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WEIHAIWEI
1901, with powers similar to those of a Colonial Governor. Under this Order the Commissioner was empowered to make Ordinances for the administration of the territory. It is now administered by a High Commissioner appointed by the National Government of the Republic of China, who acts directly under the orders of the Executive Yuan at Nanking
Weihaiwei is now a fairly regular port of call for many China coasting steamers sailing northwards from Shanghai. The harbour is well lighted by two lighthouses. The climate of Weihaiwei is exceptionally good, and the winter, though cold, is dry and bracing. A land and building company formed in Shanghai, has erected several commodious European bungalows. There is a large hotel on the mainland capable of accommodating over 100 people, and also a hotel on the Island with accommodation, for 50 to 60. Both on the mainland and on the island, good roads have been made, by the local Government, and there are recreation parade grounds and golf courses in both places..
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The city of Weihaiwei (which lies on the mainland opposite the island of Liu Kung) is a walled town of about 2,000 inhabitants. The town is a poor one, and the greater portion of the enclosed area is not built on, but cultivated for vegetables. New roads and a Public Park have been constructed recently, and two of the four picturesque towngates have been demolished to admit carriages.
No Customs duties were collected at Weihaiwei during the British régime. In spite of the low taxation, the growing prosperity of the territory under British rule caused the public revenue to increase from about $2,000 in 1900 to about half a million dollars in 1930. But a Chinese Maritime Custom House has now been established. This and the establishment of other Central Government Revenue Collecting Depart- inents, such as the Salt Gabelle and the Wine and Tobacco Tax Bureau, has resulted in increased taxation accompanied by a diminution of the revenues available for local government. The Municipal Government is now dependent on a subsidy from the. Central Government for balancing its budget. The curtailment of the commercial advantages dependent on what was practically a free port has reduced the volume. of business and depressed land values. The system of Government is now more elaborate and the number of officials has greatly increased since Rendition.
TRADE IN 1933
Weihaiwei passed an undisturbed year as far as local conditions were concerned,, but the port felt the loss of its Manchurian Markets acutely, business with South China was affected by the upheaval in Fukien, and, generally speaking, trade was far from satisfactory. The prosperity of the district chiefly depends upon the success or otherwise of the groundnut season, and although supplies were plentiful, poor prices and some speculation for higher prices made production less profitable than it should have been, despite reductions in freight charges and Governinent help in the matter of export duty rates. This in turn reduced the purchasing power of the whole country-side and had an adverse effect on imports. The fishing industry had a mixed year, the motor trawlers based on the port having a successful season and the inshore sailing craft complaining of poor results. Fruit-farming at Weihaiwei is still on the experiment stage and is not likely to become a noteworthy factor in trade for some years to come. Much is being done, however, in the way of importing fruit trees from abroad to develop this industry, and the scheme for establishing a combined fish and fruit canning factory in the port is not being lost sight of. The silk industry has made little progress and continues to be confined to the weaving of silk hose. A new kaoliang wine distillery successfully established itself during the year; but the formerly prosperous match factory suspended operations owing to the loss of its Manchurian markets and the severe competition of Japanese and Shanghai manufac* tures of a similar nature.
A preliminary survey for a direct motor road from Tsingtao to Weihaiwei was made in the early part of the year, but work on this new enterprise has not been commenced. Some 30 motor vehicles ply for hire on the existing roads in the district. As regards shipping, 997 vessels, aggregating 1.3 million tons, entered the port during the year, 56 of these vessels being ocean-going steamers calling exclusively for groundnuts. Mention should also be made of the successful Exposition of Chinese National goods held in Weihaiwei city under the sponsorship of the local government,i which attracted great numbers of visitors from the surrounding country.
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