Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/295

 WEIHAIWEI 17.^

square miles, Great Britain has the right to erect fortifications or take any measures necessary for the defence of the territory, and to acquire sites neces- sary for water supply, communications and hospitals. There Chinese adminis- tration is not to be interfered with, but only Chinese or British troops shall be allowed. Chinese war vessels retain the right to use the waters, and within the territory such lands as may be required by Great Britain for public pur- poses shall be bought at a fair price.

Under an Order in Council of July 24, 1901, the territory is administered by a Commissioner. Legislation is by Ordinances. The seat of government is at Port Edward on the mainland. There is a High Court for both civil and criminal cases, subject to appeal to the Supreme Court at Hong Kong, and provision is made for courts of district magistrates. There are 3 European inspectors of police, one on the Island of Liu Kung and two on the mainland. There are 3 Chinese sergeants and 52 constables (1911). In the numerous villages the headmen system is maintained. At the Government Free School there were in 1911 about 70 pupils, and about half-a-dozen Mission schools have 130 pupils. There is also a private school in which the sous of Europeans are educated. There are manj'^ Chinese schools within the territory. About 6 per cent, of the inha1)itants can read and write.

Revenue is derived from (1) a hand tax and a road tax ; (2) junk registra- tion, shipping dues, wine monopoly ; (3) fines and miscellaneous sources. For 1911-12 the actual revenue was $74,673 (6,84.5^.),^ and the actual expenditure was ^153,690 (14,088Z.). The grant in aid for 1910-11 amounted to 5,000*;.; for 1911-12 to 6,000Z. ; for 1912-13, 6,000^.

The station has not been fortified, but is used as a flying naval base and as a depot, exercising ground, and sanatorium for the China squadron, which assembles at Weihaiwei during the summer. No troops are st itioned in its territory, the Chinese regiment having been disbanded.

The leased territory, consisting of rocky hill ranges with fertile valleys, is most picturesque ; it is well populated, and the inhabitants are in general well-to-do. Cereals, vegetables and fruits (apples, grapes and apricots) are grown, and oak-fed silk is produced. Seedlings of fir trees, acacias, willows, and plane trees have done well. Those of the inhabitants who are not farmers are mostly fishermen. Some rope and line making, boat building, and stone-cutting are carried on. The territory contains gold, and a mining company worked for more than three years, but operations are not now carried on. The trade is carried on by junks and steamers. In 1911, 615 steamers of 519,399 tons entered the port, exclusive of Admiralty colliers and government transports ; 422 were British, and 193 small Japanese and Chinese coasting boats. The imports are kerosene, flour, cottons, sugar, timber, beverages, provisions, coal. The chief exports are ground nuts and ground nut seeds (in 1911, 181,132 cwts. exported) and salt fish. Weihaiwei is a duty-free port.

Good roads have been made round the coasts and into the interior of the Territory. The value of land is rising, which is a sign of tlie increasing pros- perity of the place. There is a regular weekly mail service to and from Shanghai. Many Europeans visit the place in summer on account of the excellence of the climate, which is unsurpassed in the Far East.

Commissioner. — Sir J. H. Stewart Lockhart, K.C.M.G.

Secretary to Government. — R. Walter.

District Officer. — R. F. Johnston. Rkfkrences. — Annual Report on Weihaiwei.

Bruce-Mitford (C. E.), The Territory of Weihaiwei. Shanghai, 1902. Johnston (R. F.), Lion and Dragon in Northern China. London, V.nO.

Lttcas (C. P.), Historical Geography of the 13ritjs]i Colonies. Vol. I. 2nd ed. Oxford 1906.

i- One dollar ^ Is. lOd.