Directory_and_Chronicle_1924 — Page 941

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

HANKOW

867

proposed, or taking steps to preserve the left bank at this point from further damage should receive careful consideration, in view of the danger of the flood waters breaking through, etc. The conservation of the lower reaches of the Han, indeed, would appear to bear a direct relation to the improvement of the Hankow harbour, and, if this opinion is correct, it follows that in the interests of navigation and trade the matter demands serious attention."

The Yangtze River Conservancy Board has since been established with head- quarters in Peking, and a branch of the Board, known as the "Technical Committee,' has been appointed and functions in Shanghai. This Committee includes Mr. Yang Pao-ling (Chairman), the Coast Inspector, Mr. von Heidenstam and Mr. van der Veen, and has been actively engaged during the past year in effecting detailed surveys of the River. etc. These, with the vast store of information already collected by the Maritime Customs, have been placed at the disposal of Mr. Palmer, who came out to China again last Autumn and, with the members of the Technical Committee, made investigations as far as Chungking. Mr. Palmer will ultimately draw up a report and submit definite recommendations with the object of so conserving the River as to permit deep draught steamers to visit Hankow at all seasons and thus provide for direct communication between the latter emporium and Europe and America.

Tea was formerly one of the staple exports, but the war effectively stopped the Russian branch of the trade, and the general market has been very slack of late years. The net value of the trade of the port according to Custom's statistics for the year 1922 was Hk. Tls. 206,105,905, as compard with Hk. Tls. 173,546,774 for 1921 and Hk. Tls. 169,951,530 for 1920.

During the last few years foreign interests at Hankow have undergone a marked development, the chief factor in producing the growth being the construction of the Lu Han Railway, a trunk line connecting Hankow with Peking, the contract for which was let to a Belgian syndicate in 1897. It was opened in November, 1905, when trains passed over the Yellow River Bridge, which was immediately closed again as unsafe. Since December, 1905, through traffic with Peking has continued without interruption. Early in 1906 "trains de luxe" were started. The line has diverted much of the traffic that went by water to Chinkiang. A railway from Hankow to Canton is in course of construction, and will eventually link up with the Canton Kowloon line, giving direct communication between Hongkong and Europe við Siberia.

The Hankow Race Club and Recreation Ground was incorporated in 1904, and since then has undergone a phenomenal development. The property of the Club is extensive enough to einbrace a racecourse, an 18-hole golf course, football and cricket field, swimming pool, and, in fact, every branch of sport indulged in by the members. Apart from this club, which is chiefly devoted to sport, there are the Hankow Club, the Russian Club and the French Club, which have splendid libraries, billiard rooms, bowling alleys, etc. The Hankow Golf Club, which was instituted in 1878 and is certainly the oldest club in the port, still holds its own and boasts of a membership of considerably over 100. It is almost entirely devoted to golf and has well laid-out links. There is also a Chinese Race Club with a course as good as any in China. Meetings are conducted under New- market rules, and the management is entirely in the hands of Chinese.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1924 — Page 941

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