CO129-468 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [6-8] — Page 517

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of the China customs tariff; prices would then rise to the

same level as at Chefoo, from which most of the trade has

been attracted and there would be no advantage to a purchaser in going to Weihaiwei rather than to Chefoo. Freight rates to and from Chefoo are the same as those to

and from Weihaiwei and steamers will naturally tranship at

the larger port. The purely local trade of Weihaiwei is too small to attract steamers, which will no longer call

there. If there is no steamship service, it will be impossible for passengers to get to or from Weihaiwei and therefore it will cease to exist as a health-resort, so that even the money invested in the provision of hotels or bungalows for summer residents will be lost.

6.

Granted security of tenure, a moderate degree of development may be expected. Weihaiwei is already popular as a summer health-resort: the existing accommodation for visitors is fully occupied during the hot weather and there is little doubt that capital would be forthcoming for building additional bungalows and possibly another hotel if it were considered a safe investment. The healthy climate also makes Weihaiwei an admirable locality for schools. There is already a

flourishing boys' school there and, as the mumber of

L

Europeans in China who are not in a position to send their children home to be educated or who prefer not to do so until a later age than has been customary in the past appears to be increasing, it is probable that further educational institutions both for boys and girls would be

established there.

7.

With regard to industries and manufactures it would be unwise to take a very sanguine view. The mineral resources of the territory have been investigated to some extent by private enterprise and an attempt was made some years ago to work the gold deposits. That undertaking ended in failure and it is unlikely that any

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