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THE HONKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK'S NOTE ISSUE. (Daily Press, 2nd August.) In moving the renewal for a further period of one year of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Excess Note Issue Bill in the Legislative Council on Monday the Hon. CP CRATER said there was absolutely no benefit to the Bank by the passing of this Bill, on the contrary it entailed expense and trouble to the Bank and a good deal of responsibility, but it was done for the benefit of the colony and to help trade and commerce. And the colony and trade and commerce are very much indebted to the Bank. It may be remembered that the ecretary of State objected to the Bank issuing notes in excess of the amount it was legally entitled to and the re- sult was that in the early part of last year there was a considerable contraction of the issue, which was equivalent to A contraction of the currency, for bank notes have almost entirely superseded silver us the circulating medium. In July, 1898, the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank's uote issue in Hongkong had fallen to a trifle over five millions. A Bill was then passed authorising that institution to issue notes in excess of its paid-up capital against a silver deposit dollar for dollar, and the result has been that last month the amount in circulation reached almost eight millions. This large addition to our local currency has been of almost incalculable advantage to the public, for it has greatly facilitated trade and commerce and contaibuted to the easier tone of the money market that now prevails.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
It was seen at once that every preparation had been made for the reception of the Gover nor, whose appearance was eagerly awaited by the elders and a large number of villagers. No which has come over the district in less than four one could avoid being struck with the change short months. It was only in April that what threatened to become a not inconsiderable rebel. lion broke out. Now the famous Flagstaff Hill, on which Captain Superintendent May and bis men fought for their lives on the afternoon of Saturday, April 15th, has its summit crowned with an uncompleted building which is to serve as the official quarters. On another hill close by is a neat little mat-shed which has been put up for the accommodation of His Excellency when he chooses to spend a day or two in the neighbourhood; and adjoining emin. ences are a large mat-shed, doing duty as the official quarters and a small one in which the policefare ensconced. Good paths from the shore to the erections have been made and also a long temporary pier.
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His Excellency and his party, which included Lady Blake and Miss Blake. the Countess of Huntingdon, Commodore Powell, Mrs. and Miss. Powell, and Viseonut Suirdale, came in H.M.S. Pigmy their arrival, at about 12 o'clock, being heralded by the letting off of crackers innumer- able and the quaint music of a couple of Chinese bands, whose musical instruments, judging from the noise they made, consisted chiefly of particularly sonorous gongs. In the meantime the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Colonial Secretary), in full uniform, descended from the official quarters to a paviliou below, in front of which were the elders and about 60 numbers of the Hongkong Regiment. Here he awaited His Excellency, whom the troops received with a Royal Salute. On His Excel. lency taking his seat the elders respectfully
[August 5, 1899.
ever having been allowed to occur?... The | sey (Harbour Master). These embarked in the | of another claimant, be accepted as owner bat if decision of the Secretary of State might Wingfu at Murray Pier at about 7 o'clock in the person in occupation is decided not to be more||appropriately have
the morning, together with Mr. Bruce Shepherd the proper owner followed the
(Official Receiver), Mr. F. A. Blake (the Go be returned, and the unt paid by him wil - will be collected from familiar lines of the finding of a Marine vernor's brother), Mr. H. E. Belilios, Mrs. the person decided to be the lawful owner. A Court of Inquiry and been to the effect Ormsby, and two press representatives, and few days ago some ill advised people assembled that the casualty was due to neglect after an exceedingly pleasant run, the weather near Un Long and behaved in a riotous manner, and errors of judgment on the part being charming, reached Taipohu at half-pust assaulting a party who were examining certain lands. I warn you against such unlawful pro- of the master and first mate, in this eleven. case the Governor and Colonial Secretary,
ceedings, as this was taking the law into their own hands. They should, if they objected, have but that in view of their commendable efforts to minimise the effects when the
applied to the Land Officer, who would have the matter and decided casualty occurred the case would be suffici-
examined into
ently met by a reprimaud and caution.
upon their objections. Under the powers given to me by the law I could have placed a station of Poë There is, however, an old saying that it is better to be born lucky than rich, and Sir
lice upon that land aud compelled the villagers who'oreated the disturbance to pay the entire cost HENRY BLAKE and Mr. STEWART LOCKART
of building the station and paying the Police; appear to be striking examples of its truth.
But I have determined not to do so ou this first offence but to warn the people through you that such illegal rioting will be severaly punish- ed in future. The elders of a village can always prevent such disorder by giving timely information to the Police. If they do not held responsible. All persons of whatever prevent it, then they and the villagers will be nation must be free to move about without You must understand danger of molestation. from what I have said that clan fights cannot be allowed. The law is strong enough to pro tect the rights of every man, and must be appealed to in cases of dispute that cannot be settled by the local committees. I am sorry to find that robberies by armed gangs have been frequent, and against such violence you have hitherto not been adequately in different parts of the territory for the pur protected. I have established Police Stations pose of preventing such robberies and protect. ing your lives and property. Since the territory was taken over three months ago many of those robbers have been arrested, the stolen property has been restored to the owners, and s large are now in gadl number of the robbers undergoing sentences of imprisonment for ive and seven years. I am determined thất noh robberies shall be put down and that saw abiding and peaceable people shall enjoy security that has hitherto been denied of innocent men that took place at Un Loong in April last. For the murder of one of those His EXCELLENCY (the Hon. J. H. Stewart
men two of the principals in that brutal crime Lockhart translating) then said-Now that after a fair and patient trial have paid the this territory has been divided into districts and penalty with their lives. I hope that if any bad the sub-district committee men have been characters remain in the territory they will selected from the elders and gentry I wish to
take warning and cease from evil ways. I have meet you and to explain to you the principles directed that the law against gambling shall be The Chinese law against upon which the government of this portion of rigidly enforced. the colony of Hougkong will be conducted. I gambling is very strong, but the officials have In British territory all laws desire that you who have been officially ap neglected, it pointed sha I co-operate with the Government must be equally respected. You have seen by in regulating the local affairs of your villages my proclamation the amount of crown rent so that the people shall enjoy security and that that has been decided upon as the land rent for there shall be no disorder. The Government the present. In considering what taxes are to has appointed officials who will advise you as to be levied on you, you must remember that all sanitary improvements in the villages so that the money paid by you to the Government is the health of the people may be preserved, for
money that is paid for your protection and for the Queen of England wishes that all Her the improvement and development of your pro- Majesty's subjects shall be healthy and prosperty. The money paid for public works is perous. In giving you the position of paid to your own labourers for their labour and Committeomen I rely upon you to discharge comes to the traders in the ordinary course of your duties in a faithful" and upright manner
business. Up to the present over ten thousand and would call your attention to the fact that dollars have been paid in wages to the working one of our most stringent laws is that if as people of this district and now that gambling much as one cash is taken from the people has been stopped this money will be spent except the rates and taxes levied under in the purchase of land for farms or of authority the person extorting it will be food and clothing from the shops, while the rigorously punished by fine and imprisonment main road from Kowloon to Taipo will enable and be dismissed in disgrace from his position, the people to send in their produce to market I wish to interfere as little as possible with your in any weather. There will be a license tax on good customs, but there is one principle of Bri- all business honses--but you have been relieved tish law that must be observed. All punishment from the payment of all customs duties and for injuries must be inflicted by the appointed an- monopolies that raised the price of everything thority under the law. Therefore in case of in- that you consumed. Do not object to strangers jury the proper authority must be appealed to coming to the district. They will all bring and the punishment must not be undertaken by money and increase the wealth and comfort of private individuals. The time has now come the people. I know that many people from this when all occupiers of land must register their district have travelled to other countries. They titles with the Land Officer When application must have seen there how capital employs is made giving the exact area of land occupied, labour and produces wealth. With the intro- a notice will be posted in the village so that if duction of fresh capital into this district that I another claims the land he can apply to the Laud hope to see one day some who are now driven to Officer, when the claims will be considered by evil courses for want of occupation will find the Land Court. No curtificate of registration within their reach employment that will enable will be issued until the Crown rent has been them to live respectable lives. I have appointed. paid. There should be no delay in registering y
you to the responsible position of go nmittes your titles. The occupier will, in the absence men because you have been recommended to ine
OUR NEW TERRITORY. INTERESTING SCENE AT TAIPOHU
HIS EXCELLENCY AND THE LAND
T SHARPERS.
HOW THEY ARE TO BE CHECKMATED.
An interesting scene, and one which will long be remembered in the New Territory, was Witnessed at Taipohu on Wednesday, when His Excellency the Governor (Sir Henry Blake, GCM.G.) met some 300 of the elders and gentry who have been appointed to co- operate with the Government in regulating the local affairs of the surrounding villages, and addressed them on the duties they are expected to discharge now that they have become British
subjects.
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At the meeting of the Legislative Council on Monday His Excellency invited the members and the representatives of the press to accom- him, but the invitation-probably on Locount of the short notice was not largely cepted, only three members of the Legislative body being present the Hon. E. R. Belilios, CM.G., the Hon. R. D. Ormsby (Director of Public Works), and the Hon. R. Murray Rum
"kowtowed."
them. You liave all heard of the ornel murders
: