Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 854

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HOIHOW

As regards health, there is less fever in Hoihow than anywhere else in Hainan. There is excellent water to be had by the sinking of artesian wells, and severai are already in existence. The water in the actual wells at Hoihow is brackish, partly from seawater that filters into the wells and partly from the alkiline condition of lhe soil.

The trade of Hoihow remains more or less stationary. The native commercial com- munity of Hoihow is one that is always being drawn in different directions by op- posing interests. There is a Chamber of Commerce, which works in conjunction with the Five Guilds, representing the merchants of Canton, Swatow, Kochow, Fuh- kien and Hainan. A large export trade in pigs, poultry, eggs, bullocks and provisions is carried on with Hongkong. There has been some talk of opening mines, construct- ing railways, and bringing out timber from the virgin forests of the interior.

The Board of Communications have a commercial station operating at Hoihow. A harbour light, and a light at Lamko (western entrance of the Hainan Straits) were opened in 1894; also one at Cape Cami on the lower tip of the peninsula in 1895. An Aga Lautern apparatus was installed on the West Fort close to the city at the commencement of 1916. The approach to the harbour badly needs dredging, but is not likely to be dredged until the native merchants of Hoihow develop a more public spirit.

TRADE IN 1937

The trade statistics recorded for Kiungchow were as follows: direct importa- tions from abroad, $3.6 million as against $2.5 million in 1936; coastwise importations of Chinese merchandise, $5.7 million as against $6.6 million; direct exportations to foreign countries, $3.5 million as against $2.9 million; and coastwise exportations of Chinese produce, $8.2 million as against $3.7 milllon. During the early part of the year much attention was devoted to development schemes for Hainan, and representa- tives of various official department and commercial interests paid special visits to this island to make close investigation as to trading possibilities, resources, contruction of railways, development of plantations, etc. In April the Ministry of Railways despatched a party of engineers to conduct survey work. As Hoihow itself is not suitable for con- version into a deep harbour, Maniu Harbour, 30 miles (48 kilometres) to the west, has been selected as the seaport where concrete jetties and a breakwater will be constructed. The railway will commence at Maniu Harbour and extend down to Sama-Yulinkan on the south coast of Hainan, passing various cities en route. The above work was temporarily suspended in August. In the early spring drought was very serious, causing heavy losses among the farming classes. Following the drought bubonic plague visited the island, especially in the Tingan district. Cholera was also epidemic in July. Quarantine restrictions were imposed by the Hongkong and Haiphong authorities against Hoihow arrivals for some months, causing import and export trade dropped considerably. The principal articles of import were kerosene oil, gasolene, iron bars, wheat flour, and rice. Kerosene oil formed the bulk of direct. foreign import totalling 3,386,009 litres and showing an increase of 259 per cent when compared with the figures of 1936. This is mainly due to the larger legitimate im- portations through the customs. Gasolene also showed a remarkable increase of 1,103,791 litres. Rice, which was granted duty-free privileges for a certain period of the year, jumped from 27,718 to 33,960 quintals. As regards coast wise imports, the. trade was rather disappointing. Shortage of tonnage, uncertainty of market, and dislocation of trade were the main contributing factors. Of the principal articles exported abroad, pigs headed the list, followed by tin ore, buffalo hides, and cattle. The last named dropped from 10,646 to 6,446 head, export being prohibited during the latter part of the year. Pigs were in greater demand in Hongkong. The tin trade was again very satisfactory, 1,973 quintals of tin ore being exported as against 1,251 quintals in 1936. The Lichee crop being very poor, total shipments to Shanghai amounted to 266 quintals only, valued at $4,115, as against 10,509 quintals, valued at $165,542 in 1936. This was, needless to say, of very little financial aid to the rural population in the district.

In the month of May a new Maritime Customs station was established at Sama- Yulinkan, on the south coast of Hainan, for the purpose of collecting duty on foreign- going junks and to serve as a preventive station. Another Maritime Customs station was established in October in Hsinyingchiang, an important trade centre in the north- west of Hainan.