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tance. When
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[April 22, 1899.
constables and P.C's Clarke and Garrod.
"China and to the ways of mandarindom. | Regular passenger launches would also be a On Friday afternoon Captain-Superintendent It was, however, a departure whi h we convenience for the public, and on political May went over to Taipohu in the T.-B. des. hope will not be repeated, for it will give grounds it is desirable that travel between troyer Fame, having with bim 20 Indian the truculent and overbearing Chinese in the different parts of the colony should be On landing they found that the police the South a very mistaken and mis- encouraged. So far as the non-official Europ-quarters had again been burned down, and they chievous impression of the relative posi-ean community is concerned, such launches also noticed a number of armed villagers—some- tions of Hongkong and Canton, to the would at first be used only sparingly, and where about a thousand occupying a position detriment of the first-named, which they chiefly for Saturday and Sunday excursions, on one of the elevations. As they were evi- will strive to represent as a small tributary but something might be said in favour of dently bent on mischief, Mr. May and his party state." Of the views expressed in the above the proposal even on that ground, for the returned to Hongkong, and the matter was
extracts those of the Shanghai paper | desirability of the inhabitants of the new reported to H. E. the Governor. will command the most general accepterritory becoming familiarised with Europ-stables again left for Talpohu with tents and
On Saturday
morning Mr. May and the con- Sir HENRY BLAKE goes eans will hardly be disputed. Members of other materials to establish a camp until the A hundred men of for business, in the way of looking out for the Hongkong Regiment, in charge of Captain suitable localities for establishing industrial Berger, marched over the bills to the same enterprises, and so on. There is, further place. On their arrival the police were fired more, the postal service to be considered. upon by a force numbering apparently about Presumably the Government will at once 1,000 men wearing the uniform of Chinese take the postal service of the new troops and occupying a neighbouring ridge. territory into its own hands, and for that a exchanged. During the engagement Captain The fire was returned and several velloys were regular service of steam launches will be Berger and his men appeared and the rebels necessary. No time should be lost, we gave them a similar greeting, which was think, in establishing regular lines to Taipo- promptly replied to. Then the torpedo-boat hu, Chinwan, and Lantao.
destroyer Fame, with Captain Long on board, hove up. Captain Long, taking over the com- mand, ordered Lieutenant Keys to land a party from the Fame and shell the rebel position. This having been done Captain Long or. dered an advance, and with a rush the position was captured and the opposing force cleared out. Besides a small battery it was found that a complete series of shelter trenches commanding the spot where the flag was to be hoisted to-day had been made.
Canton let me to stay-as. Governor | picnic parties might also have an eye open mat-sheds were re-erected.
÷
General of Her Majesty's new dominion comprising what are now the Chinese provinces of Kwangtung, Kwangai, etc. sto. Why not? The best reply to Chi- nese treachery, at Kowloon would bea militay expedition to Canton, The home Government may perhaps not be disposed at once to sanction such a bold step as that, but in the long run we think good is bound to come out of the evil of the last few days. We have heard a great deal of late of England's sphere of influence in the Yangtaze Valley. The events now transpiring in Sunon will serve to direct attention to England's sphere of influence in the South and tend to steps being taken for its more effective development and con- servation.
ROAD AND WATER COMMUNICA
TION IN THE NEW TERRITORY.
(Daily Press, 21st April). In the speech he made on the occasion of the hoisting of the flag at Kowloon city on Tuesday H.E. the Governor told the Chinese assembled that he was going to make a road from Taipohu to Shatin and thence to Kowloon, so that they might asily transport their goods to Hongkong for sale and take back with them goods in exchange. We trust this promise will be redeemed with the least possible delay, the making of roads being of vital importance to the development of the new territory and the preservation of order. But if com- munication by road is of importance, so also is communication by water, and in the case of Lantao the communication of course can only be by water. Perhaps it may be tread- ing on rather delicate ground to suggest anything in the nature of steamer subsidies, but it seems to us that, for a time at all events, it would be good policy on the part
run between
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THE UNITED STATES AND THE PHILIPPINES.
(Daily Press, 21st April.) The Cincinnati Single Tax Club is, we should say, not a very influential body, but its protest against the war of conquest now being waged in the Philippines will pro- bably secure the endorsement of a not in- considerable section of the American people. The protesters consider no occasion more suitable than the anniversary of Washing- ton's birthday to remind themselves of the doctrines enumerated by the great in- surrectionists of 1776. Those doctrines include the declaration that all Govern- ments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that government not so derived is despotis!, that taxation without representation is tyranny, and that resistance to tyrants is obdience to God. There are some Americans, however, who consider that these doctrines are for home consumption only,
THE FERMENT IN THE HINTERLAND.
SERIOUS OPPOSITION TO THE BRITISH OCCUPATION.
UPON.
of the Government to arrange for small THE POLICE AND TROOPS FIRED steamers ог launches to Victoria and the more important points in the new territory, and to
run on schedule time. In course of time private enterprise will no doubt be found equal to all requirements, but for the present the new territory is practically inaccessible to the majority of the residents of Hongkong, owing to the absence of means of communication, and until private enter- prise has risen to the new circumstances the Government might very well give some encouragement by offering a small subsidy for each of the more important lines. In some cases this would probably prove pecuniarly advantageous to the Goverument itself. It is evident that for some time to come, and probably in perpetuity, a garrison and strong police force will have to be maintained in the neighbourhood of Taipohu
SEVERAL CHINESE KILLED.
THE FLAG HOISTED ON SUNDAY,
INTERESTING PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR.
17th April Considerable commotion was caused in the city yesterday morning by the issuing of the following express *----
"Owing to unforeseen cirenmstances, the
British Flag has been hoisted at Taipohu to- day. By Order, J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary. Hongkong, 16th April, 1899."
Notwithstanding the fact that in view of re- cent events it was considered not at all unlikely that a disturbance would take place, the expres sions of regret at the cancelling of to-day's
Several Chinese were killed and wounded,
but there were no casualties on our side.
On news of the engagement reaching Hong- kong, half a battalion of the Hongkong Regi ment left for the scene of action on Saturday at midnight, but on arriving at Taipohn they found all quiet, the rebels having apparently had enough for the time being.
Yesterday Major-General Gascoigne, Hon. J. H Stewart Lockhart, and Commodore Pa well left in the Brisk, with a detachment of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, having been in- structed by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Henry Blake, to hoist the flag at one o'clock. This was accordingly done, and at the same hour a salute in honour of the occasion was fired in the harbour, the men-of-war being deco- rated. The Peacock went over into Kowloon Bay, into what were formerly Chinese waters, to fire a salute there.
At one o'clock yesterday afternoon Coloue! The O'Gorman proceeded to Taipobu to take command of the force, it having been arranged to establish a military camp on a plateau about two and a half miles from Taipohu, between the villages of Sun On Tsai and Tain I'sau, and al- most in the centre of the territory.
Yesterday morning a deputation from the Extension waited upon His Excellency at Go- vernment House and on behalf of themselves and others of Her Majesty's new subjects handed to him a blackwood box, with; s Chinese inscription on the lid, the interpre- tation being, "The country's tranquility and the people's happiness." The box contained a couple of silk British flags, one being intended for use at to-day's ceremony, after which it was to become the property of His Excellency, and the other to be forwarded to. Her Majesty the
Queen
The deputation expressed their deep regret: at the disturbances which had taken place in
the Dew territory, and said that they were all due to the Triad Societies, the members of which had been terrorising the villagers for months past, and compelling them to disburse large sums of money.
Yesterday a message was received to the effect
mer at points nearer the border, and as there programme were general, though it was ad. that Mr. Mudie, of the Public Works Depart-
mitted, when the circumstances became known, that the course adopted was the best.
will have to be a frequent exchange of despatches, and officers and members of the respective services will have to travel to and fro, it would probably pay the Government better to subsidise a regular line of private launches than to employ Government laun-
hes or engage private launches by the trip. " quelled.
It was recognised on Saturday that the op- position to the British occupation was gaining in strength rather than diminishing, and that it would be necessary to take every precaution so that any disturbance could be promptly
ment, who went to Taipohu on Friday with some Chinese workmen for the purpose, of erecting a flag-staff, was safe.
Last night we were informed that the flag was hoisted in perfect quietness. About 100 coolies from neighbouring villages gave great deal of assistance, and a few head men were present at the ceremo
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