June 18, 1898.]
I apologise for the length of my letter. It takes time to condense and abbreviate without loss of force, and I am writing under pressure. I am sending a copy of this letter to His Ex- cellency the Major-General, and send you here- with three copies that you may be able to for- ward one, if you approve, to the Secretary of State by the out-going mail, I deem the matter of the most vital importance, and the opportunity now or probably never again.I have the honour to be, sir, your Excellency's, most obedient servant.
Hia
C. P. CHATER. Excellency Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., Governor, &c., &c., &c., Hong. kong.
Hongkong, 16th September, 1895. Sir,In a letter which I had the honour of addressing to your Excellency under date the 13th November, 1894, I took the liberty of calling your attention to the very grate dangers to which this Colony must be exposed in time of war, because of the close proximity to the city and harbour of the Chinese boundary line; to the necessity of obtaining, if possible, a rectification of our frontiers, and to the very favourable opportunity that then appeared to exist for pressing the matter upon the attention both of Her Majesty's Government and of the Chinese Government.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
487
the extent indicated, if Hongkong is to continne to be a fortress and naval depôt and a safe harbour for our mercantile marine, and (2) the opportuneness of the time for making the demand, first as a punishment for the many breaches of Treaty the Chinese Government has been guilty of, and secondly in view of the much more valuable concessions granted to other powers.
that exist at the present moment for obtaining from the Chinese Government the trifling extension of territory so urgently needed.
The recent war between China and Japan, the results of that war, and the helpless con- dition to which China bave been reduced have compelled the European powers to re-consider their position in regard to that Empire and its people, and to re-open questions set at rest for a time by the Treaties of 1860 or thereabouts, Japan has entirely re-modelled her relations subjects on which my colleagues desired me to This brings me to the second of the two with China. Russia, France and Germany address you. Need I urge your Excellency to bave also been compelled to require modifications press forward the question of the opening of in theirown favour of previously existing Treaties. the West River, so often and so unavailingly France has obtained without difficulty large compressed upon the attention of Ministers? The mercial advantages and important rectifications violation by the Chinese Government of the of frontier. Germany is obtaining concessions at clauses of existing treaties on the subject of certain ports. England has far graver causes transit passes in the southern provinces and the of complaint against China than either France destruction, two years ago, of the promising or Germany, and yet, so far, has made no de- trade springing up from Canton under mands for any re-adjustment of relations or the protection of these clauses, are amply for any concessions or compensations. The sufficient justification for this demand; but recent massacre at Kucheng has added one if any further is wanted the privileges more to the many causes of complaint on the recently granted the French Government in part of the British Government against the Tonquin and along the southern frontier of Chinese, and the difficulty that is being experi. China entitle Great Britain, as of right, to enced in getting, not compensation or redress, corresponding advantages at some other point, but the mere punishment of the individual as we cannot participate directly in those criminals is affording another illustration, if granted, along the common boundary, to the illustration were needed, of the inability of the French. The equivalent, and the only equival- Chinese Government to comprehend and carry ent, of the privileges granted to French trade out its treaty obligations. If Great Britain and commerce would be the complete opening were now to demand an entire revision of the West River in its entire length to for- of existing Treaties, and additional safe sign trade. guards and guarantees for their faithful performance she would not be exceeding the legitimate requirements of the situation. Surely, a request at this moment for the small territorial augmentation required to round off the boundaries of this Colony and render it reasonably safe from agression could not be considered unjustifiable or excessive. It is the I am re-opening the subject at the special necessary complement of the original cession of request of my colleagues, the Unofficial Mem- the Island as a safe place of residence, a secure bers of Council, and in their names. At a place of deposit for our wares and merchandise, meeting held on Saturday last I laid before a safe anchorage for our ships. Through force them my previous letter of the 13th November of circumstances and mainly through the vast last, and after long and careful consideration improvements in military weapons of all kinds and debate they were unanimously of opinion the place is no longer safe either in case of that every possible means should be adopted to
trouble with China or with any other power. It press on the attention of your Excellency and has ceased to adequately fulfil the purpose for of the Home Government the immense impor- which it was originally intended. The aug- tance of prompt action, when everything pro-mentation now asked for is of precisely the same mises so well for the success of any negotiations character and kind as was the cession of the Kow- that may be now taken in hand. The Unofficial loon peninsula in 1861, and on the same grounds Members are most anxious that your Excellency precisely. But even if Great Britain were to should put yourself in communication with the demand the cession as a mark of her displeasure Colonial Office by wire, and, if it meets with at the frequent violations of treaty in the past, your approval, move the Major-General Com- and as part amends for the Kucheng massacre manding to address the War Office at the same
and for the insults offered her Commissioner time.
there, she would be wholly within her rights.
May I be permitted to again call your atten- tion to the very great importance of obtaining at a very early date some re-adjustment of the boundaries of the colony, and to point out to you that no more favourable opportunity than the present is ever likely to occur for obtaining the assent of the Government and people of England to a demand on the Chinese Govern- ment for a further slight cession of territory in this neighbourhood, and for pressing that de- mand with effect upon the Court at Peking.
The Chamber of Commerce and the newly formed Navy League will, in all probability, address your Excelleney at a very early date on this subject, while the Hongkong Branch of the China Association intends to take steps to set in motion the parent Association in London.
Public opinion here, throughout the English communities in the East, and in England, has emphatically negatived the permissibility of the Kucheng massacre being settled for by any payment, however large, by way of compensa- tion for the sufferers and their families. I need not now endeavour to press upon your
Punishment is demanded; punishment in due Excellency's attention any arguments in supment by removal from office and degra- course of law of the actual offenders; punish. port of the contention that an enlargement of the boundaries of the colony to an extent which
dation of the officials responsible for the would give us possession of the mountain
peace and good order of the city, district range to the north from the Canton River to Mirs and province; punishment inflicted on the Chi- Bay and of the islands immediately to the south willingness to afford adequate protection for nese Government and nation for its proved un- of Hongkong is absolutely essential to the con- tinued existence of the colony as a fortress and foreigners and to enforce the observance by its naval dépôt. All naval and military authorities
officers and subjects of treaty rights and obliga- recognise the fact. Your Excellency has ac-
tions. How can the Chinese Government be cepted it as conclusively proved and, if I have
more effectively punished than by taking from understood you aright. Her Majesty's Minis
it some portion of its territory ? No mere ters have not failed to perceive the
pecuniary punishment will touch it to the quick. Its wealth is enormous and its resources almost necessity for action of some kind. The recent proposals in Parliament to increase inexhaustible; but to have to yield territory the docking accommodation for the Royal Navy will touch its pride and cause it "to lose face and to enlarge the naval establishments here among the nations. have emphasized the position, and it is difficult to understand how any great expenditure on such a project can be sanctioned unless it is intended to take steps to secure to us the posses sion and control of all points from which the new dooks could by any possibility be exposed to hostile fire...
My special object, therefore, in writing to you now is to call your Excellency's attention to, and to ask you to urge apon Her Majesty's Government, the immense importance of taking advantage of the very favourable circumstances'
The territory proposed to be taken is so small and so poor that it cannot in any way weaken the Empire as a cession of Yunnan to France would do, or of Formosa to Japan.
I have, therefore, to entreat your Excellency, on behalf of my colleagues, the Unofficial Members of Council, and of myself, to take the promptest measures to bring this matter before Her Majesty's Government and to the notice of Her Majesty's Minister in Peking. and to urge upon both (1) the absolute necessity of obtaining a retification of¡frontiers, at least to
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The Chamber of Commerce will address your Excellency very speedily upon this question also, and in the name of my colleagues on behalf of the colony generally I have now to pray your Excellency to put yourself in communication by wire with the Ministry in England, to lay before them our representations and desires, and to give the colony the support which your position, your intimate acquaintance with the subjects under consideration, and your great zeal for the pro- motion of the best interests of the colony will enable you to give.—I have the honour to be, sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant.
C. P. CHATER.
His Excellency Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G.,
Governor, &o., &c., &o., Hongkong. CHINESE OFFICIAL MOVEMENTS.
[SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE "DAILY PRESS.”]
SHANGHAI, 16th June. Jung-in has been appointed Viceroy of Chibli.
Wang has been ordered to Peking. The Incumbent of the Board of Revenue has been dismissed from all his offices.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Hongkong Sanitary Board was held on Thursday afternoon. The chair was occupied by the President (Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer), and there Hon. F. H. May (Captain-Superintendent) were also present the Vice-President (the
of Police), the Director of Public Works (the Hon. R. D. Ormsby), the Acting Registrar General (Mr. E. W. Brewin), and the Medical named acting as secretary. Officer of Health Dr. F. W. Clark), the last-
MINUTES.
'The minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted as a correct record.
THE REPORT OF THE INSANITARY I'ROPERTIES COMMISSION. Properties Commission's report was submitted. The report of the Board on the Insanitary
The PRESIDENT said he thought this had better be considered confidentially.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-Excuse me; it has been passed. I thought we had done with it.
The PRESIDENT said he was under the same impression, but the secretary had received letter from one of the members requesting that it be held over until the next meeting. That being the case he did not see how they could do otherwise.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-I thought it was decided to pass the report.
The PRESIDENT -I think it would be much better if we could be unanimous on this report,