undertook to scotch piracy on the coast of China, and accomplished the work so thoroughly that this pest to commerce was practically extinguished, only recurring since at long intervals and under exceptional circumstances.
My Committee will be glad therefore if the East India and China Section of your Chamber can see its way to take up this important question and press it upon the attention of the Imperial Government. This Chamber is already indebted to your Chamber for the vigorous and effective manner in which it espoused the cause of this Colony in connection with the representation sent home on the question of the extension of its boundaries and the inclusion therein of Kowloon city, and the Committee now hope you will be equally successful in convincing the Government of the deplorable state of affairs now existing in these two provinces and of the urgent necessity for prompt and decisive action to prevent the disorganisation and possible suspension of trade on the southern waterways of China-I am, Sir, Yours faithfully,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX, Secretary.
To Kouric B. Murray, Esq., Secretary,
London Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 14th August, 1899,
Sir-
It is with regret that the Committee of this Chamber have to bring to your attention facts that are not only reducing the concession lately obtained of the opening to foreign trade of the inland waterways of South China to a valueless point, but are also seriously hampering and restricting business generally,
Allude to the piracy on the West River and the condition of disorder and lawlessness which prevails in wide districts of both the two Kwang provinces. Bands of brigands, well armed with modern weapons, and possessing strongholds among the hills, make descents upon the villages and towns in the silk producing and other prosperous districts and either plunder the inhabitants or extort regular contributions from merchants and producers. Traders carrying produce to port of shipment and those returning with the bullion received therefor are robbed, and, if they offer resistance are shot or otherwise disposed of. Vessels of all descriptions on the river, from native junks to foreign steam-launches, are attacked and looted, and in several cases murder has preceded robbery. Only so lately as the 20th ult. a launch flying the flag of Portugal was boarded by a pirate craft, the master shot, the crew overpowered, and the vessel robbed.
It is perhaps hardly to be wondered that under such circumstances, the wealthier inhabitants of those districts should be sending their money for investment elsewhere, or that the silk merchants at Canton should have given notice that there is some possibility that they may not be able to fulfil contracts for delivery of silk, the producers being afraid either to attempt its transport to Canton or to make the return journey with treasure of which they are so likely to be despoiled en route. Native merchants are, as a result, loth to enter into contracts for export, and business threatens to come to a comparative standstill. The foreign steamboat companies, which have been pluckily engaged in an uphill pioneer work on the West River, also find their earnings seriously curtailed by the operations of the pirates and banditti.
The British Consul at Canton has no doubt informed you of the condition of affairs in the Two Kwang, and not improbably he has made you acquainted with the very unsatisfactory nature of the steps taken by the Viceroy to cope with predatory gangs who set the local authorities at defiance. The Committee trust you may make such representations to the Tsungli Yamen as will lead to a determined effort on the part of the Provincial Government to put down the banditti and pirates, whose lawless actions, if continued, will render legitimate commerce all but impossible,
It is to be feared, however, that under the administration of the present Viceroy no really sustained effort is likely to be made to restore the sovereignty of the law in these provinces, and the Committee are of opinion that the most practical as well as the surest means of restoring confidence and safety along the southern waterways will be for Her Majesty's Government to employ a flotilla of boats of the Sandpiper class to patrol the West River, with armed shallow draft steam-launches to watch the cranks. The appearance of such craft in the waterways would be hailed with satisfaction by the native traders and merchants and need not excite official hostility, as they could act in conjunction with the vessels employed for the Canton Government, but which, unfortunately, are ludicrously inadequate for the work and not infrequently go off duty to act as tugs for native craft. The number of gunboats and guardboats on the river has, if I am rightly informed, been reduced. The above suggestion has been already mooted, in telegrams despatched to London, and the Committee trust it will receive your approval and support.-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. M. GRAY, Chairman.
To H. O. Bax Ironside, Esq., H. B. M.'s Chargé d'Affaires, Peking.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong 5th August, 1899.
Sir,
I am directed to transmit to you, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, copy of a letter addressed by this Chamber to Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking on the subject of the disorders prevailing in the Kwang province (culminating on the 12th inst. in an engagement with the Imperial troops at Cot-Kaw on the West River which ended in the complete defeat of the troops by the rebels) and the consequent derangement of trade on the inland waterways. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant.
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 10th August, 1899.
Sir,-
I beg to hand you herewith a copy of the letter addressed by this Chamber to Mr. Bax Ironside, Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, on the subject of the internal disorders and lawlessness prevailing in the Kwang provinces and their effect upon trade generally and silk business in particular. -I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
R. M. GRAY, Chairman.
To H. B. M.'s Consul, Canton.
Page 23
$
undertook to scotch piracy on the coast of China, and accomplished the work so thorongh. ly that this post to commerce was practically extinguished, only recurring since at long in- tervals and under exceptional circumstances.
My Committee will be glad therefore if the East India and China Section of your Chamber can see its way to take up this important ques- tion and press it upon the attention of the perial Government. This Chamber is already indebted to your Chamber for the vigorous and effective manner in which it espoused the cause of this Colony in connection with the representation sent home on the question of the extension of of its boundaries and the inclusion therein of Kowloon city, and the Committee now hope you will be equally successful in convincing the Government of the deplorable state of affairs now existing in these two provinces and of the urgent necessity for prompt and decisive action to prevent the disorganisation and possible sas- pension of trade on the southern waterways of China-I am, Sir, Yours faithfully,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX, Secretary.
To Kouric B. Murray, Esq., Secretary,
London Chamber of Cominerce.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 14th August, 1899, Sir-It is with regret that the Committee of this Chamber have to bring to your attention facts that are not only reducing the concession lately obtained of the opening to foreign trade of the inland waterways of South China to a valueless point, but are also seriously hamper- ing and restricting business generally,
Tallude to the piracy on the West River and the condition of disorder and lawlessness which prevails in wide districts of both the two Kwang provinces. Bands of brigands, woll armed with modern weapons, and possessing strongholds among the hills, make descents upon the villages and towns in the silk produc- ing and other prosperous districts and either plunder the inhabitants or extort regular con. bributions from merchants and producers. Traders carrying produce to port of shipment and those returning with the bullion received therefor are robbed, and, if they offer resistance are shot or otherwise disposed of. Vessels of all descriptions on the river, from native junks to foreiga steam-launches, are attacked and looted, and in several cases murder has preceded robbery. Only so lately as the 20th ult. a launch Hying the flag of Portugal was boarded by a pirate craft, the master shot, The crew overpowered, and the vessel robbed.
It is perhaps hardly to be wondered that un- der such circumstances, the wealthier inhabi- tants of those districts should be sending their money for investment elsewhere, or that the silk merebauts at Canton should have given notice that there is some possibility that they may not be able to fulfil contracts for delivery of silk, the producers being afraid either to attempt its transport to Canton or to make the return journey with treasure of which they are so likely to be despoiled on route. Native mer- chauts are,
as a result, loth to enter into contracts for export, and business threatens to come to a comparative standstill. The foreign steamboat companies, which have been plaskily engaged in an uphill pioneer work on the West River, also find their earningsseriously curtailed by the operations of the pirates and banditti.
The British Consul at Canton has no doubt informed you of the condition of affairs in the Two Kwang, and not improbably he has made you acquainted with the very unsatisfactory nature of the steps taken by the Viceroy to cope with predatory gangs who set the local authorities at deliance. The Committee trust yon may make such representations to the Tsungli Yumen as will lead to a determined effort on the part of the Provincial Government to put down the banditti sud pirates, whose lawless actions, if continued, will render legíti- mate commerce all but impossible,
It
It is to be feared, however, that under the : administration of the present Viceroy no really sustained effort is likely to be made to restore the sovereignty of the law in these provinces, and the Committee are of opinion that the most practical as well as the surest means of restor- ing confidence and safety along the southern waterways will be for Her Majesty's Govern- ment to employ a fotilla of boats of the Sandpiper class to patrol the West River, with armed shallow draft steam-launches to watch the cranks. The appearance of such craft in the waterways would be hailed with satisfaction by the native traders and mer- chants and need not excite oficial bostility, as they could act in conjunction with the ves sols employed for the Cauton Government, but which, unfortunately, are ludicrously inadequate for the work aud unt infrequently go off duty to act as tugs for native craft. The number of gunboats and guardboats on the river has, if I am rightly informed, baen reduced. The above suggestion has been already mooted, in telegrams despatched to London, and the Committee frust it will receive your approval and support.-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. M. GRAY, Chairman.
To II. O. Bax Ironside, Esq., H. B. M.'s Charge
d'Affairs, Peking.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerco,
Hongkong 5th August, 1899.
Sir, I aw directed to transmit to you, for the juformation of His Excellency the Govenor, copy of a letter addressed by this Chamber to Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking on the subject of the disorders prevail. ing in the Kwang province (culminating on the 12th inst, in an engagement with the Imperial troops at Cot-Kaw on the West River which ended in the complete defeat of the troops by the rebels) and the consequent derangement of trade ou the inland waterways. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant.
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
Hon. J. II. Stewart Lookhart, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 10th August, 1899. Sir.-1 bag to hand you herewith a copy of the letter addressed by this Chamber to Mr. Bax Ironside, Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, on the subject of the in- terual disorders and lawlessness prevailing in the Kwang provinces and their effect upon trade generally and silk business in particular. - have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
R. M. GRAY, Chairman.
To H. B. M.'s Consul, Canton.
23
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