Directory_and_Chronicle_1914 — Page 1105

司公和怡

SAMSHUI-KONGMOON

签约

1077

E Wo & Co., Merchs, and Commisn. Agents KWAN YIK, Broker and Commission Agent

隆安福

Fook Os Loong, Broker and 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 and Commission Agent.

局政郵

POST OFFICE, CHINESE

District-postmaster-C. H. Shields

(Canton)

Postal Clerk in charge-Leung Lang Cheung

Assistant- Lo Honü

局報電國中

TELEGRAPHS, CHINESE-Sainam

Clerk-Woo Chung Yu

昌典永

WING HING CHEONG, Broker and Com-

mission Agent

KONGMOON

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 A British Consulate was established, but withdrawn in 1905.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 Bavigation 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; however, of late years the volume of trade has exhibited an upward tendency.

It was generally considered 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 augured well for its future prosperity and development. This was, to some extent, true, but 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,