May 25, 1901.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
15
result of this state of things. The large its students are Chinese subjects from | agree with the China_Mail that the number of deaths from phthisis caused Chinese territory; the last report on it from the Legislative Council does not Dr. Clark to state that "phthisis was in examiners would have a very damaging effect public opinion. It is a Council peculiar timately associated with overcrowding, and on any private school at home. The question Hongkong, and suffers from want insanitary conditions had been established of the schools in the Colony is one which has dependence and want of energy. There is beyond any possibility of doubt, and the morta- been discussed for many years past, and it may too much of the convenient policy, "If you lity figures of the Colony bore out the state-suffice to state that the Governor has before scratch my back, I will seratoh yours,” in the ment." Places which have been condemned him now a petition of residents with regard attitude of the Unofficial members towards the over and over again as being totally unfit for to the necessity of establishing schools for Official members. But a Municipal Body is human habitation have been occupied under the European children. Such a petition is bound independent of the Legislative Body, and does nose of the Police, who, when appealed to, said to have His Excellency's sympathy, and, it is far more practical parochial work. It is it was not their business. It has also been re- to be hoped, his support.
well to note that the Shanghai Municipal ported by the Health Officers that the surface If I may be permitted to institute another Council consists of nine - members, and the crowding in Hongkong is worse than in any comparison between Hongkong and Singapore, Singapore Municipal Commission_of_ten city in the world! Yet what steps, if any, are I would like to contrast the public official build- members. The Singapore system would be being taken by the Government to alleviate ings in that Colony and this. Take our wretched the system to introduce here, becauss the this evil? Under the amended Ordinance miserable dismal den here which passes for a Prasident is a paid “ unofficial,”. whose position only a certain number of Chinese are permitted police-conrt and compare it with the large and and functions are to a certain extent synoni- to live in a certain area, but what provision stately block of buildings in Singapore, the was made for the tenants whose eviction Police Courts and Police Headquarters. The by a qualified secretary and an assis ant secre- mous to those of a mayor at home. He is assisted followed as a result of the introduction of that Supreme Court here is scarcely to Ordinance ?
batary (Europeans), and the Municipal Council compared to some decent auction In the matter of Jinrickishas, the Colony of in the East, and that is where the Chief sanitary staffs. There is
rooms has its independent engineering, medical and Hongkong is worse served than any other city Justice represents the dignity of the law. why the system prevailing in Singapore should no reason whatever in the East. The vehicles are crudely constructed, I have seen a fourth-rate Chinese yamen not be tried here. The present system here needs generally dirty, and are not to be compared to with a better "court' the public rickishas in use at Singapore or in much better provided for. Look at our Post How that change can be best bronglit about is a room. Singapore is immediate change,and reform from top to bottom: the ports of Japan. The conduct of the pullers Office, admire its labyrinthine interior arrange matter for the Ratepayers to decide. It is use- on the whole is abominable, and their behavi ur ments and its architectural beauty, and compare less to expect the Government to undertake the would not be tolerated anywhere else in the it if you can with the smart Post Office in the reform of abuses and ev is that have been existing East Under the existing state of affairs the southern olony, where provision is made for for years. It suffers from want of energy far public rickisha-coolie is a master of the situation, nationalities, and a European lady is not com and for impudence he is unrivalled.
more than the Ratepayers do. As a member of If he pelled to rub shoulders with a Chinese çoolie. the China Association, I am inclined to the view wishes to take up a fare he will do so, In public buildings, Hongkong, without anyt at this Association should at once take the and if he does not wish to work, then he apparent reason, is behind any colony of equal matter in hand. It might be more useful calmly sits down or passes on, to the helpless importance in the world. How long it will to form a Ratepayers' Association to agitate indignation of the person desirous of engag remain so is a problem more difficult than any for such reform-call a public meeting, and ing him. To a limited extent, this, of course, in the books of Euclid.
wire to the Colonial Office and newspapers a exists elsewhere, but not to the scandalous In concluding, one cause of the many series of resolutions condemning the existing extent as in Hongkong. The coolies simp y grievances the Colony is suffering from appears system (or want of one), and soliciting an en- do as they please, and do not stand in fear to me to be inadequate staffs. Has any Gov-quiry. But let us have something attempted, of any authority over them. Only a few ernment department a staff suficient to cope something done. days ago we had the amusing spectacle of with the work before it? Take that colossal the Deputy Superintendent of Police prose-grievance, the Post Office, with its $80,000 worth cuting a rickisha-coolie who refused to carry of profits annually, with its inadequate staff; him! Try and imagine this in Shanghai, or the Sanitary Department, with its one doctor Singapore or Japan. The coolies appear and twenty inspectors to visit thousands of to have but one ambition, namely to secure as houses and look after the public health of fares intoxicated sailors, so that they can fleece 300,000 people. The Public Works Depart them to their heart's content. The only ments likewise suffers from the same com- existing remedy a resident has against a plaint. The Daily Press rightly stated in its coolie who refuses to carry him, is to pro-editorial We do not get sufficient done for secute him in the Police Court, and lose our money. We are afflicted with too much half a day in doing so, for the satisfaction of red tape. We are restricted by parsimony, and seeing the coolie fined a few dollars, which is yet sometimes suffer from waste." Therefore promptly paid by the coolie guild. In Singapore a change from the existing system is not only they do things better. There are more public desirable but imperative. rickishas than here, they are all double rickishas seating two persons, and fares are cheaper. The vehicles are generally in good condition, and are infinitely better furnished than the rickishas here. The rickisha and gharry traffic is under the immediate control of the Municipal Commission, not the Police, and in various parts of the town arestations where reports of incivility or refusal of hire can be made. At numerous points are stationed peons or traffic inspectors, whose duty it is to regulate the traffic and check any impertinence on the part of the coolies or drivers. Reports made at the stations are dealt with, and for minor offences, after investigation, the coolies are punished without the resident spending hours in a police court. That system has existed for years in Singapore, and yet in Hongkong an intolerable want of system continues to prevail.
Another grievance, and a very important one, which may be touched upon, is that of the educational system in the Colony. It satisfies neither the Europeans nor the Chinese? There are over seventy schools in the Colony, and in none of these can a European lad receive an education separate from the Chinese pupils. For domestic and social reasons, European colonists do not care to send their children to the principal Government Schools, and even the leading Chinese prefer to have their children privately ** educated. It is impossible to believe that the European lad is as well taught and disciplined in the leading schools here as he would be at home. Although the Chinese have the option of sending their children to seventy schools, they for some reason or other are about to spend a large
sum
of money, voluntarily, subscribed, for establishing new schools. Queen's College, the most important scholastic institution, is prac tically at present a primary school. Many of
The Daily Press and the China Mail chiefly discussed the suggestion of the introduction of a Municipal body to control local affairs. They are both of opinion that it would be difficult to run a Municipal Council in this spathetic community. Mon capable of acting as Manici- pal Councillors would not care to give their time; their business calls are too imperative. Well, if they have a Municipal Council in the most business-like place in the Far East-Shang- hai-or a Commission in tropical Singapore, there should be no real obtacles to the formation of one here, as far as the Ratepayers are concerned. It does not take many men to constitute a Council; it is not a question of numbers; it is a question of powers, of freedom of action, of control, and of expenditure. Public. spirited residents do not decline to serve on the Sanitary Board on account of pressure of busi. ness; they decline to serve because their labour is rendered useless through official opposition, and the persistent ignoring of their advice by officials whose duty it should be to consider it. There is plenty of energy and public spirit in Hongkong, but no business man has any time to throw away for the amusement of the Government. If it is a question of public weal, and the community can be assured that the Government will concern itself with its own functions and leve municipal affairs to the community for administration, I am optimistic enough to think that proper and fit men will come forward. The grievance we all find in the official attitude, is that it pronounces its own judgment, ignores suggestions by men who know what they are discussing, and tells the community that if it does not like it then it can do the other thing. Publio oficials here, as elsewhere, are the servants of the public, and they should remember that fact. Many will
SCRUTATOR.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Committee of the Hongkong General Chamber At the monthly meeting of the General
of Commerce, held at the Chamber Room, City Hall, on the 16th May, 1901, at noon, Pre- sent: Sir Thomas Jackson (Chairman), Mr. C. S. Sharp (Vice-Chairman), Messrs. A. Haupt, Hon. J. J. Keswick, W. Poate, R. L. Richard- son, N. A. Siebs, H.E. Tomkins, Hon. J. Thur- burn (ex officio), and R. C. Wilcox (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the last monthly meeting (held 17th April) and of the special meeting held on the 27th idem were read and confirmed. NEW MEMBER.
Amerika Linie had been admitted to member- The Secretary reported that the Hamburg-
ship of the Chamber since the last meeting.
THE CHINESE TARIFF AND THE WAR
INDEMNITIES.
Read letter from the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, dated 6th May, enclos. ing copy of a telegram addressed by that body to the Chambers of Commerce at London, Paris, Berlin and New York, protesting against hasty treatment of the tariff question as destroying the only leverage for obtaining redress of anti-treaty grievances and as threatening trade expansion.
Decided, when replying, to reciprocate by forwarding copy of this Chamber's telegram of the 3rd inst. to the London Chamber of Commerce.
The Chairman, rəferring to this question, said it was clear from Lord Cranborne's state- ment, as telegraphed by Reuter (which he read), that the British Government appreciated the position, and that it was very satisfactory to find them holding out for the very conditi mentioned in the Chamber's telegram recentl despatched to London. It was interesting note, in this connection, that the NC. Daily News correspondent at Peking had telegraphed on the 7th inst, - - |-
"The Foreign Ministers to-day inform the Chinese Plenipoten indemnities to be asked for. They to stipulate for the abolition of lek lishment of tariff on a gold basis, gation of the inland waters of Chins, removal of the obstacles presented by
the