986
HOIHOW
།
With the exception of the Roman Catholic Orphanage, erected in 1895, the American Presbyterian Mission Hospital and doctor's residence, the Customs Indoor Staff quarters, the French School for Chinese, the French doctor's residence, and the French Hospital, the houses occupied by the foreign residents are Chinese converted into European habitations by alterations and improvements. H.B.M. Consulate obtained a site after 14 years' negotiations, and a Consulate building was erected in 1899 to the south-west of the Hospital; towards the end of 1897 a piece of land was granted, and a French Consulate has been built on the Northern side of the river and facing Hoihow town. Since the beginning of 1899 a free school has been conducted by the French Government for teaching the French language to the Chinese, and an officer from the Tonkin Medical Staff was detailed to this port for the purpose of giving the natives and others free attendance and medicine. The foreign residents in Hainan number about 98. The net value of the trade of the port in 1923 was Hk. Tls. 8,565,365, as compared with Hk. Tls. 7,693,144 in 1922, Hk. Tls. 7,491,672 in 1921, Hk. Tls. 5,822,072 in 1920, and Hk. Tls. 5,716,094 in 1919. A large export trade in pigs, poultry, eggs, bullocks and provisions is carried on with Hongkong. There has been some talk among the natives of opening mines, constructing railways, and bringing out timber from the virgin forests of the interior, While all this may not be realised on any scale for some years to come, it has been noticed that foreigners are beginning to explore the island, and the Commissioner of Customs is of opinion that the searchlight of modern civilisation will reveal much that is of value to science as well as to commerce. "Perhaps," he adds, "when this is accomplished it will be seen that this 'Island of Palms' is not the least rich nor the least fertile of China's possessions." The island of Hainan is described as a terra incognita to the world.
Telegraphic communication with the other parts of the world is established through the line under Chinese administration, but the service is most wretchedly conducted, the line being more often interrupted than not. Wireless telegraphy was inaugurated in April, 1908, to operate across the Hainan Strait at Hoihow and Suwen, immediately opposite on the mainland, but has since been dismantled. A harbour light, and a light at Lamko (western entrance of the Hainan Straits) were opened in 1894; also one at Cape Cami in 1895. An Aga Lantern apparatus was installed on the West Fort close to the city at the commencement of 1916. The approach to the harbour badly needs dredging, but is not likely to be dredged until the native merchants of Hoihow develop a little public spirit, which is highly improbable with Pu Ch'iam, and Ch'inglan harbours taking most of the junk traffic with Singapore.
DIRECTORY
會老長
AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION
At Hoihow
Dr. and Mrs. H. M. MacCandliss
Rev. and Mrs. W. M. Campbell
Miss G. MacDonald
Dr. and Mrs. C. G. Salisbury
At Kiungchow
Hainan Christian Middle School Rev. and Mrs. D. S. Tappan Rev. and Mrs. P. C. Melrose Rev. and Mrs. S. J. R. Ensign. "Pitkin" Girls' School
Miss M. Chapin Miss A. A. Skinner Miss E..D. Scribner
At Nodoa
Dr. and Mrs. S. P. Seton
Rev. and Mrs. J. F. Steiner Mrs. M. R. Melrose
Rev. W. J. Leverett
Miss M. H. Taylor
At Kachek
Rev. and Mrs. D. H. Thomas
Miss K. L. Schaeffer
Dr. and Mrs. N. Bercovitz
Miss C. McCreesy
Rev. W. V. Stinson
Miss M. M. Moningey
Commissioner for Foreign Affairs-
Liang Chia Kan
ASIATIC PETROLEUM CO. (SOUTH CHINA),
LTD.
P. Drummond, manager
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