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October 11, 1902.]
treaty rights is a matt r calling for the most energetic action on the part of H. M. Government.
THE LEKIN-FREE AREA IN C NTON.
In consequence of the denial by the Viceroy | of the Two Kwang of the privilege of a lekin | free area in Canton as provided for in the existing treaties, an urgent telegraphic com. murication to the C... Association, London, was made on the 11th July last, and the Committee are glad to say that His Excellency the Viceroy has since, doubtless under instruc. tions from Peking, receded from that position, and has issued a fresh proclamation on the subject, conceding the point.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
regiment; their uniform is scarlet with white facings, and their badge a united red and white rose, emblematic of the Wars of the Roses. The regimental honours show the fllowing list:-Louisburg. Roleir, Vimiert, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor, Cendad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyren- ees, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse. Penin-ula, Ara. South Africa, 1816-7, Alma. Inkerman, evas- tapol, Central India, Abyssinia, Egypt 1882. Tirah, and lastly South Africa. Lieut-Col. Wylly, C.B, is in command. Captain Thomas H. M. Green, D.S.0., is second in command, and the other officers accompanying the corps are Captain Rudoloph H. Keller, A MERITED ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
D.Š.O., Adjt, Captain Lionel St. II. Morley, The Committee have been much impressed Captain Philip F. R. Anley, Captain James with and have great pleasure in hero recording | F. R. Ritchie, Lieut. Charles D. M. Harring- their high appreciation of the able and energetic | ton, Lieut. John H. Wybergh, Lient. William manner in which British interests at Canton | W. Frend, Lieut. Gaspard F. de Pledge, Lieut. have been p otected and promoted by His Bernard W. Paul, and Lieut, E'gar N. T. Majesty's present Representative at that port, Collin. Consul-General James Scott. Mr. Scott has, undoubtedly, by his vigilance, promptitude, and firmcess effectively championed British interests.
THE LATE CHAIRMAN,
The Committee have to deplore the suddou and unexpected decease of their late Chairman, Mr. J. J. Francis, K.C., while ou a trip to Japan in 1901. Mr. Francis, who had presided over this branch for several years, did excellent service during that period, his long experience of affairs in the Far East, his leg l acumen, and his ready pen enabling him to haudle the questions coming, before the Association with The utmost facility and with marked success.
THE COMMITEE,
The committee, after various changes, now consists of the following members-lon. Geo. W. F. Playfair (Chairman), Hon. C. S. sharp, Hon. R. Shewan, Messrs. R. C. Wilcox, G. H. Medhurst, H. E. Tomkins, W. Poate, and C. Pemberton (Hon. Secretary).
THE ACCOUNTS.
The accounts of the Hon. Secretary, which are annexed to the report, show credit balances as follows:-1900, $609-89; 1901, $314.81; 1902, $879.61.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr. MAITLAND, the report and accounts were unanimously adopted.
The only other item of business was the election of a committee for the ensuing year.
Mr. STEWART moved the reappointment of the present members. He was sure that they would perform the duties of their office as satisfactorily in the coming year as in the past. Mr. W. J. SAUNDERS seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
This was all the business.
GARRISON CHANGES IN HONGKONG.
ARRIVAL OF THE DERBYSHIRE REGIMENT.
The 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Lerby shire Regiment), which comes to Hongkong to relieve the Royal Welsh Fusilier, arrived in the Colony on the 8th inst. from South Africa on board the transport Wakool. They lauded at the Commissariat Pier, were mat by the band of the R.W.F., and afterwards marched to their quarters at Murray Barracks, which the Fusiliers had vacated in view of their arrival, The Derbyshires bave seen some active service in South Africa, and show it
by their appearance, being a fine, well set-up body of men. The Regiment is at low strength just now as the result of its recent experiences, They mumber only some 60 all told. It is understood that only about 150 men will st.y in Hongkong in the meantime, the rest going to the North in a few days when the Wakool has undergone some necessary repairs. From Cape Town, which was left on the 8th alt., the Regiment had a very pleasant pissage on the whole, though the weather during the first fortnight was a bit rough. Their only call between Cape Town and Hongkong was at Singapore, a break in the voyage which was very much appreciated by all after the long A talk with several trip across the ocean. members of the Regiment shows that they are favourably struck with Hongkong, 80 far at least as first impressions are cerned. The Derbyshires are a historic old
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The Royal Welsh Fusiliers go to India, shortly, as we have already announced.
THE HONGKO`G REGIMENT'S DEPARTURE.
H.E. the Governor, Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G, made his final inspection of the Hongkong Regiment on the Football Ground at Happy Villey yesterday at 430 p.m., prior to their departure for India to be disbanded. The following is a detail of the parade:-The Regiment will be drawn up in line ready to troop the Colour and will receive H.E. the Governor with a general salute. After inspection by H.E. the Regi- mental Colour will be trooped and the Re. im-nt will then march past in column in slow and quick time, finally advancing in review order and giving a general salute The ceremony of trooping the Colour dates from the last century and is said to have been introduced by the Prince Regent to test the sobriety of his officers ou morning parade. It will be commenced on this occasion by the Band playing a troop from right to left of the line, turning about when near the Regimental Colour and returuing to the right playing a "quick march." The right company of the line as escort to the Colour will then. preceded by the Band playing "The British Grenadiers," be marched to the Colour and having been halted at company distance from the Colour the following ceremony will take place.
The Sergeant-Major with his sword drawn will advance by the left flank to the front, rec-ivs the Colour and return towards the escort. The lieutenant for the Colour will at the same time more out four paces in front of the Commander of the escort, passing by his right, and, having saluted the Colour as the Sergeant Major brings it up to him and then returned his sword, will receive the Colour, place it in his belt and turn about. The escort will be ord red to Present Arms" the Sergeant Major saluting, the Sergeants ou the flanks of the escort turning outwards and coming to the ready and the settries presenting arms. The Colour will then be marched along the frout of the line, being receiv. d by the Regiment with a "Present." the escort passing between the ranks until its original place is reached when it will be halted, turued in the same direction as the Regiment is facing and directed to "Present arms." then concludes with a march p st as above described.
The ceremony
In connection with the Colours it will be remembered iu 1899 while being taken under
escort to Taipo to form a guard of honour for the present Governor on the occasion of the hoisting of the British flag in the New Territory the party which was under the command of Capt. Berger, was fired upon by large crowds of Chinese rowdies in position on the hills rund As the Colours were immediately Taipo unfurled and beld flying during the little action which followed they have a right to le con- sidered the first British flags hoisted in the New Territory.
THE FIRE AT AMOY.
FURTHER DETAILS.
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On the 7th inst. the Douglas Steamship Co.'s 8.8. Haiching arrived in Hongkong, bringing the first mail news of the s-rious conflagration which had occurred at Amoy. The telegraphic news so far has not bee of a complete description by any means, and we suppose we must wait for other arrivals from Amoy before the full story is forthcoming, for the Haiching brings little that has not been at least foreshadowed in our telegra- phic service. It seems that the conflagration, though serious enough in all conscience, has not proved so srious as the first messages would have led us to suppose. By these we were led to understand that something like 2,000 houses and shops had been destroyed by the flimes. It appears that 800 is, as tear as possible, the number implicated. When the Hai- ching arrived in Amoy on Saturday morning, the ruins of the devastated portion were still smoking, and shortly before the vessel sailed there was a recrudescence of the blaze, caused, apparently, by the fall of houses and walls. It is said that the fire originated in a native temple. When the outbreak occurred the wind was blowing towards the harbour. The only vessel; in port were the Wenchow and the Newchwang. The captains, officers and crews of these two steamers went on shore to assist in the subdual of the flames. They worked arduously, according to our informant, but owing to the direction of the wind were unable to keep the conflagration from getting a bold upon the buildings on the Bund. Messrs. Longlas, Lapraik & Co.'s. Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s, and Messrs. Danver & Co.'s premises ..n the Bund were saved from destruction only by the strenuous efforts of the Furopears who had landed to help to extinguish the flames. We regret to state that Captain Fife of the Wenchow was killed while heroically engaged in this perilous work; a smouldering wall fell upon him and he was killed on the spot. The remains of the barat houses, which included a large Chin se tea-hong on the Bund, were smoking heavily when the Haiching left Amay on Saturday night, At that time, the damage had not been assessed, but it must must amount to many thousands if not millions of dollars. The owners of the Chinese hongs on the water-front took the precaution, when they say the fire approaching, of shifting their household goods and properties into cargo-boats which they pushed off into mid-stream.
HORRIBLE CRUELTY TO A GIRL.
Paralysed and broken, body and spirit, such is the lamentable condition of a poor little twelve-year-old Chinese girl now lying in the Government Civil Hospital, who, it is alleged, has been subjecte l to undreamt of cruelty at the hands of her master and mis- tress, both of whom are in the custody of the police and will be charged at the Magistracy before Mr. F. A. Hazeland next on the 11th inst. An anonymous letter to the Registrar-General gave the first inkling, and a risit to the house indicated in the letter, 364, Queen's Road, disclosed the whole terrible affair. The story, as told to the police, is i effect as follows: -About six years ago the girl, who, as we have said, is now in her twelfth year, was
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to the care of the two prisoners; since then brought down from the interior, and handed over her life has been made one long torture, Some time ago, the girl s hands were bound behind her back and she was slung to the roof of a cubicle by a rope fastened to her wrists. In this helpless state she was allowed to hang, our representa- live was informed, from nine night till seven o'clock next morning. One result of this ill-usage is a paralysed arm. More recently the woman tore handfulls of hair out of her victim's head, and this act was followed by more barbarous treatment still. With a pair of scissors she was stabbed sixty times on the body, cut over the ankles "bam- strung," almost--with a long knife, and beaten accross the back with a rattan cane, The final
The following telegram, dated Lordon, 24th September, was sent to Bangkok, but not to Hongong-Reuter's Agency is informed that Great Britain has taken no action whatsoever giving any colour to the report of an occupation torture, which was inflicted a short time before of Kelantan. Neither the British nor the the arrest was effected, was equally shocking. Indian Government has anything to do with! With two "joss papers saturated with the Sultan's engagement of Sikhs.
kerosene, the woman burned the girl's arms and
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