Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 502

A126

LUNGKOW

the meantime, this new road brings more trade to the port, although closed to traffic in wet weather, the rainy season being July and August. The transport of mails and cargo is considerable in normal times. The beach and isthmus of Lungkow are of a loose drifting sand, which, in stormy weather, coupled with dust from the numerous coal supply depots on all sides, may what otherwise might easily become a seaside resort for those working in the near neighbour- hood. The climate is slightly cooler than that of Chefoo, and no doubt one of the healthiest in China.

TRADE IN 1938

Japanese troops visited Lungkow twice during the month of February but withdraw each time, the port being left under the control of various mobile units throughout the year. With the Japanese blockade of the port only a few launches operating between Lungkow and Chefoo under special permission, trade naturally suffered severely.

As revealed by Customs statistics, the value of direct foreign imports was $0.3 million as compared with $1.7 million during 1937; coastwise imports of Chinese merchandise were valued at $1.5 million as against $4.4 million; direct exports to foreign countries at $1.8 million as against $2.6 million; and coast- wise exports at $1.6 million as compared with $2.8 million. Due to the treat- ment as of foreign origin of produce from Manchurian ports hitherto treated as domestic imports, the arrival from the Kwantung Leased Territory instead of such ports as Antung and Newchwang of beancake to the amount of 12,645 quintals presented a new feature in the trade of the port. All other imports. either dropped precipitately or disappeared entirely from the Customs returns. Timber (Antung) fell in quantity from 5,760 cubic metres in 1937 to 271 cubic metres only; kerosene oil from 0.7 million to 0.05 million litres; and coal (Fu- shun) from 10,155 to 919 metric tons only. The appearance in the Customs returns of 177 quintals of sugar as against 4,506 quintals in 1937, and of cigarette paper to the value of $3,726 as against $1,040, was attributable entirely to seizures. Coastwise importations of such Chinese produce as wheat flour and rice fell off considerably as the direct result of the embargo placed by Japanese authority at Chefoo, but native sugar increased from 904 to 2,483 quintals and cotton yarn from 399 to 4,322 quintals, with coal declining from 20,982 to 1,000 metric tons.

Under exports abroad, the export of fresh fruits increased in quantity from 2,189 to 3.091 quintals; groundnut oil from 4,463 to 24,672 quintals, Hongkong remaining the only purchaser; with the export of mats increasing in value from $182 only to $20,441. Vermicelli, the mainstay of the port, dropped from 51,100 to 19,250 quintals, all of which was shipped to Hongkong; shipments abroad of fresh vegetables fell from 78,229 to 5,077 quintals; of joss sticks from 2,118 to 1,145 quintais; of Chinese pens in value from $31,697 to $1,687; and of straw hats from 74,568 pieces to nil. Of coastwise exports, groundnut oil declined by 14 per cent, while vermicelli declined in quantity from 71, 466 to 32,297 quintals. Trade in rice and cereals showed an abnormal decline, due to the prohibition on the import into the district of foodstuffs from neighbouring ports. During the year only 39 quintals of rice and 8 quintals of wheat flour were imported from abroad, while as regards coastwise imports only 6,679 quintals of rice and 6,938 quintals of wheat flour were imported as compared with 33,633 quintals and 112,425 quintals during 1937. A good wheat crop in June somewhat relieved the shortage in wheat flour. The total net tonnage of shipping entered and cleared fell from 430,705 to 107,254 tons.