Directory_and_Chronicle_1933 — Page 596

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

534

LUNGKOW

יי

seldom disturb the shipping inside. It is not to be expected that the Chinese Government will, for many years at least, undertake extensive harbour im- provements at Lungkow; but, as it is, the inner harbour has accommodation for a great deal of shipping and, as its bottom is of clay, not sand, a con- siderable increase in the depth of water available could probably be brought about by dredging operations. Until such time as recognition of its favourable geographical situation forces the bestowal of increased communications, to gether with harbour improvement similar to those at Chefoo, any increase of trade will be slow and must come from an increase in exports and a gradual elevation of the scale of living with an attendant increase in imports. A handsome new reinforced concrete pier at the New Settlement has been com- pleted, but has never been used and is slowly falling into decay, while the roads leading to it have been allowed to deteriorate. During 1924 develop- ment of the town northwards was planned with some success, but it has since been abandoned. An electric light works, long anticipated, is now an accom- plished fact.

The town of Lungkow has a population of about 11,524 but it is estimated that within a radius of about five miles there is a population of 130,000. A level stretch of country behind Lungkow, thickly populated and very fertile, gives promise of the port some day assuming considerable importance. The proposed Chefoo-Weihsien Railway would connect Lungkow with both Chefoo and Weihsien, thus with north and central Shantung. The Weihsien-Lung- kow-Chefoo motor highway could be easily converted into a railway. In the meantime, this new road brings more trade to the port, although closed, to traffic in wet weather, the rainy season being July and August. The transport of mails and cargo is considerable in normal times. The value of land rose rapidly in the early part of 1924 but has since fallen very considerably in the old town. The beach and isthmus of Lungkow are of a loose drifting sand, which, in stormy weather, coupled with dust from the numerous coal supply depots on all sides, mar what otherwise might easily become a seaside resort for those whose work is in the near neighbourhood. The climate is slightly cooler than that of Chefoe, and no doubt one of the healthiest in China.

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The opening of this port to foreign trade, was due to overtures made to the Chinese Government by Japan. There is large passenger trade between Shantung Province and Manchuria. The winter of 1930-1931 having been unusually severe at Lungkow, it was not till early in March that the harbour became navigable. Trade rather more than held its own during 1931 as compared with the previous year, but, as a fairly large proportion of it is Japanese trade with Dairen, the anti- Japanese boycott movement was particularly felt. Even the use of yen notes, so much used locally in setting business transactions with Dairen, was proscribed. In addition to the usual shipping, the figures for which show a slight increase under the headings of both ocean steamers and inland waters vessels, over 3,000 native junks were dealt with during the year. This latter traffic came under the control of the Maritime Customs in January, and thể "goods carried to and from abroad by such craft, of which 554 entered from and cleared to foreign countries, added somewhat to the figures for the foreign trade of the port.

The total net value of the trade of the port for 1931 was Hk. Tls. 11,344,343 as compared with Hk; Tls. 10,857,311, in 1930, Hk. Tls. 10,890,246 in 1929, and Hk. Tls. 10,421,682 in 1928. 1

Directory_and_Chronicle_1933 — Page 596

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