334
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
SIR CLAUDE MACDONALD AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
The Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce forwards for publication copy of the Chairman's speech at the interview accorded to the Com- mittee of the Chamber by the British Minister ou the 4th April, and a resumé of His Excel- loncy's remarks just received from him, the meeting having been uureported :-
The members having been introduced to the Minister,
[April 23, 1896.
stantial assets for division among the creditors, entitle him to any special consideration at the being exercised, and have contrived to prac- or that, for other sufficient cause, no order hands of the Court. The case came within the tically render it a dead letter. Your Excel ought to be made, the Court may dismiss the rule in section 83 of the Larceny Ordinance 7lency's predecessor took great interest in this petition. In the case an interim receiving of 1865, and it did not come within the exception question, and urged the importance of securing order was made to enable the officer of the mentioned in the proviso to that section. The proof of the obstruction of the officials, but for à long time this seemed impracticable, owing Court to ascertain whether substantial assets prosecutrix was entitled to have the goods re-
to the timidity of the Chinese merchants. A were forthcoming. He has taken considerable stored to her.
case has recently occurred, however, which trouble in the matoer and has sent his collector,
fully supplies the desired evidence, and it has accompanied by Ho Lin Sam and Tam Cheuk
been laid before the noble lord the Secretary for Wan, to all those who are alleged to owe money
Foreign Affairs. Briefly the facts are 88 to the firm, and, in several instances, it ap-
follow. Some three months ago Mr. Andrew, peared that these two men Ho Lin Sam and Tam Chenk Wan had actually collected the
a British merchant, left Canton in a native boat sums alleged to be due, shortly before the peti-
laden with piece goods, for which, after paying tion was filed. My experience is that there is a
the usual import duty, he had duly taken a wonderful difference in Chinese bankruptcies
transit pass, first paying the lekin charges, and between the assets at first alleged to exist and
proceeded up the West River to Wuchow-fu. those that are afterwards realized, and from Mr.
On arrival there he exhibited his pass to the Seth's report I hold there is very little chance
local authorities, and then opened business, of realizing (including what is now in his At a special meeting of the Committee of quickly disposing of part of his goods to native: hands) as much as the total sum of $250. That the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, traders. The next day, however, these buyers. sum would not be more than sufficient to pay held at 11 a.m. on the 4th April, in the Cham-informed Mr. Andrew that they dare not take the solicitor's costs if the bankruptcy were ber of Commerce Room, His Excellency Sir delivery of the goods. They had evidently
In my opinion there would be Claude MacDonald, K.C.M.G., the newly ap- proceededt wth.
been intimidated, and said they could not com- no assets for division among the creditors, pointed British Minister to Peking, having plete their purchases unless a proclamation were issued by the authorities authorising them certainly no substantial assets. In these cir- courteously consented to meet them, there were
Representations to the British cumstance I see no advantage that the peti-present: Mr. A. McConachie (Chairman). to do so. tiouing creditor would derive from continuing Messrs. Bell-Irving, N. J. Ede, R. M. Gray, Consul at Canton followed, who in turn. case before the Viceroy. these proceedings, and although I have not for- T. Jackson, N. A. Siebs, T. H. Whitehead, promptly laid the
That official flatly denied the intimidation, but gotten the matters urged by Mr. Reece, I think and R. C. Wilcox (Secretary). it my duty to dismiss this petition, but with-
would do nothing whatever to assist the British merchant. The case was then carried to out costs. I allow $850 costs to Mr. Reece, as he succeeded on the issue of the validity of the
Peking, where the efforts of Mr. Beauclerk were successful in securing some action, for on aptitioning creditor's debt, and I make an order egainst Ho Lin Sain personally to pay that sum
the 17th February the Prefect of Wuchow as I do not feel justified in taking out of the
issued a proclamation nominally permitting the Lative dealers to trade with Mr. Andrew, but small sum in Court the proceeds of the exe-
the document was so worded that not one of cution.
the native traders would venture to take a single package, it being stated in the pro- clamation that after the goods had been transferred to the Chinese merchants then and Customs dues would be lekin taxes
Further representations from the charged. Consul only evoked from the Viceroy the rejoinder that this was done in accord- ance with the instructions of the Tungli Yamen, and he contended that, once transit pass goods have reached the destination men- tioned in the pass and had been sold to the Chinese, foreigners cannot interfere, no matter what dues are levied upon them. This conten. tion, if allowed, would of course nullify the provis.cus of Article XXVIII., and could not be admitted. This Chamber telegraphed to Lord Salisbury, and meantime the British Chargé d'Affaires has been in active communi- cation with the Tsungli Yamen, with, we hope, successful results. The case, however, strikingly illustrates the obstructive tactics of the pro- vincial officials. The third subject to which I would invite your attention is one of very great local importance. I refer to the question of the extension of the boundaries of this colony. This matter is, I believe, engaging the attention of the Imperial Government at the present moment, their notice having been specially drawn to it by representations from the civil, military, and naval authorities here. When the island was first acquired it was only sought as a place where British ships could careen and refit and British trade be conducted free from \ interference. When later its unprotected con- dition was noted and fortifications were con
18th April.
CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
BEFORE HOx. W. M. GOODMAN (ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE.)
A MEAN THIEF.
Wong Kwai was charged on five counts with stealing money and jewellery from women. The prisoner pleaded not guilty and the follow. ing jury were sworn-Messrs. Collaço. F. F. Ribeiro, C. E. Osmund, G. A. Yvanovich, F. X. do Rozario, A. J. Madar, and G. H. dos Remedios. Hon. H. E. Pollock (Acting Attorney General) appeared on behalf of the Crown to prosecute, being instructed by Mr. A. B. Johnson (Crown Solicitor.)
Only three charges were taken against the prisoner. The cases were all similar, and in
and each one the prisoner met a woman pre- tended there were some bank notes in a hand- kerchief and he wanted her to change He then induced her to hand over to hit jewel- lery and money she had with her as a sort of Of course security while she changed the notes. there were no notes in the handkerchief and when the swindle was discovered prisoner had bolted. He was found guilty and sent to gaol for two and a half years altogether.
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The CHAIRMAN said Your Excellency, I desire to express the pleasure with which the committee of the Chamber of Commerce now We are make your personal acquaintance. more than likely in the future to have occasion to address you from time to time on commercial matters, and the present interview which you have so kindly accorded to us, and for which I thank you, will, I trust. establish a mutual understanding. There are three main questions of the greatest, if not indeed vital, importance to the future prosperity of this colony to which I desire briefly to direct your special attention and to solicit the aid of your great influence towards their attainment. These are:-The opening of the West River to foreign trade and steamer havigation; the removal of official obstruction to the working of trade with the interior under transit pass; and the extension of the boundaries of the colony. I have no doubt you are well aware that the question of opening up the Si Kiang or West River, one of the great waterways of the Kwang provinces. to steamers of all nations, and the cities of Wu- chowfu, Tsun Chow, and Nan-uing-fu to foreign trade, has for many years engaged the attention of the Chamber. The advantages that would accrue from the opening of this great river to foreign commerce generally, as well as to Hong. them.kong in particular, would certainly be very great. This colony, situatel as if is at the mouth of the Canton river, would not only become a larger distributing centre than at present, but it would benefit greatly by the in- creased passenger traffic that would necessarily follow upon increased facilities of transport. The opening up of the West River would also prove of great advantage to the Chinese population in the district. It would secure to the Chinese Government an increased revenue through the Customs stations in the several ports opened; it would give an impulse to pro- duction in the interior by bringing produce structed provision was only made for gans within reach of a market; and it would augment carrying a far shorter distance than at present, and enrich the population of the villages and and the political situation was wholly different. towns along the course of the river. In short, It is now necessary, we are assured by experts, regarded from every point of view. whether in order to provide for the adequate protection foreign or native, official or mercantile, the of the port, to secure a considerable extension The of the territory on the other side of the harbour, object sought is a most desirable onc. second point to which I have to refer is the setting back the boundary in fact to Mirs the islands to the South. Not only is this question of the trade under Transit Pass. By and Castle Peak Bays, and to acquire several of Article XXVIII. of the Tientsin Treaty, as you are aware, the privilege is granted to foreign extension of the colony necessary for strategic merchants to send goods to the interior from reasons, but it is eminently desirable for others any Treaty port on payment of the usual import of a social, commercial, and industrial nature. duty and a lekin charge of per cent. ad The Chinese city of Kowloon, the other side, of our waters, affords a regular Alsatia: for crim- valorem, for which a transit pass is issued, which pass, to quote the treaty, shall exempt the inals, and is a constant resort of gamblera from
this side. The fantan shops have several times . goods from all further inland charges whatso- over." In the central and northern provinces been closed after remonstrances from the Hong- of China a large trade has been done under kong Government, but they invariably re-open transit passes, more particularly at the Yang- and render nugatory the efforts of the Hongkong..... tsze ports; but in the southern provinces, and Police to put down gambling. The existence specially in the Two Kwang, the officials have of facilities on the other shore for eluding made a determined stand against this privilege | justice is also an incentive to robbery and all
Mr. Dick Melbourne then said he appeared on behalf of a goldsmith who had purchased the jewellery stolen by the prisoner from the pro- secutrix in the fifth charge. He asked that the property should not be restored to the pro- secutrix. as the transaction was one of ordinary purchase and sale.
His Lordship said that the goods were sold to the goldsmith by the thief on the very same day that they were stolen, and the goldsmith admitted that he himself had broken up the rings and some of the gold from the bangles after the goods had come into his possession. He had made no inquiry as to the ownership of the goods, and they were only traced to his shop because the thief told the Police he had taken the stolen property there. Even assuming that no blame attached to the goldsmith,-though, the Court thought he should have made some enquiry of the vendor before buying and breaking up property of this description- if one of two innocent parties had to suffer, the loss ought not in this case to fall upon the owner, who had prosecuted and convicted the thief, and thus had done something to vindicate justice. The woman had never divested her- self of the ownership of her goods, and he saw nothing in the corduct of the goldsmith to