CO129-268 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [7-11] — Page 647

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MY LORD,

(Enclosure A.) Rec

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

HONGKONG, 31st July, 1893.

At the last meeting of the Members of this Chamber the often mooted question of the desirability of opening the upper waters of the Chu Kiang or Canton River to foreign trade and steam navigation came under disenssion.

The Committee have reason to believe that owing to the friendly relations which happily exist between the respective Governments, and between the Hongkong Government and the Viceroy of the neighbouring Province there might now be found less reluctance than heretofore to consider such a proposal, and I am therefore directed by the Chamber to address your Lordship in the hope that you may see fit to instruct the British Minister at Peking to bring the matter as soon as he can conveniently do so to the notice of the Tsung-li Yamên.

Foreign trade at the existing treaty ports in Southern China has now reached its utmost limit and cannot possibly be extended until new fields are opened up by improved means of communication with the interior. At present owing to the cost of transport which in many districts is limited to porterage by coolies, in the absence of water carriage, trade in foreign goods is necessarily confined to small dimensions, nor can it penetrate to any distance from the coast or river ports.

The numerous lekin and other taxing stations in the inland districts act still further as restrictions, and it is evident that if foreign trade is to be developed and corresponding advantages are to be gained by the Chinese some steps should be taken to facilitate and extend commercial intercourse in these districts and beyond.

The foreign trade of South China is really confined to a very few ports, consisting of Foochow, Amoy, Swatow, Macao, Canton, and Pakhoi, and from these the interior marts of the provinces of Fokien and Kwangtung are scarcely reached. The great inland provinces of Kwang-si, Yunnan, and Kueichow are from a commercial point of view not touched at all.

Canton, which should be the gateway of trade to South Western China, is so only in a very restricted degree, owing to the barriers to inland transit generally, and the existing traffic is still further threatened by a diversion to the new route opened up through Tonkin to Yunnan. The French Government in order to encourage the use of this route have reduced the tariff on goods in transitu to a nominal rate, and the trade will for this reason be, probably, directed thither to the detriment of British interests.

Having regard to the foregoing circumstances, and in view of the value of extended trade to Great Britain and to the colony of Hongkong, this Chamber prays your Lordship to press upon the Chinese Government the necessity of opening up the Si Kiang or West River to steamers of all nations, and the cities of Wu-chow, Tsun-chow, and Nan-ning-fu to foreign trade.

Wu-chow is a walled city on the West River at its junction with the Fu Ho, a stream navigable by junks of light draft. It is situated in Kwang-si (some 12 miles distant from the eastern boundary) and is about 200 miles distant from Canton. Up to this point the river when surveyed by Lieut. BULLOCK, R.N., in 1859 was found to present no obstacles to navigation. The depth of water varies according to the season, but as much as two fathoms may be expected throughout the year, and the navigation by steamers of light draft would probably be unattended by difficulty or danger. The city although not large, having a population estimated at only 30,000, is an important centre of trade, and is reported to be the largest distributor of goods from Canton and Fatshan. It is also a place for the transhipment of produce coming down two rivers,

Wu-chow being at the point where the Fu Ho debouches into the West River is the natural port for the supply of Kwei-lin, the capital of Kwang-si, which is situated about 150 miles up the Fu Ho. Hitherto Kwei-lin has been sparsely supplied with piece goods, &c., under transit pass from Hankow, although its distance is more than three times greater than that from Canton. For all practical purposes both Kwang-si and Kweichow are shut out from participation in foreign trade, and Yunnan is only reached at great cost from Tonkin and from the Yangtsze ports, whence goods are sent under transit pass; but the total volume of trade is exceedingly limited owing to distance and cost of transport.