A1201
CHEFOO
J
The Chefoo Wehsien motor road was opened to traffic in 1923 and a regular and express service of cars operate daily between Chefoo and Wehsien, connecting at the latter port: with the Kiao-tsi Railway. During the past several years, additional ** motor roads have been opened throughout the province and practically all important towns are now connected by road with Chefoo, including Tsingtao and Weihaiwei. None of the roads are metalled, as it has been found impracticable to adopt this surfacing but, generally speaking, they are kept in first class condition, and due to the long periods of dry weather in Chefoo the earth surfacing thereof has proved eminently satisfactory for conditions in Shantung. However, after heavy rains the roads are unusable for a period of from twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
Amongst the main exports of Chefoo are Pongee, Silks, Silk Waste, Vermicelli, Ground Nuts, Fruit, Hair Nets, Handmade Laces and Embroideries, and there are also considerable.exports of locally distilled wine. Amongst other industries is the Chefoo Brewery and several Clock factories which enjoy a brisk business with all China ports, as well as with the Straits and Java. The port was connected in 1900 by telegraph cables with Tientsin, Port Arthur, Weihaiwei, Tsingtao and Shanghai, in addition to telegraphy land lines with all large interior cities.
I
"
TRADE IN 1936
Statistics for the trade of Chefoo were as follows, according to values direct imports from abroad, $8.8 million as against $6.7 million in 1935; coastwise importa- tions of Chinese merchandise, $23.1 million as against $22.1 million; direct exports abroad, $9.7 million as against $7.9 million; and coastwise exportations of Chinese produce, $14.8 million as compared with $12.8 million. The efficient administration of the province under the leadership of General Han Fu-chu continued during the year 1936, and the resulting sense of security, together with the peaceful conditions that have existed in the hinterland for the past three years, have been responsible for a general upward trend the local economic structure. Grave anxiety was naturally felt during the early part of the year when the poilitical situation in Hopeh brought disturbing effects in its train, while the outbreak in Suiyuan and the capture of the Generalissimo at Sianfu in the latter part of the year also contributed to a feeling of unrest. The release of General Chiang was celebrated by the entire populace as an augury of good omen, and, as the year closed, any temporary un- easiness caused by these incidents vanished, leaving a feeling that, economically, local conditions were steadily progressing. Consequent, on the inrush of non-duty, paid goods from Hopehowing to the impossiblity of carrying out normal preventive work there, some disorganization was noticed in the distribution of imported; goods.. to Chefou's inland markets. This, together with a larger trade in duty-paid articles from other ports and a fear to overstock on the part of merchants, was responsible for the decrease under the heading of direct foreign imports.., Trade in native com modities, on the other hand, flourished. Peaceful conditions locally, excellent. weather except in the wheat-producing districts and the stable currency and easy money market resulting from the monetary reform, contributed largely to this happy. state. The value of native produce exported both abroad and coastwise showed an increase of $3.8 million over the total for 1935, while the excess of exports abroad over foreign imports was responsible for a favourable trade balance of $2.9 million. Suffering from the appreciation of the Japanese yen coupled with the Chinese currency reform, Japanese cotton piece goods lost almost entirely their position in the local mar ket, and in view of the keen competition of the native-made fabrics, it appears unlikely that this trade can revive in the immediate future. The general prosperity enjoyed by the local hand-work industries during the year under review has brought a great influx of various kinds to be made up into embroideries. Total imports amounted to 970,510 metres as compared with 627,211. metres in 1935 and 585,843 metres in 1934. Great Britain, and Belgium continued to the principal suppliers, but Japan made big strides in this field, providing 78,105 metres as against, 8,565 metres in 1935: Artificial silk yarn and refined sugar, importations of which were chiefly confiscated goods, continued to decline. The decline was entirely due to rampant smuggling activities. in North-eastern Hopeh. With the exception of lubricating oil, which rose from 245,095 litres in 1935 to 432,759 litres during 1936, all other petroleum oil suffered decline. Kerosene oil decreased from 1,591,529 to 1,580,980 litres, gasolene from 752,176 to 329,423 litres, and liquid fuel from 12,675 to 2,580.metric tons. However, the Chefoo market, in addition to importations from abroad, was also supplied, from duty-paid stock in Shanghai. It is of interest to note that Japan, which had made considerable
:
£
•
:
:I