Weihaiwei

a district on the northeast coast of China directly south of Port Arthur. It has an area of about 285,000 square miles and 150,000 inhabitants. In 1898 China leased this district to Great Britain for so long a period as Russia shall remain in possession of Port Arthur. The territory includes an excellent harbor and the walled town Weihaiwei. Great Britain has the right to erect fortifications and to defend the territory. Otherwise Chinese administration is not to be interfered with. This station was acquired for the purpose of watching the Russians in Port Arthur. At the close of the Russo-Japanese war the Russians were forced to retire from Port Arthur, but nothing has been heard of returning Weihaiwei to China. It is about 1,200 miles distant from Hong Kong, the British center of Chinese trade. A considerable trade is carried on. See Hong Kong