Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 912

HANKOW

口漢 Han-kau

Hankow, as its name implies, is located at the mouth of the Han River-the longest tributary of the Yangtsze-in latitude 30 deg. 32 min. N., and longitude 114 deg.19 min. E. Its central position, standing as it does like a half-way house between North and South China, has led to its being called the "Chicago of China," and induces the view that it will develop into one of the great commercial centres of the Republic. It was formerly regarded merely as a suburb of Hanyang, which it im- mediately adjoins, but it has since far outstripped the older city in commerce, wealth and influence. It is, of course, the principal port on the Yangtsze, which drains about 750,000 square miles of territory and waters a hinterland with a population of close upon 200,000,000 people. Thus situated and environed, it is natural to predict that it will ultimately become the chief emporium in central China. Hankow is 600 miles distant from Shanghai, and, according to the Customs Trade Report for 1921, there are no less than 43 steamers, with excellent passenger accommodation on the Shanghai- Hankow run; 10 steamers on the Hankow-Ichang run; and 5 steamers on the Hankow- Changsha run.

Attention was first drawn to Hankow as a place of trade by Huc, the French missionary. Captain Blakiston, in his work "The Yangtsze," gives the following correct description of the place and its surroundings:-" Hankow is situated just where an irregular range of semi-detached low hills crosses a particularly level country on both sides of the main river in an east and west direction. Stationed on Pagoda Hill, Hanyang, a spectator looks down on almost as much water as land even when the rivers are low. At his feet sweeps the magnificent Yangtsze, nearly a mile in width; from the west and skirting the northern edge of the range of hills already mentioned comes the river Han, narrow and canal like, to add its quota, and serving as one of the highways of the country; and to the north-west and north is an extensive treeless flat, so little elevated above the river that the scattered hamlets which dot its surface are, without exception, raised on mounds, probably artificial works of a now distant age. A stream or two traverse its farther part and flow into the main river. Carrying his eye to the right bank of the Yangtsze one sees enormous lakes and lagoons both to the north-west and south-east sides of the hills bevond the provincial city.

"

The port was opened to foreign trade in 1861, and was visited by Sir Robert Hart in that year in connection with opening a branch of the Imperial Customs. The British and other Bunds have many imposing buildings on the water-front. The new five-storey building of the International Banking Corporation on the British Bund has been completed, and extensive godowns, etc., are in course of construction by Messrs. Butterfield & Swire on the site adjoining the palatial new premises (opened in 1920) of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, while the Asiatic l'etroleum Company are about to build large premises on the lot immediately to the north of the Commissioner's house. The British Bund, indeed, is rapidly becoming the banking and business centre of the Concessions, and as time progresses will cease to be a quarter for private re- sidence. It is predicted that this tendency will increase, and it is expected that a foreign residential centre will be developed to the west of the ra ecourse and that godown accommodation will continue to be provided and occupy sites on which private. residences now stand on the river-front in so far as the needs of river steamers are concerned; but in regard to ocean-going steamer traffic it will probably be convenient to make provision for future requirements by establishing wharves and godowns in the vicinity of Seven Mile Creek. The question of reclaiming about 100 feet of fore- shore and extending the Hankow bund accordingly remains in abeyance. The bank which has formed of late years along the face of the Bund wall would render reclama- tion work easy and comparatively inexpensive; but there is a divergence of opinion respecting the disposition of the lan i reclaimed, should the scheme eventually materi- alise, and the proposal to erect godowns on ther iver-front has not been favourably received in some quarters. In many respects the Hankow bund is the finest in the East, and in point of length is probably unsurpassed; the desire to avoid interfering with its present amenities is therefore intelligible; but, on the other hand, it should be understood that as lankow is purely a business centre the requirements of shipping