"
K
**
66
August 29, 1903.1
幕后
**
46
[4
54
C
警看
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
1
44
155
EXPORT OF ARMS TO CHINA.
"futile, but the elimination of the media of taking an interest in local trade. “infection in our midst and the building up | 1902, 146 steamers, exclusive of Admiralty During "of the power of resistance to plague colliers, Government transports, and a small
(Daily Press, 28th August.) "invasion by improvement in the general steamer running with mails to Chefoo,
The removal by Germany of the prohibition health of the population that may result entered the port, representing a tonnage of to export arms into China is an event which "from improved sanitary conditions. The 151,809 tous. Imports and exports were
has been anticipated for some time past. "first can only be accomplished by constant, sinall, but everything must have a
We discover from a telegram not sent on by unremitting attention to cleanliness of beginning." Both extreme optimistic and REUTER'S perspicacious agent at Bombay person, furniture, and premises, and to be pessimistic views are unjustified. "While that a repeal of the prohibition was notified "effectual it is of cardinal importance that on the one hand," says Mr. LOCKHART, in the London Gazette on or before the 10th "the co-operation of the people be secured. "the situation of Weihaiwei does not seem
instant. The farce has come to an end, With proper facilities afforded, I am of
"to warrant the anticipation that it will and the other Powers will of course speedily "opinion that while in Hongkong, as olse- "become a second Hongkong, on the other follow this example, and the import of arms, "where, the residuum might be difficult"hand it possesses potentialities which, if which has been going on secretly on an "to deal with at first, the difficulties fostered, ought to entitle it to rank extensive scale, will proceed openly and "are not insurmountable, and practical co- higher than that of a second-class water- regularly. Article V of the Protocol of operation might be secured by enlistinging place. There can be nothing dead 1901 between China and eleven Powers "the sympathies and services of the large "certain about it, and it is, therefore, stated that China hal agreed to prohibit the class of respectable Chinese in a deler- "idle to indulge in prophesy regarding it. importation into its territory of arms and "mined effort to combat the recurring epi- But if the fuances of this Dependency ammunition, etc., and that an Imperial
demic, the evils of which they fully realise. are carefully nursed and it government
Edict had been issued on the 25th August, Beyond the cleansing of premises there is economically administered, there seems 1901, forbidding this importation for two no way by which a large number of no reason why Weihaiwei should not at years; new edicts might be issued subse- "Chinese tenement houses can be made least pay its way in time without being quently extending this by other successive sanitary. Each floor of these houses is a dependent on the Imperial Exchequer terms of two years in case of necessity "tunnel thirteen feet wile, uine feet high for financial assistance, and if capital be recognised by the Powers. The original! "and of varying length, from thirty to "attracted to its shores, it appears to be period of prohibition expired on Tuesday sixty feet, with a window in front and fairly certain that a trade will be created." last, and the recent action plainly shows rear. Into a large number of these floors Not over-sanguine, it may be seen, is the that the Powers recognise no necessity for "direct sunlight never enters, and in the Commissioner, but still be is moderately further prevention of the import of arms. "centre even diffused light is practically hopeful, The best is being made of a bad The decision is sensible. Arms, etc., have "absent. When to these conditions is job), a job which was unaccountably rendered during the whole of the two years bees "added a surface population so dense as it bad by our own action in voluntarily cut-finding their way into China, both North "is in our congested districts--being in one ting off Weihaiwei from railway access to aud South, and of late we very much doubt) "district over 999 persons to the acre-it the interior of Shantung. Apart from its whether the Powers have cared the prover- "will be recognised that a population so commercial disabilities, Weihaiwei has a bial twopence. In Hongkong we have "circumstance must necessarily be deficient capital climate, the heat seldom calling for heard of a remonstrance addressed hence "in vitality. The quly remedy for this is punkahs, and enteric and malarial fevers to the Canton Government against the "the reconstruction of Chinese tenement
attemple purchase of arms in the Colony "houses on improved plaus, and the rig
by Chinese officials; but the Kwangsi rebels are provided with modern weapons of precision, and the Imperialists obviously cannot afford to face them less well armed. It is not to the advantage of either peace or trade that the miserable struggle in Kwangi and its neighbourhood should be prolonged, and from this point of view, alone the relaxation of the embargo is desirable. And, generally speaking, we see no reason why we should any longer cripple the Chinese Government. If China is to remain an independent nation,} she cannot be permanently deprived of one ́of the distinctive marks of independence, as well as the chief means by which she cau deal with internal disorder.
63
S.
45
|
observance of the provisions of the "Public Health and Buildings Ordinance in relation to overcrowding. The removal "and reconstruction of Chinese tenement "houses will be very costly and will necessarily be a slow process, but it must he faced if we desire to prevent the devitalising of the working population to "such a point that they fall ready victims "to the invasion of every passing disease." There is little that could be added to this. It is satisfactory to see that the head of the local administration recognises the greatness of the task before the Colony; but we are not so sanguine as he is as to the chances of effective Chinese co-operation in the crusade against plague. Of the goodwill of the better-class Chinese there is no doubt; but they are unfortunately a very small minority.
:
WEIHAIWEI IN 1902.
(Daily Press, 27th August.) The report of Coinmissioner J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, our former Colonial Secretary, on Weibaiwei in 1902 evidently aims at correcting impressions which have got abroad about the new dependency on The Shautung coast. Mr. LOCKHART does not of course claim that there is a great future certainly lying before Weihaiwei, but taking all things into consideration he thinks the recent progress satisfactory, There can be no doubt, he says, that the various changes in the administration and the public uncertainty as to the policy of the Imperial Government tended to impede the plice's development. Now that the administration is thore settled and the public begins to realise that trade will be encouraged, it is hoped that commercial enterprise will be more active: This indeed is the opinion of a commercial expert acquainted with Weihaiwei, whom Mr. LOCKHART quotes. There are already signs of the Chinese
|
are
SWATOW'S TRADE IN 1902,
so far unknown. It has a sulphur spring of high remedial value, which is to be developed. Its healthiness has euabled the establishment of a successful European School, of which the prize-day, we notice, was held on the 30th ult, with the Com- missioner presiding. Its population is estimated at about 124,000-Mr. G. T. HARE reckoned it in his report last year at 123,750-of whom 4,000 live on the islan of Liukungtao. The inhabitants seem well behaved and the village elder system, of which Mr. LOCKHART had experience in the New Territory, is in vogue as it was under Chinese rule and works satisfactorily, There is a good deal to be done in the way of public works, especially road-making, but this must of course be a matter of time, if the infant colony is not to be run on too expensive lines. The revenue for 1902 was considerably in excess of the estimate of $18,700, whilst the expenditure
(Daily Press, 28th August.) has been less than the approved estimate of
Swatow still keeps its position of fifth $142,500. The grant-in-aid from Imperial among the China treaty ports in the net Funds was £12,000, as compared with value of its trade, being far ahead of Amoy, £11,250 for the previous financial year. Foochow, and Ningpo, and only surpassed The grant-in-aid for the current financial by Shanghai, Tientsin, Hankow, and year is £9,000. The balance,in the bank Canton. So says Mr. Acting - Consul to the credit of Weihaiwei on March 31 WILLIS in his report on Swatow's trade in last amounted to $82,093, say, £6,891, 1902. But the four leading ports gained which is a much larger saving than that considerably in 1902, whereas Swatow did originally estimated, £4,000. Mr. Lock not. The gross trade of Swatow increased. HART concludes by quoting a remark in an steadily from 1893 up to its maximum in say by one of the boys at Weihaiwei! 1899, since when its valus in taels has beu School—“ Like all other British possessions | practically stationary; whereas in sterling and dependencies, Weihaiwei must be a value 1902showe lafilling-off of £1,000,000, success"--and with such a ute of cheer- about 15 per cent, from the record year's fulness rather than with gloomy fore-figures. At the same time, Mr. WILLIS bodings he prefers to end his first annual report. Such cheerfulness inspires our sympathy, and again we wish we could forget that it is only a case at Weihaiwei for making the best of a bad job. We trust that it will be the successful little place it is hoped by the authorities it may be; but we must recollect that it was once declared proudly to be a counterpoise to Port Arthur!
says, it should be borne in mind that; s falling-ff iu gold values does not necessarily imply corresponding decrease in trade. The fate of Swatow to advance with the four ports mentioned above is ascribe I to expectation of severe drought disorganising trade and to the vagiries of exchange There is little real foreign trade at Sratow with the exception of foreign imports. “The figures for the latter in 1902 were