PEI-TAI-HO AND CHINWANGTAO
605
committee, obviating the necessity of so many diverse forms of control. Voluntary service will have to be replaced by expert advisers, and how to meet this expenditure is a matter for consultation between the four associations and the Kung I Hui. The Kung I Hui is a body of Chinese gentlemen mostly with large local interests: it is registered in the Ministry of Communications as a definite working organisation and has a legal and, to a certain extent, judicial status. It has expended large sums of money in making excellent roads, lined with trees, and intends to throw the whole of the Lotus Hills open as a public park.
Chinwangtao owes its existence as a seaport to the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, Ltd. (now amalgamated with the Lanchow Mining Company under the title of The Kailan Mining Administration). It serves primarily as port of ship- ment for Kaiping coal. It is situated on the western coast of the Gulf of Liao Tung and is distant about 10 miles W.S.W. of Shanhaikwan. The breakwater and pier form- ing the harbour are so constructed that vessels may lie alongside at any state of the tide and in all weathers, discharging from or loading directly into railway cars, so that there is the minimum of handling and loss by breakage.
Accommodation for steamers is shown in the following table:-
Depth at L.W.O.S.T.
At Breakwater-
Berth No.
Length in Feet
in Feet
3
320
22
4
320
26
380
28
6
380
28
7
420
28
At Pier-
1
380
19
2
350
18
Harbour entrance 24' at L.W.O.S.T. Berths No. 3 to 7 are continuous providing berthing accommodation for vessels of any length, the size of vessels berthing only being limited by the amount of water available in the entrance channel. Very com plete arrangements have been made to insure rapid loading of coal at all times- Over 14,000 tons have actually been loaded in one day.
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Vessels proceeding to Chinwangtao with heavy weights must have suitable tackle. for discharging them from ships hold to railway cars alongside. The Administration has small cranes available for lifting small weights of under 5 tons. The harbour and the large coal storage yards are exceptionally well lighted by electricity, and work proceeds by night as well as by day throughout the year.
Good fresh water from the Tongho River may be obtained from hydrants on the Breakwater and Pier.
The Port of Chinwangtao is accessible throughout the year. As a trade distribut- ing centre, its position as an open port on the main line of the Peking-Mukden Railway gives it a great advantage.
As a seaside health resort Chinwangtao is almost without rival in China. It is easily accessible, has a dry and bracing climate, offers safe bathing from a sandy beach, has good golf links, and is situated amidst magnificent mountain scenery, while a hotel under experienced management and numerous summer bungalows afford the visitor every comfort.
The Administration owns large areas of land in the vicinity of the port. A good harbour, good water, electric light, and cheap coal offer exceptional inducements for industrial enterprises, and it is expected that there will be a great development in this direction in the near future
The Yao Hua Mechanical Glass Company have erected a glass factory at Chin- wangtao. The establishment, which covers about 110 mou of land, is one of the largest, of its kind in existence. The capital of the Company is $2,500,000.
The total value of the trade passing through the port in 1927 was Hk. Tls. 24,601,037, as compared with Hk. Tls. 15,465,421 in 1926, and Hk. Tls. 16,981,051 in 1925.
The great increase of trade year by year has induced the Chinese Maritime Customs to erect a fine Customs house at Chinwangtao, with a deputy commissioner in charge, and to open a Hai Kwan Bank for the convenience of local consignees.