September 23, 1901.]
the transit trade, the slight falling-off in 1900 was no doubt owing to the transference of a large proportion of the foreign imports from foreign bottoms to native craft, causing by the underselling of the Imperial Mari- time Customs by the native fiscal authorities in the matter of import duties and inland charges, including lekin.
|
22
In conclusion, we may quote Mr. Ecorr's remarks under the heading General." He says thereunder :—
**
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
by the customs, 1,350,000l. may fairly be claimed as British."
With regard to exports the case is differ- ent; Great Britain claims a comparatively small portion of the trade. Mr. ScoTT says:-
The whole value of the export trade was 3,268,000/. în round numbers. Of this silk, silk piece-goods, waste silk, &c., represented 2,291,000. But a small portion of this was destined for any British market, although the bulk of the trade was done by British firms and financed with British capital. It seems probable that of the value of goods leaving Canton recorded by the customs not more than 500,0001, worth were destined for the United Kingdom, &c."
939
giving formal expression to the feelings that I know animated every breast in this community when it was heard here on Saturday night that the miscreant's bullet fired at President McKinley had done its bloody work but too effectually, and that for the third time within the last half-century the President of the great nation of kinsmen across the Pacific had fallen at the hands of an assassin. It would not be seemly for me to say anything either in praise or disparagement of the policy of the late President McKinley, but we can all acknowledge the great qualities that led that Owing probably to the political troubles
gallant young soldier of the Civil War through of the year no advance bas been made in
all the struggles of his professional and politi the actual construction of the railways from
cal life, until at last he had been chosen by one Hongkong to Canton and from Hankow to
of the greatest nations of this earth to fill the Canton, nor have the projected waterworks,
position of its President-one of the most wharves, and embankments of the river
tremendous responsibilities known to the world. Like Lincoln, he has fallen just after he had led been proceeded with. Negotiations have, This, says the report, is probably a very his country through a great crisis, and for us noth however, taken place with respect to the liberal estimate, but it should be remem-ing remains now but to express our horror and three last, but the Chinese concessionaires bered that the whole foreign trade, import detestation of the crime, to convey our sympathy appear short of money and it would seem and export, is handled, transhipped, and with the great American nation that in the original concessions, or some of financed in Hongkong. It will readily be condolences in her bereavement with Mrs. them, a clause forbidding the employment seen that other countries' claims to an in-McKinley, who has herself within the last few of foreign capital, rendering probable the terest in Canton have at present very little months been so nearly behind the veil, and to interference of foreign Governments and weight against ours. Consuls, was specially inserted. Many com- plaints of the result of the year's trading were heard on all sides and especially, and no doubt with much cause, in the silk trade, but on the whole merchants have done fairly well. At the New Year settlement some of the native silk bongs were in diffi- culties, but generally speaking it was favour-withdrawal of the foreign garrisons from at Washington the expression of their deep able."
Shanghai, as their presence stops the settle-sympathy with the American nation and of their ment of affairs.
and our
whom will remain as a consolation in her great suffering the loving remembrance of a good life well lived and of a good work faithfully pers
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS. formed. I ask yon, gentlemen, to accept from
r.} [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT. SHANGHAI, 13th September, 7.44 p.m. Viceroy Liu Kung-yi is urging the
The arrangement of the Shansi missionary troubles was proceeding most satisfactorily, when suddenly some native officials raised i serious difficulty. This presages fresh ser-
ious troubles.
SHANGHAI, 18th September, 9.35 p.ш Viceroys Liu Kung-yi and Tao Mu have handed in their resignatious as a protest against the efforts of the reactionary cabal at Hsianfu against reform.
SHANGHAI, 20th September, 9.10 p.m. Shen Tun-ho's corps of 5,000 foreign- drilled troops has been ordered to Shautung to reinforce Governor Yuan Shikai.
(Daily Press, 19th September.) In noticing the report on the trade of Canton in 1900 by Mr. Consul-General B. C. G. Scorr yesterday we did not touch on one point, which is nevertheless of considerable importance to commercial men
General Richardson returns to India to and others in Hongkong. Instructions were received, it appears from Mr. SCOTT's morrow on the transport Sumatra. His report, to prepare a table showing the departure is much regretted. quantity and value of the trade of Cunton with the United Kingdom, British Colonies and Dependencies. It was at once found that no statistics other than those of the Imperial Maritime Customs were available, and they were useless and misleading, show- ing but a portion of the trade that reaches and leaves the distrist. In Hongkong itself, the depot of the foreign import and export trade of the whole world with Southern China, no information, public or private or from the Chamber of Commerce, could be obtained. No one, says Mr. Scort, seems able to form an opinion even of the quantity and value of the goods from and destined for foreign countries, entering and leaving
A special meeting of the Legislative Council, Canton in native craft, transhipped in to pass a vote of condolence on the death of Hongkong, except that they are very large. President McKinley, was held in the Council It is a curious fact, but of course one long Chamber on the 17th inst, at 3 p.m. recognised in this Colony, that the presence were present :-- of this Colony on the south coast of China absolutely prevents the obtaining of any statistics even as to the British trade alone with Southern China. As far as we know nobody has proposed any practical scheme by which the anomaly can be removed. In the absence of any reliable information, the following rough approximation is given by Mr. SCOTT, based on the customs return. The import trade works out thus:-
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
CONDOLENCE WITH THE UNITED STATES.
There
His EXCELLENCY th › GOVERNOR (Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).
Hon. Col. L. F. Brown, R.E. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. J. H. Stewart LockhART, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. H. E. Pollock, K.C. (Acting Attorney, General).
Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. C. Mcl. MESSER (Acing Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Acting Director of Public Works).
Hon. C. P. CHA1ER, C.M.G. Hoa. T. II. WHITEHEAD. Hon. J. THURBURN.
Hon. J. J. Bell Irving. Hon. Dr. Ho K▲1.
me the following resolution:-"The members of the Legislative Council, on behalf of the people of this Colony, desire to express their horror at the atrocious crime which has deprived the American nation of a great President, and to convey through His Majesty's Ambassador
condolences with Mrs. McKinley in her bereave- ment." I will ask the Hou. Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council to kindly
second.
I
Hon C. P. CHATER said-Your Excellency, beg to second the resolution just proposed. I feel assured that I am giving expression to the sentiments of the whole community- British and Foreign. At the same time, it is only natural that in the British Empire the feeling of sympathy with the bereaved widow and the mourning American nation should be keenest. On such an occasion the kinship of the two great Anglo-Saxon nations makes itself since the warm-hearted American people most strongly felt. It is but a few mouths were condoling with us on the loss of our late beloved Queen and Empress, and the late President was swift to flash across the wires a message of sympathy to our King, who is now condoling with Mrs. McKinley. Mere words are a poor vehicle with which to convey our grief and horror at a crime that has shocked The civilised world; but it will, I hope, be some comfort to the widow and some consolation to the people of the United States to know that wherever our common tongue is spoken, their mourning and regret are shared.
The resolution was accepted unanimously, and the Council adjourned until Thursday, the
26th inst.
Proposals are under consideration for form - It ing a separate political service for Burms. is hoped that this measure will ensure continuity in the frontier administration by the retention of the services of officers who show special The aptitude for dealing with the hill tribes. suggestions made by General Protheroe regard- ing frontier defence are being carried out. The defences of the existing posts are being improved, and the establishment of two new posts linking Sima with Namponng has been ranctioned.
•
Mr. Cholmeley, the Commissioner at Manda- lay, in his annual report on the China frontier, records the growing dissatisfaction among the Kachins at our inability to defend them from the incursions of the trans-frontier Kaching. The Chinese authorities are apparently helpless, and the Commimioner recommends" exacting
Opium, all of British origin, 669,6001. ; cotton piece-goods, 191,000l.; all cotton yarn, except a small quantity from Japan, 33.7001; woollens, 35,0001.; refined sugar, 31,000l. ; the total of these items is 960,3001. This deducted from the value of the total' foreign imports leaves 1,171,000l., of this at least one-third may be claimed as derived from the United Kingdom and British
independent tribes and only nominally Chinese subjects. The continued absence of the British colonies and dependencies this gives
HIB EXCELLENCT mid-Hon. Members of Consul from Momwin, who could bring pressure 390,0007. in round numbers. At a low estimate, therefore, of the 2,132,000. at the Legislative Council. I have called you to bear on the Yunnan authorities, is a serious which the foreign imports were estimated together to-day simply for the purpose of disadvantage.
Hon. Wx1 A YUK.
Mr. C. Clementi (Acting Clerk of Councils). | reparation from the raiders, who are really The minutes of the previous meeting of Council having been read and approved,