Directory_and_Chronicle_1901 — Page 549

FORMOSA-TAMSUI AND KELUNG

DIRECTORY

GOVERNMENT

Stationed at the Capital, TAIPEH-FU (Taihoku)

Governor-General of Formosa-Lieutenant-General BARON G. KODAMA Chief of Civil Affairs Bureau-Dr. S. Goto

Chief of Army Staff- Major-General S. Nakamura Chief of Navy Staff-Rear-Admiral T. Kurooka Chief Councillor-Y. Ishitsuka

Personnel-F. Otori

CHIEFS OF SECTIONS

Registration and Archives-H. Kato Foreign Affairs--F. Otori

Local Administration-T. Matsuoka Police Affairs-T. Ura

Public Works-H. Nagao Sanitary-H. Kato Finance-T. Iwai

Prefect of Taipeh-Y. Murakami Do., Taichung-S. Kinoshita Do., Tainan-G. Imai

Revenue-Y. Nakamura

95.

Judicial Affairs-K. Oshima Educational Affairs-T. Kimura Agricultural & Industrial-M. Yanagimoto Communications-S. Kikuchi Subsistence and Pay-T. Iwai

Chief of the Higher Court-Judge M. Suzuki

Sub-prefect of Gilan-K. Saigo

Do., Taito-N. Sagara

Do., Pescadores-S. Takatsu

TAMSUI AND KELUNG

The port of Tamsui lies in lat. 25 deg. 10 min. N. and long, 101 deg. 20 min. E. on the north-western side of the fertile island of Formosa. The harbour, like all others in Formosa, has a troublesome bar, which greatly retards the growth of the port. Dredging would do much to render it more accessible. The town, called Hobé, is situated on the north side of the river, about two miles from the bar. In October, 1884, the French ships under Admiral Courbet bombarded Tamsui, but were unable to take the place. The Japanese took possession on the 7th June, 1895.

Tea grows on the hills in the locality, the export in 1899 amounting to 19,567,689 pounds and in 1898 to 20,126,816 lbs. The total value of the foreign trade of Tamsui and Kelung and the attached special ports in 1899 was £1,953,284, in 1898 £2,181,589, in 1897 £1,972,380 and in 1896 £1,592,413. Including trade with Japan, amounting to £735,917, the total trade of North Formosa for 1899 amounted to £2,689,201.

The port of Kelung lies to the north-east of Tamsui, in latitude 25 deg. 6 min. N. and longitude 121 deg. 47 min. E. It is situated on the shores of a bay between the capes of Foki and Peton, some twenty miles apart, amidst bold and striking scenery, backed by a range of mountains. It was once a Spanish Settlement, but was subsequently captured and held by the Dutch until they in turn gave place to the Chinese under Koxinga, a pirate chief who caused himself to be proclaimed King of Formosa. Though a mere village, it has long carried on a considerable native trade with Amoy, Chin-chew, and Foochow. Its staple product used to be coal, but the quantity at present produced is largely absorbed by local requirements. Kelung was opened to foreign trade at the same time as the other Formosan ports. The limits of the port are defined to be within a straight line drawn from Image Point to Bush Island. On the 5th August, 1884, the port was bombarded by the French under Admiral Léspes, when the forts above the town were reduced to ruins, and the place captured. It was then garrisoned by the French, who held it until after the Treaty of peace had been signed at Tientsin in June, 1885. The place was occupied by the Japanese on the 3rd June, 1895. Harbour improvements on a large scale are now in progress. A railway connects Kelung with Taipeh, the capital, and will be extended thence to Tainan-fu. Late in 1895 Lokaing (or Rokko), 117 miles south of Tamsui on the west coast, was opened as a special port of import and export; and in March, 1896, Kiukong (or Kiuko), 36 miles south of Tamsui, was opened in a similar manner to trade for Japanese-owned vessels.