Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 962

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PAKHOI-HOIHOW (IN HAINAN)

堂主天

FRENCH CATHOLIC MISSION (Foreign

Missions of Paris)

Rev. Fathers-

L. Penicaud, bishop

A. Genty, assist. and steward

O. Baldit, director of seminary

G. Ginestet, prof. of seminary R. Lebas,

T. Liu,

do.

do,

會聖節旬五

PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH MISSION

Rev. G. C. Legge, supt.

Mrs. G.C. Legge

Miss L.M. Hylton (on fur longh)

OSAKA SHOSEN KAISHA

Kam Sing & Co., agents

局郵海北

POST OFFICE

Postmaster-Kwok Kwong Chi

STANDARD OIL CO. OF NEW YORK

Ching Tai & Co.

Wo SANG & Co.

YAMASHITA KISEN KAISHA

Kam Shosen Kaisha

Agencies

Osaka Shosen Kaisha "Menado Maru "

HOIHOW (IN

(IN HAINAN ISLAND)

州瓊 Kiung-chau 口 海 Hoi-hau

•

Hoihow is the seaport of the prefectural city of Kiungchow, the capital of the Island of Hainan. The two towns are separated by a distance of some three miles of low hills dotted with graves; and across these lies a semi-macadamised road. This highway was originally constructed by the Kiungchow Horse Carriage Co. in 1915, it was considerably improved by General Lung Chi-kwang during his rule over Hainan in the middle of 1918, and was kept in good repair by several motor Car Cos. which maintained a continuous motor car service between the two towns. Over 500 miles of motor road open to traffic connecting Hoihow with Wenchang, Chingmai, Tingan, Kachek, and Chuenyai, and at one time nearly 900 cars, buses and trucks were running on the Island. More new roads are expected to be opened for traffic in the near future. A new bund running along the Hoihow river on the northern part of the town, 60 feet wide, was built in 1924 and the principal streets were widened so as to permit motor traffic. Hoihow is lighted by electricity and possesses a telephone system of its own but since February, 1925, the Island has been occupied by Cantonese troops and many projected improvements have not been carried out owing to general unsettled conditions.

The port of Hoihow was opened by the establishment of a branch of the Chinese Maritime Customs in April, 1876. During the latter nine months of that year foreign tonnage to the extent of 36,672 tons entered and cleared at the Custom House, this representing 54 British, 10 German, 2 French and 4 Danish steamers that entered from, and cleared for, Singapore, Bangkok, Saigon, Annam, Hongkong, etc. The situation of the port of Hoihow before and at its opening in 1876 was considered favourable more from the political than the geographical or topographical point of view as the Foreign Consuls at Hoihow would then be in close touch with the Taotai at Kiungchow.

The harbour of Hoihow is an open roadstead, unprotected against the North-east monsoon, which blows here with undisturbed vigour from September to April. The working of cargo is, therefore, normally difficult during those months, and at times im- possible. In addition to the above disadvantages those inonths are also the dry months when no rain falls up-country, and consequently no water comes down by the Po Chung River to the sea. Again, the tides are more erratic in the winter than they are in the summer: sometimes there are two tides during the 24 hours, sometimes one,