dearer than Canton subsidiary coins, and naturally the Company
profers the dearer coin. By such preference it does not increase
its fares. Ita fares are limited by law, for the protection of
the public, in Hongkong money. In accepting Canton coins in the
past the Company has incurred a great loss and in the interests
of its shareholders it now wishes to avoid that loss.
You may
say that the difference in value between the Canton coins and
the Hongkong coins is not great. It is not inconsiderable, and
it is likely to be much greater in the courseof a few years for
the Hongkong Government is gradually taking steps to bring its
subsidiary coin back to par.
187A
There is therefore nothing extraordinary about the
Action of the Company. It is no insult to China to refuse Canton
coins and is not meant as such. It is a purely business trans-
action,authorised by the law, and in adopting it the Company iạ only following the example of the Chinese in Centon where Chinese
10 cent pieces are hardly current. The Cantonese prefer the
Hongkong 10 cent pieces for the same reason that the Tramway Company prefer them, namely because they are heavier and dearer.
So it comes to this that in boycotting the Tramway for
preferring Hongkong coins the Chinese are actually boycotting the Company for doing what they themselves do in Canton.
anything be more ridiculous or more unreasonable.
Could
As I have already said there is nothing insulting to
China in the action of the Tramway. The Goverment of the Canton Province does not so consider it for they have made no represen- tations in the matter. They are too well informed in inter-
If there was national matters to have any doubts in the mattor. anything insulting I should not permit it. The Government of this Colony has ever maintained the most friendly relations with the Goverment of China and with the Authorities at Canton and it is its earnest desire still to maintain those relations.
Ve Englishmen desire nothing more than to see China prosperous and powerful and able to take her part in the