司公和怡
SAMSHUI-KONGMOON
14
947
E. Wo & Co., Merchs. and Commisn. Agents KWAN YIK, Broker & Commission Agent
渣
Jardine, MATHESON & Co., Merchants
Man Fuk Lung, agent
Agencies
H'kong, Canton & Macao S.B. Co., Ld.
Indo-China Steam Navigation Co.
China Navigation Company
Canton Insurance Office
Hongkong Fire Insurance Co., Ld.
和公
KUNG-WO, Broker & Commission Agent
局政郵清大
POST OFFICE-IMPERIAL CHINESE
Acting Postal Commissioner-A. H.
Hyland (Canton)
Postal Clerk-Liu Kam Wo
Assistant-Chan Hing
局報電國中
TELEGRAPHS-IMPERIAL CHINESE, Sainam
Clerk-Yu Tsze Hing
昌興永
WING HING CHEONG, Broker & Commission
Agent
KONGMOON
P Kong-moon
Kongmoon was added to the list of treaty ports on 7th March, 1904, in accordance with the stipulations of Article X. of the Mackay Treaty. A British Consulate was established, but withdrawn in 1905. Kongmoon is located some three miles up a creek on the West River, in the Kwangchow Prefecture of the Kwangtung Province in Lat. 22° 34′ 49′′ N. and Long. 113′ 8′ 53′′ E. and is about 45 miles distant from Macao, 70 from Canton and 87 from Hongkong. The creek on which it is built connects the West River with the sea at Gaemoon and is a narrow and tortuous stream, the lower reaches of which, near the main river, are lined with rafts, while further up in the vicinity of the town it is crowded with native craft of every description, thus rendering navigation for steamers difficult at all times, but especially so when the current runs fast during the summer months. The steamer anchorage is in the West River at the mouth of the Creek, opposite the Imperial Maritime Customs, but the town is included in the port limits. The population of Kongmoon is about 55,000, and it has the appearance of being a more populous centre as it extends for a considerable distance on both banks of the stream. Formerly it was a business centre of considerable importance, but various causes have arisen which appear to have lessened its commercial standing, and which have interfered adversely with the general prosperity of the port.
In this connection the Commissioner of Customs in his trade report for 1904 remarked: "The opinion generally prevails that the proximity of Kongmoon to Hongkong and Macao and its favourable situation as an outlet and distributing centre for the southern prefectures of the province augur well for its future prosperity and development. While this is, to some extent, true, it should be remembered that facts have arisen which have tended to diminish rather than increase its commercial importance. Formerly it enjoyed direct communication with Shanghai and Foochow and was the real outlet and distributing centre for the south-western district of the Delta and the Southern prefectures of the province. The development of Hongkong and the opening of Kiungchow and Pakhoi as treaty ports, however, have seriously interfered with the junk trade and general welfare of the port, and have, besides, opened up other trade routes to districts hitherto dependent upon Kongmoon for their supplies. At present there are no indications that the sanguine expectations, based upon imperfect knowledge, entertained concerning the overestimated commercial possibilities of the place will be speedily, if ever, realized." The large increase of trade in
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