Under the 19th century Treaty Port system (1863-1894), Kaohsiung harbor was opened to international trade, and various countries set up consulates and trading operations in and around the port area. This was a period of fast growing trade volumes and prosperity for the harbor. On December 26, 1863, Qing authorities established a branch customs office in Chihou, and appointed a British official to take charge of the taxation office. Kaohsiung had made the transformation from small fishing village to international harbor.