360
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
what Mr. POLLOCK has done for the Navy League is doubtful, but something, we think, might be done to stir up public in- terest and the attempt would be well worth the trial.
ment. It may be remembered that in the House of Commons the other day, it was stated on behalf of the Government, in reply to a question regarding the study of the Chinese language, that it was thought the young men who joined the Consular service could learn the language best on the spot. However this may be, no official recognition of the school has been forthcoming. It was contemplated to engage native instructors with a view to carry on classes in colloquial instruction, and it has` also been attempted to carry on evening classes which could be attended by the employés of banks and houses engaged in Oriental trade, but as the Institute does not possess funds which can be devoted to the payment of instructors it has not been possible to carry these proposals into effect. A proposal by one of the important Eastern banking houses to guarantee the
attendance of a minimum number of its em-
ployés and pay a fixed subsidy to cover the cost of the instruction has not been up to the present time adopted by a sufficient number of other houses to allow the Insti- tute to become responsible for the payment of instructors, the present staff of Professors at the two Colleges being paid only by the fees received from students. It is to be re- gretted that the efforts of the Institute to promote the study of Oriental languages has not been attended by a larger measure of success, for in the new developments that are taking place the knowledge of such languages is a factor of conse quence in preserving the position hitherto held by British trade.
[May 7, 1898.
make a prolonged resistance and the other side begins to display signs of exhaustion, one or more Powers may seize what they would perhaps deem a not unwelcome opportunity of dealing a blow at American ambitions and the Mouro doctrine. In that case,
| THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR AND if things went hardly with the States,
THE NEUTRALITY OF HONGKONG.
Notwithstanding the comparative failure in promoting the study of Oriental languages, however, the Imperial Institute has during the few years of its existence done valuable work and has proved that it is an institution deserving of the support of the Colonial Governments and of all corporations and individuals interested in the furtherance of British trade. As is stated in the papers before us, at the time the Institute was projected commercial and industrial bodies and the Government authorities had not long become fully alive to the great importance to be attached to com- prehensive measures for the promotion of technical and commercial education in the United Kingdom, and were but imperfectly acquainted with the grave extent to which, in several very in portant directions, our trade was becoming prejudicially affected by the advantageous conditions, of their own creation, under which some foreign countries entered into competition with us, in meeting certain requirements of colonial and foreign markets. Since that time public opinion has been more fully aroused on this point, and in the Imperial Institute we have an organisation that seems well adapted to serve as the means of bringing about united action to supply what is lacking. The In- stitute has appointed foreign correspond- ents in various parts, but we would suggest as a practical means of ensuring sympathy and support in the colonies the appointment of local branches with local secretaries and facilities for the payment of subscriptions on the spot. As matters stand at present the Institute is not brought sufficiently closely home to residents in the outlying dependencies of the Empire. As the Navy League is an organisation working for the maintenance of Britain's supremacy at sea, so the Imperial Institute ought to be regarded as an organisation working for the maintenance of Britain's supremacy in trade. Whether it would be possible in Hongkong to secure a local representative who would do for the Imperial Institute
(3rd May.)
The late Sir JOHN SMALE took consider-
a
war between
able credit to himself for having, when he occupied the position of Attorney-General, successfully steered the Hongkong Govern- ment through the difficulties connected with the preservation of neutrality at the time of the American civil war. In acknowledging an address presented to him by the com- munity on the eve of his departure from the colony he referred to this as a point in his career that afforded him satisfaction but which had not been very often thought of, and he went on to say that vessels came into this harbour from the one side and the other, that one ship especially committed breach of the regulations, that it was a difficult thing to know how to deal with that question, and that an error on any point might have opened up a claim similar to the Alabama claims. At the time of the Franco-Chinese war also the Hongkong Government had delicate questions to deal with. The present the United States and Spain is, how ever, likely to
surpass either of the previously mentioned conflicts in the de- licacy and intricacy of the points that may arise in connection with the preservation of neutrality. In the almost certain event of an action between the United States Asiatic squadron and
the Philippine squadron of the Spanish navy disabled or fugitive vessels of one or both sides may seek refuge in this harbour, and afterwards circumstances that the other side might endeavour to put to sea again under have a right to object to as constituting a breach of neutrality on the part of the Philippines are, moreover, co-operat- this colony. The insurrectionary party in ing with the Americans, and they have one of their head centres in Hongkong and are understood to entertain designs of fitting out expeditions to land men and arms in Luzon. Very careful watch will therefore have to be kept by the Hongkong Government and wise discretion exercised in dealing with such points as may arise in
connection with these matters.
While the
sympathies of the Government, as of the community, may be with the United States the observance of strict neutrality in all executive acts is imperative so long as the neutrality proclamation remains in force.
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR AND
-
THE EUROPEAN POWERS,
(3rd May.)
Great Britain might be drawn into the quarrel, for in the last resort the two great sections of the Anglo-Saxon race are bound to support each other. At present happily the danger is remote; we trust it may never become imminent.
THE MACAO VASCO DE GAMA
CELEBRATION AND THE .
PLAGUE.
(2nd May.)
Great preparations are being made at Macao for the celebration of the fourth centenary of the discovery of the sea route to India, and the programme of festivities includes Chinese processions. In view of the present prevalence of plague and in the interests of humanity and the public health we would earnestly implore the Celebration Committee to omit that item. There is every reason to believe it was the Chinese procession in Hongkong in 1894 that sowed the seeds of plague here by producing a large flux of Chinese visitors from Canton, where the disease was then raging. At Macao they unhappily have the disense now, but so far its ravages have been confined within comparatively moderate bounds. To cause the assembling of the Chinese in packed crowds in the streets, however, would be to set up a means of pro- pagation which might cause the plague to spread like wildfire in Macao itself and also to extend to surrounding places from which visitors might have come to see the sights. Seeing this great danger surely the Macao authorities will recognise the advisability of de Gama celebration as to avoid drawing so modifying the programme of the Vasco large crowds of Chinese together, or of post- poning the celebration for a few months the original programme in its entirety. should it be deemed desirable to Enèry out Should the celebration take place as originally arranged, and, as is probable, large crowds of Chinese flock over from Hongkong, it will be the duty of the authorities here to see that they are not allowed to return unless they undergo medical
The danger of the Americo-Spanish war leading to a general conflict amongst the great Powers of the world, though we trust it may be regarded as remote, is well. within the bounds of possibility. The press of Europe, with the exception of that of England, sympathises with Spain, and as the struggle progresses this sympathy may become translated into active assistance. The longer drawn out the wat the greater will become the danger of the area of disturbance extending. If America can dispose of her adversary shortly and sharply there may not be time for the views and feelings of the other Powers to crystalise before the end comes, but if Spain, contrary to anticipation, is able to
character than the examination already understand and sympathise with the dis- imposed on arrivals from Macao. We can appointment of our Macao friends should anything occur to mar the celebration which has been looked forward to with such interest and for which such great prepara- tions have been made, but the danger to the public health cannot be ignored.
surveillance of a much stricter
(3rd May.)
We are glad to observe that the idea of omitting from the programme of the ap- proaching Vasco de Gama celebration at: Macao all items that are calculated to draw together crowds of Chinese is ad-` vocated in the Echo Macaense of the 1st May, a copy of which reached us yesterday. The items mentioned are illu- minations, fireworks, Chinese processions, street decorations, exhibitions of flowers and curios, and sports. Under the circumstances at present existing our contemporary urges that the occasion might be worthily cele- brated simply by the firing of salutes, the Te Deun, the ball at Government House, and the inauguration of the monuments. It is further urged that the money it was in- tended to spend on the items now proposed to