Directory_and_Chronicle_1931 — Page 962

HANKOW

口 漢

Han-kau

"

Hankow, as its name implies, is located at the mouth of the Han River-the longest tributary of the Yangtsze-in latitude 30 deg. 32 min. N., and longitude 114 deg. 19 min. E. "Its central position, standing as it does like a half-way house between North and South China, has led to its being called the "Chicago of China.

It was formerly regarded merely as a suburb of Hanyang, which it immediately adjoins, but it has since far outstripped the older city in commerce, wealth and influence. It is, of course, the principal port on the Yangtsze, which drains about 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 expect that it will ultimately become the chief emporium in central China. Hankow is 600 miles distant from Shanghai, and, despite the uncertainty of the situation, three new river steamers were placed on the Yangtsze during 1929. The development of the direct service between Shanghai and Ichang in which no fewer than 10 vessels were engaged in 1929, is likely to prove a paying venture.

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."

The port was opened to foreign trade in 1861, and was visited by Mr. (afterwards 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. There is a five-storey building of the International Banking Corporation on the British Bund, extensive godowns, etc., belonging to Messrs. Butterfield & Swire and the Asiatic Petroleum Company have also constructed large premises on the lot im- mediately to the north of the Commissioner's house. The latter was dismantled in 1924, and the oldest landmark on the British Bund has thus been removed. The British Bund, indeed, was rapidly becoming the banking and business centre of the Concessions, and was ceasing to be a quarter for private residence. In many respects. the Hankow bund is the finest in the East, and in point of length is probably unsurpassed. 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 was 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.

The

France, Russia and Japan acquired concessions along the river front in 1895. British concession was extended, but the Russian concession was taken over by the local authorities on November 1st, 1920, and placed under the control of the Chinese chief of police of Hankow. The French, Japanese and British had Municipal Councils, The China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company, having completed their new and extensive bunding, started to build handsome new offices for themselves in 1919, and