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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Tannery 19, 1898. that the Justices of the Peace will do their that the supplanting of the native language duty in the matter and, having commenced of the Chinese people by the English the campaign against the sale of injurious language cannot be effected by the waving liquor, will carry it through to a succesful of a fairy wind, even in this sent tabour nor yet by many years of patient labour on the part of our various educational agencies.
issue.
ENGLISH TEACHING FOR HONG- KONG CHINESE,
27%
THE FUTURE OF KOREA,
(13th January.)
firusation of the reported agreement between We are still without any definite con- Great Britain, Russia, and Japan with reference to China and Korea, but the opinion appears to be generally entertained SIR THOMAS SUTHERLAND AND
that the trouble is over. If it be correct That hardy annual, thesubject of teaching the Chinese to speak English, was again in
THE SHIPPING CONFERENCE,
that the British Government is going to lend money to China direct it may he evidence at the distribution of prizes at Sir THOMAS SUTHERLAND'S speeches at the assumed that British influence will make Queen's College on Friday last, when Sir JOHN P. & O. Company's meetings are always in itself felt in the administration of the Em- CARMINGTON was the orator of the occasion, teresting, and the one he made at the last pire, though without the assumption of Far be it from us to depreciate the import- meeting, held on the 10th December, is any formal protectorate or absolute control. ance of teaching English to the Chinese, especially so, as Sir THOMAS dealt with the The problem in that direction would be hat when publie men undertake to discuss important and vexed question of the Ship comparatively Easy of solution when once the question in public i would be an ping Conference. There is also a reference interpation jealousies had been cleared advantage if they took the trouble to make to Hongkong, to the disposal of the Com-aw The Chinese Government, though themselves acquainted with the conditions pany's property in this colony, and to powerless to repel attack from without, of the problem. The Chief Justice says the revolution which has passed over the postesses sufficient strength to preserve that when he came to the colony, about business of steamship companies since the order in the various provinces, and with twenty months ago, he was very much opening of the Suez Canal. The Shipping the gublance of foreign advice would struck with the general ignorance of the Conference, however, was the main subject be able to consolidate its authority, English language which prevails among the dealt with, and it must be admitted to provide a decent administration, and Chinese population of Hongkong. Having that the speaker made a remarkably able in course of time to establish an efficient given a number of instances of this ignor and effective defence of the general priu-army and navy. The granting of financial auce, His Honour said, "Now this is a ciple involved, viz., that of combination assistance by Great Britain implies that "strange state of things, and we look to amongst steamship owners, though he did China is to be allowed to avail herself of "Queen's College to remedy this state of not dispose of all the complaints of shippers, such advice. But what about Korea, with "things."
But there is in reality nothing It was shown that regular lines could not its wretched government and chronic re- at all strange about it. We have in Hong be maintained without some greement bellions? Bad as is the administration in kong but a very small indigenous popu amongst themselves as to rates. To that the China it is vastly superior to that of tion, the great bulk of the inhabitants being shipper can hardly object, for though his own Korea, And it is difficult to see persous born in China who have never had terest is in favour of low charges, he must how order is to be maintained in the the opportunity of learning English even if recognise the shipowners' right to a profit latter country, or foreign interests to be they had the inclination. Of the 201,528 and be prepared to pay for the greater re- protected, without some measure of direct of Chinese laud population enumerated at gularity of communication which the estab-foreign control. And who is to excercise the census taken last year only 9,033 re- lished les afford over framp steamers, that control? If Russia and Japan would turned themselves as having been born in But what is objected to the preferential consent to withdraw in favour of Eng- Hongkong, and a still smaller number, treatment sonorities extended to the land the solution would no doubt be namely, 1,523, acknowledged the colony as foreign hippef in competition with the eminently satisfactory from our own point their native place. Taking an outside shipper fra Bitish ports, and it is on that of view, but it can hardly be expected estimate, therefore, hardly more than ve point that Sir TMAS SUTHERLAND'Sspeech that the other Powers will look at it in the per cent. of the population can have come will be subjecte the closest scrutiny. sane light. Possibly the settienient may under the influence of our local educa. Dealing with the freight on iron and iron take the form of a tripartite control, Eng- tional agencies. Small wonder, then, that materials, which form the chief export from land, Russia, and Japan being equally re- the bulk of the papulation are unable to speak Antwerp, bed that some time ago there presented. That may turn out to be the English. If Queen's College were required was great struggle between certain Ger- only possible solution of the difficulty, but to remedy this state of things it would have man lines which brought the freight down it is one that can hardly fail to lead to to establish branch schools in all the towns to 108. a ton or even lower. When the further difficulties in the future. The joint and villages of the province of Kwaugtung, & O. Company found that this cut-throat control of Egypt by France and England from which the population is chiefly drawn. competition was not to be an affair of days broke down, and a joint control in Koren But even if the alien character of the popu- or weeks, but that it was pretty sure to would almost inevitably prove equally un- lation were less pronounced than it is we continue until one of the German lines stable. So far we have had no indication of still fail to see that there would be wallowed up the other, they lowered the what Lord SALISBURY's policy in the matter cause for surprise in the fact that the freight at Middlesbrough from 15s, to 10s., majority can speak only their own language. or whatever the rate was from Antwerp, When a person goes to one of Her Majesty's and he believed their example was followed foreign dominions populated by native in Liverpool and the rate similarly reduced race he cannot reasonably expect to find there. If that course was always followed English the common language of the people, there would be no cause of complaint. But In India and the Straits Settlements the is it? The inquiry instituted by M European population find it convenient to CHAMBERLAIN with reference to the trade learn the native language order to be of British colonies and foreign competition able to communicate with their servants and brought to light several instances in which
At the meeting of the Sanitary Board on tradesmen, and were the Chinese language foreign trade received the benefit of pre- Thursday there was considered an applica less difficult no doubt the same course would forential freights. The Hongkong Com- tion for the renewal of a lease of Crown land be adopted in Hongkong; but as Chinese is mittee drew attention to the fact that the in Lan Kwai Fong Lane. The application not a language that can be picked up,” rates of freight on piece goods charged at had been referred to the Sanitary Board and as few can affo the time and large that time by the Conference steamers from because the property affected obstructs the expenditure effort requisite for its New York to Hongkong and Shanghai entrance to the lane, access to which is gained systematic ftudy, we have to get on as best averaged from 25s. to 30s. per ton as cam- by an archway under the house. The Medical we can with the aid of" pidgin " English or
pared with 57s. 6d. from Loudon and Officer of Falth opposed the granting of the aid of interpreters.
The wonder is, Liverpool. At Cape Colony also it was the application, and was supported by Mr. having regard to the character of the stated that freight was the main factor EDE, whereas the Director of Public Works population, that English will carry a person in letting in the United States, 22. proposed that the lease be extended as an through a well as it does. Every English 6d. per ton being charged for furniture annual lense so long as the lane continues man of course hopes for the time when from New York and 31s. 3. to 33 in its present pulition and the houses are English will be the universal language, d. from London. Even if differences such not raised in her The Hon. F. H. the duty of a colony situated as as these exist only for a time they must MAY, who presided,conded the Hon. Hongkong is, on the borders of an empire nevertheless exercise a considerable in R. D. OCMSBY'S ameuiment, but, the
population numbering over three fluence while they laat and give the for- Board being equally divided, dred million, to do its best to ciguer an opportunity of securing a touting clined to give a casting vote, and the bring about that desired consumruation; but in markets that were previously supplied question, so far as the nitary Board is concerned, is thus left open. The Governs At the same time it is as well to recognise from Great Britain.
with a
really is, but it appears clear that some very definite line has been laid down, and much curiosity must be felt as to its character. The circumstances of Korea are radically different from those of China and call for different treatment.
THE SANITARY BOARD AND OBSTRUCTIONS IN LANES.
he de
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