Directory_and_Chronicle_1935 — Page 773

HANKOW

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storey reinforced concrete godown on the site of their old office: Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., put up a very fine modern four-storey reinforced concrete godown, on the site of the buildings destroyed by fire in 1917, the total measurement of the building being approximately 74,772 square feet. The English Church was re-built, and consecrated in May, 1904. A new Union Church was built in 1916-17 in the French Concession, and opened in April, 1917. The new British school building was occupied at the end of the summer holidays in 1920 and is a vast improvement on the former accommodation. A fourth oil installation, belonging to the Kwang Wha, Petroleum Co., Ltd., was completed in 1934.

The native city of Hankow was burnt by the Imperialist army in October, 1911,, and a population of about 800,000 were thereby rendered homeless. At the end of 1914 it was estimated that fully 80 per cent of the burnt area had been reconstructed, though unfortunately on the old lines, all the laudable plans for modernising the city having fallen through, owing to difficulties in obtaining the necessary funds. During 1919 large tracts of land in the back of the native city were reclaimed and several new roads were constructed. A scheme for the development of a Greater Hankow was started with the backing of the Government.

The Hankow Race Club and Recreation Ground was incorporated in 1904, and developed in a remarkable way. The property of the Club is extensive enough to embrace a racecourse, an 18-hole golf course, football and cricket field, swimming pool, and, in fact, every branch of sport indulged in by the members. Apart from this club, which is chiefly devoted to sport, there are the Hankow Club, the Russian Club and the French Club, which have splendid libraries, billiard rooms, bowling alleys, etc. The Hankow Golf Club was instituted in 1878. There is also a Chinese Race Club and an International Race Club with courses as good as any in China,

The success of the northern expedition of the Canton Government and the capture of the Wulian cities and the establishment of the Nationalist headquarters at Wu- chang late in 1926, altered the position entirely from the point of view of foreign trade A mob, aroused by agitators, stormed the British concession and, in order to avoid bloodshed, the unarmed British marines who were defending the place were ordered to withdraw and British women and children were evacuated. All British business firms closed down for a time and the Nationalist Government took possession with a Committee of Administration. Following upon protracted negotiations the British concession was handed over to the Chinese Authorities and is now adminis- tered by them. The Chen O'Malley agreement provided that the municpal adminis- tration of the former British concession should be taken over by a Sino-British Council. This arrangement took effect on March 16th, 1927, and the administration of the ex- British concession has worked with remarkable smoothness and efficiency.

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TRADE IN 1933.

The year opened at Hankow under considerably more promising conditions than its predecessor, and reports show that the three Han cities and their contiguous rural districts enjoyed a state of peace such as had not been experienced for a long time. Communist and bandit activities were severely curbed by Government forces during the previous year, and the effect of this began to be seen in the freedom with which goods could move in the interior. This was particularly noticeable in the Upper Han River areas which had been isolated from Hankow during the greater part of 1932. Health' reports for the district were excellent considering what might have been xpected to follow in the wake of the great floods, and harvests have seldom been more plentiful, so that nothing was left for agriculturists to grumble at (though with good reason) but the low prices arising out of super-abundant production and the poor emand from abroad. Labour conditions were quiescent throughout the year except or a few spasmodic attempts of agitators to foment trouble, but charges for moving argo between ship and shore are still unreasonably high. The total value of the rade of the port coming under Customs cognizance and for which particulars are vailable (the coastwise movements of foreign 'goods that have once paid duty at port entry into china are no longer recorded) amounted to 278 million dollars as against 32 million dollars in 1932, à decrease of less than 1 per cent. From these figures it ould appear that improved conditions have.at least resulted in the calling of a halt the recent rapid decline in trade at this important Central China market. The venue collection rose from 12.8 to 20:4 million dollars, to which duties on kerosene l contributed an amount equal to over 32 per cent. of the whole collection. Com--