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July 13, 1903.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
before reached. The preferential treatment | Law Courts are to be built on the Prayı Re- accorded to refineries in Japan and the very clamation. The greater part of the year was onerons conditions there to be contended against occupied in forming the foundations, which constitute a very severe handicap to trade with were nearly completed. The road to Taipo, that country, which was formerly an important the administrative centre of the New Territory, outlet for the production in Hongkong. Scar was practically finished. Its width is 14 feet city of water and greatly increased cost of and ils length 18 miles. The foundati nsf labour were factors which further conduced in the new Western Market were nearly completed an unfavourable result to local refineries. In up to ground level, and also those of the new other respects the outlook for industrious enter Harbour Offico. The new waterworks at Ty- prise in Hongkong is on the whole promising. (am and Kowloon have been undertaken Fisheries-A considerable proportion of the in consequence of the inadequacy of the exist boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by ing water-supply to meet the requirements of deep-sea fishing, in which pursuit a large the city of Victoria during the dry seasou. The number of junks are engaged. In the im-excavation of the foundations for the new Ty- mediate neighbourhood of the Colony, or within tam Reservoir, over a length of about 28 feet, its territorial waters the fishing industry has was practically completed, and a portion was not assumed any considerable dimensions. filled in with cement concrete. The new Kow A bout $2,000 was paid into the Treasury during loon Waterworks scheme is in the hauds of a the year from fees for fishing stakes and firm of local architects and engineers. Beyond station licences in the New Territory.
the laying of mains, the defining of drainage boundaries, and a certain amount of excavation, there has not yet been time to make any de. cided progress with the work. The Governor's new Peak Residence was completed in July and occupied shortly afterwards. The house is large and substantial and stands near the highest point on the island. The total amouut spent on Public Works Extraordinary during the year was $1.157.104; and on Works An ually Recurrent $506,793. Of the former sum, $508,000 was expended in the purchase of a site on the Praya Reclamation for the new Post Office.
LEGISLATION.
Forty-seven ordinances were passed during 1902, of which twenty-two were amending and twelve private ordinances, The dependence of the Colony for its water supply on the annual rainfall, and the occurrence of a serious water famine in the spring of the year under review, showed the necessity of introducing new legis Jation to regulate and control the supply. The result was the Water-works Cousolida- tion Ordinance, which had for its object the economising of waste. Four ordinances dealt with the New Territory, chiefly in con- nection with Crown lands resumption, rent recovery, and the registration of titles. Of the private measures the most important was the Tramway Ordinance (No. 10 of 1902), by which the construction of an electric tramway within the Colony was anthorised and the necessary legal powers conferred upon the Company by which the tramway is to be constructed."
EDUCATION.
The educational system in the Colony is at present undergoing revision, and it is ss yet to early to speak with confidence of the results which may
be expected from measures which are, to some extent, only tentative. Of recent years the demand among the Chinese for instruction in
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
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resources of the Colony osused directly plague, the financial position of the Colony and indirectly by the annual recurrence of is sound and gives no cause for uneasiness for the future. At the same time it is well to re- practically the goodwill of its commerce, and member that the assets of this Colony are it is only by a continuance of its sea-borne trade-which fortunately as yet shows no signs of declining that the Colony can expect to remain in its present prosperous condition.
JAPAN AND RUSSIA.
to
Speculation was rife as to the object of General Kuropatkin's visit to Japan. On the strength of information which it describes as authorita- tive, the Osaka Asahi denies that General Kuropatkin has been visiting Japan with an important commissiou, as alleged, and goes on to say that if the Russian Government really has a desire to make an arrangement with regard to Manchuris, the Minister for Foreign Affairs should have been sent as a representa-
bas no power to effect such an arrangement. tive. General. Kuropatkin, declares the Asahi, Taking into consideration all these foots, the report that General Kuropatkin has an important mission to fulfil is looked upon as incredible. The real object of his visit is set forth as follows. The works for the defence of Port Arthur, which have been pushed forward apace, have progressed considerably, and the From 4th January, 1902, to 8th Se tember, 1902, curing my absence on leave, Sir W. J.
works for the defence from a frontal attack are Gascoigne, K.C.M.G., administered the Govern- regarded as impregnable. But the defences so far completed that the place is so far ment. April, 1902, Mr. W. M. Goodman against attack from the rear have been utterly was appointed Chief Justice, and towards the neglected. Should hostilities break out between close of the year received the honour of Japan and Russia, communication by sea Kuighthood. Sir Henry Spencer Berkeley, late betweon Port Arthur and Vladivostock would. Chief Justice of Fiji, succeeded him in the be entirely cut off should the Japanese office of Attorney-General. Mr. J. H. Stewart-squadron occupy the Corean Straits. Moreover, Lockhart, C.M.Ĝ., was appointed Commissioner should the Japanese army land on the Kinobow of Weihaiwei in April, 1902, and was succeeded peninsula and out the communications with the as Colonial Secretary by Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G. mainland, Port Arthur would soon be isolated, The Coronation of His Majesty the King and the result of an attack from the land was celebrated in the Colony by a special side might be disastrous. If it is neces- service in the Cathedral, by general illumina-
sary, from the Russian standpoint, the English language h ́stions, and by the presentation of loyal addresses. protect Port Arthur adequately Russia must largely increased, and is now so keen that A statue of His Royal Highness the Duke of secure a basis of operations at the mouth of all the Anglo-Chinese schools of the Celony, Connaught-the gift of Sir Paul Chater, are fall, and many would-be pupils cannot
the Yalu to defend Port Arthur and Talion- C.M.G. was unveiled on 5th July, 1902, and wan, and the communication by lard be find admittance. There is also a growing it was announced on that occasion that the tween Vladivostock and Port Arthur must number of night-schools and other non-aided same donor and Mr. J. J. Bell-Irving intended be much improved. For this purpose, it is institutions where English is taught. One to present the Colony with statues of His urged that it is necessary for Russia to bring a such school. founded little more than a Majesty the King and of His Royal Highness railway direct from Vladivostock to Liaoyang, year ago, has a total eprolment of 300; and the Prince of Wales. application has been made by its manager for
besides the existing line between Vladivostock and Harbin. This explains the object of Russia its inclusion, under the Government Code,
promoting various works on the banks of the among aided schools. Of Government
Yalu, under the pretext merely of cutting tim- schools, Queen's College, with an average
br. The real object of the present trip attendance of nearly one thousand, is the most important. Three Anglo-Chinese District
opatkin is the inspection of the actual situa- to this part of the world by General Kur- Schools, with a total enrolment of about 400, were
tion of those strategical points. A telegram entirely re-constituted and put
that Russia is taking measures to construct a under European headmasters from the end of
railway from Liaoyang to Antong, on the Yalu, the year. Of aided Anglo-Chinese schools, the
confirms the report that the Russians are Roman Catholic Cathedral school has aj average attendance of over one hundred.. In
Arthur. Had General Kuropatkin returned to strengthening the landward defences of Port all these schools a large proportion of the
Europe from the Liaotung peninsula without staff consists of European masters. During the year a school for children (both sex 8)
coming to this country, says the Asahi, his visit there would have aroused the suspicions of of European parentage was established at
the Powers, so that it is thought he went Kowloon: it has already a total enrolment of
to Japan to divert public attention. over sixty. A committee was appointed early in the year to consider the whole question of education in the Colony, and it published a report in which were enunicated several import- .ant principles. Of these perhaps the most universally accepted is the dictum that while educating Chinese in English and Western knowledge, it is also desirable to ensure a certain standard of proficiency in the Chinese written language. The Inspector of Schools, who was in England during the summer, made a study of the methods employed by the Board of Education, and on his return drew up મ new code for aided schools. This draft has since received the fall approval of the managers
4
The New Territory has continued its gradual and peaceful development; and if it were not for the occasional inroads of disorderly char. acters from the Chinese side of the frontier there should be bat little to record in the way of robbery or outrage. The demarcation of the whole of the New Territory, with the ex- ception of certain strips and the island of Lamma, was finished during the year. The construction of an excellent road from Kowloon to Taipo, a distance, of about 18 miles, was pratically completed. The system of police stations is also complete, and nearly every station is connected with telephone.
the city by
The settlement of land claims has been steadily progressing, and it is hoped that the work for which the tem- porary Land Court was created will shortly be concluded. The area of the New Ter ritory is about 370 square miles, of which the cultivated area is about 45,000 acres or 60 square miles. The estimated population is slightly over 100,000. At present the expenditure on the New Territory, largely due to the cost of the Land Court and Public Works Extraordinary, is considerably in excess of the revenue; but judging from the present rate of progress and prospects for the future it may be expected that the revenue will equal the expenditure within seven or eight years. The local Chamber of Commerce has pronounced itself strongly in favour of the compulsory adoption of the metric system of weights and measures throughout the Empire, and will welcome any change in that The principal public works undertaken or direction. In spite of the depression caused completed within the year were the new Law especially in import trade, by the fluctuation in Courts, the road to Taipo, the Western Market, the silver market and other more remote causes, the new Harbour Office an extension of the the prosperity of Colony has continued to ex- Tytam Reservoir, the Kowloon Waterworks, | pand during the past year. Statistics show and the Governor's new Peak Residence. The that in spite of the heavy drain upon the
of schools.
PUBLIC WORKS.
|
If
The Kobe | Chronicle in du article on
tunate course of action for Japan's future interests. Jingoism in Japan" says that a more unfor-
than that suggested by the Tokyo Profe:sors it would be difficult to conceive. "A war with Russia might result in Japan obtaining an advantage in the Far East for the time being, but for how long and at what cost? If Japan cannot attain her ends by peaceful diplomacy, she may as well give up the contest, for the Russia must tell in the end. Japan's chief: enormous weight and immense resources of
interest in Manchuria is the maintenance of the open doɔr' for the benefit of her trade; and few of her publicists now hold that she can seize and administer the territory with any advantage to herself. But euch seizure would almost inevit ably follow if she were to be successful for the time in a contest with Russia, as Japan would naturally be afraid that China would not be strong enough to maintain her position, even if Russia were driven ont. There seems little question, unfortunately, that a crisis is