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March 21, 1904.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
out to the ex-Colonial Secretary that even Canton delta is, as we all know, both fertile and | the trial of a Chinese named Lui Chíu, as aoces- here, in this free port, British industries and populous. In regard to the opening of Wai-sory in the murder of undertakings were suffering by reason of the chow, that is a thing that I hope the committee master named Young Kue Wan, at his a Chinese school- prohibitive tariffs of neighbouring States will always bear in mind and, if the railway is house in Gage Street, by shooting him with and the heavy subsidies made to foreign brought into the field of practical politics, will a revolver, the commi tee addressed a letter. lines of steamers, which are thus enabled to compete unfairly with local shipping on the to be necessary as a link in the railway between facts before the Foreign Office. The evidence press for. (Applause.) It seems from all accounts to the London office, asking them to lay the coast and in the rivers of South China. I Kowloon and Canton, which if taken in the adduced showed clearly that four men, tempted refrain from going into detail here, but this way the committee recommend would not in- by the offer of a large monetary reward and is one of the questions of the future which terfere with the great intereste we have in our official rank made by the Cantonese Govern. will have to be agitated. It is interesting to steamers on the waterway, and would render it ment, arranged to assassinate Yeùng Kue Wan, note the present attitude of the Government impossible on this question, which cropped up in the any port
for anybody else to develop who belonged to the Chinese Reform Party, on the banks House of Commons on the 8th ult.
of the river and accomplished their purpose on the 10th Earl against this port. (Applause.) I was very January, 1901, but the prisoner was not arrest- Percy, replying to an amendment moved to the pleased to se0 that the committee in their ed until two years later. In the result he was Address by Mr. Walton, who maintained that letter of 12th December quoted the weighty found guilty, sentenced, and executed. The it was the duty of the Government to main words which Sir Henry Blake gave on his committee, however, urged that reparation for tain or increase British trade, said:- So going away on this subject, and I am very glad the flagrant violation of the King's Sovereignty long as the country adhered to its present to see that the Officer Administering the Go- committed should be strenuously demanded. fiscal policy that was not only not the duty vernment (page 25 of this report) has taken the The matter was laid before the Foreign Office of the British Government, but it was a duty matter specially under his control; at least he by the London branch, and a copy of the letter not in their power to discharge." He went has brought all the influence he has got to seat by this committee to the Colonial Govern- on to intimate, in most unmistakable lang: bear on that point, I think we unge, that unless the Government changed unduly sanguine when we think that with State; but up to the present no answer has are not ment for transmission to the Secretary of its fiscal policy and more or less adopted all these different influences brought to bear been received from the Foreign Office. that of foreign countries in giving subsidies, од it, this railway will be made to go drawbacks, and preferences, they could only ahead by some means or other. (Applause.) see that an open door to trade was kept and Well, gentlemen, after reading these letters not a door that was occasionally ajar. I felt that the committee were fortunate in think, however, gentlemen, that the time is having their views putforward in such a thought- coming when British trade will require some- ful and lucid way as the Chairman has done. thing more than this, that it will need to be With regard to the accounts we are in a very placed on fair and equal terms with that of happy position; money is coming in and very little other countries, and if those countries endea going out. The account is mostly du one side. vour to foster their shipping or their manufac- [ I have no doubt that as our balance increases we tures by subsidies or bounties, we shall, in will find some useful means of utilising it. self-defence, have to ask our Government to at(Applause.) With these remarks, I have very least impose extra tonnage or light dues on subsidised shipping or a special tax on bounty- fed manufactures in order to place them on an equality with our own ships or goods. (Applause.) I think there is nothing more that I can usefully add, and will simply propose that the report and accounts before you be now adopted. (Applause.)
much pleasure in seconding the adoption of the report and accounts.
The motion was carried unanimously. The next business was the election of a Committee,
Mr. G L. TOMLIN moved that the present committee be re-elected en bloc as follows:- Mesars, R. C. Wilcox, D. R. Law, H. E. Tomkins, G. W. F. Playfair, A. G. Wood, E. 8. Whealler, and W. J. Saunders.
Mr. E. W. MITCHELL seconded, and the motion was agreed to unanimously.
This was all the public business.
on
FOREIGN POST OFFICES IN CHINA.
association in London, from the Board of An inquiry having been addressed to the Trade, as to whether further ports of call were necessary in the P. & O. 8. N. Co.'s itinerary for the purpose of facilitating the delivery of the mails in China, the question of the maintenance of Post Offices in Chinese treaty ports by Foreigu Powers was raised, and some correspondence has passed thereon. Your committee expressed the opinion that, while ahey did not wish to recommend the methods tdopted by some Powers for thus extending their influence, they deemed it desirable that British officials should be careful not to surrender any sign or symbol of authority now possessed in the treaty ports. It is satisfactory to record that the British Government has taken note of this expression of opinion, and so far from reducing the number of British postal agencies, has recently added a fresh one at Chefoo.
THE OPENING OF KONGMOON.
The port of Kongmoon was to be formally opened to foreign trade on the 7th Maroh, and Mr. H. H. Fox has been appointed British Consular agent.
The report of the Committee is as follows:- The last
report was issued
THE PROPOSED OPENING OF WAICHOW. the 30th September, 1902; and the present review
It having been reported last autumn that the is intended to period from that date to the 31st January, 1904, to foreign trade, as under the conditions of cover the Chinese had no intention of opening Waichow The questions which have ocupled the atten-Section 12 of Art. VIII. of the Mackay Treaty tion of the committee have not been of so this could only be claimed when that Article momentous a character as those dealt with came into force, a letter was in December in some previous years, but some important last addressed to the London branch urging subjects have been handled, with gratifying re-them, for reasons set out at length, to sak the salts in sveral cases, while as regards, others Foreign Office to press for this concession at the it is hoped that the seed sown will ultimately same time that Kongmoon was opened. A bear fruit. The following are the chief ques- copy of this letter was forwarded to the Foreign tions that he came before the committee :-- Uffice, and another was transmitted by the INTERNAL TAXATION OF FOREIGN IMPORTS. Hong ong Government to the Colonial Office, During the period under review, several at accompanied with a strong recommendation tempts have been made by the provincial authori-in favour thereof, at up to date no reply has ties in the Two Kwang to impose new taxes on been received from Downing Street. imports, and more especially on prepared opium. Thaaks, however, to the energetic action of
RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION IN KWANGTUNG, Consul-General Scott, whose representations representation on the subject of the delay in At thesame time the association made a forcible were heartily seconded by your committee, proceeding with the construction of the pro these efforts failed, and the proposed taxes were jected Canton-Kowloon Railway, and offered withdrawn. For the present the energies of some suggestions as to the route to be traversed, the mandarins in this direction have slackened; I also recommending the construction of a branch but a striot watch will be necessary to check from Sheklung to Waichow. the first attempt to impose new authorised letter was also despatched by the London office A copy of this to the British and Chinese Corporation, who hold the concession for laying the Kowloon- Canton line; and it has been considered by the directorate, with what result we have yet to learn. Your committee do not intend to lose
they are glad to know, receiving the strong and sight of this most important question, which is,
sympathetic support of the Colonial Govern-
Hon. GERSHOM STEWART--Mr. Chairman and gentlemen,—I have very auch pleasure in seconding the adoption of the report and accounts. The report came into my hands about two days ago, and when Mr. Wilcox asked me to second the motion for its adoption I hardly thought I would have time to know very much about what the Association has been doing, However, I am glad to say that when I opened the report and began to read it, the subject-matter of which it treated was of such interest that I read it right through without once putting it down. I congratulate the committee on the useful work they have done, especially since the latter half of 1903, when they have actively tackled .several very important subjects. The three which occur to me as the most interesting are the oconpation of Newchwang by the Russians in violation of all pledges and treaties, the construction of the railway between here and Canton, and the opening of Waichow, With regard to the first, I feel that protests such as ours will carry considerable weight with our Home Government, especially at a moment such as the pr sent. It seems to me that, although our country has taken uo active steps to vindicate its treaty rights openly, protests such as that which has been sent forward by this committee will strengthen them in their determination to support to the utmost of their ability what our alliesare endeavouring now by all theefforts in their power to secure-free and open rights in Manchuria to all traders. (Applause.) With regard to the construction of the railway. I do not know enough about it to express an opinion about the deviation of route which the committee's letter of 12th December recom. mende. But I am beartily glad to that the committee have addressed themselves to see the British and Chinese Co poration upon the subject of this long hang-up concession. of opinion that failing every other means of.
THE CCCUPATION OF NEWCHWANG. making that railway it would be a song thing
BY THE RUSSIANS. for this Colony to guarantee a moderate interest
The continued on the cost of construction. In any case the
port of Newchwang by the Russians, and occupation of the treaty amount the Colony would be liable for would
their sotive interfer nos with its trade by not be very great, and if the railway prospered
collecting the Customs and port dues, imposing the guarantee of a certain interest might never be called up; and I consider that even-in the
quarantine regulations, and in other ways event of a small debit in the first year or two
treating it as conquered territory, las, greatly the prospects of a fair revenue from that railway
exercised the association during the past year, are extremely good-(applause)—because the tions made in the Supreme Court, during interfere on behalf of the British interests In May last, consequent on the revela-[and several appeals to the Foreign. Offee to
I am
taxes.
OPENING OF PORTS OF CALL ON THE
WEST RIVER.
Eight ports of call have been opened on the West River —a valuable concession due in no
this association. The trade in the West River small degree to the urgent representations of is showing an encouraging development.
THE STUDY OF PRACTICAL CHINESE, On the represe itation of the association of the excellent work done by the Departme it of Practical Chinese in the University of London, the Colonial Government have been induced to make a grant-in-aid of £30 to this object, for which the thanks of the nasociation are due to H.E. Sir Henry Blake.
VIOLATION OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY IN HONGKONG.
ment.
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