March 8, 1909.1
THE INLAND WATERS DEAD LETIER.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SION.
141
like his pupil To FENG Lo, will do nothing. | THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND He will promise anything and just as readily THE INLAND WATERS CONCES- forget. Even if such were not the case, he corruption he, or any other Chinese official can do nothing against the vast system of
without success.
treat-
(Daily Press, 1st March.): hear with interest, the resolution of the We note with pleasure, and the public will Chamber of Commerce to bring before the the Empire the obstacles placed in the way Congress of the Chambers of Commerce of
China. It is a remedy which we have nor- of the opening of the Inland Waters of sistently advocated in these columns as being the only one likely to meet with any success. We also think that in declining the subject of the differential duties on junk-borno car go, levied by the Hoppo of Canton, as one for representation the Chamber did wisely for which it was declined, namely that it was But we by no means agree with the reason
differential duties is included in and is of too local a nature.
This question of covered by the Inland Water concession, represent it separately; but it is far from and on those grounds it was unnecessary to being a question of purely local importance, It is one which affects the whole of the trade of South China. It is part and parcel of the system carried on at the Lekin Stations its trade, which in its turn reacts on the which surround this Colony and strangle great manufacturing classes of Europe and America. There are those whose who argue that such differential taxation is rather in favour of trade than otherwise, as it enables laid down cheaper and exports to come --so these theorists argue-imports to be
It never seems to strike these political out cheaper than they would otherwise. economists that taxation must will be collected somewhere and somehow
be and
(Daily Press, 24th February.) The fact that America has taken up the question of the Open Door in China is,
of the type presented to us for the past to a certain extent, a security that Tariff fifty years-is powerless. Failing action on, Revision will not be lightly passed over; the part of our Government, piracy will be but by far the most essential thing in this connection is that accurate and clear inform-Illegal levy of lekin and squeeze all round as rife six months hence as it is to day. ation on the point should be conveyed to will go on ns it always has done the public in England and America, more Imperial. Maritime Customs will continue The especially in the former country where the to exact their pound of flesh and to remain absence of Customs duties on the great bulk coldly indifferent as to what happens after of articles of every day consumption enables wards to either goods or vessel, preferring interested parties to advocate views which the passive part of a neutral to the certainty would not be so readily received in America. of conflict with the provincial officials, We have no hesitation in saying that the Individual tour of the Chinese Minister through Britain | half hearted way against such
Consuls will protest in a has one aim and object, and that is to pavement of their nationals property but, the way for an increase in the Tariff with for out an adequate quid pro quo on the part of columus, namely the absence of any reasons already explained in these China, We Lave already pointed this out system of working the service from Pekin in a previous article, where we remarked on the notable absence of applause-as com- the Government of this Colony is what The question then for pared with the reception given to other steps shall be taken to remedy this state of speeches--when Mr. BYRON BRENAN ex- things. The reply is obvious. Communications plained to his audience that British Trade should at once be addressed to H. M. Minis- did not require developing but merely free- ing from Chinese official interference. The the West River Ports be instructed to meet ter asking that the Consus at Cunton and glowing picture presented by Sir Lo FENG and, with the members of the Government Lo of the benificial result likely to accrue and Chambers of Commerce of this Colony, to British trade from cultivating friendly form an Advisory Board to their Excellen relations with China, as people think at cies the Governor and H. M. Minister to Home (but in reality with Lo FENG Lo China; to advise as to the best means himself) is valued at its true worth out here. It must be made known at Home to the Inland Waters Concession is a "hopeless to suppress piracy; to enquire why the whole of the Manufacturers, Merchauts, sham," why Nanning is still a closed port, and the great artizan class of England who what Tariff is in force and how it is ad are interested in the China trade, that ministered at (the equivalent of) Kowloon this persuasive and fluent Chinaman has and Lappa stations; to insist on the neces- no more real power to advance British in-sity for drastic changes being made and to by the officials of China, and that, although terests or trade than the shopkeepers in the remain as an advisory body to the Govern- to suit his own book the Hoppo of Canton neighbouring city of Canton and that, even if he had, it is probable that he would still The fiction of China being capable of carry- may give orders to the Commsssioners in ment until such changes are carried out.
may lower his tariff at Canton on exports or return to his country and adopt the same ing on her own Government can still be charge of the various Lekin stations on our system of squeeze and obstructive tactics maintained. which have always characterized his race
It doubtless has its useful borders to lower the tariff on a certain com aud class. The necessity of bringing this by such an administrative body as is now foreign to native craft, it is only that be purposes and need not be interfered with modity of import and thus divert them from forcibly forward is of the utmost importance proposed. Pirates are everyone's enemies; may be in a better position to put the screw to this Colony and it would be money well therefore in riding the neighbouring waters spent were the Chamber of Commerce to
on further inland, where there is no chance of them the Government of China would of foreign interference. The merchant at adopt means to do this. Whether it should only be assisted in what-of course-it is Canton can, it is true, get his goods at a be a Deputation of representative men from most anxious to do. The Inland Waters are cheap r rate if he takes delivery here from the Far East or should take other form is a declared open, so that to advise that steamers junk-due, of course, to the lower taxation — matter which practical business men would have no difficulty in deciding. The great China and that the British Government reaching Canton? Or, in the case of junk- are free to run anywhere in the Empire of but how much have those goods paid before thing to be done is to organize resistance would be justified in protecting any and all borne imports, how much do they pay after and meet the craft of the Chinese Agents vessels availing themselves of the right, leaving Canton ? with a clear exposition of the danger there would only be in accordance with the ex- awaiting goods at their destinations; the The undefined ts'oli is in listening to any proposal made for plicit declaration of the Chinese Govern- restrictions placed on the use of outward Tariff Revision until ample security has heen meut. given that the whole of the fiscal system will been opened, the merchants of the Colony port not only the quantity, but the actual It is plain that, Nanning having transit-passes, compelling the owner to ex- be placed, and placed by a certain date, un- | should be at liberty to land their goods goods brought down under it; and the taxn- der Foreign control. The ablest advocates, there after the payment of a tariff "duty |tion which is levied under the name of pro- both writers and speakers, should be en- at Nanning itself and nowhere else-ducer's tax, at the place of production--all ployed to represent the evils of the present which at present they cannot do; and prevent the security which these documents system and to stir the British public up to that the Treaty provides that imports and shoud give being taken advantage of, and a sense of the danger which threatens their exports to and from China shall pay : interests. Many men are now in England Treaty Tariff duty, and that consequently system actually in use.
enable the Chinese officials to carry on the who might well be utilized and who would the exactions carried on at the various Le-
We are not here gla-lly undertake such a mission if duly au- kin Stations (known as Customs Stations) whether Litish ships are placed at a disad- cancerned with the smaller issus—na nely, thorized by the Chambers of Commerce act- ing for and on behalf of the mercantile com-
round this Colony, and by the Hoppone compared with native craft, muuity of the Far East.
at Canton, are nothing more or less than although that in itself is a serious and grave Nor need the authorities here be idle, if and na
deliberate evasion of that Treaty, evil-but with the main question, whether
such deserving the grave only the men that know will speak out. sideration of the Government on
trade at large is benefitted by a dual system ́ We are much afraid that the Government such a fraud is practised. In a word, a
which of Custom House. It any individual or body of individuals can seriously argue that such of this Colony is prone to be led away by Committee should be appointed, composed is the case and that the loss, which must in- the delusive promises of gentlemen like as we have indicated, to enquire why the evitably follow the springing up and down LI HUNG CHẲNG, and if we are right in our concessions grant d to Great Britain during of a tariff, does not fall on all those huving sumises the sooner some of the individual the past year have not been carried out and any business relations with the country members of it disabuse themselves of the to advise the Government as to the best practising it, we are quite content to leave idea the better it will be for this Colony and means of getting them carried out and so its trade with the mainland, on which its' increasing the trade and prosperity of this such is not the attitude of the commercial them ip full possession of their views. But very existence depends. LI HUNG CHANG, Colony.
men of this Colony, nor, we think, of anyone
a
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