December 20, 1909.]
that Japan may not only adopt Christianity herself, but may be the means of causing it to spread in China and in other Asiatic coun- tries. There are undoubtedly some signs which may lead to a hope of this kind; but it certainly cannot be realised in the near future, and Mr. KLEIN frankly admits the difficulty of dealing with a question of so speculative a character. At the same time he takes a sanguine view of the effects which Christianity may be destined to produce. After reviewing what has been accomplished in the past he concludes by expressing the opinion that it would make a vast stride in Japan, if once the Missionaries found means of enlisting the services of native catechists and ecclesiastics. This, in fact, is already done to a great extent. After all," he concludes "what nation in the past has become and continued Christian by following any other method? From the day when they have a Japanese clergy and episcopate, Japan will probably not have much hesitation in embracing Christianity, and, herself converted, will be able to evangelise, far better than we can hope to do so, Korea, China and, indeed, the whole of the Far East."
.
THE PROSPERITY OF
HONGKONG.
(Daily Press, December 18th.) The death of Sir WILLIAM DES Vaux, who was Governor of Hongkong from 1887 to 1891, serves to remind us that at that time, as now, a gloomy view of the prospects of Hongk ng was entertained, and found emphatoc expression in a debate in the Legislatiive Council on a proposal to increase the military contribution from £20,000 to £40,000 per annum. Governor DES Vœux before leaving the Colony prepared a long statement in the form of a speech dealing with the condition and prospects of the Colony in detail on the strength of the statistics received, and (to adopt his own phrase) dissipating the incorrect impres- sion which had been given by looking at the question from only one side." He expressed the opinion, which proved to be correct, that such depression as then existed was only temporary, giving reasons for believing that the bubble of speculation having burst, the regular commerce of the Colony would in a short time fully retrieve the position, and in all probability bring about a prosperity greater than any of the past. That belief was abundantly justified by events.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
521
Hongkong has materially suffered, and if it were possible to publish returns showing the increase in the amount of cheques cashed we think the proof would be still more striking.
Taking these tests in the order given it has to be noted that the last census showed an increase of 15,000 in the population (excluding the returns of New Kowloon). There was a decrease in the city of Victoria, but that is explained by the measures taken
The conditions of trade are altering no to diminish the overcrowding in the city, doubt. They have altered before. The opening concerning which there had long been much of the Suez Canal and the laying of the complaint, but the reduction of the population telegraph cables were events that brought in the city was more than counterbalanced about great changes, and they were both by the increase in the land population of the supposed to be inimical to the interests of villages on the island, while the population Hongkong. But the Colony has hitherto been of Old Kowloon "showed an increase of able to adapt itself to new conditions, and nearly ten thousand. Closer analysis of the considering the advantages it possesses as a returns reveals the fact that there was a trade centre it can hardly be doubted that it sensible increase in the white population, will continue to do so in future. Though and also in the Asiatic foreign population, much trade has undoubtedly been lost to and it need hardly be said that neither. Hongkong in recent years by direct ship- Europeans and Americans, nor those ofments to other ports, and though there may races other than European, American and Lea prospect of this direct business growing, Chinese," come to Hongkong and stay here the Colofly may surely hope to benefit by for the benefit of their health. It must be the railway developments now taking place assumed that if they are attracted herein in South Chim. As the terminal port of the increasing numbers it must be because great trunk line now being constructed there is increasing business here for them through three of the richest and most to do.
populous provinces of China, the future prosperity of Hongkong ought to be abund- antly assured: It is quite possible, however, that the causes detailed in Mr. COUSLAND'S interesting memorandum will serve for some years yet to
the further development of the Colony, but we are bold enough to prophecy that in 1920 the indica- tions of the Colony's prosperity will show an immense improvement on the indications for the year 1910.
,
When we glance at the Shipping Returns of the Colony, we likewise find little justifica- tion for pessimism. With the Harbour Mas- ter's report an instructive diagram is publish- ed showing the tonnage entered at Hongkong from 1867. The lines on this diagram show that the entire trade reached its highest point in 1907. It fell in 1908 to a point lower than it has reached since 1904, but the average tonnage for the past five years is much
average for the preceding quinquennium. Taking only the numbers and tonnage of vessels in Foreign Trade entered and cleared, the statistics since 1899 are as follows:-
Year.
above the
1900
No.-of Vessels, 46,365
1901
46.201
1902
48.706
1903
46,255
1904
51,173
1905*
51.578
19061
44,550
1907
47,660
Tonnage. 17,274,023 17,825.309 19,514,237 21.716.870 22.299,532 22.653,616 22.453.077 23.032.891 22,305.131
1908
- 45,403
Trade included for first time.
* Steamships not exceeding 60 tons in Foreign
Decrease due to Typhoon of 18th September, 1906.
Highly satisfactory as these returns undoubtedly are, yet we must guard against the assumption that a growing volume of shipping necessarily implies in a port like Hongkong a corresponding growth in the volume of trade. This being a free port, there are no trade statistics, but it is com- mon knowledge that a great deal of cargo which was formerly transhipped at Hong- kong into coasting vessels is now carried by ocean-going steamers direct to or from the consuming districts. The vessels may still call at Hongkong, but they do not tranship here the same amount of cargo that they formerly did.
Coming now to the test of bank notes in circulation, we extract from the Government Gazette the returns for the month of Nov- ember during the past ten years:-
During the past few years another "wave of depression" has been encountered, and it can hardly be said that it has "passed over" the Colony yet. Some months ago we repro- duced from the annual report of the China Association a pessimistic memorandum by Mr. A. S. D. CoUSLAND, the local Secretary' on "The Arrested Prosperity of Hongkong.', in which the causes of this arrest were explained and the conclusion was reached that Hongkong is gradually losing its old position as a distributing centre. Such pessimistic forebodings are undoubtedly widely shared in the Colony. We do not altogether endorse them. We are disinclined to believe that the prosperity of the Colony has been permanently arrested, and that our trade will decline as steadily as it has grown. Hard times are by no means 2 new thing to Hongkong. They have undoubtedly been bad within the last few years, but one can hardly say that the Colony has practically stood still. There are three useful tests that may be applied in order to ascertain whether the Colony, in a general way, is progressing or otherwise, namely, the These returns indicating the financial population returns, the shipping returns, and business passing in the Colony give little the returns of bank notes in circulation. I support to the idea that the prosperity of
1900
Bank Note average amount.
9,883,893
1901'
11 118,048
1902
12,896,820
1903
15,606,901
1904
16,425.808
905
17.456.558
1906
16,317,358
1907
17,417,769
1908
19,626.518
1909
15,869.499
Specie in
reserve.
6,650,000
6,750,000 6,950.000 9,150,000 *9,450.000 11,340,000 11,345.000
12.750,000
13,700.000
17,400,000
[
arrest
DEATH OF THE KING OF BELGIUM.
(Daily Press, December 18th.) The King of the Belgians is dead. The news of his death was not unexpected. His age rendered it practically hopeless that the operation necessary on account of his old intestinal complaint would be successful, and the hopes which were at one time en- tertained gradually fell as it was learned that he was sinking rapidly. LEOPOLD II., King of the Belgians, was one of the most striking figures in Europe. Though not the oldest | reigning monarch-he was five years younger than the venerable Emperor of Austro- Hungary-he has sat upon the throne for forty-four years, and while he may not have. been appreciated out of his own country his subjects entertained a lively affection for their ruler, who, it must be admitted, did not allow himself to be fettered by princely traditions, and showed to the world that he was а man of keen business acumen and sound commercial sense, and in this connection the reports will be recalled of his personal interest_in railway enterprise in China. LEOPOLD II., who succeeded to the throne in 1835, had passed the allotted span of human life. His years numbered more than three score and ten, as he was born at Brussels on April 9th, 1835. In 1853 he married the ARCH-DUCHESS MARIE of AUSTRIA, by whom he had three children-two daughters and one son, the DUKE of BRABANT, who died in 1869 at the age of ten. Shortly after he ascended the throne he made a lengthened tour of Europe, Egypt and Asia Minor, and the great interest which he took in further- ing the commercial interests of his country was exemplified when as Duke of Brabant he participated in important discussions in the Senate, more particularly relating to the establishment of a maritime service between Antwerp and the Levant. But it is especial- ly in connection with the Congo that the dead King has attracted considerable notice, and the confidence that Europe had in him was testified by the fact that that State was