606
Wharfage, 800.
Officials.
Customs.
8
Particulars of the Chefoo trade could no doubt be obtained more reliably from
Chefoo.
In spite of the constant erosion taking place along the Japanese river front at Antung, no steps have been taken to bund it. At present there is only one wharf, which belongs to the railway, and is used either for shipping or unloading coal. Steamers have to moor in mid-stream. One of the proposed improvements of the port is the provision of a hulk for use as a Customs examination shed.
Antung has the rank of a district city, and a Magistrate, Chi Hsien, is stationed here; at Tatungkou, which is in the Antung district, is a Hsin Chien, or Assistant Magistrate. Since the opening of the two ports to foreign trade last year the Taotai of the eastern frontier, or Tung Pien Taotai, Chang Hsi-lan, has opened an office in addition to his residence at Fenghuangchiêng, and he is now Customs Taotai. Under his control have been created a Shang Fou Chu, or Treaty Port Department, with a branch office at Tatangkou, for the purpose of dealing with all matters connected with the opening of the Treaty ports and the laying out of foreign Settlements, and a Hsün Ching Chi, or Police Department. Police forces on the Tien-tsin model have been created at Antung and at Tatungkou, and a foreign building is in course of erection at the former place for a head police station. The force at Antung is to number 300 men when fully recruited, and at Tatungkou 100 men. Sanitary Boards have also been started, and sanitary reforms are to be introduced.
By long-established precedent the Tungpien Taotai is Superintendent of the Corean Frontier Customs, or Chung Chiang Kuan, whose head office is at Antung. This office levies toll on the trans-frontier trade according to a special Tariff. The trade was never great, and the deputy in charge informed me that the average annual collection was only 6,000 taels. Of this sum 3,000 taels were paid by regulation to the Board of Revenue, and the balance, after paying expenses, was the perquisite of the Taotai. Since the Japanese occupied Antung, the evasion of duty had been so great that there was now a deficit in the receipts.
The Native Customs, levying toll on the sea-borne trade of Antung, were also formerly under the control of the Tungpien Taotai, but a special officer, an expectant Taotai named Chien Jung, has recently taken charge of them. There are brauch stations at Santaolangt'ou and Chaoshilkou, down the river. There is a separate establishment at Tatungkon.
Although Antang and Tatungkou were opened to foreign trade on the 1st May, 1906, no maritime custom-houses have been opened at either port. A Commissioner of Customs and a foreign staff were directed to go to Antung last autumn, but the order was cancelled while they were on their way, and no further steps have been taken. The Japanese Consul, on taking up office in May 1906, finding there was no maritime custom- house, refused to permit his subjects to pay duty to the Native Customs, and in consequence goods imported and exported by Japanese have ever since been exempt from duty. The Taotai Chang told the Japanese Consul that a record would be kept of what is being imported and exported by Japanese, except Government stores, and no doubt an account will be presented in due course when the Customs are opened. The Japanese Consul did not engage to see that such arrears should be paid. The Corean Frontier Customs are similarly evaded, and the freight now coming over the Corean Railway is entering free of duty.
The
No decision has yet been arrived at regarding the site for the custom-house. Chinese authorities are leaving the question for the Commissioner to decide. Mr. Oliver during his visit to Antung last year did not decide on any site. The Native Customs is situated at the mouth of the Chi-tao-kou Creck, on the left bank, and a new set of buildings, fitted in foreign style, has been erected close by for the reception of the Commissioner and foreign staff of the Maritime Customs. The Chinese hope that the custom-house will be opened here. One drawback to the place is that it is subject to floods, but that perhaps cannot be avoided in Antung. It will also be at least half-a- mile distant from the anchorage should the proposed railway bridge be completed.
The Japanese Consul said that the Japanese Government would be willing to provide a site free of charge in their Settlement. Any site below the Chinese town would have to be acquired from Japanese,
The Chinese authorities expect that the custom-house will be opened in the spring of 1907. The administration of the Frontier Customs and the Native Customs will then be amalgamated with the Foreign Customs.
In view of the intimate connection of Tatungkou with Antung, it is proposed to open a branch of the Antung Customs there and not a separate establishment. A site was pointed out to me at Tatungkou as suitable for the custom-house, and there should be no difficulty at that port.
9
The China-Japan Convention of 1905 stipulates that most-favoured-nation treatment shall be accorded in regard to trans-frontier trade on the Corean border. The Japanese Consul said that Japan fully intended to claim her rights under this clause. That is to say, an abatement of tariff duty on trans-frontier trade will be demanded, as is conceded on the Russian and French frontiers. The object of this will of course be to foster trade by the North Corean Railway and the Mukden Railway in competition with sea-borne trade. The Chinese authorities at Antung reasonably argue that circumstances at Antung are entirely different from those existing on the remote Siberian and Tonquin frontiers, where preference is given in order to foster trade on undeveloped routes.
The local Li-kin Office, or "Tou Chêng Chu," was abolished on the 15th November, Li-kin, 1906, when the new system of production and destination taxes was inaugurated. On the 26th November, however, a notification was issued at Antung by the Revenue Department at Mukden, announcing that in view of the discrimination resulting from the refusal of foreigners to pay taxes while no maritime custom-house was working at Antung, the levy of the destination tax in Antung would be postponed until such time as the custom-house should be opened. The postponement, however, does not apply to the special taxes on tobacco, spirits, opium, and carts.
Reports have lately appeared in the newspapers that there have been disturbances at Antung. The disaffection was the result of a remeasurement of land and reassessment for land tax in the Fenghuangchiêng and Antung districts. A quantity of mountain land which has been privately reclaimed for the plantation of scrub oak was assessed for land tax for the first time, and there was some discontent in consequence. No serious outbreak occurred.
The Japanese Military Administrations were withdrawn on the 1st October, 1906. Military. There now remain only some 2,000 railway guards at Antung and Fenghuangch'êng. There are no troops at Tatungkou. There are a few officers and men connected with the timber yards. In addition to the Officer Commanding the troops, there are officers in charge of the Railway Administration and of the timber yards: these are independent of each other.
A Japanese Consul, Mr. Okabe, is stationed at Antung. At Tatungkou there is no Consular. Consulate, but a petty police officer is stationed there to control Japanese subjects. Mr. Okabe thought it was probable a Vice-Consulate would be opened there when the Maritime Customs were established. Fenghuangch'êng is not yet opened to trade, and no Consular officer is stationed there. Mr. Okabe has been appointed Japanese Resident at New Wija in addition to his Consular duties, and he opened an office there at the beginning of this year.
A Danish Mission has been working at Antung for a long time. There are two Mission- missionaries stationed there.
aries.
Chinese Chambers of Commerce were formed under official auspices in the autumn Chambers of
Commerce. of 1906 in Antung and Tatungkou.
L
Only one elementary school on modern lines has been opened at Antung, with Education. two teachers and forty pupils. There is a Japanese school in the Settlement.
The Regulations for the repression of the opium habit only arrived during my stay Opium. in Antung, so no stops have yet been taken to enforce them.
No Chinese post office is working at Antung or Tatungkon, nor is the Telegraph Post office.
Telegraphs. Company doing any business.
A large combined post and telegraph office and telephone exchange has been Telephones. erected in the Japanese Settlement. The telegraphs and telephones are the property of the Kuantung Government. Two Japanese telegraph lines connect Antung with Mukden and with Tatungkou and Takushan, and there is a junction with the Corean lines. The Chinese Telegraph Company own a line to Tatungkon, but it is now being worked by the Japanese. The Chinese Manager said he understood the line was to be handed back in the spring of 1907.
Telephones radiate throughout the Japanese and Chinese towns, but are mainly used by Japanese.
A light tram or trolley line, similar to that laid down in Newchwang, runs from Tramways.
It is a joint near the railway station to the Japanese Settlement and to the river front. Japanese and Chinese concern.
(Signed) O. R. COALES, Assistant.
Newchwang, January 23, 1907.
th
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