August 15, 1903.}'
Country.
Bri'ish Empire—
Chinn... France
Tutal
Imports Exports. Total.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
119
their representative to be essential aid whether they are unwilling to lose their Chairman as a consequence of elevating him to the Council.
1902 among the countries chiefly interested of the greatest shipping firm out here may was as follows:
safely claim to supply that shipping and commercial element which is looked for in the representative of the Chamber of Commerce of this great shipping and commercial port. It has been a tradition of the Chamber that its representative on the Legislative Council should have such qualifications. Mr. HEWETT is, too, a man who in Shanghai attained so important a post as the Chairmanship of the Municipal Council, beside exercising other public functions and proving himself fully qualified for the busy life of one who has very numerous interests. Since his return to Hongkong he has reached the position of Chairman of the Chamber; he distinguished | that Celebration committee; and in many other himself by his activity on the Coronation ways has increased the reputation which the other band, he is already Chairman of preceded him here from Shanghai. But, on
the Chamber, and this seems to us to create a serious obstacle. The Chamber cannot want to see its Chairman's action trainmelled
по
United Kingdom. £5,141,327 1,770,753 6,912,080 Hang ong 2062 241,541 2,802,116 Britig In lia 5,482,099 517,283 5 55 282 Australia
171,705 3:23,818 491.523 Can ida
52,805 855,816 409,651 13,618,438 5,609,214 16,257.852 ..£1,147,659 781,431 8,925,021 481,16 2,7 5,186 3,269,610 Grmany
2,633, 60 Unita) States
3,571 3,118,610 4,060.61 8,10,433 13 157,075 It is to be noted that Hongkong alone of the divisions of the British Empire showed a total decrense from the figures of 1901; imports fell by £886,789 and exports by £1,624,206 a total of less than £2.510,995. The value of sugar alone import d from Hongkong fell from £1,109,615 in 1901 to 237,379 in 1902; but 1901 was of course an exceptional year owing to the rush to escape the new sugar-duty levied in October. Altogether, between 18 and 19 per cent of the foreign import trade of Japan was from the United Kingdom and nearly 40 per cent. of it was from the British Empire.
British shipping shows a decrease during 1902 in the number of vessels entering Japanese ports, but an increase in their tonnage. The passenger traffic to England ria Suez still goes, in the absence of a direct line of British steamers, to the German, French, and Japanese mails; some of this will, however, be diverted to the Siberian
line.
The number of British sailing ships to Japan is slowly_decreasing. Of other foreign nations, France and Germany showed a decline in their total shipping, and Rus-ia and the United States an increase on the figures of 1901.
We have not space here to deal with Mr. PARLETT's remarks on the financial history of Japan in 1902, which we must therefore leave for another occasion. We may note, however, that the most remarkable features
of the finaucial year were the stealy accu- mulation in the banks of deposits and an equally steady import of specie into Japan. The year 1902 closed on quiet markets and full banks, says Mr. PARLET.
THE REPRESENTATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
(Daily Press, 11th August.) To-morrow afternoon & special general meeting of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce will be held to nominate a meir.ber of the Chamber to take the place in the Legislative Council of the Hon. R. SHEWAN, now on leave. At yesterday's meeting of the Council unfortunately the
by his connection with the Council in the capacity of its representative. This dif- ficulty could, of course, be got over by Chamber. Again, it appears to us a serious Mr. HEWETT's resignation of his post in the
drawback against candidature for the Legislative Council to be alrea ly a member to avoid having one man a member alike of of the Sanitary Board. It is most desirable the highest Council and of the Sanitary Board, whose proceedings ultimately come up for judgement before that Council. Lastly, though Mr. HEWETT's years in Shanghai do not make him the less an old resident in Hongkong, yet perhaps his absence bas made him less in touch with the Colony as it is to-day, and his return to us is of too recent date to remove completely this objection.
Mr. POLLOCK's claims to sit on
the Legislative Council of Hongkong are un- doubtedly powerful.
For fifteen years, interrupted only by his brief migration to Fiji, he has lived here and busied himself intimate knowledge of Hongkong which he in public movements. Apart from the
must thus have accumulated, his legal training and particularly his tenure of the important post of Acting Attorney-General qualify him admirably for assisting in making the laws of the Colony, which in fact he has alrealy helped to do. But Mr. POLLOCK is not a shipping or commer. against bis claims must be set the facts that
cial man (though no one cau doubt that he has a wide knowledge from outside of sipping and commercial matters), but a lawyer, and that he is quite a recent member of the Chamber of Commerce. His member. ship of the Sanitary Board is against him, as
(Daily Press, 13th August.) As the result of a close poll yesterday afternoon, Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C., was elected by the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce as its representative on the Legislative Council during the absence on leave of Mr. R. SHEWAN. The majority in his favour was nine, as he obtained 68 votes to Mr. E. A. HEWETT'S 54; there were therefore about twenty votes only short of a full Chamber-a fact which shows a healthy interest Was taken mandably brief, for it was in the election. Proceedings were comt no doub. felt that, both candidates being so well known in the community, long speeches were not required to impress their claims on the voters' minds. What remarks were made were to the point, and the scrutineera were able to proceed to the count with promptitude. It was soon seen that the contest would be a close one, but when Mr. POLLOCK's victory was announced it was received with applause, and congratulations were showered upon him, his opponent being among the first to felicitare him. The Chamber of Commerce has elected hands we are sure that its interests will H very able representative. in whose rest safely. What objections there are to Mr. POLLOCK's occupancy of the_post_we mentioned in this column on Tuesday. But of the very solid merits which the new member of Council has to outweigh these objectious there cannot be the slightest doubt. It may be fearel whether a seat ou the Legislative Council as well as one on the Sanitary Board, alde to Mr. POLLOCK'S professional occupation, will not prove a heavy tax; but Mr. POLLOCK's fondues: and aptitude for hard work are familiar to all who know him. We congratulate him upon his elevation to the Council and also congratulate the Chamber tative. It is to be regretted only that the on the possession of so capable a represen
constitution of the Legislative Council does not admit of the claims to a plice of Mr. HEWETT being als recognised, though he, too, like Mr. POLLOCK, is already among the busiest men in the Colony.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GARDENS.
(Daily Press, 12th August.)
It is with much satisfaction we note the new departures inaugurated by the Super- intendent of the Afforestation Department. Mr. DUNN has brought fresh ideas with him, and he is evidently anxious that the Public Gardens, of late years deserte by all but nurses and children, should arouse the interest and receive the attention of resi·lents as well as of passing visitors. The Gardens are charmingly situated and being on the higher levels they command most pleasing views of the harbour nad city. But the ordinary resident had long ceased to find much pleasure in them. The quietude an1 peace that should mark these etreats had ceased to exist. Dirty coolies
Chamber of Commerce was unrepresented; in the case of Mr.JEWETT, and this objection it appears to us that the Government we cannot help feeling to be strong against might well have made the very slight both candidates. It is rather remarkable postponement necessary newly elected momber to take part in so should he labouring under this def ct. to enable the that both nominees at to-morrow's meeting important a debate as that which took Some surprise inay legitim tely be felt that place yesterday. Two candidates only, as Mr. R. C. WILCOX has not been asked to far as we
know, will be before the stand again, seeing that he is undoubtedly Chamber's electorate tomorrow, Mr. E. A. qualified and that he is not open to the HEWETT, Superin' endent of the Peninsular objection which tells against both Messrs. and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, HEWETT and POLLOCK. It is possible for proposed by Mr. J. H. Des and seconded
a business man to undertake too may by Mr. E. W. MITCHELL, and Mr. H. E. responsibilities, whereby some of L. work POLLOCK K.C., proposed by Mr. D. R. LAW may suffer. However, it must be confess and seconded by Mr. N. A. SIEBS. That both that both can lidates have shown both these gentlemen are well known and pro-aptitu le and liking for plenty of work. minent residents in the Colony it is hardly On this ground it would be hard to choose necessary to say. Both, too already serve between them. Indeed, the decision looks the public and assist the Governmeut in a difficult one from most points of vie v. the capacity of members of the Sanitary The verdict may depend chiefly on whether Board. But here their qualifications the members of the Chamber of Commerce the more blatant nuisances within bounds. consider the commercial qualifications of
divergo. Mr. HEWETT as superintendent
with bare legs and feet tucked under thêm sat and smoked their noxious tobacco and indulged in the national habit unchecked and unrestrained, and unruly children contending with shrill-voiced amahs pro vided undesired animation on the lower terraces. The new Superintendent is going to remedy all this, or at any rate confine A set of regulations for the maintenanc