WEI-HAI-WEI
WEI-HAI-WEI
衞海威
Wei-hai-wei
151
Wei-hai-wei is situated on the south side of the Gulf of Pechihli near the extremity of the Shantung Promontory, and about 115 miles distant from Port Arthur on the north-west and the same from the German port of Kiaochau on the south-west. Formerly a strongly fortified Chinese naval station, it was captured by the Japanese on 30th January, 1895, and was held by them pending the payment of the indemnity, which was finally liquidated in 1898. Before the evacuation by the Japanese an agreement was arrived at between Great Britain and China that the former should take over the territory on lease from the latter, and accordingly, on the 24th May, 1898, the British flag was formally hoisted, the Commissioners representing their respective countries at the ceremony being Consul Hopkins, of Chefoo, and Captain King-Hall, of H.M.S. Narcissus, for Great Britain, and Taotai Yen and Captain Lin, of the Chinese war vessel Foochi, for China.
The harbour forms a deep bight or bay about eighteen miles in circumference, sheltered to the northward by the island of Liukungtao, which is about two miles long from east to west and one mile from north to south in its widest part, being approximately pear-shaped. The northern or sea coast of Liukungtao is composed of steep cliffs, while the opposite side is sandy beach, the intervening hills rising to a height of about 500 feet. The general appearance of the harbour is picturesque, the bay being surrounded with hills, the highest of which is about 1,600 feet. The town of Wei-hai-wei, which has a population of about 4,000, is situated at the north-west corner of the bay.
The harbour is good, having two entrances, one to the north and the other to the east, the easterly one, however, being closed to all ships drawing more than 19 feet of water. Good anchorage is obtainable for the largest ships within a few hundred yards from the Island. All the Government buildings on the Island have or are being put in repair, the largest of these, namely Queen's House, formerly the Chinese Yâmen, being used as a Council Chamber, Commissioner's Residence, etc., and here the Com- missioner dispenses justice every forenoon. The next largest building is now used as an Officers' Club, one corner of which is supposed to be the place where Admiral Ting committed suicide, the house having been formerly his private residence. Amongst the other houses of importance are the Canteen, Warrant Officers' Club, and Barracks. There is also a signal station from which passing ships are signalled. Small quant- ities of minerals, such as gold, mica, silver, lead, etc., have been discovered and are about to be worked. There is some shooting to be obtained on the mainland and good bathing from both the Island and mainland in the summer. Sulphur springs are also found on the mainland. There are also Cricket, Football, Hockey, Polo and Tennis Clubs. The climate is said to be better than that of any of the Treaty ports.
LIU KUNG TAU
GOVERNMENT
DIRECTORY
Commissioner-Colonel A. R. F. Dor-
ward, R.E., D.S.O.
District Officer and Magist.-S. Barton Chief Interpreter-H. J. Dupree
NAVAL DEPOT
In charge of Naval Establishment- Commander E. F. A. Gaunt, R.N. Engineer in charge-T. S. Guyer Assistant Paymaster-E. A. Redmen Assistant Civil Engineer-G. A. Trew Surveyor H. St. John_Knights, R.E. Boatswain in charge-J. Gough Writers-H. R. Farwell, J. C. Clatwon
ROYAL ENGINEERS
Commanding-Major C. Penrose Captain-R. P. Lee
ROYAL MARINE GUARD
Captain--W. A. Harris,
R.M.L.I.
Lieutenant-C. L. Mayhew, do.
Do. -C. D. Harmer, Sergeant-Major-H. Elliot,
HARBOUR DEPARTMENT
do.
do.
In charge of Dredger "St. Enoch "-J.
Rawscliffe
POLICE DEPARTMENT
In charge of Native Police Force-
Sergeant G. Danson
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