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"by foreigners (the so-called concessions) “at the different ports to be regarded as the aren of exemption from lekin," and that at all ports opened to trade at which no settlement area has been defined such de finition of area was to be made. By the Additional Article it was agreed that these arrangements should be reserved for further consideration between the two Governments. The BANKER case will perhaps hasten on this consideration. It would, however, be but a barren victory if the right of a foreigner to keep a shop in Canton free of lekin were established while foreign goods sold through Chinese were still subjected to the extra- treaty tax. What is wanted is to get rid of lekin altogether, and of the question of the area of exemption from lekin, by au arrangement that one payment at the port of entry shall free goods of all further taxa- tion whether they remain in foreign hands or are transferred to Chinese.
THE OPENING OF CANTON.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
M
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"add to the prestige of the British Empire, nor can it improve British trade and com- merce, if this state of affairs is allowed to "continue. There can be no possible rea- "son why a Chinese who becomes a British " subject should not enjoy all the privileges "and advantages which are available to any "other British national. Why should a "Chinaman who wishes to become a British "subject be compelled to submit to what he "considers degrading and humiliating re- "gulations a bit more than those other na- ❝tionalities and creeds who wear the dress "of their people, and who form the larger proportion of the millions who are proud to be the subjects of the queen of Eng "land ?" The distinguished writer does not appear to have made enquiries as to the arguments on the opposite side, or, if he ascertained that there were such arguments, to have thought them worthy of mention. The question, however, is one of consider- able importance, and although, as Lord CHARLES BERESFORD says, there can be no possible reason why a Chinese who becomes a British subject should not enjoy all the privileges and advantages which are available to any other British national, there are reasons, which have been repeatedly stated officially, and which appear to possess considerable force, why Chinese who desire to enjoy the advantages of British nation- ality should be required to clearly proclaim their nationality.
or COS-
[July 15, 1899.
"mark of dis-
willing to suffer persecution rather than submit to the tousure, but for a cen- tury past the Chinese have come to look on the pigtail as a_vital | tinction between the
and the "barbarian.” The Straits born Chinese, Mr. PICKERING went on to say, when in "China wear the queue for fear lest they may be identified with Europeans or with any race not Chinese. Whatever these people, born under our rule, educated in our schools, and made wealthy by our protection, may say or write, in their heart "of hearts they consider themselves Chi- nese, despise all other races as being in- "ferior foreigners, and only plead British nationality to enforce a claim or when they are in trouble. If Straits born Chi nese wish for the protection of our Minis "ter and Consuls when in a foreign land they must be prepared to submit to such Foreign Office regulations regarding Iress, coiffure, etc., as will enable both "Chinese and British officials in China to
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distinguish British subjects from Chinese "who own allegiance to Peking." These remarks apply equally to Hongkong Chi uese. Readers who may be interested in investigating this subject further will find Mr. PICKERING's letter and the official notifications above referred to set out in Mr, NORTON-KYSHE'S "History of the "Laws and Courts of Hongkong."
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No one would wish to make the Chinese
British subject in Chinn ridiculous by requiring him to wear a stovepipe hat and swallowtail coat, but there is nothing degrading and humiliating," to use Lord CHARLES BEResford's words, in requiring him to boldly proclaim his British nation- ality if he desires to enjoy the advantages it affords. On the other hand it would be degrading and humilating to the British Government to be continually called upon to interfere between the Chinese authorities and Chinamen who had been passing as Chi- nese subjects but appealed to British protec- tion when they got into trouble or wishe to avoid payment of their debts. On the question of what the distinguishing badge of a Chinese British subject in China should be the British Government would naturally be disposed to consider to the fullest possi- ble extent the wishes of the parties con- cerned, but it is essential that the badge, whatever form it may take, should be clear and unmistakable both to the Chinese and the British authorities. If the persons affected are "proud to be the subjects of the Queen
(Daily Press, 13th July.) The heading of an article which appeared in yesterday's issue, "The Opening of Can- ton, carries the mind back to the early days of treaty relations between China and European Powers. The Treaty of Nanking, signed fifty-seven years ago, provided that British subjects should be allowed to reside for the purpose of carrying on their mercan- tile pursuits, without molestation or restraint, In November, 1866, a notification was at certain cities and towns, including Can-published that British subjects of Chinese tou; yet it is only in this year of grace 1899 descent had by treaty no right of resi that the right of foreigners to establish dence in the interior of China, and that places of business in the city of Canton if they were found so residing they were beyond the limits of the foreign concessions liable to be brought to the nearest port by and free of duty payments unauthorised by the Chinese authorities as British subjects treaty has been established. It is sometimes to be dealt with in accordance with the rules aid that foreign influence has only touched and regulations in such cases made and pro- the fringe of China, and the history of com. vided. In 1868 a circular was issued by mercial intercourse at Canton proves only the Minister at Peking which laid down too clearly the accuracy of the statement. that in the event of persons of Chinese des- The establishment of foreign firms in the cent electing to sink their British nationality city is, however, a notable advance for they could not claim any exmption from the interests of foreign trade and strikes a the jurisdiction and laws of the country they adopted of their own free will, and en- joined all British subjects of Chinese des- cent while residing or being in Chinese territory to discard the Chinese costume and adopt some other dress tume whereby they might be readily distinguished from the native population. In the case of a Straits born Chinaman who recently claimed British nationality upon getting into trouble at Amoy the position was stated in an official despatch by the Colonial Secretary of the Straits as follows: -"Her Majesty's Government cannot allow 'persons of Chinese race born in this colony to enjoy the benefits of a double "nationality, that is to say, it cannot "permit them, after acting as the petitioner "has done as if they were subjects of the Emperor of China by residing and owning property in the interior forbidden to
A Hongkong correspondent of Freedom In the letter addressed to Lord CHARLES
"British subjects, afterwards to deny (Manila) writes:-In conversation with one of BERESFORD by the Hon. Dr. Ho Kat and
"Chinese nationality and obtain as British Hongkong's business men the other evening," Hon. WEI AYUK attention was drawn to
subjects that full protection and counten your representative was treated to the following the position of Chinese British subjects in
ance which can be accorded only to those story, which may be interesting to Manila China, the difficulty they experience in
"who have consistently from their birth people. The conversation had turned upon the securing recognition and protection, and "conducted themselves and been registered
American-Filppino war, when the gentleman remarked: :-"If Japan was at war with the the objections they entertain to the obser
as British subjects." In a letter to the Filipinos, the latter would find that vance of the rule of distinctive dress, which Times suggested by this case Mr. PICKER-panese were as familiar with every nook and has been offered to them as a means of ING, formerly Protector of Chinese at Sin-corner on the Island of Luzon as they them. overcoming this difficulty. His Lordship's gapore, pointed out that in Chinn the very selves. Why, the Japanese Government has sympathy was excited and in his book, fact of shaving the head and wearing a had its agents on every island in the Philippine ***The Break-up of Chinn," he says:-"The queue is an acknowle Igement of subjection group during the past fifteen years, making ** statement with regard to the position of to the dynasty which reigns at Peking, and maps and drawings and familjarizing them those Chinese who have become British any Chinese official is justified in consider of the Japanese Government up to the time selves with the country. It was the intention subjects is not generally known, and, Iing such a person under his jurisdiction; that the United States took possession of the * submit, calls for the earnest attention for years after the appearance in China Islands, to some day raise the Japanese flag of the Associated Chambers. It cannot of the Tsing dynasty the Chinese were over them and proclaim them a part of Japan."
blow
at the squeeze system that may be expected to have far reaching results, for when the right of foreigners to sell goods direct to the consumer free of lekin is clearly recognised it will be impossible to go on levying squeezes on native dealers in the same articles. The effect therefore will be that within the limits of the treaty ports forbigo goods will reach the consumer with the payment only of the duties authorised by treaty. It remains to be seen, however, That measures the native authorities will endeavour to adopt for the neutralisation of the privilege.
LORD CHAKLES BERESFORD ON THE KECOGNITION OF CHINESE AS BRITISH SUBJECT'S,
(Daily Press, 14th July.)
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of England"-again we quote from Lord CHARLES BERESFORD-they should not be ashamed to proclaim the fact. The Hou. Dr. Ho Kat himself has long discarded the queue and adopted European costunie, and in the Straits there is a movement amongst the more progressive Chinese in the came direction, so far at least as discarding the queue is concerned.