436
DIAMOND JUBILEE SUBSCRIP- TIONS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
been a Free Port" within the apparent mean. ing of those who advance this statement, for from the 1st January, 1867, a charge was levied on all native craft trading to the Port, which charge hos continued up to the present time, and in 1875 Light Dues was first imposed on $42,363,92 | European shipping.
The Hon. Treasurer begs to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following con- tributions, víz.
*
Already acknowledged
Chun Seu ...
500
The prosperity of Hongkong in 1867 (when charges were first levied on native craft) was represented by a European tounage entry of 1,194,826 tons and a junk entry of 1,367,702 tons making a total of 2,562,528 tons.
In 1875, when European shipping was first taxed by the imposition of light dues, the total entry had increased to 3,562,774 tons.
In 1890, when the rate of light dues was 168.50 increased to 24 cents a ton, the tonnage entry had reached 6,688,994 tons, and last year it was 8,051,085 tons.
Chun Tong
500
China Export-Import-&-Bank Com-
pagnie
500
Employès China Sugar Refinery...
259
Taikoo Sugar Refining Co., Ltd.. Scottish Oriental S.S. Co., Ld.
250
250
Office Staff, Messrs. Butterfield
& Swire...
200
Employés Taikoo Sugar Refinery Johnson, Stokes & Master
Anonymous
150 100
H. U. Jeffries
Ferd. Bornemann
100
Hongkong Electric Co., Ld....
100
F. Henderson
Chantrey Inchbald
W. D. Graham
Rev. F. Evaristo Torres...
Dr. J. C. Thomson...
Banker & Co.
A. G. Stokes
L. Suidter...
J. Y. V. Vernon
J. Goosmanu
100-
50 50 50
P. E. Khambatta
S. B. Bhabha
C. H. Thompson
M. Grote
F. C. Keeka
20
A. H. Chinoy
20
E. Bischoff
10
G. Piercy, Jr.
10
Carl Georg
10
C. Schwencke
H. Kammel
C. H. Lammert Ernest A. Mirow C. Thiel
$46,061.42
CAPTAIN RUMSEY ON LIGHT DUES.
The Harbour Master's annual report was laid before the Legislative Council on 31st May. In the course of it Captain- Rumsey says:--
The subject of light dues has occupied some attention recently and has elicited statements and arguments the basis of which is found in the phrase "Freedom of the Port."
But even those from whom this phrase falls most glibly have not attempted to explain pre- cisely what meaning they attach to it. Hong kong is described by them as a "Free Port," and the Government is anathematized for destroying its freedom, yet there has been no proposal on the part of the Government to alter in principle the condition of things which has existed for the last quarter of a century.
A "Free Port" in the general acceptance of the term is, I venture to assert, a port where there is no Custom House and where goods are free from Custom duties and control.” Also in some cases it is applied to ports where ships are free and not subject to charges such as Light Dues, Tonnage Dnes, &o. There is no Custom Housejat Hongkong and goods are free, but for the last 25 years European shipping has been subject to a charge for light dues, and for 30 years native craft have been subject to port charges.
But it is now contended that here in Hong- kong "Freedom of the Port" must include both of these exemptions and that without Free Ships as well as Free Goods there is no "Free Port," condition which, so far as I have been able to discover, is not supported by precedent in any port of importance in any part of the world.
Reference has also been made by way of argument to a "Free: Port proclamation issued in 1842 when in the words of the rate payers petition to the House of Commons, Hongkong was a barren rock, the abode of a few fishermen and pirates" and when as yet the treaty by which it became a British possession had not been ratified.
!!
-Hongkong, we are told, has arrived at its pre- sent state of prosperity through being a “ Free Port.” Now for 30 years Hongkong has not
|
Thus the prosperity of Hongkong has in- creased from an entry of 23 million tons to an entry of 8 million tons during 30 years of taxed shipping, a fact which completely cap. sizes the assertion that its prosperity is due to its being a "Free Port" from a shipping point of view.
Also it is averred that Hongkong can only maintain its prosperity through continuing to Free Port," yet it must be clear that it cannot continue to be a "Free Port" if it has not hitherto existed in that condition.
be a
•
In short, Is it or is it not a Free Port"? If its present condition is one of freedom, I say there is no proposal to alter that condition. If it is not a Free Port" then why apply the
term to it ?
FL
It has also been asserted that the imposition of any tax on shipping will have the result of preventing ships coming to the port.
[June 3, 1897.
the case and its attendant circumstances and be in a position to discuss the question with knowledge he proposed to read a series of letters which had passed in connection with it. These letters were:
1.-From Mr. Goffe in his capacity of British Vice-Consul to the Secretary-General asking. that officer to express to H. E. the Governor, as representing the Portuguese nation, his pro. found regret for what he had written on the circular, to which he attached no importance, because the rules of the foreign Lawn Tennis Club prohibiting the admission of Portuguese as members, it appeared to him an anomaly to invite them to afternoon toa, and in incon- siderately writing what he had done he certainly had no idea of offending any one or causing any unpleasantness, for during his residence in the city he had received only the greatest courtesy, both officially and privately. He concluded by again expressing his sincere regret for having given an apparent cause of offence to the gentlemen of Macao aud at the same time conveying his assurance that he entertained for them feelings of the most profound respect, as well as for H.E. the Governor and the nation that His Excellency represented.
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24
2.-From H.E. the Governor to the speaker (Senhor Basto) as President of the Leal Se- nado forwarding an authenticated copy of the British Vice-Consul's letter, concerning which the Excellency said that it showed His spontaniety of the just satisfaction tendered to all the Portuguese residents and contained expressions of the greatest respect and sym. pathy on the part of that functionary for the inhabitants of this city."
3. From Mr. Buckland, Secretary of the Lawn Tennis Club, to the speaker, requesting him to use his good offices to avoid any precipitation which would place the Club in a disagreeable position with respect to its relations with the Portuguese community, and stating that the Club would use all its efforts for the re-establishment of harmony and the correction of the difficulty.
Senhor Basto went on to say that in view of the facts stated, corroborated
by the documents he had read, they out to consider in the first place that Mr.
I have already shown that this assertion is not borne out by our previous experience, but, after all it is only an assertion, to support which not one tittle of evidence or argument is offered. From the opinion also which has been freely stated, that the entry of this large amount of tonnage is the cause of Hongkong's prosperity, I take leave to differ, holding rather that it is the result thereof, the cause being found in the geographical convenience of the port as a shipping centre, and the stability and general prosperity of trade in the East, offering a lucrative business to ships, to partake in which there is a competition of ever increasing keen-Governor considered a just and spontaneous ness. But however, this may be, there remains the fact which can hardly be disputed but which seems likely to be lost sight of, namely, that ships come here, as they go elsewhere, solely for their own benefit, and not with the object of berefitting Hongkong; so long there fore as benefits accrue to ships from the use of graphical position, or from any other cause, so our waters, whether on account of their geo- long will ships continue to come, and the mea- sure of these benefits, I am convinced, will not be found in a tax, even exceeding the present one of 2 cents a ton, which represents the paltry sum of £7 for a ship of 3,000 tons, a charge which makes Hongkong, in addition to its many other advantages, compare favourably as to its charges with almost any port in the
world.
MR. GOFFE'S INSULT TO THE MACAO LORTUGUESE.
As already reported by our Macao corres- pondent, much indignation has been excited at Macao against Mr. Goffe, the British Vice- Consul at that port. in consequence of his having written on a circular in connection with proposed afternoon teas at the Lawn Tennis Club the words Any people asked bar Portn- guese." From the Echo Macaense we learn that on the 26th May a meeting of the mem- bers of the Club Uniao was held in connection with the matter,
S
Senhor Albino Antonio Pacheco explained the purpose for which the meeting had been called and concluded by asking that the meet- ing should discuss the choice of a corrective to be applied to the insolence of Mr. Goffe, who, without motive, had affronted the whole of the Portuguese inhabitants of the city.
Senhor Antonio Joaquim Basto next spoke and endorsed Senhor Pacheco's condemnation of Mr. Goffe's action. In order that the meet- ing might be in full possession of the facts of
Goffe und made a retractation which H.E. the
satisfaction, although it was certain that this retractation rested on a false basis, for it did not appear to be true that Portuguese were ineligible to become members of the Macao Foreigners Lawn Tennis Club, as he (the speaker) could find no provision to that effect
in the rules, and the fact that there were two Portuguese members-Senhor Loureiro and the Conde de Senna Fernandes demonstrated
the contrary. In the second place, seeing the request made by Mr. Buckland and the assurance given by him that the direc- tion of the Club would endeavour to satisfac- torily close a disagreeable incident of a private character, originated by a member of the Club, the speaker thought the meeting ought not to decide hastily, especially as the man himself made retractation. Let us, said Mr. Basto, as- certain if it is a fact that by the rules of the Club Portuguese cannot become members. If so, then Mr. Goffe exercised a right, and he who exercises a right is not answer- able for the consequences. If on the con- trary, it was not so, let them wait and see what solution of the question the Committee of the He thought the matter Club would arrive at. should be deferred until it had been dealt with by the Committee of the Club..
Senhor Pedro Norasco da Silva said he aj ciated himself with his friends Senhors Pacheco and Basto in reprobating the act of Mr. Goffe, but it appeared to him that the retractations given by that gentleman in his despatch to the Secretary-General and in letters to Senhor Loureiro and Conde Senna Fernandes, in which he withdrew the offensive words, expressed his profound regret, stated that be had not the least intention of offending anyone, and expressed his respect and consideration for the Portuguese, extennated the offence which was presumed from the words written on the margin of the Lawn Tennis Club's If the offence disappeared with the tion there was no occasion for a reprisal of
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རྣ “s—ivI"