Directory_and_Chronicle_1924 — Page 754

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WEIHAIWEI

is formed by a backbone of hills rising to some 500 feet. The hillsides on the main- land, of which Port Edward is the chief port, are either barren rock or planted with. dwarf pine and scrub oak trees. The valleys are mostly undulating country full of gullies and mountain river-beds; the streams are all torrential and choke up the valleys with sand and debris from the hills. During three-quarters of the year these river-beds are dry. All the hills are terraced for cultivation as far as possible. The total area of the leased territory is about 285 square miles.

The strata of the mountains are metamorphic, consisting of beds of quartzite, gneiss crystalline, and limestone, cut across by dykes of volcanic rock and granite. Gold is found in the territory and has been worked by the Chinese, and silver, tin, lead, and iron are said to exist. Good building-stone and a rich non-hydraulic limestone are found. The territory contains some 330 villages, and the population, as shown by the census taken in 1921, is 154,416. There are four small market towns, where fairs are held every five days.

The Chinese inhabitants are either fishermen or farmers, and are a peaceful,. law-abiding folk. The chief export trade is in salt fish, salt and saltpetre, ground- nuts, ground-nut oil, sasson,' silk and silk hosiery. The import trade chiefly con- sists of timber, firewood, and maize from Manchuria, paper, crockery, sugar, tobacco, kerosene oil, cotton yarn, piece goods, liquid indigo, synthetic dyes, flour, grains and wines (Chinese).

The Government of Weihaiwei up to the time of writing is adininistered by a Commissioner appointed under the Weihaiwei Order-in-Council of the 24th July, 1901. Under this Order the Commissioner is empowered to make Ordinances for the administration of the territory. The village communities are administered through their headmen in accordance with Chinese laws and usages. All purely civil matters are left as much as possible to the village headmen.

Weihaiwei is now a fairly regular port of call for many China coasting steamers sailing northwards from Shanghai, and there is a regular weekly service subsidised by Government to run all the year, carrying mails and passengers between Shanghai and Weihaiwei. This enables the public to reach Weihaiwei via Shanghai at any time of the year. The harbour is well lighted by two lighthouses at the eastern and western entrances. The climate of Weihaiwei is exceptionally good, and the winter, though cold, is dry and bracing. A European school has been established for many years to which boys from other treaty ports, Hongkong, etc., are sent. A land and building society, formed in Shanghai, has erected several commodious European bungalows. There is a large hotel on the mainland capable of accom- modating over 100 people, and also a hotel on the Island with accommodation for 50 to 60 people. Both on the mainland and on the island good roads have been made round the coast by the local Government for the convenience of foreigners, and there are recreation and parade grounds in both places. In addition to the leased territory there is a zone of influence over which Great Britain holds certain rights. It comprises that portion of the province of Shantung lying East of the meridian 12.40 extending over an area of 1,500 square miles.

The native city of Weihaiwei (which lies on the mainland opposite the island of Liu Kung) is a walled town of about 2,000 inhabitants. By the provisions of the Wei- haiwei Convention of 1898 this town remained under the jurisdiction of the Chinese authorities. The town is a poor one, and the greater portion of the enclosed area is not built on, but cultivated for vegetables. A Chinese sub-district deputy magistrate resides in the city of Weihaiwei.

No Customs duties of any kind have been collected at Weihaiwei during the British régime.