Directory_and_Chronicle_1925 — Page 957

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HANKOW

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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 beyond the provincial city.

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The port was opened to forcign 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 Petroleum 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 racecourse 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 land reclaimed, should the scheme eventually materi- alise, and the proposal to erect godowns on the river-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 Hankow is purely a business centre the requirements of shipping and the establishment of adequate godown facilities are of paramount importance, and measures calculated to improve existing conditions in this respect deserve favourable consideration. The new Custom House was completed at the close of the year 1922, and is located in an imposing position at the Southern end of the British Bund--admittedly the finest site in Hankow-and the building is in every respect worthy of the site. The fact that it has been re-constructed on such extensive lines may be taken as an index, states the Commissioner of Customs in his Annual Report for 1922, of the confidence reposed in the future development and prosperity of Hankow as the foremost trade centre of Mid-China. Its principal architectural features comprise a lofty tower and colonnade in modern Renaissance; the columns on each of the three main facades extend to the full height of the three upper floors and support the entablature resting on a boldly rusticated lower story. The principal facade faces the Bund and has the main entrance on the first floor, approached by a broad and dignified flight of steps. On the central axis of this frontage the tower-152 feet high-appears; its distinguishing feature is a turret-clock, with four dials of 10 feet diameter each, and fitted with Westminster chimes. This clock is synchronised