Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 1061

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KONGMOON

F Kong-moon 門江

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 A British Consulate was established, but withdrawn in 1905.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 Chinese 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 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 1905 failed to alter this opinion, but the improvement in the trade of the port continues to be steady, and it is hoped that the Railway, with through communi- cation by steamers with Hongkong, will help to increase the volume of trade passing through Kongmoon. There is daily steam communication with Hongkong, and with Macao, and considerable numbers of vessels trading under the Inland Waters Regulations arrive and depart daily. There are also several large junks trading regularly to Hongkong, Macao, and the island of Hainan. A railway from Kongmoon to Samgaphoi on the coast, a distance of about eighty miles, has been con- structed under the supervision of native engineers, trained in America, but it, however, stops short three miles from the sea, as to take the line right down would involve laying out a new town on the water front and dredging operations which they cannot at present afford. The railways tap rich districts, and will undoubtedly prove beneficial to the trade of Kongmoon. A Telegraph Office was opened on the 8th December, 1907, in the town, and in November, 1911, in the Settlement, and telegraphic communication is now possible with the Fatshan office.

The principal articles of export consist of prepared tobacco, joss-sticks, strawmats, palm-leaf fans, and fresh vegetables; and imports are largely represented by dried fruits, foreign piece goods and foreign' sundries, including a variety of Japanese com- modities of a cheap nature. Large quantities of softwood poles are floated down in the form of rafts, which are dismantled here. These mostly come from beyond Wuchow a d