Directory_and_Chronicle_1928 — Page 841

KONGMOON-SAMSHUI

DIRECTORY

833

ASIATIC PETROLEUM Co. (SOUTH CHINA),

LTD. Tel. Ad: Petrosilex

T. P. M. Bevan, manager

BRITISH-AMERICAN TOBACCO Co. (CHINA),

LTD.-Tel. Ad: Powhattan

BRITISH CONSULATE

Consul-General-(residing at Canton)

CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME

Commissioner-Baron A. Sadoine Assistant-K., Ehara

Medical Officer-J. A. McDonald Assistants Fong Kün-chiu, Chen

Shao and Shih Eng How Tidesurveyor and Harbour Master-

G. Gosling

Examiners--A. Jönsson and T. Yada Tidewaiter-E. J. Clark

POST OFFICE, CHINESE

Postal Commr.-(residing at Canton) Postmaster-Chan Leung Chun

STANDARD OIL CO. OF NEW YORK-Tel. Ad:

Socony

M. H. Varn, manager

TEXAS COMPANY-Pakkai

K. H. Robinson

Shek Wah

UNITED CHURCH OF CANADIA MISSION Rev. T. A. Broadfoot, B.A., B.D.

Mrs. T. A. Broadfoot, R.N. (on leave) Harvey Becking (on leave) Mrs. Harvey Becking do. Dr. W. B. McClure, M.D.

Mrs. McClure, B.A.

Dr. John A. McDonald, M.D., C.M. Mrs. John A. McDonald

Miss B. M. Cairns

Rev. W. R. McKay, M.A., B.D., and wife

(secretary)

Dr. V. Cheung

Miss M. Carroll

area.

SAMSHUI

永三 Sàm-shui

The Treaty port of Samshui, opened in 1897 under the Burmah Convention-nearly 40 years after Consul Harry Parkes' East River Expedition-is situated near the junc- tion of the West and North Rivers, in lat. 23 deg. 6 min. 30 sec. N., and long. 112 deg. 53 min, and 48 sec. E. The anchorage known as Hokow, at which foreigners reside, was formerly an ordinary Chinese fishing village, with boat-building as its leading industry, and a flooded state in summer as its characteristic peculiarity, but it is fast becoming a busy mart. According to the Convention, the town of Samshui and Kongkun (a small village situated among the hills opposite Hokow) together constitute the port The formal opening took place on 4th June, 1897, since which date the trade of the port increased steadily until July, 1925, when the strike and boycott inaugurated against Hongkong shipping caused an unprecedented falling off in imports. The net value of the trade coming under the cognisance of the Customs during 1926 was Hk. Tls. 1,890,280, as compared with Hk. Tls. 4,245,082 in 1925, and Hk. Tls. 9,618,503 in 1924. The junk traffic is large, and the likin station is said to be one of the most important in the province. The district city of Samshui itself is surrounded by an imposing wall built in the 6th year of Chia Ching of the Mings (about A.D. 1560), the year after the place attained to the dignity of a magistracy, but whatever prosperity it may once have acquired has departed, and within the walls, where dwell the magistrate and the commander of the few local troops, the space is but half occupied by poor dwelling- houses and one small street containing provision shops. Outside the North Gate stands an imposing temple temp. Chia Ch'ing of the Ch'ing Dynasty (Circa 1800). Between the town and the river is a fine nine-storied pagoda, rebuilt during the reign of Chia Ch'ing, some 100 years ago.

The business focus of the district is Sainam, a large well-built town of no great antiquity, three miles distant, on the creek leading to Fatshan. At Sainam there is established an electric plant which supplies Samshui with light.