Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 583

WEIHAIWEI

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British Government as a sanatorium for the British squadron on the China station. At the Washington Conference in 1921 Great Britain offered to return the territory to China, and during the latter part of 1922 an Anglo-Chinese Commission met to deal with the questions arising out of this. These questions included arrangements for the use of the port by the British Fleet as a summer station, provisions for the safety of foreign residents, and the representation of foreign residents in the administration of the territory. Towards the end of 1924 the Chinese and British plenipotentiaries. arrived at a complete agreement regarding the terms of rendition, and the Con- vention, was almost ready for signature when General Feng Yü-hsiang brought about a coup d'état in Peiping in November of that year. Negotiations were resumed in 1929 and carried to a successful conclusion in April 1930, by the signature at Nanking of the convention for the rendition of Weihaiwei, which was ratified and came into force on October 1st, 1930. It was accompanied by an agreement whereby certain naval privileges and facilities were granted to the British Government for a period of ten years, subject to renewal by agreement between the two Powers.

The former leased territory, which lies in lat. 37 deg. 30 min. N., long. 122 deg. 10 min. E., comprises the Island of Liu Kung, all the islands in the Bay of Weihaiwei, and a belt of land 10 English miles wide along the entire coastline, and consists of ranges of rugged mountains and rocky hills up to 1,500 feet high, dividing the plains into valleys and river beds. The island of Liu Kung, once barren and nearly treeless but now verdant and picturesque as the result of a system of afforestation inaugurated in 1910, is formed by a backbone of hills rising to some 500 feet. The hillsides on the main- land, of which Port Edward is the chief port, are either barren rock or planted with dwarf pine and scrub oak trees. The valleys are mostly undulating country full of gullies and mountain river-beds; the streams are all torrential and choke up the valleys with sand and debris from the hills. During three-quarters of the year these river-beds are dry. All the hills are terraced for cultivation as far as possible. The total area of the territory is about 285 square miles.

The strata of the mountains are metamorphic, consisting of beds of quartzite, gneiss, crystalline, and limestone, cut across by dykes of volcanic rock and granite. Gold is found in the territory and has been worked by the Chinese, and silver, tin, lead, and iron are said to exist. Good building-stone and a rich non-hydraulic limestone are found. The territory contains some 360 villages, and the population was estimated in 1931 at 195,000. There are five small market towns, where fairs are held every five days.

The majority of the Chinese inhabitants are either fishermen or farmers, and are a peaceful, law-abiding folk. The chief export trade is in salt fish, salt and saltpetre, ground-nuts, ground-nut oil, sasson, silk and silk hosiery. The inport trade chiefly consists of timber, firewood, and maize from Manchuria, paper, crockery, sugar, tobacco, kerosene oil, cotton yarn, piece goods, liquid indigo, synthetic dyes, flour, grains and wines (Chinese).

The Government of Weihaiwei up to the date of rendition was administered by a Commissioner appointed under the Weihaiwei Order-in-Council of the 24th July, 1901, with powers similar to those of a Colonial Governor. Under this Order the Commissioner was empowered to make Ordinances for the administration of the territory. It is now administered by a High Commissioner appointed by the National Government of the Republic of China, who acts directly under the orders of the Executive Yuan at Nanking

Weihaiwei is now a fairly regular port of call for many China coasting steamers sailing northwards from Shanghai. The harbour is well lighted by two lighthouses. The climate of Weihaiwei is exceptionally good, and the winter, though cold, is dry and bracing. A land and building company formed in Shanghai, has erected several commodious European bungalows. There is a large hotel on the mainland capable of accommodating over 100 people, and also a hotel on the Island with accommodation for 50 to 60. Both on the mainland and on the island good roads have been made by the local Government, and there are recreation parade grounds and golf courses in both places.

The city of Weihaiwei (which lies on the mainland opposite the island of Liu Kung) is a walled town of about 2,000 inhabitants. The town is a poor one, and the greater portion of the enclosed area is not built on, but cultivated for vegetables.

No Customs duties were collected at Weihaiwei during the British régime. But a Chinese Maritime Custom House has now been established. In spite of the low taxation, the growing prosperity of the territory under British rule caused the public revenue to increase from about $2,000 in 1900 to about half a million dollars in 1930.