Page
January 12, 1907.]
The Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I think the British residents of this Colony, and residents of the Far East generally, are very much indebted to the Committee for the work done during the past year. Although I am not astonished having had a large experience-to see a sparse, attendance at this meeting, I must confess 10 being very much astonished that the membership of the Association only amounts at the preseat time to 66. That only some five per cent of the British adult male population in the Colony. In view of the excellent work done during the past year, I would venture to express the inpe that we may shortly see
a very substantia! addition to the number.
¦
The CHAIRMAN-Before putting the resolu. tion I may briefly suggest to Mr. Balloch the reasons why I have said nothing on the subject of opium and with regard to the difficulties of the question of the reform of Chiua's currency. As regards the latter, I do not feel that I know enough to enable me to dogmatize. As regards the opium question, the time to speak is perhaps not yet.
Proposals made by the Chinese i Government to repress the rice in their own country will, I am sure, have everybody's sympathy, and when they have shown that they are in earnest in the endeavour to stamp out the growth of opium in China I think it may perhaps be well for the British Government to take some action in the matter. As regards the Canton-Kowloon Railway I think the report states all that is to be said on the matter. I hope that the Chinese officials will, as Mr. Ballocht desires, play the game.
The resolution was passed, and on the motion of Mr. BALLOCH, seconded by Mr. COCHRANE, This
the committee was re-elected en lilue, concluded the proceedings.
ANNUAL REPORT.
{
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
fiani
23
to be threatening in view of the recent success general and British trade in particular, than attending the negotiations of the British and any with which the Association has yet been Chinese Corporation in Peking. written aubsequent to
A latter called upon to deal. It is now proposed to those appearing in collect the nsual yearly subscription of $10 to satisfaction in respect of the signing of the members is appended. the report in question records the colony's carry on the work during 1907. A list of
agreement for the lcan required build the Chinese section of the line and
expresses the hope that supplementary agreement, necessary to ensure Government and the Provincial Officials in the harmonious cooperation between the Colonial working of the line as a whole, will soon Follow.
to
Since the last annual general meeting there have been several changes in the personnel of A. G. Wood. Mr. D. R. Law. Mr. H. E. the the local Committee which now consists of Mr.
Tomkins, Mr. (7. H. Medhurst, the Hon, Mr. sborne, Mr. W. A. Cruickshank and
M. STEWART, Chairman.
E.
1
The acronuts mentioned show that $1,315,65 very moderate indeed. was spent on telegrams, other cxpenses being
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE CHINA ASSOCIATION SPEECH,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS." |
Hongkong, January 8th. during the so-called 'second siege, ' and having Sir-Having been in the Tientsin settlement witnessed the taking of the Native City at the end of the period, I fancy. I remember enough about different kinds of shells to enable me to appirante the use of shrapnel, Lu any case
As regards the Association's activities in directing attention to piracy on the West River the aim of agitation has been to invoke the aid of diplomacy ju au endeavour to instil it s the minds of the Provincial Authorities the idea that in the long ran it is less inconveni-ut and more economical to provide funds requis te for the repression of the evil than to misappropriate these and chance the consequrpCAR. degree this object would appear to have been In some ; achieved. Recent information is to the effect that the Authorities are at the moment commendably actire. Admiral Li Chun, a capable leader, with a They have supplied cousiderable number of "braves and he is reported to be infusing energy into the opera. tinns of guard boats stationed every miles and of armed launches, with steam up, stationed every 20 miles along the river bank. A、 tar as the river is concerned these efforts are producing excellent results and in the Delta, also, there is said to be These results support our contention that the some improvement. suppression of piracy is merely a quest on of men and money. Not inconceivably, the zeal displayed in this matter may have derived sime impetus from the outery made here,
The same reflection occurs with regard ta Administration the agitation against the chinga nunda in ti Cus.oms by the Ediet of the 9h Mo.
of the Imperial Maritim the position is, there can hardly be my doubt no quarrel 1
that it woud have been far wire, lett for the
¦
In presenting to members the annual report of the Hongkong branch of the China Associa- tion it has hitherto been the custom to pbfishi in the form of an appendix the correspondence | upon which it is based. The necessity for this in the present instance has been obviated by the London Branch issuing an interim report con- taining the principal letters despatched from here during 1906. The local Committee has therefore decided to base this year's report upon that communication, with the following, results:-
:
i
new
Bad **
u are correct in the supposition, advanced in your leader of date, that I did not imagine them idea of battering down the walls of Peking. to have been employed by the Japanese with the That soni» such twist might be given to my meaning WAN
禧 risk which I foresaw.
I
in ntioned this when I saw you on Sunday. You volunteered the opinion
that ouly hypercriticism would discover the point. It thefstoas surprised me to find you using the id-a, with which I had provided you, to cast rudicale. With the rest of your gibes I have
Those of your readers who know anything of the work of the China Association will realise now wide of the mark they strike.
Unl Агн welcome to an imaginary score, in as far as your remarks affect mi persimally. But as regards your criticism of the views put forward by the Chios Association say that they are simply the views of the on the subject of the Customs Eliot, I have to
'representative men of the British Mercantile Cominnutty in Hongkong. Shanghai and throughout the length and breadth of China.
gur of the presentations mid in the Eng. jisu Press, espreally in The T mes, and by the Loudon Branch of the Association against the adoption on the part of the Brit sh Government Our work as displayed in the contents will be tions with the resulting diplomatie protests, cau of a non-pos munte pieg. These representa- seen to divide itself into four distinct series of hardly have failed to produce a certais restrain. letters and telegrams dealing with as many separate questious.
ing effect upon the minds of the leaders of the These have been arranged in groups
communications Young Chiua Party in Peking and although under the, so far ostensibly foiled, may ye' bɩ regarded as particular heading to whicu they refer and iu having attained a measure of unseen succes chronological order within each group.
They are as the views of all men of any of the report
In the last division of the Hongkong section note who have now, or who have ever had, representations made ou
will be found * record of firsthand dealings with Chinese officials. Sic disabilities imposed upon British Shipping by that the object aimed at by the ching, made the subject of the Robert Hirt at the outset gave it as his opinion certain ordinances forbidding owners to carry
"the supercession and absorption of the eutract labourers. here in support of a movement to obtain the seek higher authority, though the view has i he reasons advanced from. I M.. Administration." There is no need to repeal of these Ordinances will, it is hopsi, 'been endorsed by every man who cau in auy seuse be regarded as an authority on Chias at Other subjects have engaged attention and a all. In scoffing at the China Associa ion for geueral correspondence has been reeking to institute means of defeating that by way of keeping the object you run the risk of seeming to sit Committee in opinion. The entire correspondence of the which you sim to throw threatens to fall fixt touch with local | yourself up abore all these men, and the ridiculo year will be laid on the table for the inspection and to cover you. of members at the annual general meeting.
The
The first group comprises correspondence relating to the incident of the forcible seizure by the Viceroy of Cantou of a quantity of coal in effective possession of a British Bank- Representations of the illegality of this pro- ceeding, simultaneously made from several quarters, soon brought sufficient pressure to bear upon the Viceroy to persuade him of the inadvisability of persevering in an unwarrant. able action and the malter was eventually settled to the satisfaction of the complainants, It is anticipated that the representations made from here on this subject will meet with the approval of members.
1
recommend themselves to members.
regular maintained
Landon
;
more
satisfactory
natural divisions of
Yours, etc.
M. STEWART.
14
we are
Similarly it is anticipated that the voluminous correspondence referring to the Kowloon-Canton. Railway will not be disap-usually called in the Automo, but this year annual grueral meeting has been proved of. There has been but one opinion in
We fear that outside comment, with which it was decided to hold it at the end of th- the Association the many years as to the ita- year, the idea being
we have nothing to do, has led Mr. Stewart te portance of pushing on with that enterprise.
that it is a more misconstrue our purely acidemic remarks. It The thanks of the Committee are due and are
arrangem ut to Adopt the is our pure misfortune if any tendency to hereby gratefully rendered to H.E. the Governor follow the old method by which two years were
the calendar than to * gibe" or “scoff "be apparent; the comments for placing at our disposal translations made
were meant to be serious. With regard to the originally for his information from articles
made to overlap. However, this is an unim reference to shrapnel, we thought to dispose of partant matter. It will be appearing in the Chinese newspapers on the arrangement if the London Branch decides to himself complained of to us; the words
ዜ still better a hypercritical suggestion which the writer subject of the scheme to build an opposition issue an interim report every year on the eve of sure he did not mean, etc." were warranted by line from Canton to Whampoa. Sir Matthew the annual diaper, thus relieving this Branch, his own declaration, and would not have been Nathan has kept a close watch upon the develop as in the pres-ut occasion it stand relieved, of used at all had we not thought him desirous ment of this idea and his helpful courtesy has! enabled us, as will be seen from the correspond. ¦ & the Association is best indicat-d and served forestalled. We can only regret that in agy necessity to publish The corporate nature of having repetitions of the said bypercriticism to supply the London Brauch with by reports bringing together and displaying in trying to be helpful we should bare fallva evidence supplementary to that which we deriv- uuity the work of the various branches. ed independently from other sources showing
under so mean a suspicion. But then, as our the drift of native opinion and displaying the
A statement of accouuta is appen I-d showing comments pointed out, mistakes are mide by attitude of the Provincial Authorities towards | fuuds, due, in the main, to long telegr
a credit bal mice of $6 29. The dissipation of our looking to much for motires. We hope Mr. the scheme. Its danger to the future prosperity the Customs question, will not be grudged by misread our motives. Our words are expected ms ou Stewart will acc pt our assurance that he has of Hongkong has formed the subject of many representations from this Association during ita solution is a matter more vital and far-reach- ralu; they are, as a gule, carefully chosen.-
members who share the Committes's view that do carry only their plain meaning and face the last two years but is now no longer thoughting, in interest and importance, to trade in Ed.)
ence,