Directory_and_Chronicle_1938 — Page 823

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

AMOY

A419

University has been established at Amoy in a fine range of buildings with ample playing grounds, funds for the purpose having been provided by a native of the district. who made his fortune in British Malaya; and thanks to the civic patriotism of an- other native of the district who amassed great wealth in Java, a contract was signed in 1922 with the Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Co. for the installation of a complete new telephone system. Bunding, drainage, jetties, roads, recreation grounds and similar public works, are in progress, many of the main streets have been widened and concrete paved, and a fine public garden has been laid out with facilities for all forms of sport, including a football ground, running track, and hard tennis courts. Reclamation work (filling in without bunding) was started in 1922 to the north of the city and the Amoy Dock. A solid stone bund has been completed along the whole

waterfront of Amoy.

Amoy has an up to date waterworks system, in excellent running order, operated by the Amoy Waterworks Co.

Built in 1923 the reservoirs are capable of holding 400,000,000 gallons of water, enough for one year's consumption. The Company have now provided Kulangsu with water. The water is carried over from Amoy to Kulangsu in boats and pumped to reservoirs on the high points of the Island. The quality of water supplied compares very favourably with any supply in the Far East and is extensively used by visiting steamships.;

TRADE IN 1936

Trade in general' showed a further retrocession as compared with that of 1935, only foreign and domestic exports registering slight advances. The available Customs statistics were as follows, according to value: direct foreign imports, $13.3 million as against $14.7 million in 1935; coastwise importations of Chinese merchan- dise, $19.1 million as against $20.9 million; direct export to foreign countries, $4 million as compared with $3.7 million; and coastwise exportations of Chinese produce, $3.8 million as against $3.2 million.

The decline in foreign imports was attributable to the general trade depression, the activities of smugglers (brought under control at end of 1936, and the heavy reduc tion in the importation of rice, of which there was a decrease (due to good crops) of some 400,000 quintals or nearly 40 per cent as compared with 1935 figures. The agricultural, reliabilitation of the hinterland was responsible for increased importations of sulphate of ammonia (from 180,774 to 286,823 quintals), while legitimate importa- tions of sugar and kerosene oil also recorded substantial gains.

Remittances from overseas Chinese during the year under review increased by about 20 per cent in comparison with those of the preceding year due to prosperous conditions in the South Seas. However, this did not seem to have much beneficial effect upon the trade of the port, owing to the presence of a number of adverse factors, especially the slump in local land values and consequent reluctance to invest.

According to Customs statistics, the total tonnage of shipping entering and clearing from Amoy under General Regluations as well as under Inland Waters Steam Navigation Regulations was 4,990,812 tons, exceeding the 1935 figure by 50,000 tons. This increase was shared mostly between vessels flying the Chinese, the Japanese and the Dutch flags.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1938 — Page 823

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