CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902 — Page 296

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Owing to the absence of rain the yield of staple products-sugar cane, oranges, indigo, &c.—was unsatisfactory.

Since the 11th November, the Native Customs have been collected by the Imperial ese Customs. This change gives much satisfaction.

he li-kin tax on sugar, the staple produet, is farmed out to a Company for 500,000

aels per annum.

Li-kin on all goods has been raised and it is now almost impossible to abolish it, as has to contribute a large proportion towards the annual interest on the debt.

The house tax has come into operation : 5 per cent. on houses above 20 dollars in value, to be paid by owners of the property.

In exchange for brevet ranks and honours contributions are obtained towards the ndemnity.

292

Précis of Amoy Intelligence Report for Quarter ended December 1901.

(a.) International Settlement.-

-The Island of Kalangsu is now an International Settlement. As far as local conditions will allow the Regulations and bye-laws are modelled on those of Shanghae.

(b.) Japanese Activity.-The Japanese Consul (Mr. Ugeno) returned from Japan in the middle of November, and at once proceeded to Foochow, where he remained until the end of the quarter. It is said that he has been endeavouring to induce the Viceroy to accept a Japanese loan of 3,000,000 dollars to pay off the French debt, with a view to the Japanese taking over the Foochow arsenal.

Large sums of money have been passing through the bank from Hong Kong to Amoy and Amoy to Foochow, but it is almost certain that the French will never consent to give

the arsenal, especially if the Japanese are to step into their shoes.

The Chinese authorities, too. have a deep-rooted distrust of the Japanese, and are not

fikely to put themselves in their power, however pressed for money they may be.

The

The Japanese Consul has been trying to obtain for a Japanese subject the camphor monopoly in the Province of Fukien. In July last this monopoly was granted to a Chinese for fifteen years: the purchase money, it is said, being 40,000 taels. Japanese are probably anxious to secure this monopoly, as any development of the trade in Pikien would seriously injure the value of their monopoly in Formosa. The Japanese Consul is said to have made an offer of 60,000 taels for the Fukien monopoly. The Amoy Taotai is very anti-Japanese, and has written to the Viceroy advising him not to grant either of the Japanese requests.

(a) French Activity.-Monkey Island in Amoy Harbour has been purchased by a French Syndicate in Foochow. The owner of the island was an American, Mr. S. J. dwards. The transfer was effected by M. Claudel, French Consul at Foochow. It is aid that the deed of transfer is in three names, but the general opinion held is that the cal purchasers are the French Government.

The French Post-office.-This office is to be opened on the 1st February. M. Bernard, he Superintendent of the French cable, who has recently been appointed Consular Agent, as leased premises for the new post-office in the Chinese suburb at the back or east of

British Concession.

French Cable.The offices have been installed in a large house near the Great Northern Telegraph Office, purchased for 18,000 dollars. The cable broke down in November last and repairs cannot be executed until the Great Northern Company can pare the services of their telegraph ship.

Note.---The cable was landed on the 3rd April, 1901. It is said to go to Chapel dland, some 20 miles distant, and thence to Saigon, thus admitting of communication with urope, viâ Siberia, without the message passing through a British Colony.

Commercial Developments.-A British Syndicate "well backed in Hong Kong" has ken over from a Chinese Syndicate the mining rights in the district of Ankhou, said be rich in iron, and also to contain coal, plumbago, &c. The mines are 60 miles from

coast.

*

(?) Touraine.