Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 504

A126

WEIHAIWEI

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

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 bracing. 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 hotel 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. New roads and a Public Park have been constructed recently, and two of the four picturesque towngates have been demolished to admit carriages.

No Customs duties were collected at Weihaiwei during the British régime. 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. But a Chinese Maritime Custom House has now been established. This and the establishment of other Central Government Revenue Collecting Depart- ments, such as the Salt Gabelle and the Wine and Tobacco Tax Bureau, has resulted in increased taxation accompanied by a diminution of the revenues available for local government. The Municipal Government is now dependent on a subsidy from the Central Government for balancing its budget. The curtailment of the commercial advantages dependent on what was practically a free port has reduced the volume of business and depressed land values. The system of Government is now more elaborate and the number of officials has greatly increased since Rendition.

TRADE IN 1937

The year opened with considerable promise, the Weihaiwei district having been free from political disturbance and unrest for many years. Admittedly the political situation in the North gave cause for some uneasiness, but the fact that the trade of the port depends almost entirely on the district itself and not on important interior marts afforded good reason for optimism. Unfortunately, the spring fishing season was a disappointing one. Strong gales interfered with fishing activities and destroyed many of the prawn nets, causing irreparable losses. The Japanese naval blockade of the coast subsequently removed all possi- bility of recuperation during the autumn fishing season, and the financial loss to the district was in consequence extremely severe. It was therefore fortunate that the groundnut crop was above the average and that the export trade in this staple commodity was little hampered by the blockade.

The total value of that portion of the trade of the district covered by Customs statistics was $10.4 million, showing negligible decrease compared with the total of the preceding year ($10.6 million). For this satisfactory outcome, coastwise exports, which appreciated by about 16 per cent compared with 1936 (i.e., approximately $3 million to $3.5 million), and exports abroad, which appreciat- ed by about 8 per cent (i.e., approximately $2.3 million to $2.5 million), were entirely responsible. Groundnut shipments contributed about 85 per cent of the total value of coastwise exports and about 86 per cent of the total value of for- eign exports. A total of 163,402 quintals of groundnuts was shipped to other Chinese ports, representing an increase of 12,316 quintals compared with the figure for the preceding year. Despite the fact that the quantity of this com- modity exported abroad decreased by 23,422 quintals to 118,464 quintals compared with 1936, the higher prices obtaining actually resulted in an increase in total value of the year's shipments abroad. Direct foreign imports declined by about 40 per cent (i.e., approximately $1.2 million to $0.7 million) compared with the