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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
MERCHANTS AND MINISTERS.
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(Daily Press, 23rd March.)
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them.
March 24, 1906.
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on March 20th at the Board Room, The Hon. Dr. F. Clark (president) presided, and there were also present:-Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Dr. W. W. Pearse, M.O.H., Dr. Macfarlane, Lieut.- Col. Josling, Mr. E. A. Hewett, Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin, Mr. Mr. Lau Chu-pak, Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Mr. H. Humphreys, Mr. F. J. Badeley and Mr. G. A. Woodcook (secretary).
their jealousy of one another, it is apparent-
men, and to give instructions that wherever ly thought the next best thing is to make
the British manufacturer produces creden- use of Japan and to endeavour by this
tials from the Foreign Office, every possible means to show such a front that no The globetrotter, arriving at some place assistance must be given by the Government foreign nation would be disposed which happens to please his eye, and from representative. There may be a risk that seriously to oppose her. Some such view which he usually departs without having|arined with such a sweeping instruction has probably entered the minds of the had time to discover the drawbacks of some manufacturers might expect too much, Peking authorities; and it would account permanent residence there, is often tempted, and the representative of the nation become for the fact that from the menaces against, although quite innocent of malice, to a mere agent of the first firm to claim his foreigners, which have arisen of late, Japan misrepresent the position of his nation's services. However, whether the complaints has been excluded; and it has been carefully consular representative. He perhaps views be wholly or only partly justified, we have made known that the Japanese would under the outside of a nice house, an envies the no doubt that British representatives abroad all circumstances be safe. The peculiar inan who can stay in a place with which he will in due course hear from headquarters. kind of shuffling policy involved in this is temporarily in love'; he may overhear the We notice that a resolution to be introduced line of action is eminently Chinese, and amount of the Consul's salary, and the com- to Parliament has been composed as is quite in accordance with all Chinese ment practically nothing to do," and a fullows: -"That His Majesty's Govern traditions. But if this is their idea there balt-formed resolution to write to the papers meut, having approved in principle that a is good reason to believe that on the rises in his mind. If he encounters some Secretary of State for Commerce shall be present occasion it will be found they other globetrotter who has forced his way appointed in lien of the President of the are reckoning without their host. It is inside the cousular residence, pestered that Board of Trade, it is desirable that the almost incomprehensible to the European official with some petty grievance, and Consular Service in its commercial branches mind that the Chinese would imagine that obtained a somewhat chilly welcome, the shall be transferred from the Foreign Office they can induce Japan to join with them outcome is inevitable. The visitors mutual to the Department of Commerce, to be against foreign nations; but from their point ly arrive at the verdict that the consul is under the Minister of Commerce, and no of view such an idea is not so unreasonable. not earning his salary, that their money, longer under the Foreigu Minister." Both The Chinese look upon Japan as a nation in taxpayers' money, is being squandered, and Ministers and Consuls must be trembling many respects similar to themselves-at all that somebody ought to be told about it. in their shoes, wondering what a Radical- events much more so than any European We have a suspicion that this is no fancy Labour Government may not demand of nation, and they may flatter themselves picture of what takes place, and that. that they may contrive to get Japan ou some consuls in the Far East could add their side should any conflict with European to it if they wished. It is so easy to nations arise. The likelihood of this is, how-criticise the work of others when we come ever, very small. Japan has become so into contact, it may be, with only the fringe thoroughly identified with the policy of of it. Mr. LOUIS SPITZEL, who claims an foreign nations taking them as a whole that extensive experience of business in the Far it will require a great deal to induce her to East, utters a complaint with more appar- give up the position she has gained among ent reasonableness than the globetrotter; the great nations of the world-much more bat one that we are inclined to regard as than any advantages that China can possibly exaggerated. Taking part in a correspond- hold out to her for adopting such a
ence in the Times he asserts, "without fear course. She may be friendly with China at of contradiction," that a great deal of busi- the present moment, as it well suits her to ness, involving the employment of thousands be so, but if China puts herself into conflict of British workmen, has been lost to Great with foreigners, there can be very little Britain by reason of the apathy that has doubt on which side Japan will declare, been displayed by the British diplomatic especially as she is bound by treaty to go representatives." We have sometimes been with Great Britain, and the interests of all tempted ourselves to complain of apparent foreign nations would in event of any apathy towards political questions of great catastrophe arising be identical. It is quite moment; and past chairmen and secretaries true that Japan would not like to see any of our Chambers of Commerce will no doubt foreign nation dominant in China; but if say that such complaints have often been matters were forced to such a point that warranted; but it is a pity that Mr. SPITZEL. some nation must assert authority in China could not give a hint to guide us to some or at least in some large portion of it, specific case which might lend force to his it is not by any means certaiù, indeed it is protest. There might, of course, be some unlikely, that foreign nations would object danger in doing so, but we think that very to Japan doing so, or that Japan would not remote. While it may be true, as he says, adopt that course. This is the contingency that he has been personally informed by which stands before China, should she be such representatives" that it is not their so ill-advised as to persevere in a line of business in any way to aid the British conduct such as will bring her into con manufacturer to secure orders, we feel sure flict with foreign Powers. She has happily that such a plea could only have been escaped falling under Russia, but if she advanced attempts to re-enact the rôle which she has recently played with Japan substituted for Russin, she will find that she has a very different uation and a very different state of affairs to deal with; and that foreign nations, who might have been willing to withstand the advance of Russia (as in fact they did for years, so far as moral and diplomatic action were concerned) such encroachment being manifestly opposed to their interests, would not oppose that if Japan, under whose sway the commercial and political rights of foreigners in China would be far safer than under the effete Chinese Government, which in face of all patience and against all hope had proved itself incapable of amelioration, either from without or from within.
IT
The Chinese Minister to Italy informs the Waiwapu that the Cardinal Archbishop at Rome has requested the Italian Foreign Office to ascertain particulars of the Nanchang
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感情
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under extraordinary circum- stances, or by some representative not typical of the fraternity. As a matter of fact, however it came to be expressed, it is a quite untenable argument, and the practice of many of Great Britaiu's able representa tives has put it out of court. No good can come of Mr. SPITZEL's odorous comparisons of the British with the German Ministers, for as we know, even with the character be
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LIMEWASH OR PAINT ?
the Board instructing the Hongkong Steam In reply to a letter from the secretary of Laundry Co. to whitewash certain woodwork, the manager wrote stating that the walls of their premises were entirely of glass and iron, the only woodwork being the framing to the glas and certain partitions in the offices. The Board surely did not intend to make them whitewash Somebody be allowed to visit the laundry and this like dattle pens, therefore he asked that point out which parts of the woodwork were to be limewashed, or whether paint could be used. The offices were not the laundry, and the laundry bye-laws were meant for Chinese where coolies ale and slept among the clothes, No one lived in the steam laundry, and it seemed absurd to apply the same regulations to their premises.
Mr. HEWE!T minuted: The application under date of February 22nd states "be is should be granted. I see that the secretary
directed by the Board to write that the wood- work must be limewashed. I bave no recollection of the question being before the Board.
The M.O.H. minuted: I do not think wo apply to Chinese and not to Europeans. But can say that regulations and bye-laws only
of course there is the power of the Board to
Board has already held that painted woodwork exempt where such a course is reasonable. The
if clensed need not be limewashed. Would the A.M.O.H. kindly see what he can do in the matter. I suggest that the Board allow the laundry to paint the woodwork instead of limewashing.
gives them of energetically encouraging the trail of the Fatherland, they too often come in for the censure of their nationals. A much better illustration may be found that kind being settled by some official or Mr. HEWITT said he objected to matters of in the case of American representatives. members of the Board and a letter written in whose particular attention to the needs of the name of the Board. He was sorry to say American trade has often been noticed; that that was not the first or second time that aud yet against no body of men have we such a thing had occurred, letters of that sort heard more complaints from Americans. being sent in reply to special letters making COUSIN JONATHAN shares to the full Joux application for mitiction of regulations, as if BULL's propensity to grumble; and although be sent out without the Board being consult d the Board had been consulted. If letters were to in his expressive idiom he calls it "kicking,"
it was a farce for unofficial members to attend. it really amounts to no more. Mr. SPITZEL They were there not only to see that certain wants the Foreign Office to re-organise the regulations were carried out, but he took it they present system, to appoint thoroughly trained | had another duty. They know perfectly well
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