Directory_and_Chronicle_1937 — Page 477

HARBIN

Harbin is the principal business centre of North Manchuria. Before the Chinese Eastern Railway was built it consisted of a Chinese village, Fu Chia Tien (), with neighbouring landing-stage (in Russian, Pristan'), at which steamers from the Amur used to call

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The business and chief residential quarters of Harbin are situated on, the right bank of the river Sungari, on the Chinese Eastern Railway, the Soviet Russian share of which was sold to Manchoukuc on 23rd March, 1935, the railway lines becoming part of the general system of State Railways in Manchuria. The main line connects

connects Hsinking (

Hsinking (Changchun) with Manchuli, on the Soviet frontier, whence the trans-Siberian railway runs to Moscow. From Harbin a branch line runs south-eastwards to Suifenho (Pogranichaya). Harbin is also the terminus of the Lafa) Harbin railway (formally opened to restricted traffic in December 1933), which links North Manchuria with Korea. The line is carried across the river by a railway-bridge, completed in December 1933, and joins the railway running northwards from Ma Ch'uan K'ou (O) on the left bank of the river to Hailun (), and thence to Peian-chen (). From Peian-chen the line has now been completed to Taheiho on the Amur River. On 31st August the line from Harbin to Hsinking was converted to Standard gauge, and linked up with the Lafa-Harbin-Taheiho line. by a standard gauge loop. On August 2, 1936 the line from Harbin to Manchuli was also converted to standard gange.

Harbin is the natural outlet for the vast bean and grain producing dis- tricts to the North, which are being gradually opened up and developed

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According to census statistics, the population of Greater Harbin at the end of December, 1934 was approximately 500,526 of whom 21,008, were Jap- anesc, 20,824 Soviet citizens, 34,169 "White"

"White" Russians, and 15,000 other nationalities. These figures have altered however, owing to the departure of Soviet Railway employees, the influx of Japanese owing to the sale of the C. E. Railway.

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February 5, 1932 marks an epoch in the history of Harbin. On that day the town was occupied by Japanese troops, and the Chinese troops withdrew. The new State of "Manchukuo" was created on the March 1, 1932.

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The new Municipality of Greater Harbin was formally inaugurated on July 1, 1933. It has the status of a "special municipality," that is to say it is administered by the Central Government at Hsinking, and not by the provincial government of Kirin. It comprises not only the Chinese quarter of Fuchiation but the whole of the Pinchiang District, 31 villages in the district of A-ch'eng (Asiho), and 16 villages in the district of Hulan-hsien on the other side of the river The mayor is appointed by the Government, and the Municipal Council consists of his nominees, who must be approved by the Central Government. The present Council consists of 13 Manchurian citizens, 3 Japanese, 3 Russians, and two other foreigners (one Polish and one American citizen).

The municipal administration of Greater Harbin is at present in a stage of transition from the old order to the new, and is hampered in its work by lack of funds; but good work has been done in many directions, such as road construction, town planning schemes and the re-organization of public-utility enterprises. The proceeds of the Manchurian Government's First Investment Enterprise Loan (10,000,000 yen), which was sanctioned in July, 1934, are to be devoted in part to city reconstruction, waterworks and similar public utility enterprises in Hsinking and Harbin.