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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
TELEGRAM DEPOSIT SYSTEM.
Your Committee advised that the first step to- wards a solution of this complicated question At the end of August last some internal should be the establishment of a uniform nation arrangements in the Joint Administration of al currency, as provided for by Article 11 of the
the Eastern Extension Australasia and China British Commercial Treaty of Shanghai of Telegraph Co., and the Great Northern Tele- 1902, as until reform in this direction was car-graph Co., induced these Companies to coase ried out, it would not be possible to satisfac. the old system of demanding just sufficient torily deal with the question of stability of cover from their regular customers to meet exchange in China. The Tientsin and Shang- current indebtedness. The new regulations, hai Chambers agreed to this courso of action. as published at two days' notice, demanded a well as to the proposed absorption, instead of the deposit in the joint names of the two Com- closing, of the provincial Mints, and the Joint panies at a special Bank, a sum of money Memorial from the three bodies was despatched equal to the average monthly account of to each Member of the Diplomatic Body in each sender of telegrams, or if this were not Peking, the Doyen of whom replied that the agreed to, cash payments to be made for each Diplomatic Body was highly interested and separate message as sent. At the request of greatly appreciated the efforts and zeal of the several Members of the Chamber, a strong signatory Chambers of Commerce. Nothing. protest was made against so high-handed a however, has transpired as to what efforts have proceeding. A long correspondence ensued, in since been made to further the matter with the which it was pointed out amongst other Chinese Government, but it is no doubt too arguments that early to expect that any material rosult has been attained in this direction at the time of writing.
THE CROWN AGENTS AND CONTRACTS WITH
PRIVATE FIRMS.
(1.) Longer notice should have been given. (2.) The injustice of a person desiring to do business with only one of the two Companies being obliged to deposit his money with both jointly.
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(3.) That to make the amount deposited equal to an average month's telegram account was tantamount to making each depositor a creditor of the Companies for the greater portion of each month, which Was more than the joint Administration were entitled to, and that a reduction of the deposit by one half would be a more equitable proceeding.
The Ceylon Chamber having asked for the opinion of this Chamber with regard to the working of the Crown Agent System in Hong- kong, the Chamber's Representative. Hon. R. Showan, puta series of questions at a subsequent meeting of the Legislative Council, and from the answers given by the Government and the Report of the Commission appointed by H.E. the Governor in 1901 to inquire into the working of the Public Works Department, the Com- (4.) That the claim by the Companies to the mittee came to the conclusion that the cost to whole of the interest allowed by the Bank on the Colony through the employing of the Crown the deposits was unjust and contrary to custom. Agents was not incommensurate with the ser- and the argument for the retention of the vices rendered. The advisability of all Govern-interest by the Telegraph Companies as put ment supplies being purchased locally was dealt with, and the view expressed that public works of "a special nature or of urgency" might be entrusted to private firms. The Ceylon Cham- ber's reply contained an expression of thanks for the information sent from Hongkong,
PROHIBITION OF COULIE IMMIGRATION
AT SINGAPORE.
forward by them on the ground of the credit allowed and trouble of bookkeeping was considered by the Chamber to be unreasonable.
(5.) That if all senders of telegrams elected to pay cash for each telegram sent, much expense, delay and consequent annoyance to the whole Mercantile Community would result, us the handling of cash in small amounts is not a quick process, especially in this Colony.
In the end the Cable Companies agreed to refund half of the sums deposited with them and to allow the whole of the interest on the remaining portion to the depositor. A return to the old system would have been preferred, but as the Companies find themselves unable to accede to this plan. your Committee are of opinion that the system now adopted is not without its advantages.
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[May 2, 1904. interests of this colony through the new arrange- ment not having produced the anticipated result, as in consequence of the Health Officer of the port and his deputy being engaged with their private practice in various parts of the city, it not infrequently happens that when their official services are required they are inaccessible. Dr. Keyt is thus often the only officer available to attend the ships coming into the harbour, with the result that delays åre of frequent occurrence.
His Excellency has, however, not seen his way to follow the committee's suggestion to employ a Government Official without private practice but with a qualified assistant, and the committee regret having to record this decision as they feel their suggestion is the only remedy for the delays now experienced.
JUNKS FLYING FOREIGN FLAGS TO EVADE
PAYMENT OF “CHING-FEI TAX LEVIED
BY THE VICEROY OF THE TWO-KWANG.
Following up the representations made last year, the Committee again drew the attention of the Government to the fact that a large number of trading junks using the Harbour as native craft after leaving the waters of the Colony hoist certain foreign flags under Con- sular Authority and proceed to Canton as foreign craft. Mr. James Scott, H.M.'s Con- sul-General at Canton, referred to the matter in his Annual Report for 1902 as a state of affairs which is obviously unsatisfactory both as regards the Hongkong Government and the Imperial Maritime Customs in China. Certain suggestions were therefore made which; it is hoped. will be acted upon. so that the Harbour Master may be kept informed as to the names and registered numbers of such junks to enable him to refuse them the right of entry and clearance in the Colony. The improper use of alien flags by Chinese junks will then be dis- couraged.
STORM, WARNINGS,
The exertions of the Committee in 1902 were rewarded by H. E. the Governor agreeing in May last to introduce the flag system of weather signals as worked at Shanghai for the inform ation of Shipmasters, but without displacing the cone system in use. His Excellency's opinion and that of his expert advisers was stated as being that the cone system was a better and safer system and familiar to the local junk population. It will be remembered that at the commencement of the discussion the Chamber suggested the introduction of a flag system, but His Excellency then arrived at the conclusion that an alteration in the Hongkong system of signalling storms was not desirable and that a system of flag signals to convey weather inform- In 1897 and again in 1901 the Chamberation was, for the reasons indicated by the Act- brought to the notice of Government the ing Director, not suited to local conditions. desirability of the appointment of the Health Eventually the Chamber drew an extended code Officer of the Port being filled by an Official of symbol signals for day, and lantern signals whose undivided attention would be devoted to for night work, to meet the objections raised the duties of the position, and as a result of the against flags as well as on economical grounds. representations then placed before His Excell- Now that the Government has introduced the ency the Governor, Sir Henry Blake made Shanghai flag system it is felt that at least a the following recommendations to the Secretary fair trial may be given to it and objections raised of State for the Colonies:---
later if found necessary.
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF PASSENGERS.
The Committee of the Singapore Chamber wrote in June last explaining the reasons which had prompted it to support the Government in connection with the prohibition of the immigra- tion of coolies from Hongkong on account of the prevalence of Plague in this port and inquir- ing whether some means of examining Chinese passengers could not be devised of so stringent a nature as would reduce to a minimum the chances of Plague cases occurring on the voyage or on arrival at Singapore. After full considera- tion, a reply was sent expressing the opinion that no examination would be adequate to prevent Plague occurring on the voyage, and pointing out that the profit on the trade would not permit of any further expenses being incurred by the steamship owners here. A suggestion was made that if Chinese labour is necessary to supply the labour market of the Straits Settlements, it might be of advantage to found a segregation camp on one of the numerous adjacent islands from which the transfer of the coolies into Singapore could be regulated in accordance with the requirements of that Colony and at the expense of the employers of labour there who profit by employ-vice as Health Officer of the Port. His Excell-phonic communication with, and the signals ing Chinese coolies.
There is reason to believe that the Singapore Government recognises that the only way out of the difficulty would be the adoption of some such system, as the Chamber of Commerce there recommended the extension of the existing quarantine station and segregation camp on St. John's Island.
EXPLOSIVES ON BOARD STEAMERS IN
THE HARBOUR.
The Government were approached with the object of restricting the disabilities under which steamers carrying small quantities of dangerous goods are under on arrival in the Harbour. The fact of the port being free emphasized the belief that at least similar regulations might be applied as are in vogue at the Treaty Ports of China, but the Government could not see its way to go as far in this direction. Some concessions were, however, granted, the value of which depend on the promptness of the Harbour Office Officials in meeting incoming steamers, thereby preventing delay. It is hoped that before long the Government may be induced to do away with any unnecessary restrictions of this nature.
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(a.) The appointment of a Second Health The Committee's suggestion that an addition- Officer of the Port who will be allowed no prácal signal station should be established at Cape tice of any kind.
Collinson and Green Island was vetoed on the ground that these places were not in direct tele-
could not be verified by, the Observatory Off- cials.
(b.) That in view of Dr. Jordan's long ser-
ency recommended that he should be allowed to retain his private practice on shore, but only on the distinct understanding that when himself engaged in private practice he will always place at the disposal of this Government another Off- cer as his substitute to discharge the duties of Health Officer of the Port, and who will not take private practice on board ships.
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(c.) His Excellency further recommended that if Dr. Jordan was not willing to accept these conditions, another Health Officer of the Port should be appointed in his place on the same terms as those offered to the Second Health Officer of the Port..
The committee at that. time expressed the opinion that the above recommendations, if carried into effect, would. they hoped, put an end to the delays in the inspection of vessels that had occurred in the past, and therefore agreedito His Excellency's suggestions.
This hope unfortunately was not fulfilled, and the Chamber found it necessary to again draw the attention of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government to the inconveni- ence and loss suffered by the large shipping
A concession was granted whereby all Mas. ters of Vessels or their Agents may now obtain free special telegraphic information from the Observatory by calling at the Telegraph Com- pany's Office in the Praya or through the tele- phone on calling at the Police Station at Kow- loon Point, and this will doubtless prove of ad- vantage to Masters of Vessels on the point of sailing.
The Acting Director (Mr. Figg) reported that the Observatory was well equipped with Meteo- rological instruments.
REDUCED CABLE RATES TO EUROPE. The hope expressed in last year's Report that the repeated representations to the Cable Com- panies on the subject of the excessive rates charged might not be without effect at the In- ternational Telegraph Conference in May, 1903, fortunately turned out to be correct, as from the 15th July, 1903, the rate to Europe was dropped from Francs 7 to 5.50. a reduction of over 20 per cent. The competition of the new Pacific Cable to Manila has been the direct cause of the
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