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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND obtain relief from payment of Crowet the Russians alone, to leave them in rent for the wharves if the returus possession. "In that case," he is reported showed no profits; but the Government to have written, "friction will arise between would not hear of it, and so the scheme Russia and Japan on the frontiers of Corea, remains în abeyance.
and a conflict is bound to break out between
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We hold no brief for the Star Ferry Com- the two rival Powers.” How well bis care- pany or the Godown Company; our concern ful study of the methods and motives of the is entirely with the public interest. If any foreigner had enabled LI HUNG-CHANG to material advantage were to be gained by prophesy, has in less than three years been the public from competition with the demonstrated. It is impossible to withhold Company we should hold that the Govern- admiration for his subtle wisdom, which, in ment would be justified in granting the less exalted cases, could be described as necessary permission for it to start; but it ennning, but in him, as a diplomat and is because we believe that a competing statesman, requires more respectful phrase service would be to the public disadvantage ology. He feit. that it would be that we think the Government has been difficult' for China single-handed to well advised to impose such stipulations as recover possession of the pilfered territory, to cause the abandonment of the new euter- but, according to him, no serious barm prise. The existing company deserves every would be done by playing a waiting and a consideration at the hands of the Govern- watching game. The Southern Viceroys, ment. It has provided a regular and highly he wrote with a fine contempt, had no efficient services and is sufficiently enter knowledge of the diplomatic situation, and prising to inaugurate any extension of the he begged YUNG-LU to take the greatest service which shows any reasonable prospect pains to prevent their representations reach. of remunerative return for the share-ing the Empress. His scheme was to wait for holders. A competing service, as we have said, would lead to a war of rates
LI HUNG CHANG'S LAST
LETTER,
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the Russo-Japan war, which he saw would then be inevitable, and to watch its progress which would be ruinous to both companies; If Japan should lose, China was to side and when the weakest withdrew the other with Russia, "and help them to crush the would probably be so impoverished as to Japanese, thus establishing a claim upon impair the efficiency of the service and to Russian gratitude." Russia, he thought, indefinitely postpone any new developments while retaining Corea for herself, would that might be in contemplation or that restore Manchuria to China. Here, perhaps, new circumstances might demand. In the is the weakest link in his chain of reason- meantime we should have the dangers of ing. Supposing Russia had gained a navigation in our already over-crowded sufficient advantage over Japan to warrant harbour greatly increased. Therefore China in climbing down from the fence, we say that in the best interests of it is not very likely that the conqueror the public it may be hoped that the would have given much credit to China for Government will give such security to subsequent results. Russian prestige would existing interests as will warrant the Com- hardly have been improved by any sort of pany in actively forwarding their present admission that China's help had been re- plans, and we venture to think the public quired to defeat au Asiatic army. Being interests would be served if the Govern. thus unable to recognise any cause for ment acceded to the very reasonable re-gratitude, it would have been a forlorn hope quest made in respect of the circular ser- to expect Russia to show any. It is rather vice; for the distribution of the population curious to find such a crafty old cynic is an object which the Government should expecting such a virtuous quality to become actively promote, and it is not unlikely a likely factor of events he wished to come that what they might now lose in Crown about.
That we
do not misname the rent from wharves they would presently deceased Chinaman should he apparent save in expenses on account of sanitation. when we quote the remainder of his scheme. Supposing, as it has now turned out, Japan should prove to be the stronger side, he was prepared to turn round and "help them to drive the Russians out of Manchuria," (Daily Press, 18th November.)
Thus," he concluded, we shall get back The letter said to have been written by Manchuria without any grave risks." He LI HƠNG-CHANG a few weeks before his had evidently taken to heart the death, a summary of which we reproduced esoteric meaning of the saying of the from the Times in our issue of yesterday, Taoists, that the goodness of water appears to have been a most characteristic is beneficial to all things, and that one. It is characteristic, not only of the without struggling." His people were to deceased statesman, but also of that com flow placidly along between the two dams, bination of astuteness and moral obliquity Russia and Japan, until one of them should which we have learned to expect from the break, and then-to pour like an Chinaman of affairs. It is a most extra-whelming flood in the direction desired all ordinary document in every way, and as the along, their own fair level of Manchuria Times claims to have received the resumé The happenings of the last nine months from "a trustworthy source," it is sure to seem to show that even this wisdom might occupy a large share of public attention at have been bettered Without stirring hand or this time. LI HUNG-CHANG, writing on foot, or spending a single tael, China should September 30th, 1901, to YUNG-LU, then a presently come to her own again.. To hold most influential adviser of the EMPRESS it, however, there must be a continuance of DOWAGEE, is said to have sneered at the a like passive policy, of floating with the short-sightedness of the Chinese officials
stream. Put that way, the programme who were uneasy because of Russia's e0- should appeal to the somnolent Celestial. croachments in Manchuria. The wily old It is, however, doubtful that it will so man was certainly not of those whom he appear to him. There will still be the despised for being "unable to look into the desire to seclude and seal up the regained future." He reasoned that the Russian provinces, and Japan will not be minded to occupation of the Mauchurian provinces, submit to that. The only way for China to effected under cover of the Boxer move-get is to give. She will retain most surely ment, would not be allowed to continue by relaxing her vain struggles against the without a strong protest from outside. His tide of trade that is flowing in upon her as policy-he refers to it in the letter ass,,my bees fly to flowers, coining for the honey, principles," or it is so translated-wn to and in the acquiring thereof, doing that
over-
[November 19, 1904. which directly assists productiveness and growth in the flowery kingdom..
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 15ih inst. in the Board Room, Dr. J. M. Atkinson presided, and there were also present Hon. A. W. Brewin, Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr A. Ramjahn. Dr. P. Barnett, Hon. P. N. H. Jones, Col. W. . Webb, Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., Dr. Macfarlane, Mr. F. J. Badeley, and M. T. H. Hanmer (secretary).
The minutes of the last meeting were con firmed.
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THE PLAGUE.
The members were supplied with copies of A Research into Epidemic and Epizotic Plague," a useful volume by Dr. Hunter. It was stated that a resumé of part of the report dealing with food, has been inserted in the Chinese newspapers of the Colony,
SANITATION AT ABERDEEN.
Dr. Barnett in a minute' recommended that the piglitsoil at Aberdeen be conveyed to a depot on the foreshore at Sha-wan. He wrote Conservancy contractor at Aberdeen to convey asking the Board to make an order for the the nightsoil to a depot on the foreshore at Sha-wan about 1,000 yards from Aberdeen under clause 12 of his contract. The present depot was, in his opinion, too near the village. The charge should not increase the expense to the contractor, as he had a boat to convey the nightsoil from Aberdeen.
The PRESIDENT moved, and Mr. JONES seconded, that the Board make the spot a dépot. The motion was agreed to.
THE CONDITION OF A LATRINE.
The ASSISTANT MEDICAL OFFICER reported re the condition of a latrine at the upper end of Ship Street, that it was in a clean condition.
Mr. RUMJAHN stated that the water service was not laid on at the latrine, and the water which was used for washing it was used by
the people for other cleansing purposes as well. He thought all latrines should have a water connect on, and did not understand why this particular one was left without it.
Mr. POLLOCK asked whether latrines were
usually connected with the water service.
Dr. ATKINSON replied that they were. It appeared from the Medical Officer's report that the place in question was clean, and he-did-not think the matter so serious as Mr. Rumjahn reported. It was visited every day by the district inspector, and at different times by the senior inspector.
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Mr. HEWETT: With regard to this latrine, I visited it in the hottest part of the year. and must say it is one of the best I went
into.
Mr. POLLOCK moved that the water service be laid on to the latrine.
MRUMJAHN seconded the motion, which was carried.
CHOKED SURFACE CHANNEL. ecupants of certain houses in Wong-nei- chung petitioned the Board with regard to a nuisance caused by the surface channel at the rear of their premises being frequently choked. It was decided to refer the matter to the Public Works Department for consideration.
EXTERNAL AIR,
Messrs Leigh and Orange made application on behalf of Mr. Loo Lum Tung, owner of No. 180 and 182, Queen's Road Central, for per- mission to count the yard space in the rear of the above premises as external air for the top floors only.
The MEDICAL OFFICER recommended the granting of the application.
The PRESIDENT moved and Mr. POLLOCK seconded that the application be forwarded to the Government for sanction. The motion was agreed to.
A ́SCAVENGING QUESTION. Further correspondence was read with refer ence to an application for exemption from the provisions of a public scavenging lane to house No. 354, Queen's Road Central, under Section No. 180 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance No. 1 of 1903. The engineer in chief of Buildings Ordinance reported that the objections to the lane being opened from