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September 18, 1895.].
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. ·
211
THE OFFICIALS ENCOURAGE THE VEGETARIANS. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE "DAILY PRESS.
Foochow, 16th September, 9.15 a.m. The Viceroy positively refuses to execute the convicted murderers until all claims are settled. The official attitude encourages the Vege tarians, who seize and torture Christians for helping to bring about the arrest of the leader.
The trials are stopped and the Consuls are awaiting orders.
their part. When the country became liable of the prisoners, but they are not such THE KUCHENG COMMISSION. for the payment of a large war indemnity, foul dens as those of China, and the use of therefore, it was expected that the Govern- torture is not carried to the same extent. ment would turn, as they had in former cases The reason, perhaps, lies not so much in the of financial and political trouble, to the In- Samese love of reform or disposition to im- spector-General. It was understood that Pove, but rather in the espousal of improved Sir ROBERT HART was willing to undertake methods by the King. In Siam the monarch the work of financing the loan on certain con- is always in evidence, more or less, among ditions which would have materially swelld his people; he endeavours to make himself the Imperial revenue and contributed to the known to and liked by his subjects. He prosperity of the county. The matter has also displayed throughout his reign was looked apur as being as good as settled a desire to advance with the times, and when suddenly it was announced that if progress has not been rapid it has Russia had offered her services as financier, been very obvious. The capital, Bangkok, and after a little dallying those services has been greatly improved by the con- were accepted, thus giving Russia and her struction of good roads, the introduction of friend the capitalist, la belle France, a tramways, and the erection of public build- financial grip où China's throat and there-ings. Efforts have been made to organize fore on the service of which Sir ROBERT HART is the head.
the army and to create a small navy, while the work of railway construction has latterly The circumstance is calculated to suggest been pushed on vigorously. Among other some doubt as to whether Sir ROBERT reforms His Majesty has recently inaugu- HART's influence at Peking has not been rated is one of a very modest appearance, but somewhat overrated; and also some question which yet may mean much in the official as to the tendency of that influence, which, ranks. He has issued a proclamation request whether it has been in some degree over-ing that the time-honoured custom amongst rated or not, has been and is very great. the Princes and Nobles of Siam of making It has been the fashion to regard Sir presents to the King on the occasion of ROBERT HART as an apostle of civilization the Royal Birthday may cease. The pro- in China, using his influence for the gradual clamation adds that it would be a source opening up of the country, and therefore for of greater pleasure to His Majesty to the benefit of foreign tradal relations. The know that these notabilities and officials British Government has attached much did their duty faithfully and well value to his advice and he has been than to receive presents from them. almost more powerful than the Minister. This custom has long been a tax on many of That his advice has always been honestly the nobles and officials, and in order to given goes without saying, but we have high make costly presents in the hope of curry authority for the saying that no man can ing favour the donors have been wont serve two masters. When a litigant desires to squeeze the peasantry to the utmost limit advice he is not likely to go to his opponent's of endurance. This has become known to attorney or counsel. Sir ROBERT HART'S the King, and in order to remove one at services have been given fully and com- least of the incentives to unjust taxation abolish a pletely to China and his influence, while His Majesty has decided to consolidating the great service over which custom which has been attended with such he so ably presides, has been, in the opinion abuse. The example of the King of SIAM of some judges, rather calculated to keep might be advantageously copied in Peking. foreigners in general at arm's length. In a The system of cumshaws in China is on question vitally affecting Hongkong which a much vaster scale than it could ever have is not unlikely to engage attention at an early been in Siam, and is prolific of corruption date, namely, the acquisition by Great Britain and extortion. But unfortunately for the from China of a further strip of territory on Chinese people there is not apparently the the Kowloon side, Sir ROBERT HART's voice remotest chance of any reform hailing from is likely to carry some weight. The proposed Peking. The occupant of the Dragon acquisition would include all the Customs Throne unlike the Lord of the White stations at the entrance to the harbour, Elephant, is completely out of touch both and the Inspector-General would be with his myriad subjects and the outside able to supply the Chinese Government world. Immured in the precincts of the with arguments which might not occur so-called "Prohibited City," he sees nothing to themselves against the proposal. Some of what is going on even in his own capital, thing would of course have to be sub- knows nothing but what is allowed to filter stituted for the present arrangement, for the to him through official sources, and, weakened British Government and public opinion at by the enervating influences of the harem, home would not sanction the colony's being he is certain to prove as pliant a tool of again turned into a smuggling station. It intriguing mandarins as was the Emperor is premature to discuss that point at present, HIEN FUNG. On no occasion has His but it will be seen that Sir ROBERT HART Majesty KWANG SU yet shown any real will have something to say in the matter, self-assertion. He has been credited with and with every respect for his great abilities petulant outbursts, but it is doubtful and high character it will be well to re-
whether he has any initiative power or any eognise that he is a counsellor engaged on proper conception of his prerogatives and "the other side," that is, the Chinese side. responsibilities. In any case, it is at least certain that he has neither the will nor the power to emulate the energy of action shown both by the King of SIAM and the Emperor of JAPAN. Nor is there, as yet, any sign of the melting of the barriers built up by cen- turies of exclusiveness being removed. The forces of reaction are again in the ascendant in Peking, and there is little chance of any change coming from within. If the puppet Emperor is ever to become a real live monarch, it will be through the agency of forces without. Are the Powers prepared to strip the veil that interposes between the Son of Heaven and the great world out side the limits of his filthy capital?
PROGRESS IN SIAM.
Compared with China, the kingdom of Siam is a progressive state. It is true that the veneer of Western civilization is very thin in the land of the White Elephant, that corruption and misrule are general in the provinces, and that the people are often grievously oppressed by tyrannical nobles. The administration of justice also leaves much to be desired, but it is at least more certain than in the Celestial Empire. The prisons are not regulated with much regard for the moral or physical welfare
very
BUILDING ON THE PRAYA RECLAMATION.
Referring once again to the recent sale by public auction of the plot of land on the new Praya Reclamation, near the Cricket Ground, it is interesting to note how in a comparatively clamation have been finished handsome new build- short time after the respective sections of the re- ings appear on the newly reclaimed ground. Up to the present time two of these sections have been completed, viz., a portion of section 7, opposite the City Hall, and section 2, near the Sailors' Home, and building operations are in active progress on both. On the former (section 7); Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, who purchased the valuable site at the east corner of the lot, adjoining the Murray Pier, are about to erect a large block of offices suitable for carrying on the increasing business of the firm. Next to this lot on the west side is a site, now in the hands of the Government, for which we are in- formed there have already been several enquiries, and so doubtless it will be soon disposed of for that on the adjoining site the Joint Telegraph building purposes. We are given to understand Companies propose erecting a
new pile of buildings, flanking which will be the house of the Hongkong Club, now in course of erection.
The Government, we believe, has decided to reserve the next toyo large sites, immediately opposite the City Hall, for the erection of new Offices, Court-house, and Post Office, while we have good grounds for stating that the next one, belonging to and in front of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, will not be built upon, the Board of Directors of that institution having de cided to lay it out as a garden square. We next come to two very large blocks, the property of the Hon. C. P. Chater and Mr. F. D. Sassoon, and we think we are not mistaken in saying that plans are already in course of preparation for the erection of handsome offices and hongs on these sites.
The other section of which we have spoken, No. 2, is already almost covered with buildings, quite a new town springing up on the reclaimed ground. Beginning at the west end of the section, we have the large wharf and godowns of the C. M. S. N. Co., and adjoining this a site reserved by Government for public purposes. Then follows the property of the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co., on which one godown has already been erected, and we further understand that the company proposes to build four more godowns adjoining. The next pro- perty we see is a large two-storeyed godown, belonging to Mr. Ho Tang, and then a considerable block of more than 100 houses, shops, &c., some nearly finished, while the others are making good progress towards completion. This property belongs to various owners, the Spanish Procuration, Messrs. Siemssen & Co., and Chinese, all the respective lessees having buildings on the ground in course of erection.
Up to the present time we think we may say the scheme has proved a success, and there seems to be every probability that it will con-“ tinue to be so. We are informed that good prices have been realized for the ground, both by Government and by private owners, and that there is every prospect that the marine lot holders will eventually be gainers in every way by this extenson.
Although the Praya Reclamation scheme, as it is called, was not altogether popular, when first proposed, among certain classes of the community, who were not marine lot holders, there would seem to be but little doubt now that it was a movement in the right direction.