440
In answer to the Magistrate, witness said Lo Wing told him to take the $15 to the Sani- tary Office not later than 11 o'clock, adding that he must take it when all the inspectors were there, as it would be very awkward if he went when they had all gone.
The case was adjourned until Saturday, bail as-before-$1,000—being allowed.
ANOTHER APPL¿CATION FOR EXTRADITION,
A CHARGE OF THREATENING WITH INTENT TO EXTORT MONEY.
At the Magistracy on 21st Nov, before Com- mander Hastings, Mr. Robinson's application on behalf of the Chinese authorities for the ex- tradition of Chung Shui Yeung (aged 41), alias Chung Kwok Chu, retired lawyer's clerk, of the village of Wong Tong, in the Sun On district was again heard, having been adjourned from the previous day. Prisoner is charged with threat- ening with intent to extort money within the jurisdiction of China in the middle of ctober, The other week he was charged with having committed burglary, along with some other men on the 16th of October at Tang Wo Hui Market Place, Cha Tau Kok, in the. Sun On district, but this charge was dismissed, in con- sequence of the evidence of two German mis sionaries resident in the district. Mr. Gedge appeared for defendant.
The defendant having been identified in the usual manner in the gaol, Mr. Robinson was proceeding to open his case when Mr. Gedge interposed and said he would like to know for whom Mr. Robinson appeared. By whom was be instructed?
Mr. Robinson-I appear for the Chinese Go- vernment.
}
Mr. Gedge-But who are the Chinese Gov ernment?
His Worship said it was usual in a case of this sort for counsel to be engaged by the Chinese Government.
Mr. Robinson-I am instructed by an official in the Chinese Government.
Mr. Robinson said the charge laid against defendant was that on the 24th day of the eighth moon at Tai Chung village in the district of On Sun be made the following threat to a man of the name of Chung A Fat:-"Tell your master that I want $3,000 from him to-morrow to be sent to Wong Long. If he does not send me the $3,000 on the 25th I must have $1,000 more for each of the following days. If your master does not send the money on the 30th day tell him to be careful.”
Inspector Hansen was then called and said by virture of a warrant produced he arrested the defendant at 3.30 p.m. on the 29th inst. at the Yan On Chau boarding house, Praya Cen- tral. In a trunk he found an envelope contain- ing certain documents. Defendant said he was a naturalized Hawaiian subject and had his naturalization papers. Witness opened the box and found the papers.
THE
Mr. Gedge-Before proceeding with the cross-examination of this witness I will ask your Worship to direct the learned counsel (Mr. Robinson) to give the name of the Chinese official who instructed him to appear in this case. I want to know the name of this man. "An official in the Chinese Government is too vague.
1+
In answer to his Worship Mr. Robinson gave the name of the official by whom he was
instructed.
Mr. Gedge-What is be? Mr. Robinson-I believe he is the second official at Kowloon city.
Mr. Gedge then proceeded with his cross-ex- amination and in answer to his questions Inspector Hansen said he knew that the Chinese Govern- ment had offered a reward of $2,000 for the arrest of defendant. His name headed a list of names posted at the Sun On Magistrate's Tamen of men who were "tabooed" as Triad Society men. The $2,000 was to be paid for the arrest of defendant by the Chinese au- thorities for his connection with the Triad Society.
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Re-examined by Mr. Robinson witness said. that he had heard that the Triads had been committing lawless acts. Asked if he could say whether the district of Sun On was in a state of political rebellion in October or whether
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the disturbance arose from pillage, witness said he understood the state to be rebellious. A week before he arrested defendant Lau Kin Chi ap- plied to witness to arrest him in connection with the Triad Society. He had only heard of three crimes in the Sun On district lately.
N HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
In answer to his Worship witness said he did not at the time of the arrest know that there was a price on defendant's head.
Inspector Ford and a Chinese sergeant in- terpréter, who were on charge-room duty when defendant was brought in, gave formal evidence. Cheung Yun Fat gave evidence to the effect that on the 23rd day of the eighth moon five men came to the Tai Cheong village and went to the house of witness's master, Chun Tai, who is a large landowner, Defendant was one. of the men. Defendant said to witness, Tell your master to send me $3,000 on the 25th day. If he does not send it on the 25th day I shall want $1,000 for the 26th and each of the follow- ing days. If he does not send it by the 30th tell him to be careful."
Witness was subjected to a long cross-examin- ation by Mr. Gedge, in the course of which he stated that he was brought to Hongkong by two justices who told him he must say that. They did not threaten to cut his head off if he did not say what they told him, nor did they offer him money. They only promised to pay his expenses. They said to him, "You hare said such things and you must go and say that."
He had heard that $2,000 had been offered for defendant, but witness was to have no share of it. No threats were used to anyone when defen. dant asked witness to ask his master for the $3,000, except that he said, "If your master does not send the money tell him to be care- ful."
The case was concluded at six o'clock, when his worship, in view of the outcome of the bur glary case and the unsupported evidence in this case, discharged the defendant.
THE FORMOSA CAMPHOR TRADE,
In his report upon the trade of Tainan for the year 1897, Mr. Consul Griffiths contributes a very interesting article upon camphor. He writes: The camphor trade has, so far as concerns foreign merchants in South Formosa, almost entirely stopped, owing, among other causes, to the disturbed state of the country and the difficulty and danger of sending money into the camphor districts. The roads con- tinued throughout the year to be infested with armed robbers, who, on approach of the military or police fled to the hills (where it was, apparently, impossible to pursue them) only to reappear at the first favourable oppor- tunity. Robberies became of such frequent occurrence that no foreign or native merchan would venture to send money into the interior. The Japanese authorities on their part did not see their way to allow the tax to be paid in the treaty port on arrival of the camphor, and business was consequently brought to a stand- still. In the raids and skirmishes, too, which have taken place in the camphor-producing districts numbers stills have been destroyed. Their destruction was perhaps inevitable, but as they were almost entirely erected with money advanced or loaned by foreign mer- chans in South Formosa, the losses incurred by the latter have been very considerable. It is estimated that not one-third of the stills in existence two years ago, in which foreigners in South Formosa are interested, are now available for camphor production. The hope expressed by Her Majesty's Consul in last year's report on the trade of this direct, that the camphor trade might revive and assume large proportions, has not been realised; in fact far from this being the case, the camphor export business, as far as South Formosa is concerned has now (April 1898) almost stopped. The following table shows the export of cam- phor from this port since, practically, the commencement of the trade.
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
4,315 piculs. 6,691 12,157
10,145
"
8,001 3,057
31
The export at end of June this year is 730 piculs, since when shipments have absolutely stopped.
[November 26, 1898.
Mr. Griffiths attributes the stoppage “ among, other causes" to the disturbed state of the country, but it is well known that from the day the Japanese set foot in the island, the camphor trade of Mid-Formosa was doomed.
Foreigners were immediately restricted and such difficulties heaped upon them by the subor dinate officials that in spite of remonstrances on the part of the British and German Consuls, and even the Ministers in Tokyo, work in the interior bad to be abandoned. The Chinese workers, many of them, were actual wit- nesses of the arbitrary and overbearing- conduct of the officials towards the few for eigners who were journeying from place to place endeavouring to conform to the ever: changing rules and regulations. Foreign com. pradores were arrested and their account books seized. It is not to be wondered that these workers were quick to realise the position of affairs.
rebellion in 1896 brought matters to a climax.
Advances were repudiated, and the»
The camphor trade was practically finished. Owing to the difficulty of transporting funds into the interior, it will be seen that the Consul approached the authorities with the view of allowing the tax to be paid at the treaty port. This, it appears, would have been of great benefit to the foreign merchant, par | ticularly when it is explained that the tax could not be paid at the camphor centres, Hunlin and Chip Chip, but had, in the case of days' journey, over a mountainous region, often the latter depôt, to be sent to Polisia, a two
inaccessible during the heavy rains. The au thorities, it will be seen, declined to make any concession, clearly shewing their determination to discourage the foreigner. It is estimated. that fully one bundred and fifty thousand dollars have been sacrificed over the amphor business by foreigners and Chinese and that this amount is irretrievably lost. Surely there are sufficient grounds to warrant a claim on the Japanese for compensation, or are the British and German Governmerta content to let the matter rest at the expense of their unfortunate nationals?
ANARCHY IN SOUTH FORMOSA.
Private advices from South Formosa report a deplorable state of affairs, the country, it appears, being practically in the hands of the robbers, who become more daring every day. The road between Tainan and Takow is now said to be unsafe, and it is doubtful if it would be prudent for the foreigners to venture beyond the city walls of Tainan. It is only ten days ago, says a correspondent, that the Japanese postmaster at Takow was shot dead on his way to Akontiam. The sad event cast quite a gloom over the settlement, where he was very popular both with his own countrymen and the foreign community. Cases of this kind are of frequent occurrence, the police and gendarmes, being the principal victims. Compelled to travel alone or in small parties about the country, they are easily picked off by the banditti, who are generally in hiding, waiting for the solitary traveller. They are too cowardly to meet the Japanese soldiers (who are occasionally sent out to scour the country) and scatter themselves in such a manner as to defy pursuit. Chinese are also attacked and robbed, and if the traveller is of any position he is carried off and held to ransom. Trade. n consequence, is paralyzed and, with the approach of the sugar season, merchants apprehend much difficulty in getting money into the country. A reign of terror may be said to exist in the districts away from official influence, where the robbers have full sway and exact contributions from the unfort unate people. It seems to be well known that in order to get produce to the coast the contrac tors will bave during the coming season to sub- mit to a tax, imposed by the banditti, in order to secure a safe conduct of their goods to the treaty ports.
On the 12th November a collision, fortunately of a slight nature, occurred at Shanghai. The Japanese steamer Hinode Maru, from Japan, on rounding fouled the American sailer W. H. Conner, which was at her moorings. Several plates of the former were damaged also the headgear of the latter.
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