Directory_and_Chronicle_1908 — Page 1037

918

WHAMPOA- -CHINESE KOWLOON

been established here. There has been some talk recently of a railway enterprise likely to revive this place, to the detriment of Hongkong transport trade. It is a Chinese project, but owing chiefly to lack of funds the work of construction seems unlikely to be commenced for the present.

The village, known as Bamboo Town, is a dirty and unattractive place without any feature of interest, but the scenery around is picturesque and pleasing. Two lofty pagodas on neighbouring eminences are conspicucus objects from the river. The first of these, called the Whampoa Pagoda, is built on an island rising abruptly from the river to the height of 100 feet. It was erected about the year 1598, and is very much out of repair. A good-sized tree grows from the brickwork at the summit. The other pagoda, called the First Bar Pagoda, is nearer to Canton, and occupies a hill which is considered the guardian hill of the province. It was built between the years 1621 and 1628 as a palladium to the waterway of the provincial capital.

The importance of Whampoa is now a thing of the past. The place will always however, possess some interest for foreigners, since the earliest recollections of foreign commercial intercourse with China are associated with it, all foreign ships being in old times compelled to anchor at Whampoa.

CUSTOMS-IMPERIAL MARITIME

DIRECTORY

Boat Officer in charge-A. E. Pfan-

kuchen

Tidewaiters-J.Mitchell, L.G.Schmitto

F. Howard

DOCK YARD-IMPERIAL

Director-H. E. Wei Han

Sub-Director--Chan Chang Ling

FISH AND SUBMARINE TORPEDO DEPOT-

IMPERIAL

Director-H. E. Wei Han

Sub-Director—W. E. Li

In charge of Torpedoes-Lieut. Sen Engineering Secretary-Chan Chang

Ling

MILITARY SCHOOL-IMPERIAL

Acting Director-Wei Se P'.ng Sub-Director—Wei Se Ping Secretary-S. K. Zen

NAVAL AND TORPEDO SCHOOL-IMPERIAL

Director-H. E. Wei Han Sub-Director-H. E. Li

Professors-P. H. Woo, Lai, Wen, Wang Secretary-Ling-Hsiau-Ying

CHINESE KOWLOON CUSTOMS

This is the inclusive name given to the Chinese Customs stations placed around Hongkong for the purpose of collecting duty on the trade carried on by Chinese junks between Hongkong and Chinese ports. In 1899, when the New Territory was taken over by Hongkong, the Customs stations had to be removed from their former locations which had been brought within the British boundary, and the present stations are situated at Taishan, Lintin, Shamchun, Shatowkok, Shayuchung, and Samun (Tooniang), besides which there are a number of frontier patrol posts on the north shores of Deep and Mirs Pays and between the two bays. The net value of the trade of 1906 was Tls. 41,971,859 against Tls. 42,946,800 in 1905; Tls. 43,771,566 in 1904; Tls. 42,507,795 in 1903; Tls. 46,784,280 in 1902, and Tis. 49,128,622 in 1901. The largest on record was in 1899, viz.: Tls. 56,532,226.

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