August 3, 1899.j
be" limited to the necessities of defence "and protection ”
appears from the fact that the "limits of British territory" are enlarged to the extent indicated on the map attached to the agreenient, from which it follows that the territory in question becomes
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
the Hongkong General Chamber of Com- merce has recommended the establishment of bonded warehouses for opium, and it is understood the recommendation will shortly be carried into effect. It was at one time supposed that with the establishment of
Britian, and in British territory | these proposed bonded warehouses the Cus- |
must prevail. The "sole juristoms agency maintained in the colony "diction" conferred upon Great Britain might reasonably be invited to withdraw, must therefore be held to include the right but consideration has shown that such a of making or altering laws as well as the course would not be fensible, as appears right of administration. It is furthermore from General BLACK's despatches on the agreed that there will be no expro subject, General BLACK was believed to priation or expulsion of the inhabitants of be a staunch opponent of the maintenance "the district," a point upon which it would of any Chinese Customs establishment in any assurance had it been the understanding had priv tely expressed himself in terma have been unnecessary for China to ask for Hongkong, and, we have reason to believe, between the parties that the New Territory that justified that belief. When, however, should bestill under the territorial sovereignty it fell to his lot to deal with the ques of the Emperor of China and the inhabitants tion as Acting Governor, to disregard thereof still Chinese subjects. The fact that rhodomontade in the ultra-patriotic key the territory is ceded only "under leuse " and look at the question from a plain gives an appearance of plausibility to
common-sense business standpoint, he some of Mr. FRANCIS's arguments, but no found that the Customs agency was a one is Letter aware than the learned gentle necessity, not only from the Chinese point mau himself of the bearing of legal fictions. of view, with which he had nothing to do, I, however, the use of the term "lease " but from the point of view of Hongkong's should cause any doubt, the legal maxi commercial interests. His Excellency re- must be applied, interpretatio talis in commended therefore that the Chinese ambiguis semper fienda est ut evitetur in | Government should be permitted to have conveniens et absurdum. As to auother point an agency in the colony of a purely mer- in the petition, we would suggest to Mr.cantile character for the purpose of issuing FRANCIS that he has no occasion to distress himself concerning the landed interests of Her Majesty's new subjects. Those in- terests will no doubt be as well protected as have been the corresponding interests of the natives of the island of Hongkong. Finally, murder is punishable by death under Chi- nese law as well as under English law, so that even if it were held that Chinese law prevailed and that British jurisdiction was limited to the administration of the law the case of the Un Loong murderers would not be affected thereby; their lives would still be forfeit
CE
THE CUSTOMS QUESTION AT TSINTAU AND HONGKUNG.
(Daily Press, 31st July.) We publish to-day a summary of an inter- esting article which appears in the last issue of the Ontasiatische Lloyd on the Chinese Customs question at Tsintau. The account that appeared a short time ago of the pro- ceedings which attended the inauguration of the Custom-house, including a flag-hoist- ing ceremony, caused considerable astonish- ment, and the German authorities them selves appear to have since arrived at the conclusion that the ceremony was an act of folly. As was remarked in a recent article in this column on the Customs question in relation to Hongkong, "whatever assistance may be given to the Chinese Government "in protecting its revenue should be given without creating any mistaken impression as to where the sovereignty lies." The flag-hoisting ceremony at Taiutau was cal. culated to create such a mistaken impres sion, and for that reason must be considered a grave mistake. But if the German an thorities made a mistake on that point, we think they have adopted a sound policy in making arrangements with the Chinese Customs whereby trade can be carried on between German and Chinese territory with the least possible delay, expense, or in- convenience, the freedom of the port being at the same time carefully preserved. That some arrangement with the Customs is necessary and inevitable is proved by the experience of Hongkong, where the, so-called blockade has given rise to much irritation. To relieve the position
drawn therefrom that if co-operation the Customs would restrict the smuggl arms such co-operation would be to interest of the colony,
THE GOVERNOR AT TAIPOHU:
(Daily Press, 4th August.) place at Taipohu on Wednesday possesɛes The very interesting ceremony which took
so soon after the publication of Mr. J. J. some special" significance coming as it did FRANCIS's petition impugning British, cover, ignty over the New Territory and placing: narrow limits on the administrative autho
It is not likely that many of the inhabitants rity conferred upon Her Majesty by the agreement with the Chinese Government. of the district have rend Mr. FRANCIS & petition or that they would be able to follow his arguments if they have, but it may be noted that the inhabitants themselves, in the address presented to the Governor, declared themselves "proud indeed to be the subjects "Majesty the Queen." The inhabitantethere "of such a benevolent sovereiga, an Her fore recognise that they owe allegiance to Her Majesty, and any attempt to disturb them in their belief, whether made by. Mr,. FRANCIS or by native agitators, is to ba severely deprecated.
H.E. the Governor made some remarks opium certificates. Subsequently His Ex-upon the land question, informing the cellency varied his recommendation some-
people that they must register their titles; what and suggested that the Harbour be decided according to justice, that Crown that questions of disputed ownership would Master should send every evening to the Customs a return of all opium shipped and
rent would be payable, and that if any whither bound, upon which the Customs low value by false representations being made person had been induced to sell his land sta could arrange for the collection of duty to him as to the intentious of the British upon this amount of opium at the port of Government, the sale would not be accepted destination. Both schemes imply a recos as valid. This latter announcement may or nition of the Customs Service and a certain amount of co-operation therewith. It is true have been in circulation as to sharp practice may not have been called for. Reports General BLACK also recommended that the on the part of land speculators, but whether Customs should have nothing to do with those reports have any foundation of truth any other kind of goods than opium, but remains to be seen. Some of the statements as to that we should say that if we are to made are incredible on the face of them, have the Customs at all it would be well because the Chinese, even the most ignorant to make the fullest use possible of them for peasantry, understand the rights of property the facilitation of trade in articles of all and it is very unlikely that they would descriptions. There is a popular supersti- he taken in by tales they were about tion that the function of the Customs is to to be dispossessed without compensation. prey" upon the trule of the colony, but They are, moreover, sufficiently near to that of course is mere nonsense when it is Hongkong, and sufficiently acquainted with the Foreign and not the Native Customs the system prevailing here, to know that no that are in question. Their function is to such injustice could be perpetrated by the collect the legitimate duty on imports into British Government. If, however, contrary China and exports from that country, and to probability, some persons have been de any arrangement that can be effected with ceived by false representations, it would be them whereby that duty may be collected right that the Government should, without what is termed a blockade of clear proof of the misrepresentation, decline Hongkong must necessarily be to the in- to recognise the transaction. terests of the colony. The freedom of the port is the sheet auchor of Hongkong's pros- perity, but regulations to prevent the abuse of that freedom cannot be regarded as diminishing or destroying it. The China Mail of Friday last noted that "One effect "of the removal of the Customs cruisers "from the waters of Capsuimoon is the in- "creased endeavours to export from the Colony arms and ammunition," and in its issue of Saturday it has a judicious article on the same subject in which it points out "the important connection between this movement of arms and the recrudescence of piracy in the waters of the Colony and the waterways of the neighbouring Pro- "vince of Kwangtung," and states t that "the rebels, thieves and pirates are being supplied with firearmsan fammunition from Hongkong, so that Hongkong is contribut "ing to kill its own trade with the interior." Our contemporary does not make these observations in connection with the Customs question, but the inference may fairly be
16
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THE SECRETARY OF STATES DES- PA UM ON THE, KOWLOON
ISTURBANCES.
(Daily Press, 31st July.)
A despatch from the Secretary of State re ferring to the Kowloon disturbances is pub- lished in the Gazette. It is to be hoped Governor's despatch with its enclosures, knowledged in the first Secretary of State's despatch, will
paragraph made public, either by laying it. table of the Legislative Council wise. As the matter stands at opinion of the public will be, - either that the case has not been represented or that the Secretary has formed an erroneous judgment so far as the Governor and the C Secretary are concerned.__ When turbauce broke out no doubt both of high officials did the best they could, but where does the fault lie for the disturbance
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