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You ask for my opinion
on the two expression of subject.
The questions seem to call for a reply.
1. Is the passenger traffic from Chefoo to Wladiwostock of such a nature as to call for regulation and supervision?
and 2. Even if the traffic requires such, is the distance between the two Ports so great as to free it from short-voyage restriction?
In order to answer these two questions, I have the honour to submit the following statement for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong.
Chefoo is a port from which large numbers of natives emigrate every year. This year the number of emigrants is larger than ever, owing to the failure of harvests last autumn and to the demand for coolies to construct the Trans-Siberian Railway.
The steamers carrying native passengers to Port Arthur and Newchwang were dangerously overcrowded. Newchwang is not more than 24 hours' journey away, and as Port Arthur, 70 miles off, is not a Treaty Port, only Chinese steamers run thither.
I called the attention of the Chinese Authorities to the overcrowding on the route between Chefoo and the ports of communication with Port Arthur, Tientsin, and Newchwang. As the route to Wladiwostock opens, large numbers of emigrants travel this route, occasioning danger due to overcrowding.
My remonstrances were met with a good deal of Oriental apathy.