Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 577

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

TAMSUI AND KEELUNG

513

The port of Keelung lies to the north-east of Tamsui, in latitude 25 deg. 6 min. N. and longitude 121 deg. 47 min. E. It is situated on the shores of a bay between the capes of Foki and Peton, some 20 miles apart, amidst bold and striking scenery, backed by a range of mountains. It was once a Spanish Settlement, but was subsequently captured and held by the Dutch until they in turn gave place to the Chinese under Koxinga, formerly a pirate chief, who caused himself to be proclaimed King of Formosa. Though but a mere village, it had long carried on a considerable native trade with Amoy, Chinchew, and Foochow. Keelung was opened to foreign trade at the same time as the other Formosan ports. The limits of the port are defined to be within a straight line drawn from Image Point to Bush Island. On the 5th August, 1884, the port was bombarded by the French under Admiral Léspes, when the forts above the town were reduced to ruins, and the place captured. It was then garrisoned by the French, who held it until after the Treaty of Peace had been signed at Tientsin in June, 1885. The place was occupied by the Japanese on the 3rd June, 1895.

The trade returns for 1925 show that the value of the trade of the island was as follows:--

With Foreign Countries

Exports Imports

...

Yen 47,965,844

,, 56,489,060

Yen 104,454,904

With Japan

Exports Imports

...

Yen 215,248,807 129,906,280

Yen 345,155,087

Of the total, Yen 338,319,837 passed through Keelung and Tamsui.

At Keelung harbour improvements are still in progress and, when completed, will largely increase the accommodation available. The steamer anchorage in this harbour has a uniform depth of at least 30 feet, and the harbour has been widened to 480 feet in its narrowest part. There is a slipway at Keelung for vessels of 500 tons; also a dock with an extreme length of 372 feet and a breadth at entrance of 48 feet. A dry dock can take vessels up to 3,000 tons gross. During 1900 a lighthouse was completed on Pak-sa Point, a low headland on the west coast, some 20 miles south-west of Tamsui, and one has been erected on Agincourt Island. At Keelung there is a stone quay in connection with the railway, alongside of which the regular mail steamers of the 6,000 tons class are berthed, the depth of water alongside being 28-30 feet. When the improvements in progress are completed it will be possible to accommodate at the quay about 10 steamers each of 10,000 tons capacity, and admit six steamers below this tonnage at the buoys.

The railway line between Tamsui and Taipeh was opened in August, 1901, and has been of great benefit to the people of the district. Keelung is the northern terminus of the trans-Formosan Government Railway. The capital city is known by the Chinese name of Taipeh, and also under the Japanese nomenclature of Taihoku, which is now applicable, also, to the whole district, the former names of Manka, Datotei, etc., having recently been abolished. At the mouth of the Tamsui river lies the town of Hobe, usually known as Tamsui to avoid confusion with Kobe in Japan proper.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 577

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