Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 1105

NANNING--KOUANG-TCHEOU-WAN

1003

Rev. Séosse, Pinnan Rev. Courant, Sylin

Rev. Séguret, Sintcheou Rev. Maurand, Kohao Rev. Rigal, Yungfoo Rev. Cuenot, Kweilin

2 Sisters at Nanning, 3 at Lungchow

SOEURS DE ST. PAUL DE CHARTRES

Rev. Sœur Ambroise

Rev. Sour Georges

POST OFFICE KWANGSI DISTRICT-Head

Office

Acting Postal Commissioner-T. N.

Manners

District Accountant-J. N. Green-

field

STANDARD OIL Co., oF New YORK-Tel.

Ad: Socony

D. H. Cameron, manager (Canton).

J. E. Sharpe, asst.-in-charge

KOUANG-TCHEOU-WAN

灣州廣 Kwáng-chau-wan

The bay of Kwangchau (or according to the French official spelling, Kouang-tcheou- wan), situated in the province of Kwangtung, was ceded on lease with the surrounding territories by a Convention between France and China, and occupied by the French on the 22nd of April, 1898. It is comprised between the 20 deg. 45 min. and the 21 deg. 17 min. north latitude, and the 107 deg. 55 min. and 108 deg. 16 min. east longitude to a distance more or less of 230 miles of Hongkong, W.S.W. The two islands of Nao-tcheou and Tang-hai placed at the entrance of the bay make an excellent closed port into which entrance is by two narrow passages. The port measures about 15 miles long, and for about half of its length it is three or four miles in breadth. The depth of anchorage of 20 metres extends over a length of more than 10 miles and borders on the extremity of the junk port of Tchekam, an important commercial centre in constant communication with Macao, Hongkong, Hainan and Pakhoi. The neighbouring districts are well cultivated and it is believed mineral beds will be found. The new French territory is only separated from the valley of the West River by chains of hills. Following the Convention of delimitation signed on the 16th of November, 1899, between Marshal Sou and Admiral Courrejolles, the territory of Kouang-tcheou-wan was placed under the authority of the Governor-General of Indo-China. The chief place of the territory is the town of Fort Bayard, which is at the entrance of the interior port on the right bank of the river Ma Telié. It is the commercial port, with the establishments of the civil administration, Military Service and the special offices.

Kouang-tcheou-wan is a free port in which all commercial operations can be carried on without paying any duty. A regular bi-monthly line of steamers joins Kouang-tcheou- wan to Haiphong and Hongkong. Three steamers of French-Chinese ownership connect Kouang-tcheou-wan with Hongkong. Commerce has already largely extended since the steamers entered this port in communication with the exterior ports, and it is expected to develop considerably. The Chinese population of the territory is about 189,000, and the superficial area is 84,244 hectares, containing 1,233 villages.