258
120
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
4ã. And now, sir, in concluding this report, I hope I am not going beyond my duty in making some remarks on the political position of Hong Kong, and the erroneous notions concerning it, that I observe sedulously presented to the public at home.
46. In an article in the "Times" newspaper (17th December 1858) are to be found misrepresentations which, the most ordinary local knowledge is sufficient to correct,
47. We are told that "Hong Kong feels itself humiliated and displaced by the opening up of China," and that "all the success, whether of arms or of diplomacy, which is so valuable to the rest of the world, and so important to the great interests of humanity, is rather carped at than celebrated,” here... It is further stated that the cause is to be traced to the “natural tendency" of the Hong Kong merchants "towards their own interests.
48. Now this proposition is entirely incorrect, and I presume it to be founded, if it have any foundation, on the worthless remarks of the colonial newspapers, to which little regard, save for party purposes, is ever given by any one.
49. But the allegation of the cause is based on a thorough misconception of the character and position of the Hong Kong merchants. The writer evidently assumes that the merchants here resident have no connection with the ports of China or beyond the colony, whereas this may be said to a certain extent only of the storekeeping and small trading interests.
50. It is a fact that of all the leading firms in China there is hardly one that for the last few years has not found it necessary to have at least its agency in this place, and at the present moment a large majority of the principal houses have established here their head quarters, and from this port all their commercial operations with China and elsewhere are regulated and directed.
51. The head partners of the houses reside in Hong Kong, and their subordinates carry on the business at Shanghai and the other ports under instructions from this centre; in like manner the banks have their chief manager here, and their sub-branches elsewhere on the coast.
52. Surely if in a distant part of his estate a landed proprietor shall discover a valuable mine, the worth of his mansion house is not diminished but increased thereby; and as he must have some position from which to manage the affairs of his whole property, he will hardly think it expedient to abandon his house, ready made to his hand, and fix his abode in a locality, which for purposes of general management is, to say the least, not a whit more convenient.
53. If a new colony were founded by us in these seas (and of this there is no rumour, and, I may add, for it no necessity), it might in time be a greater place than an “insalubrious rock" like Hong Kong; but it is absurd to say that a British colony with British institutions situated on the seaboard of China is not of more assistance to "the policy of civilization" and the highest interests of commerce than any single port in the China waters, the mercantile transactions with which, however extensive they may be, the chief foreign merchants have decided to conduct from the old established rendezvous and starting point of postal communication.
54. As to the assertion that "Hong Kong has grown into whatever importance it may at present possess from its proximity to the single privileged port of Canton," the truth lies precisely in the contrary direction, and any China merchant knows that the less trade thrives in Canton, the more will it prosper here. Canton's difficulty was Hong Kong's opportunity, and on the burning of the factories in November 1856, and the consequent withdrawal of the foreign merchants from that port, a trade sprung up in this harbour, which has continued ever since, but was altogether unknown, so long as Canton flourished.
55. I am afraid that the only true blot hit by the writer to whom I am referring lies in our half-a-dozen newspapers," for it is not to be denied that the senseless and shameless scurrility of the Hong Kong press is a reproach to the colony, and a discredit to the community who encourage it by their support, though they may be free from the imputation of directly inciting it by their approval.
56. I do not imagine that the political importance of Hong Kong in another aspect has escaped the notice of Her Majesty's Government; but, while on the subject, I may say a few words on the following point:-The Russians have now firmly established their colonial settlements at the mouth of the Amoor River and elsewhere in Tartary. In due time a naval depôt, and doubtless on a large scale, will be found there. This will exercise its influence all along the coast of China.
57. How shall such influence be counteracted? It has been answered that the new colony of British Columbia has been fostered with this view; but though the prestige of that settlement may be felt on the Eastern waters of the North Pacific, it will be unknown on the Asiatic side; and even could it be recognized there, it must be borne in mind that British Columbia is 5,000 miles from the nearest station of the great China trade, while Hong Kong, with its long organized naval yard; and its convenient dock, is within easy distance of most of the Chinese ports, and not more than 1,000 miles from the port furthest north, and nearest the Amoor, which is again equally distant from the same port, and further than Hong Kong from the others.
58. I hold it then for certain, that we must have and retain a colony on the China coast; we have one and there is no occasion for another; many considerations point to the inexpediency of another; let us then make the most of what we have, and not become chargeable with the folly of crying down the utility or under-rating the importance of Hong Kong on the groundless supposition that the colony will be displaced by the opening up of China," or the still more fanciful idea that it will be found "inimical to the policy of civilization."
59. I have only to add that the remarks I have just offered to your Excellency's notice are made in entire ignorance of the intentions of the Secretary of State for the colonies with regard to Hong Kong and its future government, which will probably be known to us in the course of the ensuing month.
have, &c. (Signed) W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary.
His Excellency Sir John Bowring,
&c.
&c.
&c.
258
120
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
4ã. And now, sir, in concluding this report, I hope I am not going beyond my duty in making some remarks on the political position of Hong Kong, and the erroneous notions concerning it, that I observe sedulously presented to the public at hoine.
46. In an article in the "Times" newspaper (17th December 1858) are to be found misrepresenta- tions which, the most ordinary local knowledge is sufficient to correct,
47. We are told that "Hong Kong feels itself humiliated and displaced by the opening up of China," and that "all the success, whether of arms or of diplomacy, which is so valuable to the rest of the "world, and so important to the great interests of humanity, is rather carped at than celebrated,” here... It is further stated that the cause is to be traced to the “natural tendency" of the long Kông merchants "towards their own interests.
"1
48. Now this proposition is entirely incorrect, and I presume it to be ferided, if it have any founda- tion, on the worthless remarks of the colonial newspapers, to which-little regard, save for party purposes, is ever given by any one.
49. But the allegation of the cause is based on a thorough misconception of the character and position of the Hong Kong merchants. The writer evidently assumes that the merchants here resident have no comection with the ports of China or beyond the colony, whereas this may be said to a certain extent only of the storekeeping and small trading interests.
50. It is a fact that of all the leading firms in China there is hardly one that for the last few years has not found it necessary to have at least its agency in this place, and at the present moment a large majority of the principal houses have established here their head quarters, and from this port all their commercial operations with China and elsewhere are regulated and directed.
61. The head partners of the houses reside in Hong Kong, and their subordinates carry on the business at Shanghai and the other ports under instructions from this centre; hi like manner the banks have their chief manager here, and their sub-branches elsewhere on the const.
52. Surely if ra distant part of his estate a landed proprietor shall discover a valuable mine, the worth of his mansion house is not diminished but increased thereby; and as he must have some position from which to manage the affairs of his whole property, he will hardly tlak it expedient to abandon his house, ready made to his hand, and fix is abode in a locality, which for purposes of general management is, to say the least, not a whit more convenient.
53." "If a new colony were founded by us in these seas (and of this there is no rumour, aud, I may add, for it no necessity), it might in time be a greater place than an “insalubrious rock" like Hong Kong; but it is absurd to say that a British colony with British institutions situated on the seaboard of China is not of more assistance to "the policy of civilization" and the higliest interests of commerce than any single port in the China waters, the mercantile transactions with which, however extensive they may be, the chief foreign merchants have decided to conduct from the old established rendezvous and starting point of postal communication.
54. As to the assertion that "Hong Kong has grown into whatever importance it may at present possess from its proximity to the single privileged port of Canton," the truth lies precisely in the contrary direction, and any China merchant knows that the less trade thrives in Canton, the more will it prosper here. Canton's difficulty was Hong Kong's opportunity, and on the burning of the factories in November 1856, and the consequent withdrawal of the foreign merchants from that port, a trade sprung up in this harbour, which has continued ever since, but was altogether unknown, so long as Cauton flourished.
55. I am afraid that the only true blot hit by the writer to whom I am referring lies in our half-a- dozen newspapers," for it is not to be denied that the senseless and shameless scurrility of the Hong Kong press is a reproach to the colony, and a discredit to the community who encourage it by their support, though they may be free from the imputation of directly inciting it by their approval.
66. I do not imagine that the political importance of Hong Kong in another aspect has escaped the notice of Her Majesty's Government; but, while on the subject, I may say a few words on the following
1 point:-The Russians have now firmly established their colonial settlements at the mouth of the Amoor Itiver and elsewhere in Tartary. In due time a naval depôt, and doubtless on a large scale, will be found there. This will exercise its influence all along the coast of China.
57. How shall such influence be counteracted? It has been answered that the new colony of British Columbia has been fostered with this view; but though the prestige of that settlement inay be felt on the Eastern waters of the North Pacific, it will be unknown on the Asiatic side; and even could it be recognized there, it must be borne in mind that British Columbia is 5,000 miles from the nearest station of the great China trade, while Hong Kong, with its long organized naval yard; and its convenient dock, is within casy distance of most of the Chinese ports, and not more than 1,000 miles from the port furthest north, and nearest the Amoor, which is again equally distant from the same port, and further than Hong Kong from the others.
58. I hold it then for certain, that we must have and retain a colony on the China coast; we have one and there is no occasion for another; many considerations point to the inexpediency of another; let us then make the most of what we have, and not become chargeable with the folly of crying down the utility or under-rating the importance of Hongkong on the groundless supposition that the colony will be displaced by the opening up of China," or the still more fanciful idea that it will be found "inimical to the policy of civilization."
59. I have only to add that the remarks I have just offered to your Excellency's notice are made in entire ignorance of the intentions of the Secretary of State for the colonies with regard to Hong Kong and its future government, which will probably be known to us in the course of the ensuing month.
· have, &c. (Signed) W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary.
His Excellency Sir John Bowring,
&c.
&c.
&c.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.