[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,]
CHINA TRADE.
[March 28.14714
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
SECTION I
Rcd. 26 APR 04'
192
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Received March 28.)
(No. 45.) My Lord,
Peking, February 9, 1904.
I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a Report made by Mr. C. W. Campbell, Acting British Consul-General at Canton, on Kongmoon, which have hitherto been a "port of call" for the West River trade, was raised to the status of a Treaty port by Article X of the new Commercial Treaty of September 1902.
Your Lordship will observe that Mr. Campbell states that in all probability Kongmoon cannot be opened as a Treaty port before the summer, probably grounding himself on an opinion expressed by the Commissioner of Customs at Canton, but I am informed by Sir Robert Hart that he is proposing the 7th March as the date from which it shall receive Treaty-port treatment.
As your Lordship will observe, Mr. Campbell concurs in the proposal of the Commissioner of Customs that the foreign Settlement shall be placed on the West River itself, which is about 2 miles from the town of Kongmoon, and his reasons appear to me conclusive, notwithstanding the objections urged by Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, a copy of whose letter on the subject to Mr. Campbell is inclosed herewith.
I shall endeavour to insure the "port area" of Kongmoon, including the town itself, as recommended by Mr. Campbell, so as to prevent dispute arising as to the incidence of li-kin.
Mr. Campbell adds that the question of the appointment of a Consular officer can very well be left until we have some experience of the port when opened, but suggests that provision, say £500, should be made for the possible expenses of the port during the financial year 1904-1905. I am of opinion, however, that it may be convenient to have an officer of the rank of Consul stationed there at the outset, and proposed to send Mr. Werner from Kiungchow to officiate at least for a few months.
(No. 8.)
I have, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Campbell to Sir E. Satow.
Canton, January 26, 1904.
I HAVE just returned from a flying visit to Kongmoon, and am thus in a position to report more fully in reply to your despatch No. 30 of the 18th December. I regret that I am unable to furnish an accurate sketch-plan of the port. The Commander of the revenue cruiser "Fei Hu" is still surveying (as reported in my despatch No. 1 of the 2nd January), and his Report and survey will not be completed before the end of February. In all probability, Kongmoon cannot be opened as a Treaty port before the summer.
Kongmoon, the port of Sanui, is a busy town of 30,000. It lies on both sides of a creek which connects the West River with the Yai Men, one of the sea openings to the Canton delta. The creek is navigable, but narrow (50 to 120 yards wide), and the available waterway is much encumbered with junks and timber rafts for the 2 miles of its passage through the town. I satisfied myself by a personal inspection that navigation of this creek by any but specially built steamers of small size would be difficult, and that without serious interference with the existing rights of raft and junk owners no suitable berths could be arranged in the creek for foreign river shipping.
In consequence, it is I believe the intention of the Commissioner of Customs to recommend that the foreign Settlement should be placed on the West River itself, which is some 2 miles from Kongmoon town. I inclose a letter from Messrs. Butterfield and Swire of Hong Kong, from which it appears that such an arrangement would be unsatisfactory to them.
The views of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire on this or any other subject connected with the West River trade are entitled to careful hearing, but, so far as my information
[1878 ee-1]
7
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,}
CHINA TRADE.
[March 28.14714
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
SECTION T
Rrd. 26 APR 04'
192
:
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Recorved March 28.)
(No. 45.) My Lord,
Peking, February 9, 1904. I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a Report made by Mr. C. W. Campbell, Acting British Consul-General at Canton, on Kongmoon, which have hitherto been a "port of call" for the West River trade, was raised to the status of a Treaty port by Article X of the new Commercial Treaty of September 1902.
Your Lordship will observe that Mr. Campbell states that in all probability Kongmoon cannot be opened as a Treaty port before the summer, probably grounding himself on an opinion expressed by the Commissioner of Customs at Canton, but I am informed by Sir Robert Hart that he is proposing the 7th March as the date from which it shall receive Treaty-port treatment.
As your Lordship will observe, Mr. Campbell concurs in the proposal of the Commissioner of Customs that the foreign Settlement shall be placed on the West River itself, which is about 2 miles from the town of Kongmoon, and his reasons appear to me conclusive, notwithstanding the objections urged by Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, a copy of whose letter on the subject to Mr. Campbell is inclosed herewith.
i shall endeavour to insure the "port area" of Kongmoon, including the town itself, as recommended by Mr. Campbell, so us to prevent dispute arising as to the incidence of li-kin.
Mr. Campbell adds that the question of the appointment of a Consular officer can very web be left until we have some experience of the port when opened, but suggests that provision, say 5007, should be made for the possible expenses of the port during the financial year 1904-1905. I am of opinion, however, that it may be convenient to have an officer of the rank of Consul stationed there at the outset, aud proposed to send Mr. Werner from Kiungchow to officiate at least for a few months.
(No. 8.) sie,
I have, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Campbell to Sir E. Sutow.
Canton, January 26, 1904. I HAVE just returned from a flying visit to Kongmoon, and am thus in a position to report more fully in reply to your despatch No. 30 of the 18th December. I regret that I am unable to furnish an accurate sketch-plan of the port. The Commander of the revenue cruiser Fei Hu" is still surveying (as reported in my despatch No. 1 of the 2nd January), and his Report and survey will not be completed before the end of February. In all probability, Kongmoon cannot be opened as a Treaty port before the
summer.
Kongmoon, the port of Sanui, is a busy town of 30,000. It lies on both sides of a creek which connects the West River with the Yai Men, one of the sea openings to the Canton delta. The creek is uavigable, but narrow (50 to 120 yards wide), and the available waterway is much encumbered with junks and timber rafts for the 2 miles of its passage through the town. I satisfied myself by a personal inspection that navigation of this creek by any but specially built steamers of small size would be difficult, and that without serious interference with the existing rights of raft and junk owners no suitable berths could be arranged in the creek for foreign river shipping.
In consequence, it is I believe the intention of the Commissioner of Customs to recommend that the foreign Settlement should be placed on the West River itself, which is some 2 miles from Kongmoon town. I inclose a letter from Messrs. Butterfield and Swire of Hong Kong, from which it appears that such an arrangement would be unsatis- factory to them.
The views of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire on this or any other subject connected with the West River trade are entitled to careful hearing, but, so far as my information
[1878 ee-1]
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