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WEIHAIWEI
A135
The Government of Weihaiwei up to the date of rendition was administered by a Commissioner appointed under the Weihaiwei Order-in-Council of the 24th July, 1902, 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
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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.
The city of Weihaiwei (which lies on the inainland 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.
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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 e9e0. But a Chinese Maritime Custom House has now been established. This and the establishment of other Central Government Revenue Collecting Depart ments, 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 balanci
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 1934
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Another quiet year was passed in the Weihaiwei district, and the local conditions were favourable to trade. The available Customs statistics for the port were as follows: according to the value direct foreign imports, 1.8 million dollars as against 1.2 million in the preceding year; coastwise importations of Chinese merchandise, 3.2 million dollars as against 3.1 million; and coastwise exportations of Chinese produce, 1.3 million dollars as against 1.4 million dollars. The total value of the trade of Weihaiwei (ie., that part of the trade represented by these statistics) in round figures, therefore, happens to be exactly the same as in 1933; but, for the year under review, there was a somewhat noticeable increase in the value of both foreign and coastwise imports and an equally noticeable fall in the value of the exports to foreign countries it is natural to look to the statistics for the groundnut trade, this commodity always having been the chief mainstay of the port; and the figures reveal at once, while there was quite a good increase in the quantities shipped, there was recorded a decrease in value, more than sufficient to account for the decline in value of the whole foreign export trade during the year under review. The statistics for this section of trade were as follows: groundnuts in shell, 35,000 quintals as against 41,000 quintals, valued at 262,000 dollars as against 419.000 dollars: groundnuts shelled, 195,000 quintals as against 176,000 quintals, valued at only 1,888,000 dollars as against 2.605,000 dollars. The statistics for the coastwise exportations of this commodity also show a quantitative increase accompanied by a decrease in values Indeed, owing to the poor price offered for this product, the complete collapse of this trade seems to have been averted only just in time by the Government's action in waiving the interport duty on groundnuts and considerable reducing the tariffs on exports of this item to foreign countries, this action opening up
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