October 8, 1898.
EXTENSION OF THE COLONY.
DUPLICITY OF THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
INCITEMENT OF NATIVES TO RESIST EXTENSION SCHEME.
SUBSCRIPTION RAISED FOR PURCHASE OF ARMS IN CANTON.
BY A CORRESPONDENT.
The Chinese Authorities, proceeding with their old, time-honoured tactics, are secretly inciting the natives to resist the foreigner after they find open opposition by themselves useless, caring little how much punishment the ignorant tools of their machinations may suffer so long as they can breed bad blood between the foreigner and those of their subjects who are to come under his rule and thus render the task of government troublesome.
After the cession of the strip of territory on the opposite mainland to the colony of Hong-kong, the Provincial Authorities, acting apparently on instructions received from Peking, issued orders to the Sun-on Magistrate—the territory ceded having formed part of the district of Sun-on—to turn over his land register, temporarily, to Mr. Stewart Lockhart, the British Commissioner, to enable him to copy it and thus have a register of the real owners of the land in the new territory, i.e., those who paid the land tax to the Government; this being necessary to prevent disputes and fraud as to the titleship to the land.
The Provincial Authorities, further, while openly issuing the instructions necessary to the Sun-on Magistrate, the principal official in the district affected, have given secret orders, probably instigated from Peking, to put all obstacles possible in the way of the transfer of government, which, of course, included information required by the British Authorities.
The Sun-on Magistrate, Chinese-like, was nothing loth to act on this initiative—knowing full well that if complaint were made of him to his own Government, whilst openly disavowing his action, would reward him in proportion to his success in carrying out his secret instructions—accordingly evaded all requests on the part of Mr. Lockhart for the handing over of the land-register to enable him to copy out the necessary particulars, finally point-blank refusing to hand it over, or allow it to be copied. Mr. Lockhart then personally called on this contumacious official and after administering to him a severe rating finally procured the books wanted, which he retained possession of for three days, copying out necessary details. Mr. Lockhart and party having finished their survey and departed from the district, word went forth that the foreigners were going to dispossess the natives of their land and that it would be necessary to raise money for the purchase, in Canton, of arms, to resist the encroachment of the foreigner when it took place.
In accordance with this programme a subscription has been raised amongst the population of the district, who fear the loss of their title to the land, and over $100,000 had been raised some weeks ago, when the writer first became aware of the action of the Chinese Authorities, the subscription now, probably, exceeding that by a considerable amount. All the rowdy characters in the surrounding district have been encouraged to take part in the disturbance when it comes off, on the taking over of the territory.
It is to be hoped that by that time the more reputable members of the native community in the district will have acquired sense enough to take no part in the resistance to the British occupation; if not they will undoubtedly have to stand the consequence of their folly.
It seems only too probable, and a fact which some more sensible of the local Chinese recognize, that having collected a large sum from their dupes those handling the funds will pocket the cash and allege that it has been seized by the British Authorities; at any rate they will not want for a plausible tale and one which will, if possible, breed trouble between the natives and their new masters.
It may be remembered by some of the readers of the Daily Press that after ceding Formosa to Japan, as a result of the China-Japanese War, the Chinese Government continued to send men and military stores to the island to assist in the resistance to the Japanese occupation of their new territory.
October 8, 1898.
Had the Japanese been so disposed they might have made China pay for her treachery in the matter. The bill would have been a heavy one, for it cost the Japanese considerably, in men and money, before the island came fully under their sway, and much of her present trouble with the natives is due to the action of the Chinese Authorities on the mainland. Japan, however, though fully aware of China's duplicity has made no claim; doubtless this, and the failure of the French to demand satisfaction for similar action as to Tonkin has encouraged China in pursuing a like policy in her other cessions of territory; a policy which only, in the long run, recoils on herself, for these rowdies, armed by her, when driven out go to swell the rebel bands now ravaging her southern provinces.
The British authorities would be doing the Chinese Government a kindness if they were to visit them with severe penalties for their duplicity in connection with the territory to be ceded for the extension of the colony of Hong-kong, the penalties taking the form of extending British influence locally.
As it is not the desire of the British Government to obtain a further cession of territory, though this might well be done, the penalty inflicted should be an imperative demand for the acceptance of a British Resident (with duties similar to the British Resident in a Native State in India) in all the coast and delta districts which carry on a large trade with this colony; thus impressing on the people of these districts and on the Chinese Government the lesson that the British Government is not to be trifled with.
The districts to which Residents should be appointed are Sun-on, Tung-koon, Heng-shan, Sna-ning, Sun-voi, Hoping, Nam-boi, and Fau-yk.
By this action we would, besides bringing the Chinese Government to book, intimate plainly to France that her pretensions to the reversion of the Province of Kwangtung on the break-up of the Chinese Empire will not be tolerated by Great Britain.
The Consular Service, the Colonial Civil Service of the Far East, or the Chinese Maritime Customs could supply suitable men for Residents; if coming from the latter service they would have to renounce their adherence to it on taking up their new duties.
The time is ripe for such action, for Russia has no stomach for fighting, at present, and France is not prepared to put her claims to the test of warlike action. Both would, of course, vigorously protest.
The British Government have the ball at their feet and have only to be firm and the game is theirs. The British electorate will not forget or forgive them if they fail now to recover their lost prestige in China and conserve the interests of the important colony of Hongkong and the vast and growing trade interests in South China as well as that in the North.
A large number of the compradore class, especially in the north, hail from Sam-tsun, the centre of this intrigue. It is well to remember it is this class which supports the system of farming the taxes and the accompanying abuses to which foreign trade is subjected.
Strange to say, although the preparations for resistance have been common talk amongst the local Chinese for weeks past no word has come out amongst foreigners, and most Chinese will, on being interrogated, profess ignorance of it, though when pressed, with the assurance that the fact is known, some will own up to it.
Mention has been omitted, in the body of this article, that inhabitants of the area ceded to the colony of Hongkong who are favourably disposed to the change have been intimidated and fear now to speak their minds.
D
Ai
द्द
777
[October 8, 1898.
EXTENSION OF THE COLONY.
DUPLICITY OF THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
INCITEMENT OF NATIVES TO RESIST EXTENSION SCHEME.
SUBSCRIPTION RAISED FOR PURCHASE OF AHMS IN CANTON.
BY A CORRESPONDENT.} The Chinese Authorities, proceeding with their old, time-honoured tactics, aro secretly inciting the natives to resist the foreigner after they find open opposition by themselves useless, caring little how much punishment the ignor- ant tools of their machinations may suffer 80 long as they can breed bad blond between the foreigner and those of their subjects who are to come under his rule and thus render the task of government troublesome.
After the cession of the strip of territory on the opposite mainland, to the colony of Hong- kong, the Provincial Authorities, acting apparently on instructions received from Pok- ing, issued orders to the Sun-on Magistrate- the territory ceded having formed part of the district of Suu-on--to turn over his land register, temporarily, to Mr. Stewart Lock- kart, the British Commissiouor, to enable him to copy it and thus have a register of the real owners of the land in the new territory, i.e., those who paid the land tax to the Government; this being necessary to prevent dispates and frand as to the titleship to the land.
The Provincial Authorities, further, while openly issuing the instructions necessary, to the Sun-on Magistrate, the principal official io the district affected, have given secret orders, probably instigated from Peking, to put all obstacles possible in the way of the transfer of government, which, of course, included infor-
nation required by the British Authorities.
The Sun-on Magistrate, Chinese like, was nothing loth to act on this initiative-know- ing full well that if complaint were made of him bis own Government, whilst openly dis- avowing his action, would reward him in pro- portion to his success in carrying out his secret instenotions-accordingly evaded all requests ou the part of Mr. Lockhart for the handing over of the land-register to enable him to copy out the necessary particulars, Bually point- blank refusing to hand it over, or allow it to be copied. Mr. Lockhart then personally called on this contumacious official and after adminis- tering to him a severe rating finally procured the books wanted, which be retained possession of for three days, copying out necessary details. Mr. Lockhart and party having finished their survey and departed from the district word went forth that the foreigners were going to dis- possess the natives of their land and that it would be necessary to raise money for the pur- chase, in Canton, of arms, to resist the incroach- inent of the forsiguer when it took place. In accordance with this programme a subscription has been raised amongst the population of the district, who fear the loss of their title to the land, and over $100,000 had been raised some weeks ago, when the writer first became aware of the action of the Chinese Authorities, the subscription now, probably, exceeding that by a considerable amonut. All the rowdy charac ters in the surrounding district have been eu- couraged to take Land in the disturbance when it comes off, on the taking over of the territory,
It
to be hoped that by that time the more
reputable members of the native community in the district will have acquired sense enough to take no part in the resistance to the British occupation; if not they will undoubtedly have to stand the consequence of their folly.
It seems only too probable, and a fact which come more sensible of the local Chinese re- cognize, that having collected a large sam from their dupes those handling the funds will pocket the cash and allege that it has been seized by the British Authorities; at any rate they will not want for a plausible tale and one which will, if possible, bread trouble between the natives and their new masters.
It may be remembered by some of the readers of the Daily Press that after ceding Formosa to Japan, as a result of the China Japanese War, the Chinese Government contiuned to send men and military stores to the island to
October S, 1898.
assist in the resistance to the Japanese occupa- } tion of their new territory. Had the Japanese been so disposel they might have made China pay for her treachery in the matter. The bill! would have been heavy one, for it cost the Japanese considerablo, in men and money, before the island came fully under their sway, and much of her present trouble with the natives is due to the action of the Chi- nese Authorities on the mainland. Japan, however, though fully aware of China's dupli- city has made no claim; doubtless this, and the failure of the French to demand satisfaction for similar action as to Tonkin has encouraged China in parsuing a like policy in her other ces- sions of territory; a policy which only, in the long run, recoils on herself, for these rowdies, armed by her, when driven out go to swell the rebel bands now ravaging her southern pro- vinces. The British authorities would be doing the Chinese Governmont a kindness if they wore to visit them with severe penalties for their duplicity in connection with the territory to be coded for the extension of the colony of Hong- kong, the penalties taking the form of extend- ing British influence locally.
As it is not the desire of the British Gorern- ment to obtain a further cession of territory, though this might well be done, the penalty in- flicted should be an imperative demand for the acceptance of a British Resident (with duties similar to the British Resident in a Native State in India) in all the coast and delta districts which carry on a large trade with this colony; thus impressing ou the people of these districts and on the Chinese Government! the lesson that the British Government is not to be trifled with. The districts to which Residents should be appointed are Suu. on, Tuug-koon, Heng-shan, Sna-ning, Sun-voi, Hoping, Nam-boi, and Fau-yk.
By this action we would, besides bringing the Chinese Government to book, intimate plainly to France that her pretentions to the raversion of the Province of Kwangtung on the break up of the Chinese Empire will not be tolerated by Great Britain.
The Consular Service, the Colonial Civil Service of the Far East, or the Chinese Maritime Customs could supply suitable men for Residents; if coming from the latter service they would have to renounce their ad horence to it on taking up their new duties.
The time is ripe for such action, for Russia has no stomach for fighting, at present, and France is not prepared to put her claims to the test of warlike action. Both would, of course, vigorously protest.
The British Government have the ball at their feet and have coly to be firm and the game is theirs. The British electorate will not forget or forgive them if they fail now to recover their lost prestige in China and conserve the interests of the import- ant colony of Hongkong and the vast and growing tradal interests in South China as well as that in the North.
A large number of the compradore dass, es pecially in the north, hail from Sam-tsun, the centre of this intrigue. It is well to remember it is this class which supports the system of farming the taxes and the accompanying abuses to which foreign trade is subjected.
Strange to say, although the preparations for resistance have been common talk amongst the local Chinese for weeks past no word has come ont amongst foreigners, and most Chinese will, on being interrogated, profess ignorance of it, though when pressed, with the assurance that the fact is known, some will own np to it.
Mention bas been omitted, in the body of this article, that inhabitants of the area eeded to the colony of Hongkong who are favourably dis- posed to the change have been intimidated and fear now to speak their minds,
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