vi
PREFACE.
January, 1846; and that, unless these modifications were now made, we should be for a long period precluded from their obtainment; very large and unnecessary expenditure would be incurred; commercial and religious expectations be disap- pointed; and the seeds of discontent and strife having been sown, another war would almost inevitably ensue, which, although of Chinese origin, would seriously involve European, Russian, and American interests, create internecine hostilities, and com- promise the peace of the world.
In the hope that the reports and despatches herewith trans- mitted would produce a correction of a mistaken and unneces- sarily restrictive policy, which time and circumstances were daily rendering more palpable, the undersigned resolved--- although suffering from climactic disease, to await in China the result of these statements; but on his return to Hong Kong from the northern ports, in June last, he ascertained that Governor Davis was recommending to Her Majesty's Govern- ment a further expenditure on civil works alone of half a mil- lion dollars from the British exchequer, on a barren and utterly useless island; that, in addition to the very large and unre- quired military expenditure incurred, extensive fortifications were projected and their construction commenced*, by which
According to the ordnance estimates, ordered to be printed, February 16, 1846, it would appear that Her Majesty's Ministers are still unacquainted with the real nature of Hong Kong, or they would not sanction the continuance of enormous expenditure on an utterly useless barren rock.
Ordnance establishments Barrack ditto
For 1845-46. For 1846-47.
£1,900
£6,604 2,522
1,861
Clerk of Works, &c.
Labourers' wages
949
1,654
New works and barracks
931 1,843 113,000
£124,239
What the past ordnance expenditure has been it is difficult, if not impossible, to say; but it is very desirable that the vote for the above
PREFACE.
461
vii
several million dollars would be wasted on a rock which pro- duces nothing-protects nothing-commands nothing, not even the entrance of the Canton river; and on a place which, after five years' occupation and an immense outlay of money, is totally devoid of an import or export trade of any kind whatso- ever*, and is not the slightest advantage to the tea trade; which, notwithstanding various inducements, has not a single respect- able Chinese inhabitant, 66
or even shopkeepers with any pre- tension to property;" which has "no natural productions, or consumers of exports, beyond the mere wants of the colonists themselves,—and is even entirely dependent on the inhabitants of the Chinese empire for its daily supply of food*;" the half of whose harbour only belongs to England, while all the islands therein and around belong to China; which is completely commanded from the closely-adjacent coast and islands, and is itself incapable, from physical defects, of being regularly fortified, if such a measure were requisite ;—in fine, an island which the British merchants, whose residence in China and practical knowledge render them best qualified to form a correct judgment, have declared to Lord Stanley never actually required for the purposes of commerce, and has become even less so, since the opening of the five ports*."
was
Independent of this grievous misdirection of national resources and energies, the undersigned deemed that no further time was to be lost in an endeavour to obtain, by immediate diplomatic negotiation, the cession of the invaluable island of Chusan, or at least to prevent its occupancy by any other foreign power; to enlarge our intercourse, and to amend our
sum of £124,239, for only one branch of service, be suspended until an impartial inquiry be made. The officer commanding the troops at Hong Kong, and the officer in charge of the engineers, who are now causing and recommending this expenditure, both formerly declared that Hong Kong was valueless to England; and the respected heads of the ordnance, artillery and commissariat, have in vain protested against this waste of the public money.
* British Merchants' Memorial to Lord Stanley, dated Hong Kong, 13th August, 1845.