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directed by the peoples who are increasing most rapidly. Will it also be the case that the destiny of China and the Far East gen- erally will be determined by the four Powers above mentioned? If with the re-election of Mr. McKINLEY to office the United States adopt a less retiring and vacillating attitude towards affairs in this part of the world, it is more than probable that a compromise between the views of the four will decide the matter. It is from the apparent diver- gence of these views that the compromise is proving so difficult to arrive at.
LONDON AND CHINESE IMMIGRATION.
(Daily Press, 17th November.)
difficult to say.
Considerable discussion has been going on in the home papers on the question of Chinese immigration into London. The subject is not exactly a new one, but the threatened invasion of the metropolis, though often spoken of, has never become an accomplished fact. A certain number of Chinese there have been residing in London, but not sufficient to be called a colony What it is now that particularly directs the attention of the emigrants to London it is Recent disturbances in China and the possibility of a period of unrest to follow may have driven many in a peace-loving nation like the Chinese to look for the quiet which they cannot get at home in a new field. Some prominent Chinese have already expressed their opinion as to the desirability of Great Britain as a goal for emigration. The most powerful China- man in San Francisco Chinatowa, head of Six Companies, thinks it an ideal country for his compatriots. "In London," says SING LEE, if the Scotch can displace the English, and the Germans displace the Scotch, and the Jews from Russia and “Poland underbid the Germans, people of "our race can underbid the cheapest Russian
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Jews in any kind of labour. So, depend upon it, some day soon we will come to England, where they will be glad to employ
a man who will do twice an ordinary man's "work at half ore man's pay.'" This, how- ever, is hardly a prospect which the London working-man is prepared to contemplate with equanimity. But there are certain branches of trade wherein, from the point of view of workmanship, Chinese labour would undoubtedly benefit the country This is not denied by the strongest oppon- ents of Chinese immigration into England, who base their objections to the invasion on entirely different grounds. Much of the prejudice against the Chinese, of course, 18 due simply to the fact that they are hard, cheap, and sober workers; but those who are above such prejudices argue strongly on moral grounds. We reproduced in Thurs-
day's issue a well-written article from the London Daily Chronicle, under the heading of "The Chinese in London," wherein the diffi- culties of the question were lucidly set forth. Speaking of the introduction of washermen into London, the writer said, The moral
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[November 24, 1900
Chih Sin, the former President of the Board of Rites, who was arrested by the Japanese, has committed suicide at Peking. A secret decree from the Empress-Dowa- ger warns all the Viceroys and Governora to prepare for immediate war.
SHANGHAI, 21st November, 8.15 p.m. It is officially reported that Yuchang, who* was recently appointed Governor of Hupeh died at Kaifengfu on the 18th instant.
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND domestic ties of his own blood, he will be cut off from his old habits and customs, and it will be impossible (not to say unjust) to keep him a virtual prisoner in the quarters assigned to him. If he stays in England it must be as a free man, not as little better than a slave. With freedom there follows what has occurred in America and Austra- lia, interbreeding with the white race and the result of this in a new half-caste population. Now there is much in what is said of half-breeds that is exaggerated and untrue, but it is undoubtedly very seldom the case that the children of mixed blood are improvements on either of the parent stocks, either physically or morally.
On Thursday afternoon, 22nd inst., a meeting Residents in the East have ample opportu- nities, if they wish, of studying the question, of the Hongkong Sanitary Board was held. The and if they lack experience they have them-President (the Hon. R. D. Ormsby, Director selves to thank. It is generally agreed that of Public Works) occupied the chair, and there were also present Dr. Bell (Acting Principal the worst point in the half-caste question Civil Medical Officer), Major Brown, R.A.M.U., is the anomaly of their position. At home Dr. Hartigan, Mr. E. Osborne, Dr. F. Clark this point very seldom arises. It is true (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. Chan A Fook, that the blood of Londoners is occasionally and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (Secretary). even now subjected to unusual admixtures, but there has so far been no growth of a half-breed population. The inferior strains are gradually, through lack of fresh cross- ing, diluted almost beyond recognition. Even negro blood, which is apt to be very persistent, leaves little mark, though such mixed marriages have received considerable attention, in spite of their comparative rare- ness, in England. In the United States the feeling against miscegenation is very strong, and the sentiment is based on obser- vation of facts. The objection, as was seen to the in a recent case, extends even Japanese, and legal complications threatened in the particular instance to which we refer. It is too early yet to say that London is actually confronted with the problem, but at any rate it is not out- side the realm of possibilities, and the matter should be well considered before it is too late.
aspect of this laundry matter is the crucial issue, and it can only have been so generally neglected because the English public has, as a whole, so little experience in handling the problem which is presented in white com. munities where a considerable yellow popula- tion has established itself." The writer goes on to point out that he does not intend in any way to decry the Chinaman. But when he is at home he has his family--"and if his relations with parent, wife, and child differ greatly from those among ourselves, they nevertheless meet the requirements of the man's nature, which is the whole point." Deported to London, the coolie will have no
were
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 18th November, 8.57 p.m. Viceroy Chang Chih-tung states that General Tung Fu-hsiang entirely dominates Tung is suppressed. the Court, and that peace is impossible until
Yu Chang, who was appointed Governor of Hupeh, has been ordered to resign and await further orders.
The present Shanghai Taotai has been promoted to be Treasurer of Hunan.
The Yangtze Viceroys, with Li Hung chang, guarantee the personal safety of the Empress Dowager if she will return to Peking. The Empress-Dowager, however, considers that they are plotting with the Allies for her capture.
SHANGHAI, 19th November, 9.38 p.m. A great fire occurred on the 14th inst, at Hanyang ironworks. It is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary.
The Chinese report that the Allies have captured two passes from Chihli into Shansi.
The German Consul-General has return- ed from Nanking. A Chinese official despatch states that he asked Viceroy Liu Kung-yi, first to permit the foreign troops to ascend the Yangtze, and secondly to stop supplies going to Hsianfu.
Admiral Seymour proceeds to Hankow on Wednesday, the 21st inst.
SHANGHAI, 20th November, 7.38 p.m. The mission of Dr. Knappe, German Con- sul-General here, to Nanking has proved virtually fruitless.
* THE KOWLOON WATER SUPPLY.
The following letter, dated Nov. 15th, from the Colonial Secretary was submitted :--
"I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 149 of the 29th Sept., which owing to an oversight was for some time mis- laid. With regard to the immediate stops which are being taken to provide water for Kowloon during the approaching dry season, I am to report as follows:-What is urgently necessary pending the completion of the new Kowloon water-supply scheme is to put the pumping machines into efficient working order. This is being done as speedily and as thoroughly as possible by the Public Works Department. At present there is an abundance of water in the valleys from which the supply is drawn, and with the pumps and engines work- ing satisfactorily the usual supply can be kept up. With regard to the new scheme above referred to, I am to inform you that the plans and particulars thereof are now with the Con- sulting Engineer in England and are shortly expected back. Provision for carrying on this important work has been made in the Estimates for 1901."
The following minute was appended:-
Major Brown:-" The new Kowloon water supply scheme has not been published. If it is not confidential application should, I think, be made for the publication of it in the Government Gazette."
The PRESIDENT said he did not think there was any objection to asking the Government to publish this scheme. He thought he informed Major Brown that it had been published, but on looking into the matter he found that the
scheme was laid on the table at the meeting of the Council and that it was not published. He thought if the Board approved they might write and ask the Government and ask them to publish it.
Major BROWN said that in qonnection with this matter he thought the Board might con- gratulate themselves on having succeeded in doing something. The water supply at Kow loon had been improved very much indeed. He thought there had been practically no sir supi plied. (Laughter.)
THE CAUSES OF MALARIA IN THE NEW TERRITORY.
•
In replying to a resolution of the Sanitary Board requesting that's' medical officer might be deputed to investigate the cause of the prevalence of malarial fever at certain Police Stations in the New Territory, the Colonial Secretary wrote as follows :——
*
Please inform the Board that Dr. Young and Dr. Thomson are about to pursue investiga↓ tions on the causes of malaria in the New Tex
ritory."
Dr. Hartigan asked if there was anything fresh to report in regard to malaria in Kennedy Town. The reason for his asking the question was that he was in receipt of a communication from Dr. Young, whom he spoke to ëm subject, and askel specially for a memorni in regard to mosquitos and malaria speaker then read the following letter Dr. Young on the subject ----