October 11, 1909.1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
309.
Government's action. It is a subject about | HONGKONG'S BUDGET FOR 1919. | the GOVERNOR recognised in, we think, the which we hear nothing whatever, nor have we observed that the leaders of Chinese opinion in the Colony are displaying any activity in this direction. The fact of there having been such keen competition for the privilege and profit-of carrying on the Farm for the next three years argues, very little fear of such factors as these greatly influencing the demand for the drug. We turn now to another aspect of the question. From the first we have regarded the closing of the public divans for opium smoking as
of an unwise method rapidly reaching the end in view, es- pecially in the British colonies. It was not difficult to foresee that the main result would be to drive the evil into the homes of the people, and, moreover, assist
to
the development of worse evils. In the Straits Settlements, as well as in China, it has been observed that the habit of opium smoking is being displaced by "the still more disastrous habit of opium swallowing and morphia injection."Very likely the tendency will become as noticeable in Hongkong when all the divans are closed. We note that the Government of the Straits Settlements proposes to especially guard as far as possible" against this change of habit. This can only mean that more drastic measures will have to be taken than is possible under the farm system, for there is no way of effectually preventing this use of the drug short of placing the most striu- gent restrictions upon the sale both of morphia and opium. The Straits Settle- ments are very desirous of not offending China over this opium question. We are indebted to China," says the GOVERNOR, "for the free influx of immigrants which it has always allowed us, and which, if it has enabled many individual Chinamen better their condition, has at the same time proved the making of this place. Unless we are prepared to second, so far as our Chinese population is concerned, the efforts of China, we cannot expect that this free immigration will be allowed to continue unrestricted. Active discouragement of emigration to the Peninsula by China, would prove disastrous to us, and apart, therefore, from any moral consideration or obligation, self-preservation demands that we shall fall into line with China and the rest of the world in this matter." That is, of course, a very important con. sideration for the Straits, but there are no indications that China is contemplating any steps of the nature suggested, nor do we imagine she is likely to do so until she has fulfilled her promise to put an entire stop to the cultivation of the poppy in China, and allowed time for Great Britain to fulfil hers to stop the export from India. When that time arrives-and there are only seven or eight years to wait-there will be an end of the opium question. In the circumstances the closing of divans and all other steps of the kind seem to be a waste of effort, pro-
ductive of more harm than good.
is 露
An account of its
Ag
(Daily Press, October 8th)
first Budget statement he was called upon Despite its great length, the speech in
to make in the Colony. The more revenue which H. E. the GOVERNOR Yesterday ture, the more we have to pay as military we bave to raise to meet increasing expendi- discussed the main features of the Estimates contribution, and thus the military contribu- for the coming year will, we feel sure, betion bears hardest upon the Colony when and absorbing interest, for it is not a mere read by the community with close attention its financial burdens are greatest. In 1910 analysis of figures but also to a large extent an interesting feature of the Budget statement we pay a lakh more than this year. Another explanation of matters of policy and of pro- is the defence it makes of the Government's gress. His EXCELLENCY excused the length policy in regard to the subsidiary coinage of his remarks at one point of the speech by question. In the course of this defence, His saying that the presentation of the Budget EXCELLENCY quoted a statement made on the one occasion upon which the this subject by Mr. SHEWAN at the last Government, which is entrusted with the meeting of shareholders of the Hongkong, welfare of the community, has an oppor- Canton and Macao Steamboat Co., and he tunity of giving stewardship, and of enlisting the interest of by Mr. D. R. LAW, the Manager of replied to it by quoting from a letter written the inhabitants in the Colony in the various Messrs. BUTTERFIELD and SWIBE, who matters not directly connected with legisla- are working in agreement with the Steam- tion, and which, therefore, do not ordinarily boat Co. The public will appreciate the come before the Council." On that account irony of the situation, which is capped the community welcome the occasion quite by as much as His EXCELLENCY, and so far as the public is concerned there will be no cavilling, we feel sure, at the length of these We have no intention to-day explanations. of discussing the statement at any length, but merely to epitomise its main features. HIS EXCELLENCY said that, generally speaking, the problem of the Government this year has been to raise sufficient revenue, or to decrease expenditure, to meet a deficit of eight lakhs of dollars. Of this amount five lakhs are expected from the new liquor dues, and one from the new stamp duties, while the remaining two are provided partly by retrenchments in expenditure and partly by anticipated increase in the existing sources of revenue. This deficits of eight lakhs, it is to be noted, includes the full loss of opium revenue, as His EXCELLENCY said he had not yet been able to ascertain what contribution towards this sum the Imperial Government are prepared to make. There are two extraordinary items of revenue in the Estimates, these being a contribution promised by the Imperial Government of half the loss on the pstal agencies, estimuat ed at $27,000, and the receipts from a half year's working of the Kowloon-Canton railway, which are put at only $20,000.
The Shanghai papers record the death of Captain A. E. Flagg, of the Indo-China steamer Kut-wo. Captain Flagg was seized with cholera at Anking, and when the Kut-wo had reached Wuhu be passed away. The remains were buried at Wahu., Captain Flagg, who was an American citizen, was, the N.-C. Daily News says, one of the best known and, it may well be said, one of the most popular of the captains on the Yangtsze. He first entered the Indo-China service in 1887 as master of the Kungwo, and at a later period commanded the Yuen-wo, in the days before the Kut-wo was launched. The deepest sympathy will be felt for Mrs. Flagg, who tub recently returned from a summer holiday at Chefoo, and for her two daughters, Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. S. H. McKean,
His
the GOVERNOR'S remark
My friend Mr. LAW can debate the parti- cular facts at Mr. SHEWAN,"
issue with my friend ment's attitude on the subsidiary coinage
for the Govern question, HIS EXCELLENCY made it quite clear that it had not been one of apathy or indifference. signs of the times, and was ready at any He was watching, he said, the moment to adopt such a course as may recommend itself and meet with the approval, of the merchants an i bankers, taking into due consideration the political issues invol- ved, the cost to the taxpayer and the effect ou trade as a whole and not merely on oue the statement appears to contain little of a company, Apart from these questions highly contentious character. CELLENCY, in concluding his address, expressed the opinion that the difficulties have been fairly met for the coming year, and added that he was in hopes that with returning prosperity and an increase in the ordinary rev. nue which accompanies
EXCELLENCY had an interesting statement to make on the subject of the postal agencies, a statement which we to some extent anticipated by our re- ferences a few days ago to the negotiations between the Government and the British which have recently been in progress community at Shanghai, with a view to of the loss on the maintenance of the getting that community to bear a quarter agency at that port. The subject has been under consideration by the Home authorities for eighteen months, with the result that the Imperial Treasury has come to recognise its responsibility in the matter to the extent of undertaking to bear half the loss. Moreover, the subject of the military contribution has been raised in connection with the postal agency question, for, as we pointed out a few days ago, although the postal revenue is insufficient to cover the expenditure, this Colony has to pay a military contribution of 20 per cent. on actual revenue. Apart from the military contribution, the loss on the Shanghai British Post Office is $27,200 ; but including the military contribution it amounts to $40,440. The community will welcome the announce ment made by HIS EXCELLENCY yes terday that the Secretary of State is appointing a Commission to inquire into the whole question of the contribution,
HIS EX-
prosperity, we may be able in 1911 to meet the heavy liabilities on account of interest, and sinking fund without any further increase of taxation. We sincerely hope that when the time arrives for the prapara- tion of the Budget for 1911, HIS Ex- CELLENCY'S optimism will be justified.
RETRENCHMENT.
(Drily Press, October 9th.) Among the papers laid upon the table of the Legislative Council on Thursday was
with the decision of the GOVERNOR thereon. tions made by the Retrenchment Commit ee, one giving a summary of the recommenda-
been effected in the establishment charges. A saving of close upon a lakh of dollars has Lu the Sanitary Department the reductions amount to about $30,000; in the Police and Prison Departments about $10,000 each; in the Medical Department, $12,000; on the
Volunteer Corps, $4,000; Post Office, $4,000, telegrains sent and received by Government, on Miscellaneous Services (which includes
and soon. and transport) there is a reduction of $7,000; No item of expenditure, has where ten dollars a year can be saved, where been too insignificant for consideration; there was an unnecessary coolie employed made a recommendation to that effect. at seven dollars a month, the Committee In the higher branches of the service there ing as possibly was expected by many does not seem to have been as much prun-, people, who see, for instance, that two princi- pal officers of the Public Works Department may be ausent from the Colony at the same time on long leave, and yet the work goes contribution is entirely wrong, as H. E. on the same; that the Postmaster-General
military
for the basis of
the
: