500
HUNCHUN
town by a Chinese concern. The surrounding districts are fairly fertile, and the mining possibilities (coal, gold, and copper) may, when taken in hand, prove of considerable value.
The town (earthen walled) has a population of 37,535 Chinese in addition to whom are some 1,300 Japanese and Koreans. The main exports are beans, millet and timber; and the main imports: cotton piece goods, kerosene oil, fishery products, spirits of wine, sugar, matches and flour. The general impoverishment of the Hunchun district, resulting from the destruction of crops by the disastrous floods of the summer of 1928, was manifested in a great reduction in practically every category of imports during 1929. The relieving feature of an otherwise very poor year was the excellence of the bean and cereal crops, but the timber season could not be described as wholly satisfactory, prices obtained showing very little margin of profit. Despite the prevail- ing poverty, progress was made in the modernisation of the town of Hunchun. The standard-gauge railway from Yuki, the port of entry and shipment for the district, was opened to traffic as far north as Shuiashan in November. The projected extension of this important line to Kunju should be of very great significance in the future development of the Hunchun area.
TRADE IN 1930.
The peaceful conditions enjoyed in the Hunchun district in recent years continued during 1930. The excellent control exercised by the local military and civil authorities was responsible for the entire absence of those bandit outrages for which the district was at once time notorious. The harvest was the best for several years, and, although prices obtainable for agricultural products in Japan, which country supplies the bulk of local imports and absorbs the greater part of exports, have fallen considerably as a result of the general depression of trade, it may be anticipated that the year 1931 will witness an improvement in conditions in this district. Hunchun has long suffered from the absence of modern means of transport. The import and export of commodities has been carried on chiefly by carts drawn by horses. or oxen covering long distances over rough tracks. The recent completion and opening to traffic of the Korean Government Railway from Yuki, the port serving Hunchun, to Kunju may therefore be regarded as the outstanding event of 1930. This line is a single-track standard-gauge railway running roughly parallel to the Tumen River-the Chinese-Korean frontier. The im- portance of this frontier line from the political and economic points of view is obvious. It will have a considerable influence not only on the development. of that part of Korea through which it passes but also on the future trade of the Hunchun and adjacent districts. Harbin dollar notes and silver dollars continued to be used extensively, but the use of gold yen notes issued by the Bank of Chosen is steadily increasing. The comparative stability of the yen and the fact that practically all foreign trade is conducted through Japan and Korea on a yen basis are the chief reasons for the use of a foreign currency on a large scale in this district. The building of modern shop pre- mises in the main street of Hunchun proceeded apace during 1930. A bus: service between Hunchun and Upper Shwaiwantze was established in October, and the service connects with the trains leaving and arriving at Kunju.
The net value of the trade in 1930 was Hk. Tls. 1.756,167 as compared with Hk. Tls. 1,920,435, in 1929, Hk. Tls. 3,090,776 in 1928, Hk. Tls. 2,363,231 in 1927, Hk. Tls. 2,155,295 in 1926, and Hk. Tls. 1,690,636 in 1925.
CUSTOMS, CHInese MaritimE
DIRECTORY
Acting Commissioner A. G. Wallas
(at Lungchingtsun)
Assistant-W. A. Mackenzie (in charge) Examiner G. Tominaga
JAPANESE CONSULATE
Consul-General-K. Okado (at Lung-
chingtsun)
Consul-K. Moo Ei
Chief of Police-H. Shoji