of bullion were made as a result of information received by officers of the Preventive Service.
COURT ACTIONS
179. The following table shows that the Prosecution Section had fewer cases to handle than in 1956/57. It also reveals a marked reduction in the number of arrests as a result of a decision to proceed against suspect persons by way of summons wherever possible, and an appreciable increase in the severity of fines inflicted by the courts.
1955/56 1956/57 1957/58
Total actions Total arrests
Total fines
1,283
1,679
2,742 683
783
540 $202,102 $211,009 $230,952
An indication of the major confiscations ordered by the courts, other than of dutiable commodities and dangerous drugs, is given in Table 12.
XII. RESERVED COMMODITIES AND
GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES
RICE
180. A review was made of the existing rice policy at the end of 1957 and it was decided to continue the scheme for a further year. The basic quota remained at 66,000 metric tons per quarter and the stockholding commitment at 38,500 metric tons. An optional ten per cent addition to basic quotas was offered to importers in each quarter of the year and was taken up in full on all occasions.
38
181. Total imports of rice during the year ended 31st March, 1958 were 292,500 metric tons as compared with 294,425 in the previous financial year, as follows:
Source
1956/57 M/tons %
1957/58 M/tons %
Thailand
208,340 70.8
163,163
55.8
China
56,838
19.3
64,314 22.0
Cambodia
4,209
1.4
52,604
18.0
North Vietnam
2,013
.7
10,192
3.5
South Vietnam
1,100
.4
Burma
22,443
7.6
1,002
.3
Australia
130
125
East Africa
252
.1
United States
200
.1
294,425
100.0 292,500 100.0
182. Higher f.o.b. prices and increased export premia in Bangkok were to some extent offset by reduced freight rates. Nevertheless, prices to the consumer at the end of the year were generally higher than a year previously. There was little public criticism of the Government rice control scheme, which has continued to operate successfully in providing adequate supplies at reasonable prices.
FROZEN MEAT
183. With effect from 1st July, 1957 the frozen meat control scheme was discontinued and restrictions on the importation of frozen meat were removed. Frozen meat, however, remains a 'reserved commodity'. Im- porters are required to be approved by and registered with the Department, and import and export licences are still required.
184. Total imports of frozen meat during 1957/58 were 7,015 long tons, as follows:
Total
Source
Australia
China
Beef Mutton
Pork
Offals
L/tons
%
2,832
359
43
166
3,400
48.5
81
11
390
1,336
1,818
25.9
U. S. A.
10
918
928
13.2
Holland
4
63
257
324
4.6
Denmark
179
70
249
3.6
Canada
100
100
1.4
New Zealand
22
11
64
1
98
1.4
South America
10
84
94
1.4
Japan
3
3
Thailand
1
1
2,952
381
750
2,932
7,015
100.0
39
185. A drop in the consumption of frozen meat was more than compensated for by increased consumption of fresh meat, so that total figures show a sharp rise for the year.
Fresh Meat
Frozen Meat
1955/56
1956/57 1957/58
L/tons
L/tons
L/tons
34,832
30,109
35,784
3,166
7,390
7,037
37,998
37,499
42,821
COAL
186. No restrictions were placed on the coal trade during the year. Total imports in 1957/58 amounted to 246,505 long tons as compared with 199,017 long tons in the previous year.
Source
China
India
Indonesia
North Vietnam
Australia
Taiwan
Japan
:
1956/57
1957/58
L/tons
%
Litons
%
143,066
71.9
173,591
70.4
35,591
14.4
20,335
8.3
3,090
1.6
6,892
2.8
1,936
1.0
6,181
2.5
1,470
.7
3,035
1.2
49,455
24.8
880
.4
199,017 100.0 246,505
100.0
187. The price of coal dropped considerably during the year, owing to a fall in the price of coal imported from China.
188. Coal remained a 'reserved commodity', and import and export licences were required for all supplies entering and leaving the Colony.
FIREWOOD
189. The maintenance and turnover of the Government firewood stockpile was carried on during the year, although some difficulty was experienced with sales owing to a substantial drop in the price of commercial wood. It was found necessary to adjust the price of Government firewood from time to time in order to offer it at com- petitive prices.
40
190. Total imports of firewood during the year 1957/58 were as
follows:
Commercial Imports
Source
China Malaya
North Borneo
Others
Total
Imports
Government Imports
Tons
Tons
Tons
138,772
138,772
23,516
5,451
18,065
19,550
12,303
7,247
73
73
181,911
17,754
164,157
191. Six thousand and forty-five tons of Government firewood were sold in the year ended 31st March, 1958 at an average price of $5.02 per picul as compared with 9,366 tons at $4.86 per picul in the previous year.
FOODSTUFFS
192. Reserve stocks of certain essential foodstuffs continued to be maintained and turned over during the year.
ACCOUNTS
193. The net expenditure on maintaining the Government stockpile for the year was $2,298,423.04, being the difference between expenditure on supplies, storage, etc., and the proceeds of sales. After revaluation of the stocks at 31st March, 1958 on the basis of the market value or original landed cost, whichever was lower, the net loss for the year was $1,973,091.91.
XIII. THE LONDON OFFICE
IMPERIAL PREFERENCE
194. The assistance of the London Office was frequently invoked throughout the year by accountants, manufacturers and exporters in Hong Kong, and by importers in the United Kingdom, in supporting and clarifying claims to Imperial Preference for the Colony's products. Over 800 factories and their claims to preference are fully recorded in the office. H.M. Customs and Excise provided copies of approximately 1,200 letters written to Hong Kong accountants in connexion with preference claims so that the office records could be maintained and extended.
195. Other problems discussed with H.M. Customs and Excise included certificates of origin or Imperial Preference for tea blended
41
in Hong Kong, the certification of Malayan latex used in the manu- facture of Hong Kong products, and preference for gunny bags of Commonwealth origin exported from the Colony.
TRADE FAIRS
196. The Director of the London Office was responsible for all advance arrangements at New York and Frankfurt in connexion with the Colony's participation in the First United States World Trade Fair in April and the Frankfurt International Autumn Fair in September 1957. At an early stage plans were obtained from stand designers and forwarded to the department in Hong Kong for selection by the Trade and Industry Advisory Committee. Thereafter arrangements were made for the construction of the stands, the unloading, unpacking and mount- ing of the exhibits, the accommodation of the official delegations, and other administrative and financial details. Almost all the preliminary work in connexion with the New York Fair was completed before the end of the previous financial year.
197. The office was also responsible for arranging the dismantling, repacking and despatch of exhibits at the end of the two fairs, and for winding up the accounts.
198. The Director of the London Office visited New York and Frankfurt as an official delegate on the Hong Kong stands, and Miss Wright of the London Office also went over to Frankfurt at short notice to give the delegation much valuable assistance.
199. Further details of the Colony's participation in these Trade Fairs will be found in Chapter V.
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS
200. Nine hundred introductions were made between United Kingdom and overseas companies seeking Hong Kong products and Hong Kong merchants and manufacturers. Fifty two requests for in- sertion in the Trade Bulletin were forwarded to the Department on behalf of United Kingdom companies.
201. Statistical information was supplied to commercial organizations and companies on many Hong Kong products including fountain pens, knitwear, brassieres, plastics, umbrellas, rubber footwear and leather cloth, and on other Hong Kong imports and exports, including ball- bearings and textiles.
42
202. Claims notified to the office numbered twenty eight, all of which were investigated and forwarded to the department for further investi- gation. In most cases satisfactory settlements were achieved. There were five infringements of designs or patents covering binoculars, shuttlecocks, watch bracelets, brushes and garments, all of which were fully discussed with the companies concerned and mostly settled effectively.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
203. Imports from Hong Kong into the United Kingdom continued to be the target for criticism in the United Kingdom Press. Umbrellas, gloves and toys were subjected to this criticism during the early part of the year but textiles took pride of place towards the end. On questions of fact the office intervened by writing appropriate letters to the news- papers concerned.
204. On other occasions the office collaborated with journalists who were preparing articles about Hong Kong, in particular the Feature Editor of the Shoe and Leather News which had been concerning itself about the problem of competition from Hong Kong in this field.
205. The supply of literature to schools, societies, businessmen, lecturers and the general public continued, with many favourable comments being made by recipients about its quality.
206. Several hundred letters were received from individuals seeking or proposing to take appointments in the Colony.
MISCELLANEOUS
207. Twelve hundred visitors were received and interviewed during the year. Sir Robert and Lady Black visited the office several times prior to leaving for Hong Kong where Sir Robert was to assume the Governorship. Sir Alexander Grantham also visited the office.
208. Again this year, the office was able to help the Hong Kong Chinese Manufacturers' Association with advertisements concerning the Fifteenth Annual Exhibition of Hong Kong products.
209. The Director of the office was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of Hong Kong House, and most administrative work in connexion with the preparation of the building and its organiza- tion as
a residential hostel in London for Hong Kong students continued to be conducted by the office.
43
210. The scope of the office is continually expanding and during the year it had to deal with such diverse matters as the supply of gearboxes in which the Hong Kong Marine Department was interested, equipment for Radio Hong Kong, market opportunities for convector heaters manufactured in the Colony, details of rail fares for journeys between Hong Kong and Peking, information on family planning in the Colony and infestation of cargoes through copra beetles.
211. During the year the Director and Assistant Director of the office made independent visits to Hong Kong.
212. The staff consists of the Director, Assistant Director, two senior clerks (one post vacant), shorthand typist, copy typist and office junior. The office is located on the sixth floor of Grand Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London, W.C. 2.
XIV. THE TOKYO OFFICE
GENERAL
213. Representation of the Colony's commercial interests in Japan continued to be the function of the Hong Kong Government Representa- tive who is concurrently the Head of the Hong Kong Section of the British Embassy in Tokyo. The office of the Section is located at Naka 8th Building, Marunouchi, in the centre of the business district of Tokyo. 214. The main activities of the Section were the furthering of Hong Kong's interests and presenting its views in all matters relating to trade and commerce, as well as the general promotion of trade and the dis- semination of information about the Colony.
TRADE WITH JAPAN
215. The following figures show the value of visible trade between the Colony and Japan for the year 1957:
HONG KONG
(in millions H.K. dollars)
1957
1st quarter 2nd
Imports Exports
203.95
96.72
176.74
73.42
3rd
4th
162.64
36.38
220.04
21.74
Total
763.37
228.26
1956
Total
810.60
317.96
44
216. The decline in visible trade for the year 1957 compared with 1956 was due mainly to the reduction in demand by countries in the Colony's traditional Far East trading area for Japanese goods purchased through Hong Kong, and to heavy reductions in purchases by Japan. Although the rapid pace in Hong Kong's trade with Japan has slowed down in 1957, particularly in exports, it was, nevertheless, a remark- able year compared with 1955 when the post-war two-way trade had climbed in value to $672.25 million.
TRADE PROMOTION
217. Trade inquiries, and requests for advice and assistance, were received from Hong Kong merchant houses and their branches and representatives in Japan, from industrial and commercial organizations in the Colony, from Japanese industrial and commercial firms and organizations and from business visitors from, and firms in, other countries. Inquiries by mail concerning many aspects of the Colony's trade and industrial activities were received from many countries, while the number of visitors who called in person at the section for interviews exceeded 350 a month. Commercial introductions were numerous, and the section arranged visits to factories and meetings with leaders of trade and industry organizations in Japan for business visitors from the Colony. Assistance was rendered in a number of commercial disputes between firms in Hong Kong and Japan, with a view to bringing about an amicable settlement of claims.
TRADE FAIRS
218. The Head of the Hong Kong Section, as the Government Representative in Japan, accompanied a delegation from the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce to the Japan International Trade Fair held at Tokyo in May 1957.
CONFERENCES
219. The office assisted delegations from the Colony attending the Pacific Area Travel Association Conference held in August, and United Nations Seminars on Highway Safety and on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders, as well as officials visiting Japan on study tours. The opportunity was taken to distribute trade and other literature about Hong Kong to the delegations from other countries which attended the conferences.
45
220. The Head of Section was invited to attend meetings of the Executive Committee of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan, and was also present as an observer at various trade conferences held in Japan.
VISITS
221. The Hong Kong Government Representative made periodical visits to the industrial areas of Japan, and also visited the Colony during the year.
TOURISM
222. Numerous inquiries were received, mainly from foreign nationals visiting Japan, concerning tourist facilities and immigration requirements in the Colony.
PUBLICATIONS
223. Publications such as the monthly "Trade Bulletin', the 'Com- merce, Industry and Finance Directory', and the 'Hong Kong Annual Report' were distributed to inquirers who sought information concern- ing trade with, and information about, the Colony. The publications together with Hong Kong newspapers and magazines were also made available to visitors in the reading room.
PROCUREMENT
224. The Section undertook the procurement of a wide variety of goods including livestock for Hong Kong Government departments.
IMMIGRATION FACILITIES
225. Despite the drop in trade between the Colony and Japan there was a rise in the number of applications for entry into Hong Kong by Japanese businessmen to whom 3,400 visas were granted during the year, being 400 more than were issued in the previous year. There was also a marked increase in the number of Japanese firms establishing branch offices in the Colony and of Japanese artisans rendering technical assistance to Hong Kong industries.
226. Transit facilities through Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China were granted to nearly 1,300 Japanese Nationals who were members of delegations representing many segments of industry and trade, cultural organizations and trade unions.
227. Applications from Ryukyuan nationals desiring to visit the Colony on business were dealt with by the Section.
46
228. Entry facilities into the Colony were cleared on behalf of 960 Chinese Nationals temporarily resident in Japan, and advice and assistance were given to a large number of Chinese businessmen and students from the Colony to enable them to extend their stay in Japan to conduct business and pursue their studies.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
229. Liaison was maintained with Ministries, the Commercial Sections of Embassies and Legations, Chambers of Commerce and other organizations in Japan.
230. The assistance given to the Section by the Japanese authorities and, in particular, by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry is gladly acknowledged.
STAFF
231. The office staff consisted of the Head of Section and six Japanese nationals.
XV. LEGISLATION
232. Compared with 1956/57 very little legislation affecting the work of the Department was undertaken during the course of the year.
233. In August the Exportation (Prohibition) (North Korea) (Rescission) Regulations, 1957 were published as notification No. A.73 of 20th August, 1957. These rescinded the absolute prohibition on the exportation of goods to North Korea, in line with similar action taken in the United Kingdom.
234. The Merchandise Marks (Amendment) Ordinance, No. 6 of 1958, became law on 22nd January, 1958. The purpose of this enactment was to bring local legislation more closely into line with United Kingdom legislation on the subject. The more important changes included a con- siderable increase in penalties, a strengthening of the provision whereby a private complainant may obtain a search warrant with a view to the seizure of goods infringing the Ordinance, and the inclusion of a clause enabling the Governor in Council by regulation to provide for the payment and protection of informers in the case of prosecutions under- taken by the Crown or a public officer. The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Incorporated Law Society of Hong Kong were consulted by the Legal Department on the terms of the bill. Amendments of the Regulations subsidiary to the Ordinance were drafted but not enacted before the end of the period under review.
47
235. With effect from 1st March, 1958 members of the public were required to pay the appropriate fees for Government Certificates of Origin, Comprehensive Certificates of Origin and Imperial Preference Certificates by means of adhesive or impressed postage stamps affixed or franked on applications for the certificates. Previously these fees were paid in cash on the issue of the certificates. The change was intro- duced after consultation with representatives of manufacturing and trading interests and was designed to simplify and expedite the issue of certificates. It involved the publication of a notification, No. A.8 of 1958 dated 28th January, 1958, under section 12 of the Importation and Exportation Ordinance (Cap. 50) prescribing the fees charged for these and other certificates, licences and services provided by the department and the manner of their payment. No change was made in the amount of the various fees covered by the notification, but the opportunity was taken to improve the wording of the previous notification published in 1953.
236. The introduction on 1st April, 1958 of a mechanized licensing and accounting system in the Dutiable Commodities Branch necessitated an amendment of the forms of licences and permits prescribed in the First Schedule to the Dutiable Commodities Regulations. The Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Regulations 1958, published as Notification No. A.17 in the Gazette of 14th March, 1958, provided for the intro- duction of the new forms.
237. A rough draft of a Preventive Service Bill was completed in the department during the course of the year and forwarded to the Secretariat and Attorney General for consideration. A number of points of detail remained to be settled at the end of March 1958 and it is expected that the final draft of the Bill will be completed in the Legal Department early in the new financial year.
XVI. DEPARTMENTAL WELFARE
GENERAL
238. The Assistant Director (Administration), who is departmental welfare officer, was available at all times to officers who wished to discuss with him matters affecting their own or their family's welfare.
HOUSING OF LOCAL OFFICERS
239. Thirty members of the staff who applied in October 1956 for the grant of a loan to finance a housing scheme formed themselves into
48
a co-operative building society which was registered in November 1957. The building plans were submitted for approval in February 1958 and the society has been assured that the squatters occupying the site allocated to it will be cleared as soon as possible.
240. Advances of a month's salary towards the expenses involved were made to several officers moving to new accommodation.
241. The occupants of the five flats in Kowloon comprising depart- mental quarters for non-expatriate Preventive Service officers were warned towards the end of the year that they would be required to vacate them temporarily in May 1958 to enable alterations to the building to be made. It is hoped that some of the flats will again be available as departmental quarters in due course.
AMENITIES IN DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS
242. An improved type of fan and a refrigerator were issued to the barrack quarters at Fan Ling Revenue Station and Sham Tseng Revenue Sub-Station, both in the New Territories, to improve the living con- ditions of the resident staff. Plans were drawn up and provisionally approved for alterations to the barrack accommodation for Revenue Officers, both men and women, on the 6th floor of Fire Brigade Building. The work is expected to be put in hand early in the new financial year.
EDUCATION
243. Assistance was given to various officers in placing their children in Government schools; out of twelve applications forwarded through the Department, three were successful. Messengers, office attendants and office assistants were encouraged to take English classes at the Evening Institute of the Education Department, and clerical staff to attend classes in shorthand and book-keeping at the Evening Institute or the Technical College Evening Department.
CANTEENS
244. The canteen for Revenue Officers on the 6th floor of the Fire Brigade Building continued to be reasonably well patronized. Provisional approval was given for the premises to be improved and redecorated and for existing furniture to be repaired and new furniture supplied. It is hoped that this work will be completed early in the new financial year.
49
245. Early in the year proposals were submitted for the creation of a canteen and rest room for the clerical and related grades of the four departments accommodated in Fire Brigade Building. The proposals were approved in principle in June 1957 and the first meeting of the Canteen Committee representative of all the departments concerned was held in September. By the end of the year firm plans for architectural alterations to a flat on the 6th floor of Fire Brigade Building had been agreed and financial provision included in the estimates for the new financial year; provision had similarly been made for furnishing the
canteen.
REVENUE INSPECTORS' MESS
246. At the beginning of the year work was completed on the con- version of a married and a single quarter on the top floor of Fire Brigade Building into a mess for the Revenue Inspectorate to a design by an architect of the Public Works Department. The Mess was formally opened on 10th April before a large gathering which celebrated the event in suitable fashion.
247. Facilities include showers and a changing room for the In- spectorate, a kitchen and dining room where adequate meals may be obtained at reasonable prices, a small library, and a lounge and bar.
248. Full membership is open to all Revenue Inspectors and Senior Revenue Inspectors. Gazetted officers of the Preventive Service, Executive Officers and officers of equivalent or senior rank serving in the department and such other persons as may be approved by the Mess Committee, with the concurrence of the Director, may become sub- scribing members. All members, except Honorary Members, must be officers serving in the department; membership ceases on transfer, resignation, etc. At the end of the year, there were approximately fifty full and fifty subscribing members.
249. Amenities purchased out of mess funds include table tennis, darts, television, rediffusion, mah jong, a gramophone and radio. There is a library of some 200 books and two new books a month are added by book club subscriptions.
250. Finances were in such a healthy state after some months of operation that it proved possible to reduce the monthly subscription payable by members.
251. By kind permission of the Mess Committee its premises were made available for the annual Christmas party and dance described in paragraph 258, and for an official cocktail party at which Mr. Eugene
50Melville, C.M.G., Assistant Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, was guest of honour.
LEAVE
252. Leave rosters for the Preventive Service were carefully main- tained, and with very few exceptions officers were able to take a minimum of twelve days casual leave during the year. Officers of other grades were whenever possible granted any leave for which they applied, but staffing difficulties made it impracticable to require them to take all the leave for which they were eligible.
253. On the whole the health of the staff remained good. Four officers were admitted to hospital suffering from tuberculosis, and were granted sick leave for six to seven months each.
254. Other absences from duty on medical grounds for over a month were attributable to maternity leave which was granted to five officers for approximately two months each.
PROMOTION PROSPECTS FOR CLASS V OFFICERS
255. On the creation of a further four posts of Office Assistant it was again found possible to fill them satisfactorily by the promotion of serving officers.
SPORTS AND RECREATION
256. The proposal to apply for a sports ground in the Aberdeen area had to be reconsidered in the light of the meagre support given to it by staff members, who considered it to be too inaccessible by public transport. No alternative site has been found.
257. The Revenue Inspectors' Mess entered a team in the San Miguel Darts League which made up in enthusiasm what it lacked in prowess; greater success is hoped for in future.
258. The department celebrated Christmas with a dance and a children's party. For the first time the dance was held in the new Revenue Inspectors' Mess on the 6th floor of Fire Brigade Building which proved a great success. Some 200 people attended and the occasion was unusual in that both the Hong Kong Government Representative in Tokyo and the Director of the London Office were in the Colony at the time and were able to attend. Approximately 220 children were entertained in the grounds and clubhouse of the Indian Recreation Club, kindly made available by the Committee of the Club. A varied programme was arranged for their entertainment and many
51
·
willing helpers from all grades of the staff contributed to the success. of the afternoon.
XVH. STAFF
GENERAL
259. At the beginning of the year when changes in senior officers were made in the course of routine postings the opportunity was taken to re-organize the department into three divisions instead of five, namely Administration, Development and Controls, each under an Assistant Director, assisted by an Administrative Officer in the case of the Development and Controls Divisions. The redistribution of branches and sections between the three divisions is indicated in Table 6, and Table 13 shows the numerical distribution of posts throughout the department. The reduction in establishment of thirty posts compared with the previous year was due to the transfer of the Business Registra- tion Office to the Inland Revenue Department on 1st April, 1957. Fifty one out of a total of six hundred and thirty eight posts were filled by expatriate officers.
260. Three Executive Grade posts were replaced by three new posts of Assistant Trade Officer and a further three such posts, one of them non-pensionable, were approved by Special Warrant during the year. One post is provided as a leave reserve, two are in the Certification Branch and one each in the Trade Licensing, Trade Promotion and Dutiable Commodities Branches.
STAFF CHANGES
261. Mr. G. T. Hole, Cadet Officer Class II, relinquished his post as Assistant Director and went on vacation leave on 29th April, 1957; he rejoined the department on his return from leave on 15th January, 1958, vice Mr. J. Cater, M.B.E., who was transferred on 24th January, 1958.
262. Mr. P. V. Dodge and Mr. T. C. Cheng, Cadet Officers Class II, were appointed Administrative Officer (Control) and Administrative Officer (Development) respectively in April 1957.
263. Mr. E. E. L. O'Neil Shaw, Trade Officer, went on vacation leave on completion of his agreement with effect from 1st April, 1957.
264. Mr. D. Akers Jones, newly appointed Cadet Officer Class II on transfer from the Federation of Malaya, arrived in the Colony on 25th July, 1957, and assumed duty as Administrative Officer, Control
52
Division vice Mr. P. V. Dodge, Cadet Officer Class II, who was trans- ferred to the District Administration, New Territories on 22nd July, 1957.
265. Mr. T. N. Leigh-Bennett, Trade Officer, was confirmed to the pensionable establishment with effect from 18th March, 1958.
266. Mr. A. L. Tokley, Senior Revenue Inspector, was appointed to act as Assistant Chief Preventive Officer with effect from 6th November, 1957, on the departure of Mr. L. C. Millington on vacation leave.
3rd July, 1958.
H. A. ANGUS,
Director of Commerce and Industry.
53
+
TABLE 1
TOTAL VALUES OF IMPORTS INTO AND EXPORTS FROM
HONG KONG, BY COUNTRIES, 1956 AND 1957
Imports
Exports
Country
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
(HK$ Million)
%
(HK$ Million)
%
British Commonwealth
United Kingdom
Central African Federation
513.33
667.28
4.26
4.53
++
30
298.37
336.75
6
14.28
15.46
East Africa, British
55.62
67.35
21
33.47
31.13
South Africa
32.01
55.61
+
74
29.46
43.64
++1+
13
8
7
48
Nigeria
30.88
I
63.94
West Africa, British, n.e.s.
21.27
Canada
46.34
51.36
+
II
29.29
41.11
West Indies, British
0.19
0.29
+ 48
20.03
24.16
Borneo, British
39.86
47.79
+
20
48.77
39.05
Ceylon...
4.11
5.39
+
31
14.83
16.45
•
India
Malaya
51.03
89.05
152.26
101.69
Pakistan
98.05
92.00
Australia
100.27
112.96
New Zealand
2.39
4.31
...
++11+
75
21.52
13.61
33
372.77
372.68
6
5.31
4.32
13
55.02
65.52
81
15.18
17.79
++│
1 +1 + + 1
18
40
21
20
11
37
19
19
17
Fiji
0.10
3.04
6.75
78
6.95
25
Oceania, British, n.e.s.
1.41
2.20
Mauritius
2.48
5.92
Mediterranean Territories, British
0.01
7.16
0.87
+ 242
21.98
+ 5
Aden
0.27
9.66
•
British Commonwealth, n.e.s.
0.22
0.26
1,107.35
1,304.11
+ 18
1,051.20
1,102.04
+
5
55
TABLE 1-Contd.
Imports
Country
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
1956
Exports
1957
% increase or decrease
(HK$ Million)
%
(HK$ Million)
Africa
%
Egypt
6.09
10.51
+ 73
2.13
0.30
86
Belgian Congo
0.33
13.63
North Africa, French
0.02
2.32
Equatorial & West Africa, French
1.86
+8
57.10
39.59
+
59
Madagascar
0.19
5.16
Africa, n.e.s.
1.48
30.14
{
7.95
12.53
+
58
59.23
91.14
+
54
56
America
U. S. A.
Cuba
Haiti
Mexico...
423.81
539.04
+ 27
116.57
198.18
+ 70
0.14
5.03
1.38
2.14
82
31.26
+ 26
0.05
2.64
0.19
30.28
2.18
4.45
·
...
+ 104
0.51
0.43
15
54.75
20.33
63
0.47
1.06
***
...
+ 128
0.02 )
13.46
1.07
+
39
22.67
+
9
1.47
11.29
Central America, n.e.s.
Argentina
Brazil
...
Venezuela
South America, n.e.s.
483.95
565.69
+
17
171.47
263.77
+
54
57
TABLE 1—Contd.
Imports
Exports
Country
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
(HK$ Million)
%
(HK$ Million)
%
Asia
Burma...
China (excluding Formosa)
Formosa (Taiwan)
Indonesia
Japan.
Korea, North ...
Korea, South
Macau...
Philippines
Thailand
Cambodia
Laos
...
...
.::.
35.48
16.88
52
31.64
49.62
+ 57
1,038.31
1,131.10
+ 9
135.97
123.35
9
50.52
71.73
+ 42
47.48
60.60
+
28
58.88
126.25
+ 114
501.43
312.50
38
810.60
:
763.37
6
317.96
228.26
28
0.03
!
12.15
:
21.64
40.16
42.87
+
+
78
125.18
71.37
43
7
57.71
66.38
+- 15
34.65
18.23
:
185.36
191.79
T +
47
47.03
72.81
+
55
3
319.64
188.16
41
:
53.35
46.31
0.50
68.66
69.51
+17
138.67
+
29
Vietnam, North
22.94
30.49
Vietnam, South
4.36
33.09
Middle & Near East Countries
51.92
55.33
+
7
33.53
31.68
6
Asian Countries, n.e.s.
0.01
0.01
+
6
3.35
1.85
45
2,387.56
2,520.35
+
6
1,759.59
1,385.16
21
TABLE 1—Contd.
Imports
Exports
Country
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
1956
1957
% increase
or decrease
(HK$ Million)
%
(HK$ Million)
%
Europe
Austria Belgium Denmark
France...
Germany (Western)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Switzerland
U. S. S. R.
Czechoslovakia
...
16.27
109.30
14.43 117.63
11
+1
0.05
0.08
8
11.60
16.04
5.86
8.83
51
5.06
4.82
..
27.92
36.98
32
21.17
12.82
118.98
159.27
+ 34
36.61
42.03
...
+11++
52
38
5
39
15
40.48
63.48
+
57
9.08
9.10
77.87
86.19
11
23.81
18.09
24
4.69
13.35
+184
ྂ
6.00
9.52
59
18.83
25.64
...
131.65
193.04.
2.84
++1
36
6.05
10.40
+ 72
47
3.58
3.34
7
100
9.15
12.97
+
13
Europe, Eastern, n.e.s.
5.51
European Countries, n.e.s.
10.85
12.43
+ 15
2.91
2.75
сл
5
578.50
745.92
+ 29
125.91
128.99
+ 2
58
Oceania
United States Oceania
Oceania, n.e.s.
0.32
0.19
40
31.92
31.34
0.58
0.66
+ 15
10.29
13.83
0.89
0.85
5
42.22
45.17
1+1+
2 34
7
Total Merchandise ...
4,566.20
5,149.45
+ 13
Total Gold and Specie
490.43
403.53
18
3,209.61
513.59
3,016.27
408,32
6
20
Grand Total
5,056.62
5,552.99
+ 10
3,723.21
3,424.59
8
TABLE 2
TOTAL VALUES OF IMPORTS INTO AND EXPORTS FROM
HONG KONG, BY COMMODITIES, 1956 AND 1957
Imports
Exports
Commodity
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
(HK$ Million)
%
(HK$ Million)
Section 0: Food
Live animals
162.93
178.78
Fruits and vegetables
+
Meat and meat preparations Dairy products
Fish and fish preparations Cereals...
Sugar and sugar preparations
•
+
10
0.50
0.97
45.01
66.83
48
9.16
8.92
84.26
100.77
+ 20
16.34
•
14.89
84.59
93.79
+ 11
26.59
33.18
275.47
287.73
+ 4
54.40
44.79
200.14
233.42
17
117.74
119.15
83.07
91.61
+ 10
47.01
54.55
Coffee, tea, cocoa and spices
52.94
61.69
Feeding stuffs for animals
8.60
8.45
Miscellaneous food preparations
31.75
38.33
1,028.77
1,161.40
+++
17
28.37
30.07
2
2.61
+21
32.04
2.45 32.69
+ 13
334.75
341.65 + 2
+1 1+1+++1++
%
93
3
9
25
18
1
16
6
6
2
59
Section 1: Beverages and tobacco
Beverages
27.00
32.53
Tobacco and tobacco manufactures
59.09
74.05
86.09
106.58
+++
20
+ 25
12.26 8.12
11.27 9.50
│+
8 17
24
20.37
20.77
+ 2
Section 2: Crude materials, inedible, except
fuels
Hides, skins and fur skins, undressed Oil seeds and oil nuts
14.57
13.36
8
16.51
10.59
36
40.27
34.69
14
39.20
18.49
53
Crude rubber, including synthetic
20.88
18.31
―
12
0.49
2.37
+385
Carried Forward
75.72
66.36
56.20
***
31.45
60
Commodity
Brought Forward
...
Section 2: Crude materials, inedible, except
TABLE 2-Contd.
Imports
Exports
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
(HK$ Million)
%
(HK$ Million)
%
75.72
66.36
56.20
31.45
fuels--Contd.
Wood, lumber and cork
69.29
76.77
Pulp and waste paper
3.02
3.07
Textile fibres and waste
316.04
309.11
++ 1
11
8.57
10.80
+
26
NIN
2
1.92
2.28
+ 19
2
101.23
69.22
32
Crude fertilizers and crude minerals...
8.44
10.42
+
24
4.22
4.21
Ores and metal scrap
15.02
59.70
+297
67.48
89.93
+ 33
Animal and vegetable crude materials
176.73
181.22
+ 3
143.47
114.59
20
664.26
706.66
+
6
383.09
322.50
16
Section 3: Mineral fuels, lubricants and
related materials
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related
materials
207.88
212.82
+ 2
28.87
5.35
81
207.88
212.82
+
2
28.87
5.35
81
Section 4: Animal and vegetable oils and fats
Animal and vegetable oils (not
essential oils), fats, greases and
derivatives ...
+
78.31
89.44
14
35.32
41.57
+
18
78.31
89.44 +
14
35.32
41.57
+ 18
Commodity
TABLE 2-Contd.
Imports
Exports
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
(HK$ Million)
%
(HK$ Million)
%
41.78
52.10
1.63
0.33
+1
25
15.53
18.92
80
1.04
0.15
+1
2288
86
39.53
48.92
+24
51.63
49.23
5
58.28
83.62
...
...
+ 43
52.61
81.87
+ 56
45.87
43.73
5
26.00
23.06
11
36.97
10.40
72
37.23
10.21
73
56.31
78.69 + 40
18.63
21.85
+ 17
280.36
317.78 + 13
202.68
205.29
+
1
Section 5: Chemicals
Chemical elements and compounds... Mineral tar and crude chemicals
Dyeing, tanning and colouring
materials
Medicinal and pharmaceutical
products
...
Perfume materials and cleansing
preparations
Fertilizers, manufactured
Explosives and miscellaneous
chemical products.
61
Section 6: Manufactured goods classified
chiefly by materials
Leather, leather manufactures and
dressed furs
20.45
24.70
Rubber manufactures
17.80
13.89
+1
22235
21
2.59
2.04
21
10.66
5.20
51
Wood and cork manufactures
(excluding furniture)
10.83
12.78
+18
3.94
4.67
+ 18
Paper, paperboard and manufactures
thereof
117.53
130.50
+ 11
71.37
51.60
28
Textile yarn, fabrics and made-up
articles
921.52
941.46
2
834.96
752.20
10
Non-metallic mineral manufactures...
91.44
94.65
50.97
39.99
22
Silver, platinum, gems and jewellery
98.75
106.72
8
33.42
30.51
9
Base metals
264.98
331.67
25
121.34
106.69
12
Manufactures of metals
59.81
1,603.10
66.45
1,722.82
++
11
135.41
122.85
9
7
1,264.65
1,115.74
12
62
Commodity
TABLE 2-Contd.
Imports
Exports
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
(HK$ Million)
%
(HK$ Million)
%
121.97
177.83
+ 46
49.97
34.00
32
82.38
99.51
+ 21
36.95
37.21
+ 1
81.28
114.78
··
+ 41
32.74
36.37
+ 11
285.63
392.12
+37
119.66
107.58
10
Section 7: Machinery and transport
equipment
Machinery other than electric
Electric machinery, apparatus and
appliances
Transport equipment...
Section 8: Miscellaneous manufactured
articles
Prefabricated buildings; plumbing,
heating and lighting fittings
Furniture and fixtures
Travel goods
Clothing
Footwear
-
Scientific and controlling instruments;
photographic and optical goods; watches and clocks Miscellaneous manufactured articles,
n.e.s.
13.64
12.98
5
78.43
65.70
3.66
4.90
+ 34.
33.47
36.44
9
2.44
3.22
+ 32
17.34
18.05
4
43.11
62.14
+
44
399.31
438.79
10
14
4.10
9.91
+142
83.72
73.52
12
Section 9: Miscellaneous transactions and
commodities, n.e.s.
Live animals, not for food
Gold and specie
Total
165.15
238.23
+
44
42.57
39.13
8
99.11
107.86
+ 9
164.81
183.37
--- 11
331.21
439.24
+ 33
819.65
855.01
+ 4
0.58
0.58
+ 1
490.43
403.53
18
0.57 513.59
0.81
+ 43
408.32
20
491.01
5,056.62
404.12
5,552.99
18
514.16
+ 10
3,723.21
409.13
3,424.59
20
8
TABLE 3
TOTAL VALUES OF EXPORTS OF PRODUCTS WHOLLY OR PRINCIPALLY
OF HONG KONG ORIGIN, BY COUNTRIES, 1956 AND 1957
Country
British Commonwealth
United Kingdom
1956
(HK$ Million)
254.94
280.52
Central African Federation
East Africa, British
South Africa
Nigeria...
9.62
10.87
-
25.97
25.39
24.79
35.97
...
1957
% increase or decrease
%
+++
ANDE
10
13
2
45
58.55
27.04
West Africa, British, n.e.s.
Canada
18.72
13.11
22.59
...
West Indies, British
13.87
17.36
Borneo, British
Ceylon
India
15.00
11.92
6.04
7.13
7.18
2.20
...
Malaya
Pakistan
109.53
97.49
1.77
1.35
...
Australia
New Zealand
Fiji
30.83
35.64
9.76
11.10
++11 1+1++ |
72
221
5.01
2.14
!
25
20
18
69
11
24
16
14
34
Oceania, British, n.e.s.
Mauritius
Mediterranean Territories, British
Aden
British Commonwealth, n.e.s.
1.18
...
4.02
16.05
5.81
7.05
+
6
0.16
602.03
625.65
+
4
Africa
Egypt
0.61
0.09
85
Belgian Congo
11.74
North Africa, French...
1.88
Equatorial & West Africa, French
45.10
36.14
+
69
Madagascar...
3.65
**
Africa, n.e.s.
22.62
45.71
76.13
+
67
America
U. S. A.
Cuba
Haiti
Mexico...
70.51
132.93
+
89
...
2.56
1.08
19.98
1.70
+ 30
...
Central America, n.e.s.
20.71
Argentina
0.01
0.11
+ 1,568
Brazil
0.01
0.34
+2,235
Venezuela
9.47
...
South America, n.e.s.
14.28
6.64
+
13
104.80
175.54
+
68
63
Country
Asia
Burma
China (excluding Formosa) Formosa (Taiwan) Indonesia
Japan
...
Korea, North
Korea, South
Macau
Philippines
Thailand
Cambodia
Laos
Vietnam, North
TABLE 3-Contd.
0% increase
}
1956
1957
or decrease
%
(HK$ Million)
7.01
11.84
+
69
4.74
2.79
41
2.67
2.18
18
132.60
82.77
38
12.22
6.70
45
5.17
0.73
5.64
7.09
26.60
40.22
63.46
43.25
│++]
86
26
51
32
•
6.94
25.15
27.79
+
22
0.03
1.92
18.53
17.21
7
2.45
1.34
45
...
Vietnam, South
Middle & Near Fast Countries
Asian Countries, n.e.s.
Europe
Austria...
Belgium
Denmark
France...
Germany (Western)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden...
Switzerland
U. S. S. R.
Czechoslovakia
...
Europe, Eastern, n.e.s.
European Countries, n.e.s.
...
•
308.89
250.17
19
0.01
2.55
3.23
2.52
3.05
5.93
3.21
8.36
21.25
1.05
1.51
6.77
6.76
1.15
4.14
4.12
7.28
0.57
0.71
0.75
0.93
+
+++ ++1+++
92
27
21
46
154
4.4
1
261
77
26
24
33.75
52.07
+
54
Oceania
United States Oceania
13.50
14.51
Oceania, n.e.s.
6.06
7.92
Total
64
++
8
31
19.56
22.44
+
15
1,114.74
1,202.01
+
8
TABLE 4
TOTAL VALUES OF EXPORTS OF PRODUCTS WHOLLY OR PRINCIPALLY
OF HONG KONG ORIGIN, BY COMMODITIES, 1956 AND 1957
Commodity
1956
1957
% increase or decrease
(HK$ Million)
%
Cotton piece goods...
173.31
230.64
44
Outerwear, other than knitted, not embroidered, n.e.s.
85.95
124.04
Cotton yarns
-
+++
97.59
108.66
Shirts
71.55
83.25
Footwear
83.23
71.89
1++++
33
44
+
+
Household utensils, enamelled
76.18
66.02
...
Gloves and mittens of all materials (except rubber
gloves)
Toys and games (including baby carriages, playing
cards)
Electric torches
-
46.78
58.05
+
28 53
52.42
...
49.39
41.26
Cotton singlets
75.45
36.93
+11
+
+
Underwear and nightwear, knit or made of knitted
fabrics (except cotton singlets and shirts) Furniture of vegetable plaiting materials (bamboo,
straw, willow, etc.)
21.32
30.41
22 36
25.12
Lacquers, varnishes and paints
14.87
16.00
...
Linen, embroidered...
10.74
15.64
+++
+
43
Buttons and studs of all materials except those of
precious metals
20.99
15.43
2 2 2 2 2 2
11
16
14
13
24
84
16
51
12
8
46
27
Lantern, metal
17.19
14.15
18
Fruits, preserved
15.58
13.97
11
Stockings and hose
16.11
13.30
17
Towels, not embroidered
14.35
12.36
14
Travel goods (trunks, suitcases, travelling bags,
dressing cases, shopping bags, haversacks, packs
and similar articles) of all materials
9.59
11.26
+
Clothing of rubberized, oiled and similar impermeable
materials (including plastics)
13.41
11.09
Umbrellas, parasols, walking sticks, and similar articles
14.14
11.09
Plastic articles
9.69
11.02
...
Torch batteries
8.74
11.01
Articles of basketware or of wickerwork, n.e.s.
9.52
10 87
Iron and steel bars
Ginger, preserved
14.64
10.84
Wood furniture and fixtures
9.16
10.29
8.70
9.99
Outerwear, knit or made of knitted fabrics
10.96
9.84
A
Household utensils, aluminium
8.24
8.96
Outerwear, embroidered
7.15
8.74
AAA
Vacuum flasks, complete
...
7.49
7.82
Articles of clothing (e.g. handkerchiefs, shawls, etc.),
embroidered, n.e.s.
6.18
7.74
+
Handbags, wallets, purses and similar articles of all
materials
7.75
6.79
---
Cement
7.92
5.81
Torch bulbs
5.97
4.25
Underwear and nightwear, embroidered
3.18
4.00
Iron ore
4.69
3.98
Fish in airtight containers..
2.25
2.18
Cigarettes
1.04
1.99
...
Non-alcoholic beverages
0.87
0.99
Matches
0.86
0.91
Vacuum flasks (glass inners only)
0.39
0.51
Jams, fruit jellies and unfermented fruit juices
0.48
0.32
Seagrass
0.09
0.11
Tungsten ore...
0.13
0.03
Beer
0.04
0.02
11+1++++][+] + +++1++|+++||
17
17
22
14
26
14
26
12
15
10
9
22
25
12
27
29
26
15
3
92
14
7
31
33
22
77
57
Total
1,114.74
1,202.01
+
65
TABLE 5
VOLUME OF EXPORTS OF SELECTED PRODUCTS WHOLLY OR PRINCIPALLY OF HONG KONG ORIGIN, 1956 AND 1957
Commodity
% increase
Unit
1956
1957
or
decrease
%
Cotton piecegoods
...
Sq. Yd.
140,518,816| 196,329,265
+ 40
Cotton yarns
Lb.
30,967,456
33,121,206
+
7
Lacquers, varnishes and
paints
Lb.
11,583,135
12,679,862
+
9
Fruits, preserved
Lb.
14,353,196 12,190,492
15
Ginger, preserved
Lb.
9,977,043
8,224,046
17
Torch bulbs
Doz.
10,799,801
6,548,666
39
Torch batteries
Doz.
4,064,684
5,253,760
+
29
Electric torches
Doz.
3,625,237
2,996,024
17
Cotton singlets...
Doz.
4,759,701
2,330,959
51
Iron ore...
Cwt.
2,474,102
2,077,522
16
Shirts
Doz.
1,672,118
1,941,826
+ 16
Footwear
Doz. Pairs
2,008,794
1,867,136
7
Stockings and hose
Doz.
2,166,962
1,826,737
16
Towels, not embroidered
Doz.
1,321,699 1,195,819
10
Fish in airtight containers
Lb.
1,083,011
1,036,754
4.
Cement
Cwt.
1,236,899
861,240
30
Cigarettes
Lb.
225,084
435,727
+
94
Umbrellas, parasols, walking
sticks and similar articles
Doz.
561,510
426,571
1
24
Iron and steel bars
Cwt.
339,709
234,807
31
Non-alcoholic beverage
Imp. Gal.
173,459
196,287 +
13
Vacuum flasks, complete
Doz.
191,535
192,570
Lanterns, metal
Doz.
105,423
151,366
Unfermented fruit juices.
Imp. Gal.
79,017
49,568
| ++
1
+44
37
Vacuum flasks (glass inners
only) ...
Doz.
•
14,325
26,423
+
84
Matches...
Case
5,487
6,162
+
12
Beer
Imp. Gal.
5,266
2,255
57
Seagrass
Cwt.
2,055
1,969
4
Jams and fruit jellies...
Lb.
1,340
1,444
+
8
Tungsten ore
Cwt.
221
75
66
***
66
67
TABLE 6
ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
LONDON OFFICE-
ADMINISTRATION DIVISION
CONTROL DIVISION
TOKYO OFFICE
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
Administrative Branch
Accounts and Stores Section
Staff and Welfare Section
Statistical Branch
Trade Statistics Section
Other Statistics Section
-Trade Licensing Branch
Import Licensing Section Export Licensing Section
-Dutiable Commodities Branch
Licensing and Permit Section Excise Section of the Preventive
Service
-Supplies Branch
Preventive Service
Headquarters Section Investigation Bureau
Training Section Marine Section
Land Section
New Territories Section
Prosecution Section
Special (Narcotics) Section
-Industrial Development and
Certification Branch
Imperial Preference and
Certificate of Origin Section Comprehensive Certificate of
Origin Section
Industry Inspection Section of
the Preventive Service
--Trade Promotion Branch
Trade Publications Section Trade Enquiries Section
68
TABLE 7
CERTIFICATION OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS
1956/57
1957/58
Type of Certificate
Factories registered on 31.3.57
Certificates issued
Value of Goods
Factories registered on 31.3.58
Certificates issued
Value of Goods
Imperial Preference Certificates
Standard Certificates of Origin
Comprehensive Certificates of Origin:
Commercial
Tourist
Gift
Sample
65,557 $143,592,274
69,602
$139,690,637
i
3,124
104,966
501,678,476
3,230
104,091
487,729,247
17,869
21,040
27,966
31,101
70,806,681
158,028,666
6,400
8,457
374
1,390
TABLE 8
NET REVENUE COLLECTED FROM ALL SOURCES
*
Approved
Actual Revenue
Heads and subheads of Revenue
Estimates
1957/58
1957/58
1956/57
$
$
$
Duties:
On hydrocarbon oils imported
On intoxicating liquor imported
13,000,000
25,000,000 26,145,514 24,477,764 13,793,573
14,222,180
On liquor other than intoxicating liquor
imported
600,000
604,375
589,959
On tobacco imported
40,000,000
45,163,230
40,774,038
On liquor locally manufactured
...
10,000,000
11,745,977 10,276,250
On proprietary medicines and toilet
preparations
On table waters
Internal Revenue:
...
5,000,000
5,188,186 4,779,955
2,600,000
2,653,268
2,607,760
Business registration fees
6,415,922
Stamp duties
•
700,000
727,264
705,135
Licences, fines and forfeitures :
Hydrocarbon oils
38,000
39,752
37,376
Liquor ...
960,000
1,045,444
989,603
Miscellaneous (table waters)
7,000
6,230
6,467
Proprietary medicines and toilet
preparations
140,000
133,000
129,220
Tobacco
370,000
378,021
371,557
Departmental fines
4
Forfeitures
600,000
502,795 1,857,117
Fees of court or office:
Denaturing
120,000
330,860
103,734
Miscellaneous
277,526
212,460
Official certificates
1,600,000
1,473,240
1,543,700
Departmental services and supervision
10
1
Anti-narcotic smuggling guards
8,000
12,014
9,417
Bonded warehouse supervision
14,400
14,400
14,400
Loss of, or damage to Government property.
51
131
Contributions towards H.K. Guide and
Directory, (i.e. C.I.F. Directory)...
77,471
+
175,000
127,299
88,873
...
5,600
1,432
521
Advertisement revenue
Publications
Revenue from lands, rents, etc.:
Hire of motor vehicles
Miscellaneous receipts:
Other miscellaneous receipts Overpayments in previous years
Total
69
140,000
14,026
30
203
230
2,354
101,078,000 110,806,124 | 109,865,195
Gallons
""
--
***
Wines
Beer
99
Liquor:
Whisky Brandy Gin
Type
TABLE 9
DUTY FROM DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (GROSS)
Unit
1956/57
1957/58
Quantity Duty Quantity Duty
$
$
61,659
59,665 3,172,560 3,726,599
58,382
3,107,081
64,265 3,880,615
24,777
1,360,200
22.319
1,225,185
52,875
1,218,332
58,587
1,331,808
**
2,766,951
4,375,484
3,095,392
4,821,684
Other European type
Chinese type:
(a) Locally Distilled (b) Imported Spirituous liquor other
...
than intoxicating liquor Methyl alcohol
...
Total...
9,718
538,329
9,974
564,289
1,362,514
8,497,849
1,541,617
9,600,874
""
146,393
1,332,858
181,663
1,598,664
7
60,130 633,655
63,422
652,260
4,544,682 24,855,866
358
5,095,979 26,788,860
6,427
Tobacco :
Lbs.
95
99
Cigarettes and Cigars European Smoking To-
bacco (including snuff) Chinese prepared Tobacco Tobacco leaf
Total...
Hydrocarbon Oils:
Light Oils
Diesel Oils
11,528
19,518 6,456,060 | 23,827,972 6,997,979 | 25,625,726
9,740,282 | 42,394,626 | 10,916,798 | 48,013,791
Imp. Gals. 14,464,006 | 11,571,205 | 15,506,519|| 12,405,071
Tons
3,230,064 18,353,141
3,871,103 22,196,497
42,630
178,927 34,586
41,210 6,506
172,050
59,959
2,513,548
64,941
2,823,678
Furnace Oils
Other type
ง
346,685
8,320,446
375,135
9,003,240
Imp. Gals. 20,748,497
2,185,517 | 19,556,178
2,060,403
Total...
24,590,716
26,292,392
Toilet Preparations
Proprietary Medicines
Table Waters
2,888,821
3,085,363
1,901,732
2,111,934
•
Gallons 5,432,914
2,607,802
5,527,645
2,653,271
Total...
7,398,355
7,850,568
Refund and Drawback
European liquor
...
152,388
162,016
Spirituous liquor other than
intoxicating liquor
Toilet Preparations and
Proprietary Medicines Table Waters
Tobacco
Hydrocarbon Oils ...
Total...
43,696
54,312
10,598
9,111
42
3
...
1,620,588
2,850,561
112,952
146,878
1,940,264
3,222,881
70
ᄌ
TABLE 10
REVENUE FROM DUTIABLE COMMODITIES LICENCES
-
Importers': Liquor Tobacco Hydrocarbon oil
T. P. & P. M.
Table waters Methyl alcohol
Dealers':
European-type liquor
Chinese-type liquor Spirituous liquor Tobacco
Hydrocarbon oil
T. P. & P. M. Methyl alcohol
Chinese-type liquor
Retailers' :
Spirituous liquor Tobacco
...
No. of Licences Issued
Revenue
$
562
84,300
90
13,500
208
31,200
519
་་
22,860
12
1,200
20
200
276
414,000
847
•
435,555
608
18,240
217
65,100
347
...
3,470
718
7,180
18
180
...
...
...
84
11,975
1,981
72,970
6,466
288,660
117
1,170
2,105
51,086
8
80
Hydrocarbon oil
T. P. & P. M.
Methyl alcohol
Manufacturers':
Liquor (Distillers 19) (Brewer 1)
Tobacco
T. P. & P. M.
Table waters
...
Miscellaneous:
Liquor Tobacco Hydrocarbon oil
T. P. & P. M.
Table waters
Methyl alcohol
·
...
...
Licence fees for persons importing for own use
Other
Total
71
20
2,125
8
2,250
303
45,450
26
4,875
20
...
2,416
402
3,884
9
3,150
306
3,060
13
130
8
80
11,321
78
780
1,602,447
TABLE 11
CONFISCATIONS UNDER THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES
AND DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCES
Commodity
Quantity
Unit
1956/57
1957/58
Tobacco :
Chinese prepared tobacco
Foreign cigarettes
Macau cigarettes
:
Local cigarettes
Tobacco Stems
...
Cigars
:
Cut tobacco
:
•
Liquor:
European type liquor
Chinese type liquor
Alcohol...
J
Fermenting material ...
Illicit stills
:
:
Lbs.
17,559
20,803
Lbs.
2,062
1,367
Lbs.
6,399
3,932
Lbs.
192
199
Lbs.
4
19
Lbs.
21
50
Lbs.
11
Gals.
314
519
Gals.
:.
7,185
3,047
Gals.
6
Gals.
29,715
154
29,822
Nos.
561
721.
Beer
Gals.
355
...
Proprietary medicines & Toilet Preparations :
Miscellaneous toilet preparations
Pkts.
5,279
3,590
Pkts.
40,390
13,507
Pkts.
439
150
:
:
Chinese medicines
Foreign medicines
Dangerous Drugs:
Raw opium Prepared opium
Diacetylmorphine hydrochloride
Heroin pills
**
Morphine hydrochloride
Morphine
Opium dross
Lbs.
1,382
275
Lbs.
2
238
Gms.
1,477
2,880
Gms.
3,289
20,412
Gms.
35,579
Gms.
5,216
1,497
Lbs.
5
2242
MARINE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY
TABLE 12
MAJOR CONFISCATIONS UNDER OTHER LEGISLATION
Legislation
Commodity
Unit
Quantity
Defence Regulations, 1940.
Exposed 8 m.m. film
Reels
24
Petrol Engine Crankshafts
Nos.
30
Watches
Nos.
465
Watch movements
Nos.
1,150
Frequency instruments
Nos.
5
Lighter flints
Tins
170
Importation & Exportation Ordinance & Regulations thereunder.
Kerosene
Gals.
1,232
Diesel oil
Gals.
220
Gold
lbs.
1,456
Vessels
Nos.
1
Automatic machines parts
Nos.
85
Carbide tool bits
Nos.
100
Auto parts
Cases
32
Radio valves
Nos.
100
Stainless steel
Cases
9
Penicillin Ordinance.
Penicillin substance
Bots.
3,708
Dihydrostreptomycin
Bots.
77
Merchandise Marks Ordinance.
Glycerin suppositories
Bots.
570
Chinese medicated oil
Bots.
240
Cotton gloves
Pairs
333
Pharmacy & Poisons Ordinance.
Sulfanilamide
Lbs.
23
73
1
TABLE 13
DISTRIBUTION OF STAFF
Directorate...
London Office
Tokyo Office
Administration Division
Staff and Welfare Section
Accounts and Stores Section
Statistical Branch
Development Division
Trade Promotion Branch
:
:
...
:
+
:
1957/58
1956/57
2
2
2
2
6
6
8
14
7
13
2
2
22
22
7
5
58
89
59
88
6
2
12
15
2
5
5
23
22
12
60
10
54
4
4
-
27
25
2
8
29
18
13
Industrial Development and Certification Branch
Industrial Development Section
Imperial Preferance and Certiúcates of Origin Section Comprehensive Certificates of Origin Section...
Control Division
Dutiable Commodities Branch...
Trade Licensing Branch
Import Licensing Section
Export Licensing Section
Supplies Branch
Preventive Service:
Headquarters Section Investigation Bureau
Training Section
•
:
..
...
...
Marine Section
Land Section ...
New Territories Section
Prosecution Section
Narcotics Section
Excise Section
Industry Inspection Section...
Business Registration Office
48
50
64
55
5
2
1
1
80
92
71
67
34
33
5
6
...
24
22
43
43
39
473
37
4.79
32
32
Total...
74
638
668
ዋ
HONG KONG
Code No.: 3026-58