THE AMOND JUBILEE AND THE
PERMANENT MEMORIAL.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
could have it was 80
[March 91 1892
THE CHINESE IMPORT TARIJE.
That an early att follow up Lt HUNG-O
secure a revision of the Chinese
The Diamond Jubilee Committee have decided that the completion of the sixtieth cannot have another statue, and it remains imports cannot be doubted. Indeed
f Her Majesty's reign shall be cele
by illuminations and fireworks, and
that there shall be some permanent of the occasion. It would have been better, we think, if a public meeting had been called, in order. to, afford the com- munity an opportunity of expressing its
ecided upon, which hings was the best form the memo taken, though it is to be regr indifferently carried out. On the present occasion the choice is more restricted, as we
e of fertile mind to therefore for some one suggest a scheme which will commend itself to the community as at once commemorative and useful.
II,
In a previous article we stated that the leading Chinese were in favour views as to the form the celebration should of processions in connection with the take. Amongst the European community the idea of illuminations and fireworks does Queen's Diamond Jubilee festivities. We are given to understand that that is a mis- not appear to be regarded with much favour. There seems to be a feeling that such a dis- take and that the general feeling is strongly play means simply a waste of money that against processions, on account of their cost, might be profitably expended in other direc-which is ultimately levied on the price of tions. It must be admitted that as a general articles of food. In regard to illuminations the wares of the respective guilds, including lluminations impress the mind of the populace, which is one of the objects of the objection is not so strong, but we appear
ublic celebrations; but possibly the same effect might be arrived at by other means. The Chinese, or, to be more correct, the leading Chinese, are, understand, distinctly favourable to illuminations, fire- works, and processions, but no attempt is made to conceal the fact that the cost will be to a large extent levied on the food of the people, and the working classes if con- sulted would probably say they preferred not to pay in that way. The necessary
we
to have been misled in saying that the leading Chinese were distinctly in favour of them; their attitude seems to be rather one of indifference.
III.
In mentioning a few days ago the con- struction of a road round the island as one of the proposals for a permanent memorial of the completion of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign we expressed the work would opinion that while the
bass
stated by Chinese that HE CHANG WOON, the Special despatched to Engla
the Diamond Jubilee of Her VICTORIA, and who is to lea Shang the 9th proximo en route for London
the Foreign be authorised to discuss Office the proposed revision of the tariff. The Chinese Government keeps an eye to the main chance,
felicitate the British sovereign despatching a special envoy on a an auspicious period of her rule, an auspicious official body as the Tsung-li Yam natural, with so eminently
combination of business duties? The astute Ministers hope
to c
catch Lord SALISBURY in 81 on
gracious and conciliatory moode auspicious occasion! But they will British Premier, as hard and practical ag themselves when they come to business. The noble lord has, we trust, taken to heart some recent lessons in diplomacy taught b that clever Muscovite Count CASSINI, and however favourably inclined he may be to help China to an increased revenue, he will not be disposed
and trader. The Marquis
funds will, as on former occasions, be be eminently useful and desirable on British merchan 40 it at the expense of the obtained through the respective guilds, who its own merits it would not be comme- will make a levy on their individual mem- morative in character. Our opinion on the of SALISBURY when conferring with
*
"
bers, who in turn will raise the price of their wares to recoup themselves. The scandal which arose from this cause on the occasion of the visit of the DUKE and DUCHESS of CONNAUGHT will no doubt be present in the recollec- tion of those who were resident in the colony at the time. As rice is now selling at about double what it did some years ago it seems rather hard on the poor that the price should be further enhanced to pay for an evening's illuminations. If there must be illuminations, however, we would suggest that an attempt should be made to produce a magnificent display in a circumscribed area, to focus the efforts of the community in- stead of allowing them to be diffused throughout the whole town, and that the financial arrangements should be such as to preclude anything in the nature of semi- compulsory levies through the guilds.
越
It is latter point has been traversed. pointed out that the Romans were in the habit of honouring celebrated persons by calling roads after them and that there are roads in existence at the present day which still perpetuate the memory of the persons after whom they were named more than twenty centuries ago, as for instance the Appian Way. So, it is urged, a road round the island, suitably. named, would in the centuries to come perpetuate the memory of Her Majesty better than any of the other schemes that have been mentioned. We are glad to place the argument before our readers for consideration.
IV.
thất
HUNG-CHANG, while that astute personag was in England, distinctly informed Viceroy that he could promise without first consulting the Chambers of Commerce in China. The noble lord has sagaciously recognised the British commercial bodies on the the spot are those at once most interested in developing trade and in safeguarding the privileges already enjoyed. at least has now come to be thoro understood at the Foreign Office the import duty levied on foreign go no means the entire weight of the manufactures have to bear. ingenuity of the Chinese provincial officia has multiplied the inland duties to such an extent that in some parts they have enhanced the cost of imports to a rate that is virtually prohibitive, and we
sanction
The
and
21 SALISBURY Will
heavy increase in duties without some corresponding vantages. The London Chamber of Com- merce has pronounced in favour of an crease of 21 per cent. Customs and 21 cent. transit duty, or 5 per cent altogether, raising the present ad valorem duty of 5 pe cent. to a total duty of 10 per cent. it considers the outside amount the can bear, and then only, on conditio the payment of this amount will free goods from all other duties whatsoever frank them from one end of the to the other. This view in by the Chambers Hongkong and China, and by i
and they Association, anxious to see the duties raised even on the condition nam doubt that a large expans of trade would result fro
When the project of a road round the island, or rather along the coast as far as Stanley and then over the Wongneichong Gap, was discussed in connection with the
sure that on particular trades Jubilee of Hongkong, a correspondent who took part in the discussion estimated that In regard to the permanent memorial the whole cost would not exceed $50,000, the committee invite suggestions from the This appears to us to be much too low, as public, and no doubt many fads and fancies the road for a portion of its length beyond will be submitted, but of really sensible Belchers Bay would have to be cut out of and practical suggestions very few have the solid rock. It would conduce to an been advanced so far. The enlargement intelligent, discussion of the project if the of the City Hall, both as regards its Governor. would direct a rough estimate to accommodation for public assemblies and be made by the Public Works department. the library and museum, would appeal The feeling in favour of making this road. to a large number of the European the permanent memorial of the Queen's Dia- community as a useful project, but it is mond Jubilee appears to be gaining ground open to the objection that even if the name amongst the European community. The Diamond Jubilee Hall" were officially more progressive section of the Chinese to the enlarged building it would still community seem to favour the College of Medicine project, but they admit that the bear the name of" City Hall” would not in fact serve as a memorial road round the island would also be a good it is desired to commemorate. thing and that probably it would be used by round the island has also been the Chinese community for carriage exercise.
but that, though an eminently
On the 25th March some excitement was ment, but that they fear the Chinese desirable work, is hardly in th the idea of a memorial. It caused in Queen's Road by the bursting of
water pipe opposite A-Tack's furnitūro difficulty that an agreement New pipes are being laid and in uncover
to the memorial of the old ones an accident happened by fiftieth, yoar of Her was made in one of them, throu
probable the same water sho in a large co
On the
It was some tenɔmi the Queen was finallys
was stopped
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