Directory_and_Chronicle_1931 — Page 1020

944

AMOY

of the Amoy-Changchow railway, and the Asiatic Petroleum Co. are building a new installation on an adjacent site. There are kerosene oil tanks, and a can factory capable of turning out 4,000 tins a day, the property of the Asiatic Petroleum Company, on Amoy Island, but this will be dismantled and transferred to the new installation at the end of 1930. In June, 1921, the proposal to reconstruct a pier between the hulk of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire and the shore aroused opposition on the part of the Amoy public. The matter having been referred to Peiping, no further trouble was experienced. In the late autumn, however, the recommencement of the work resulted in a boycott being dcclared against the steamers of the firm. A settle- ment was reached and the boycott was withdrawn in March, 1922. The foreign residents number about 280.

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Frequent and regular steamer communication is maintained with Hongkong, Swatow, Foochow, Formosa and Shanghai, and steamers run direct to the Straits Settle- ments and Manila. There has always been a comparatively good trade done at Amoy, and notwithstanding that the tea trade, for which it was long famous, has now practically disappeared, it is significant that the shipping tonnage employed by the port has quintupled since the decade 1864-73, and almost trebled since the decade 1874- 83. Until the shortage of shipping caused by the European war the tonnage figures for many years topped the million mark. In former times, before the glory of Amoy had departed, the staple export was Tea-the local product as well as the superior blends brought over from Formosa- but, largely owing to the deterioration of the local duct and the indifference of the grower to the changing conditions of the foreign market, locally-grown tea has long since ceased to be exported, and the Customs Commissioner made a fairly safe prophecy that it only required the development of Keelung harbour to cause the total disappearance of the foreign tea merchant from Amoy. Before the Japanese obtained possession of Formosa the Formosan teas were "settled" and ware- housed in Amoy, whence they were shipped to the foreign markets. Now no Formosan tea is "settled" in Amoy, and with Keelung still unimproved to any considerable extent quite 50 per cent. of the Formosan product is being shipped direct to America from Kee- lung. The foreign tea merchant at Amoy has practically lost his occupation, and we are witnessing the fulfilment of the prediction that "the row of quaint, rambling, old hongs on the Amoy side, and many picturesque residences on Kulangsu will be offering for the occupation of the wealthy returned emigrant or the missionary school." A University has been established at Amoy in a fine range of buildings with ample playing grounds, funds for the purpose having been provided by a native of the district who made his fortune in British Malaya; and thanks to the civic patriotism of an- other native of the district who amassed great wealth in Java, a contract was signed in 1922 with the Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Co. for the installation of a complete new telephone system. Bunding, drainage, jetties, roads, recreation grounds and similar public works, are in progress, many of the main streets have been widened and concrete paved, and a fine public garden has been laid out with facilities for all forms of sport, including a football ground, running track, and hard tennis courts. Reclamation work (filling in without bunding) was started in 1922 to the north of the city and the Amoy Dock.

TRADE IN 1929

In spite of the gencral apprehension entertained at Amoy in the beginning of 1929 of a depression in trade following the enforcement of the increased Import Tariff, the year was very satisfactory. Unlike some other ports, where the abnormal rate of silver exchange was so disastrous as to ruin many Chinese firms, merchants here were successful in tiding over their difficulties. Communists and bandits in the south- western part of the province caused serious trouble. In some places whole villages were destroyed, and in others families of emigrants sailed for the Straits Settlements and Java, leaving their property to be demolished. The long existing likin offices were abolished, though, in certain instances, bureaux for levying special consumption taxes. were instituted instead. The year witnessed even greater strides than before in construction work. The road from Aotao to Anki, where the rich coal mines are situated, was completed in August, while another branch to Foochow was also opened to traffic. When the one bridge, now under construction near Hinghwa, is ready the principal towns in South Fukien will be linked by motor roads with Foochow, the provincial capital. The four trunk roads scheduled for the reconstruction of Amoy Island are near completion. Greater facilities for traffic have been effected by the- importation of several motor-buses, while ox-carts are gradually disappearing as a

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