Environment·Institutions·Government

The dissertation mainly discusses the trade development of Foochow Port and the interactive relationship of economic changes with its hinterland after its opening. At the same time, it also investigates the historical development of modernization and the restricted factors of Min River valley from one side.In Chapter One, Introduction, some academic terms related with this dissertation are introduced and the area and the time of this study are defined. It also introduces the previous and present study on this topic, data and methods used in the dissertation and the significance of the study. At the same time, it gives a brief discussion on the historical background of the activities performed by Foochow Port and its hinterland since 1840, i.e., the natural environment and humane condition of the economic changes.Chapter Two discusses the historical development of the trade of Foochow Port. It has two parts. The first part can only be described in words for lack of statistical data before 1861. Some weaknesses of previous study are corrected and some supplements are given in this part. The latter part makes a quantitative analysis by using the statistics of Maritime Custom trade. In this part, the developmental and historical course of the principal trade articles of Foochow Port is illustrated by listing the principal import and export goods of the Maritime Custom, such as the importarticles ------opium, cloth, foreign and native sundries and the export articles ------tea,paper and timber. The approximate area of Foochow's hinterland is shown by the analysis of selling places of the import articles and source places of the export articles. At the same time, this part points out and discusses the problem of the two sides of importing foreign goods, which is paid less attention in the field of history.Chapter Three focuses on the problem: why did not the opening of Foochow lead to the economic development of the hinterland and discusses the environmental factors that restrict the trade of Foochow Port. It is pointed out that not only Foochow didn't offer a good market environment to the sale of import and export articles in the hinterland, which restricts the import and export trade of Foochow Port, but also the bad transportation environment of Min River prevents the circulation of articles by investigating the business environment of Foochow City and the transportation environment of Min River, which is the main channel of goods transportation between Foochow Port and its hinterland. It is further pointed out that Foochow Port could not breakthrough the restriction of environment to develop the economy of hinterland because of the powerlessness and inefficiency of political administration by the Foochow local government at that time.In Chapter Four the function of government, guild and institutions in the trade of Foochow port is explored,and many opinions different from previous scholars are raised. For example, some responses are given to the present field of history on the problems of the control or anti-control of Chinese and foreign merchants, the profits of Chinese and foreign merchants and the function of foreign banks. It is also point out that the change of international market led to the decline of exportation of tea by analising market ,merchant and institution.Chapter Five explores in detail the changes in agriculture, handicraft industry ,business and peoples subsistence in the hinterland before and after the opening of Foochow by using the existent chorographyby since Qing Dynasty and investigates the influence of the opening on its hinterland. It is pointed out that the new-built commercial ports and traditional agriculture co-exist, the handicraft industry seldom changed and the business seldom developed in Min River valley after the opening of Foochow. So the opening of Foochow has little influence on the hinterland of Min River valley. But, at the same time, it is also points the increasing dependency on the extraverted economy of the local people.Chapter Six offers readers several examples of the relationship between government and modernization of regional economy. It points out the two sides of government and the effects of the inefficient governmental administration and the wrong political policies on the modernization of regional economy.Chapter Seven of this dissertation makes a general investigation on the relationship of environment, system and government in the economic development of this region by summarizing the above chapters. It is the sublimation of this dissertation. The final conclusion is mainly about some experiences from the history. It points out some problems in the development of Foochow Port at present and some demanding important problems in the modernization of Fukien.