KONGMOON
P
Kong-moon
Kongmoon was added to the list of treaty ports on 7th March, 1904, in accordance with the stipulations of Article X. of the Mackay Treaty. A British Consulate was established, but withdrawn in 1905. Kongmoon is located some three miles up a creek on the West River, in the Kwangchow Prefecture of the Kwangtung Province in Lat. 22° 34′ 49′′ N. and Long. 113° 8' 53" E. and is about 45 miles distant from Macao, 70 from Canton and 87 from Hongkong. The creek on which it is built connects the West River with the sea at Gaemoon and is a narrow and tortuous stream, the lower reaches of which, near the main river, are lined with rafts, while further up in the vicinity of the town it is crowded with native craft of every description, thus rendering navigation for steamers difficult at all times, but especially so when the current runs fast during the summer months. The steamer anchorage is in the West River at the mouth of the Creek, opposite the Imperial Maritime Customs, but the town is included in the port limits. The population of Kongmoon is about 55,000, and it has the appearance of being a more populous centre, as it extends for a considerable distance on both banks of the stream. Formerly it was a business centre of considerable importance, but various causes have arisen which appear to have lessened its commercial standing, and which have interfered adversely with the general prosperity of the port.
In this connection the Commissioner of Customs in his trade report for 1904 remarked: "The opinion generally prevails that the proximity of Kongmoon to Hongkong and Macao and its favourable situation as an outlet and distributing centre for the southern prefectures of the province augur well for its future prosperity and development. While this is, to some extent, true, it should be remembered that facts have arisen which have tended to diminish rather than increase its commercial importance. Formerly it enjoyed direct communication with Shanghai and Foochow and was the real outlet and distributing centre for the south-western district of the Delta and the Southern prefectures of the province. The development of Hongkong and the opening of Kiungchow and Pakhoi as treaty ports, however, have seriously interfered with the junk trade and general welfare of the port, and have, besides, opened up other trade routes to districts hitherto dependent upon Kongmoon for their supplies. At present there are no indications that the sanguine expectations, based
upon imperfect knowledge, entertained concerning the overestimated commercial possibilities of the place will be speedily, if ever, realized." The large increase of trade in 1905 failed to alter his opinion, but the improvement in the trade of the port seems to be steady. The trade returns of 1908 show an increase of Tls 888,877 on the net value in 1907. There is daily steam communication with Hongkong, regular connection with Macao, and considerable numbers of vessels trading under the Inland Waters Regulations arrive and depart daily. There are also several large junks trading regularly to Hongkong, Macao, and the island of Hainan. A railway from Kungyik, running southwards to Sunning, a distance of just over 17 miles, has been con- structed under the supervision of native engineers, trained in America, and the line is being continued southward to Samgaphoi, on the coast. The line, however, stops short three miles from the sea, as to take the line right down would involve laying out a new town on the water front and dredging operations which they cannot at pre- sent afford; they intend devoting their available capital to constructing a line from the shore opposite at Kungyik to Kongmoon via Sunwei. The railways tap rich districts, and will undoutedly prove beneficial to the trade of Kongmoon. The Sun- ning Railway Company has obtained the concession to extend the line to Konginoon, and intends to commence the construction soon, but matters have been delayed consider- ably owing to the objections raised by the Yueh-Han Railway Company to the Sun- ning Railway Company coming to the West River at Kongmoon, which they allege is within their concession, and work on the new line has not commenced yet. A Telegraph Office was opened on the 8th December, 1907, and telegraphic communication is now
possible with the Fatshan office.
The principal articles of export consist of prepared tobacco, joss-sticks, strawmats, palm-leaf fans, and fresh vegetables; and imports are largely represented by dried modities of a cheap nature. Large quantities of softwood poles are floated down in the fruits, foreign piece goods and foreign sundries, including a variety of Japanese com- form also from the North River. The yearly value of this branch of the trade is estimated