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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
We see at present our shipping unfairly dauntless and high-spirited diplomatist. In handicapped on the coast and on the Canton the conduct of his duty to his country Sir River by the large subsidies granted by HARRY PARKES was always and equally foreign Governments to their countries' ship- undeterred by personal danger, the fear of ping, and we see our sugar kept out of the official censure, or the hope of praise. In Indo-Chinese and Japanese markets by the those days the resolute Consul or Minister restrictions there imposed, while British mar- was exposed to perils that our officials are kets are free to the products of Indo-China and strangers to in the present. Mr. PARKES Japan. We, like the British trader in all was captured by the Chiness, and thrown parts of the world, want a quid pro quo for | into a filthy gaol, narrowly escaping what we concede. Finally, if we may be with his life, during the Anglo-French War allowed to quote ourselves, “foreign govern- with China, and later, when Minister in "ments are not so foolish or so unreasonable Japan, nearly fell a victim to the assassin in as to quarrel with us because we at length the streets of Tokyo. During the whole of "have come to see that our fiscal methods his eventful career Sir HARRY PARKES was.
are antiquated, absurd, and one-sided, and continually striving to protect British they will respect us the more when we ask interests, and it cannot be doubted that the "for reciprocity in commerce. We do not stress of the contest told severely upon his "fear competition, we have invited it, and somewhat delicate frame. He never allowed "we shall not go back on our ancient himself to grow weary in the strife, and was policy; but we do want that competition ever ready to stand up for the interests of "to be on even terms.” It seems to us that his fellow countrymen. It is not fitting Hongkong's contention is eminently reason that such patriotic services, so freely ren able, and certainly not deserving of the dered, should be allowed to slip from the sncers even of the most ardent of Free attention or the knowledge of the coming traders. In Hongkong, however short-generation. It is true that they are im- sighted we might be, we are forced to see how British trade and shipping suffer from the bounties and tariffs of other nations. The glamour of Free Trade, as pictured by the old school of politicians, has long ceased to charm our eyes. We do not want to "build walls up" round the Island-to use the absurd catch-phrase-but we do want to be able to compete with outsiders on fair terms. In fact, we want to be protected. And that is why the local branch of the China Association and the British com- munity of Hongkong in general have declared in favour of Mr. CHAMBERLAIN' policy.
SIR HARRY PARKES AND
HONGKONG.
(Daily Press, 6th February) We think there are few Englishmen in Hongkong, or for the matter of that in China, who will not most thoroughly endorse the remarks of our correspondent "L" with reference to the want of soure record, in street nomenclature or otherwise, of the
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memories of Sir RUTHERFORD ALCOCK and Sir HARRY PARKES. The former was not so much identified with the Colony, but to the latter, who was undoubtedly the ablest and most vigorous representative Great Britain has ever sent to China, this Colony owes a large debt of gratitude, Sir HARRY PARKES, when Consul at Canton, was direct- ly instrumental in procuring the cession of the Kowloon peninsula, to Britaiu. mere youth he was one of the first to scale the Peak, and later, upon his appointment as student-interpreter, he resided on the island for some time after its erection into a Colony. Again, when acting as British Commissioner at Canton during the Anglo- French occupation of that city, he was for some years in constant touch with the Colony. Yet there is not, either in Hong- kong or in the Kowloon peninsula, any single trace of his close and intimate con nection with the Colony during those his toric periods except a bust in the hall of the Hongkong Club. As our correspondent points out, Shanghai has honoured his memory by erecting a fine statue in a pro- minent position, but Hongkong, which really benefited even more by his labours, has
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mortalised in the chronicles of British inter-
course with the Far East, and form its brightest pages, but we should like every Briton who lands upon our shores to find this great founder of our fortunes here facing him in bronze or marble. In other words, a handsome statue of Sir HARRY PARKES should stand in a most conspicu. ous place, say in front of the chief lauding place in Victoria or Kowloon. We believe there would be no difficulty whatever in collecting funds for the purpose, and if desired shall be glad to open a subscription for the purpose.
HONGKONG JOTTINES.
(Daily Press, 2nd February.)
In spite of rumours-it looks now as if they looking forward to the climax of its Season, were more than rumours-of war, Hongkong is which may be dignified now with a capital S. February is the month, socially, in this Colony, and the February of 904 promises to be as lively as any of its predecessors. The festivities start off next Wednesday with the Government House Ball, and six nights later the Cricket Club dance at the City Hall follows. On the 13th inst., according to the re-arrangement of dates, the A.D.C. give their first performance of His Excellency, repeating it on the 17th and three following days. The Dallas Company open at the Theatre on the the next day the Race 22nd inst., and on Mee ing, to many Hongkong's most enjoyable function of the year. starts, to conclude on the following Saturday, the off day. Other
dances and some dinners are in the air, and no doubt before our wet season sets in we shall have managed to make the best of the present delightful weather.
The despatch of the Public Address to our late Governor, as well as the formal announcement
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[February 8, 1904, his name to a road, and his lieutenant, Mr. Mercer, has his preserved in the name of a subsidiary, street. Macdonnell Road derives its name from Sir Richard MacDonnell. His successor. Sir Arthur Kainedy, gave his name to Kennedy Road,
The only Governor whose namo is not parp tua ad in the street nominolatare of the Colony is Si Joha Pope Hennessy. Sir George Bowen, who succeeded him, is remembered by Bowen Road, and we have Des Voeux Road and Robinson Road to com- memorate the services of Sir George Des Vœux and Sir William Robinson. The names of many of the gentlemen who for brief terms administered the Government have their unmes remembered in the same way, as in Aus- ten Road and Birker Ros but we have not yet a Wilsone-Black Parade or a Gascoigne Avenue. Sir Hury Blake's name is perpetuated in Blake Pier, and in the scholarships which the sider the Chinese have a lopted a very sensible way Chinese Community have jast founded I con- of honouring the Governor whom they so highly esteemed, and it is a way that Sir Hours Blake will greatly appreciate. The education of the rising genera ion of Chinese in the Colony on Western lines is an object which all adminis trators of the Colony will be anxious to promote in every way, and the "Blake scholarships " will doubtless serve to stimulate that spirit, of emulation in the schools which will lead to the best results.
'It is not generally known, but is nevertheless a fac, that the military authorities are very busy just at present in improving and extending the fortifications of the falend. A number of new guns have been put in position on the forts recently. It does not necessarily follow that these operations have a connection with the state of things up. North. But it is hinted that during the tenure of office of the last General Commanding the progress which the War Office desired in this direction was not made. Apparently the now General is paying particular attention to the improvement of the island's defences.
The arid pages of the Government Gazette inform us weekly of the places that continue to enforos sanitary measures against Hongkong. It may not be generally known here that fifty- six successive days have now elapsed without the occurrence of a single plague case in Hong- kong. But I must not forge the saying. Unberufen und unbeschrieon !
of beachcombers in Hongkong, one often hears To refer again to the ever-recurring question the query put, Where do they come from? At present there are from 30 to 4 in the Colony. That seems a lot, but an old resident tells me he remembers ten years ago there were some 200 "on the beach.” The recon importations, with hardly any exception, come from Manila via the Fatshan Railway. They go up to the
new line, get employment for a couple of weeks, and are then fired out." Of e urse they drift Hongkong-wards, and there is no law to prevent them stepping off the Canton boats. Undesir ables can be prevented from landing here from ocean-going steamers, but if they come by way of Canton it seems there is no preventive against their ingress. It is high time there was.
to Sir Henry of the inauguration of the two scholarships which the Chinese community has I notice in the Manila papers several para- founded to perpetuate his name in the Colony, graphsonlogising the climate of the Philippines it serve to recall the way in which the names this season of the year, especially in their capital of previous Governors have become per- during the past two weeks. They say that a manently associated with the Colony. In the blanket is quite necessary at night, and the street nomenclature of Hongkong we may days are not too hot (signideant "too") What, trace the names of, I t ink I may say, all the then, would they say of the Hongkong tinger Street to perpetuate the name of our first Governors the Colony has had. We have Pot-climate, where three blankets are necessary Governor, Sir Henry Pottinger; next in order camé Sir John Davis, and we have a Davis Street at Kennedy Town; then Sir G. S. Bonham, to whom Bonham Strand owes its name. Even even commemorated | Major-General Jervois, the Lieutenant-Gover-
nor who administered the affairs of the Colony-
Yesterday was the 53rd anniversary of the I suppose the name of Sir John Bowring declaration that the inhabitants of Hongkong suggested Bowrington, and the Lieut. Governor were British subjects, although the island of the early 'Fifties has his name perpetuated was taken possession of six days previously. It in Caine Road. Sir Hercules Robinson, who was not erected into a British Crown Colony, succeeded Sir John Bowring, also gave' however, until April 1843. In 1841, bỷ the
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the fact by conferring his name on in 1849, has been honoured by a Jervois Street.
It is, of course, never too late to perform an act of justice or of grace, and we think that the Colony would only be doing its duty tardily by now erecting a statue to the memory of this
to some at night, and the days are scare ly to be called even warm, even in their warmest hours, and heavy clothing comfortable Truly the weather we have been enjoying the last few weeks is a great bracer for the other seasons before us.
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