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of Commerce that pilots working in Hongkong waters be licensed.
We cannot endorse the statement mada in the latter under consideration that “there is no / necessity at this port for pilotage properly
so-called."
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A large number of vessels which visit this port do require pilots for one reason or another, and it appears that th se reasons mentioned in the report dated 19th June, a copy of which bas been forwarded to the Colonial Secretary on the 18th idem, constitute regular pilots' duties such as would be required of them in the rarions, ports at which our vessels call. viz.: suffic eat local and rantical knowledge to safely berth a vessel alongside a wharf, knowledge of the channels. cu rents etc.. of the harbour, of the position of the various ships in h rbour, and to safely take a vessel to her allotted moorings in the harbour. These duties are precisely similar to those required of pilots in the ports of Penang, Singapore, etc., etc.
There being therefor- a dem ind for qualified men to carry out this work, it appears only reasonable that certificates of competency should be granted by the Government.
We believe we are right in stating that: t no British port either at home or in the colonies would men be allowed to act as pilots without a Government licen-é.
We are well aware that in certain ports in the neighbourhood of this Colony all pilots are licensed, unlicensed men being prohibited from acting as pilots A these licensed pilo s in- clude a number of Chinese, it would appear that the difficulties which have occurred to the Government in licensing native pilots are possible of being overcome. The Licensing Board need not necessarily be composed entirely of Government officials, but might be supple mented by experts whose services could no doubt be secured, as are those of nautical assessors in a Court of Law.
In our previous report already referred to we have cited as an instance the licensing of the steersmen and engineers of steam launches, and we believe that if this can be satisfactorily accomplished, the Government should also be able to deal with the question of nativ pilots.
The proposal contained in the third paragraph of the Colonial Secretary's letter does no commend itself to the members of the Sub. Committee,
We do not consider it reasonable to attempt to place the servants of a public Company in the position of Government officials and to expect them to accept responsibility which the Government declines.
While the granting or refusing of a certifi- cate of competency involves no risk or pecu- uiary responsibility upon the Government. a company would not possess the same immunity from responsibility. and we are informed that the Wharf Co. see very serions objections to acting upon the suggestion made in this para- graph of the Colonial zecretary's letter under consideration. We would further point out that not only are duly qualified pilots required to take vessels to the Kowloon wharf, but all men acting as pilots should also be qualified to perform the ordinary duties attaching to a pilot's position.
With regard to the fifth and sixth paragraphs of the Colonial Secretary's letter, we cannot but consider that the questions therein raised are calculated rather to jobscure the main point at issue.
The responsibility of the commander and officers of a vessel, even though a licensed pilot be on board, is well understood and fully recognised.
In requesting that pilots in Hongkong waters be licensed, we are only asking for what is done as a matter of course not only in home ports, where white men are engaged in the trade, but also in the Eastern ports, where the local pilot sevices include Asiatics. In support of this statement we may say that this system obtains not only in Aden, Bombay, Calcutta, Penang Singapore and other British ports in the East, but also in Japan and the open treaty ports of China.
So far as we are able to ascertain, a very large proportion of the ocean-going vessels which visit this port take pilots, even though, they may not be going alongside a wharf, but merely anchoring in the harbour.
Setting aside all matter of detail, the broad
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
question at issue is that in Hongkong there is a general demand for pilots whose services are required by most of the large vessels r's. iting the port. Under such circumstances and bearing in mind the very great importance of Hongkong as one of the largest shipping ports in the British Empire, it is a matter ¦ of urgency that no unlicensed men should
be permitted to act as pilots.
Without wishing to go over old ground, we must, in view of the objections raised by the Governm nt, again point out that by issuing such licenses the Government accepts no res. possibility, but is merely exercising an executive control ever an important adjunct to our trade, such as is done in all large shipping centres.
We believe the whole of the General Com. mittee ara agreed as to the importance of this question, and trust therefore that further representations on the subj et may be made to the Government.
Your obedieat servants, EDBERT A. HEWEIT. W. POST. ARMIN HAUPT.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong. 20th Septemb r, 1902. SIR-I have the honour to acknowledge the, receipt of your letter of 16th July last, io reply to my letter of 18th June last, with enclosure, on the subject of the proposal made by the com- mittee of this Chamber for the licensing of pilots at this port, and I am directed to express the great regret of the Committee at the Government does not seg its way to adopt the suggestion of the Chamber in regard to the above-mentioned proposal.
This matter has had further serious con- sideration at the hands of the Committee, and they would again venture to address you on the subject, as they feel that the matter is one of considerable importance to the port. seeing the very large amount of tounage frequenting terse waters, and the difficulties in the way can hardly be considered insu mountable, or of a serious
nature.
The licensing of pilots is a function exercised by Governments of all civilised countries, and the Committes would urge that what is so almost invariably the prac ice elsewhere can surely, and ought to be, nudertaken and carried out by the Goverument of this. one of the largest shipping ports in the world.
Tre Committes also desire to express the emphatic opinion that it is not only des rabl", but most necessary, that there should be some official control over men performing such important and responsible work as that of a pilot, and it is remarkable, to say the least of it, that in a port of this magnitude there should be no regulations on the subject.
With a view to having the matter considered as closely as possible, the Commi tee submitted your letter of 16th July to the Sub-Committee by whom the report already forwarded to you in my letter ef 18th June last was drawn np. The further report of this Sub-Committee has been before the Committee, by whom it was unanimously dopted, and I am directed to hand you herewith a copy thereof for the consideration of His Excellency the Gorer- nor, and to express the hope of the Com- mittee that with this further information before bim His Excellency may be pleased to again consider the suggestions made and to authoris steps being taken to carry into effect the suggestions submitted.-I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,
HON. COLONIAL SECRETARY.
A. F. LOWE, Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
16th October, 1902. SIR,I am directed to acknowle ge the receipt of your letter of tle 29th ultimo, on the subject of the proposal for the licensing_of pilots at this port, and to inform you that His Excellency the Governor, having carefully considered this question, sees no reason to change the decision arrived at by Sir W. Gascoigne, which was communicated to you in my letter No. 1574 of the 16th of last July. I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant.
F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.
The SECRETARY,
Chamber of Commerce.
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[October 25, 1902.
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Macao, 23rd October. ARRIVALS.
After a fortnight of quiet, the last week has brought many new arrivals to Macao, and there are at prossut a large number of visitors in the town. Last week the Diu arrived from North hina, and then came the French river guuboat Vigilante; it was hoped that the Sandpiper would come here also last week with Capt. and Mrs. Lockhart on their honeymoon, but it appeirs that they have given up the idea of coming here for the present. Last Friday the British Vice-Consul and Mrs. Seaton arrived after their stay in Ja au.
H.E. BR CA TELLO BRANCO'S MISSION. Naturally the chief topic of interest be e of late has been the mission of H E. S nhor Branco to Peking. It was evident that its uccess depended largely upon the measure of support which he could receive from the Minis- ters at the Chinese capital, and be had to count on the probable hostility of the French Minister to any conves-ious in a region which he may conceive to belong to the French sphere first news seemed to point to a successful issue, but the vagueness of the telegram not less than the past history of negotiations in China suggests doub s whether much material advantage will accrue to Macao or to Portugal It now appears that the proposed railway wil is any case have torely upon Chinese or, more probably, upon British capital for its chances of completion.
The
It was hoped that the H.E. Senhor Branco would see his way to pay a visit to Macao, and he was d-finitely invited by the Chamber of Commerce, who intended to give a ball in his honour. However, he hs replied that he will not have time to come to Macao, and he has accordingly inv ted the Colony to send some of the leading officials to meet him in Hongkong when be arrives on the German mail. Accord ingly it is probable that H.E. th Acting Governor will cross with some other officials in the Diu to meet him at Hongkong upon the arrival of the German mail ste mer Hamburg..
CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDANT.]
Canton, 21st October.
LO AL DISTRESS AND BRIGANDAGE.
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N ver have Canton and the outlying districts been so badly off as they are now. The people bave had bard times during the prevalence of plague, benvy taxation overburdened them, and now famine is visiting them after the failure of autumnal crops, drought prevailing everywhere. Provi ions are getting very dear and robbers are much bolder and fiercer than ever. Some charitable corporations are solicit- ing subscrip ions, chartering ships to go and bay cheap rice at Wuhu, Chiukiang, Bangkok, and other places to supply the famine a ricken people in Kwangtung and Kwangsi; but as Canton has already been fleeced by the rapacity of the officials, not much money can be got, and worse times may yet be expected. Robber hundred are bands of from 40 to over about, and the officials and gentry are in great fear of them. As to soldiers, I need not say much of them. Soldiers are thieves, and thieves are soldiers, and the so-called "braves lose their bravery when they see thieves. To the west of anton there is a village known as N m Ngon mostly occupied by the people of the surname of Choi, whose clan is the biggest. In this village there was a large lottery establishment, the Sat Sing, kept by Choi Yai Shiang for the "white pigeon" lottery. For the protection of the establishment, Choi en- gaged 50 to 60 soldiers, who made it look more like a garrison than a gambling-house. They were armed with rifles and swords, patrolling about day and night. A few day ago a gang of some 40 or 50 robbers, on a predatory expedí- tion, had to pass the outside of Nam Ngon villag. The soldiers went in pursuit and shot two of them dead. The robbers have sworn to avenge themselves upon Choi Yai Shiang, or if they cannot catch him, to raze the whole village to the ground. The villagers, having heard of it, in great fear have deserted the village, with their familiesand belongings. Choi also has fled to avoid the vengeance of the robbers:
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