December 16, 1897.]
memory of the special thanksgiving service held at the Roman Catholic Cathedral, and in re- cognition of the unity with which all religious denominations joined in celebrating an august event,
Dr. Francis Clark, the anxiety and strain you must have endured during the crowded state of the colony during the celebration, and the efforts made by the Sanitary executive to ward off disease, have well earned this gold medal, which I now have the pleasure to pre- sent you. Yours,
WHY FORGOTTEN ? Hongkong, 13th December, 1897.
THE STRAITS CHINAMAN IM- PRISONED AT AMOY.
THE AGGRIEVED MAN'S PETITION.
An extraordinary incident is reported from Amoy, says the Straits Times. Teng Cheong, a reputable and well-known Chinese trader in Singapore, who is a British subject, has been thrown into prison there by the Chinese authorities, on the initiative of a German firm, for an alleged debt, notwithstanding his appeals to the British Consul, and the due presentation of his passport. Failing to obtain redress from the British Minister at Peking, to whom the matter was referred by Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Amoy, Teng Cheong has now sent in a petition to the Governor of the Straits Settlements. The petitioner earnestly appeals to His Excellency to take immediate steps.
THE PETITION.
The following is the substance of the petition:
"I was born at Singapore, of British parents, where I have ever resided, and established my. self as a merchant under the firm, name, and style of Teng Cheong. I have occasionally visited Amoy, and did not report myself to H.B.M's Consul, because my stays were of short duration, and there appeared to be no occasion to assert my nationality.
Lately, I became aware that a German firm in Amoy had failed to collect certain sums fof money from certain Chinese, who had chartered a steamer, and that the said German firm alleged that I had a share in the said charter. My property was seized at the solicitation of the firm, through the German Consul, by the Chinese authorities. I deemed it, therefore, prudent to let it be known that I was a British subject. Accordingly, I applied for and re- ceived a passport from His Excellency the Governor of my native country, to visit China, a of copy which passport is enclosed.
Later, when I arrived at this port I presented it to H.B.M.'s Consul, and secured a certificate of registration. Later, the German Consul ap- plied to H.B.M.'s Consul to have me sent to
the local Chinese authorities. My property was temporarily released as I was informed that the question of my allegiance was to be investi- gated.
In the meantime, H.B.M.'s Consul solicted that I should give him a security of $5,000 for the space of three months for my appearance. The Consul addressed the British Minister and the local authorities on the subject, and I heard no more about the matter until the 19th Novem- ber, when to my great surprise I was informed by H.B.M.'s Consul at this port that he "could not do anything for me." The question of my nationality had not been gone into, nor had I been given an opportunity to prove my claims. A request for a re-hearing brought only the same reply from H.B.M.'s Consul. I then re- quested H.B.M.'s Consul to give me a written statement of his position, and had the honour to receive a communication a copy of which I enclose.
I was advised by H.B.M.'s Consul to go and see the German Consul. I did so, and behold he demanded of me a deposit of $20,000 to answer as security, stating if all turned out well I could get it back. I. of course, refused, and was instantly arrested by the German Consul, and delivered over to the local antho- rities, and by them lodged in prison, where I still remain to this day.
I am charged with being a shareholder in a certain chartering of a steamer plying between Amoy and the Straits. I reside at Singapore, where I have a business house, and, if I had
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. been interested at all, the said steamship would have been consigned to my firm, and I would have had something to do with the disbursing of funds for the ship's use, &c. Yet it is easy for me to prove that I had no such con. nection with the chartering of the said steam- ship, nor was I in any way associated with those who did. In fact it is easy for me to disprove the charges of the Gorman | Company, to say nothing of their inability to show me my name, stamp, or signature on any paper containing any reference to the chartering of the said steamship. Nor is there the slightest possible evidence to substantiate the charge or claim against me. I am in a position to prove that the said steamship was chartered by one Khoo Hok, and the charter- party was guaranteed by one Khoo Sin, who has since decamped; that the said Khoo Hok had borrowed from me the sum of $500, for which amount I hold his receipt; that the said
German Company had caused the arrest of one Khoo Tiong Tian, uncle of the charterer Khoo Hok, who was requested, or instigated by the said German Company to declare that I had an interest in the chartering of the said steamer, but had declined to say so. Were I in any way lawfully bound or indebted to the said German firm, the claim could have been collected from me in the Consular Court of my native country, and by appealing to my country I could not avoid the consequences of my own acts. Therefore, it was not to avoid justice that I sought protection. But I have been delivered to the local Chinese authorities who are now daily extorting money from me with out any regard to justice. Before the case will have been concluded, the local authorities will have extorted from me, by methods already familiar to all, my entire fortune. Then, in all probability, they will release me, and inform the German Consul there is no case against me.
By this His Excellency will observe that H.B.M.'s Minister at Peking has advised the Consul at this port that I have no claim to be treated as a British subject, nor to protection either in person or property. He gives me no reason or idea of the basis of this most remark able decision. I can but believe that the British Minister acted without the facts before him. I cannot even learn what question was submitted to him by the British Consul The Consul took no for decision or advice. testimony whatever, nor made any efforts to as- certain the truth of my assertions. Hence I am at a loss to know what hypothetical case he could have submitted to the British Minister which would justify such an opinion. I have been taught that the laws of my conntry per- mitted no subject, however humble, to be con- demned without a bearing. Such has been my misfortune. My papers are unchallenged, my allegiance unquestioned, so far as I am advised. In conclusion, I pray that His Excellency will be pleased to communicate by telegram if possible with the British Minister at Peking and the Consul at Amoy, requesting that either of them should secure abeyance of proceedings un- til I can be given an impartial hearing in the matter of my claim. I have instructed my agents at Singapore to pay for the expense of telegrams.
CHINA AND THE GOLD STANDARD.
A decree dated the 15th of October has been promulgated to all the Viceroys and Govornors of provinces consenting to the proposals of Yang Yi-chil, a Cantonese and a member of the Trans. mission Office, recommending the minting of gold coins in order to prevent the drain that is now going on of gold from the country. The high authorities of the territories where gold is produced are, therefore commanded
to send at once
annual 1 note of the output of their territories, while the other exhorted to send explorers Governors are over the empire to prospect for the precious metal and report at once to Peking if they find any. The intention is to buy up the gold in the country that is now being sold to foreigners. N. C. Daily News.
A fire took place at Raub recently, resulting in the destruction of the Ranb Company's blacksmith and carpenter's shop.
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SAIGON.
475
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Saigon, 1st December. In a few days there will be great festivities in Saigon. On the 5th inst. King Norodom - of Cambodia and the young Emperor Than-Tai of Annam (the latter for the first time) will visit Saigon to return the visit of the Governor- General, and for quite six days the town will be en fête. Tradesmen will profit by the gaiety.
The Colonial Council has commenced its session. The Council is much opposed to the project of the Government to construct a railway from Saigon to Hanoi along the coast. To old residents the utility of such a railway seems very doubtful. A compromise has for the moment been arrived at, but in official circles the railway seems to have been decided upon.
The construction of a large bridge across the Saigon river at a point above the harbour has been decided upon and will put the two banks in communication, thus allowing intercourse
with the almost unknown district opposite to Saigon.
The Chinese have petitioned the Government not to put into execution the contemplated "service anthropometrique," under which a des- cription of each individual was to be registered. They argue that they and their families cannot well submit to measuring, and the idea has consequently been modified so that only the hands will be measured. Unfortunately it happens too often that a man who is wanted cannot be found; hence the desirability of security for identification.
Next year's crops promise to be very good
ones.
CANTON NOTES.
FROM THE "CHUNG NGOT SAN PO." } Twenty expectant officers have been selected by the Viceroy and the Governor to study foreign languages and affairs and learn how to deal with foreigners. The Provincial Treasurer is to undertake the matter and the officers are to be examined monthly. The Provincial Treasurer has given each of the officers a number of for- eign books.
It is said that copper, coal, and gold have been found in the mountain named Kam Sing-mi, in the vicinity of Wuchow. A Sansz has applied to the Governor of Kwangsi to be His ap- allowed to open the said mines. plication has been granted. The Sansz, it is said, has commenced to raise shares.
On the 1st inst. a notorious robber named Fong, who had a good number of robbers under his influence, raised the standard of rebellion in Fa-un district. The standard was white with a red round mark in the centre. All the shops in the district have been closed and The well-to-do business is at a standstill. citizens have removed their families to safer places to escape from the ravages of the rob- bers. The local Magistrate, having a very small force under his command, dares not to cope with the robbers, who become very fierce and cruel and are able to do everything at their will. No step has been taken by the Canton Government to suppress them.
On the 3rd instant seven children, from six to eight years old, were sent by the Magistrate of Pun-u to the charitable institution named Kwang-yau-sin-tong to be taken care of. The children were brought to Canton from Kuchow by the cook of the late Taotai of Ku, Lim, and Yau prefectures, who died recently, for sale. When the children were first brought to Canton
street. The sudden appearance of the children, they were confined in a house in Ha-ho-tong whose dialect was different from that of Canton, excited the suspicions of the Haifong people. The taipo of the street reported the case to the Magistrate, who sent some yamen runners to arrest the kidnapper; be pleaded guilty and was locked up in prison.
On the 3rd instant, while soldiers were being drilled at Yin tong a gun exploded, causing the instant death of oue of the soldiers.
On the 4th instant aguard boat which wassent to collect revenue from the villages, was robbed in Ta-po village. When the guard boat reached Ta-po in the evening the people thought it was not safe to let the money collected from the vari- ous villages remain in the boat. The money was