384
at $1,421,000). Personally I cannot see that such a heavy sacrifice is involved, Merely to close the public opium-smoking places will not, I imagine, in the long run, compel the opium farmer to shut up shop entirely. The closing of these places will not suppress opium smoking, and I question whether the opiam farmer would find his income very materially reduced. Closing the licensed houses simply means making opium smoking in the homes of the people much more common than it is now. The Hongkong Government are 110 more able to suppress opium smoking than the Japanese Govern- ment have been able to suppress it in Formosa. Japan recognised when she annexed Formosa that the instant total suppression of opium-smoking meant sentence of death to hundreds, and the Government humanely decided on restrictive measures which involved the licensing of individual smokers. Incidentally, it is instructive to note that despite the efforts the Japanese Government has made in Formosa to restrict the consumption of the drug the import is now greater than ever. The latest official statistics I have are for 1906 in which year the import of opium into Formosa was valued at Yen 3,371,759, as compared with Yen 1,570,347 in 1897, the first year of the Japanese regime.
That is not very encouraging evidence for the reformer, but it gives some support to my suggestion that the opium farmer may not after all find any very considerable diminution in his returns after the licensed houses are closed. Yours faithfully.
OMEGA.
BARKING NUISANCE.
"
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND | them in the performance of their duties. The provision does not, however, apply to British subjects.
In a draft bill to amend the local Merchant Shipping Ordinance this provision has been omitted because in the view of this Government its inclusion would seriously affect the Coasting and River trade of this port, where 98 per cent of the seamen shipped are Cinese!
The Bill referred to has been sent to England for the consideration of the Board of Trade, and an enquiry has now been received as to whether local regulations can be imposed to ensure that Chinese seamen belonging to Hongkong would be able to produce certificates or other official documents showing their birth place, and en- titling them to the exemption accorded to British subjects.
To this question, to which a reply has been asked by telegram, His Excellency has stated that, in his opinion, such a regulation is not feasible here, and I am to enquire whether your Committee concurs in that view.
I am, tir,
The Secretary,
Your cbedient servant,
( gd). | F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.
The General Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber of Commerce,
28th May, 1908.
Sir, I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 21st instant (No. 3173/1908) in which you refer to a provision in the Imperial Merchant Shipping Áệt 1906 against the employment of seamen on British Ships unlesss they possess a sufficient knowledge of English to understand the decessary orders and further, in which you point out the non- application of this proposed regulation to British subjects.
men with
I am directed to inform you that. "No. 1" Chinese who do speak sufficient English are in charge of the natives working in every depart. ment on steamers carrying Chinese crews, and these men are the medium for conveying orders by the British Officers to the sailors, firemen, &o.,
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[June 3, 1908.
From these firms my Committee sought an opinion on the subject to enable them to place before the Government the views of those most directly interested.
The opinion shared by both these firms is that the suggestion to vaccinate Chinese emi- grants and Asiatic crews is quite impracticable, and to insist upon such a course would probably do considerable harm to the passenger trade to the Straits Settlements.
They therefore do not see their way to adopt the precautions recommended.
In the opinion of my Committee it may be taken that the views of all the shipping firms engaged in the Asiatic passenger traffic betw en this port and the Straits Settlements would coincide with those expressed by the afore- mentioned firms.
I am directed to add that my Committee desire to thank His Excellency for referring the matter to them for consideration,— I have the honour to be, &o.,
(Sgd.) E. A. M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary.
Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G, Colonial Secretary.
TIENTSIN.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
May 19th.
SIR KOBERt hart's suCCESSOR. It has already been stated that Sir Robert Bredon, K. C.M.G., has become Acting Inspector General, mperial Maritime Customs, during the absence on home leave of Sir Robert Hart, and it may now be asid that, if it should happen that Sir Robert Hart does not return to Peking, his brother-in-law's permanent succession to the head-ship of the I.M.C. is practically a foregone conclusion, notwithstanding the some- what petty and certainly interested hostility to his candidature in some quarters both in China
Some particulars, therefore, of Sir Robert Bredon's career may be useful in helping towards a conception of the character of the new Inspector General.
BRILLIANT COLLEGE CAREER.
Sir Robert Bredon, who has been Deputy I.G. since 1898, was born at Portadown, Ireland, on February 4th 1848, being the eldest son of the late Alexander Bredon, M.D., and Katherine, daughter of the late Joseph Bredon, R.N., Stanstead Canada. Educated at the Royal
[TO THE EDITOR of the DAILY PRESS.")
Hongkong, 1st June. SIR,-During the summer months, the In the opinion of my Committee the inclu. Murray Parade Ground is the scene of a regular sion of such a clause in the local Merchant pandemonium of dogs. In the daytime, batches Shipping Ordinance, and its enforcement, of them can be seen oreating a disturbance, would practically compel the fleet of British which, added to the general bustle of rickshaws, Coasting Vessels engaged in the China trade electric trams, coolies, etc., has a nerve-jarring to go out of Commission, for seamen and fire-and in England. effect on the public. However, this is not of
the qualification required are mach consequence, being a mere drop in the unobtainable, and the proof of British citizen- hubbub and commotion of a city like Hong-ship necessary to obtain exemption from the test kong. But when it comes to night-time also cannot be given, for the very good reason that being included in the category of the daily probably ninety-nine out of every hundred men meetings of the canine community of Hong- so employed are the subjects of the Emperor of kong, it gives one pause to think, and devise China. some means of getting rid of these nocturnal pests. Just when one is enjoying a hard. earned sleep, one is rudely roused from the land of dreams by a series of loud barking, which, by the determined way in which the brutes seem to keep it up, beats everything, not even barring a deranged gramophone. It is then that one feels a strong inclination to hurl boots, tin-oans, bottles, in fact anything handy, at the heads of the noisy brutes. It is a crying shame that such a wretched state of affairs should be allowed to exist. Perhaps, at first sight, it seems impossible to remedy matters, but after all, it is very simple. Those who have the good fortune to possess dogs, or rather, the misfortune (since they do not know how to keep them in check) should take the precaution of having them chained up for the night, or employ any other means by which access to the Parade Ground might be effectively prevented at unearthly hours of the night. Otherwise, an air gun and a few slugs will help to impress upon the animals the inadvisability of creating their devilish barking at a time when Hongkong is supposed to be asleep.
Yours, etc.,
DISTRACTED.
CHINESE ON BRITISH SHIPS.
UNFEASIBLE INSTRUCTIONS
The following correspondence has been sent to us for publication :-
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 21st May, 1908. SIE,-1 am directed to inform you that the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act 1906 contains a provision that seamen may not be engaged on board British ships unless they possess a sufficient knowledge of English to understand the necessary orders that may be given to
My Committee, cannot too strongly support the opinion and endorse the action taken in the matter by His Excellency as stated in the last paragraph of your letter.
I am to ask you to convey to His Excellency the Governor, the thanks of my Committee for affording them an opportunity of expressing their views on this very important subject.
I have, &c, (Sgd.) E. A. M. WILLIAMS,
Sécretary.
TONGKONG-SINGAPORE
QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.
E
Following was the reply to the letter from Government that was published in the last Minutes of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce :—
Hongkong, 30th May. SIR, -My Committee have now carefully considered your letter of 7th instant (No. 864/1908), acknowledged on the 11th instant. on the subject of a possible modification of the restrictions imposed by the Quarantine Regulations of the Government of the Strai's Settlements upon steamers arriving there from this Port, and I am directed to reply as follows :-
The two firms having the greatest interest in the Chinese passenger traffio between this port and the Straits Settlements are Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co., Ltd., and Messre. David Fassoon & Co.,
Ltd.
Sebool, Dungannon, and Trinity College, Dublin, graduating with honours in both classics and mathematics, he passed (taking first place) for the Army Medical Staff in 1867, and passed (first place) out of Netley the same year.
At the University he bad worked so hard and so brilliantly that he was rather taken up by professors and others, and was coming man-possibly as a looked upon as professor himself.
JOINS THE ARMY.
But for family and personal reasons things were ordered differently, and he joined the Army Medical Service, being then just 1 and the youngest man in the service. He took his degrees in medicine and surgery soon after he was 20. Never, moreover, did he get lower than second place--and that only once-in any of his professional competitive examinations.
This gave him a sort of claim for choice of appointment, and he asked for a regiment at home, and was promptly given the 97th-then, as now, one of the smart regiments of the service, By an odd coincidence in view of Sir Robert's later career, they were known as the Celestials, from their sky blue facings.
A LITEARY PROTOTYPE.
Sir Robert Bredon, it is of interest to note, is one of the successors of Dickens's famous Dr. Slammer, who was regimental surgeon of the 97th at Chatham. In fact Sir Robert is Dr. Slammer's last and only surviving successor, for regimental surgeons were abolished in 1873, and the 97th was obliterated in 1882, and became the West Kent,
Sir Robert served all his time in the Army in the very battalion of the West Kents that was in North Chins up to 1906 and is now in Singapore.
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