Directory_and_Chronicle_1923

AMOY

909

Frequent and regular steamer communication is maintained with Hongkong, Swatow, Foochow, Formosa and Shanghai, and steamers run direct to the Straits Settle- ments and Manila. There has always been a comparatively good trade done at Amoy, and notwithstanding that the tea trade, for which it was long famous, has now practically disappeared, it is significant that the shipping tonnage employed by the port has quintupled since the decade 1864-73, and almost trebled since the decade 1874- 83. Until the shortage of shipping caused by the European war the tonnage figures for many years topped the million mark. In former times, before the glory of Amoy had departed, the staple_export was Tea-the local product as well as the superior blends brought over from Formosa-but, largely owing to the deterioration of the local pro- duct and the indifference of the grower to the changing conditions of the foreign market, locally-grown tea has loug since ceased to be exported, and the Customs Commissioner made a fairly safe prophecy that it only required the development of Keelung harbour to cause the total disappearance of the foreign tea merchant from Amoy. Before the Japanese obtained possession of Formosa the Formosan teas were "settled" and ware- housed in Amoy, whence they were shipped to the foreign markets. Now no Formosan tea is "settled" in Amoy, and with Keelung still unimproved to any considerable extent quite 50 per cent. of the Formosan product is being shipped direct to America from Kee- lung. The foreign tea merchant at Amoy has practically lost his occupation, and we are witnessing the fulfilment of the prediction that "the row of quaint, rambling, old hongs on the Amoy side, and many picturesque residences on Kulangsu will be offering for the occupation of the wealthy returned emigrant or the missionary school." There is a scheme for establishing a University at Amoy, funds for the purpose having been provided by a native of the district who made his fortune in British Malaya; and, thanks to the civic patriotism of another native of the district who has amassed great wealth in Java, a contract was signed in 1922 with the Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Co. for the installation of a complete new telephone system. Bunding, drain- age, jetties, roads, recreation grounds and similar public works, however, still await the advent of the energetic and public-spirited citizen. The net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs in 1921 was Hk. Tls. 30,970,060, as compared with Hk. Tls. 22,299,335 in 1920, Hk. Tls. 19,776,257 in 1919, Hk. Tls. 13,926,283 in 1918 and Hk. Tls. 14,602,519 in 1917.

局總報電國法大

Ta Fa-ko-tien-pao-tsong-kok

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