Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/814

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CHINA

Provinces

Area : English square miles

1 Population

Population per square mile

Chili t. . ..

58,949

17,937,000

304

Shantung *. ..

53,762

36,247,835

557

Shansi*.

56,268

12,211,453

221

Honaii*. . ..

66,913

22,115,827

340

Kiangsu *. ..

44,500

20,905,171

470

Nganhwei

48,461

20,596,288

425

Kiangsit

72,176

24,534,118

340

Chehkiaiig *.

39,150

11,588,692

296

Fukien. , ..

38,500

22,190,556

574

Hiipeh * ,

70,450

34,244,685

486

Hunan *.

74,320

21,002,604

282

Shensi +.

67,400

8,432,193

126

Kansu t ...

125,450

9,285,377

74

Szechuen *. ..

166,800

67,712,897

406

Kwangtung with Hainan *

79,456

29,706,249

377

Kwangsi +. ..

78,250

5,151,327

65

Kweichau t. ..

64,554

7,669,181

118

Ylinnant

Total.

107,969

11,721,576

108

1,313,328

383,253,029

292

1

The Island of Formosa was ceded to Japan in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of peace ratified and exchanged at Chefoo on the 8th of Ma)', 1895. The formal transfer of the Island was effected on the 2nd of June, 1895.

In December, 1897, the Germans seized the Port of Kiau-Chau, on the east coast of Shantung, and in January, 1898, obtained from the Chinese a 99 years' lease of the town, harbour, and district. By agreement with the Chinese Government, dated March 27, 1898, Russia is in possession of Port Arthur and Talienwan (with territories still undefined) and their adjacent waters, on lease for the term of 25 years, which may be extended by agreement. Within the territories and waters leased Russia has sole military and naval control, and may build forts and barracks as she desires. Port Arthur is closed to all vessels except Russian and Chinese men-of-war ; part of Talien- wan harbour is reserved exclusively for Russian and Chinese men-of-war, but the remainder is freely open to merchant vessels of all countries. To the north a neutral zone is to be defined where Chinese troops shall not be quartered except with the consent of Russia. For such period as Russia may hold Port Arthur, Great Britain is, by agreement with China, to hold "Wei-Hai-Wei, in the province of Shantung, that port having been occupied by the British in June, 1898. For defensive purposes Great Britain has, in addition, obtained a 99 years' lease of territory on the mainland opposite the island of Hong Kong. To compensate for these advantages given to the Russians, British, and Germans, the Chinese Government granted to the French in April, 1898, a lease of the Bay of Kwang-Chau-Wan, on the east coast of the Tien-Chau peninsula, opposite the Island of Hainan.

According to a return of the Imperial Customs authorities, the total number of foreigners resident in the open ports of China was 11, 667 at the end of 1897. Among them were 4,929 British