170
Canton, 24th July, 1899,
BY REPORT.
release of same,
dealer, in Sin Tong, Namhoi dis-
to pay $10.000. Hop of Sui Tung, Shun Tak district, merchant, had his cargo seized on the Chun by robbers; $400 had to be " ne?! 2) girls in a house boat in Henng Kan, Tak district, were abducted and held for
Lok Cheng, Shun Tak district, $4,000 anded from all the pork dealers. The not forthcoming, three boats, laden with ined at $200 to $300 each were seized. our houses at Loong Kong were surrounded by robbers and clothing and jewellery, &c., carried away,
Kwong Wah, Shun Tak district, an eat ing house was robbed of 8600....
About from Loong Kong to Sui Lam, near- ing Locklow, was "held up” by pirates and $1,200 stolen.
Another boat, plying from Canton to Kong Moon, was stopped by pirates and threatened to seized unless the captain pay $400 on his
next frip.
At Loong Kong, Shun Tak district, a rich family was robbed to the extent of 82,000.
A steam launch from Macao to Wuchow was held by pirates, valuable cargo stolen, and the purser shot. residen
A steam launch from Canton to Whampoa was likewise stopped by pirates and $1,000 stolen. Quan Hing, a silk merchant, sending money to Loong Kong to buy silk, was robbed on the way to the extent of $1,000.
7
Hongkong, 10th August, 1899.
··R. M. Gray, Esq., Chairman, ***-- Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
Dear Sir,-A practical instance of the inter- raption to trade caused by piracy on the rivers of the Kwangtung province was brought before as this morning when a leading dealer refused to entertain basiness in produce on the ground that there was no security for transport. The business would: in ordinary circumstances, we believe, have gone through
On questioning the dealer, he alleged that peated oases of junks held up" for payments, bad recently occurred, causing serious appre- hension, that under the circumstances he pre- ferred not to come under engagement. We
dear sir,lyours faithfully,
BRADLEY & Co.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND pirated vessels on the rivers. These outrages have increased latterly such an extent that within the last month no less than nine- teen daring robberies and piracies, many of them attended with bloodshed, have been com. mitted within the silk producing districts alone, and these are only oases that have been brought to our notice; the actual condition of affairs being in reality far worse than this statement might be supposed to indicate. The pirates are growing so bold that they are only deterred by the greater risk from attacking foreign as well as native steamers. Indeed, only as recently as the 20th ult. on the West River a steam-launch flying the Portuguese flag was overhauled and boarded by a piratical launch, the Portuguese in charge and a native seaman shot down, and the vessel looted. Since then another steamer has been stopped and the cargo removed by the pirates.
Hongkong, 14th August, 1899. Dear Sirs,-I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 10th inst. giving a very practical instance of the interruption to business caused by piracy now prevailing in the pro- vinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi, which I laid before the Committee. The subject is now
receiving attention at the hands of the Com- mittee, who trust their representations will not prove without effect.-I am, dear sirs, yours faithfully,
R. M. GEAY,
Chairman,
To Messrs. Bradley and Co., Hongkong.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 11th August, 1899.
By the courtesy of Messrs. Jardine, son Co. we sent yesterday, through the of Mr. W. Keswick, M. P., the follow-
ram to you :-
ORF 1
25
The feeble attempts of the Canton Govern- ment to cope with the banditti and pirates,, who are now in a position to blackmail the indus- trious portion of the population, have been worse than useless. The marauders are well armed with rifles and revolvers, have their strongholds in the hills, and have so far successfully defied any force of so-called soldiers the Viceroy may, under pressure have despatched to attempt their suppression.
Trade has for some months been greatly. hampered by the feeling of insecurity induced through the frequent robberies and the extor- tion practised by the heads of the gangs, but lately the position has become much more ser- ions. The Bilk trade is completely disorganised in consequence thereof. The merchants in Canton who have made contracts to deliver silk to foreign firms there, have given formal notice that they are afraid they may be unable to fulfil their engagements owing to the danger attend- ing the transport of silk and treasure. The silk filatures and cocoon shops in the silk dis- tricts have been threatened and plundered, and unless order is soon restored it is to be feared that trade will be reduced to small limits. The foreign steamboats engaged in the river trade now only get light cargoes and even the passage traffic is much restricted.
[August 26, 1899. Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
** Hongkong, 14th August, 1899, Sir, It is with regret that the Committes of this Chamber have to bring to your attentio facts that are not only reducing the concessi lately obtained of the opening to foreign trade of the inland waterways of South China to a valueless point, but are also seriously hamper- ing and restricting business generally.
I allude to the piracy on the West River and the condition of disorder and lawlessness which prevails in wide districts of both the two Kwang provinces. Bands of brigands, well armed with modern weapons, and possessing strongholds among the bills, make descents upon the villages and towns in the silk predna: ing and other prosperous districts and either plander the inhabitants or extort regular con- tributions from merchants and producers. Traders carrying produce to port of shipment and those returning with the bullion received therefor are robbed, and, if they offer resistance are shot or otherwise disposed of. Vessels of all descriptions on the river, from native junks to foreign steam-launches, are attacked and looted, and in several cases murder has preceded robbery. Only so lately as the 20th alt. a launch flying the flag of Portugal was boarded by a pirate craft, the master shot, the crew overpowered, and the vessel robbed. -
It is perhaps hardly to be wondered that un. der such circumstances, the wealthier inhabi- tants of those districts should be sending their money for investment elsewhere, or that the silk merchants at Canton should have given notice that there is some possibility that they may not be able to fulfil contracts for delivery of silk, the producers being afraid either to attempt its transport to Canton or to make the return journey with treasure of which they are so likely to be despoiled en route. Native mer chants are, as a result, loth to enter into contracts for export, and business threatens to come to a comparative standstill. The foreign steamboat companies, which have been pluckily engaged in an uphill pioneer work on the West River, also find their earnings seriously enrtailed by the operations of the pirates and banditti, è
The British Consul at Canton has no doubt informed you of the condition of affairs in the Two Kwang, and not improbably he has made. you acquainted with the very unsatisfactory nature of the steps taken by the Viceroy: to cope with predatory gangs who set the local authorities at defiance. The Committee trust you may make such representacions to the Tsungli Yamen as will lead to a determined effort on the part of the Provincial Government to put down the banditti and pirates, whose lawless actions, if continued, will render legiti mate commerce all but impossible,
The appearance of one small British gunboat the Sandpiper) on the West River has been hailed with considerable satisfaction and her presence is much appreciated by merchants and traders; but this great waterway is lengthy and the pirates are so namerons that the moral effect is necessarily restricted.and a small flotilla of these useful and serviceable craft is desirable if the West River is to be efficiently patrolled, while light draught steam-launches might be usefully employed for work in the creeks. It is useless to look for any effective action from the present Viceroy, and as his influence at Peking is
It is to be feared, however, that under the understood to be considerable, it is to be feared administration of the present Viceroy no really that any reference to the Taungli Yamen would sustained effort is likely to be made to restore at best result in some temporary measures of the sovereignty of the law in these provinces, doubtful utility. In the increase of the British and the Committee are of opinion that the most patrolling squadron only can we hope for any practical as well as the surest means of restor permanent improvement in the present state of ing confidence and safety along the southern disorder. A precedent exists for this interven waterways will be for Her Majesty's Govern- tion, as in former years Her Majesty's warships ment to employ a flotilla of boats of the undertook to scotch piracy on the coast of Sandpiper class to patrol the West River, China, and accomplished the work so thorough- with armed shallow-draft steam launches to ly that this pest to commerce was practicwatch the creeks. The appearance of such |ally extinguished, only recurring since at long intervals and under exceptional circums- tances.
for the work and not infrequently go off duty. to set as tugs for native craft. The number of gunboats and guardboats on the river han, if I am rightly informed, been reduced. The aboye suggestion has been already mooted, in telegrama despatched to London, and the Committee trust it will receive your approval and support l have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. M. GRAY, * Chairman.
craft in the waterways would be bailed with satisfaction by the native traders and mèr- chants and need not excite official hostility, My Committee will be glad therefore if the as they could not in conjunction with the ves- East India and China Section of your Chamber sels employed for the Canton Government, but can see its way to take up this important ques-which, unfortunately, are ludicrously inadequate tion and press it upon the attention of the Imperial Government. This Chamber is already indebted to your Chamber for the vigorous and effective manner in which it espoused the cause of this Colony in connection with the representation sent home on the question of the extension of of its boundaries and the inclusion therein of Kowloon city, and the Committee now hope you will be equally successful in convincing the Government of the deplorable atate of affairs now existing in these two provinces and of the urgent necessity for prompt and decisive action to prevent the disorganisation and possible sus- pension of trade on the southern waterways of China-I am, Sir, Yours faithfully, AKO R. CHATTERTON WILCOX, Secretary. aid of which they have To Kenric B. Murray, Esq., Secretary,
And towns and
Den store London Chamber of Commerce,
provinces very unsettled. No re- be placed in the Viceroy of Canton. interferes seriously with trade. Wo upon you the necessity of more gunboats
West River. beg to confirm the above, and in doing ndeavour to give some particulars of the provinces. of through which the ita numerons feeders flow
past, owing, to the weakness Administration, the rich these provinces have been robber ho, encouraged enriched by plunders have
village
Junks nd even
To H. O. Bax Ironside, Esq., H. B. M.'s Charge
d'Affairs, Peking,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong 5th Angust, 1899, 42+ Sir-I am directed to transmit to you, for the information of His I Excellency the Govenor, copy of a letter addressed by this Chrom
Page 10Page 11