November 2, 1907.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
things being equal, such a consideration may be fairly enough taken into account both by the Colonial Office and by the particular official concerned.
These cases, however, are of an exceptional character, and the main point for consideration in all such transfers should clearly be how far the previous experience of the governor transferred will avail him in his new sphere of action.
conventions of a declaration that the Powers | Indeed there are some instances where, other concerned would respect China's integrity, though valuable as a definite record of their intentione, does not effect any material alteration in the policy which would in all probability have been pur- sued, hud no such conventions been entered into. This consideration is of some importance, as otherwise it might be feared that a general formal declaration by the European nations chiefly concerned, that Chinese integrity would always be We have had a very strong instance of respected, might have the effect of encourag. how this principle is ignored in the recent ing China to put off any honest attempt to transfer of our late esteemed Jovernor, come into line with foreign nations under Sir MATTHEW NATHAN, to Natal. We have the full assurance that under no circum- been officially informed by Lord ELGIN that stances, would she stand in danger of serious"in the public interests it was necessary to reprisals. There is no doubt that she has invite Sir. M. NATHAN to give the benefit of shown sigus of falling into this error already his proved ability in another portion of the —but it must become apparent that such an Empire." This is admirably expressed, and agreement as has been made, would not in the utterance is thoroughly in accordance practice be considered without some quali-with the sound principle which, as above fication; and that circumstances might arise observed, should rule in such matters. when there would be a concurrence of Unfortunately, however, for it, application opinion among the Powers, that the agree in the particular case, those
who are ment could no longer apply. So long as acquainted with the two places, Natal and Chiua can hold things together in some Hongkong, must be struck by the peculiarity decent form, no nation would be inclined to of the change that has been effected. We interfere with her; but there is at the make no doubt that Sir MATTHEW NATHAN same time the contingency before her that, will prove himself quite able to master the unless she find means of improving her position in Natal, but at the same time, it internal administration, an outbreak might does seem, to an ordinary person, that a occur which might put an end to the existing vast amount of the knowledge which he has order of things, and under such circumstan- acquired in the East will be absolutely ces manifestly foreign nations would not useless in his new sphere, and indeed may be longer bound by an agreement to preserve to some extent stand in his way. As a the integrity of China as such integrity matter of fact, no two colonies could be would no longer exist. As watters now found more completely differing from each stand the future of China is left in her own other than Hongkong and Natal. The bands; and it is for her to find means to former is a Crown Colony, where the supply such government to the country as Governor takes the leading part in all will satisfy the people at large, prevent matters and where he naturally looks in the outrages against foreigners and preserve main for gui-lance from the Colonial Office friendly relations with European nations. in all measures of special importance. To this task she declares she is willing to Natal on the other hand is a self-governing devote herself. It remains to be seen Colony'with a very popular element to deal whether she will be equal to her professious. with and where the vox populi is the govern It is certainly somewhat curious that China ing force. But the whole nature of the should have thought it necessary to protest people in the respective Colonies is as against an arrangement that will at least different as can be conceived. In Hongkong, give her another chance, but the ways of so far as the European population is Chinese are peculiar.
concerned, the bulk of the residents are quite content to take everything that is British as their model. They are rather Englishmen abroad than Colonists, and look only to being in Hongkong for a short period and to returning Home as soon as they can. In Natal there is a strong local Colonial feeling and South African traditions and principles are those which form the basis of public opinions on all questions. The transfer of a governor from the one colony to the other is thus not only to lose the benefit of much which he may have acquired by experience in his former sphere, but also to make it necessary for him to learn a vast amount which can only be acquired by experience in the new colony over which he is placed.
COLONIAL GOVERNORS.
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as compared with the necessity for securing the most suitable man for a given place; and of making the fullest use of the special knowledge, which has been acquired, and can only be acquired, by actual experience.
PROPOSED CHINESE FETE
AT HONGKONG.
(Daily Press, November 1st.) Mr. HO KOM-TONG, who is actively interest- ing himself in the promotion of the monstre Chinese
procession for the middle of December has approached us with regard to the reference that appeared in our issue of yesterday. He thinks the fears of our Chinese correspondent were ridiculously exaggerated. With regard to the introduc tion of infectious disease by the anticipated enormous influx of visitors, he points out that the period chosen for the fête is a safe one, when the cold weather militates against the aggressive microbe; and be informs us that on this point the medical officers of the Colony are unanimous in their repudiation of any cause for such alarm as was shown by the correspondent first quoted. The other fears expressed were equally ground- less, while there are numerous arguments in favour of the scheme. The fear of an increase of crime need not be seriously considered, since the police would naturally take measures to cope with the temporary increase of population, and exercise more thau usual vigilance. It has not been proved that the Macao authorities eucoun- tered any such difficulty at their recent fête, which on the other hand has done great deal of good to the tradesmen of the neighbouring colony. As to the stall- holders in the markets taking advantage of the greater demand for foodstuffs, and increasing their prices as suggested by our Chinese correspondent, we are assured that this would not be permitted. The market people understand that they would in any case share in the boom and bereits expected by all other tradesmen, and it is further understood that they have been approached, and are quite willing to make arrangements to caler for the swollen demand without going to the length imagined by the nervous critic. On the other hand, we are asked to contemplate the immediate results of a hundred thousand visitors from the interior staying in the locality for a week. A simple process of arithmetic will show what a very large sum of money should be brought to the Colony and left here. Each person must spend something, and that something, however small, when mul. tiplied by the number of visitors, presents itself in the aggregate as an inducement to the tradesmen of Hongkong to give their hearty support to the scheme. That this is the view taken by ninety-five per cent of the persons approached on the matter is a statement with which Mr. HO KOM-TONG by no means taxed our credulity; and we were less surprised than gratified to learn from him that already fitteen thousand dollars have been contributed or promised towards the initial cost of promotion, all of it by tradesmen, who have thus shown their faith in the to them benevolent results of such a fête. Beyond that again, it must be admit- ted that Hongkong, in its present commercial depression, would be no worse for some such fillip to revive it. There are two hundred and seventy houses empty in Hongkong just now, and the leading Chinese citizena hold the belief that out of the big crowd of Chinese who would thus be attracted to the Colony, there would be many who would be so impressed by the obvious advantages of residence here that they would there and then decide to throw
(Daily Press, 31st October.) It is to be hoped that the new departmental arrangement, which, it was some time back announced, is to be made at the Colonial Office, placing the self governing Colonies and the Crown Colonies under separate departments, may have the effect of some- what improving the manner in which the transfer of governors from one Colony to another is decided upon. Hitherto it has been a complete mystery to outsiders how such transfers are regulated. Indeed so far as can be seen, no principle whatever has been gone upon or at least none in which the interests of the Colonies or the Empire The instance under notice is naturally as a whole are the main consideration. one which occurs to those in this Colony; Certainly there has hitherto been nothing but it by no means stands alone, and indeed to make it appear that such appointments is only on a footing with a large number of have been regulated by any estimate of the appointments which have been made by the special fitness of a given governor for a Colonial Office, many of which will occur to given post, that he may have acquired our readers. No doubt there may at times through his experience in the governorship | be a difficulty in finding a suitable governor which he is relinquishing. The question for a given colony; and, where there is indeed seems to have been generally absolutely no choice, the removal of a Bettled upon purely departmental consider- ations on the one side and of personal desires on the other. As regards the latter, of course, nothing can fairly be said. A governor who has for some years withstood the effects of a tropical climate cannot be blamed if, when opportunity offers, he seeks re-appointment in a more temperate sphere.
governor of ability from the sphere of action with which he has become familiar, may, as is claimed in the present instance, be justified. Bat in reality such cases are very rare, and they would scarcely arise at all, but for a somewhat too rigid adherence to official and departmental considerations which are after all of very little importance