Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 1214

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

990

SHASI

of the Foreign Board, the Japanese Consulate, the premises occupied by the native agents of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., and a number of newly-erected Chinese houses were burnt by the mobs, kerosene oil being used to feed the conflagration, and the foreign residents were driven out of the port, narrowly escaping with their lives. The Custom-house was re-opened on the 1st July of the same year. In August, 1898, an area of 3,800 Chinese feet in length, by 800 to 1,200 in breadth, lying along the river side below the town, was assigned to Japan as a Japanese concession. The foreign commerce is mostly in Japanese hands. The British Consulate was withdrawn in January, 1899, British interests being placed under the care of the Consul at Ichang. Calling steamers have to anchor in the river, the current of which is very swift, but some bunding work, commenced in December, 1904, and finished in April, 1905, provided berths for three hulks, with jetties, but in 1908, this bund for over two-thirds of its length went bodily into the river owing to the action of the water coming from inland carrying away sand from beneath the stone work. The net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognizance of the Foreign Customs was in 1910 returned at Tis. 2,886,804 as against Tis. 2,076,828 in 1909, Tis. 1,699,624 in 1908, Tls. 1,880,422 in 1907, and Tls. 1,497,134 in 1906. The bulk of the carrying trade is, however, carried on by junks, which do not come under the control of the Foreign Customs.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 1214

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