Directory_and_Chronicle_1933 — Page 598

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WEIHAIWEI

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

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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 braging. 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 lotel 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.

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No Customs duties were collected at, Weihaiwet 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.

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TRADE IN 1931

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The port, and territory of Weihaiwei has been most efficiently admini stered since its restoration in China in October 1930. New motor roads have been opened up through the town and a few new mud roads constructed in the district The existing netalled roads have been kept in quite passable repair, and it is possible to motor for some 58 miles thereon without cover- ing the same route twice. The whole of the district is policed in an exem plary manner by the Public Safety Bureau, assisted by detachments of sailors from the North-eastern Flotilla, and neither residents or visitors could find fault with the administration as it is.to-day. The Bank of Communi- gations and the National Industrial Bank of China have opened branches in the town; a refrigerating plant has been established; a match factory and a rubber boot and shoe factory continue to operate and steps are being taken to encourage the silk industry locally. It is not expected, however, that Weihaiwei will develop into a trade centre of any great importance, as i has no hinterland of any consequence to serve; but there is no reason, why money should not be invested successfully in local undertakings such as the silk trade, the fishing industry, fruit-farming, and the hotel business. What ever may develop in the way of trade, the place is likely to remain a favou rite summer resort and, to some extent at least, a naval base. Throughout the year under review conditions wery quiet and peaceful. An anti-Japan- ese boycott was somewhat rigorously enforced, but there were no other re- percussions locally of the Japanese action in Manchuria. The statistics for this first year of trade under the administration of the Maritime Customs slow that 30 per cent of the whole trade of the port is centred in the groundnut business, while dried and salted fish is the other most important staple at present, over 21,000 piculs of this latter commodity being exported during 1931, About 10 per cent. of the population earn their living from the fishing trade, and a number of trawlers, besides a multitude of other craft that arrive for the prawn season, operate from the port. The value of direct foreign imports was 0.9 million taels, and the value of Chinese produce dir- ectly exported abroad was 3.3 million taels. ⠀⠀⠀

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The value of the trade of the port coming under the cognisance of the Chinese Maritime Customs was Hk. Tis. 9,886,801 in 1931 as compared with Hk. Tls. 1,450.998 in 1930.