HongKong
Jr. 109- 27th July, 1881
Governor
C.
Sir John Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G.
to
The Right Honorable
The Earl of Kimberly
Transmitting
newspaper extracts showing that the native and foreign interests are alike benefited by the Commercial changes taking place in
THE
Hongkong Telegraph.
Hongkong, 21st July, 1881.
We are glad to find that the crusade we have initiated against the unjust and scurrilous system of journalism, which has for some time past made the local press of Hongkong a jeer and byword in the Coast ports of China and Japan, has met with universal approbation in almost every town and city in the Far East. For the good wishes we have received from all sides, we are truly grateful to our friends, supporters, and well-wishers. As we have commenced so shall we go on, independent, fearless, honest, and impartial, alike indifferent to the smiles or frowns of great or small, so long as our actions merit and receive public approval.
It will be remembered that in our issue of June 21st we called the attention of our readers to a series of articles which appeared in our morning contemporary the Daily Press on the Census Returns. The articles in question were supposed to be an analysis of, and critical commentary on these important Returns, written with the two-fold purpose of abusing and vilifying the Governor, and trying to prove that His Excellency had failed to show that an increase of population meant an increased prosperity in the Colony. We then stated that our contemporary's special statistical leader-writer had filled the columns of the Press for three separate days with a farrago of unintelligible rubbish, and we are now exceedingly glad to be in a position to place before our constituents extracts from two high-class, and thoroughly independent journals, which are honest, impartial, and practical criticisms on the identical Census Returns, which caused our local contemporaries so much tribulation.
The Hiogo News of the 4th instant, after complimenting the Governor for his clear, succinct, and very interesting description of the development of the colony, goes carefully through the statistical portion of the speech, and concludes a very able article as follows:
"Taking these figures as authentic, as they most undeniably are, it is impossible to question that Hongkong is fulfilling the intention with which the island was originally occupied by the British Government, namely: solely and exclusively with a view to commercial interests. This favourable result arises in great measure—according to Sir John Hennessy—from the encouragement given wealthy Chinese merchants to settle in the Colony and purchase land there.
Altogether, His Excellency's review of the Hongkong census discloses a remarkable increase of prosperity in that distant dependency of Great Britain. We feel confident that some of the most bitterly opposed measures of the Governor have contributed largely to that development, and also that when the mists rising from present passions and prejudices cease to obscure their mental vision, those who are now the most uncompromising denouncers of Sir John Hennessy's rule will unhesitatingly acknowledge the many and valuable services he has rendered to the 'Island of Fragrant Streams,'
The Japan Weekly Mail of the 18th ultimo devotes a long leader to the same subject, which is well worthy of reproduction; however, our space will only permit us to reprint the following paragraphs:
"The remarks made by Sir John Pope Hennessy when laying the census returns of Hongkong before the Legislative Council on the 3rd instant, are full of interest even for the foreign community in Japan. His Excellency points out that the returns furnish data for answering three questions, viz: (1) How far the Colony of Hongkong has really fulfilled the objects for which it was established; (2) Whether it is true that there are no trades and manufactures in the Colony, and (3) Whether the large transactions in land that have recently taken place, are speculative or bona fide results of healthy commercial progress.
The first question involves a further query: With what object was the Colony established?" This Sir John answers on the authority of Mr. Gladstone's utterances made thirty-five years ago, and on that of events which have since then justified those utterances. Hongkong is a purely commercial colony, and the "substantial prosperity...
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490
One Enclosure.
HongKong
Jr. 109- 27th July, 1881
Governor
C.
Sir John Pope Stinnelly, K.c. ib.
to
The Right Stonorable.
The Earl of Kimberly
somme
Transmitting
newspaper extracts showing that the native and foreign interests are alike benefitted by the Commercial changes taking
trong trong place in
THE
Hongkong Telegraph.
Hosokoso, 21st July, 1881.
We are glad to find that the crus- ade wo have initiated against the unjust and scurrilous system of journalism, which has for some time past made the local press of Hong- kong a jeer and byeword in the Coast ports of China and Japan, has met with universal approbation in almost every town and city in the Far East. For the good wishes we have receiv ed from all sides, we are truly grate- ful to our friends, supporters, and well wishers. As we have commenced so shall we go on, independent, fear- less, honest, and impartial, alike in- different to the smiles or frowns of great or small, so long as our actions merit and receive public approval. It will be remembered that in our issue of June 21st we called the at- tention of our readers to a series of articles which appeared in our morn- ing contemporary the Daily Press on the Census Returns. The articles in question were supposed to be an analysis of, and critical commentary on these important Returns, written with the two-fold purpose of abus- ing and vilifying the Governor, and trying to prove that His Excellency had failed to show that an increase of population meant an increased prosperity in the Colony. We then stated that
our contemporary's special statistical leader-writer had filled the columns of the Press for three separate days with a farrago of unintelligible rubbish, and we are now exceedingly glad to be in a po- sition to place before our constituents extracts from two high class, and
thoroughly independent journals, which are honest, impartial, and practical criticisms on the identical Census Returns, which caused our local contemporaries so much tribula-
tion.
The Hiogo News of the 4th instant, after complimenting the Governor for his clear, succinct, and very inter- esting description of the develop- ment of the colony, goes carefully through the statistical portion of the
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6 SEP 31
490
speech, and concludes a very able
"Taking these figures as authentic, as they most undeniably are, it is im- possible to question that Hongkong is fulfilling the intention with which the island was originally occupied by the British Government, namely:solely and exclusively with a view to com- morcial interests. This favourable ro- sult arises in great measure-according to Sir John Henueasy-from the en- couragement given wealthy Chinese merchants to settle in the Colony and purchase land there.
article as follows:---
Altogether, His Excellency's review of the Hougkong census disclosos a remarkable increase of prosperity in that distant dependency of Great Brit Rin. We feel confident that some of the most bitterly opposed measures of the Governor have contributed largely to that development, and also that when the mists rising from present passions and prejudices cease to ob- scure their mental vision, those who are now the most uncompromising de nouacors of Sir John Hennessy's rule will unhesitatingly acknowledge the many and valuable services he has rendered to the "Island of Fragrant Streams,"
The Japan Weekly Mail of the 18th ultimo devotes a long leader to the same subject, which is well worthy of reproduction, however our space will only permit us to reprint the following paragraphs: ----
"The remarks made by Sir John Pope Hennessy when laying the census returns of Hongkong before the Legis- lative Council on the 3rd instant, are full of interest even for the foreign community in Japan. His Excellency points out that the returns furnish data for answering three questions, viz:-(1) How far the Colony of Hongkong has really fulfilled the ob- jects for which it was established; (2) Whether it is true that there are no trades and manufactures in the Colony, and (3) Whether the large transac- tions in land that have recently takon place, are speculative or bona fide results of healthy commercial progress.
The first question involves a further query: With what object was the Colony established?" This Sir John answers on the authority of Mr. Glad- stone's utterances made thirty-five years ago, and on that of events which have since then justified those utter- auces. Ilongkong is a purely commer- cial colony, and the "substantial pros-
One Enclosure.
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