February 13, 1904.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
ng is to increase in future at anything like | be thus prominently associated with Kowloon. its present rate, the question must ere long become a pressing one.
These were some of the questions laid before the ratepayers of Shanghai last month. It was noteworthy that the meeting deprecated the allusions to private interests made by some of the speakers, and preferred discussing it on public grounds; on these, as for the most part composed of men in- terested in large fiscal operations, it gave no uncertain answer, and it remains perfectly well understood that the matter decided was not the mere supply of electric fittings, but that the voice of the meeting was con- demnatory of municipal trading as a whole.
HONGKONG
JOTTINGS
(Daily Press, 8th February.)
I see that a highly respectable and staid Manila paper has unkindly been accused of "yellow journalism" for suggesting that Hongkong is in a state of excitement just now over the expected war. It is true that the re- pectable journal in question represented Hongkong in a sort of panic, with even civilian stirred to their depths; but after all that is only our contemporary's way of saying that we are rather anxious here to know what is going to happen. There is no doubt, however, that both naval and military authorities are showing abnormal activity just now. The strengthening of the Colony's defences may of course only be in accordance with the previous decision of the military authorities, and it must be remembered that we have a "new broom" in our present G. O. C.; but certainly the process is being has. tened, doubtless in connection with the crisis. (By the way I wish someone would invent a new word to take the place of “crisis" ; it is almost as bad as the “war cloud "). As for the naval preparations, they have been going on be- fore our eyes for weeks past. The outbreak of war, if it comes to-day-the last day of Russia's reply, according to Reuter-will not find us quite unready.
When I recalled the fact last week that nearly every Governor of the Colony has his memorial in the name of a street, the spirit moved me to add a few remarks on the room for improvement in our street nomenclature, but the exigencies of space obliged me to postpone those remarks- I had intended among other questions to ask why it was necessary to give to streets in Kowloon names which are already borne by streets in Hongkong. Des Voeux Road and Robinson Road, Kowloon, might with advantage be renamed, and an opportunity would thas be afforded of carrying out the suggestion made by "L" in a letter to the Daily Press last week, in which the writer lamented the absence of any memorial in our Colony, in the street nomenclature or otherwise, of the services rendered to Hongkong and to British interests generally in China by Sir Harry Parkes. I am thoroughly in accord with the sentiments ex- pressed in the letter, for Sir Harry Parkes, above all servants of the Crown whose names are linked with affairs in China, deserves to be remembered. Everybody who is acquainted with the life-work of Sir Harry-and whoever is not should read Mr. Lane Poole's Life of Sir Barry Parkes-will surely welcome the suggestion made in the leading article of Saturday's Daily Press that a statue be erected in his honour either in Hongkong or Kowloon by public subscription. No man more richly deserves that honour, and I trust that the pro- posal will meet with support from the British community.
In the interests of historical accuracy, may I venture to say, Mr. Editor, that the Daily Press leader of Saturday is not strictly correct in describing Parkes' connection with Kowloon. "L" was quite right in saying that Parkea was instrumental in getting a lease of the territory. He may also have subsequently been instrumental in getting the territory ceded in perpetuity to the British crown, but his biographer does not afford any information on the point. It may interest many readers if I briefly state how Parkes came to
It was in 1860, when Sir Hercules Robinson was Governor of Hongkong and when military operations were in progress up North. This is what Parkes biographer has to say on the subject:-
|
"The very first letter of this interesting correspondence [Parkes to his wife] notices an important step which was taken at Parkes suggestion; this was the lease of the Kowloon peninsula opposite Hong- kong by the British Government. Kowloo was the invariable refuge of the pirates, robbers, and criminals in general who infest- ed the Bugue, and its possession was almost essential to Hongkong on military as well as civil grounds. Its sandy plain was also wanted immediately for quartering the troops which were destined for the attack on Peking; and nothing could be odder than that the local Chinese should lend it for such a purpose. It needed an intimate knowledge of their notions to conceive such a scheme, and the commanders from
ngland would
not have dreamt of it; but to Parkes it was the most natural and practicable thing in the world, and far preferable to exciting animosity by forcibly taking possession of the land. He was in consultation on 16th March [1860], he tells his wife, about the Kowloon project with the General and Sir Hercules Robin- 'After hearing what
son
I had to say, both Sir H. Robinson and Sir Hope Grant came round to my way of thinking as to the desirability of getting a lease of Kowloon, although they had already began to land troops
Sir
H Robinson is all eagerness that it should be settled forthwith, and that I should get back to Canton to arrange it as speedily as possible"."
settled the matter at Canton much to the In a subsequent letter Parkes mentions that he satisfaction of the General and that of Sir Hercules Robinson.
The latter wrote to Parkes thanking him for the very satisfac- tory arrangement you have succeeded in carry- ing out as to Kowloon." "We are now," added in, short of a cession, and in forwarding the His Excellency, "in the best position we can be official correspondence to the Duke of New castle I shall not fail to poi t out that we are indebted for this to the tact and skill with which you have conducted the negotiati ns.' Yet neither Hongkong nor Kowloon possesses a memorial in any shape or form in honour of the man to whom we owe this debt.
11
Parkes
foresaw the eventual cession of the peninsula, for he wrote in one of his letters: "Had to draw up a deed of lease and a proclamation relative to Kow. loon, and, in a word, to carry into execution the occupied me the greater part of the day, but I arrangement of yesterday. These matters
ing, and delivering, I to Laou and Laou to me, was rewarded in the evening by signing, seal- the desired deed of lease, which settled the altogether ceded to us, which will be the next Kowloon question until the peninsula can be
in the following year, 1861. step, I doubt not." This prophecy came true
It has been reported that Sir Matthew Nathan, our new Governor, will not reach us for another seven months--not until September next. Mr. May will therefore have quite an extended term of administration. Hongkong is glad to have so well tried an official at the head of its affairs.
I notice the A.D.C. has_withdrawn the projected performance of His Excellency on the 17th inst., that day being Ash Wednesday This graceful acceptance of the hint, of a correspondent, and the action upon it, will no doubt be appreciated by those most interested, and, if that be possible, render the Hongkong A‚D.C. even more popular than ever.
to-night of hearing some
Hongkong will have a good opportunity Fiscal question, for Mr. Haskell is going to more about the address the Odd Volumes on the subject, and a debate will follow. I shall be surprised if there is not a good attendance.
BANYAN.
THE WAR.
125
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS].
LONDON, 7th February. It is announced tbat war has been declared between Russia and Japan.
KOBE, 8th February. Negotiations between Japan and Russia have been broken off. The Russian Minis- ter at Tokyo and the Russian Consuls in Japan are leaving for Russia.
SHANGHAI, 9th February. Hostilities have commenced between Japan and Russia. It is reported that the Japanese have captured the Russian (Chinese Eastern Railway's) Mail Steamer Mongolia, which left Shanghai on Sunday.
SINGAPORE, 9th February.
It is reported that France and England have agreed, after a decisive engagement be- tween the Japanese and Russians, to offer their mediation through the influence of the Tsar.
France has agreed that the Powers shall land troops in China, in event of necessity, to assure neutrality (on the part of China).
The Patrie (Paris) says that six French transports are ready to sail for Eastern
waters.
KOBE, 9th February.
The Russian cruiser Varyag and the gunboat Koreetz have been captured by the Japanese off Chemulpo.
Two Russian steamers belonging to the Chinese Eastern Railway Co.-it is believed the Nonni and the Mukden-have been cap- tured off Fusan and brought to Saseho.
LONDON, 9th February,
Port Arthur at midnight on Monday. The Tsar that the Japanese torpedo boats attacked Viceroy Alexieff has telegraphed to the
battleships Ratvizan and Tsarevitch and the cruiser Pallada were all damaged.
SHANGHAI, 10th February.
The Russian gunboat Koreets, which sank cruiser Varyag and the Chinese Eastern at Chemulpo, was self-exploded. The Railway Company's steamer Sundari were destroyed after thirty-five minutes' fighting.
The Japanese suffered no loss.
LONDON, 10th February, The United States Government has a:l- dressed a Note to the Powers asking them to respect the neutrality and integrity of China. join in a notification to the belligerents to
LONDON, 10th February. Port Arthur, but the damage done was slight. Seventeen Japanese vessels bombarded
The Russian casualties were 10 killed and 56 wounded.
The Poltava (first-class battleship, 10,960 tons), the Diana (first-class cruiser, 6,630 tons), the Askold (first-class cruiser, 6,100 tons), the Novik (second-class cruiser, 8,200 tons), were damaged.
To Russian cruisers surrendered.
The Japanese have landed at Chemulpo.
ing telegrams were received by the Admiralty On the morning of the 10th inst, the follow- and signalled to the fleet in Hongkong:-
"A steamer which has arrived at Cheloo from Port Arthur reports that the Japanese fleet attacked the Russian war-ships at Port Arthur on the night of the 8th instant with the ships and ‹ne Russian erniser, which had to be result that they torpedoed two Russian batting run ashore.
“An engagement between the Russian anf Japanese fleets took place on the morning od