KONGMOON
917
It was generally considered 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 augured well for its future prosperity and development. This was, to some extent, true, but 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 this opinion, but the improvement in the trade of the port continues to be steady, and it is hoped that the Railway, with through communi- cation by steamers with Hongkong, will help to increase the volume of trade passing through Kongmoon. There is daily steam communication with Hongkong, and 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 Kongmoon to Samgaphoi on the coast, a distance of about eighty miles, has been con- structed under the supervision of native engineers, trained in America, but it, 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 present afford. The railways tap rich districts, and will undoubtedly prove beneficial to the trade of Kongmoon. A Telegraph Office was opened on the 8th December, 1907, in the town, and in November, 1911, in the Settlement, and telegraphic communication is now possible with the Fatshan office.
The principal articles of export consist of prepared tobacco, joss-sticks, strawmats, paper, palm-leaf fans, fresh oranges and fresh vegetables; and imports are largely represented by foreign piece goods, kerosene oil, sugar, wheat flour, and foreign sundries, including a variety of Japanese commodities of a cheap nature. Large quantities of softwood poles are floated down in the form of rafts, which are dismantled here. These mostly come from beyond Wuchow and also from the North River. The yearly value of this branch of the trade is estimated at about $750,000. Owing to the frequent piracies in the delta the cocoon market hitherto established at Junki has been trans- ferred to Kongmoon, and the numerous steam launches and boats employed in this line of business give the port in front of the settlement a lively and animated appearance. There are two silk filatures in the town which afford employment to about 300 women each: the total out-turn of silk amounts to about 100 catties per day. An interesting local industry is the dredging of large shells from which a good quality of lime is made. The annual production of these shells is estimated at 200,000 piculs, worth about $40,000. Quite an important industry has sprung up in Kongmoon, namely, the preserving and canning of Chinese fruit for export abroad, where it is consumed by the numerous Chinese in America, Australia and the Straits Settlements.
The unique opportunities presented for transport by the unrivalled waterways of the Delta have been well availed of by native enterprise, and there is a large and lucrative passenger trade with Canton, Fatshan, Sancheong, Hongkong and Macao, etc. Large roomy native passenger boats towed by powerful launches are engaged in this trade.
The surrounding country is picturesque, fertile and highly cultivated, and the inhabit- ants are prosperous and industrious. Rice is, of course, the principal crop, but mulberry shoots are very extensively cultivated for sale in the silk-producing centres, and large quantities of fresh vegetables are exported to supply the Hongkong market.
The net value of the port's trade in 1916 was Hk. Tls. 8,252,732 as against Hk. Tls. 4,675,170 in 1915, Hk. Tls. 6,886,972, in 1914, Hk. Tls. 8,656,789 in 1913, Hk. Tls. 6,610,077 in 1912, Hk. Tls. 5,501,892 in 1911 and Hk. Tls. 6,138,386 in 1910.