May 26, 1900.].
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
•
959
OVERCROWDING AND THE
EUROPEAN POPULATION.
ested. When an official in the position of Owing to unfortunate disturbances, prac- His Excellency WU TING FANG advocates a tically foreshadowed in Article I. of the Treaty cause through the American Press, there of 1880, it became imperatively necessary can be no doubt that he will secure a good for the high contracting parties to modify
(Daily Press, May 22nd.) and fair hearing, though many might ques- the former Treaty, and the Immigration In the deliberations of the committee, tion whether in all the circumstances that Prohibition Treaty of 1894 was the result. consisting of the whole of the Sanitary have attended Chinese immigration in the By this Treaty, for a period of ten years Board, which is to prepare for submission United States of America it was a fit and Chinese labourers, except under certain spe- to the Government a comprehensive scheme proper advocacy for one in the lofty position cified conditions, are absolutely prohibited of sanitary reform for this colony, the ques- of His Excellency. Much as we may sym- from entering the United States; but Article tion of overcrowding must necessarily oc- pathize with Chinese immigration into tem- II of the Treaty of 1880, above quoted, is cupy a prominent place. It is to be ex- perate and sparingly populated countries, not affected. The Chinese Government fur-pected that the housing question will be we are afraid that there are grave obstacles ther consents to the registration of all considered one of those "points of more im- to China in the existing state of her civiliza- Chinese subjects in the United States of mediate urgency," which, in accordance tion, while she shows her present want of America for their better protection. On the with the terms of the motion carried at the hospitality to foreigners, ever inducing such other hand the United States acknowledges Sanitary Board's meeting on the 10th inst., countries as the United States and the Aus- the right of the Chinese Government to enact will be dealt with first and form the subject tralian Colonies to open wide their gates to and enforce similar laws, and undertakes of interim reports. The vital urgency of the Chinese immigrants. Wo TING FANG in to furnish annually to the Chinese Govern- question will be denied by none. It may be his ardent advocacy of the Chinese cause ra- ment a register shewing the full name, age, that our death rate compares favourably ther neglected to consider Chinese immigra-occupation, and residence of practically all with that of Dublin or indeed of many other tion into civilized countries from an Ameri- citizens of the United States resident in cities; but it would not be a sufficient cause can standpoint, though he put forth his own China, officials, and their body and household for contentment, even were Hongkong one case with apparently telling effect. Now at servants alone excepted.
of the healthiest cities in the world, if it the present moment there are in America no
could be shown that it could be made ma- less than 300,000 Chinese subjects, 70,000
terially healthier. It must not be forgotten. of whom are in California, alone, all earning
that for a large proportion of the population good wages-such wages, in fact, as are be-
Hongkong is a sojourning place, not a city in yond the dreams of avarice in their own land,
which they count on ending their days, while many return to China enriched with a
and therefore comparisons with European competency.
towns, for instance, are calculated to mis- lead. More particularly does this apply to the European population resident here; and the housing of the less well-to-do portion. of this European population thus assumes an importance out of proportion to the mere number of persons involved. Mr. POLLOCK in his lecture three weeks ago voiced once more the thoughts of all who have devoted any attention to the subject when he asked: "Can it be believed that whilst on the one "hand our police are provided with lodgings, on the other hand our sanitary and market inspectors and overseers are left absolutely unprovided for in the matter of accommo- dation, many of them living scattered about in the crowded Chinese quarters of this city? Surely this is a matter which only requires to be realized, in order "to be remedied." The matter, of course, is far from concerning minor government officials only; but their case is perhaps the worst. An incident of the last week proves this only too well. An Englishman arrived in the Colony to take up his duties in connec- tion with important Government works. Owing to the exorbitant height of rents now he was compelled to live in a flat in a crowded Chinese quarter. He had been out little over a fortnight when he contracted the plague and died. This, it may be said, is an isolated case. It is, we gladly admit, as far as the termination of the affair is concerned. But with regard to the fact of Europeans being obliged to live, during the time when they are not at work, in an unhealthy en- vironment the case is only one among many. Mr. OBMSBY at the meeting of the Sanitary Board referred to above expressed his sur- prise at the " pessimistic view taken by members of the Sanitary Board and by the Press, and a good many others in the colony, as to the state of Hongkong." But would it be right to be optimistic until we can be
"
But what is the attitude of China at the present moment with respect to foreigners F A glance at her treaties will show. Out- side the Treaty Ports and a small radius around them her territory is practically an unknown land, and at times her people and the governing classes are actively hostile. In the Tientsin Treaty of 1858-and in Chinese Treaties with other nations, the article with respect to Passports is practical- ly the same article IX. reads as follows
British subjects are hereby authorised to travel, for their pleasure or for purposes of trade, to all parts of the interior "under passports, which will be issued "by their Consuls, and countersigned by the local authorities. These pass- 'ports, if demanded, must be produced for examination in the localities passed through. If the passport be not irregular, "the bearer will be allowed to proceed, and no opposition shall be offered to his hiring persons, &c., &c. If he be without a pass. port, or if he commit any offence against law, he shall be handed over to the nearest consul for punishment, but he must not be subject to any ill-usage in excess of neces- sary restraint. No passport need be ap- plied for by persons going on excursions from the ports open to trade to a distance "not exceeding 100 li, and for a period not
exceeding five days.'
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A consideration of these Treaties is suffic- ient to show that, while America has until very recently practically thrown open her doors to Chinese Immigration, China has continuously pursued a policy of isolation and traditional distrust of the foreigner. When China has opened up her country without reserve to the influences of modern civilization and when the policy of obstruc- tion, hostility and distrust of the foreigner has abated in China, His Excellency Wu TING FANG will have a better cause to pre- sent to the American people. A country seeking concessions should be prepared to grant likewise. But although we are scarcely prepared to accept his arguments in their entirety on Chinese immigra- tion when applied to highly civilized nations, we contend that a large influx of Chinese labourers into the Philippines would add materially to their development and prosperity. Ne one acquainted with the capacity of the Chinese coolie for work can gainsay his immeasurable superiority to the Filipino and his contentment under fair government. The social and economic objection to the Chinese labourer so largely apparent in Australia and America does not exist in Manila, and if WU TING FANG will exert his powerful advocacy with the American Government for the admission of his industrious countrymen into the Philippines, he will take up a cause that is worthy of success, and if successful will stimulate the emigration trade of this port and add a factor to the population of the Philippines, easy to govern, anxious for the acquisition of wealth and capable of great exertion in a tropical country and a trying
any
The death is announced from Singapore of Mr. R. H. Padday, accountant of the Tanjong had been sixteen years in the employ of the Pagar Dock Co., on the 13th inst. Mr. Padday T. P. D. Co. and
leaves a widow and four children.
But owing to the influx of Chinese sub-climate. jects into the United States of America, the United States have perhaps been brought more closely in relation with the Chinese Government with respect to their mutual subjects than any other nation. The Immigration and Commercial Treaty of 1880 was the first indication that there was â The London and China Express notes that note of anxiety in the mind of the American among the decorations on Primrose Day" Mr. Government, and displayed a desire on the R. Belilios, of Hongkong, as usual, sent a very part of the Chinese Empire to protect its handsome floral memorial, in the form of a cross, subjects in a foreign land. Article II. of the formed of choice white. flowers, including arum lilies, eucharist lilies, and white lilac, bearing on Treaty reads thus: Chinese subjects, whe- its front an escutcheon in red flowers, which
ther proceeding to the United States as
was placed on the seat in the chancel of the "traders or students, merchants, or for curi- church formerly occupied by the Earl, and im- osity, together with their body and house-mediately below the monument erected to his hold servants, and Chinese labourers who are now in the United States, shall be "allowed to go and come of their own free will and accord and shall be accorded all “the rights, privileges, immunities and exemptions which are accorded to the citi- zens and subjects of the most favoured
"nation."
in-
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memory by the Queen. Attached to the cross was a card, bearing a device formed of the Union Jack and the Royal Standard, placed above a small map of the British Isles. On it was scribed, after certain patriotic lines: In loving memory of the Right Hon. Earl Beaconsfield, K.G. Died April 19, 1881. From the Hon E. R. Balilios, Hongkong. Per Mrs. Willis, of London. God defend the right.'
sure that the recurrence of such cases as the one to which we have alluded is impossible?
With regard to the remedies which have been proposed for the present state of con- gestion of population and excessive house. rents, nearly all practically tend in the same direction, namely that the Government should step in and by the removal of insani- houses, by cleared, and should enable
tary or otherwise obje
by the laying out of fresh
the space per head of the population to be brought up to the requisite standard. But
ť