July 22, 1907.]
}
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
OVERL
of any early development worth noting.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 16th instant in the Council Chamber at 2.30 p.m.
PRESENT:--
81ERING THE GOVERNMENT, Hon. Mr. F. H., HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINI.
MAY, C.M.G.
MAJOR-GENERAL R. G. BROADWOOD, C.B.
33
he been able to return and study the China | fair play. As it is, we are not sanguine | a certain arrangement which, I am sure, will of to-day, he would doubtless have suggest- ed that existence would be more valuable to the average Chinaman if there could be a more effective restraint upon the actions of mandarindum. Theoretically, Chinese officialdom is under restraint, both of the Censorate, and of a peculiarly powerful public opinion, but in practice, as we have previously remarked, neither works very well. The Censorate itself is corrupt, and the general public has got so used to the presence of evil officials that it requires a very irksome specimen indeed to goad it to the adoption of old-fashioned protests-the old way, as sinologues have told us, being to drag the offender out and literally worry him to death. We have lately seen a new way, copied from the foreigner, by which the Governor of Anhwei was killed with the revolver of one who disapproved of his policy. If the native newspapers afford any criterion of the native public opinion, the people of China do take a genuine interest in this question of necessary restraint, and would be glad to have
voice
A.CD.
Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Secre- tary).
General)
Hon. Mr. H. H. J. GOMPERTZ (Attorney
Hon. Mr. C. MCI. MESSER, (Colonial Trea- surer).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY (Captain-Superin- tendent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C. Hon. Mr. E. OSBORNE.
Hou. Mr. H. KESWICK,
Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and confirmed.
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
of His Excellency the Officer Administering The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command the Government, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 26 to 30, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PAPERS.
His Excellency the Officer Administering the The COLONIAL SECRET RY, by command of Government, laid on the table the following papers:-Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies with regard to Sir Matthew Nathan's departure; Report on the health and sanitary condition of the Colony for the year 1906: Report of the Inspector of Schools for the year 1906; Despatcb*from Relief Fund Committee; Correspondence on the Secretary of State regarding the Typhoon the subject of salaries of European Civil Servants.
CIVIL SERVANTS' SALARIES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have the bon- our to move the following resolution "Rasolved that the principle of the payment of salaries Elgin's despatch No. 122 of the 11th June, 1907, of European Civil Servants contained in Lord
be approved.
that
give to members of the Civil Service in this Colony adequate compensation for their losses. As I said, Bir, the subject was brought pro- minently before the public some time ago, a ‹d I must say that most members of this Council, deal with the members of the Civil Service, and and also the public, sympathised a very great
we think an arrangement of this sort in fizing the dollar at 2/- is a fair settlement of the
should be any loss, the Colony as a whole should question. We feel, however, having regard to the increased value of the dollar, that, if there
the Civil Service. I go upon the principle, bear it rather than the different members of
Sir, in supporting the resolution, the Colony has a right to expect good and faithful service from its Civil Servants, and on their part they have a right to look to the Colony to give them an amount com. mensurate with their services, also to enable with some degree of comfort. I have much them to maintain their position in the Colony
pleasure in seconding this resolution, and I mously support it (applause). am sure my anofficial colleagues will unani-
the HIS EXCELLENCY-I gather from silence which has fallen on the Council after the remarks of the senior unofficial member that the hon, unofficial members are in favour of this resolution (applause). Members of the Government will, of course, not vote on the resolution, and all I can say is, that after this resolution is passed the Civil Servanta will feel that they have been liberally treated in this matter, and I have not the dightest doubt that they will, one and all, properly appreciate t! at liberality (applause).
in the establishment and enforcement thereof. When the Empress-Dowager un- expectedly announced her willingness to grant a Constitution and a Parliament, there was a good deal of rejoicing, which foreigners could not help regarding as premature. There is no lack of reasons why China should fall into line in this respect with Japan and other Powers, but there is the old, old reason why she won't. Or at least, so opined the foreigners afore- said. The Chinese people as a whole were considered to be as yet unready for such a reform-and this was not a foreign argu. ment, by the way, but the expressed belief of many officials and the barely concealed opinion of the Dowager-Empress herself. The people who are really least ready for it are the rank and file of mandarindom, and their unreadiness means unwillingness. That is why we are not greatly hopeful now, even after the Dowager-Empress has only this month alvertised for suggestions from all over the Empire, suggestions as to the best and quickest method of establishing a workable Constitution. In face of this extra Edict of hers, it is perhaps a little unfair to liken her position to that of the Russian autocracy vis-a-vis the Duma. Her Majesty has done all she can at present to show sincerity, but we find it hard to believe in the real wholehearted advocacy of such a reform from that quarter. It looks very honest, certainly, that she should invite any of her Peking subjects, no matter how high or low this rank may be, to contribute suggestions, but their memorials have to reach her via the Cen- sorate, so we know for certain that ouly such suggestions as meet the predilections Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-I have much pleasure in of the Censors will get through. The same seconding the resolution which has just been thing applies to advice from the Provinces, proposed by the hon. gentleman opposite. The in which case a special stipulation is made hon. Colonial Secretary said he proposed this that the provincial officials are not to for-pro forms, and I can quite appreciate his posi ward any Utopian suggestions. That, of salaries of members of the public service. of tion inasmuch as it is a resolution dealing with "cqurse, is tantamount to saying they need which service he is a member. The question forward nothing of which they disapprove, arose eighteen months ago, and at one time it and as there are many officials opposed to sreited a good deal of comment both in the the innovation altogether, it is easy to public press and in private conversation, and imagine the short shrift that will be given culminated in May last in a series of petitions to most of those who have ideas to submit being sent home to the Secretary of State as to ways and means of furthering the regarding the unfortunate position of members unwelcome project. A
of the Civil Service on account of the rise in surer way would have been, if her idea was really to take position to lose a number of dollars, while at value of the doll r, thus placing them all in a anything like a plebiscita: f the ntelligents, the same time the cost of living and other to allow all to le sent direct to Peking, exp-nses did not decrease in proportion to the there to be sorted and edited by a com- rize in value of the dollar, Uafo tunately the mittee. This Committee would have it. Secretary of State did not s-e fic in the first clu ed such of her »dvisers as are re l'y in
nstance to gr at their prayer, but as is favour of constitutional reform, and thus
seen in Despitob 12, dited 1th Ju...e, 1907. the 8 cretary of ~tat-, Lord Elgin, h's at last there would have been some chance of conssated, with the approval of this Council, to
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I move this resolution, Sir, pro forma, leaving it to the unofficial members of the Council to express their opinions on the subject. The extra amount required for the first six mouths the remainder of the year, and in fact for the of this year will be about 344,000. As regards whole year, the total amount has already been voted, as the estimates were taken at the rate of 2/
INSURANCE COMPANIES ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first
reading of a bill entitled An Ordinance relating to Life, Fire, and Marine Insurance Companies. The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
|
FACILITIES FOR A FOREIGN COMPANY. The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first giving to a Foreign Company, called the reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for
Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij, certain facilities for carrying on its business in the Colony.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and
the motion was agreed to.
His EXCELLENCY-The Council stands ad.
journed till this day week.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was beld immediately after the Council - the Colonial Secretary presiding. The following votes were passel:
EDUCATIONAL,
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of Five thousand five hundred Dollars (85,500) in aid cf the vote, Education, Other Charges, Grants, Building Grants.
HARBOUR MASTER'S DEPARTMENT. The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to revote a sum of
|
one thousand seven hundred and sixteen dollars ($1,716) in aid of the vote, Harbour Master's Department, Harbour Office-Special Expendi- ture, Purchase of 3 Fairway Lights and Buoys.
PUBLIC WORKS.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of aid of the vote, Public Works, Recurrent One thousand nine hundred Dollars ($1,0)) in
Maintenance of Lighthouses,
JUDICIAL.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of Two hundrel and seventy-five Dollars ($275) in aid of the vote, Judicial and Legal Departments, A.-Supreme Court, Other Charges, for the following it ms:-
Electric Fans and Light Inside .tal Expenses ..
Total ...
...
8 75
20)
8175
PUB IC CEMETERY, The Officer Adu inist rig th· Gevarnment receum nded the Council to rơ a sum of Thee hundred and fifty Doler. (895 1) in sid of
the role, Public Miscellaneous, Maintenance of Public wematary”, Works ReeAFT-NÉ