AMOY
門 屓 Hsiá-mun
Amoy was one of the five ports open to foreign trade before the ratification of the Treaty of Tientsin. It is situated upon the island of Haimun, at the mouth of the Pe- Chi or Dragon River, in lat. 24 deg. 40 min. N. and long. 118 deg. E. It was the scene of trade with Western nations at a very early date. The Portuguese went there in 1544, but, in consequence of their cruelty towards the natives, the Chinese authorities forcibly expelled them and burned thirteen of their vessels. The English had com- mercial dealings there up to 1730, when the Chinese Government issued an edict prohibiting trade with foreigners at all ports except Canton. They made an exception- as regards Spanish ships, which were allowed to trade at Amoy..
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In describing Amoy, Dr. Williams says: "The island upon which Amoy is built is about forty miles in circumference, and contains scores of large villages (now 136) besides the city. The scenery within the bay is picturesque, caused partly by the numerous islands which define it, surmounted by pagodas or temples, and partly by the high barren hills behind the city: The entire circuit of the City and suburbs is about eight miles. The harbour is one of the best on the coast; there is good holding ground, in the outer harbour, and vessels can anchor in the inner, within a short distance of the beach, and be perfectly secure; the tide rises and falls from fourteen to sixteen feet. The western side of the harbour, here from six hundred and seventy-five. to eight hundred and forty yards wide, is formed by the island of Kulangsu. It is a picturesque little spot.
Eastward of Amoy is the island of Quemoy or Kinmun (Golden Harbour), presenting a striking contrast in the low foreground on its south shore to the high land on Amoy," The population of the City and Amoy is now 176,000 with another 30,000 outside, the city, making a total of 206,000 for the whole island of Amoy.
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Amoy is ranked for Postal purposes as a second-class City. It was formerly regarded as one of the dirtiest places in China. There has been a very remarkable change in this respect of recent years and when modern improvements still in pro- gress have been completed it will compare favourably with any city in China. There are several places of interest to foreigners in the vicinity, and excursions can be made to Changchow-fu, the chief city of the department of that name, and situated about 35 miles from Amoy. The island of Kulangsu ["Drum Wave Island," from a hollow rock in which the incoming tide causes a booming sound] is about a third of a mile from Amoy, and the residences of nearly all the foreigners are to be found there, although most of the foreign business is transacted on the Amoy side. It is a remark- ably pretty island. It was handed over by China as an International Settlement on the 1st May, 1903. t
In has become one of the most charming places of residence on the coast of China.. The peace and good order which are preserved in the International Settlement are shown by the palatial residences of many wealthy Chinese residents, mostly returned emigrants to the Straits Settlements, the Netherlands East Indies, the Philippines and Burmah. The value of land on the island of Kulangsu has advanced 100 per cent. compared with the prices ruling a decade ago. There are several good clubs in the neighbourhood of the Recreation Ground. A neat little Anglican Church has been erected.
In 1922, the ratepayers of the International Settlement of Kulangsu recommended that an Advisory Committee of Chinese residents should be elected by the Chinese residents in the Settlement to assist and advise the members of the Muncipal Council in all matters in which Chinese ratepayers were concerned. This recommendation was approved by the foreign and Chinese authorities and adopted by the Chinese rate- payers. Three Chinese members, appointed in December, 1926, took over the full representation of Chinese ratepayers.