August 26, 1899.]
be fluctuations in the future, as there have been in the past, and a rise is in the long run as prejudicial to trade as a fall. What trade requires, is stability of exchange, and, bimetallism being now unfortunately out of court, it is only by the adoption of the gold standard that permanent stability can be obtained,
}
FINANCIAL REFORM IN CHINA,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
J
165
Huaian and Tsingkiang-pu.The great THE TUNG WA HOSPITAL?" " question with the Empress Dowager for. the moment is that of finance. A deficit stares her in the face, and to remedy t
(Daily Press, 22nd August.) Her Majesty is prepared to promise all lished on behalf of the Tang, Wa
this
The appeal which Mr. Ho Tuxa kinds of reforms, more especially those extension scheme merita a liberal which seem most likely to yield a good on the part of the public. Within, the list, financial return. The old Lady is evid few years a great improvement has been tlyen intensely practical, and is prepared to effected in the Tung Wa Hospital, and throw sentiment and long cherished opinions patients who so desire can to the winds if by so doing she can consoli that institution the benefits of We
can now obtain fr
Majesty, in her new born zeal for reform, they elect to be treated by Native or date her authority. Curiously enough Her medical science, while all alike. first among Manchu Princes to recognise sanitation and proper hospital never refers to the EMPEROR, who was the ern methods, enjoy the benefits of improv and admit its necessity. To be consistent ments. It is now proposed to erect a she should restore KWANG SU to power building as an extension, in which again and lend her support to the schemes ward is to be set apart for midwifery of reform he laboured to set on foot in his as Mr. Ho TUNG says, “is urgently most difficult Empire. Meantime KANG Yibonsidering the high mortality, amongs has been stopped at Shanghai on his way "infants and mothers." The amount, back to Peking and it is reported that his preventible suffering and the high mortality mission is to be extended to the Southern that exist in connection with childbirth provinces.
amongst the Chinese are enormous, and any movement calculated to ameliorate the dis tressing state of affairs that at present exist cannot fail to appeal to the humane ig- stincts of all who can be induced to give a thought to the subject. We take it for granted that in the proposed obstetric ward exception will have the benefit of scientific of the Tung Wa all the patients without. attention, for if native methods were 1 prevail it would naturally make a material community would view the undertaking. difference in the light in which the foreign
THE DIFFERENTIAL TAX ON FORMOSA TEA.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
(Daily Press, 28rd August.) The Chinese Government, or the collection of Boards that pass for such at Peking, are in a fresh difficulty. : The funds relied upon for the purpose of greasing the wheels of the State coach and to permit of the cumbrous machine turning its creaking course, do not roll in, the receipts, from various alleged causes, having proved lamentably insufficient for the purpose. The Empress Dowager has therefore been obliged to reconsider her posi tion. Her Majesty finds, as a consequence, that the reforms she strenuously condemned when mooted by the Emperor Kwang Su and his advisers, were not all so unnecessary and foolish as she in her mature experience had imagined. She begins to see, for ins tance, that the system of collection in the provinces must be very faulty inasmuch as
(Daily Press, 22nd August.) it frequently leaves nothing for transmission
The action of the Japanese Government to the Imperial Treasury. The general cor- Formosa teas of yen 1.60 per picul if in imposing a discriminating duty on ruption prevailing has been the means of opening the eyes of the Empress and shipped direct to foreign countries whilst she is at length compelled to sanction allowing the leaf to be shipped from For- measures of reform which she was pre- abroad free of duty, is in direct conflict mosa to Japan free and thence exported pared to denounce as utopian and danger with the spirit of the treaty between Great ous when advocated by the Emperor. The Britain and Japan, if not the actual astute Empress Dowager has not hesit letter, and we should think it will only be ated long as to the policy to be adopted. necessary to draw official attention to the She has seen that the officials in the pro- subject in order to have the grievance re- vinces were all fighting for their own hand,
On Thursday afternoon a meeting of the Hong that the replenishment of the Imperial
moved. Representations have been ad-kong Legislative Council was held Treasury had no interest for them, and that dressed to Sir E. SATOW, H.B.M. Minister Council Chamber at the Government Omorrh the corruption on which the Emperor had to Japan, by the Anoy and Hongkong there being present such strong opinions was a real and potent early intimation that the objectionable duty Chambers of Commerce, and we look for an factor in the administration of the Empire. has been abolished. The treaty provides Hence the acceptance of measures odious to her party, and hence also the mission of for reciprocal freedom of commerce and His Excellency KANG YI to Kiangnan navigation and that "the same export and Chekiang to ascertain what amount of
"duties shall be paid and the same bounties surplus taxation could, in those populous
“and drawbacks allowed in the dominions and prosperous provinces, be spared for the
'and possessions of either of the high benefit of Peking to help make good the
contracting parties on the exportation of large deficit in the revenue there. That any article which is or may be legally deficit is set down at twenty million taels,
exported therefrom, whether such export- and Kang Yi has gone on a mission to
"ation shall take place in Japanese or in endeavour to augment the provincial con-
"British vessels, and whatever be the place tributions"from eighty to one hundred
of destination, whether a port of either of million taels. It is stated that the Imperial
"the high contracting parties or of any Commissioner will take back with him to
"third Power." Now the object of the new the capital from Kiangnan some two million duty is to compel Formosa teas to be ship taels, which will no doubt be a welcome ped via Japan instead of via Amoy, which contribution to the depleted Treasury, and has hitherto been the port of transhipment oils.) he expects to extract a similar sum from for the Formosa tea trade; and the compulsory Chekiang; he will also return with some shipment of Formosa teas via Japan for Eu- more difinite information in regard to the rope or the Atlantic ports of the United States provincial revenues. No doubt the facts he and to some extent divert the trade from would involve additional freight charges has collected will be of great value to the the merchants and ships at present interested Central Government, and they are likely to lead to an attempt at the further therein. If the Japanese Government centralisation of administrative "authority
should take refuge in the quibble that the at Peking. Efforts will doubtless be made cause they apply equally to Japanese and to new conditions are not discriminatory be to control from the capital the Telegraphs, Foreign ships and subjects it would be a Railways, and steam communications,, to limit the political power of the Viceroys, tained that Japan intends honestly and serious blow to the belief at present enter- and possibly--though this is more doubtful
to amalgamate the Native with the loyally to fulfil her treaty engagements in Foreign Customs Collectorate. An attempt spirit as well as in letter.
is at the same time to be made to increase and centralise t
the army, and the proposal is to raise one in the central provinces, to be called the Nanyang Army, to consist of 100,000, men; 20,000 to be quartered at Woosunga similar number at Fushan (nese Chinkiang), at Kinngyin, at Chin kiang, and twenty thousand
between
"
#1
•
We regret to learn that Mr. A. M. Marshall, the P. & O. acting agent at Singapore, is sufter- ing from a severe attack of fever, and a trip to Japan not having enabled him to throw it on ho H. I. Chope, of the Hongkong office, left on has now been ordered home on mok leave. Mr. Saturday by the Parramatta for Singapore relieve Mr. Marshall,
His EXCELLENOT the GOVERNOR (Sir Henry
C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops), appl Blake, G.C.M.G.).
His EXCELLENCY Major-General GASCOIGNE
The Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART
C.M.G., (Colonial Secretary);
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK (Acting Attorney- General).
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master). intendent of Police.)
Hon. F. H. MAT, C.M.G. (Captain Super-
1
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer.)5) Hon. R. D. OBMSsY. (Director. of Publie Worka.)
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. Hon. Dr. Ho Kar.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD. Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G. Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Coun.
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the
the report of the Subsidiary Coinage Committ for 1898, and despatches and other paper the Superior and Subordinate Courts Reca lating to the extension of the Colony of Hong
and proposed that it be referred to the Financia kong. He also submitted financial minuts No.. Committee.
2
NOTION OF QUESTIONE. The Hon. T H. WHITEHEAD
of his intention to make the follo
Has the attention of the Hono at the next meeting of the Council' Article in the China Mail August 9th, and will the Hono inform the Council
it the intention
Colonial Secretary been directed
by
Government on or with certain Gorera:
: