In June next the colony will be called upon to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Queen's accession. The occasion is an important and interesting one, one that will be enthusiastically honoured throughout the Empire, and, we venture to say, not less so in Hongkong than in any other portion of Her Majesty's possessions. There will be displayed the same warmth of feeling as on the occasion of Her Majesty's Jubilee, but, as regards Hongkong in particular, let us hope there will be much less confusion in translating that warmth of feeling into action. Those who were in the colony at the time will have a lively recollection of the "Jubilee muddle," as it came to be called, and of the numerous meetings that were held before any decision could be arrived at. With a view of avoiding a repetition of that muddle next year we would suggest that the subject should receive the early consideration of the British residents and that any ideas that may be entertained as to a permanent memorial of the occasion should be freely ventilated in private conversation and through the public press, so that by the time a public meeting is called for final
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
suficient
December 31, 1896.
therefore
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CELEBRATION OF THE SIXTIETH question of the permanent memorial. community requires, as 13 YEAR OF HER MAJESTY'S REIGN. At the time of the celebration of occasion of every ball tha
the Colony's Jubilee various proposals its management also leaves were brought forward, but as the commu- desired. The shareholders in nity, was then in the depths of financial derive no revenue from despondency no permanent memorial of that likely to, and event was adopted. It may be interesting that they w now to recall those proposals. One had their rights reference to the maintenance of the Hong-certained that kong Public School, now closed; another of raising a contemplated the erection of a building on enlargement of the buildi the reclamation in front of the City Hall of another storey for the purposes of a public library consideration, and, supposing and museum; a third proposal was that a be carried out, the institution cou similar building should be erected, but renamed so as to make it comm should be used as a technical school and the sixtieth year of Her Majesty. the subject of a fourth was the making of a The suggestion is submitted simply road round the island to be called the it may be worth, and without prejudic Jubilee Rod. The last named project met any other proposal that may appear more with a good deal of support on its own worthy of support. A less ambitious merits, but it was felt that it was ject that might be entertained is the com unsuitable as a public memorial, being a pletion of the design of the Queen's stitue public work which must sooner or later be by the erection of a statuette at each taken in hand by the Government in representative, say, of Art, Science, ordinary course. Indeed, if we remember ture, and Commerce, or of special events rightly, some semi-official assurance was Her Majesty's reign. given that such a road would be made by the Government. If funds were available it would be very appropriate if the road could be made next year and be called by
In name that would commemorate the
opportunity of forming definite opinions on though
"Sexagenary Road" is the various projects that may be advanced. not exactly a name that could be recom- It might be well if a preliminary meeting mended on the ground of elegance. Such were called at once and a committee apa road would afford increased opportunities pointed to consider any schemes that may for exercise, would open up new building be proposed and to report to a subsequent sites, and would probably lead to the Chi- meeting or meetings as to their cost, their nese setting up country houses for the accom suitability, and the feasibility of their execu-modation of their families. The work, tion. It will be remembered that on the however, is a Government business and occasion of the Jubilee at the successive could hardly be adopted as a public me meetings vague schemes were brought for-morial. As to the other projects brought ward, the promoters of which had not forward six years ago, it may be pointed
|
a
* TAXATION OF FOLLIGN MANU.
FACTURES IN CHINA
decision the community may have had the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign, Mr. At the meet
the
the
on the remarks made by
1 of the Ev Cotton Spinning and Weaving Company with reference to the taxation likely to-be'll imposed on manufactures by the Chinese Government the Japan Mail findest difficulte to endorse the sanguine tone adopted speaker. It points out that treaty tions can no longer bor invoked, y security the Shimonoseki Treaty having been annulled by Japan's waive the privileges that the doc contained in this particular respect. That is so, and it may
taken the trouble to work them out in detail, out that the Praya Reclamation in front against relying Destaken as a warning
and time was wasted and needlessly conten- of the City Hall is now appropriated as the tious feeling excited by their discussion. That site of the proposed new Public Offices and is not the way to arrive at a wise decision. is therefore no longer available for the There are two principal points to be con- suggested technical school or public library sidered: first, the celebration of the day, and, and museum, nor, if a suitable site could be second, the permanent memorial. We take found elsewhere, do we think either of it for granted that the community will wish those projects would command sufficient to celebrate the day by festivities of some public support to ensure the necessary funds kind, and that it will also wish to endow for starting the institution and providing the colony with some permanent memorial the large endowment that would be neces- of the longest and most glorious reign sary to keep it going. Other educational in our national history, though possibly it projects may be again advanced, but they may be considered that the Queen's are not likely, we imagine, to secure general statue, so recently unveiled, may already support, public opinion being greatly divided sufficiently, serve that purpose. As to the on the subject of education; and, moreover, celébration of the day, the feeling the present requirements of the colony in that will probably be opposed to the throwing respect are passably well provided for ex: away of any large amount of money incept in some minor particulars affecting small illuminations and fireworks. The colony sections of the population.. can make a very good display in that line A suggestion that might perhaps be when it likes, but it costs a good deal of worth consideration is that the share- money, and on the occasion of the illumi-holders of the City Hall should be nations in honour of the Duke of CON- bought out and that the building should NAUGHT'S visit it was discovered that while be enlarged and be placed under the the Chinese guilds had entered readily control of the Government or of somebody enough into the scheme laid before them representative of the public. This is a by th
the Registrar General, they afterwards project that would appeal principally to the recouped themselves for the outlay by European community and to which the levying a tax on their members, and Chinese could not be expected to subscribe more particularly on the stall-holders very largely; but it would be almost impos- in the market, which excited a sible to hit upon any project that would good deal of grumbling. A repetition of appeal equally to bother communities, anything of that kind is to be avoided, and and if the Chinese subscribe at all we would
wish to have – a therefore deprecate any
pressure being brought to bear cial they will Past answer some special re-
the memorial that will
Chinese to induce them to indulge in lavish expenditure. A general holiday, a review of the troops, and some public amusement in
possibly be deemed suffi the celebration of the day ete remains the more important
16 evening.
open
qui ent of their own. The City Hall
herefore have to be cons jest w with specia munity an raised am ing no longer affords the accom
iptio
com
en China
hich
favoured nation "clause" in any important matter. It was the Shimonoseki Treaty that chiefl couraged the investment of foreign in cotton enterprises at Shanghai, and any of the various mills have comm working the advantages supposed to been secured by that trenty are by a subsequent agreement bet and Japan, in the negotiat neither foreign merchants nor spective Governments could have to say. Whatever commercial ad may be secured by other Powers, therefore, Great Britain would to lose no time in also securi own right instead of depending favoured nation clause, instance has proved itself a Still, we do not agree temporary in regarding the prosp
gloomy cotton indust
common
**
nese Govern Mr. ALFORD, the wr "nacy shown by China in "negotiations for the CO with Japan until the waive the free-n "Shimonoseki agr
China was
Chin
the Chif
pretty
the
ublio