Directory_and_Chronicle_1883 — Page 322

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PAKHOI-HOIHOW (IN HAINAN).

DIRECTORY.

BRITISH CONSULATE.

Consul G. M. H. Playfair (acting) Constable-Edward Purse

IMPERIAL MARITIME CUSTOMS. Commissioner-H. Kopsch

Assistant and Medical Officer-J. H. Lowry Assistant Examiner-M. Eckhold Tidewaiters-C. Wanderleach, J. A. Tip

Herton & Co., agents-

Union Insurance Society of Canton

K. K. Priv. Oesterreich Versicher-

ungs Gesellschaft "Donau "

Second Colonial Sea and Fire Insur-

ance Company of Batavia

Scottish Imperial Insurance Co.

瑞昌洋行

Sui-chang-yeung-hong.

Herton & Co., commission merchants

Ed. Herton

L. Jüdell (Hoihow

C. A. Soo

HOIHOW (IN HAINAN).

Hoihow is the seaport of the city of K'iung-chow (the seat of the local govern- ment, and distant from its port about three and a half miles) which was opened to foreign trade on the 1st April, 1876. A Consul, who also acts for Germany, represents British interests, and there is a branch of the Imperial Maritime Customs controlling the duties, &c., paid on foreign trade. The position of the port, though geographically favourable, is topographically unsuitable for the development of any extensive commercial transactions, vessels being compelled to anchor some two miles from the entrance of the creek, or branch of the main river upon which Hoihow is situated. The tides are extremely irregular, and the anchorage is liable to the visitation of very severe typhoons, being moreover entirely unprotected from the North. The width of the Hainan Straits, between Hoihow and the mainland-the Lien-chau peninsula-is about twelve miles. As regards health, Hoihow compares favourably with the other parts of Hainan, though fever and ague are said to prevail to some extent. The port is badly supplied with water.

The approaches to the shore are extremely shallow, so that loading and unloading can only be carried on at certain states of the tide. Despite this disadvantage, however, the advent of foreign steamers has given a considerable impulse to trade, and Hoihow now almost vies with the Formosan ports in importance. The town itself contains about 12,000 souls, and is governed by a Tsan-fu, or Lieutenant- Colonel. The mercantile population, though respectable, is by no means rich. It numbers about 160 business houses, dealing chiefly in silk and cotton piece goods, medicines, opium, tobacco, sugar, oil cakes, &c. The inhabitants are friendly to foreigners, and no disturbances have as yet interfered with amicable intercourse, but the natives at a distance from the town have shown themselves hostile to shipwrecked mariners who have been cast on the coast. The import of opium in 1881 amounted to 1,034 piculs, and the value of the whole trade was Tls. 1,821,743 as compared with Tls. 1,677,025 in 1880.

No foreign settlement has as yet being formed, nor does it appear that any steps will be taken to that end for a considerable time. The foreign residents at present number less than a dozen. Full reports upon the capabilities of the port have been made by H.B.M. Consul at Canton and the Secretary of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce.