[ { "id": 223126, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6]", "page_number": 84, "title": "CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6]", "content_text": "I have the honor to be,\n\n\"With the highest respect,\n\nYour Lordships,\n\nMost Obedient,\n\nHumble Servant,\n\n#\n\nEnd\n\nSi Sind wir Baut\n\n25 Seferil. Find Bestellin\n\nnow be fully confirmed & that this refusal should depend on whether the original and the amended\n\nof No. 4 of 1844, may\n\nHalep 23\n\nbe Properly can...\n\nL\n\n700 Singking\n\n1846\n\nForwarded by JINuedoch 23\n\nStephen 28 - Luallyllelton | 25\n\nEste Gludstone 27\n\n41\n\nDS\n\n32\n\n29 April 1845\n\nThuet acknowledge Despatch\n\nthe with p...\n\nof the Elmeny bit.\n\nhe 15, submitting an Conscript for Ostmance of the Governor and Council of Hong Kong, entitled\n\n#\n\n\"Amend Bramanice\n\n\"The Gy 1844 intiha entitled\n\n\"'restrmining all persons \"letting the Colony\n\nKepkuch für\n\n\"in the Sumpire of Chine\n\n\"\n\nWith Muthward of the\n\n3223", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 255438, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-090 - Public Offices & Others - 1862", "page_number": 150, "title": "CO129-090 - Public Offices & Others - 1862", "content_text": "## Memorial Regarding Juan Pastor\n\nThat there is a Peruvian Consul at Macao, which is within four hours, and also at Canton, which is within six hours of Hong Kong by steam vessels, which run daily; but there is no Peruvian Consul at Hong Kong, it being the custom of the Peruvian Government to appoint Consuls General for China and not for particular ports. That the Peruvian Consul at Macao requested that Juan Pastor and a Mexican non-descript during his lifetime might be bound over to him as the nearest Peruvian Consul to Hong Kong; but the Governor of Hong Kong declined to recognize him officially.\n\nThat your Memorialist has been put to much inconvenience to deposit ten thousand dollars with the acting Chief Magistrate, and he confidently believes that if Juan Pastor were handed over to the Chinese Authorities, he would be executed, though not accused, and be liable to decapitation; and your Memorialist submits that he ought to be immediately released from his security of ten thousand dollars.\n\nThat in order to enable your Memorialist to communicate with Juan Pastor and direct him accordingly, it is necessary that instructions should be sent out to the Government of Hong Kong by the next mail (via Marseilles) on or about the twenty-fifth of February, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.\n\nYour Memorialist therefore humbly prays that instructions may be given to the Government of Hong Kong either to release your Memorialist unconditionally from the security of ten thousand dollars deposited to secure the surrender of Juan Pastor at Hong Kong on the twenty-fifth of April, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, or upon condition of Juan Pastor giving himself up to the nearest Peruvian Consul, or if the British Government should think it more proper, to the Peruvian Consul at Canton, from whom the Chinese Authorities might demand him if they were so advised; and that instructions should be given to the Government of Hong Kong to abide by the final decision of the British Government, and that such communications may from time to time be made to your Memorialist as may be necessary.\n\nPage 150\nPage 151", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-090 - Public Offices & Others - 1862.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 262756, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-106 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [8-9]", "page_number": 358, "title": "CO129-106 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [8-9]", "content_text": "## to \n1. \n\nMr. Mersen \n\nTonglory, 25 Sept 1805.\n\nThe Rt. Honble R. Cardwell.\n\nNr. 144.2m \n\nReceived \n\nForeign Office - \n\"Consular Branch\" for services rendered to the \nM. Attorney General Smale \n\nRelative to a sure pract \n\nthe \n\nHammond \n\n६ \n\nJohn 22 \n\nMu \n\nMongkong \n162.11129 \n(ame? 11625) \n355 \n25 Nov. 185 \n\nLam directed the \nLord Cardwell to transmit \n& for laid before Cant \nbe \n\nClarendon \n& \n\nJo \n\nthe rescript \n& you better of the 24 Sept \n1813 \na \n\ncopy of a despatch \n\nFrom the Office Admr the Govt of Hongkong stating that he has heard \nIn unofficial way \nthat \nthe decision, respecting \nto In Smale of \nBagment \nA sum of Money claimed \nlegally for servin Alleged to have been rendend to the \nConsalar servin in \nhas been rever \nRed \nChina, \nMr. Cardwell find o \n\n## INDEX", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-106 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 270258, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-123 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [7]", "page_number": 148, "title": "CO129-123 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [7]", "content_text": "I submit the matter to your Grace for Instructions.\n\nFurther\n\nI have the honor to be, My Lord Judge,\n\nYour Grace's most obedient\n\nhumble servant,\n\nand G. W. R. Macdonnell\n\nGovernor.\n\nMr. Holland,\n\nMr. Ellis\n\nThe letter of the 25 June (Fuelonid) from the Consulate to the Col'\n\nEmbodies the\n\nThe Chief Justice\n\nabove\n\na Judge\n\nthis despatch\n\nFor Ellis\n\nSent this\n\nto them\n\nJudge\n\nCorrespondence on Small (7904.00)\n\nTrade\n\nof 23 August (7904).\n\ndistressed\n\nof Would it be well to answer the letter of 14 August, states that the parties have been entreated to the Board of Trade for a repeal, & sending rescript of the Despatch & Macdonnell's Enclosures. They afford justification of Sir H. R. Macdonnell's practice of sending seamen to the coasting ports!\n\nW. T. H.\n\nClayton refers at large to 7.0,\n\n27\n\nCz\n\n5/9.\n\non from 7.0,\n\nWith women to better\n\nand then, for instance, in this despatch, & tell them that it will be reformed by the D. of Trade\n\nto Hersteller\n\n(re 7.0. letter) & the other papers", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-123 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 298209, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-174 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [4-8]", "page_number": 133, "title": "CO129-174 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [4-8]", "content_text": "to this Exceptional Legislation,\n\nThe Protest is\n\nReport.\n\nHouses\n\nrepresentative\n\nsigned other\n\nthree\n\nHongkong\n\n(Jardine Matheson & Co.)\n\nThe Business\n\nMarine Insurance\n\nappears to be\n\nwell founded.\n\nThe Governor\n\nSanction\n\nto\n\nLeg.\n\nThat H.M.,\n\nasked\n\nto the Order he conveyed\n\nbe Telegram\n\nInspect\n\nCourse\n\n28 June\n\nI have\n\nmore prudent\n\nto Telegraph\n\nA\n\nChina Traders Insurance\n\nCompany\n\nfollows:\n\nSent 5-407\n\nand, necessary\n\nDespatch.\n\n\"\n\n24\n\nD20\n\n267\n\nSuspend Proclamation\n\nof Ord. until receipt of\n\nI agree. There can be no\n\nobjection that\n\nthe course proposed is the right one. I think\n\nwe\n\nshould state in a despatch the objections\n\nto the course now taken.\n\nMeasure such as\n\nthe Church\n\nChief\n\nA General Justice appear to have caused the\n\nbe\n\nrejected, is the more proper course.\n\nTelegram from 28 June\n\nThe telegram has been sent.\n\n14.6.76\n\nA Despatch should now\n\nbe drafted stating\n\nGrounds\n\nJarvison\n\nthe\n\nwhich\n\nthank the\n\nLords\n\nenable.\n\nCo.\n\n132\n\nSanction\n\nadding that his Lordship\n\nwill be prepared\n\nfor H.M. Sanction\n\nMeasure\n\nto recommend\n\nany event\n\nthe same\n\nLoving\n\nBe\n\n97067\n\nobject & founded Imperial rescript\n\nalone\n\n20\n\n7 Aleuth Leaf 20", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-174 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [4-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 308777, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-193 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [5-7]", "page_number": 117, "title": "CO129-193 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [5-7]", "content_text": "114\n\n漢務參贊申陳\n\n號五十三百一第報憲\n\n十 俾衆週知\n\n百 及待貧人法抄印\n\n第 督憲將下開批語\n\n憲 漉事照得現奉\n\n署輔政使司史篇\n\n語批憲督法人貧待港香\n\n憲 免音成無賴之流茲仰先在濟 貧之項支銀五圓給此貧婦一\n\n督 善法可減如此貧人之艱苦而\n\n貧 批據此禀末歐參贊所增一語 甚協本部堂意仰將提舉有何\n\n待 批示如左 香港總督部堂燕 港 貧無靠等情禀懇賙濟 督憲 内因陳吳氏以已及兩幼子赤 卽本年第七百七十三號公文\n\n舉善法以減貧人\n\n初到申\n\n或外為所此凡所現\n\n在或亞國三遇等無稱\n\n澳馬美人即者人皮窮\n\n門\n\n孻利或無大\n\n在\n\n陳事竊職奉到 漢務參贊 爲申 現在所有光景 二日批飭職提 所遇者大約可分 無藉流民有逃自舟船者有出自醫院者若輩 督憲大人四月初 此等人現在香港 若送往別行以爲已任但本港每有舟子原是 凡無度活費者是 外邦人每恐始羞本國視將稍有瓜葛之第窘 所稱窮繹之人朗 國之鄉親卽速設法助使附航別往蓋旅港之 一本港窮窘之人 致於無家室之外國人有因窮窘而來香港者 有至香港而致窮窘者若輩本國之領事或同\n\n皆商流\n\n不船民別\n\n每\n\n親\n\n接期有行恐郋\n\n例逃以貽\n\n所自為\n\n理舟\n\n且\n\n彼\n\n船\n\n者\n\n速致\n\n院舟\n\n實稔\n\n號 一千八百八十年\n\n此謹將腐見申陳 也在澳門或香港 生長之西洋人二 無賴之流等語奉 度或馬孻等人一 實是嗜酒之輩彼終日閒游過酒家冀遇曩昔 之艱苦而免音成 或亞美利加或印 私彼實爲罔知懊改遊蕩之徒而巡理府識伊 外國人或毆羅巴 頭目皆不接納者按若輩混名水老鼠船政廳 之擔攫啖而不解囊晨往西人富厚之家俯首 同事之儔而作不速哺畷之客路遇挑販果\n\n千八百八十年四月初二日批\n\n懇請察閱\n\n也華人三也\n\n六月 初七日示\n\n而求衣食有所得輒將沽作買酒費人夏時若\n\nMendicant.\n\nThere ought to be\n\ncome provision for old people who\n\nhave lived so many years\n\nColony.\n\nin the\n\n(Signer) J. Pope Stennessy.\n\n29th January,\n\n1880\n\nNo.135.\n\nGOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.\n\nThe following Report is published for general information.\n\nBy Command,\n\nFREDERICK STEWART,\n\nColonial Secretary's Office,\n\nActing Colonial Secretary.\n\nHongkong, 7th June, 1880.\n\nTREATMENT OF PAUPERS IN HONGKONG.\n\nMINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.\n\n(In C.S.O. No.773 of 1880, Mrs. CH'AN née NG, petition for relief, having been left destitute with two children.)\n\nI agree with Dr. EITEL's note on this petition\n\nand would be glad if he would suggest some way\n\nof mitigating the evils of this form of destitution whilst avoiding the formation of a pauper\n\nclass.\n\nMeanwhile let him give this poor woman $5 from the Charitable Allowance Fund.\n\n(Signed), J. POPE HENNESSY.\n\n2nd April, 1880.\n\nREPORT BY DR. EITEL.\n\nIn pursuance of His Excellency the Governor's Minute of the 2nd instant, to the effect that I\n\nshould suggest some way of mitigating the evils\n\nof destitution, whilst avoiding the formation of a\n\npauper class, I have the honour to submit the following considerations :\n\n1.---The present condition of destitutes in Hongkong,\n\nThe classes of destitutes, i.e. of\n\npersons destitute of the actual necessaries of life, at present to be found in Hongkong, may roughly be divided into non-resident foreigners (i.e. Europeans, Americans, Indians and Malays), Macao or Hongkong born Portuguese, and Chinese.\n\nAs to non-resident foreigners arriving here in a state of destitution, or lapsing into it after arrival, their respective Consuls and countrymen speedily take some steps to get them shipped off elsewhere, as most foreign nationalities here consider it a duty of national self-respect to rid the Colony of their own paupers. Nevertheless there is always a small fluctuating residue of non-descript seamen, deserters, or men discharged from Hospital, who are beyond the pale of the Merchant Shipping Act, disowned by their respective Consuls and Shipping Masters, “beach-combers” well known to the Marine Magistrate as incorrigible loafers or to the Police Magistrate as drunken sots. They hang about the grog shops, levy blackmail on former shipmates and on native fruit hawkers, call at gentlemen's houses early in the morning begging for food and clothes which are forthwith converted into drink, and manage to get on well enough in summer when they can sleep out on", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-193 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 308779, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-193 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [5-7]", "page_number": 119, "title": "CO129-193 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [5-7]", "content_text": "alumps\n\n211\n\nreward. Section XXIII of Ordinance No. 8 of 1858, which by its title applies to Chinese only, reads mildly enough \"mendicancy in the public highways or streets is hereby forbidden,\" but Section XXVIII provides the following penalties for every offence against Section XXIII,\" a sum not exceeding five dollars; or the offender shall, at the discretion of the Court, receive not more than thirty-six blows nor less than five blows with a rattan, and be deported to his native country, or, with the consent of such offender, to any other place, if His Excellency the Governor shall so decide.” Ordinance No. 6 of 1866, Section XXI of which also applies to Chinese only, provides that every master of a junk bringing into the Colony any persons who shall, in the opinion of the Court before which the offence shall be tried, have come to the Colony for the purpose of mendicancy, or any person suffering from leprosy or any other contagious diseases, shall be liable to pay a fine not exceeding ten dollars and not less than one dollar for every such person so brought by him as aforesaid.\" Ordinance No. 8 of 1876, Section XV enacts, \"any person convicted before a Magistrate of mendicancy in this Colony shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five dollars, or, in default thereof, to imprisonment with or without hard labour, not exceeding twenty-one days, or, in the discretion of the Magistrate, shall be liable to be whipped thirty-six strokes and be sent to his native place.”\n\nThis is therefore all that the Law of Hongkong offers to destitutes, fine and imprisonment with or without hard labour, and, in the case of Chinese, also whipping and deportation to the destitute's native country, or, if the destitute be a native of Hongkong, to that delightfully vague region designated by the Ordinance as \"any other place.\"\n\nNone of these Ordinances defines its terms as relating to the destitute. Some are professedly class legislation, leave it to the Magistrate's discretion to decide what mendicity may be, with what intent a pauper may come to Hongkong, or what purpose a man with a canker in his face may have in walking through the streets, and finally leave it also to the Magistrate's discretion, which practically means his temper, to say when it may please him to fine and imprison or to whip and deport.\n\nThis condition of the law regarding Chinese destitutes, being exclusively repressive and deterrent, is certainly not humane. But it is not even rational, unless poverty and destitution are to be considered as a crime. For if destitution is considered as what it really is, viz. a misfortune, and if we remember that all the world over, whenever the poor are left to private charity, a certain amount of mendicity is inevitable, it will be apparent that it is neither humane nor reasonable for the Government to have no other remedy to offer for the misfortune of its Chinese subjects nor for the natural consequences of such misfortune but that of fine, imprisonment, whipping and deportation. Hongkong was once supposed to be likely to serve as a model Colony to exhibit before the view of the benighted so-called semi-civilized pagans of China the bright example of a Christian Government and a civilized community.\n\nAnd indeed when we compare the state of things in Hongkong with that of England we seem to have something to boast of by way of the blood-bought results of this unchristian mode of dealing with the poor and the destitute. Whilst according to the Statesman's Year-Book for 1880 (p. 243) the number of paupers, exclusive of vagrants and casual poor, in receipt of public relief in the several unions and parishes of England and Wales in 1879, amounting to 800,426, is such that there is at present one pauper to every thirty persons in England and Wales, we have in a population of over 140,000 Chinese in Hongkong not one pauper in receipt of Government or Colonial relief, and the actual number of paupers in the Colony may safely be estimated not to exceed a few hundred.\n\n3.—Dangers to be avoided in dealing with destitutes in Hongkong.\n\nAs regards foreign destitutes, who are aliens, it is obvious that with the aid afforded by the private charity of the various nationalities represented among the residents of Hongkong, under the guidance of their respective Consuls, Government interference would be entirely uncalled for. In the case of non-descript foreign destitutes, disowned by their respective Consuls, and in the case of British destitutes, anything done by the Government over and above what is now being done in furnishing such destitutes with board and lodging in the Gaol, would tend to make the situation of a \"beach comber\" destitute here more eligible than the lot of a hardworking seaman or stoker, and consequently put a premium on loafing and idleness. Portuguese destitutes also may well be left to the care of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul which, in case of special need, will know how to apply to Government for aid.\n\nAs regards Chinese destitutes it may fairly be conceded, that, barbaric as the provisions of such local Ordinances are as those of No. 8 of 1858 and No. 8 of 1876 which authorise whipping and deportation in simple cases of mendicancy, they were no doubt prompted by the danger which does lie near, on account of the proximity of the Chinese frontier, that indiscriminate and lavish aid afforded in Hongkong to destitutes, be it by the Government or by private charity, would practically act like a magnet attracting from all the nooks and corners of the Canton Province swarms of professional beggars and lepers to a Colony like this where money is more plentiful than anywhere in the province of Canton.\n\nPage 212\n\n...\n\n116", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-193 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 317902, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "page_number": 153, "title": "CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9]", "content_text": "# THE CHINA REVIEW\n\ntwenty volumes. There is a large edition, containing extensive historical notices, costing over one hundred taels, which is exposed for sale in the shops of Canton.\n\nThese works are exceedingly interesting and important, not only as affording a repository for preserving the traditions of an ancient civilization, but as being in fact the best and safest commentary upon the classics, manners, and customs of Ancient China, just as the study of the present customs in Bible lands best illustrates the meaning of the sacred writers. The laws and customs of any people are exceedingly difficult to change. This is doubtless more true of Oriental than of Western nations. As this comparison is suggested, it will be important to remember that the ancient history of China corresponds with that of Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, whose civilization has been inherited by the present nations of Europe and America. The languages, literature, laws, and customs have vital connection with those Empires and Kingdoms of Antiquity. As for China, the inheritance is much more direct, and the connection much more intimate.\n\nWith these introductory remarks, attention is now called to the work in the order in which it is found. The following is the translation of the Preface, which will in a measure explain itself. The style is concise and difficult, but the meaning and spirit of it are best represented by a literal translation.\n\n## Preface to the Collected Statutes of the Manchu Dynasty\n\n\"From the sacrifices to Heaven, and those in the Imperial Ancestral temples, and the affairs of the Imperial Court, to those of the thousand and hundred states—the people of the border provinces, and dependent countries—that which cannot be disregarded—that which is the pattern for both the founders and heirs to dynasty—that which is to be taught, put into practice, and which cannot be changed—is not all dependent upon the collected statutes?\n\n\"But what sages have enacted, or the intelligent have transmitted, the Government put into practice; that which is to be observed—it is impossible that in regard to this there should be no addition or abstraction. What is important is, that the motive for addition or subtraction should be to conserve—so that which is contained in the work should be fixed and unchangeable, and not anything made up by posterity.\n\n\"Upon every accession to the Throne, as the several sages appeared, the ceremonies and music were put in order. During the 23rd year of Kanghi (1662), styled the 'sage and benevolent Emperor,' commands were first given to establish the Collected Statutes. It is to be kept in mind that when the Empire was first established, it was the work of our three Imperial Ancestors. Tai Tsò 太祖 (T'in Ming 1616 天命), Tái Tsung 太宗 (T'in Ts'ung 1627 天聰), and Shun Tsu (Shun Chi 1644).\n\n\"They are the Imperial Ancestors from whom the Empire has been inherited.\n\n\"It was impossible that there should be no transmission, but there were all the time enactments.\n\n“During the 5th year of Yung Ching, Our Imperial Father, styled the 'Illustrious Emperor,' commands were given to the Privy Council to finish this work, to examine and reduce to order the sections.\n\n\"Since indeed for several generations there had been peace, and further Our Imperial grandfather (Kang-hi) enjoyed a long reign (60 years), his teaching was perfected by long practice. It was impossible not to hand it down, only there was no leisure for the transmission, and how much less may it be said for enactments?\n\n\"When it came to us reverently to receive the Imperial dignity, it was with care, and attentive diligence, and altogether with the intention to make the statutes conform to the statutes of Our Ancestors. Opening the book to put it into practice, we did not dare to swerve from it a foot or an inch.\n\n## CONSTITUTIONAL LAW OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE\n\n\"Now just as the great expedition to the West (the conquest of Ili) has successfully terminated, it is happily possible to fulfill the intention of Our Ancestors, and all the local officials, the official regulations, departments, and districts, military camps, soldiers' stations, attendance at Court, taxation, coinage, all the great affairs of government, including that under the direction of the six Boards, there is of all nothing that is not included. Moreover, Our Imperial Father earnestly sought the way of Government during thirteen years, and the great principles and minute matters established by him cannot fail to be transmitted and handed down to posterity.\n\n\"Orders were given to a Committee of officials to prepare drafts, one after another, in order that by night they might be examined and corrected by our own hand. Saying, in regard to the past, to write out in full all the original discussions and old usages, copying every page, would be to confound statutes with usage. But usage may be made to conform to circumstances, while statutes cannot be changed. In the present instance, if usage is appended to the statutes, hereafter usage would introduce confusion into the statutes. Should this be done? There should therefore be a distinction between the Statutes and usage, each a class by itself, mutually each supporting the other. Every one of all the officials answered, 'If the net hang upon the line, there will be nothing wanting.' (This great principle includes everything necessary; and in the proper order.)\n\n\"But we do not dare to act by ourselves alone, since the Statutes now arranged are the Statutes of Our Imperial Father, and earnestness in attending to this matter requires that we do not stop at mere transmission without any enactments at all. Because of the determination that it is impossible not to transmit, it is necessary still more to manifest the intention of not daring to be careless in the matter. He who examines the Statutes ought to understand clearly and know the sources from which the government is derived and not to follow anything doubtful. That which, from time to time, is revised by every Court (each Emperor in succession) is something derived from Antiquity.\n\n\"If the rule of the Government is the 'heart rule' (rule of equity), the intent and the expression (lit. within and without) will be correspondingly complete, when fully understood, it will be approved by heaven and men. When enlarged to its full extent, it will embrace the present and the past, as it has been said in the Jade Tablets. When the Kwan Tsui (the first of the Odes) is made the foundation, then the rules of Excellent Government (i.e., of the Chau Ritual) may be practised; from this again may be discovered the origin of the several statutes and the root of the great ritual. Would we dare not to be earnest? Would we dare not to be earnest in matters which concern our descendants, the officials, and the people?\n\n\"**Imperial Rescript of Kin Lung** in the Spring of Káp Shan (29th year of Kin Lung, 1764).\"\n\nThe Emperor Kin Lung is perhaps the most illustrious of many illustrious names in the list of the rulers of the present dynasty. A very partial acquaintance with Chinese History is sufficient to establish the high character of the rulers of the Manchu dynasty, as compared with those of all, native and foreign, who have ruled over this vast Empire in former ages. The author of the above preface was a man of strong mind and much cultivation. His image occupies a prominent place in the Temple of 500 gods in the Western Suburbs of Canton. There are many fine points in this elaborate composition, which was doubtless the product of the Imperial mind, but the translation of course gives only a very inadequate idea of the original. How delicate the modesty, and yet how dignified his reference to his ancestors! He takes his proper share of the ... \n\n15 \n150", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-202 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 320107, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882", "page_number": 71, "title": "CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882", "content_text": "## copy of Mr Reade's Minute on Hong Kong\n\nhu. 0.5306\n\n\"Please note the passage I have marked in pencil as to treatment of Chinese uncommitted prisoners to have had no ... of Chinese ... Sweely we ought ... Extradition treaty with People of this description. I doubt the value of an extradition treaty that an accused person will not be subjected to torture (i.e., legal torture) will not be applied.\"\n\nBeeley\n\n## copy of minute by Lord Kimberley\n\n\"So do I.\"\n\nCT. 4, 1881.\n\nThe A.-C. Herald and C. & C. Gazette.\n\n(3) To Ju-lien, Governor of Yunnan, reports that the weather throughout his jurisdiction has been, generally speaking, favourable this year. The rains were reasonable, except just at the commencement of summer, when they were slightly excessive, rendering the working of the copper mines a matter of some difficulty. Some parts of the province, however, were not so fortunate, notably La-meng in the Sub-prefecture of Long-ling; for the hills in that vicinity suddenly last April gave birth to a water-dragon, and great destruction of property and devastation of crops, together with the loss of over sixty lives, was the result. A similar phenomenon occurred at Ho-shi Hsiang, and was followed by a disastrous inundation. Memorialist is waiting for further reports from the districts in question before suggesting to His Majesty the expediency of granting them extra time for the collection of this year's land-tax.\n\nRescript: Noted.\n\n## September 2nd\n\n(1) The censor Hsü K'o-kang brings to the Imperial notice the nature of the judicial procedure at the Office of Gendarmerie. The preliminary hearing of any case, whatever may be its gravity, is entrusted to the hired clerks of the office, who give in their report to the Secretaries when these latter arrive at the yamên, which is seldom before 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Of the two rooms provided for the detention of prisoners or witnesses in any pending suit, that labelled No. 4 contains a bucket and a rope bed, and No. 5 a bucket emitting a most offensive smell and a kong swarming with vermin. The men who are so unfortunate as to be confined in No. 5, what with the damp and stifling atmosphere and the horrible stench, despair, on entering, of being able to endure their sufferings for a single day. In the hearing of any case before the Secretaries, a queue of twisted hemp is wound tightly round the prisoner's forehead, and he is made to kneel upon chains; this method of examination being styled the \"slow process of obtaining evidence\" and lasting, as a rule, six or seven hours, throughout which time the questioners appear utterly indifferent to the pain the prisoner undergoes. Memorialist will take one case as an illustration. A certain Sun Tê-ch'ing, a youth not yet twenty, has been the victim of a plot entered into by Chiang T'wan-mu and a cashiered eunuch, who have forged a document purporting to be an acknowledgement of a debt of Tls. 10,000 odd due to them from Sun Tê-ch'ing, whom they have indicted at the Office of Gendarmerie. The case has been pending for eight months, and during the course of his examination, the unfortunate man has been subjected to severe torture no less than 30 times, not reckoning the form of torture known as ying ko chia and that which consists in being made to kneel on chains. He has fainted frequently under his sufferings, and his life is now despaired of. All this has taken place in open defiance of two laws, one of which forbids the excessive use of torture during the hot weather, and the other of which provides that the hearing of no case at the aforesaid yamên is to extend over 40 days. Memorialist begs that the Board of Punishments may be directed to institute a thorough inquiry into this case, and that the Office of Gendarmerie be forbidden to use forms of torture not recognised by law. Decree has appeared.\n\nPage 353\nC.O. 5754\nRECO 31 MAR 12\n69", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 324104, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-214 - Public Offices & Others - 1883", "page_number": 136, "title": "CO129-214 - Public Offices & Others - 1883", "content_text": "132\n\nof Ling Kwang for the rendition of Yang Ting-wei and twelve other criminals had on previous occasions arisen from the failure of the authorities to abide by the regulations which had received H. J. M's consent. It was therefore now asked that a copy of the Rescript should be communicated to the High Provincial Authorities concerned, in order that its observance might be secured for the future. In promise being given by the Governor General not to hire, two Chinese pirates in custody at Hongkong would be surrendered.\n\nThe Prince has the honour to inform M. Groman that he has drawn the attention of the Superintendents of Northern & Southern Trade, & the Gov. Gen. of Liang Kwang to the Rescript, and", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-214 - Public Offices & Others - 1883.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 330205, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-225 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [1-3]", "page_number": 67, "title": "CO129-225 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [1-3]", "content_text": "## \nفي سه \n\nCravesang anders: - \n\nOrders are so Austin-chis and others, brethren of the Watung Hospital, instigating there given relative to forwarding a tablet Scroll, bom sin astin Provincial Treasurer and comptroller of the Roads of Kwangtung and afficial of the First Rank (20th day of 11th moon of the 12th year of Kwangsu, 2nd December 1886).\n\nOn the 15th day of the 11th moon of the 9th year (20th Dec. 1883) the writer received despatches from the Viceroy of the two Kwang and the Governor of Kwangtung to the following effect:\n\nWe (Governor General and Governor) on the 4th day of the 10th moon of the 9th year (14th Nov. 1883) presented a joint memorial on the subject of the subscriptions passed to the TungWah Hospital in aid of the Roads in Kwangtung and Kwangsi, referred to a precedent and prayed that a tablet scroll to be inscribed might be presented. On the 7th of the 10th moon (17th Nov. 1883) a military officer arrived with the exigial memorial on which was the following rescript: \n\n\"The members of the Grand Council have received the following Imperial rescript with reference to the TungWah Hospital with its branch at Fatshan and its patron, Mr. Shaw Kenny, who has on previous occasions proved beneficent, the Southern Department of the Board of Civil Office respectfully write a scroll and forward it to Chang Chi-trung to be transmitted to the Hospital to be reverently hung up.\" \n\nThe Imperial order was accordingly respectfully noted to the memorials who informed the Governor and the Board of Purchase of the First Rank, as is recorded.\n\nOn the 6th day of the 11th moon (17th Dec. 1883) an order for speedy transmission was issued to hang ... \nLux", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-225 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 331652, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-228 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [7-9]", "page_number": 126, "title": "CO129-228 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [7-9]", "content_text": "The China Mail.\n\nHONGKONG, THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1886.\n\nCRIME IN KWANTUNG. The following translation of a memorial which appeared in the Peking Gazette on the 28th March is taken from the N.-C. D. News. It will be seen that the memorialists consider that the adjoining city of Kowloon is a head centre of the Secret Societies, and that Hongkong is made a refuge of the criminal classes of Canton and neighbourhood. If the statement regarding the secret societies be true, there can be little wonder that there are so many members of them in Hongkong, nor is it wonderful that our Colony has been infested of late by so many of the criminal classes. Rather is it to be wondered at that there has been so little serious crime here. This result is no doubt due to the activity and efficiency of the Police.\n\nA joint Memorial from the Governor General and Governor at Canton, calling attention to the growing danger that exists in that province in the increase of the criminal classes, the extirpation of the most prominent members of which they propose to compass by an organised system of search.\n\nThey commence with the assertion that the bad characters who are a pest to the country may be divided into three classes: one, highwaymen or burglars; two, members of secret societies; three, fighting men. The first class rob and plunder, the second form into seditious factions, and the third commit acts of arson and murder; and all three come under the general term \"fei\" or criminal class. When the members of a secret society become numerous, they take to brigandage; when highwaymen flourish, they join in faction fights; and when faction fights continue for any length of time, the whole of the three classes above described join in, to the immense injury of the agricultural and mercantile class and the subversion of law and order. Brigandage or highway robbery is specially rampant in the littoral district of the Canton Prefecture, the riverine Districts of the Chao Ching and Shao-chou Prefectures, and the coasts of Lien-chow Fu and Ch'iung-chow Fu in Hainan.\n\nThe secret societies prevail most in Hui-chou Fu and the Kowloon Township, adjoining Hongkong, and are gradually spreading over the Kao-chou and Lien-chou Prefectures, while faction fights are specially prevalent in the three Prefectures of Hui-chou, Ch'ao-chou (Swatow), and Canton, Lien-chou and Ch'iung-chou coming next in the list. The criminal classes of Canton, Hui-chou, and Ch'ao-chou find a harbourage in Hongkong and Macao, those of Lien-chou and Ch'iung-chou taking refuge in Annam.\n\nIt should be observed that previous to the reign Tung Chih, the Swatow Prefecture bore the worst reputation for unmanageableness, arson, and internecine feuds, the country being devastated to such an extent that the commercial classes were sorely straitened. Payment of taxes was resisted, and so little was authority respected that the country was in a semi-barbarous state. In the year 1868, Jui-lin, who was then Governor-General, after reference to the Throne, deputed Fang Yao, who was acting at the time as General of the Ch'ao-chou Division, to make a raid upon the disaffected classes, and that officer, supported by a military force, made an inquisitorial tour through all the rebellious districts, disposing of the long list of arrears of criminal cases that had accumulated. In the course of this tour, he seized and executed over eleven hundred prominent criminals, to the great satisfaction of the people, and for the past ten years and more, the Ch'ao-chou Prefecture has enjoyed tranquillity. Similar expeditions were taken against local rebels or faction fighters in the Shao-chou and Canton Prefectures in 1871; in 1873 against the remnants of the great rebellion, who had established themselves in Kao-chou and Lien-chou on the borders of Kuangtung and Kuangsi, and in 1877 against the Hui-chou rebels. These expeditions had in every instance a wholesome effect, but the measures taken were not sufficiently drastic, so that on the withdrawal of the troops, secret societies were again formed, and robberies and faction fights continued to take place as usual.\n\nDuring the last few years, the question of coast defence has occupied attention to the exclusion of the interior, and in 1882 and 1884 risings occurred at Lei-po in Kao-chou Fu and Nion-shan in Hui-chou Fu respectively. In both instances, the measures adopted were not radical. Added to this, vagrant irregular soldiers who had been disbanded, pirates, salt smugglers, members of secret societies, pugnacious villagers, and aggressive clans banded together and mutually incited or assisted one another, thus increasing materially the criminal classes above categorised, with the result that murders from motives of revenge occur with increasing frequency, and fights are waged with fire and sword, scores of villages and towns becoming involved in them, and scores of cases of pillage and robbery occurring month by month. The more powerful clans tyrannise over the weaker at will, and resistance to official authority is a matter of ordinary occurrence, the evil being beyond the power of proclamation or despatch to put a stop to, or of local authorities or police to cope with. If the present opportunity be not seized, when there is a slight relaxation from the occupation of war, to make inquisitorial tours, backed by a sufficient armed force, at the discretion of the high authorities, in the course of which the good may be separated from the bad, and the power of the military arm be displayed with a view to compelling the surrender of criminals and arms, and the wholesale punishment of vice, there is every reason to apprehend endless disaster in the future. Harbourers of bad characters should also be punished with severity, while restraint should be exercised by means of Treaty provisions, which should be conned and strictly enforced, exhortation being applied at the same time.\n\nThe opinions above expressed by the Memorialists are fully shared, it may be stated, by Fêng Tzŭ-ts'ai, commander-in-chief of Kuangsi, Admiral Fang Yao, and Chêng Shao-chung, Acting Commander-in-chief (of Kuangtung), and it is now proposed to institute a thorough search through all the notoriously disaffected districts of the Canton provinces with a view to clearing them of the three classes of criminals above described. This scrutiny will be conducted in three different directions; one line will embrace the Hui-chou and Ch'ao-chou Prefectures; another the Canton Prefecture, and a third the Lien-chou Prefecture. The two Districts of Hai-fêng and Lu-fêng in the Hui-chou Prefecture, as bearing the worst reputation, will be dealt with first, and will be entrusted to the sole management of Fang-yao. The Ch'ao-chou expedition will be entrusted to Chêng Shao-chung, and the Canton Prefecture will be attended to by Chêng An-pang, Acting Colonel of the Canton regiment, acting under the Memorialists' orders.\n\nAfter explaining in considerable detail the system upon which these expeditions will work, the Memorialists conclude with a promise of a report to the Throne upon the progress that is made.\n\nBy a Rescript appended to the Decree, the proposed arrangements are sanctioned.\n\nPage 124", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-228 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 335251, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-234 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Des Voeus - 1887 [9-12]", "page_number": 533, "title": "CO129-234 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Des Voeus - 1887 [9-12]", "content_text": "# THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE. PROGRESS OF HONGKONG.\n\nHer Majesty's Jubilee is one of those events that not only appeal to popular feeling but compel those reflectively inclined to study the changes during the past fifty years. It is not a time merely of state processions, of the pomp and circumstance of a Royal thanksgiving, of official odes of Jubilate ! and Io! Triumphe, but it is also a time of sober exlculation and comparison, so as to estimate what progress has been made.\n\nTo the August Lady herself the occasion, though not standing alone in the annals of her house, is of course, one of the highest moment and of liveliest satisfaction, and may be deemed by her as the crowning event of her long and well-spent life. And there is not the slightest doubt that this is also a feeling in which many of her subjects share, hence the desire to see the occasion worthily celebrated and permanently commemorated.\n\nOf the long list of English Queens, some of them may strike us with a sense of greater grandeur and dignity, a result due perhaps more to tradition and false historical perspective than to literal accuracy; some may have possessed stronger qualities of will and intellect, of wider culture, of more learning; others may have had greater personal attractions, or may be surrounded by a halo of chivalry and romance with which their misfortunes, merited or unmerited, and unrivalled beauty may have invested them, but there is no Queen in that long roll who has so entirely absorbed the enthusiastic and respectful affection of all her subjects as VICTORIA—and that only by the simple charm of true womanliness and pure goodness of heart.\n\nIn the Greater England over the sea, she is equally honoured by the descendants of the Cavaliers that founded Virginia, by the sons of the men of the old faith that founded Maryland, by the posterity of the Puritans that planted the tree of Democracy on Plymouth Rock, or by the pushing frontiersman of the West. In all her relations she has been eminently English; a loving wife, an affectionate mother, a typical English matron; and in times of trial, a self-possessed, courageous English woman—in brief, a model Queen of England!\n\nAmong contemporary Queens, our Queen stands on a pedestal apart. The late Pope, Pius IX., no mean judge of human nature, and in this respect not likely to be a biased judge, considered that she was incomparably the best of them all. \"She stood,\" he said, \"on a pedestal apart.\" In her political life, amidst the ever-changing vicissitudes of English party Government, her conduct has been above suspicion. She would not be a woman if she had not preferences towards this statesman or towards that, but, in her constitutional relationship towards all parties she has maintained the dignified attitude of An English constitutional sovereign.\n\nThe popularity and sympathy she won by her youth and natural grace of manner fifty years ago, she still retains, and that by her clear insight into the needs and aims of her people. Her reign has been an eventful one; it has been marked by many political struggles, and in these, no one has taken greater interest than the Queen herself, who has recognized throughout them all that special characteristic of Englishmen—\"to win reforms by Agitation, what others attempt by Revolution.\"\n\nTempting as the subject is to review the progress, material and scientific, commercial and political, of the Empire during the half century, we consider it more to our purpose to indicate what has been accomplished in the Far East during that time than to review the reign generally. Great as have been the strides of advancement in the West, we have not been lagging so very far behind in the East, retarded though we have been by the inertness of an old and partially fossilised civilization.\n\nChina fifty years ago was a very different country from the China of to-day. So different indeed, that unless a special study is made of the period in question, it is simply a sheer impossibility for the great majority of the residents here to realize the deplorable state in which affairs were then, to understand the helpless and hopeless position with regard to comfort, safety, and personal rights, in which the Jardine, Mathesons, the Dents, the Gibbs, Livingstons, the Turners, the Russells then carried on business in Canton.\n\nAs a description, however curtailed, of things as they were, these will bring into greater relief the points of differences and make a more effective contrast, and we shall, instead of going into long rows of figures and tables, adopt this method.\n\nIt is a mistake to think that Hongkong fifty years ago, was not thought of. The anxieties and annoyances of life at Canton had become so great that the conviction had entered the minds of the merchants, that nothing short of the possession of an island off the Coast of China, independent of the Chinese Government, could give the necessary security to life and property. Formosa, Chusan, Namoa, the Bonin Islands, and Hongkong were all suggested as more or less suitable.\n\nSurveys were made among the Ladrones, of which Hongkong is one, and we find so far back as the time of the Queen's Accession, an anonymous writer, supposed to be the then head of a firm now intimately connected with the history and prosperity of this Colony, suggesting that Hongkong should be the island selected.\n\nAfter describing the physical features and advantages as they are known to all of us, its beautiful, deep, landlocked harbour and clear springs of water, he becomes prophetic or is it the utterance of an oft-repeated prayer while writhing under a sense of official injustice? And says: \"If the lion's paw is to be put down in any part of China, let it be on Hongkong. Let the lion, under his guarantee, declare it a free port, and in ten years it will be the most considerable mart East of the Cape.\"\n\nIt is worth while, in passing, to note what this Canton merchant of half a century ago thought were the conditions of the success of Hongkong and to remind our local Conscript Fathers of the duty of handing them down intact and unimpaired to our successors.\n\nLife in the Old Factories had very little in common with the comparatively pleasant life that foreigners now enjoy in China. Home life was conspicuous by its absence. Foreigners in Canton were a community of mercantile monks, for the Government officials, ignorant of the refining influences of ladies' society, rigidly proscribed them and sternly banished them to Macao.\n\nThe site itself was insalubrious, and at low water, when the foreshore and neighbouring creeks were dry, smelled most abominably. The vilest rowdies inhabited the houses surrounding the factories, and the factory-site itself, if we mistake not, was not greater than the area of the base of the Great Pyramid. These were only minor evils. The residents, cooped up within their factories, were treated like so many denizens of a zoological garden. There they might amuse themselves as much as they liked so long as they made no uproar, as the officials...\n\nPage 527", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-234 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Des Voeus - 1887 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 361762, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-273 - Governor Sir Robinson & Others - 1896 [10-12]", "page_number": 622, "title": "CO129-273 - Governor Sir Robinson & Others - 1896 [10-12]", "content_text": "**Copy.** Tsungli Yamên to Mr Beauclerk.\n\nPEKING, April 19, 1893.\n\nThe Princes and Ministers of the Tsungli Yamên have the honour to inform Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires that they have received the following communication from the Board of Revenue.\n\n\"The Board has had under consideration Memorial with regard to the establishment of mints for silver coins in Canton and Hupeh provinces and on the 15th of the 2nd moon (26th March) presented a Memorial, the proposals in which were approved by Imperial Rescript. It becomes the Board's duty to transmit to the Tsungli Yamên a copy of the Memorial referred to.\n\nOn examining the Memorial the Yamên find that...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-273 - Governor Sir Robinson & Others - 1896 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 365121, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-279 - Public Offices - 1897", "page_number": 368, "title": "CO129-279 - Public Offices - 1897", "content_text": "My Lord:-\n\nTOKIO, April 1st, 1897.\n\nI have the honour to report that the Coinage Bill, of which the draft was enclosed in my despatch No.44 of March 3rd, became law on the 26th by an Imperial Rescript, and was published in the Government Gazette of the 29th ultimo. No alterations were made during its passage through the Diet, but as the wording of the translation already forwarded to Your Lordship seems inaccurate in one or two places, I beg to enclose a corrected copy.\n\nThe amount of silver 1 yen pieces in circulation in the country is estimated at $30,000,000 besides those in the vaults of the Bank of Japan. It is supposed that the quantity that may be re-imported from abroad to be exchanged into gold is not likely to exceed $15,000,000 at most; this, however, is not likely to happen unless silver should fall sufficiently.\n\nThe Marquess of Salisbury, K.G.\n\n&c.,\n\n&c.,\n\nPage 364\n\n \n18000\n\n309 97!\n\n \n364", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-279 - Public Offices - 1897.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 375234, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3]", "page_number": 61, "title": "CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3]", "content_text": "shalter for destination.\n\nAn unkn\n\n58 DESPATCH.\n\n68 qued you 2 also his Lordships meind Youd thhat no sply base than received from your office to Clic suggestion in the letter from this office to yond\n\nthe 26th ultiems, that a protest should be made to the chinese Government, against their action in offering for Kauf You Joc со a reward wri's head.\n\nHONG KONG RECO C.O. 4796 REGR FEB No. 4796 Governor. No. (Subject.) Lake 10 1900 10 Jan Last previous Paper. Acky? 47. 31432 Mail Agreements that of June 88 has been definitly cancelled: Rforts arrangements made in substitution:\n\nM Licen (Minutes.) ? achnowledge rscript at جی J.me 14/2\n\nV B & L (78)~19958–250706-12-05 28035-150-11-09 ext subsequent Paper.\n\nHowever, to follow the instructions more closely and improve the output, here is a revised version:\n\nShalter for destination.\n\nAn unknown\n\n58 DESPATCH.\n\n68 ... you also his Lordship's mind that no supply base than received from your office to Clique suggestion in the letter from this office to you\n\nthe 26th ultiemo, that a protest should be made to the Chinese Government, against their action in offering for Kauf You Joc a reward for writ's head.\n\nHONG KONG RECO C.O.4796 REGR FEB No.4796 Governor. No. (Subject.) Lake 10 1900 10 Jan Last previous Paper. Ack? 47. 31432 Mail Agreements that of June 88 has been definitely cancelled: Reports arrangements made in substitution:\n\nM Licen (Minutes.) ? acknowledge receipt at ... J.me 14/2\n\nV B & L(78)~19958–250706-12-05 28035-150-11-09 ext subsequent Paper.\n\nPage information and other specifics were not clearly identifiable in the given text, so they were not added. The text was formatted into paragraphs and some obvious corrections were made, such as \"unkn\" to \"unknown\", \"defritets\" to \"definitely\", and \"achnowledge\" to \"acknowledge\". The file reference was corrected to remove spaces inside parentheses.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 378676, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900", "page_number": 490, "title": "CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900", "content_text": "**C. O. 9034**\n**CHINA TRADE.**\n\n[February 19.]\n**RECD & CONFIDENTIAL.**\n**E21 MAR 00**\n**SECTION 2.**\n483\n\n## No. 1. Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Salisbury.--(Received February 19, 1900.)\n\n**(No. 346.)**\nMy Lord,\n\nPeking, December 18, 1899. IN continuation of my despatch No. 335 of the 6th instant, I have the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship translation of the reply which I have received from the Tsung-li Yamên to the note in which I urged that the Viceroy of Canton should be instructed to co-operate with the British authorities in suppressing piracy on the lower waters of the West River.\n\nThe Yamên express their appreciation of the friendly feeling underlying what they profess to regard as a kind offer of assistance on the part of the Governor of Hong Kong to the Viceroy at Canton, but they decline the proposed co-operation on the ground that it would interfere with the jurisdiction of the Chinese authorities, and that the instructions issued to the Viceroy would ensure adequate protection to life and property in the province for the future.\n\nIn a second note, translation of which I have also the honour to inclose, the Yamên communicate the substance of an Imperial Rescript commanding the Chinese local authorities to take action to suppress piracy in the district concerned.\n\n(Translation.) Sir,\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) **CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.**\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\n#### The Tsung-li Yamên to Sir C. MacDonald.\n\nPeking, December 11, 1899. WE have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of the 4th December, on the subject of piracy on the West River.\n\n[Note summarised.]\n\nIn view of the serious outbreaks of piracy in the Province of Kuangtung, and of the injury that has been inflicted thereby on trade, telegraphic instructions have been repeatedly sent to the high authorities of the province to give strict orders to the civil and military officers in their jurisdiction to institute a close and effective patrol of the district with the forces under their command, and to use all diligence in arresting the offenders.\n\nSome time ago, in connection with the case of piracy on the British steamship \"Wo-on\" at Kumchuk near Kongmoon, we were informed by telegram from the Governor-General of the Liang Kuang Provinces (Viceroy at Canton) that eight pirates altogether had been captured and put to death. There had been no lack of energy in effecting arrests, but the pirates were in the habit of disguising themselves as ordinary passengers, and surreptitiously armed with guns, of taking passage on steamers to await their opportunity to plunder. This was a practice against which the military police were powerless to guard; and the Consuls ought to give orders to foreign steamers to search passengers for concealed weapons, and not to take passengers on board en route, in order to prevent pirates from obtaining an entrance on to the vessels. We had the honour to address a note to Mr. Bax-Ironside to the above effect on the 10th September last.\n\nThe proposal now made by Her Majesty's Government to invite the co-operation of the Viceroy at Canton in suppressing piracy, gives ample evidence of friendly feeling. But the lower waters of the West River are under the jurisdiction of the Viceroy at Canton, and it is for the local authorities to undertake the necessary measures of pacification and suppression. It is not therefore necessary for the Governor of Hong Kong to offer his assistance in the matter, a proceeding which would cause some difficulties to Chinese administration.\n\n[1810 -2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 378677, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900", "page_number": 491, "title": "CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900", "content_text": "## Inclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n**The Tsung-li Yamên to Sir C. MacDonald**\n\nPeking, December 15, 1899\n\nWITH reference to the continued prevalence of piracy in Kuangtung Province we had the honour to inform your Excellency in our note of the 11th December, that we proposed to memorialize the Throne for an Imperial Decree enjoining upon the Governor-General of the Liang Kuang Provinces the duty of employing additional troops and of speedily freeing the district concerned from the presence of pirates, in order to afford protection to Chinese and foreign merchants and travellers.\n\nWe have now memorialized accordingly, and have been honoured by the receipt of an Imperial Rescript commanding the Governor-General of the Liang Kuang Provinces to give strict orders to the civil and military officials that genuine efforts must be made to suppress the pirates; that additional naval forces are to be employed, and measures adopted without delay to deal with the matter; that in every case of piracy a limit of time is to be fixed within which the arrest of the criminals must be effected; and that all possible steps must be taken to restore quiet in the whole district.\n\nThis Rescript has been reverently transcribed and forwarded to the Governor-General of the Liang Kuang Provinces for his guidance, and we have now the honour to communicate it to your Excellency for transmission to Her Majesty's Government, and for the information of his Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong.\n\n**(Seal of Yamên)**\n\n## \n**Translation**\n\nSir,\n\nWe propose now to memorialize the Throne for an Imperial Decree enjoining upon the Governor-General of the Liang Kuang Provinces the duty of employing additional troops, and of speedily freeing the district concerned from the presence of pirates, in order to afford protection to Chinese and foreign merchants and travellers.\n\nWe would therefore beg Her Majesty's Government not to feel any further anxiety.\n\nWe have the honour to request your Excellency to transmit this reply to your Government for their consideration and for the information of the Hong Kong Government.\n\n**(Seal of Yamên)**\n\nPage 484", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 380494, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7]", "page_number": 23, "title": "CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7]", "content_text": "# No. 1844.\n\nSir,\n\n## ENCLOSURE /5.\n\nHongkong, August 19th, 1899.\n\nre. Charles Ahrens.\n\nIn reply to your letter of the 17th instant, No. 1324, I beg to say that I have no doubt the legacy left to Ahrens would be paid over to a Committee duly appointed according to Hongkong Law.\n\nThe money available for Ahrens, if I remember rightly from the paper which you transmitted to me with your letter of the 8th of April last and which I returned with my last despatch, amounts to not more than about $240 in all. Under the circumstances, the cost of the necessary proceedings in lunacy would amount to double the legacy left to Ahrens.\n\nI avail myself of this opportunity to express my regret that this matter is causing your Government so much trouble and expense, and that I am not in the position to do anything to lessen the same.\n\nI may mention that the Foreign Office in Berlin, in its last rescript in the matter, again expounds the principle adopted by the British Government in several similar cases occurred in Germany, that every State, in the absence of a treaty providing to the contrary, has to take care of foreigners who became destitute in its territory.\n\nI have etc.,\n(Sd.) Dr. P. C. Rieloff,\nImperial German Consul.\n\nThe Honourable\nThe Colonial Secretary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 385846, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9]", "page_number": 451, "title": "CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9]", "content_text": "21 \n\ndid his son reappear. Jhan's son could not inherit as he is no longer living. The ten Imperial princes having been degraded. And an Imperial rescript exists declaring that the son of a punished prince cannot succeed. This is to prevent the revenge that presumably would be taken by him on those who had been instrumental in the punishment of his father.\n\n2 \n\nBut in the present state of China all things are possible. And among the possibilities are the chances that in the event of dynastic troubles in Peking, Juan's personal relatives with Young the Viceroy might make another bid for power at Government House.\n\nEmpire \n\n448 \n\nSir [H]enring Liang thinks that within three or four years there will be further troubles in Peking, and should the Empress Dowager die or become ill, there would be one, or perhaps ten legitimate candidates. The hope of the dynasty is at present in Prince Ch'un, the brother of the Emperor, and his having a son. She is likely to be married at once if he has not already been married to a daughter of Jung lu.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 388095, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4]", "page_number": 271, "title": "CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4]", "content_text": "# \n## 'B'\n### J. No. 1644.\n\nSir,\n\nHongkong, August 19th, 1899.\n\nIn reply to your letter of the 17th instant No.1224\n\nI beg to say that I have no doubt the legacy left to Ahrens would be paid over to a Committee duly appointed according to Hongkong Law.\n\nThe money available for Ahrens, if I remember rightly from the paper which you transmitted to me with your letter of the 6th of April last and which I returned with my last despatch, amounts to not more than about $240 in all. Under the circumstances the cost of the necessary proceedings in lunacy would amount to double the legacy left to Ahrens.\n\nI avail myself of this opportunity to express my regret that this matter is causing your Government so much trouble and expense, and that I am not in the position to do anything to lessen the same.\n\nI may mention, that the Foreign Office in Berlin, in its last rescript in the matter, again expounds the principle adopted by the British Government in several cases occurred in Germany, that every State, in the absence of a treaty providing to the contrary, has to take care of foreigners who became destitute in its territory.\n\nI have etc.\n\n(Sd.) DR. F. C. Rieloff,\n**Imperial German Consul**.\n\nThe Honourable\nThe Colonial Secretary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394974, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 311, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE,\n\nCONFIDENTIAL\n\nNo. 1.\n\n308\n\n[June 6.]\n\nSECTION 3.\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received June 6.)\n\nPeking, April 21, 1904.\n\n(No. 137.) My Lord,\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose a translation of Chinese Mining Regulations drawn up by the Board of Commerce, and officially communicated to me by the Board of Foreign Affairs.*\n\nAs will be seen, these Regulations apply only to prospecting or mining permits granted to Chinese subjects working either alone or in partnership with foreigners. I am given to understand that Regulations for permits to foreigners are now being drafted.\n\nBoth the United States and the German Ministers have spoken to me on the subject, and we agreed as to the advisability of intimating to the Chinese Government that the present Regulations could not be accepted as adequate. Of my note in that sense to the Board of Foreign Affairs I have the honour to inclose a copy herewith. My American and German colleagues have written to the Board in the same sense.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ching to Sir E. Satow.\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nPeking, April 4, 1904. ON the 29th ultimo, I had the honour to receive the following despatch from the Board of Commerce:\n\n\"On the 17th March we had the honour to present to the Throne in a Memorial On the the draft of the provisional Regulations for Mines drawn up by our Board. same day we received an Imperial Rescript sanctioning these Regulations. We have now the honour to forward to you a printed copy of the Regulations and of Their Majesties' Decree which we have reverently transcribed, and to request that you will be so good as to convey their contents to the Representatives of the foreign Powers in Peking.\"\n\nIt is my duty, therefore, to forward to your Excellency herewith a copy of the provisional Mining Regulations drawn up by the Board of Commerce.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nPeking, April 18, 1904, I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your note of the 4th instant, inclosing copy of provisional Mining Regulations drawn up by the Board of Commerce.\n\nIn reply, I beg to state that having carefully examined these Regulations, I regret to find them not in accordance with the spirit of Article IX of the Commercial Treaty between Great Britain and China, signed at Shanghae on the 5th September, 1902,\n\n* Not printed.\n\n[2032 F-3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395043, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 380, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "to control the 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 tons of British shipping entering the port, or survey and dredging contracts might be given away to serve national and political interests rather than the conservation of the river and the advancement of Shanghae. It must be borne in mind that up to the present moment there is no real plan for doing the work at all. There have been many schemes put forward, but the effect of these has been left in great uncertainty. It is, however, well known that immense injury may result from the erection of artificial works, except under the very best advice that can be obtained, and in the opinion of the China League the proposed Conservancy Board will naturally be anxious to justify its appointment, and so will be disposed to undertake extensive works without due consideration.\n\nSpecial attention should be given to the present position of the local government of Shanghae, which, from a British point of view, is most satisfactory. In the first place there is a Municipal Council consisting of nine members; of these, no less than seven are always British, one American, and (as a matter of grace) one German. Next is the fact that the Commissioner of Customs is British, and next the further fact, which is also important, that the Inspector-General of Customs is British, and by the official guarantee of China must remain British so long as British trade predominates. The whole legal jurisdiction of Shanghae, therefore, as regards the collection and spending of revenue, is in British hands, and the status in that respect is most satisfactory, and it will be a matter of great misfortune if it is in any way weakened or interfered with. The creation of this International Board will very seriously affect the position of the Shanghae Municipality.\n\nThe Board is to have control of the River Whangpo and the Soochow Creek, both water-ways running right through the Shanghae Settlements. The Board will have its own staff of officials and a body of police, and it is obvious that possibilities of frequent friction between the Board and the Municipal Council will exist. This raises a very unfortunate probability of conflict of jurisdiction right in the heart of the foreign Settlement of Shanghae.\n\nIn the event of trouble arising, it may be safely assumed that the sympathy of the foreign Consular Body is more likely to be in favour of the International Board than of the Municipal Council.\n\nFrom the point of view, therefore, of Chinese sovereign rights, as well as of British interests at Shanghae, my Committee conclude that the adoption of the Viceroy's scheme, carefully safeguarded by foreign supervision, is infinitely preferable to placing the control of the improvement of the River Whangpo in the hands of an International Board.\n\nThey are convinced that the arrangement set out in Annex 17 of the Protocol will, if carried into effect, unquestionably prove most disastrous to British interests. I have, &c.\n\nA. R. BURKILL, Honorary Secretary.\n\n(Signed)\n\n[Comment is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nC. O.\n\n[95342]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received July 4.)\n\n377 1\n\nRed 18 JUL 04\n\nPeking, May 18, 1904. (No. 178.) My Lord,\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a translation of a note which I have received from the Chinese Government announcing the preliminary steps taken, on the motion of the Superintendent of Northern Trade and the Governor of Shantung, for the opening of two ports in that province as branch Customs stations of China.\n\nI have not yet heard what views the German Government take of this proposal to open to foreign trade and residence places which they possibly consider to be within their exclusive zone of influence.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ching to Sir E. Satow.\n\nERNEST SATOW.\n\nPeking, May 17, 1904\n\nI HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that in the third month of the present year (17th March to 15th April) the Superintendent of Northern Trade and the Governor of Shantung presented a joint Memorial to the Throne asking that outside the city of Chinan, in Shantung, China, should herself open a port, and that Wei Hsien, east of the provincial capital, and Chou Ts'un, within the jurisdiction of Chang Shan, should also be made commercial marts as branch Customs stations of Chinan. Their proposal having been approved by this Board on the 1st instant (15th May), we also memorialized the Throne, and an Imperial Rescript has been issued indorsing the suggestion.\n\nAs soon as the necessary Regulations have been drawn up and a date fixed on which they shall have come into force, I shall again have the honour to address your Excellency.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n[2056 d-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395228, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 565, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nSOUTH-WEST CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nC.O\n\n562\n\n36075\n\n10-0001-06\n\nConsul-General Wilkinson to the Marquess of Lansdowne.---(Received July 11.)\n\n(No. 3.)\n\nYunnan-fu, March 17, 1904.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nI HAVE the honour to forward copy of a Memorandum which I have compiled for the Government of Burmah on the Yünman Railway Agreement, signed at Peking by the French Minister on the 29th October, 1903.\n\nI am sending a copy also to Sir Ernest Satow.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nW. H. WILKINSON.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nConsul-General Wilkinson to Government of Burmah.\n\nYunnan-fu, March 13, 1904,\n\nI HAVE the honour to send you a Memorandum on the Franco-Chinese Agreement for the construction of the railway from the Tonquin frontier to Yünnan-fu, signed at Peking on the 29th October, 1903.\n\nThe Memorandum consists of:-\n\n1. An abstract, prepared by myself, of the Articles approved.\n\n2. A translation, also made by me, of a Memorial to the Throne by the Wai-wu Pu (the Chinese Foreign Office).\n\n3. A copy of the French text of the Agreement.\n\nThe Memorial in question, with its brief Imperial rescript, formed the authority for the signature of the Agreement by the Chinese Plenipotentiary. It is accordingly prefixed to the Articles in the Chinese text, but has, naturally, no place in the French. I have included it in my Memorandum as it is of interest in the history of the negotiations.\n\nI may mention that the Chinese text has been printed at Yünnan-fu, for private circulation only. A specimen was courteously given to me by the Yang-wu Tsung-chu, or Provincial Foreign Department, which Department was also good enough to permit me to peruse and copy one of the four originals of the French text. This last, I should add, is somewhat carelessly written, and to this cause must be set down any errors I may have made in transcribing it.\n\nReference, it will be observed, is made in the Memorial to a \"Special Trade Convention\" between France and China, signed in 1887. This instrument does not find a place in \"Hertslet's Treaties,\" for it is not the \"Convention Additionnelle\" given on p. 202 of his first volume. The clause inserted at the instance of M. Dubail, authorizing the construction of branch lines, appears in the Agreement as Article 11. In the sequel it may prove to be of the greatest consequence.\n\n* The date is wrongly given in the Chinese text: it should be the 21st year of the Kuang-hsü, not the 13th. The reference is to Article 5 of the Franco-Chinese Agreement of June 21, 1895.-W. E. W.\n\n[2062 1-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 396926, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12]", "page_number": 220, "title": "CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12]", "content_text": "217 \n\npretext for obstruction, thereby causing \n\nill-feeling. Respect this. \n\nUpon the receipt of the above, \n\nto the Viceroy of the \n\nwe telegraphed \n\ntwo Huangs \n\nand we \n\nare \n\nin possession of \n\na \n\ncopy of a \n\ntelegram from tuin, transmitted to us \n\nby the Council. \n\nIt reads: \n\n\"With regard to the \n\nmemorial \n\nby the Grand \n\nof Sept \n\nCanton Kowloon \n\nRailway I have reverently received the Edict ordering us \n\nto depute officers to \n\nlook after the survey, but, as I find that in this Province there is no officer familiar with railway work, \n\nI must \n\nask for an \n\nEdict to be issued ordering \n\nSheng Hsuan-huai to proceed to this Province accompanied by foreign operatives to make a survey, \n\nwhen I \n\nwill also send officers \n\nto look after \n\nthe operations. If land belonging to the people is to be purchased, I will put out a proclamation directing that it must be sold and forbidding people to hold on with the intent of raising the price.\" \n\nOn the 8th November we had the honour to receive the Imperial Rescript \"Let the Yamen concerned take note, Record thus.\" \n\nWe then, as in duty bound, make this communication to Your Excellency \n\n(Sheng) so that you may take action \n\nin conformity", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 397058, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12]", "page_number": 352, "title": "CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12]", "content_text": "349\n\nattached to this Agreement to the Feasts of Hongkong and Hongkong Equivalent of such amount at the option of the Government of Hong Kong.\n\n5. This Loan shall be secured by a first mortgage on Opium Revenues of Hupei, Hunan, and Kwangtung, and shall as regards security for principal and interest rank before any loan hereafter raised on the Security of those revenues, and the priority of this Loan shall be expressly stated in any agreement for such subsequent loan secured wholly or in part on the said Opium Revenues. Should hereafter the opium revenue of the three Provinces not suffice to meet payments, the Viceroy of Hukuang may agree with the Hunan and Kwangtung governments, which province's quota is insufficient, and such province shall supplement the above Opium Revenue by other revenues for the service of the present Loan; but in case of default with regard to payments of interest or repayment of principal of the present Loan, the Viceroy may be called upon by His Britannic Majesty's Government to agree with Kwangtung and Hunan, which province is in default, and that province shall appropriate and place under the supervision of the Imperial Maritime Customs further approved revenues as its Security.\n\n6. This Loan shall be secured by deposit with His Britannic Majesty's Consul General at Hankow of taels, yearly Bonds to the total amount of loan, principal and interest, sealed by the Viceroy of the Hukuang Province and countersigned by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs at Hankow. In the event of the money to meet a payment of interest or repayment of principal not being handed to the Treasurer of Hong Kong on due date, these tael Bonds shall become available for the payments of likin on Hukuang Provinces and Kwangtung; and the provincial authorities shall be consulted accordingly.\n\n7. Of the proceeds of this Loan, the Government of Hongkong on the 6th day of October 1905 shall remit $400,000 to the Hongkong, Shanghai Bank, Hankow, to the credit of the Viceroy Chang; and shall on said 6th day of October 1905 remit £700,000 to New York to the credit of the Chinese Minister, Liang; and the Hongkong Government may require from the Viceroy, through His Britannic Majesty's Consul General at Hankow, such evidence as he may deem satisfactory of the due employment of the funds for the object stated.\n\n8. Before the execution of this Agreement, the Viceroy has reported to the Throne and obtained an Imperial Rescript approving and sanctioning this Loan Agreement, which Rescript will be communicated to His Britannic Majesty's Minister by the Wai Wu Pu officially.\n\n9. The Viceroy has by telegraph consulted the Viceroy of Liang-Kuang, who has replied consenting to the pledging of the Opium Revenues of Kwangtung and to the terms of this Agreement so far as they affect their Province.\n\n10. This Agreement is executed in duplicate, in English and Chinese, one copy to be retained by the Hukuang Viceroy, one copy...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 397499, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12]", "page_number": 793, "title": "CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12]", "content_text": "#CANTON--0001-RAILWAY.\n\n789\n\n## MINUTES OF CONFERENCE MEETING HELD AT H.M.CONSULATE-GENERAL, CANTON\n\n**DE** TUESDAY 19th DECEMBER 1905, BETWEEN THE VICEROY OF CANTON'S DELEGATES & THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BRITISH & CHINESE CORPORATION Ltd.\n\n**PRESENT**: Messrs TIEN & KIDDER, representing the Viceroy of Canton, & Mr O.H.ROSS representing the **BRITISH & CHINESE CORPORATION**: Ltd.\n\nMr H.D.E. TEBBITT, Vice-Consul being also present.\n\nMr TIEN, on behalf of his colleagues, said, they had explained the Corporation's proposals to the Viceroy, (though on account of the delicate state of His Excellency's health a bare outline only of the proposed Agreement had been submitted), and had been instructed to reply that since the Preliminary Agreement had been signed, circumstances had changed, & particularly a marked change had come over the spirit of the people, who now desired to themselves build this railway, & the Viceroy was not prepared to oppose this feeling which had been expressed in unmistakable terms by the local gentry.\n\nIn the Viceroy's opinion, the Preliminary Agreement was a non-binding document, which although authorised by the Tsung-li-Yamen, had not formally received the Emperor's sanction, and moreover Clause 3 of this Agreement seemed specially to provide for a state of affairs such as now existed.\n\nMr ROSS, replying to the foregoing remarks, told the Deputies that if they would refer to their archives, date he believed about the end of the year 1896, they would discover correspondence which passed between Shang Kungpao & the then Viceroy of Canton, on the subject of this railway. In the letters referred to (copies of which Mr Ross had read) Shang explained the instructions he had received from the Throne, quoting them in full with the Imperial rescript. Under such circumstances it was therefore quite incorrect to state that the matter had not received the Emperor's sanction. (Mr TEBBITT here stated that the date of the Imperial Rescript in question was about ...)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403348, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 257, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "## Inclosure 21 in No. 1\n### Memorial by the Board of Revenue urging that a Limit be set to the Minting of Copper Coin in the Provinces, and that a Uniform Currency be established.\n\nA sound currency is the foundation of financial administration, and it is essential that coinage should be uniform. This Board has, in obedience to Imperial Edict, established a head mint at Tien-tsin for the express purpose of producing a uniform currency.\n\nThe introduction of copper coins commenced in Kuangtung. Since then this example has been followed by other provinces in order to remedy the scarcity of cash, until now there are not less than twenty mints erected in seventeen provinces. Unless a stop is put to this, further requests will be made to erect similar mints, or to extend the operations of old ones, leading to further waste of money and greater confusion in the currency. In addition, it is feared that not only will great impetus be given to the counterfeiting of spurious coin, but also that the competition between the various mints for the purchase of foreign copper will be so great as to cause an excessive rise in the price of that article, and cause great financial losses.\n\nLast year the Reform Council (`Cheng Wu Chu`) and the Army Council (`Lien Ping Ch'u`), in their joint Memorial on the request of Wei Kuang-tao for permission to extend his minting of copper, declared that in future the minting of silver and copper coins ought to be wholly placed under the control of the Board of Revenue, in order that there should be uniformity in the currency and stability in the finances of the country, and, further, that the promiscuous establishment of mints throughout the province should be stopped.\n\n### Imperial Rescript\nLet it be done as proposed.\n\n## Inclosure 20 in No. 1\n\nAgain, Chou Fu, Acting Viceroy of the Liang Kiang, proposed in a Memorial last year that the mints for copper coin should be amalgamated, pointing out that the establishment of every new mint meant another addition to the expenditure, and that differences in the qualities of the coins produced by these various mints was a serious inconvenience. He therefore counselled greater care in this question.\n\nThe Board agrees that, though the increased minting of copper coins is desirable, yet the issue of them from an unlimited number of mints is inexpedient. After much consultation, the Board has come to the conclusion that the abolition of the already existing mints would be attended with difficulty, but they consider that the high provincial authorities should carefully superintend their operations and should not establish additional branch mints. No new mints for the coinage of copper should be started in places where they do not now exist, and if there is a necessity for the introduction of copper coins in such places, the authorities should be instructed to pay over a sum of money to the mint of a neighbouring province, which would then return the equivalent in copper coin. In important places where the erection of a mint is desirable this Board will inquire into the circumstances, and, when the head mint at Tien-tsin is in operation, will gradually establish branch mints at Shanghae and other ports with a view to furnishing a uniform currency.\n\nOrders were given by the Board, when the erection of mints in the provinces was first permitted, that monthly reports of their operation should be made. Up to the present, though the mints have been in operation for a long time, the officials have shown of what little importance they consider the currency question by altogether neglecting to do so. The Board, therefore, with a view to saving correspondence and exercising thorough supervision, requests that the high provincial authorities may be called on to strictly direct the officials in charge of the mints to furnish collective annual reports, and also to forward without delay copies of the Local Regulations with regard to the minting and issue of coin to the Board for inspection.\n\nThe contributions which it has been admitted the mints should make towards the expenses of the Army Council are matters of great consequence, and further orders should be issued that these should not be allowed to fall into arrears on any pretext, but should be transmitted in full.\n\n### Imperial Rescript\nLet it be done as proposed.\n\n## \n\nIn a recent issue of the \"Peiyang Kuan Pao,\" anterior to the 6th June, it is stated that there are eighteen mints for the production of copper coins. Of these the Kuanghsi, Yunnan, Fengtien, and Tien-tsin (Board of Revenue) Mints are not mentioned in the Chamber of Commerce list.\n\nThe \"Peiyang Kuan Pao\" gives the share of profits each mint is ordered to provide annually towards the expenditure of the `Lien-ping-chu` (Military Commission), amounting to a total of 7,050,000 taels. Doubtless these mints will continue to give a profit, at least until the quantity of coin produced by them reaches the point at which no more can be absorbed by internal commerce. It is not unlikely, however, that the Chinese Government imagine that they have here a perennial source of profit, and to warn them against the danger of depreciation owing to over-issue seems a quite legitimate step for the Representatives of Powers to take who have Treaties containing a clause similar to Article II of the British Commercial Treaty of 1902. Whether the Representatives of Powers which have not concluded such Treaties can nevertheless appeal to the British, American, and Japanese is, of course, a question for them to decide.\n\nThe Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce refers the Diplomatic Body to the statements given on pp. 12 and 13 of the \"Report on the Trade of China, and Abstract of Statistics,\" published this year by the Imperial Maritime Customs. This publication estimates the output for 1904 at 1,745,000,000 copper pieces (variously denoted as \"one-hundredth of a dollar\" and \"ten mills\"), while the Chairman of the Chamber estimates that when the whole of the mints, new and old, are in operation the annual output will be 16,413,000,000 pieces, or nearly ten times as many.\n\nAn explanation of the apparent difference between these two estimates is to be desired. And further, as these new coins are presumably to replace the existing cash, it would be useful if the Chairman of the Chamber could inform us how many of such pieces (including fractional coins such as he speaks of in the last paragraph of his letter) would, in the opinion of his Chamber, be required for a population of 400,000,000 people.\n\nThe Chairman remarks that \"in permitting the provincial authorities to produce these 10 cash pieces in varying intrinsic values she (China) is evading her Treaty obligations.\" Something more explicit than this statement is necessary as a foundation for a remonstrance to the Chinese Government against evasion of her Treaty obligations. It is desirable that precise information, accompanied by expert evidence, should be furnished as to what mints have produced 10-cash pieces of a less intrinsic value than the assumed standard, and to what extent such issues vary from the standard.\n\nJune 24, 1905.\n\n## Inclosure 22 in No. 1\n### Consul Ker to Sir E. Satow\n\nWuhu, December 15, 1904.\n\nI beg to inclose copies of a private correspondence that has passed between Mr. E. S. Little and myself on the subject of mining rights of foreigners in the interior. Mr. Little maintains that the Mackay Treaty \"gives foreigners exactly the same right to buy and hold land as the natives anywhere in the interior.\"\n\nI am unable to accept this view, and as Mr. Little says that he is about to see you on the subject, I think it well that you should know exactly what I wrote to him. If my interpretation of the Treaty is wrong, I should be grateful for instructions.\n\n### Mr. E. S. Little to Consul Ker\n\nShanghae, December 1, 1904.\n\nI am sorry to find on my return your letter cutting short Ede's Concession. I do not yet know what we shall do about it, but it is a pity that the Minister has taken the view he has. One of the oldest and most respected merchants in Shanghae said to me a day or two ago, in connection with another enterprise, \"I would not put a penny into any British affair; the only people who get any support are the Germans.\" It is absolutely...\n\nPage 252\nPage 23\nPage 22\nPage 4", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403513, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 422, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "## 415 \n\n### 22 \n\nIn a recent issue of the \"Peiyang Kuan Pao,\" anterior to the 6th June, it is stated that there are eighteen mints for the production of copper coins. Of these, the Kuanghsi, Yünnan, Fengtien, and Tien-tsin (Board of Revenue) Mints are not mentioned in the Chamber of Commerce list.\n\nThe \"Peiyang Kuan Pao\" gives the share of profits each mint is ordered to provide annually towards the expenditure of the Lien-ping-chu (Military Commission), amounting to a total of 7,050,000 taels. Doubtless these mints will continue to give a profit, at least until the quantity of coin produced by them reaches the point at which no more can be absorbed by internal commerce. It is not unlikely, however, that the Chinese Government imagine that they have here a perennial source of profit, and to warn them against the danger of depreciation owing to over-issue seems a quite legitimate step for the Representatives of Powers to take who have Treaties containing a clause similar to Article II of the British Commercial Treaty of 1902. Whether the Representatives of Powers which have not concluded such Treaties can nevertheless appeal to the British, American, and Japanese is, of course, a question for them to decide.\n\nThe Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce refers the Diplomatic Body to the statements given on pp. 12 and 13 of the \"Report on the Trade of China, and Abstract of Statistics,\" published this year by the Imperial Maritime Customs. This publication estimates the output for 1904 at 1,745,000,000 copper pieces (variously denoted as \"one-hundredth of a dollar\" and \"ten mills\"), while the Chairman of the Chamber estimates that when the whole of the mints, new and old, are in operation, the annual output will be 16,413,000,000 pieces, or nearly ten times as many.\n\nAn explanation of the apparent difference between these two estimates is to be desired. And further, as these new coins are presumably to replace the existing cash, it would be useful if the Chairman of the Chamber could inform us how many of such pieces (including fractional coins such as he speaks of in the last paragraph of his letter) would, in the opinion of his Chamber, be required for a population of 400,000,000 people.\n\nThe Chairman remarks that \"in permitting the provincial authorities to produce these 10 cash pieces in varying intrinsic values, she (China) is evading her Treaty obligations.\" Something more explicit than this statement is necessary as a foundation for a remonstrance to the Chinese Government against evasion of her Treaty obligations. It is desirable that precise information, accompanied by expert evidence, should be furnished as to what mints have produced 10-cash pieces of a less intrinsic value than the assumed standard, and to what extent such issues vary from the standard.\n\nJune 24, 1905.\n\n### 23 \n\nAgain, Chou Fu, Acting Viceroy of the Liang Kiang, proposed in a Memorial last year that the mints for copper coin should be amalgamated, pointing out that the establishment of every new mint meant another addition to the expenditure, and that differences in the qualities of the coins produced by these various mints was a serious inconvenience. He therefore counselled greater care in this question.\n\nThe Board agrees that, though the increased minting of copper coins is desirable, yet the issue of them from an unlimited number of mints is inexpedient. After much consultation, the Board has come to the conclusion that the abolition of the already existing mints would be attended with difficulty, but they consider that the high provincial authorities should carefully superintend their operations and should not establish additional branch mints. No new mints for the coinage of copper should be started in places where they do not now exist, and if there is a necessity for the introduction of copper coins in such places, the authorities should be instructed to pay over a sum of money to the mint of a neighbouring province, which would then return the equivalent in copper coin. In important places where the erection of a mint is desirable, this Board will inquire into the circumstances, and, when the head mint at Tien-tsin is in operation, will gradually establish branch mints at Shanghae and other ports with a view to furnishing a uniform currency.\n\nOrders were given by the Board, when the erection of mints in the provinces was first permitted, that monthly reports of their operation should be made. Up to the present, though the mints have been in operation for a long time, the officials have shown of what little importance they consider the currency question by altogether neglecting to do so. The Board, therefore, with a view to saving correspondence and exercising thorough supervision, requests that the high provincial authorities may be called on to strictly direct the officials in charge of the mints to furnish collective annual reports, and also to forward without delay copies of the Local Regulations with regard to the minting and issue of coin to the Board for inspection.\n\nThe contributions which it has been admitted the mints should make towards the expenses of the Army Council are matters of great consequence, and further orders should be issued that these should not be allowed to fall into arrears on any pretext, but should be transmitted in full.\n\n**Imperial Rescript.--Let it be done as proposed.**\n\n### Inclosure 21 in No. 1.\n\n### Inclosure 20 in No. 1.\n\n**Memorial by the Board of Revenue urging that a Limit be set to the Minting of Copper Coin in the Provinces, and that a Uniform Currency be established.**\n\nA sound currency is the foundation of financial administration, and it is essential that coinage should be uniform. This Board has, in obedience to Imperial Edict, established a head mint at Tien-tsin for the express purpose of producing a uniform currency.\n\nThe introduction of copper coins commenced in Kuangtung. Since then, this example has been followed by other provinces in order to remedy the scarcity of cash, until now there are not less than twenty mints erected in seventeen provinces. Unless a stop is put to this, further requests will be made to erect similar mints, or to extend the operations of old ones, leading to further waste of money and greater confusion in the currency. In addition, it is feared that not only will great impetus be given to the counterfeiting of spurious coin, but also that the competition between the various mints for the purchase of foreign copper will be so great as to cause an excessive rise in the price of that article, and cause great financial losses.\n\nLast year, the Reform Council (`Cheng Wu Chu`) and the Army Council (`Lien Ping Ch'u`), in their joint Memorial on the request of Wei Kuang-tao for permission to extend his minting of copper, declared that in future, the minting of silver and copper coins ought to be wholly placed under the control of the Board of Revenue, in order that there should be uniformity in the currency and stability in the finances of the country, and, further, that the promiscuous establishment of mints throughout the province should be stopped.\n\nDear Sir Ernest,\n\n### Consul Ker to Sir E. Satow.\n\nWuhu, December 15, 1904.\n\nI beg to inclose copies of a private correspondence that has passed between Mr. E. S. Little and myself on the subject of mining rights of foreigners in the interior. Mr. Little maintains that the Mackay Treaty \"gives foreigners exactly the same right to buy and hold land as the natives anywhere in the interior.\"\n\nI am unable to accept this view, and as Mr. Little says that he is about to see you on the subject, I think it well that you should know exactly what I wrote to him. If my interpretation of the Treaty is wrong, I should be grateful for instructions.\n\nDear Mr. Ker,\n\n### Inclosure 22 in No. 1.\n\nI remain, &c.\n(Signed) W. P. KER.\n\n### Mr. E. S. Little to Consul Ker.\n\nShanghue, December 1, 1904.\n\nI am sorry to find on my return your letter cutting short Ede's Concession. I do not yet know what we shall do about it, but it is a pity that the Minister has taken the view he has. One of the oldest and most respected merchants in Shanghae said to me a day or two ago, in connection with another enterprise, \"I would not put a penny into any British affair; the only people who get any support are the Germans.\" It is absolutely... \n\n[2140 ee-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403536, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 445, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "# \n10 \n\npresents with Hparè and Tzu Chu. This would be quite enough; to the arrogant mind of the official Chinaman it would be \"receiving tribute from the submissive barbarians\" and \"conferring favours\" in return, and so it would be reported to the Yunnan authorities, who would certainly not make the inquiries sufficient to discover the fact that the barbarians were far from being submissive and regarded the matter in quite another light. Thus the Peking Government would issue its certificate to the effect that Hparè belonged to Ming Kwang Headmen and so forth. This having been done, from the Mandarins' point of view Hparè henceforth does belong to Ming Kwang, and there is no more to be said about it; if the Board of War issued a rescript to the effect that the ocean sea was made of treacle, it would be quite contrary to etiquette, and even dangerous, for the Taotai to officially assert that it consisted of salt water.\n\nAs regards geography, the Ming Kwang map is an advance on the Chinese production at Tien Tan, which may be due to the circumstances that in the interval the Taotai, who is an intelligent man, had been enlightened by us as to the geography of the country.\n\nThe Chinese claims to Hparè and Tzu Chu being of such a flimsy character, it is obvious that the claims to villages lower down the country, i.e., nearer to the N'Maikha, are even more unsubstantiated.\n\nI may here add that later on, when we reached Pien Ma, the Taotai withdrew the claims, which he had put forward on behalf of the Tso family in his map of Ming Kwang, to various Lashi villages along the further or right bank of the Ngaw Chang or Hsiao Chiang. The most important of these villages is Lung Pang, and I propose in this Report to refer to them as the Lung Pang group. They number some six villages with 120 families of Lashi Kachins.\n\nThe Taotai verbally informed me that these villages were wholly beyond control and that for many years there had been no control and no intercourse between them and the Chinese, and that therefore he considered them as \"hua wai\" or beyond the pale of civilization, and that no objections would be raised by him to Burmah taking them. Meanwhile, any of our party who went across the Ngaw Chang would go at their own risk so far as he, Taotai, was concerned.\n\nI asked him, in writing, to put this in writing, and he replied in a note which, though not quite satisfactory, amounts, I think, to a formal withdrawal of claims, which in any case were quite untenable, to the Lung Pang group. The Taotai explained to me that formerly, in Chia Ching's reign (early nineteenth century), all the Chinese Fu Yi had combined in a joint expedition against the Lashi or Châ Shan (\"Tea-hill\") Kachins, as they are known to the Chinese. They had crossed the Ngaw Chang and, with the help of a Chinese General, had established a camp beyond that river, and had subdued the whole country, which had then been divided up among the various Sawbwas or Fa Yi with the consent of the Yunnan Government.\n\nThe Lung Pang group, together with Taw Gaw and other villages on the left bank of the Ngaw Chang, had been assigned to the Ming Kwang Fu Yi, who had already, according to the Taotai, owned Hparè and Tzu Chu, which were not concerned in the campaign, since the Ming Kwang dynasty.\n\nUnder the above arrangement, Chi Kaw and Shang Lou, on the Ngaw Chang near Lung Pang, had been assigned to the Chinese Fu Yi or leadman of Ta Tang, while Pien Ma and some villages near the left bank of the headwaters of the Ngaw Chang had been given to the Teng Keng Headman on the Salween. This was the history of the Ming Kwang claims.\n\nThe story told by the Kachins themselves is somewhat different. They state that several generations ago (their ideas of time are vague) the Chinese came and raided the Ngaw Chang country, burning many villages and killing many persons. They then retired back to China, and the Lung Pang Dawa, who was considered to be the Chief of all the Lashi, gathered his forces and made a counter-raid, in the course of which he ravaged the Ming Kwang Valley down to Ku Tung Bazaar, burned the village of Teng Keng, and killed two members of the family of the Chinese Fu Yi (surname Tuan).\n\nAfter this, there were negotiations and peace was concluded, the various Kachin villages agreeing to exchange presents with the various Chinese Fu Yi, Hparê, Tzu Chu, Taw Gaw, the Kan Sheng Valley villages, and Hsieh Chiang, with Ming Kwang; Shang Lou with Ta Tang; Pien Ma with Teng Keng; and so forth. But neither the Lung Pang group nor any other of these villages were ever in any sense politically subject to China or took any cognizance of the action of the Chinese Government in assigning these districts to the various Chinese Fu Yi, and these villages have never been, and are not now, subject to any administrative control from the Chinese side.\n\nOf these two stories, which clearly refer to the same events, the Kachin version \n## 11 \nis probably nearer to the truth. The case for Chinese control in the N'Maikha basin rests mainly on mythical campaigns and imaginary victories. The doughty deeds which the Taotai related to me concerning the former Ming Kwang and other Chinese Headmen would do credit to Amadis de Gaul and the other famous knights, the recital of whose res geste put Don Quixote out of his wits; and the stories of the Chinese heroes are probably just about as true as those of the Castilian. At any rate, the slipshod, incompetent, opium-smoking Chinamen who now represent these families have lamentably degenerated from the glory of their ancestors.\n\nMr. Leveson returned from Tzu Chu into the Ming Kwang Valley on the 10th April by a pass 9,000 feet high, some 6 miles above our former camp at Cha Shan Ho. The surveyors having completed their work of mapping the watershed up to its junction with the Salween divide, we then moved up to the head of the wild and beautiful Ming Kwang Valley, where the whole party, including the Taotai, was reunited on the 12th April, near the hamlet of Ta Chu Pa, some 12 miles from Ming Kwang Fu Yi's residence.\n\nI had visited this place last year, and we found no difficulty in engaging Lisu coolies to help us over the pass to Pien Ma. The representative of a Tengyuch firm, which is engaged in the carriage of coffin wood from the Ngaw Chang, also found us some twenty porters who had been bringing out wood.\n\n## V. Pien Ma and the Upper Ngaw Chang.\n\nFrom Ta Chu Pa over into the N'Maikha basin and so to Pien Ma is only 28 miles, and the pass is only 9,000 feet; but owing to the weather and the state of roads, or rather tracks, we divided into three parties. The Taotai went first and was caught, in the dense sunless forest which covers the N'Maikha side of the pass, by a downpour of rain which continued twelve hours. All the streams, and there were some two dozen of them to cross, were so flooded that it was impossible to get forward, and the Taotai had to spend the night crouched under a fallen tree without his rice or his opium.\n\nThanks to my friends the Ta Chu Pa Lisu, I was more fortunate and succeeded in getting out of the forest to the first village and a fair camp on the N'Maikha side (Tsui Ho, ten Lisu huts) just before dark, after a tramp of 9 miles literally through a continuous quagmire varied in places by watercourses. The surveyors spent a damp night in the forest under canvas, but minus their beddings. Mr. Leveson came through the next day, but much of the transport was bogged, and several mules half-killed in the mud. We were not all reassembled at the village of Pien Ma, 9 miles north of Tsui Ho, till the 17th April.\n\nThe Taotai took up his quarters at the Headman's house, while we camped outside the village.\n\nPien Ma (in Lashi \"Hpi Maw\") consists of forty houses of Lashi Kachins, picturesquely scattered about along steep hill-sides, above a rushing torrent, and entirely surrounded by lofty mountains. The elevation is 6,500 feet. There is a strip of wet cultivation along the brook, which leads by a defile beyond the village straight down to the Ngaw Chang, which it joins 6 miles from Pien Ma.\n\nI may here notice the marked difference between the country on the Chinese and on the N'Maikha side of the watershed. In China, the broad upland plains of Tien Tan, Ming Kwang, Ta Tang, divided from each other by regular ranges, ascend gradually to the divide; but on the N'Maikha side, the country rapidly falls down from the divide (average elevation 10,000 feet) to the Ngaw Chang (average elevation 3,000 feet). This space is intersected in every direction by elaborate and steep ridges and spurs, with a complication of lateral valleys and innumerable mountain torrents. It is very difficult to find a piece of level ground anywhere in this country; the villages are all narrow, broken, and enclosed by towering cliffs. By far the largest area is occupied by dense forest or steep rocky hill-sides, where habitations, or even the possibility of habitations, are very limited and far between. I dwell on this in order to demonstrate how difficult it would be to make a frontier criss-cross through such a country.\n\nLast year I expressed a fear that Chinese cultivators might soon extend over into the N'Maikha side, which would render the settlement of the frontier far more difficult; but after examination on the spot, I am of the opinion that my fears were unfounded. There are now five Chinese near Pien Ma, and they reside there in consequence of trade relations. The upper slopes on the N'Maikha side are not susceptible of cultivation, while the paddy-fields lower down are strongly held by Lashis, who are in sufficient force to resist Chinese intrusion.\n\n## 438", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403649, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 558, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "# 551 \n**This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.** \n\n## CHINA TRADE \n**CONFIDENTIAL.** \n\nC.O. \n41448 \n[November 4.] \nRECE [REG 21 NOV 05 \n\n### SECTION 1. \n**(No. 301.)** My Lord, \n\n#### No. 1. \n**Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received November 4.)** \n\nPeking, September 8, 1905. IN continuation of my despatch No. 252 of the 17th July, I have the honour to inclose translation of a telegram from the Board of Revenue to the Provincial Governments, warning them that at the present rate of coining the requirements of the population in the way of copper currency will be met in little more than a year. The Board proposes to obtain the issue of a decree insuring that the \"touch\" of the copper coinage shall be uniform, and the mints shall begin striking silver coins, if it is found that the quantity of copper in circulation is sufficient. The memorial referred to in this telegram is apparently that of which a copy was forwarded in my despatch No. 242 of the 11th July. \n\nI have, &c. \n**(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.** \n\n### Inclosure in No. 1. \n#### Extract from the \"Pei Ching Jih Pao\" of September 5, 1905. \n**THE CURRENCY.** \n\nTHE Board of Revenue has telegraphed to the Provincial Governments on the currency question as follows:- \n\n\"On the issue of the Imperial Rescript, in response to the Memorial of the Board advocating the limitation of coining of copper pieces, the Board communicated with the Provincial Governments. But the provinces are still establishing new mints and adding to their minting machinery, and the monthly output of copper coin is estimated at over 40,000,000 pieces. At this rate it is calculated that in a little more than a year a sufficient quantity will have been coined, and any further production will be superfluous, and lead to a fall in the exchange and to a disastrous flooding of the market. The Board therefore proposes to request the issue of a decree authorizing the Board to appoint officials to regulate the touch of the coin in order to introduce uniformity, and, if the number of pieces in circulation is sufficient, to start the minting of silver instead. The Board is sending this telegram beforehand for your information, and requests the honour of a reply.\" \n\n`[2247 d--1]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403650, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 559, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "# CHINA TRADE\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n**(No. 307.) My Lord,**\nNo. 1.\nC. O.\n41448\nRECEIVED November 4, 1905\n552\n(REG! 21 NOV 05 · SECTION 2)\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received November 4.)\n\nPeking, September 17, 1905.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 301 of the 8th instant, I have the honour to inclose herewith the translation of a Memorial to the throne from the Financial Commission and the Board of Revenue, presenting for approval certain Regulations drawn up for the purpose of introducing a uniform currency throughout the Empire.\n\nThe memorialists begin by stating that they have reported in another Memorial, to which I shall refer later on, the establishment of a head mint at Tien-tsin. They go on to briefly sketch out the history of the coinage of dollars in China, which began at Canton, and was afterwards extended to other mints. As the coins, however, which were produced at the various mints, differed in style, touch, and weight, much confusion ensued. Certain coins would not circulate beyond certain boundaries, and none of them ever obtained so wide a circulation as the Mexican dollar.\n\nThe memorialists then draw attention to the evils which have arisen from the minting of copper coins in the various provinces. This minting was first introduced in order to meet a deficiency of cash, but as the coins have obtained the popular favour, large profits have been made, and there has been keen competition in establishing new mints.\n\nAs a result, minting machinery, copper, and zinc have risen in price, while the value of the new coin has fallen. In a few years the mints will find it difficult to issue their coin, and will suffer great losses. Moreover, the licence given to the provinces in regard to mints is not in accord with the provisions in certain Commercial Treaties with foreign countries relative to the establishment of a uniform currency.\n\nIn foreign countries, the memorialists point out, it is a general rule that the three kinds of coin—gold, silver, and copper—are produced at one mint, which is under the control of the Government, who regulate the amount of coin put into circulation, and fluctuations in its value are thus avoided. One mint, however, would not suffice for China, and it is therefore proposed that subsidiary mints should be allowed. As the supply of copper coins is still inadequate, it is further proposed that their coinage should be temporarily allowed to continue at existing mints, but the coins minted at them must be uniform and issued at the same price. Infractions of these Regulations will entail the suspension of the offending mint and the punishment of the officials concerned. The advisability of continuing to mint in the provinces will be considered from time to time, and whenever the supply of coins is sufficient, orders will be given for the suspension of minting operations.\n\nThe memorialists append ten Regulations, embodying their recommendations, for communication to the provinces, if they obtain the Imperial sanction. This has been given in an Imperial Rescript, \"Let the Regulations be issued as recommended.”\n\nThe Regulations in question are to the following effect:—\n\n| Regulation | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1 | It is proposed that when the weight and fineness of the silver coinage has been decided on, it shall be solely minted at Tien-tsin, but that the Canton, Peiyang, Hupei, and Nanyang Mints shall be retained as subsidiary mints, which will be supplied with model dies from Tien-tsin. Instructions are given for the minting of precisely similar coins at the different mints, which must send specimens of their coins to the Government assayers. |\n| 2 | Deals with the copper coinage for which model dies will also be issued. Existing mints may continue, but not extend, their operations, and no new mint may be opened. |\n| 3 | Regulates the production of the provincial mints in regard to the daily issue of copper coins of different values. |\n| 4 | Enjoins on the officials the necessity of observing the money market, of fixing the exchange in relation to silver, and of issuing and recalling coin as circumstances require. Brokers may not make any discount, nor may the mints issue coin below its face value in order to make greater profits. |\n\n(2247 d―2)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403651, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 560, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "# 553\n\n## Regulation 5 forbids the wholesale export of copper coin from one province to another so as to create a surplus. Provinces requiring copper coin must apply to Tien-tsin for it, but the more distant ones may obtain it from the nearest provincial mint.\n\n## Regulation 6. Provincial mints shall report their proceedings to the Financial Commission and Board of Revenue every three months and annually.\n\nBy Regulation 7 certain provinces whose sycee contributions to the Imperial Exchequer are of finest touch, will be directed to send such contributions direct to the mint at Tien-tsin.\n\n## Regulation 8. Applications from merchants for permission to mint copper coins on the payment of royalties are not to be entertained, nor may private capital be invested in the mints.\n\n## Regulation 9. The coins minted by the head mint are to be current in all the provinces.\n\n## Regulation 10 prohibits the purchase of Japanese copper blanks, which merely require stamping before being put into circulation, as they are probably not of the requisite standard, and are often sold to counterfeiters. A standard has now been settled, and the mints should be able to produce sufficient blanks for their requirements.\n\nThe Memorial respecting the establishment of a head mint at Tien-tsin, to which I referred in the second paragraph of this despatch, and of which a précis in translation is inclosed, states that this mint was already fit for use last spring, and that the first trial minting was made on the 10th June. As the machinery does not yet run quite smoothly, the output of coin is not as great as was contracted for, but it will be gradually increased with practice. As soon as better results are obtained silver will be minted and more machinery purchased. Eight rules regulating the operations of the mint are presented for the information of the throne.\n\nThe first contains the official name of the Tien-tsin Mint and the names of the coins which it will produce.\n\nIt is stated in the second rule that, as the weight and touch of the gold and silver coins have yet to be settled, only copper coins will be minted at first, of certain given weights and values.\n\nThe third rule relates to the disposal of the profits of the mint, and the fourth to the localities in which the copper coins are first to be circulated.\n\nBy the fifth rule all the coins minted will be handed to the Board of Revenue for issue, the latter paying the face value of the coin and not the cost price.\n\nThe three last rules relate to the discipline of the employés, the submission of an annual report to the Board, and the disposal of the revenue received from the issue of the copper coin.\n\nThese Regulations, if they are really brought into effect and conscientiously carried out, should go far towards the solution of the question of a uniform currency for China. But time will be needed for the introduction of these reforms in their entirety, which will no doubt excite the opposition and obstruction of the provincial authorities, who see themselves now deprived of what has been hitherto a lucrative source of income. In any case, the publication of the Regulations is a long step in the right direction, whatever may be the immediate outcome of this first attempt to reform the national currency of this Empire.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) **ERNEST SATOW**\n\n## Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\n### Memorial\n\n**MEMORIAL** of the Financial Commission (`Tsai Cheng Ch'a`) and the Board, presenting for approval the Regulations which they have drawn up to be enforced in all the provinces for the purpose of introducing a uniform currency.\n\n(From the `\"Peiyang Kuan Pao\"` of the 8th September, 1905.)\n\nThe memorialists state that they have reported in another Memorial the establishment of a head mint at Tien-tsin in obedience to the Imperial commands. This having been done, it is now their duty to carry out the wish of the throne to introduce a uniform currency by drawing up a set of rules regulating the minting of coin throughout the Empire.\n\nThe coinage of dollars by China was started in Canton to stop the influx of foreign dollars and to remedy the scarcity of copper coin. Afterwards mints were from time to time established in Hupeh, Kiangnan, Chibli, Chekiang, Anhui, Fengtien, and Kirin and the coining of dollars started. But as the coins produced in these various mints differed both in style, touch, and weight, much confusion resulted, so that a certain coin would not circulate beyond certain boundaries, and none of them ever had so wide a circulation as the Mexican dollar, which is current from North to South China. Within the last few years the minting of copper coins has been introduced to meet the deficiency of cash, and as they have obtained the popular favour large profits have been made by the mints which the various provinces have competed to be first in establishing. As a result of this competition the price of minting machinery and of copper and zinc has gone up, while the value of the new coin has fallen, and it is feared that, if this independent state of affairs continues, this evil will be further exaggerated, and after some years the mints will find it difficult to issue their coin and will suffer great losses. Moreover, the licence given to the provinces with regard to mints is very far from establishing the uniform currency which is provided for by the recent Commercial Treaties with foreign Powers.\n\nIn foreign countries it is a general rule that the three kinds of coin—gold, silver, and copper—are produced at one mint, which is under the control of the Government, which regulates the amount of coin minted according to the excess or deficiency in circulation. By this means fluctuations in the value of the coin are avoided. But it seems probable that for a large country like China one mint would be insufficient, and it is therefore proposed that the Nanyang, Peiyang, Hupei, and Kuangtung Mints, which have been selected because their operations have the most satisfactory results, shall be created branch mints for the coinage of silver. The coinage of copper, which as yet has been insufficient, will be allowed to be continued temporarily at the mints now working, but as proposed in the Board's previous Memorial, the establishment of the new mints should not be allowed. The memorialists will still take care that the coin minted by them is uniform and issued at the same price. If the appended Regulations are not obeyed, the operations of the offending mint will be suspended and the officials responsible punished.\n\nThe advisability of continuing to mint in the provinces should be considered from time to time, and whenever a sufficient supply of coin has been produced the Board will, if circumstances require it, order the temporary suspension of operations. Such order must be complied with by the provinces, who will not be allowed to continue minting on the pretext that they are in need of funds. If these steps are taken an excessive production of coin will be avoided, and it is hoped the coins will be circulated as if they were all issued by the same mint.\n\nThe memorialists humbly present, for the Imperial information, the ten Regulations which they have drawn up. Should they receive the Imperial sanction, the memorialists will communicate them to the provinces, who will be instructed to conform thereto.\n\n### Imperial Rescript\n\nLet the Regulations be issued as recommended.\n\n### Regulations for the Reform of the Currency\n\n1. At the present moment it is most desirable that the currency be reformed and unified. It is proposed that when the weight and fineness have been decided on, the silver coinage shall be solely minted at the Tien-tsin Mint; but the Nanyang, Peiyang, Hupei, and Canton Mints will be retained as subsidiary mints, which will be supplied with model dies from the Tien-tsin Mint. The coin issued by these mints will be of the same touch, weight, and design. At each separate coining the mints shall send to the `Tsai Cheng Ch'u` samples of the coins minted, which will be tested as to their weight and fineness by the assayers appointed by the Board of Revenue. The amount of \"remedy\" allowed in weight and fineness when the coins are issued shall not exceed ... per cent. If the coins do not come up to standard the whole coining shall be melted down and reminted, and the persons responsible punished. The Head Mint at Tien-tsin is under the direct management of the `Ts'ai Cheng Ch'u`, and the four subsidiary mints will be inspected by capable officials appointed by the `Tsai Cheng Ch'u` and the Board of Revenue.\n\nPage 3 \n[2247 d-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403709, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 618, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "# 611 \nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Goverment)\n\n## 144 \n### CHINA TRADE. \n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n[December 2 \n\n(REC 25 SECTION 3. \n\n### No. 1. \n**(No. 345.)** My Lord, \n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne,~~(Received December 2.) \n\nPeking, October 19, 1905. I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith, in continuation of my despatch No. 387 of the 13th instant, précis of a Memorial of the Board of Revenue which appeared in the Peking Gazette of the 13th instant, respecting the cessation of the coining of Peking \"ten-cash\" pieces. \n\nE6 \n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) **ERNEST SATOW**.\n\n### Inclosure in No. 1. \n#### Extract from the \"Gazette\" of October 13, 1905. \n##### Précis of Memorial of the Board of Revenue, September 17, 1905. \n**CESSATION OF THE COINING OF THE PEKING “TEN-CASH PIECES.** \n\nThe memorialists state that the Head Mint at Tien-tsin has started operations, and copper coins are being experimentally minted. Measures for the introduction of the new coin must be carefully thought out and discussed. \n\nThe Peking ten-cash pieces only circulate within a few miles of the capital, and their production by the Pao-chuan and Pao-yuan mints annually results in large deficits on account of labour and material. The present depleted state of the Treasury necessitates the exercise of strict economy. In addition, while the weight of the Peking cash is the same as the new ten-cash pieces, their touch and current value are quite different; the simultaneous circulation of these two kinds of coin, which have similar names, would lead to confusion and much inconvenience. The unification of the currency being now contemplated, it seems inexpedient that the production of the Peking cash should be continued, even though their withdrawal from circulation may be at present impracticable. \n\nThe memorialists therefore propose that the coinage of Peking ten-cash pieces at the Pao-chuan and Pao-yuan mints should be stopped from the end of the 9th moon (27th October). But in order to prevent a scarcity of coin in the Peking district, two workshops belonging to the Pao-chuan mint should be retained to turn out ordinary small cash; the copper and alloy remaining in the Pao-chuan mint, and the Pao-yuan mint being handed over to them for that purpose. The remaining workshops of the Pao-chuan mint and the Pao-yuan mint should then be shut down and the employés dismissed. \n\nAny further matters requiring attention will be made the subject of a further Memorial. \n\n**Imperial Rescript.** Let it be done as recommended. \n\n`[2296 6-3]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 404745, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-333 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [1-4]", "page_number": 483, "title": "CO129-333 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [1-4]", "content_text": "# Memorandum of an interview with the Acting Viceroy of Canton, Tsin Chun Toan & D′9.8 Homise on 23/3/06\n\nI spoke to the Viceroy about China's National Credit and said that it stood high in the commercial world because of the faithful fulfillment of her agreements. I said that the effect could be most serious if China were to repudiate the preliminary contract signed in March 1899 for the construction of the Kowloon Canton Railway. The Viceroy replied that he did recognize its validity of the preliminary contract referred to and that four days before, he had caused a letter to be written to the Consul General (Scott) saying this in response to his memorial; an imperial rescript had been issued, authorizing the commencement of negotiations for the final contract. He expressed the hope that its conditions would not be the same as the Shanghai Nanking Railway but that they would be to some degree modified. I said that I felt sure that the Governor of Hongkong would act to have the conditions made acceptable to China but that an essential preliminary was frank recognition of the validity of the preliminary contract. He said he did recognize its validity.\n\nThen he proceeded to state the terms that China desired and mentioned terms which were obviously those suggested by the Peking Shanghai Kwan railway loan, but he did not mention the name of that railway. I said that I was not concerned with specific terms for the railway but that China was concerned with repudiation and recognition. My conversation with him did not touch on this.\n\nHe spoke of the agreement formally entered into by the Chinese Government whereby the construction of the Shanghai Nanking railway and of the Kowloon Canton Railway was to be entrusted to the British Corporation on terms not inferior to those granted in the case of the Peking Hankow railway loan, amongst others. I said that this formal undertaking bound China to grant the same terms in the case of the Kowloon Railway as were granted in the case of the Shanghai railway, with some modification. I felt sure the British could be made reasonable. He repeated the hope that the terms of the Shanghai railway would in this case be modified.\n\nI reminded him that the money could be obtained for the construction of a railway that was not controlled by the Syndicate through whom it was obtained. I saw that the inclusion of a redemption clause such as has been inserted in the British and other different railway contracts absolutely safeguarded the rights of China. I reminded him that in the case, for example, of the Peking Hankow Railway, China can redeem the bonds at any time after December 7, 1907, by payment of £4,000,000; she has then a fully equipped railway of 700 miles at present managed by the Belgians and French.\n\nThe net result of my conversation was that I formed the opinion that he could consent to the terms of the Shanghai Kwan line and subsequently ascertained this through the Consul General who believed that he could with reasonable hope of success undertake negotiations on this basis.\n\n## Note\n\n\"I understand that the chief objection of the British Corporation to the Shanghai Kwan loan agreement is to the omission of any clause providing that all materials for the construction of the line shall be obtained through the Corporation.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-333 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 406876, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 172, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "169\n\nwas a non-binding document, which although authorised by the Tsung-li-Yamen, had not formally received the Emperor's sanction, and moreover Clause 5 of this agreement seemed specially to provide for a state of affairs such as now existed.\n\nMr. Ross, replying to the foregoing remarks, told the Deputies that if they would refer to their archives, date he believed about the end of the year 1898, they would discover correspondence which passed between Sheng Kungpao and the then Viceroy of Canton, on the subject of this railway. In the letters referred to (copies of which Mr. Ross had read) Sheng explained the instructions he had received from the Throne, quoting these in full with the Imperial rescript. Under such circumstances it was therefore quite incorrect to state that the matter had not received the Emperor's sanction. (Mr. Tebbitt here stated that the date of the Imperial Edict in question was about October 1896).\n\nThe Deputies professed surprise to learn of the existence of this correspondence, and said they would examine the Viceroy's records about the date mentioned.\n\nMr. Ross said, with reference to clause 5 of the Preliminary Agreement, he had personally drafted this clause in 1899 at Shanghai; the local difficulties then apprehended were interference with survey parties, fengshui prejudices, and trouble over the removal of graves &c., for all of which Sheng said the Viceroy of Canton would, if necessary, make arrangements. His Excellency however, was apparently disinclined to make arrangements to meet local difficulties, and in whatever sense this clause might be read, such an attitude could neither be regarded as the spirit nor the letter of the clause in question.\n\nMr. Wen continuing his remarks, said that while they did not intend that the cancellation of the Agreement should entail any monetary compensation as was exacted by the American Company over the Yüan Han line the Viceroy understood that the Corporation had been put to some expense over a survey of the proposed route of the line, and His Excellency was willing to refund such outlay, but as...\n\nexistence", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 406911, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 207, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "The new Commercial Treaties with foreign Powers provide for the introduction of a uniform currency. If China does not exert herself to do so now, but delays till matters are beyond repair, she will become the laughing-stock of foreigners, and find herself in still further troubles.\n\nYour servants, after joint deliberation, find that there is now no lack of copper coin in the provinces, and consider that the output must be restricted without delay before it is too late. They now make the following proposals:-\n\nThe output of coin in the large provinces of Kiangsu, Hupei, and Kuangtung will be limited to 1,000,000 pieces each per diem; in Chibli and Szechuan to 600,000; in other provinces to 300,000. The touch and weight will, in accordance with the Board of Revenue's Regulations, be exactly similar. Your servants will from time to time send officials to make inspections, and if it is found that the Regulations are not obeyed, the officials of the mint concerned will be severely dealt with. Provinces without mints will not be permitted to start them, but Shansi and Shensi and adjacent provinces will be supplied from the Board of Revenue Head Mint, Kueichou, &c., from Szechuan, and other provinces. The import of copper blanks from abroad for the use of the provincial mints was forbidden in the previous Memorial; but it has been found that contracts had been made for the supply of these blanks before the Regulations were sanctioned. In such cases importation will be allowed. The blanks, which have been bought in very large quantities, come from various countries, and are not uniform in weight or touch. Confusion would result from continuing to mint them, and they must therefore be melted, brought up to standard touch, and then minted. If the coins are then found not to be up to standard, the officials responsible will be strictly punished. The sanction of the Financial Commission and the Board of Revenue must be obtained by telegraph for all purchases of copper, and they will instruct the Customs to allow importation.\n\nThe mints must no longer be known under their old name, but as the Board of Revenue Branch Mints of such a Province.\" The old dies of various types used in the provincial mints must be no longer used; the minting operations must be suspended till the pattern dies issued by the Board of Revenue are received. The provinces must report to the Financial Commission and the Board of Revenue, within three months' time, the yearly output of each mint, the total amount of coin produced since its establishment, the amount of coin in stock, an estimate of the requirements of the population, the number of districts in which the coins are already current, and the amount of material and copper in stock unused. The Commission and Board will thus be enabled to calculate whether there is a surplus or deficiency of these coins. The Head Mint will lose no time in having the pattern dies engraved and distributed to the mints, who will then recommence minting. In this manner the manufacture of copper coin will be regulated according to current requirements. In addition, in pursuance of the above-mentioned Regulations, the provinces will be called on to open Government assay shops in connection with the Board of Revenue Bank, which will issue silver and copper coin at fixed rates of exchange, so as to prevent an excess of copper coin, and fluctuations in value.\n\nYour servants consider that these measures are absolutely necessary for the financial welfare of the Empire, and the high provincial authorities should, in view of the importance of the currency question and in the interests of the whole Empire, unite in endeavouring to further their execution. Should the proposals receive your Majesties' sanction, instructions will be issued for their universal execution.\n\nThe continuance of copper coining in the provinces under certain restrictions is, however, a temporary measure. Minting must be suspended at times when there is an excess of coin, and therefore the profits gained thereon are not a trustworthy source of revenue. We pray that the provincial Governments may be instructed to find other means of raising revenue in substitution of them so that the reform of the army and other important reform measures may not be hindered. Your servants respectfully present the above Memorial proposing restrictions on the output of copper coin for the consideration of your Majesties.\n\nImperial Rescript. ----Approved.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nSupplementary Memorial.\n\nA SUPPLEMENTARY Memorial of the Financial Commission and the Board of Revenue reporting the hurried exportation of copper coin from Chekiang and Fukien in contravention of the regulations, and requesting the punishment of the official responsible.\n\nIT is clearly provided in the Regulations for the reform of the currency drawn up by your servants, that the copper coin minted in the provinces must be first restricted in circulation to the province of origin, and must not be exported in large consignments out of the province. Those Regulations were sanctioned and put into force on the 21st August last. We are now informed by the Wai-wu Pu that they are in receipt of a note from the British Minister, in which he states that according to a report of the Consul at Chefoo a consignment of thirty-five cases of copper coin, which had been conveyed from Shanghae by the British firm Messrs. Cornabe Eckford & Co., had been stopped by the Customs at Chefoo although covered by a certificate for the export of copper cash obtained at Shanghae.\n\nIn reply to telegraphic inquiries by your servants, the Viceroy of the Liang Kiang stated that when silver and cash is exported a bond is required from the foreign firm, but in the case of copper coin (not cash), passes granted by the provincial Government are taken as guarantees. The consignment of thirty-five cases of Chekiang copper coin conveyed by Messrs. Cornabe Eckford to Chefoo were covered by a pass from the Governor of Chekiang, Nieh Chi-kuei, and were therefore, after inspection by the Shanghae customs, allowed to be re-exported. In addition, Chekiang wishes to consign, through the Shanghae customs, a further 230 cases of copper coin to Tsingtai.\n\nA further telegram from the Viceroy of the Liang Kiang states that the Foochow Tartar General, Ch'ung Shan, telegraphed that the Foochow Mint was indebted to Shanghae for the value of certain copper supplied. In settlement of this no time would be lost in minting and forwarding to Shanghae copper coins to the number of 14,000,000. Of these, 4,000,000 had already been consigned and the remainder would follow as soon as possible in instalments. In spite of repeated telegrams to stop these consignments, a further telegram was received from the Tartar General that on the night of the 8th November 8,000,000 coins had been shipped to Shanghae.\n\nYour servants would observe that the previous Memorial provides that if the accompanying Regulations are disobeyed, the Mint concerned will be ordered to suspend its operations and a Memorial will be presented requesting the punishment of the offending persons. The Regulations have now been in force for a considerable time, and yet Chekiang and Fukien have not only not ceased exporting coin as directed, but, on the contrary, are endeavouring to do so more than ever in flat contempt of the Regulations.\n\nIn addition, therefore, to our Memorial proposing the temporary suspension of the minting of copper, it is our duty, in accordance with the Regulations, to request that the Fukien and Chekiang Mint officials be degraded and handed to the Board for punishment. The Governor of Chekiang, Nieh Chi-Kuei, and the Tartar General Ch'ung Shan, of Fukien, who in issuing after the Regulations came into force passes enabling large consignments of copper coin to be exported, are also guilty of a dereliction of duty, and we pray that a Decree be issued handing their cases to the Board to be dealt with.\n\nWe humbly present this supplementary Memorial for your Majesty's consideration.\n\nImperial Rescript.--Approved,\n\n204", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407054, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 350, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "CONFIDENTIAL.\n\n$495]\n\nNo. 97.)\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[April 21.]\n\n1857A\n\nSECTION 3REE 26 MAY OF\n\nSir E. Satow to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 21.)\n\nPeking, March 6, 1906.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note which I addressed to Prince Ching on the 2nd instant, calling attention to the fact that three months had elapsed since his Highness had informed me that the final copy of the new Mining Regulations was being made by the Viceroy at Wuchang, and that it would be submitted to the Throne as soon as this work was completed.\n\nIn a reply of the 5th instant, copy of which is inclosed, his Highness informed me that the Mining Regulations, as drawn up by the Viceroy, were laid before the Throne, and by Imperial Rescript referred for consideration to the Wai-wu Pu and Board of Commerce.\n\nThese Boards had not yet laid their views before the Throne.\n\nA copy of the Wuchang Viceroy's Memorial submitting the Mining Regulations to the Throne, as published in the \"Universal Gazette\" of the 28th January, is also inclosed.\n\nFrom this and previous correspondence you will observe that the delay in the promulgation of the Regulations is not due to want of repeated pressure on my part. I am inclined to think that the real difficulty in the matter is the incompatibility between the desire of the Chinese to keep the profits of mining to themselves and the expectation of foreign speculators that the Mackay Treaty will enable them to acquire mining properties as freely as they could in any part of the dominions of His Britannic Majesty. Whatever regulations may be promulgated are certain to disappoint such persons, and to evoke loud protests against the neglect of His Majesty's Government to enforce the provisions of Article IX of that Treaty.\n\nFor my own part, I am of opinion that no mines can be profitably worked in China by foreigners unless they succeed in securing the hearty good-will and cooperation of the Chinese local authorities, which our past experience and knowledge of the country scarcely permits us to hope for. In a country where we have consular jurisdiction which cannot be extended to the interior, it is, in my opinion, not prudent to encourage British subjects to invest their money in such enterprises, which must, in any case, be carried on under very great difficulties.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to Prince Ching.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nPeking, March 2, 1906.\n\nTHREE months again have elapsed since your Highness informed me that the final copy of the new Mining Regulations was being made by the Viceroy at Wuchang, and that it would be submitted to the Throne as soon as this work was completed.\n\nI have not had the honour to receive any further communication from your Highness' Board on this subject, and I now feel bound to request that I may be furnished with a copy of this document without further delay.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ch'ing to Sir E. Satow.\n\nPeking, March 5, 1906.\n\nWE have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's letter commenting on the delay in issuing the Mining Regulations, and asking that you might be furnished with a copy at an early date.\n\n(1951-3)\n\n344\n\nPage 344\n\n[end of page]\n\n[start of next page]\n\nPage 345\n\n[content of next page, if any]\n\n \nHowever, as the original text does not contain the content of the next page, the output remains as is.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n$495]\n\nNo. 97.)\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[April 21.]\n\n1857A\n\nSECTION 3REE 26 MAY OF\n\nSir E. Satow to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 21.)\n\nPeking, March 6, 1906.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note which I addressed to Prince Ching on the 2nd instant, calling attention to the fact that three months had elapsed since his Highness had informed me that the final copy of the new Mining Regulations was being made by the Viceroy at Wuchang, and that it would be submitted to the Throne as soon as this work was completed.\n\nIn a reply of the 5th instant, copy of which is inclosed, his Highness informed me that the Mining Regulations, as drawn up by the Viceroy, were laid before the Throne, and by Imperial Rescript referred for consideration to the Wai-wu Pu and Board of Commerce.\n\nThese Boards had not yet laid their views before the Throne.\n\nA copy of the Wuchang Viceroy's Memorial submitting the Mining Regulations to the Throne, as published in the \"Universal Gazette\" of the 28th January, is also inclosed.\n\nFrom this and previous correspondence you will observe that the delay in the promulgation of the Regulations is not due to want of repeated pressure on my part. I am inclined to think that the real difficulty in the matter is the incompatibility between the desire of the Chinese to keep the profits of mining to themselves and the expectation of foreign speculators that the Mackay Treaty will enable them to acquire mining properties as freely as they could in any part of the dominions of His Britannic Majesty. Whatever regulations may be promulgated are certain to disappoint such persons, and to evoke loud protests against the neglect of His Majesty's Government to enforce the provisions of Article IX of that Treaty.\n\nFor my own part, I am of opinion that no mines can be profitably worked in China by foreigners unless they succeed in securing the hearty good-will and cooperation of the Chinese local authorities, which our past experience and knowledge of the country scarcely permits us to hope for. In a country where we have consular jurisdiction which cannot be extended to the interior, it is, in my opinion, not prudent to encourage British subjects to invest their money in such enterprises, which must, in any case, be carried on under very great difficulties.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to Prince Ching.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nPeking, March 2, 1906.\n\nTHREE months again have elapsed since your Highness informed me that the final copy of the new Mining Regulations was being made by the Viceroy at Wuchang, and that it would be submitted to the Throne as soon as this work was completed.\n\nI have not had the honour to receive any further communication from your Highness' Board on this subject, and I now feel bound to request that I may be furnished with a copy of this document without further delay.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ch'ing to Sir E. Satow.\n\nPeking, March 5, 1906.\n\nWE have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's letter commenting on the delay in issuing the Mining Regulations, and asking that you might be furnished with a copy at an early date.\n\n(1951-3)\n\n344", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407055, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 351, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "We have the honour to state, in reply, that the Mining Regulations, as drawn up by the Viceroy of the Hukuang Provinces, Chang Chih-tung, were laid before the Throne, and by Imperial Rescript referred for consideration to this Board and Board of Commerce.\n\nIt is now, of course, undesirable to put a complete stop to their so doing. But the treaties which have been concluded in the past constantly contain provisions which judicially affect the interests of Chinese subjects, or encroach on the sovereignty of China. The Regulations in question are extremely complicated, and we have laid our views thereon before the Throne. When this has been done we will send in a copy of the Regulations for your perusal.\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nWe avail, &c.\n\nLetters to the following intent :-\n\nChina agrees to invite foreign as well as Chinese capital to embark in mining enterprises, and will permit foreigners of all nationalities to develop mining property, provided they comply with the regulations drawn up by China relating to mining affairs; but these regulations must not place (foreign) mining capitalists at a greater advantage than they would be under generally accepted foreign regulations. Accordingly, it is only obligatory that the regulations which are to be decided on, whether in relation to new or old enterprises, shall secure foreign capitalists from being placed at any disadvantage.\n\nMemorial of the Hukuang Viceroy, Chang Chih-tung, submitting the Mining Regulations to the Throne,\n\n(\"Universal Gazette,\" January 28, 1906.)\n\nOn the other hand, steps must be taken to secure the interests of Chinese subjects, the sovereignty of China, and the local administration, and to draft the regulations in the best manner so as to remedy the mistakes that have been made. Too much complaisance must not be shown to the desires of others, so as to result in the abandonment of China's inexhaustible resources.\n\nA respectful Memorial, in pursuance of Imperial Decree, submitting for consideration of your Majesties a copy of the proposed Mining Regulations for China.\n\nWhat China is rich in is her mineral resources; what she lacks is capital.\n\nIn August 1902 the following Imperial Decree was received :-\n\n\"Mining affairs are one of the important questions which are now awaiting the attention of the Government. We have recently received a telegraphic Memorandum from Liu Kun-yi and Chang Chih-tung reporting that they are making selection from the mining regulations of foreign countries, and with the most careful deliberation deciding on satisfactory regulations. Their purpose is very proper, and therefore we do not let the two Viceroys make careful selection from the conditions under which mining affairs are managed in foreign countries, jointly decide on satisfactory regulations, submit them to us for the issue of a Decree. It is our earnest desire that, with a view to safeguarding rights and manifesting the importance of mining affairs, no irregularities will mar the general observance of these regulations. Respect this.\"\n\nIrrespectively whether the land is private or public property, or whether the capitalists are Chinese or foreigners, the land-owner contributes the mining land as his share of the partnership, and the promoter his capital as his share. In mines coming under Class (A), which includes all abundant and important mineral deposits, the land-owner and capitalist take an equal number of shares in the partnership, and deducting the working expenses, which are taken by the capitalist himself, the profits are divided equally between the partners.\n\nLiu Kun-yi afterwards died of illness. Your servant thereupon proceeded to select and depute a number of Chinese and foreign officials, and caused copies of Mining Regulations of Great Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Belgium, and Spain to be purchased and translations carefully made. These were forwarded in the winter of 1903-1904 to the Board of Foreign Affairs, by whom they were handed to the Vice-President, Wu Ting-fang. He took them into consideration and coupled with some students who had completed a course of education in Japan, to carefully revise them with the aid of selections from the Mining Regulations of Japan.\n\nI then again reviewed them myself: for it was essential, in order to prevent irregularities and safeguard rights, that every one of these regulations was the least unsuited to the conditions existing in China should be thoroughly digested and deliberated before being decided on. The Mining Regulations for China are humbly presented herewith in two volumes - one containing the Principal Regulations in seventy-four clauses, the other the Supplementary Regulations in seventy-... clauses.\n\nThe partnership of the owner of the mines with the foreign capitalist, in which the land-owner and the foreign capitalist each enjoy a share in the profits, is a most simple and equitable arrangement; the foreign capitalist, of course, suffers no loss, because the land takes no share in partnership nor in the profits until all the working expenses are deducted and there remains a net profit over.\n\nI consider that the Mining Regulations for China now being decided on, which clearly grant foreigners permission to open mines in the interior, are in every way more lenient than the generally accepted regulations of foreign countries, and, moreover, the rules regarding the extent of mining areas, the ground rents, and levies on output are altogether more moderate.\n\nIt is evident that China attaches importance to her sovereignty and not to gain so as to make foreigners willing to act in accordance with her methods and to observe her laws. Moreover, in all cases, both the State and people enjoy the profits: in first-class mines the State and people take equal shares in the net profits; in second-class mines the profits are all given to the people.\n\nIt is a general practice in foreign countries in dealing with land to make a distinction between the surface and the subsoil; the powers of private owners of land are restricted to the surface. The subsoil is wholly the property of the State; therefore, though mining property is developed on private lines by natives of the country, yet the authority to sanction or disallow such enterprises rests wholly with the State.\n\nIn regard to metallic ores, beds containing precious stones and deposits of valuable and important mineral deposits, the rule that official authorization must be obtained is even more strict. As for mines being worked by foreigners, that is absolutely forbidden; and if foreigners embark capital in Mining Companies, the direction of such concerns rests in the native shareholders, who must be in the majority. Japanese law on this subject is even more strict, for by their regulations foreigners are not permitted to invest in mining concerns.\n\nPage 345\n\n... \n\nPage 346\n\n \nis not present in the original text, hence not included.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407057, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 353, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "CHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[1295]\n\n(No. 139.) Sir,\n\nNo. 1,\n\nSir Edward Grey to Sir E. Satow,\n\n186/4\n\n[May 24th]\n\nREC'D 26 MAY 05\n\nSECTION 1\n\n347\n\nForeign Office, May 2, 1906.\n\nI HAVE received your despatch No. 97 of the 6th March last, stating that the new Mining Regulations, as drawn up by the Viceroy at Wuchang, had been laid before the Throne, and by Imperial Rescript referred for consideration to the Wai-wu Pu and Board of Commerce.\n\nThis Report is satisfactory, showing as it does that some progress has been made in the preparation of the Regulations. I request, however, that the matter may be kept before the Chinese Government.\n\nI am, &c. (Signed) EDWARD GREY.\n\n[1981 6-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407084, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 380, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "STG\n\n373\n\nbra vidney nahuli sit\n\n.batiæli að bluow hatsay\n\nemanog on bart ved: dalls bedgeryelet omia #fnarfons:\n\non antaniltsa\n\n.sono ja about dear naibiwoig 10%\n\nI citroni enw seontyoʻq está? bid to moijien edd aa del\n\nand gatworzod no beblosh not I qlori on as3W 910\n\nod swote m beliqatɣsiet I alt soma síð JA\n\npbaan aid to motatue and east of nanul to Tomavol se\n\nJa prova etbupal dysozodź xəta Jarid asw vigor at bru\n\norida unub\n\nIsBoyong Vm of boonga verið me:17\n\nbobivenig tette a 'Denoo fatlyn erid 3c:19 bevorg zilipak\n\nantinoes at me ut ert bas deorodał do aden deewol 24t\n\navnodizing aebtasd bebrerob si vine,alioonib Sucid}w\n\nH\n\nmadamar xi\n\n#\n\n.1in ding visdtion T dobre\n\nJumidly bajository ed od snottaloogo si beausa etdi\n\nTrot,nae o grnil dougua Jalë no Ihda drezal jer\n\nadd tax? bediyetgeist vinerbua „60thord of retetat\n\nede buduosxa beri a1odbenih a'yraqmod #nemjolavett satt\n\ntc. namledenk daai and dow rebn:: #nemoerņa flank\n\n'\n\nsaw oleh srit na brts NTOY WOW da ,noom ride to die .s.i\n\nof vldotug ssontvong banidmoo snið xan daun on brad da\n\nof parasieð yď bøððime¬ ed abruut siid Jarð obiverg\n\n(estandes 6 Insyong oð nødmetqeð rið? edd ovoted soitom\n\n#vab OI to nolinetxs a day of aid enixes baliqen !\n\nBBW 75#Mre eilt\n\njebam 9d of nolaivong eldens of\n\nJnerenogaɛOK OJ 88 Tødsel bodionnoo hart art dærð\n\nbetesynua\n\ndftw sonsbrocoa ni bail art amid beilges offw\n\nmesber of vbert 91ow sv Jait tnemedete sificatgaled en\n\nVANTAA BCInge bobnezet etugit Ja nošeɛsonos ert)\n\nthe execution of the regular agreement on the 6th would depend on the payment of this instalment.\n\nAny further change would render recovery impossible and so he prayed that remittance be telegraphed. Now the idea of the Company was that China being in their opinion very poor could never within ten days suddenly find the vast sum of several millions.\n\nSo their head shareholders after signing the draft agreement contrived to spin out three months without confirming it, keeping the completion of the matter uncertain so as to prevent arrangements for providing the money or borrowing it. And then 7 days before due date they telegraphed to China to confirm, execute and pay the instalment.\n\nIf money could not be got together then this agreement was utterly upset and they could trust us with having no money and making fools of ourselves.\n\nThis plot was the most cunning and deadly conceivable.\n\nAt the time the English consul had already gone to Ju-shan to avoid the heat. I foresaw that negotiating in straits I should be sure to meet with extreme demands.\n\nBesides the drawing of the agreement itself would need over 20 days and if the sum payable to the Development Company was too late by a single day the whole situation would be wrecked.\n\nAt this moment I was unable to ask for time and equally unable to ally for aid abroad to other provinces.\n\nHere was a great undertaking affecting the position of the whole of south China, an important measure ordered by special Rescript which for two years had been discussed until", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407091, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 387, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "380\n\n2\n\ngentry of Hunan and Kuangtung to concert a method of actually providing funds. Later I received from the Liang Kuang Viceroy, on the 16th January, 1905, a telegram stating the discussion of this matter was possible only on the funds to redeem the line being got ready, but the Kuangtung gentry were without cohesion, the advocates of the redemption having no money and the moneyed men not caring, so that the gentry's resources could not be leant on, while the official resources, being absolutely bankrupt, could even less bear such a mighty burden. He added that as, in case the contract was cancelled, vast sums would be required at once to be paid over, even if there were any other scheme of finding the money, the need was too pressing for them to avail. He suggested the propriety of the three provinces making a joint foreign loan of so many myriads, repayable in equal instalments over a series of years. If loan went through and Concession was cancelled the proceeds would redeem the line; if the Concession was not annulled the money could be repaid at once, so that the interest wasted would be limited. The Hunan gentry and merchants also telegraphed that they had no scheme for providing vast funds at once. Bethinking me that, as the position of the three provinces was identical, there was no help, I then decided on borrowing the money. At the same time I telegraphed my views to the Governor of Hunan to take the opinion of his gentry, and his reply was that after thorough inquiry amongst them they agreed to my proposal.\n\nExhaustive inquiry proved that the English Consul's offer provided the lowest rate of interest and the full sum in sterling without discount, only he demanded, besides, privileges in Kuangtung, a point which I politely put off. This caused the negotiations to be protracted without settlement, until, on the 31st August, Liang Cheng, your Minister to America, suddenly telegraphed that the China Development Company's Directors had executed the draft Agreement under which the first instalment of 2,900,806 odd gold dollars was payable on the 7th September, i.e., 9th of 8th moon, at New York, and as the date was at hand he must ask the combined provinces quickly to provide that the funds be remitted by telegraph to America before the 7th September, to prevent a catastrophe. I replied asking him to get an extension of ten days to enable provision to be made. His answer was that he had consulted Foster as to postponement suggested, who replied that he had, in accordance with my telegraphic statement that we were ready to redeem the Concession at figure demanded, apprised Morgan that the execution of the regular Agreement on the 6th would depend on the payment of this instalment. Any further change would render recovery impossible, and so he prayed that remittance be telegraphed. Now, the idea of the Company was that China, being in their opinion very poor, could never within ten days suddenly find the vast sum of several millions. So their head shareholders, after signing the draft Agreement, contrived to spin out three months without confirming it, keeping the completion of the matter uncertain, so as to prevent arrangements for providing the money or borrowing it. And then seven days before due date they telegraphed to China to confirm, execute, and pay the money, If money could not be got together, then this Agreement was utterly upset, and they could taunt us with having no money and making fools of ourselves. This plot was the most cunning and deadly conceivable.\n\nAt the time the English Consul had already gone to Lu-shan to avoid the heat. I foresaw that, negotiating in straits, I should be sure to meet with extreme demands. Besides, the drawing of the Agreement itself would need over twenty days, and if the sum payable to the Development Company were too late by a single day the whole situation would be wrecked. At this moment I was unable to ask for time abroad, and equally unable to apply for aid to other provinces.\n\nHere was a great undertaking, affecting the position of the whole of South China, an important measure ordered by special Rescript, which for two years had been discussed until the whole world knew of it. If, simply because of want of funds, redemption should prove impossible, and we cast away the draft Agreement, not only would the power be lost for ever, but it would make all nations sneer at China's representatives as people who talked without making good, and this would hamper in many ways all our future international dealings.\n\nDuring these seven days I wandered about my abode in absolute despair, and how this business was to be accomplished I dared not surmise.\n\nThe above was the sixth of my troubles.\n\nFortunately, the Hupei Government Bank's credit is good, and it is trusted by the foreign banks.\n\nI called together the Commissioners and Intendants, and held earnest debate.\n\nIn consideration of the national interests involved, they agreed in taking the responsibility; so I directed the Government Bank to devise means to go surety, and\n\n3\n\napply first to the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank for a loan of 3,000,000 taels at interest, the Government Bank itself collecting over 2,000,000 taels, and so, quite beyond my hopes, the telegraphic remittance duly reached America in time.\n\nI at once, by telegram to the Grand Council, submitted to your Majesty the final Redemption Agreement, and obtained sanction to its being executed. At the same time I had telegraphed to the English Consul to return to Hankow and negotiate the Loan Agreement.\n\nThe English Consul, seeing I had managed myself to raise temporary loan to pay the first instalment, and as the redemption of line was a matter of high politics, was also ready to assist in putting through the grand undertaking. Thereupon no further mention was made of the earlier demand, and the Articles of the Agreement were all drawn on lines of the August 1900 Agreement, under which Hupei borrowed 500,000 taels from the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank for the provision of military needs for the protection of the Yang-tsze. The Agreement has been communicated to the Board of Foreign Affairs. This sort of borrowing certainly does not imply the slightest lending of our railway rights.\n\nThe loan being settled, the second instalment was thereunder paid over in full to the Development Company on the due date-10th October.\n\nThereupon the Company telegraphed to the foreigners at its offices in Shanghae and Canton to hand over by list to China's deputies the plans and records deposited in Shanghae and Canton and the railway already built, with machinery, cars, houses and buildings, and all appurtenances whatever. I had sent officers for the purpose to both places.\n\nThe Agreement for the sale of the railway drawn up by the Company states that \"The Chinese Government takes possession of all the China Development Company's properties in China, the railway completed, plant, survey maps and plans, special mining privileges, together with all rights and privileges in China, whether set forth or impliedly included.\" Consideration of the words \"special\" to \"included\" will indicate how immense was the former great loss of rights, which now, happily, is entirely redeemed, so that hereby complications are for ever cleared up and vast calamity\n\nremoved.\n\nThis success is humbly ascribed to the awful virtue of the Court, together with the whole-hearted support of the Council, the auxiliary scheme of the gentry and people of the three provinces, while the Minister, Liang Cheng, whose ability and experience are alike excellent, loyally devised for the State and suited his arguments to his opportunities.\n\nThus was this affair accomplished.\n\nIt has now been decided that the funds for constructing the line shall be provided, by the combined efforts of the officials and gentry of the three provinces, foreign loans being barred.\n\nBut as the funds are to be collected through the gentry and people of each province each will be concerned with its own finance and railway construction. There will have to be a general uniformity, but identity of system will be impossible. It will be quite dissimilar from the starting of railways elsewhere with borrowed money.\n\nOn the principle that enterprises on part of gentry and people are entirely dependent on the aid of the local authorities, I submit to your Majesty that it seems needful to charge the high provincial authorities concerned to instruct their subordinates, high and low, together with the gentry, scholars, traders, and people, in accordance with local conditions, to devise means to provide for undertaking, so that there be no want of co-operation nor the work be protracted.\n\nI have now received from the Minister to America, Liang Ch'eng, by post, the agreement of sale negotiated with the Development Company and the coupons for interest paid on the outstanding dollar bonds, as well as the inventories of the articles taken over by the Deputies at Shanghae and Canton.\n\nI am writing to the Board of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, and having carefully drawn up the statement appended in concert with the Viceroy of Liang Kuang and the Governor of Hunan, I have the honour humbly to submit our joint Report for your Majesty's consideration,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407271, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 567, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "30324 to 25888 RECE Red 17 AUG 06 JUL 30 1900 Memorial by Viceroy Chang Chih-tung in reply to attack of the censor Huang Ch'ang-nien on his loan for resumption of Hankow-Canton Railway Concession.\n\nCondensed Translation.\n\n553 The Grand Council forwarded following Decree of 24th November 1905:-\n\nThe censor Huang Ch'ang-nien represents that, railway rights being most important and the redemption charges hard to meet, it is essential to start building and strictly to keep out interference.\n\nThe abuses flowing from loans to build railways are so many that the three provinces should subscribe shares to start building so as to maintain our rights: they should not be allowed to raise a foreign loan. The five points in the censor's memorial let Chang Chih-tung report the facts etc.\n\nThe memorialist is filled with admiration and awe on humbly perusing the above proof of Their Majesties' care for railway administration and precaution against abuses arising.\n\nOn receiving the Rescript charging him with the recovery of the Canton-Hankow railway, he proposed to the American China Development Co. to cancel their agreement. He was very well aware that the Company was in a very strong position and had excellent means of information while its having many supporters amongst the Chinese official body made procedure difficult.\n\nBut he felt that as the control of railway rights by others...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407331, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 627, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL,\n\n[29109]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n618\n\n[August 27.]\n\nSECTION CO.\n\n33355\n\nREAD\n\nMr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received August 27.) RE 10 SEP 06\n\n(No. 299.) Sir,\n\nWITH reference to Sir E. Satow's despatch No. 284 of the 21st August, 1905, and to Lord Lansdowne's reply No. 238 of the 25th October, on the subject of a scheme for the simultaneous collection of li-kin and other taxes on native opium in eight provinces of South and Mid China, I have the honour to inclose a précis translation of documents referring to a modification of this scheme, which has been sanctioned by an Imperial Rescript dated the 7th May of this year. Memorial of the Finance Council and a Memorial and Regulations of K'o Feng-Shih, The documents translated are a the Imperial Commissioner for the taxation of native opium.\n\nThe new scheme provides for the taxation of all native opium in the eighteen provinces at the rate of 115 taels a picul, this tax to be leviable at the first barrier en route, and to entitle the opium to be carried to any part of China further impost of any kind. The appointment of an Administrator-General to reside proper without at Peking indicates more clearly that the revenue arrangements with regard to opium are intended to be under the control of the Central Government and to be withdrawn from the fiscal authority of the provinces.\n\nI also inclose, for your information, copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Ichang dated the 22nd June, from which it would appear that the new scheme was put into force at that port on the 17th June.\n\nAs I had the honour to inform you in my telegram No. 130 of the 2nd July, I am informed privately by Mr. Tong Shao Yi that the Chinese Government are considering a scheme for restricting the consumption of opium, and that they intend when the scheme is ripe to approach His Majesty's Government on the subject.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nLANCELOT D. CARNEGIE,\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nMemorial of the Finance Council, dealing with the Proposals of K'o Feng-Shih, Junior Vice-President of the Board of Revenue, with regard to Opium Taxation,\n\n(Précis Translation.)\n\nTHESE proposals, drawn up in six Articles, aimed at reducing the opium trade, with its attendant evils, by increasing the burdens of taxation, firstly on the native, and secondly on the imported drug.\n\nThe question of increasing the duties on imported opium was first raised by the Chinese Minister to Italy in 1903, and was referred by the Chinese Minister to Great Britain to the Government of that country, who replied that equity demanded an equal increase of the dues on the native as well as the imported drug.\n\nAt the beginning of the present year K'o Feng-Shih's proposals for the revision of the foreign opium tariff were submitted to the Throne.\n\nThis whole question in its relation to earlier precedent will need careful consideration; in the meantime the proposals are dealt with one by one:--\n\n(a.) The proposed institution of a universal tariff, irrespective of the province in which the drug is produced and the province in which it is sold. For every 100 taels of taxation on the drug an additional 15 taels is to be exacted for expenses, but Treasury taels may be accepted in place of Haikuan taels.\n\nThe enforcement of this uniform tariff over so large an area--for the scheme originally in force for eight out of the eighteen provinces is now to be extended with\n\n[2105 dd-1]\n\nB", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407332, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 628, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "varying modifications to the remaining ten provinces--will undoubtedly be a matter of considerable difficulty; nevertheless the measure should be put into practice.\n\n(b.) The proposal for mutual assistance between the various provinces. The annual results of opium taxation for all the provinces are to be pooled in a common fund, of which the surplus receipts resulting from the increase in the tariff are to be devoted to the new Military Exchequer. The weight of the opium passed through the Customs at Ichang within recent years is to be taken as fixing the regulation amount, and all the provinces are to forward their receipts to the Central Government.\n\nThis proposal is based on the Imperial Decree of 1904, but the phrase \"recent years\" is too vague to be of practical utility, and for the sake of uniformity the year 1904 should be taken as fixing the regulation amount.\n\n(c.) K'o Feng-Shih proposes to allow the provincial authorities to approach the Board of Revenue and apply for permission to appropriate temporarily surplus funds, when they occur, for purposes of pressing necessity.\n\nBut this scheme is in opposition to the suggestion previously made by the memorialists, and also to the Imperial Decree which forbade such appropriations and ordered that all surplus funds should be devoted to the expenses of the new army scheme. It is suggested, therefore, that in cases of pressing military necessity the precedent afforded by Kuanghsi should be followed, and a special Memorial submitting the circumstances to the consideration of the Board of Revenue be allowed, but that in no other cases should such loans or appropriations be permitted.\n\n(d) Measures for the protection of merchants, such as the issue of stamped licences to sell after the full payment of duties, the infliction of penalties on officials who are proved not to have exerted themselves in cases of robbery, and the dispatch of troops or vessels to ill-protected places.\n\nAn excellent proposal, as throwing the responsibility on the right shoulders, and, taken in conjunction with Article 6, which provides incentives to efficiency and punishments for maladministration, should go far to improve the Executive, whilst strengthening the hands of the merchant.\n\n(e) The total abolition of all forms of petty exactions.\n\nThe spirit of this suggestion is again quite admirable, and instructions should be issued to K'o and to all the provincial authorities to see that it is rigidly carried into effect. All forms of extortion, on any pretext whatsoever, should be visited with severe penalties.\n\n(f.) The prohibition of opium dens.\n\nThe avowed intention of the Vice-President in proposing his scheme of general taxation was to effect the abolition of opium-smoking by increasing the duties, but clause (f) of course clashes with K'o's own Regulations, by which the opium “lamp tax\" is still to be enforced. This point should therefore be reserved for future deliberation.\n\nFurthermore, the memorialists themselves put forward the suggestion that the extension of the general taxation scheme should not be confined to the eighteen provinces only, but should also be uniformly enforced throughout Manchuria and the new dominion.\n\nThe detailed Regulations submitted by K'o Feng-Shih have been subjected to careful scrutiny by the memorialists, and are appended for the consideration of the Throne. If approved, they should be returned to the Vice-President, printed for circulation throughout the Empire, and thereupon be put into force.\n\nAny additions to, or modifications of, the present scheme which may hereafter be found necessary will be carefully gone into by the Board of Revenue and the Finance Council.\n\n(Sanctioned by Imperial Rescript, dated the 7th May, 1906).\n\nPage 3\n\nSupplementary Memorials.\n\n(A.)\n\nAfter various self-depreciatory remarks on his inability to cope unaided with so vast a scheme, and on the necessity of the hearty co-operation of the provincial authorities and of the officials specially deputed to superintend the new levy throughout the Empire, K'o Feng-Shih suggests the appointment of a high official, to reside in Peking, in the capacity of Administrator-General.\n\nHe also proposes that, in the initial stages of the scheme, whilst the manufacturing and stamping of the licences makes the pressure of work heavy, he should be retained in the Hupei Office to carry out his duties as Assistant Administrator; but that if at the end of a year's trial the reports from the provinces show that the scheme is yielding satisfactory results, the Hupei Office should, in the interests of economy, be abolished, and the work be carried on throughout the Empire under Superintendents appointed by the Board of Revenue.\n\nTo this the memorialists reply that the functions of Administrator-General are fulfilled jointly by the Finance Council and the Board of Revenue, while K'o Feng-Shih's own high official position as Assistant Administrator makes the chain of internal and external responsibility complete; consequently, the appointment of a high official to reside in Peking, in the capacity of Administrator-General, need not be considered.\n\nFurther, the question of abolishing the Hupei Office after a year's trial can be left for future discussion.\n\n(Sanctioned by Imperial Rescript, dated the 7th May, 1906.)\n\n(B.)\n\nThe term \"general levy on opium unboiled and boiled\" originated in Hupei and Hunan at a time when there was considerable discrepancy in the various Regulations for opium duties, and \"production tax,\" \"transit tax,\" and \"destination tax\" all existed side by side. Now, however, that the single payment of 115 taels per picul- 100 taels tax proper, and 15 taels for expenses-entitles the opium to unrestricted transit under stamped licence, all additional taxation being done away with, the term \"general levy\" seems inappropriate, and it is proposed to substitute in its place, as being more in harmony with the actual conditions, the term \"general tax on native opium.\"\n\n(Sanctioned by Imperial Rescript, dated the 7th May, 1906.)\n\nAppendix.\n\nList of Regulations for the General Tax on Native Opium.\n\nLevy of Dues.\n\n1. Under the old Regulations from every 100-catty bale of opium 9 catties were deducted for the \"casing\" and 4 for the \"skin,\" the remainder being considered the pure drug, but as the methods of packing are different in the various provinces, under the new tariff the outer casing is not to be reckoned; but for every 100 catties of the drug 4 catties may be deducted for the \"skin,\" except when there is no paper-wrapping; beyond this there is to be no deduction. The residue shall pay under all circumstances a uniform duty of 100 Treasury taels tax proper, plus 15 Treasury taels for expenses. This is a fixed uniform tariff, beyond which there is to be no further taxation of any kind or denomination whatever, irrespective of the province in which the drug is produced and the province in which it is sold, and not excepting the four provinces of Hupei, Hunan, Kuangtung, and Kuanghsi,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407443, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 739, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "10. We have no reliable evidence that Mount Loi-mu has ever been known as Kung-ming Shan, but only the assertion of General Liu, who never visited it. Sir George Scott, who did visit it, and who could interrogate the natives, declares that such a name as Kung-ming Shan is not applied to it. Even if it were, Mount Loi-mu cannot be the \"very lofty mountain range\" of the Convention, for this last runs, according to the Convention, from longitude 99° 40′ to longitude 99° 30′, whereas Mount Loi-mu is a solitary peak in longitude 99° 0′.\n\n11. From point (c) the Convention boundary \"descends the western slope of the hills to the Namka River.\" If point (c) were Mount Loi-mu the only possible slope by which to reach the Namkha would be the eastern. It is perfectly clear that the Convention boundary approaches the Namkha from the east and not from the west.\n\n12. The point where the boundary between Munglem and Kiang Tong diverges from the Namka River\" is admitted by both parties to be \"Cairn 1 on the south, where the Namyung stream debouches into the Namkha River\"-to quote from Shih's Memorandum. To find point (d), therefore, all we have to do is to measure 10 minutes of latitude (or 113 geographical miles) in a straight line to meet the Namkha on the north. This falls in the near neighbourhood of the Su-hsing (Hsuphse) stockade. It cannot possibly fall, where Shih's map makes it fall, at Nungkiu (Nawnghkio), for that is 45 minutes (or some 52 miles) north of Cairn 1.\n\n13. It will thus be seen that all the arguments from the (a) latitudes and longitudes, (b) watersheds and rivers, mentioned in the Treaty support Scott's Line,\" and do not agree with Shih Taotai's line, still less with that of Lin and Ch'en-tajen.\n\nThere remains the argument employed in Shih Taotai's Memorandum, namely, \"according to the Treaty Chenpien is left to China, as is also Menglem, and this implies that all territory controlled by Chenpien or Menglem is left to China.'\n\nNow by Article V of the Convention of March 1, 1894, Great Britain agreed for certain considerations to renounce in favour of China all the suzerain rights in and over the State of Menglem, formerly possessed by the Kings of Ava concurrently with the Emperors of China. China, by officially accepting this renunciation, formally admitted that Great Britain had possessed such suzerain rights up to that date, March 1, 1894. The asserted surrender to China by its Sawbwa, Li Tungming, of Hsi-ming (Mongkha) in 1891, the \"recovery by Imperial troops\" of Menghsaw in the same year, and the Memorial and Rescript that ensued--all of which are brought forward as arguments in Shih Taotai's Memorandum-cannot possibly be admitted to prove China's claim, since they took place previous to the above date. Menglem could not extend its territory, whether at the expense of Hsi-ming and Menghsaw or otherwise, in 1891 without the consent of its co-Suzerain Great Britain, This consent was never given; on the contrary, we have consistently protested against Chinese troops being sent to, or stationed in, Isi-ming and Menghsaw.\n\n14. As regards Chenpien, this Sub-Prefecture was not created till 1887, after the British succession to the suzerain rights of the Kings of Ava had been recognized by China, China, therefore, could not include in Chenpien, which was to be directly administered by Chinese officials, any territory over which Burmah in 1886 had possessed suzerain or co-suzerain rights. Accordingly the expression \"Chenpien \"as used in the Convention of 1894 does not, and cannot, comprise any territory, such as Hsi-ming, Menghsaw, Menglem, or Kiang Tung, that came under either of these categories. It is not, however, necessary now to argue this point, for Shih Taotai's map distinguishes clearly between the district directly administered by the Sub-Prefect of Chenpien and the territory subject to the Hsi-ming Sawbwa.\" Chenpien proper, in short, is left by \"Scott's Line\" entirely to China.\n\nPage 44\n\n15. A similar argument applies to the districts marked in Shih Taotai's map as appertaining to:--\n\n(a.) Upper Hulu, south of the watershed between the Great and Little Nam-kun Rivers (the Nam-kun and Nam-kawn); and\n\n(b.) Mengtum, west of the watershed between the Namt'ung (Namtum) and the Great Nam-kun (Nam-kawn).\n\nAny advance subsequent to the 1st January, 1886, made by Mengtum, Mengkaw, Kengma, or Mengting across their frontier lines as these stood on that date cannot be admitted by Great Britain as valid. If the above States can prove that certain villages were really administered by them south or west of those lines before 1886, then by Article VI of the Treaty of 1894 the alignment as laid down in that Convention may be altered \"on the principle of equivalent concessions.”\n\nPage 5\n\nI shall be glad to learn whether it is the desire of your Government that the above arguments, or any modification of them, should be communicated to the Government of Yunnan.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nW. H. WILKINSON.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nMemorandum on the Yunnan-Burmah Boundary, from the Namting to Nalawt, by Shih Hung-shao, formerly Acting Intendant of the Southern Circuit, and now Intendant of the Eastern Circuit.\n\n(Translation.)\n\n(Handed to Consul-General Wilkinson, July 25, 1906.)\n\nTHE present Memorandum deals with the undelimited frontier from Cairn 3 at Lai-bsing Shan (Loi Hseng), by the junction of the Namting and Nampa streams on the north, to Cairn 1 on the south, where the Namyung stream debouches into the Namkha River.\n\nThis boundary, it is to be observed, includes certain stockaded villages under the jurisdiction of the Mu-nai Tussu (Sawbwa), territory that has for many years paid land tax and \"corvée\" to the Chenpien Sub-Prefecture. There is Hsi-ming (Mengkha), originally subject to Menglem, but which later on seceded under Lo(hei) insurgents. Its Sawbwa, Tunguning, in the seventeenth year of the Kuang Hsi (1891) gave in his allegiance at the head of his men, and it has long been subject to the control of Chenpien. It has for years paid land tax and \"corvée.\" A Memorial that received the Imperial assent is conspicuous in men's eyes and ears. There is Mengso (Menghsaw), which also was originally subject to Menglem. It seceded under Han Ping-chao, but was recovered in the seventeenth year of the Kuang Hsu (1891) by Imperial troops and reverted to the control of Menglem, which receives land tax and * corvée,\" For all the above are records that may be consulted.\n\nFurther, this boundary follows the Namkha River from places east of the Namıkhan River, such as Namping, Kuauteh, Lungkhan, Fulang, Moyang, Lengkhau, Suhsing (Hsuphse), Kunghsin, Wengwo, and Manpien, some dozens of stockaded villages that were either old Menglem territory which for years paid land tax and provided labour and has never seceded, or which, having seceded under the rebels Cha and Han, has long since been recovered by the Imperial troops and for years been garrisoned. This is undoubtedly territory controlled and governed by Chenpien and Menglem (or, by Menglem in Chenpien).\n\nAccording to the Treaty, Chenpien is left to China, as is also Menglem; and this implies that all territory controlled by Chenpien or Menglem is left to China.\n\nAgain, the Treaty reads, \"shall follow the course of the river forming the boundary between Somu, which belongs to Great Britain, and Meng Ting, which belongs to China. It shall continue to follow the frontier between these two districts, which is locally well known, to where it leaves the aforesaid river and ascends the hills.\" If the boundary-line follows the Namting River, that forms the boundary, then not only the whole of Panbung, in the Upper Hulu, would be left to China, but Hn-pan (Hopang), belonging to Pank'uang (Pangkuan), in the Lower Hulu, and other places, would all have to be marked off as Chinese.\n\nIf this is abandoned and another boundary-line proposed, it would not follow the Namting River, but would start from the south bank of that river, west of Tungkha Hill, and go by Kungmeng (Kawngmawng) and the Menglin (Mongling) Hills to the Pach'ang Hills. To make a division by the Panhung and Pankuang Hills (2.q., to divide along the line of hills forming the frontier between Panbung and Pank'uang) would leave Panhung, in the Upper Hulu, to China, and Pank'uang, in the Lower Hulu, to Great Britain.\n\nAgain, it was originally suggested to leave the parts of the Kawa (Vü) territories bordering on Yünnan to Yunnan, and those bordering on Burmah to Burmah. This suggestion was very fair. The Wild Was' lands lie between Yünnan and Burmah. When delimited, account should be taken of local conditions. In short, Yunnan cannot overstep the Wild Was' lands and occupy districts controlled by Burmah Sawbwas; nor can Burmah overstep the Wild Was' lands and occupy districts controlled by Yunnan T'ussu. This is equitable dealing.\n\nPage 729", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407550, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 14, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "# Enclosure 2 in Mr. Carnegie's No. 368 of Sept. 5, 1906\n\nCopy.\n\n## Mr. Carnegie to Prince Ching\n\n20.\n\n-35559 \nLOCT 22 1996) \n\nYour Highness,\n\nSeptember 6, 1906\n\nI have the honour to remind Your Highness that I have not yet received replies to my Notes of May 12th, July 18th, and August 15th, on the subject of constructing a railway from Canton to Shameen.\n\nSince my last was written, His Majesty's Consul General has telegraphed stating that the Viceroy of Canton has been ordered to reject any suggestion from Canton to Whampoa, apart from the Canton-Kowloon project. \n\nI beg to enclose for Your Highness the contents of my despatch to His Majesty's Consul General of August 13th and to note that the scheme to construct a railway from Canton to Whampoa, apart from the Canton-Kowloon project, has not been approved by the Chinese Corporation authorised by His Majesty's Government.\n\n... Imperial Rescript ...\n\nPrincess ... 09 \n8", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407578, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 42, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "6\n\nI have again the honour to request your Highness to instruct the Superintendent of Southern Trade and the Shanghae Taotai to desist from any step towards the establishment of a Chinese trade mart or municipality on land adjoining the foreign Settlements at Shanghae.\n\nThe favour of an early reply is requested.\n\n0\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nI avail, &c. (Signed)\n\n[33688]\n\nL. D. CARNEGIE.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n38\n\n40914\n\n[October 6.]\n\nRECEIVED 6 NOV.\n\nSECTION 8.\n\nMr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received October 6.)\n\n(No. 358. Confidential.)\n\nPeking, August 23, 1906.\n\nSir,\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 314, Confidential, of the 23rd July, I have the honour to inclose for your information copies of further correspondence relating to the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway.\n\nMy personal letter of the 30th July to Mr. Tong Shoa-yi (Inclosure 1) places on record the nature of the verbal understanding come to between us to let the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo question stand over for the present, and was written with the object of preventing possible future misunderstanding. In this I made it plain that manifest obstruction on the part of the Chinese negotiators to the completion of the Canton-Kowloon final Agreement, or material violation by Chekiang of the Corporation's rights under the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo preliminary Agreement, would entitle me to consider myself no longer bound by our verbal arrangement.\n\nIn consequence of the appearance in the Chinese press of two Memorials (translations inclosed), from which it was clear that the Board of Commerce was actively supporting the provincial movements in Kiangsu and Chekiang, and had obtained the Imperial sanction to proposals under which provincial semi-official Companies were authorized to survey and undertake railway lines from Soochow to Ningpo through Hangchow, I lost no time in addressing my note of the 4th August to Prince Ch'ing (Inclosure 4). At the same time I asked His Highness to accord me an interview, not with any immediate hope of seeing him (he is in constant attendance at the Summer Palace), but rather to mark my sense of the importance of the matter in hand.\n\nThe Board's two Memorials, and especially that relating to the Chekiang Railway Company with the Imperial Rescripts attached, directly violated the Corporation's Preliminary Agreement, and, taking into consideration the correspondence that has passed since October last with the Chinese Government, appeared to me to constitute a wanton act of bad faith.\n\nOn the 6th August Prince Ching excused himself from granting me an interview on the plea of pressing occupation, and begged me to see his subordinates instead. Next day I met the Grand Secretary Na Tung and their Excellencies Lien Fang and Tong Shoa-yi at the Wai-wu Pu. They said that they had considered my note of the 4th carefully on receipt, and that in view of the gravity of its contents they had decided to consult Prince Ching before returning an answer. They explained that the importance of the matter to them arose from the fact that a Memorial of the Board of Commerce, which had been approved by Imperial Rescript, was involved. They would see His Highness at the Summer Palace about the 12th August, and would then be in a position to reply to me by letter, or to fix a day for an interview.\n\nHis son, Prince Tsai-chen, being the President of the Board of Commerce, was directly responsible for the Memorials, and Mr. Tong Shoa-yi had confided to Mr. Campbell privately that neither Na Tung nor himself knew anything of those documents, of which they disapproved, till they appeared in print, and were at a loss what to do to rectify the error.\n\nNot hearing from the Wai-wu Pu by the 17th August, I again called to make inquiries, and was told that His Highness had come to Peking for a short time with the Court, and had arranged to see their Excellencies next morning.\n\nBut not\n\nOn Monday last, the 20th August, their Excellencies Lien and Tong called and conveyed a message from the Prince to the effect that a reply would be sent to my note of the 4th August in due course, but that in the meantime I could rest assured that the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Preliminary Agreement was recognized by the Chinese Government, although the discussion of the Final Agreement was postponed for the present. I refused to be satisfied by this message. There was no question of the validity of the Preliminary Agreement, which had already been admitted by the Chinese Government; but here, I said, were two Memorials, approved by Imperial Rescript,\n\n[2183-8]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407581, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 45, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "41\n\n6\n\n39. Such proxy can also only hold a total of twenty-five votes.\n\n40. Appointment of chairman.\n\n41. Resolutions to be passed by a majority vote, the chairman having a casting vote besides his personal vote or votes.\n\n42-62. Elaborate rules for election of directors and auditors, of whom there are to be eleven and three respectively, the former to serve for three years and the latter for one.\n\n(Translator's note. Rules 4 and 5 are not indicated in the text.)\n\nVI.\n\n63. General Director and Assistant Director. These are Imperially appointed.\n\n64. Their duties.\n\n65.\n\nVII.\n\n66-70. The Company's officers. Their duties, &c.\n\nVIII.-Work.\n\n71. The sections of the line detailed in paragraph 2 will be undertaken separately and not confused one with the other.\n\n72. At first Chinese engineers will be engaged. If it becomes necessary to engage foreign engineers, the Company will draw up satisfactory agreements with them defining their powers.\n\n73. The railway will be a single line of 4 English feet and 8 inches (standard gauge), but with earthwork for a double line.\n\n74. Expropriation of land to be carried out on the same basis as in the Pei-Han and Shanghae-Nanking railways.\n\n75. Compensation will be paid for houses or graves which cannot be avoided in the route of the line.\n\n76. Purchase of materials and contracts for work will be made by public tender.\n\n77. Preference will be given to materials of Chinese production provided quality and price are favourable,\n\n78. The railway telegraph and telephone service will be subject to rules to be drawn up separately.\n\n79. Wherever the Company's lines join the lines of other Companies an agreement will be drawn up for mutual running rights.\n\nIX.\n\n80. The Company's accounts were opened at Shanghae in the 9th month of the 31st year, and to the end of the year form one division. After the 32nd year of Kuang Hsu (the current year 1906) each month will have its statement of account and each year its general statement, setting forth the Company's capital, land, materials, work, expenditure, revenue, &c., which will be printed and circulated among the shareholders.\n\n81. As each section is finished traffic will begin. Out of receipts, after paying interest on shares and all expenses incurred by the Company (but not including the construction expenses of the second section), all that remains shall be divided into twenty parts (here follows method of dividing the bonus).\n\nArticles.\n\nX.\n\n82. The Company will draw up subsidiary rules for the carrying out of the above\n\n83. These Rules are of a temporary nature, and subject to alteration by the shareholders meeting as occasion may arise, and by reference to the Board.\n\n7\n\nInclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nMemorial from the Board of Commerce respecting the Scheme of the Kiangsu Gentry to construct their own Railways in their Province.\n\n(Translation.)\n\n(Approved by Rescript May 25, 1906.)\n\nIN compliance with the Kiangsu gentry's Petition, praying that they may construct their own railways in their province, the establishment of a Company, the electing of a Chief Director and Assistant Director, and the registering of the Company beforehand, we, the Board of Commerce, beg to memorialize the Throne upon the subject.\n\nDuring the 4th moon of the 32nd year of Kuang Hsu (April-May 1906) we received a Petition signed by the Kiangsu Metropolitan officials and gentry, and headed by the Secretary of the Hanlin College, Yun Su Ting, with 156 others, stating that recently the customs of the country have greatly changed, and that everybody knows the benefit that is to be derived from constructing railways, like that of Anhui, Kiangsi, Szechuan, Kuangtung, Fukien, Chekiang, and other provinces, where the respective gentries have met together and decided to build their own railways, and which has received the sanction of the Throne. Kiangsu Province is noted for its importance for its easy approach by sea and river, and is a grain-producing province in the south-eastern portion.\n\nThe Shanghae-Nanking Railway has already started its construction work with a foreign loan; there remains, however, many branch lines to be surveyed and built, and so the gentry of the province have met on several occasions and have decided to issue shares to the amount of 10,000,000 dollars to establish a Company to be called the Kiangsu Railway Company (Limited), the promoters of which will subscribe over 1,000,000 dollars for the expense of the survey and starting the work, and the remaining shares and interest for the money before the construction work is completed. They intend to manage that according as circumstances permit, and to devise other plans later on.\n\nOnly the work is so great and so important it is necessary to first obtain a man who is well experienced and who will be looked upon with full confidence by the natives of the whole province to take charge of this important position.\n\nIn order to insure success, we now elect the Vice-Chancellor of the Board of Commerce, Wong Ching Moh, as Chief Director, as he is well educated and careful in his thoughts, and the First Secretary of the Board of Commerce, Chang Ch'ien, who is well trained and experienced, to be the Assistant Director.\n\nThey are to take charge and transact all matters of business in connection with the Company, and we are sure that it will be a success and to the satisfaction of the gentries of the Kiangsu Province, who have planned this matter for the welfare of the public.\n\nSu Ting and others, who are Metropolitan officials, and some of whom are scattered in their native places, we have communicated to them by wire, and they are of the same opinion.\n\nBesides the survey, collecting of money, the issuing of shares, and the starting of work, the Rules and Regulations when finally decided upon will be forwarded to the Board of Commerce for decision.\n\nThe above is the general plan for the co-operating of the Kiangsu Railway Company (Limited), and the election of its officials. We therefore beg that the \"Board\" will memorialize the Throne for their Imperial Majesties' sanction.\n\nWe, the Board of Commerce, again in compliance with a letter from the President of the Board of Works, Loh Jen Siang; President of the Board of Ceremony, Loh Pao Chung; Grand Secretary Woo Yu Shen; Assistant to the Department of the Imperial clan, Cheng Ming Kang; Vice-Chancellor of the Board of Foreign Affairs, Chow Chia Lai; Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Board of Foreign Affairs, Lai Pa Tung, and others, regarding this matter, agreed that the Kiangsu Railway Company should be established and work begun upon it. Again, as they were natives of that province, they should give their support to the matter. As Wong Ching Moh and Chang Chien are well up in modern affairs and have the confidence of the people of the province, if they are allowed to take charge of the Company, they will surely make a good display of their ability, and so they therefore prayed that we would sanction their request.\n\nWe, the Board of Commerce, find that the Province of Kiangsu is rich in productions, it is easily approached by sea and is intersected by the Yang-tsze, it is bounded...\n\n[2183 ƒ-8]\n\nD\n\n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407582, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "42\n\n8\n\nby Shantung, Honau, Anhui, and Chekiang, and its connection with the other provinces makes it a flourishing trade centre for native products, and the province is really a great centre in the south-east.\n\nAt present the benefit of the railway is recognized by all. Like the Provinces of Anhui and Chekiang, whose gentry have applied to build their own railways, and which has been duly memorialized for them, and their prayer granted. Now, the Kiangsu gentries Yuu Su Ting and others are applying for the same privilege, and in the future they hope to connect their railways with Anhui, Chekiang, and other provinces, for the purpose of trade, and the safeguarding of the interests of their province; it is really an important scheme. Their electing the members of our Board, viz., Vice-Chancellor Wong Ching Moh and First Secretary Chang Ch'ien to take charge of the said Railway Company, we find Vice-Chancellor Wong possesses great ability, is careful in thought, and his character is widely known. For instance, last year, under Imperial orders to inquire into trade and the revenue of the railways and mines, touring by sea and rivers to different ports, his proposal to deal with the different railway revenue was properly dealt with and he gave great help to our Board. Though he has his post in Peking, by means of letters and telegrams he will be able to direct the business to the benefit of the railway. The Kiangsu gentry having jointly selected him, we therefore beg the Throne to consider the importance of the railway and sanction their request, and that the Vice-Chancellor Wong Chih Moh, a member of our Board, be allowed to take up the position of Chief Director of the Kiangsu Railway Company (Limited), and Chang Ch'ien, who is well educated, broad-minded, and an energetic worker, and known to have great knowledge in trade and railway matters, be given the post of Assistant Director, since the Kiangsu gentry desires it to be so. The issuing of shares, surveying, purchasing of land, the starting of construction work and other important matters will be undertaken by the said gentry, who will report from time to time to us, and we will in turn report the same to the Throne, so that the railway may be properly managed and in accordance with their united desire.\n\nBesides the Shanghae-Nanking Railway which is at present being built by a foreign loan, and who has a high official appointment by the Throne in charge of it, the said gentry now state that their reason for building the railway is for the promotion of trade in the interior, and for the safeguarding of the interest of the province.\n\nAs we have found this scheme of theirs in order, we pray that they should be allowed to register their Company beforehand, and when the shares are collected to a certain amount, we shall hasten them to make a start.\n\nThe working of this railway will be in strict accordance with the Regulations set down by us, and which have already been sanctioned by the Throne.\n\nWhen the gentries have decided on their regulations, how the line will run, &c., they will forward the same to us, and we will again memorialize the Throne on the subject.\n\nWith regard to the above scheme of Kiangsu gentry to build their own railways, establishing a Company, electing officials, and the registering of their Company beforehand, we, in duty bound, respectfully beg to lay this Memorial for your Majesty's consideration and instructions.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nInclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Carnegie to Prince Ching.\n\nPeking, August 4, 1906. SIR E. SATOW had the honour to address your Highness three notes of the 14th and 16th March and the 19th April, on the subject of the Soochow-langchow-Ningpo Railway. In the note of the 19th April he inclosed copy of a Proclamation issued by the Governor of Chekiang on the 14th March which showed that his Excellency was continuing to press on the construction of a railway by the Chekiang people along the same route as that mentioned in the British and Chinese Corporation's Preliminary Agreement of October 1898. Sir Ernest pointed out that the Governor of Chekiang, relying on the Decree of the 23rd September, 1905, was ignoring the earlier objections of the Chinese Government which your Highness had admitted to be valid, and as regards which your Highness had informed Sir Ernest that the Governor should negotiate with the Corporation, and warned your Highness that the situation was one which the Chinese Government could not allow to continue without danger of international complications and serious damage to both British and Chinese interests. Sir Ernest therefore repeated the requests made in his note of the 14th March, that your Highness should inform the Governor of Chekiang that, as the Preliminary Agreement must be faithfully carried out, it was unnecessary to consider the separate proposals of the Chekiang people, and that the definite instructions of the Imperial Chinese Government should be sent to his Excellency to receive the Corporation's representative for the purpose of negotiating a Final Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Preliminary Agreement.\n\n9\n\nOn the 12th May I had the honour to remind your Highness in a note that no reply had been received to Sir Ernest's communication, and to suggest that as Mr. Bland, the representative of the British and Chinese Corporation, had arrived in Peking, and as it was clear that the Governor of Chekiang had no intention of carrying out the negotiations which your Highness stated in a letter of the 1st January would be continued by him, the terms of the Final Agreement should be considered here. Since then the matter has been discussed at the Wai-wu Pu. I have been asked to represent to His Majesty's Government the difficult position in which the Wai-wu Pu is placed by the popular feeling in Chekiang, and to allow time for this to subside. In reply I have explained that, though willing to recognize difficulties, I must look to the Chinese Government to secure the fulfilment of solemn agreements in spite of local agitations.\n\nUnder the circumstances above stated, it was with no little astonishment that I read in a recent issue of the \"Yu Che Hui Ts'un\" (collection of Decrees and Memorials) a Memorial of the Board of Commerce submitting certain rules drawn up by the gentry of Chekiang for the construction of railways in that province. According to this Memorial, which received the Imperial approval by Rescript on the 4th July last, and appended rules, a concern called \"The Limited Company for the Construction of all the Railways of Chekiang Province\" has been authorized to survey and undertake lines from Hangchow northwards to Soochow and Shanghae, through Ho-shu and Chia-hsing (Kashing); and from Hangchow eastwards to Ningpo, through Chiang-kan and Shao-shing. The authority thus given to the above Company is in direct violation of the Agreements entered into by the Chinese Government with the British and Chinese Corporation.\n\nI have also seen in the \"Pei Yang Kuan Pao\" (\"North China Official News\") a Memorial of the Board of Commerce in regard to the establishment of a Company by the gentry of Kiangsu for the construction of railways in that province, which Memorial was approved by an Imperial Rescript of the 25th May, and I gather from a Declaration of his Excellency Chang Ch'ien, the Assistant Director of that Company (which was published in the \"Nan Fang Pao\" of the 19th and 20th June), that a railway from Soochow to Chia-hsing (Kashing) stands in the forefront of the undertakings contemplated by his Company. It is unnecessary to remind your Highness that such an enterprise, if seriously contemplated by the Kiangsu Railway Company under the authority of the Imperial Rescript of the 25th May, would also be a direct infringement of the obligations of the Chinese Government towards the British and Chinese Corporation.\n\nIn view of the importance of this matter to the reputation and credit of the Imperial Chinese Government, I have the honour to request your Highness to memorialize the Throne without delay, with a view to such action as may be necessary to obviate a charge of breach of faith, and to secure the due fulfilment of the obligations of the Chinese Government under their Agreements with the British and Chinese Corporation.\n\nThe favour of an early reply is requested.\n\n(Signed)\n\n0\n\nI avail, &c.\n\nLANCELOT D. CARNEGIE.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407702, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 166, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "131\n\nPalette 380\n\nC O\n\n42691\n\n162\n\nTing, Governor-General of the Yun-kuei, to Com-\n\nsul General Wilkinson, August 23rd, 1906.\n\nThe Governor General has been honoured by an Im-\n\nperial Rescript assenting to a Memorial in which he\n\nrepresented to the Throne that as the expenditure re-\n\nquisite for the construction by Chinese of the Yun-\n\nnan-Szech'uan Railway will be very heavy, it is neces-\n\nsary to extend the area within which shares should be\n\noffered, in order that work on the road may reach com-\n\npletion. The officials, gentry, scholars, and mer-\n\nchants of the Provinces along the sea and the river\n\n(Yangtse) will be from time to time invited to sub-\n\nscribe; but there are at the trading centres of the\n\nEastern and Southern Seas very many Chinese merchants\n\nof wealth and standing who bear an ardent affection\n\ntowards the land of their forefathers. Were persons\n\nsent to urge them to assist, there should be no diffi-\n\nculty in raising large sums.\n\nAccordingly the Governor General has appointed\n\nTaot'ai Miao Kuo-chun, an expectant Intendant in Yun-\n\nnan, to be General Manager of the Yunnan-Szech'uan and\n\nT'engyueh", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407723, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 187, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n### CONFIDENTIAL\n\n[35564]\nNo. 1.\n182\n[October 22.]\nSECTION 5.\n42969\nIMEST IP: 22 NOV O\n\nMr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received October 22.) (No. 373.)\n\nPeking, September 6, 1906.\n\nSir,\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 358, Confidential, on the 23rd ultimo, on the subject of the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway, I have the honour to inclose some notes of a private conversation which Mr. C. W. Campbell had with his Excellency Tong Shao-yi on the 25th ultimo, which throw an interesting side-light on the issue of the objectionable Memorial of the Board of Commerce.\n\nReferring to the last paragraph of my despatch No. 368 of yesterday, I am glad to state that Prince Ch'ing has at last definitely arranged to see me at his palace in Peking on Saturday next, the 8th instant.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed)\n**LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE**\n\n## Inclosure in No. 1\n### Portion of a Private Conversation between his Excellency Tong Shao-yi and Mr. C. W. Campbell at the former's Residence on Saturday, August 25, 1906.\n\nI told Mr. Tong that, for private reasons, which I mentioned shortly, I was anxious to know when Prince Ching was likely to be able to see Mr. Carnegie about the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo and Canton-Whampoa Railway questions.\n\nAll Mr. Tong knew was what he heard the Prince tell Lien-fang in reply to Mr. Carnegie--that he would arrange an interview; but, as the Court would not come in from the Summer Palace before the first week of September, it looked as if his Highness would not see Mr. Carnegie before that.\n\nThis vagueness, at which I was not greatly surprised, led me to ask him what was going to be done in consequence of Mr. Carnegie's last note (Soochow Railway). As a reasonable man, I said, he must admit that something had to be done.\n\nMr. Tong: You have been long enough in China to know what an Imperial Decree is to a Chinese official. It is not a thing which he can attempt to criticize publicly; if he does, he goes. This Memorial of the Board of Commerce was submitted to the Throne, and sanctioned by the Emperor, without the knowledge of the Wai-wu Pu.\n\nMr. Campbell: Yes. I can understand your difficulty--your personal difficulty--but what I do not understand is how international relations are to be carried on if Decrees such as the two complained of in connection with the Soochow Railway (I referred to that of September last year, and to the Rescript attached to the Memorial above mentioned) can be issued without the knowledge of the Department responsible for foreign affairs. I know the informal way in which the business of State is often transacted in China, and it does not altogether astonish me that Memorials affecting international interests are considered and approved in this fashion, but it may astonish Sir E. Grey and His Majesty's Government.\n\nMr. Tong (with a shrug of mute assent): I spoke to the Prince about this in a way he has seldom been spoken to by any subordinate. I also spoke to Prince Tsai-chen (President of the Board of Commerce), and expostulated with him. He told me that he had signed the Memorial without knowing its bearing on the British and Chinese Corporation's contract. You see, our difficulty is that both father (Prince Ching) and son (Prince Tsai-chien) are involved in this matter.\n\nMr. Campbell: You told Mr. Carnegie, when you delivered the message from Prince Ch'ing last Monday, that a reply to his note would be sent. Up to the present...\n\n2\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nand on arrival at Pian Lung K'on, in the district of Feng Ch'uan, the pirates landed and made good their escape.\n\nOrders were immediately issued to the Taotai of Wuchow and the Prefect of Shao-Ch'ing to unite with all the local civil and military officials in instituting a strict search, and troops were mobilized throughout the Feng Ch'uan and Hsi-Ning districts to effect the arrest of the pirates.\n\nThe case of the other British launch was as follows: Pirates in the guise of passengers concealed themselves on board her on the 15th August. When she arrived at a spot near Jung Ch'i, in the Shun-Te district, a pirate vessel approached her across the water, whereupon the robbery was begun; the Chinese captain and engineer were shot at and wounded, and the pirates made their way to the shore in a boat at a place called Ling-Hua-K'ou and escaped.\n\nIn this case, too, strict orders were issued to the local civil and military officials concerned to effect the arrest of the pirates with all despatch.\n\nHis Excellency is of opinion that the recent cases of piracy on steamers plying singly on the West River are largely due to the practice of embarking passengers en route, and to the laxity with which inspections are conducted. He has now appointed an official to discuss with the Consul and the Commissioner of Customs satisfactory measures of precaution and for the thorough searching of all passengers. Definite places and times should be fixed for the embarcation of passengers, and inspection be made by the guards belonging to each section of the river, who would be on the spot in advance in their gun-boats, if a stop is to be put to the prevalence of piracy and the safety of travellers is to be insured.\n\nWith regard to the piracy case at Wuchow, we have also received a telegraphic report from the Governor of Kueichow which corresponds in all particulars with the information quoted above.\n\nWe avail, &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407774, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 238, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n233\n\n# CHINA TRADE\n\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n[30788]\n\n### No. 1\n\n[September 10.\n\n### SECTION 3\n\n0.\n\n45804\n\nMr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 10.)\n\n(No. 166.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nPeking, September 10, 1906.\n\nI HAVE the honour to report, with reference to my telegram No. 145, that in consequence of the Memorials of the Board of Commerce, which were approved by Imperial Rescript and appeared in the Chinese press, by which the building of lines from Soochow to Hangchow and Ningpo by two new Chinese Railway Companies was authorized, I addressed a strong protest to Prince Ch'ing on the 4th August, requesting him to take steps to secure that the Chinese Government's obligations under the Agreements they had entered into with the Corporation be duly fulfilled and the charge of bad faith obviated, and also asking for an interview.\n\nI was at first referred by his Highness, who was engaged at the Summer Palace, to the Wai-wu Pu, and on the 7th and 20th ultimo I had two unsatisfactory interviews with them (see my despatch No. 358 of the 23rd ultimo).\n\nOn my insisting on seeing him, the Prince finally, on the 8th instant, found time to see me.\n\nHe gave me repeated assurances that, though the discussion of a final Agreement could not at present be agreed to, the Chinese Government recognized the preliminary Agreement, but that the Memorials could not be set aside, as they had been approved by Rescript.\n\nPending the conclusion of a final Agreement, and while the matter was in a preliminary stage, to inform the Chekiang provincials that foreigners had been granted all rights to build railways between Soochow, Hangchow, and Ningpo was a course the Chinese Government were not prepared to take.\n\nHe hinted broadly at the same time that it was not likely that the provincials would be successful, intending evidently that I should understand that their project was negligible, owing to the small prospect it had of coming to fruition.\n\nI said I must refer to you, as I could not consider this satisfactory.\n\nI shall leave suggestions as to further action to Sir John Jordan, who arrives this evening.\n\n[30785]\n\n### No. 2\n\nMr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 10.)\n\n(No. 167.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nPeking, September 19, 1906.\n\nI HAVE been officially informed by the Wai-wu Pu that Fengt'ien Province having been evacuated by the Japanese troops, Fenghuangcheng, Liaoyang, Isinmintun, Tiehling, Tungchiangtzu, and Fakumen, in accordance with the terms of Article I of the Supplementary Convention between China and Japan, dated the 22nd December, 1905, have been opened to international trade.\n\n[2104 k-8]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407806, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 270, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[36986]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n265\n\n[November 3.]\n\nSECTION 4. CO.\n\n45×05\n\n27 NOV\n\n!\n\n(No. 375.) Sir,\n\nMr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 3.)\n\nPeking, September 9, 1906.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 373 of the 6th instant, I have the honour to inform you that I called by appointment on Prince Ch'ing at his Palace in Peking yesterday, and discussed with him the situation created by the Board of Commerce memorials which were inclosed in my despatch No. 358, Confidential, of the 23rd August.\n\nHis Highness had come into town specially to see me, and was evidently anxious to return to Wan Shou Shan at once.\n\nHe opened the conversation by saying that he was aware of the object of my visit—the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway. He was cognizant of all that had passed between the Wai-wu Pu and the Legation on the subject, and wished to state that there was no question of the abrogation of the preliminary Agreement with the British and Chinese Corporation. That was recognized as valid, but while the matter remained in this preliminary stage, and until a final Agreement was concluded, it was impossible for the Chinese Government to tell the Chekiang provincials that they could not build a line of their own, and that all rights to make railways between Soochow, Hangchow, and Ningpo were conceded to foreigners.\n\nThe Corporation's Agreement was only preliminary; nothing had been settled, not even the trace. He insisted that the railway was only a commercial matter, and not a question of international relations; and reminded me more than once that it was a Chinese railway on Chinese territory, and that any loss or gain would be China's, not the Corporation's.\n\nI invited his Highness' attention to the Board of Commerce memorials, and contended at length that, although he said that the preliminary Agreement was valid, those documents (and especially the memorial relating to the Chekiang Company) which were approved by Rescript, directly contravened the terms of the preliminary Agreement, in that they authorized two Chinese Companies to construct lines over the same ground as that stated in the preliminary Agreement.\n\nPrince Ching merely repeated that though the preliminary Agreement stood, nothing had been definitely settled. The trace was not fixed, and it might be that two lines could be built which would not interfere with each other.\n\nI was unable to agree to that. The Corporation's Concession dated back eight years nearly, and was a definite Concession of the right to build lines from Soochow to Hangchow and Ningpo. I insisted that this right was infringed by the privileges given in the memorials mentioned in my note of the 4th August, and I looked to his Highness to rectify the infringement.\n\nPrince Ching held that the memorials having been approved by Imperial Rescript nothing could be done in regard to them. But he thought that there was little prospect of the Chekiang people effecting anything, and he begged me to bear in mind that China would consult her own interests. For instance, when a final Agreement was made money would be borrowed from the Corporation, and the Chinese Government were not going to waste that money. However, when it came to considering the final Agreement the terms of the preliminary Agreement would have to be modified, and in any case it must be understood that the final Agreement could not be concluded at the present time. Times and seasons had to be considered, and the popular feeling must be studied.\n\nI told his Highness that I had refrained from reporting the facts about the two memorials to you by telegraph in the hope that I might be able to send some explanation from him which would satisfy His Majesty's Government. I regretted that nothing his Highness had said removed my objections to them. There was no doubt whatever that they directly violated the preliminary Agreement, and for that reason they required explanation.\n\nPrince Ching repeated that between two great nations like Great Britain and China a covenant of the character of the preliminary Agreement must, of course, stand,\n\n[2226 c-4]\n\nPage 270\n\nPage 271", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407853, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 317, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "312\n\n2\n\ncannot be held by British subjects, I will forward to you a copy of the Governor-General's communication. I took the opportunity to repeat that, even as regards railways altogether in the interior, such as the projected Yunnan-Szechuan line (from Yunnan-fu to Suifu), I considered that the policy of excluding foreign capital is suicidal. The sum named in the prospectus of the Company now under discussion—20,000,000 taels (or, say, 3,000,000l)—would not be sufficient for a line of 400 miles through difficult country, while the Chinese have not yet acquired the necessary experience to enable them to undertake so large a work unaided.\n\nI may add that the Governor-General's delegates told me that his Excellency recognizes that Great Britain is entitled to equal treatment in Yünnan with France, and that, as far as this rests with him, he would most willingly accord it. But they appeared to think that a light railway from the Burmah frontier to Tengyueh was not altogether in the same category as the French metre-gauge line from Tonquin to Yunnan-fu, the provincial capital. They personally thought that, for the light line in question, either \"province,\" \"Yunnan and Burmah, might construct its own section. They did not believe that it would be found practicable to extend the line to Tali and Yunnan-fu.\n\nI answered that it was precisely in order to inquire into such practicability that permission had been asked, and, as they knew, accorded by their Governor-General, for engineers from Burmah to survey, probably this next cold season, the country between Tengyueh and Tali, Further than this, I was not acquainted with the wishes of the Indian Government. All that I am concerned with just now is to see that I do not commit myself in any way pending the communication to me of those wishes.\n\nThe delegates then left.\n\nI learn, from what I believe to be a trustworthy source, that the words \"and Tengyueh\" were inserted because it is believed that Chinese in the Straits and in Burmah will be more ready to subscribe to a Bhamo-Tengyueh than to a Yunnan-Szechuan scheme. I do not expect that the ordinary Baba will be induced to invest in a railway, especially a railway under Chinese official control, that is, to unite two provinces in which he, as a Kuangtung or Fukien man, takes little or no interest. If it could be made out that the railway is to connect with British territory, or that the British Government views it with approval, Miao's mission might prove more successful. Hence, probably, not only the insertion of the words \"and Tengyueh,\" but also the present request to your Excellency.\n\nI have been, I need hardly say, careful not to undertake to do more than simply transmit the request, which, on the face of it, does not ask for support to be given to Miao taotai, but merely such consideration and protection as is implied in the term \"chao-liao\" (to look after).\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nW. H. WILKINSON,\n\nTing, Governor-General of the Yun-kuei, to Consul-General Wilkinson.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nAugust 23, 1906. THE Governor-General has been honoured by an Imperial Rescript assenting to a Memorial, in which he represented to the Throne that as the expenditure requisite for the construction by Chinese of the Yünnan--Szechuan Railway will be very heavy, it is necessary to extend the area within which shares should be offered, in order that work on the road may reach completion. The officials, gentry, scholars, and merchants of the provinces along the sea and the river (Yang-tsze) will be from time to time invited to subscribe; but there are at the trading centres of the Eastern and Southern Seas very many Chinese merchants of wealth and standing who bear an ardent affection towards the land of their forefathers. Were persons sent to urge them to assist, there should be no difficulty in raising large sums,\n\nAccordingly, the Governor-General has appointed Taot'ai Miao Kuochun, an expectant Intendant in Yunnan, to be General Manager of the Yunnan-Szechuan and Tengyueh Railways, for the purpose of collecting subscriptions. He will carry with him scrip to each port in the Eastern and Southern Seas, where he will invite Chinese merchants to subscribe the amounts of the shares, and when these are collected he will return to Yunnan to commence work.\n\nNow, the most flourishing of all ports in the Southern Seas is Singapore, and Singapore is a British possession. It becomes, therefore, the duty of the Governor-General to write to the Consul-General and request him to be good enough to communicate with the Governor-General of Singapore, asking his Excellency to give instructions to the local authorities to carefully look after Miao taot'ai on his arrival within the jurisdiction.\n\nExpressing an earnest hope that all this may be done, the Governor-General requests the favour of a reply.\n\nA necessary communication.\n\nDated Kuang-hsu, 32.7.4 (August 23, 1906).\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nYunnan-Szechuan and Tengyueh Railways: Provisional Share Certificates.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nTHE main object of the Company in issuing shares is the construction of lines for the expansion of trade and the preservation of autonomy,\n\n2. The Company is issuing shares for the construction, by ourselves, of the Yunnan-Szechuan Railway, and that of Tengyueh. To complete the entire work will require about 20,000,000 taels,\n\n3. The Company has actually, in official and community shares, 4,000,000 taels. 4. At each port. when the number of shares issued is complete, the shareholders may elect some thoroughly trustworthy firm to be the Agency at that port for the issuing of shares in the Yunnan-Szechuan and Tengyueh Railways. Any shareholder having occasion to do so can apply direct to the Agency; the Agency having occasion can write to the Tien-shun-hsiang firm at Canton, who will forward the letter to the head office. The head office may likewise communicate, should need arise, with an Agency through the Tien-shun-hsiang firm.\n\n5. The Company takes for its standard the double-dragon dollar. Payments at outports remitted by means of negotiable instruments must make up the amount at the rate of the day for such dollars.\n\n6. The Company's share certificates are being printed, but are not yet ready. When the amount of the subscription has been settled, the agent concerned will tear out and issue a receipt, which will be exchanged for a share certificate when these are ready.\n\nAs regards the subscription, it may be paid in full at once, or it may be paid by instalments. In any case a note will be made at the top of the triplicate receipt, stating how the instalments are to be, the number of this particular instalment, and the amount in dollars. A seal will be thereupon impressed on the triplicate receipt. Instalments will not exceed five, and the interval between each call will be limited to three months.\n\n7. Where subscriptions to the amount of 100,000 dollars have been raised at any port, a Director may be elected to proceed to Yünnan and assist in the management of the line. If he is unwilling to proceed to Yunnan, well and good.\n\n8. A subscription for a 50-dollar share will draw interest as soon as he has paid up 10 dollars of the amount. Subscribers to 10-dollar or 5-dollar shares must wait until the whole amount of the share has been paid up before they can draw interest. A subscriber to several shares payable by instalment will draw interest on the instalments already paid up.\n\n9. When the Company's lines are completed, and traffic has begun, a balance of receipts will be taken once a-year. After deducting expenses under each branch, and interest payable, 10 per cent. (of the profits) will be set aside as reserve. When the reserve fund amounts to one-half the capital, payments into it will cease. The remainder will be divided into ten parts. Three parts will go to the State as royalty; five and a-half parts will be distributed among the shareholders as dividend; one part will be for repairs; half a part as bonus to the employés of the Company.\n\n10. A subscriber can only draw interest on his shares; he may not withdraw the capital. If he is hard pressed, he may sell to a Chinese subject only, he may not sell to a non-Chinese. When transferring by sale his shares he must report to the Agency, in detail, the name and address of the purchaser. The Agency will transfer the shares to the latter and will write to the Tien-shun-hsiang, who will report to the Head Office, so as to insure the proper checks. Should a share certificate be lost, the shareholder must advertise, and at the same time inform the Agency. If after three months no...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407857, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 321, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n2\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nSir R. Hart to the Commissioners of Customs, Postal Commissioners, and Deputy Commissioners in Charge of Li-kin Collectorates.\n\n(Circular No. 1,369. Second Series.) Inspectorate-General of Customs, Peking, Sir,\n\nSeptember 22, 1906\n\nCIRCULARS Nos. 1,339 and 1,361 acquainted you with the establishment and opening of a separate and special office to deal with Customs affairs. The Inspectorate which had hitherto functioned in and under the Tsung-li Yamên and Wai-wu Pu, was thereon accordingly instructed to report henceforth to, and take its orders from, the new department, the Shui-wu Ch'u. The two Ta-ch'en appointed to control the Shui-wu Ch'u, their Excellencies Tieh Liang and Tang Shao-yi, explained to me on two separate occasions, on the 12th and 15th May, that work was to proceed as before, and they now authorize me to circulate this intimation as an order for the information of the Service generally.\n\nWhile the Inspector-General will have the same relations with the Shui-wu Ch'u that he had with the Wai-wu Pu, and his duties continue to follow the same general lines, Commissioners and Port Staff will also continue to work just as before and remain in the same relation to the Inspector-General.\n\nFurther, seeing that this explanation should dispel apprehensions expressed since the appearance of the Customs Edict on the 9th May, the members of the Service are to avoid originating or circulating, whether by mouth or pen, disturbing rumours and hypothetical fears calculated to provoke public comment to no useful purpose, but which may do more harm than good as affecting the dignity of the Chinese Government.\n\nThe Maritime Customs worked satisfactorily, efficiently and usefully in the past, and the Chinese Government has been considerate and liberal in its dealings with its foreign employés; it is not intended to change such treatment, and it is expected that Service contentment and efficiency will march hand in hand with its continuance.\n\nI may add that this Customs Circular has been submitted to and approved of by the Shui-wu Ta-ch'en before issue.\n\nI am, &c.,\n\n(Signed)\n\nROBERT HART,\n\nInspector-General,\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[38626]\n\nC O.\n\n14802\n\nRECEIVED\n\nNoRec 5 DFC OF\n\n[November 17.]\n\nSECTION 3.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 17.)\n\n(No. 401.)\n\nPeking, October 4, 1906.\n\nSir,\n\nWITH reference to Mr. Carnegie's despatch No. 375 of the 9th September, I have the honour to inform you that, at an interview yesterday at the Wai-wu Pu, I gave their Excellencies T'ang Shao-yi and Lien-fang, the two Ministers present, a Memorandum in English and Chinese on the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway, in which the substance of Mr. Carnegie's interview of the 8th September with Prince Ch'ing was summarized, and the views of His Majesty's Government as stated in your telegram No. 160 of the 12th September were set out in full.\n\nTheir Excellencies read the two texts carefully, Mr. Tang the English and Mr. Lien the Chinese, and began their reply by repeating the language used by Prince Ching on the 8th September. They dwelt especially on the recognition by His Highness of the validity of the Preliminary Agreement, and argued that if this was carried out, as it would be, the question of a second line to be built by the Chekiangese themselves did not affect the British and Chinese Corporation.\n\nThe Corporation's line being a Chinese Government undertaking, the loss or profit would be China's and not the Corporation's.\n\nI insisted at length that in any rational view of the matter the question raised by the Board of Commerce Memorials was of vital concern to the Corporation. The proposals contained in those Memorials went to the root of the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway Concession, and if they were carried out the Concession was annulled.\n\nIt was against common sense that two separate and distinct parties should each be given authorization to build a railway between towns so situated as Soochow, Hangchow, and Ningpo, and no matter what their Excellencies said, it could not be admitted for a moment that such lines would not be rival lines.\n\nThe Board of Commerce clearly proposed undertakings which violated the Preliminary Agreement, and, that being so, desired to know what steps the Chinese Government were prepared to take to rectify so grave an error.\n\nTheir Excellencies were for some time inclined to contend that the terms of the Preliminary Agreement did not bind the Chinese Government to give exactly the same terms for the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway as for the Shanghae-Nanking line, but after reference to the text of the Preliminary Agreement they abandoned this argument.\n\nThey then said that they could not criticize what was approved by Imperial Rescript.\n\nI said that I was not so sure as their Excellencies appeared to be that Imperial Decrees were irrevocable, and insisted that, in any case, there must be some machinery to rectify the error which was committed by the Board of Commerce.\n\nI looked to the Wai-wu Pu to set that machinery in motion.\n\nAs a private expression of opinion, Mr. Tang thought that the difficulty was capable of a satisfactory solution by means of some arrangement under which the Chekiang people would be given an opportunity to subscribe a portion of the capital required for the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway.\n\nI inquired whether I could be given a definite statement on the subject which I could submit officially for the consideration of His Majesty's Government.\n\nMr. Tang said that he would consult with Prince Ching and let me know the result.\n\nI had the honour to send you a telegram in the above sense to-day.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n[2226 7-3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407904, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 368, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n363\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[30788]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[September 10]\n\nSECTION 7.\n\nC. O.\n\n45640\n\nMr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 10.)\n\n(No. 166.)\n\nPeking, September 10, 1906. (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nI HAVE the honour to report, with reference to my telegram No. 145, that in consequence of the Memorials of the Board of Commerce, which were approved by Imperial Rescript and appeared in the Chinese press, by which the building of lines from Soochow to Hangchow and Ningpo by two new Chinese Railway Companies was authorized, I addressed a strong protest to Prince Ching on the 4th August, requesting him to take steps to secure that the Chinese Government's obligations under the Agreements they had entered into with the Corporation be duly fulfilled and the charge of bad faith obviated, and also asking for an interview. I was at first referred by his Highness, who was engaged at the Summer Palace, to the Wai-wu Pu, and on the 7th and 20th ultimo I had two unsatisfactory interviews with them (see my despatch No. 358 of the 23rd ultimo). On my insisting on seeing him, the Prince finally, on the 8th instant, found time to see me. He gave me repeated assurances that, though the discussion of a final Agreement could not at present be agreed to, the Chinese Government recognized the preliminary Agreement, but that the Memorials could not be set aside, as they had been approved by Rescript. Pending the conclusion of a final Agreement, and while the matter was in a preliminary stage, to inform the Chekiang provincials that foreigners had been granted all rights to build railways between Soochow, Hangchow, and Ningpo was a course the Chinese Government were not prepared to take. He hinted broadly at the same time that it was not likely that the provincials would be successful, intending evidently that I should understand that their project was negligible, owing to the small prospect it had of coming to fruition. I said I must refer to you, as I could not consider this satisfactory.\n\nI shall leave suggestions as to further action to Sir John Jordan, who arrives this evening.\n\n[2146 k-7]\n\nOFC C\n\n....", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 408005, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 469, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "CANTON\n\n464 KOWLOON RAILWAY.\n\nMINUTES of Second Meeting held at H.B.M. Consulate-General Canton on Tuesday 19th December 1905, between the Viceroy of Canton's Deputies and the representative of the British & Chinese Corporation Limited.\n\nPRESENT; - Messrs Wei, Wen & Kung representing the Viceroy of Canton and Mr C.H. Ross representing the British & Chinese Corporation Ltd. Mr Tebbitt, H.B.M Vice-Consul being also present.\n\nMr Wen, on behalf of his colleagues, said they had explained the Corporation's proposals to the Viceroy, (though an account of the delicate state of His Excellency's health a bare outline only of the proposed agreement had been submitted) and had been instructed to reply that since the preliminary Agreement had been signed, circumstances had changed, and particularly a marked change had come over the spirit of the people, who now desired to themselves build this railway, and the Viceroy was not prepared to oppose this feeling which had been expressed in unmistakable tones by the local gentry.\n\nIn the Viceroy's opinion, the Preliminary Agreement was a non-binding document, which although authorised by the Tsung-li-Yamen, had not formally received the Emperor's sanction, and moreover Clause 5 of this Agreement seemed specially to provide for a state of affairs such as now existed.\n\nMr Ross, replying to the foregoing remarks, told the Deputies that if they would refer to their archives, dated he believed about the end of the year 1898, they would discover correspondence which passed between Sheng Kung-pao, and the then Viceroy of Canton, on the subject of this railway. In the letters referred to (copies of which Mr Ross had read) Sheng explained the instructions he had received from the Throne, quoting these in full with the Imperial rescript. Under such circumstances it was therefore quite incorrect to state that the", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411088, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 265, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE\n\n(Received February 15, 1907.)\n\nThe Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, by direction of the Secretary of State, transmits herewith copies of the under-mentioned paper.\n\nForeign Office, \nFebruary 14, 1907.\n\n## REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS LETTER\nColonial Office, January 30.* \n*No. 1996, 261\n\n## DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURE\n| Name and Date | Subject |\n| --- | --- |\n| Sir J. Jordan, Peking, dated Feb. 10. | Ratification of Canton-Kowloon Railway Agreement. |\n\n## Enclosure in No.\n### Sir J. JORDAN, Peking, to FOREIGN OFFICE. TELEGRAM.\nFebruary 10, 1907. No. 29. Canton-Kowloon Railway Loan Agreement.\n\nPlease see my telegram, No. 26, of the 8th instant. Agreement has been ratified by an Imperial rescript, dated February 7th, which has been communicated to me by the Wai-wu-pu.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411090, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 267, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## C.O. 263/5679 F.R. who.\n\n**RECEIVED 15 FEB 07**\n\nParaphrase of telegram from Sir J. Jordan, Peking, to Foreign Office, No. 29, dated February 10th, 1907.\n\n### Canton-Kowloon Railway\n\n* **Telegram**\n* **Loan Agreement**\n\nPlease see my telegram No. 26 of the 8th instant. Agreement has been ratified by an Imperial Rescript dated February 7th, which has been communicated to me by the Wai-wu-pu.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411162, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 339, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## Court against Tsao Ah Ch'uan for refusing to let him redeem a land deed\nThe former Magistrate, Chang, had defendant arrested, and heard the case. Chiao wanted to redeem the deed, but the brothers Tsao absolutely refused to agree. Each adhered to his own, and the case was sent to the city to be dealt with. In the intercalary 4th moon of this year the City Magistrate asked to have arrested one Ts'ao Mao Mao on the charge of conspiring to fabricate a false deed. The police brought him up in due course, and, it being shown that he was arrested at the instance of the City Magistrate, he was taken away and sent to the city, and this procedure was in accordance with regulation. Six years ago, when the case was sent to the city, the British Consul agreed to the procedure, and it is a contradiction for that objection to be raised now.\n\nAs to the cases relating to land in the Settlement heard and decided in this Court, those mentioned, namely, Chien Chang Shih v. Chiao Shen Shih, Hsu Sung Lin v. Yao Kuei Hai, Asi Yu Fu v. Jen P'u Jen—these did, as a matter of fact, arise out of land-deed complications, and they were heard in this Court because the plaintiffs came to this Court to prosecute. It is improper to say that the City Magistrate ought not to receive such Petitions. The Mixed Court Regulations say only that the Mixed Court may hear suits affecting commercial matters, but there is no fixed regulation that the City Magistrate may not hear Settlement cases. The Settlement is in the Shanghae district jurisdiction, and the City Magistrate is the territorial authority with seal; he has to bear cases involving loss of human life and robbery cases, and he should be allowed to try also other cases, civil and criminal, in which foreigners are not concerned. Why should there be any distinction of outside or inside the Settlement, or any question of ultra vires?\n\n\"Ma Tzu Fang v. Wang Chen Shih. I cannot find this case on record; there is, however, one of the 5th moon of this year—Mao Tzu Fang v. Wang Ch'en Shih, mother of Ho Shang Mafoo, a charge of abduction of the woman Liu, and adultery with Liu Lung Fei and conspiracy to inflict bodily harm, and of the woman eloping, taking away her child. The circumstances were all clearly and distinctly set forth in the warrant, and the counterfoil of the warrant is on record. Besides, Wang Ch'en Shih and Liu Lung Fei are now in my custody; they were not sent to the city, nor were they released on security, because they are required to be produced for examination. I do not know how the British Consul came to be informed that they had been sent to the city. Both these cases are purely Chinese, and no foreigner is concerned in them, so that, by the Regulations, no Consul should interfere.\"\n\nA further report states: \"There is no such person as Chin Hsi Pao; perhaps it is a mistake for Chien Hsi Pao; he is also called Chien Hsi Kuei. A rescript was received on the 12th day of the 6th moon respecting the appeal case of the widow Ch'ien Wang Shih v. Chien Hu Shih, the latter being accused of bringing a false charge against the former's son, Chien Hsi Kuei, of taking advantage of a period of mourning to steal a deed. The particulars of the case, and those of the disturbance made in Court by the woman Chien Wang Shih, and her refusal to submit to judgment, together with the witnesses and record, have been sent to the City Magistrate, and a reply has already been received from that official. When this case was brought up before Mr. Sun, Ch'ien Wang Shih, cunningly sheltering herself behind her sex, made a disturbance in Court and refused to submit to the judgment of the Court, and it is true that it was necessary to intimidate her by an empty threat; but there was no use of corporal punishment, and it can hardly be said that there was any breach of the new rule. Besides, the case in question is Chinese, and does not concern foreigners, and belongs to the evening Court, where the Chinese authorities have sole discretion in giving judgment, and it does not call for consultation with Consular authorities. What the British Consul says is quite right—the Rules of 1869 should be applied without any infraction whatever. Now the second of those Rules states that, if all the parties to a case are Chinese, the Chinese Magistrate will hear the case and decide it without Consular intervention. The third Rule says: 'Foreigners are not to interfere in a case where foreign interests are not involved.' All this is very clear.\"\n\nFrom the above it appears that the Magistrate has not infringed the Mixed Court Regulations.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Seal of Jui Taotai.)\n\n## 7\n\n### Inclosure 6 in No. 1\n\n#### Municipal Council, Shanghae, to Consul-General Sir P. Warren\n\nCouncil Room, Shanghae, November 2, 1906.\n\nSir,\n\nI HAVE the honour to refer to the Council's letter to yourself of the 2nd August last on the subject of an incident which took place in the Mixed Court on the 30th July, and to inquire whether any steps have been taken to bring the irregular proceedings there recounted to the notice of the authorities concerned.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) H. KESWICK, Chairman.\n\n### Inclosure 7 in No. 1\n\n#### Consul-General Sir P. Warren to Shanghae Taotai\n\nShanghae, November 13, 1906.\n\nSir,\n\nI HAVE the honour to refer to your despatch of the 11th September, in which you state that the action of Mr. Sun, Assistant Mixed Court Magistrate, in the cases of Chien Hsi Pao (civil claim) and Ch'u Mei Lang . Ts'ao Mao Mac, as reported by him (Mr. Sun) was quite in accordance with Mixed Court Rules, and was in no way improper. You furnished me with copies of the reports of Mr. Sun and Mr. Kuan on these cases.\n\nIt is not necessary for me to repeat here the details given in my two former despatches of the manner in which the Assistant Magistrate took action in these cases, in contravention both of the new rule of punishment instituted by the Board of Punishments and of the Mixed Court Rules.\n\nI would now refer particularly to one part of Mr. Sun's report. He says: \"The rule in the past has been for persons required by district authorities outside the Settlement to be arrested by runners and police acting conjointly upon warrants issued by this Court. They are kept with the police until next morning, when they are brought before the Court. Persons prosecuted in this Court, and those arrested at the instance of authorities outside the Settlement, are by regulation left to Court and sent away for trial.\"\n\nNow, in the cases thus referred to by Mr. Sun there is a very wide distinction; but he has neglected to point out this distinction, which is between those cases which should be heard at the Mixed Court and those which fall under the jurisdiction of districts outside. Thus civil claims and land cases of which the matter is in the Settlement should be dealt with in the Settlement; those of which the matter is without the Settlement, and in which warrants are issued at the instance of external Magistrates, have first to be heard in the Mixed Court, and an understanding has to be arrived at with the Assessor, after which the parties can be sent away. This is the long-standing practice.\n\nFurther, the Magistrate, Mr. Kuan, in his report, states: \"The Mixed Court Regulations say only that the Mixed Court may hear suits affecting commercial matters, but there is no fixed regulation that the City Magistrate may not hear Settlement cases.\"\n\nThere is, of course, a proper place for each suit to be dealt with, and it is unheard of that parties should bring suits wherever they please. Any such indiscriminate prosecution might result in one case being heard in two Courts, and how then could it be dealt with? The first of the Mixed Court Regulations says: \"Cases of Chinese against Chinese, or foreigners against Chinese, whether for debt or other business matters, may be dealt with by him\" (the Mixed Court Magistrate) \"by the processes of arrest, hearing, and judgment.\" That is, there being thus established a judicial authority in the Settlement, all cases arising therein are outside the jurisdiction of the City Magistrate. The special provision of the Regulations for dealing with grave offences punishable by death and banishment where, by Chinese law, an officer with zeal would... \n\nPage 333", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411208, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 385, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nC\n\n4\n\nhowever, is insufficient, it will be so difficult to build the railway that the question of redeeming it will not arise. The original contract was not arranged by myself, and it would be useless to gloss over the loss to which we have been subjected by the terms of that contract and by the former extravagance of the foreign officials. It would seem impossible to avoid making the unwelcome proposal of raising loans, and impossible to neglect the whole question, on account solely of this former failure. Moreover, these shares are purchasable by Chinese, so that it will, of course, be necessary to issue Proclamations and insert advertisements in the newspapers, in the hope of retaining the interest thereon for Chinese. I have reduced the loan required by the Company on this occasion from 1,000,000 to 650,000. In the original contract the loan was at 90, but it would appear that the terms upon which China raises loans are improving, and on this occasion in borrowing the sum of 650,000, there may be an addition to the terms, which may amount to 95 and 96. After careful calculation, it appears to me that the redemption of the railway may reasonably be expected after twelve years by means of repayment by yearly instalment of principal and interest out of the surplus of the income for traffic. If, however, there is a cessation of work owing to lack of funds the loss to which we shall be subjected will be all the greater, and after repeated calculations I consider that the only course is a further loan.\n\nIf I am favoured with the Imperial sanction, it will be proper that I decide upon other rules and give directions that the various officials inquire thoroughly into the manner in which money is spent, and report at each quarter to the Board in accordance with the contract, thus complying with the Imperial sentiments, &c.\n\nOwing to official duties I shall be unable to present my card at the Imperial dinner-table, craving audience for the following day.\n\n## Rescript by the Council of State.\n\n## Rescript by Board of Commerce and Revenue \nthat, in view of their inability to raise the funds required, it be arranged as suggested by the memorialist.\n\n## CHINA RAILWAYS.\n\n8373\n\n[January 28.]\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\nSECTION 4.\n\n1 6 MAR 07\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[3107]\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 28, 1907.)**\n\n(No. 521.) Sir,\n\nPeking, December 11, 1906.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch which I have received from His Majesty's Consul at Swatow, reporting the opening of the railway from Swatow to Chao Chou-fu on the 25th ultimo.\n\nThis line, which is a Chinese concern, but for which the contract was given to a Japanese Company, formed the subject of detailed reports from His Majesty's Consulate at Swatow, inclosed in Sir Ernest Satow's despatches to Lord Lansdowne No. 195 of the 30th May, 1904, No. 45 of the 5th February, 1905, and of Mr. Carnegie's despatch to you No. 226 of the 15th May, 1906.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN,\n\n0\n\n(No. 28.) Sir,\n\n## Inclosure in No. 1.\n\n## Consul Hausser to Sir J. Jordan,\n\nSwatow, November 26, 1906.\n\nI HAVE the honour to report the formal opening yesterday of the railway from Swatow to Chao Chou-fu.\n\nOn the invitation of the Directors some 300 guests, foreign and Chinese, assembled at 11 A.M. at the Swatow station, and were taken by train to Chao Chou-fu, about 30 miles distant. This was covered in an hour and a-half, the same time being taken for the return journey. Luncheon was then served in the goods depôt, and the proceedings terminated about 4:30 P.M. At Swatow and all along the line the Chinese were very demonstrative in their enthusiasm, the crowd at Chao Chou-fu especially being very great.\n\nThere are at present four stations between Swatow and Chao Chou-fu, viz., Ampo, T'sai Tang Chih, Pu Ju, and Hong Koei, and it is intended shortly to open three more stations at Tan Meng Kio, Kin Chih Keng, and I Koei. The first portion of the line runs over low-lying country much intersected with tidal water-courses and ponds, and the soil is loose and sandy, so that the train had to proceed with caution. After leaving Ampo the track improved, and a fair rate of speed was attained—about 25 miles an hour. The line is somewhat unevenly laid, and the embankment on which it runs is low and certainly not wide enough. The ballast consists chiefly of sands and loose soil, so that in the rainy season washouts will surely occur, and it will be no easy matter to keep the line in working order. The carriages, first and third class only, are built on the American plan, but are small and incommodious from a foreigner's point of view. Engine-drivers, guards, pointsmen, &c., are all Japanese. So far only passengers are being carried, and the receipts from this traffic during the three days the line has been working are said to have averaged 500 dollars a-day, which, if maintained, should give a dividend of ... per cent. to the shareholders. The cost of a ticket from Swatow to Chao Chou-fu is 1 dol 25 c. first class and 50 cents third for the single journey.\n\nThe country traversed appears extremely productive, wide stretches of paddy land alternating with patches of sugar-cane and orange groves, and in course of time no doubt a certain amount of cargo will be brought down to Swatow by rail.\n\nOne great drawback is the present inconvenient situation of the Swatow terminus, which is some three-quarters of a mile from the sea-front, with no direct road to it, and with a broad creek intervening. It is intended later on to carry the line... \n\nPage 379\n3", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411222, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 399, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n## CHINA TRADE\n\n### SECTION 2\n\n#### No. 1. Memorandum communicated by the American Embassy\n\nGREAT BRITAIN advised the United States, in Sir Edward Grey's letter of the 22nd November, 1906, that His Majesty's Government was willing to take part in a Joint Commission or joint investigation of the opium trade and the opium habit in the Far East by the United States, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, China, and Japan, if the other Powers agreed, and if, as regards China, the inquiry extended to the production of opium in China as well as to the import of foreign opium.\n\nSince then the United States has received a similar favourable response from the Government of Japan; the co-operation of China seems also assured by the Imperial Rescript of the 21st November, 1906.\n\nThe United States is now inquiring from France, Germany, and the Netherlands whether they would be willing to join in a Conference on the opium question, or whether, if deemed more convenient and practical, they would be prepared to name Commissioners, who would concert with like Commissioners of the other Powers named, to investigate the subject. In the latter case either a joint recommendation of the Powers would be expected, or, in case of divergence of opinions, a statement to each Government for its consideration, with a view ultimately to united action or to coincident action by each Government in its own sphere.\n\nThe United States would be glad to learn which of the two courses above suggested would seem to His Majesty's Government the more convenient and acceptable.\n\nFebruary 11, 1907.\n\nPage 393", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411401, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 578, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "572 \n\n2 \n\nTong meets the foreign diplomat on his own ground, points his arguments by illustrations drawn from foreign countries, and in Treaty port questions especially shows a knowledge, based upon personal experience, which is often rather embarrassing. After Tong has finished his argument, the effect is not infrequently spoiled by the intervention of his colleague, who prides himself on being \"a plain, honest man,\" with no special qualifications for his post. His manner of treating international questions is that of the Chinese statesman of half-a-century ago. \n\nHe scarcely disguises his belief that Treaties do not apply to Hunan, and in a question like the opening of the capital, Ch'ang-sha, he thinks it sufficient to say that the place is far too small to permit of the indiscriminate residence of foreigners. If you venture to doubt it, he invites you to pay his native city a visit and convince yourself by the evidence of your own eyesight. \n\nSuch are the two men who are the protagonists in the struggle that is now attracting the attention of the Empire, and for the moment the forces of reaction are decidedly in the ascendant. \n\nI have, &c. \n\n(Translation.) \n\n(Signed) \n## J. N. JORDAN \n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1. \n\n**Extract from the \"Peking Gazette\"** \n\n**Imperial Decree, dated January 30, 1907** \n\nWHEREAS Ma Chi Chang, a sub-reader of the Hanlin College, has presented a Memorial impeaching a high official, let Ch'en Shao Chang, Chief Secretary, and Shih Chao Chi, Councillor of the Board of Communications, who have disappointed public expectation, vacate their posts. Tang Shao Yi, by introducing such men for employment as Chief Secretary and Councillor, has attracted much criticism. Let the above-named Vice-President tremblingly obey our former Edict, and carefully carry out the duties intrusted to him with zeal and energy. If he should again show himself self-opinionated he certainly will not be dealt with leniently. \n\nAs for the posts of Chief Secretary and Councillor in that Board, let the Ministers of the Board carefully select suitable officers and submit their names to the Throne. \n\n### Inclosure 2 in No. 1. \n\n**Extract from the \"Peking Gazette\" February 1, 1907** \n\n**Memorial of Ma Chi Chang, a Reader of the Imperial Hanlin College and Expositor of Literature, to His Majesty the Emperor, dated January 30, 1907** \n\n(Translation.) \n\n**A HUMBLE Memorial, impeaching a high official for monopolizing powers, accepting bribes, forming a clique among his friends, and planning for his personal advantage** \n\nYour Memorialist has read the Decree of the 13th January censuring the President and Vice-President of the Board of Communications, which showed that it is the intention of your Imperial Majesty to purify the circles of officialdom by leniency, if possible, or by severity if needs be. All your officers and people are filled with profound respect for such a course. But, from what your Memorialist has heard recently, the Vice-President of the Board of Communications, Tang Shao Yi, is an exception to this rule. \n\nWhen the appointment of Chief Secretaries and Councillors to the Board was being considered Tang Shao Yi, who never possessed any considerable degree of Chinese education, employed a fellow provincial of his to draw up a Memorial for him, and only on the day before this was to be presented did he inform Chang Po Hsi that he would have to join in presenting it to the Throne. \n\n* A native of Honan, Metropolitan graduate (Chin Shih) of the year 1880. \n\n3 \n\nWhen the Decree of Censure was issued commanding them to decide upon retaining or dismissing their Chief Secretaries and Councillors, I hear that Chang Po Hsi was fully conscious of his error, and ashamed; but that Tang Shao Yi was only afraid of having to get rid of his henchmen, which would involve refunding the bribes he had taken from them, and expose his whole position. Such a contemptuous view as this of the Chinese Government and such self-seeking obstinacy leave us at a loss to fully imagine the conditions to which the affairs of that Board have come. \n\nNow Tang Shao Yi was originally a penniless Cantonese who travelled abroad and picked up a certain knowledge of foreign languages. Starting as a petty official, he raised himself by protection to the rank of Tantai. He received repeated evidences of Imperial favour, until he finally reached his present standing. He should indeed have cleansed his heart of evil thoughts and have made every endeavour to prove himself worthy of such gracious confidence. Yet, since his appointment as Vice-President to the Board of Communications, the Chief Secretaries and Councillors employed by him have been his fellow provincials, relations, or connections, who got their posts by bribes. Even the officials transferred from other appointments to his Board had to arrange their transfers by bribery. It is no wonder that the public began to call the Board of Communications the \"Joint Stock Company\" and \"the Cantonese Club.\" \n\nHis nominee for one of the posts of Chief Secretary, Ch'en Shao Ch'ang, is one of his fellow provincials, and an old boon companion in dissolute amusements. \n\nThis man accompanied the subsequently cashiered Minister, Chang Yin Huan, to foreign countries, and was afterwards nominated Taotai to the Province of Kuangsi. But as he feared the severe supervision of the Viceroy Ts'en, he made a pretext for coming to Peking at the time when Tang Shao Yi was Customs Taotai at Tien-tsin. Ch'en, by various devices and after much beseeching, then got himself transferred to the Pei Yang establishment. While in Tien-tsin his name was a by-word for debauchery and intemperance, and owing to the proximity of Tien-tsin to the capital every one here heard of this. \n\nThe Acting Junior Councillor, Shih Chao Chi, is merely a recently graduated student from abroad, who bought himself a Taotai's rank a few months ago. What experience can he possess of official affairs and conduct? Yet Tang Shao Yi, because Shih is his nephew by marriage, deceived your Majesty in recommending him to this post. \n\nBut this is not all. As soon as Tang Shao Yi took over the Director-Generalship of Railways he removed the superintendents on the north and south sections of the line, and appointed in their place Shih Chao-Chi as Chief Superintendent over the whole railway. The whole staff and the finances thus were placed in the hands of Shih; from appointing the personnel to inspecting the tickets thus depended upon this one man. The employés on the trains mostly got their posts by bribery, and Shih became a man to look upon askance, with fear and trembling. \n\nNow, railways are one of the most important elements in the reforms of your Majesty's Government. The Peking-Hankow Railway is the most important of Chinese trunk lines. The newly established Board of Communications was intended to foster progress. But if this Vice-President, in his arrogance, and with his lust for monopolizing control, is to take the most important interests of the State under his own wing, for the purpose of hatching out results beneficial to himself and the friends with whom he has surrounded himself for treasonable purposes, the consequences will not be slight. \n\nFurthermore, your memorialist would be inexpressibly distressed to think that the State sets up officials for the sake of, as it were, expressly providing them with a means of making careful provision for their relations and connections, and for looking after their own personal advantage. \n\nTang Shao Yi, Vice-President of the Board of Communications, has proved himself ungrateful for your Majesty's gracious treatment. He has raised a storm of criticism by his behaviour. Ch'en Shao Ch'ang and Shih Chao-Chi have been relying upon him in their scheme for self-advancement. It is absolutely impossible that they should be regarded as fit for office. But it rests with your Majesty to say what severe measures should be taken. Your memorialist is only actuated by a desire to aid your policy, and having heard these things could not remain silent and hold his peace. \n\n**A respectful Memorial** \n\n**Rescript.-Read**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411444, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 621, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# CHINA RAILWAYS\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n615 \n13726 \n[February 19 \nAPF 07 \n\n### SECTION 1.\n#### No. 1.\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received February 11.)** \n**(No. 29.)** \n**(Telegraphic.) P.** \n**CANTON-KOWLOON Agreement** \n\nPeking, February 10, 1907. \nPlease see my telegram `No. 26` of the 8th instant. Imperial Rescript, dated the 7th February, ratifying the Agreement has been communicated to me by the Wai-wu Pu. \n`[2368 -1]` \n`[4523]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411971, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 471, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# CHINA RAILWAYS\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n### [21610]\n#### No. 1.\n##### 469\n###### [July 1.]\n####### SECTION 1C. C.\n######## 26320\n\n**RECE IREG! 23 JUL 07**\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received July 1.)**\n\n**(No. 236.)**\nSir,\n\nPeking, May 15, 1907.\n\nREFERRING to my despatch No. 186 of the 18th ultimo, I have the honour to report that Count Rex and myself have pursued the question of the Tien-tsin-Yangtsze Railway negotiations at two further interviews with the Wai-wu Pu.\n\nWhen we called together on the 7th instant, we were received by the Grand Secretary Na Tung, to whom Count Rex explained that the object of our visit was to receive the Chinese Government's reply to the protest we had delivered against the transfer of the railway negotiations into the hands of the two Viceroys, Yuan and Chang.\n\nThe Grand Secretary frankly declared that he was not in a position to give a reply, as no answer had yet been received from the Viceroys. It was explained to him that the question was not one for the Viceroys to answer, but for the Chinese Government itself, against whose action the protest had been directed. We agreed to wait a few days more for their answer, and Count Rex then proceeded to call the attention of the Board to the mischievous articles appearing in the native press on the subject of this railway. He produced a few specimens of these articles, together with a copy of the joint Syndicate's latest proposal for the final Agreement, and demanded that the Chinese Government should take steps to correct through the press the false statements which had been disseminated.\n\nThe Grand Secretary confessed that the Wai-wu Pu was in total ignorance of the concessions which the foreign negotiators had made before their work at Tien-tsin was suspended. In the absence of any official organ, he did not see how the Chinese Government could correct the inaccurate statements of the press, to which he considered Count Rex attached too much importance.\n\nAfter waiting a week, we proceeded again on the 14th instant to the Wai-wu Pu, and once more demanded a reply to our protest against the transfer of the negotiations. On this occasion, the Grand Secretary Chu Hung Chi was also present. Their Excellencies were still unable to furnish us with an answer. In order to justify themselves, they produced copies of telegrams addressed to the two Viceroys, informing them that the British and German Governments were pressing for information regarding the transfer of these negotiations, and urging the Viceroys to send a speedy reply. No reply having been received, their Excellencies could only express regret, and ask us to wait some days more.\n\nWe pointed out again that the question at issue lay in the hands of the Government. Count Rex considered that the Chinese Government, by this transfer of the negotiations, had shown its intention to block the whole proceedings, and I supported him by reminding their Excellencies that the negotiations which had been abruptly stopped by the issue of this recent Imperial Rescript, themselves rested on the basis of a preliminary Agreement approved by Imperial Decree. I asked their Excellencies to explain how international business could be conducted if it was liable at any moment to be interrupted by the issue of Imperial orders at variance with the lines of policy previously established. While prepared to treat with the highest respect the mandates of the Throne, I begged the Grand Secretary Ch'ü especially, as a member of the Grand Council, and therefore possibly the very draughtsman of this Rescript, to earnestly consider the grave consequences which this course of action must involve. The telegrams which they had shown us proved that the transfer of negotiations was evoked by a memorial of some censors acting as spokesmen for the gentry of the provinces concerned. These gentry, whose knowledge of the circumstances and of the proposals of the foreign negotiators was not likely to be greater than that of the Wai-wu Pu, had expressed the wish to construct the railway themselves. The Chinese Government had bowed before their agitation, with no consideration for the feelings of the two foreign Governments interested in the question, and had brought to a standstill negotiations which were progressing favourably, and which were within sight of completion.\n\n[2571 a-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411973, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 473, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "**[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]**\n\n471\n2\n\nsettling the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo question satisfactorily will be impaired by any progress that may be made in the next few weeks with the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze negotiations. The latter were approaching completion when they were interrupted by the Imperial Rescript transferring their conduct to other hands; while in the case of the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway the Imperial Decree ordering the cancellation of the Preliminary Agreement had still to be overcome.\n\nAny lukewarmness which we showed about the former question would react unfavourably upon the latter, and our best chance of settling both is to let them take their natural course, always giving precedence, as far as possible, to the purely British line.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) **J. N. JORDAN**\n\n## CHINA RAILWAYS\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[21745]\n\nNo. 1 \n[July 1]\n\n## SECTION\nC. C. 26320\n\nBritish and Chinese Corporation to Foreign Office.~(Received July 1.)\n\nSir,\n\nREGE 23 JUL 07 22, Abchurch Lane, London, June 28, 1907.\n\nWE beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of, and to thank you for, your letter of the 24th instant, informing us that a copy of our letter of the 14th instant will be sent to His Majesty's Minister at Peking, but that Sir E. Grey still considers it would be inadvisable for the Corporation, in their own interest, to make any protest to the Chinese Government against the construction of the Shanghae-Kashing line.\n\nWe take note of Sir E. Grey's views, and only beg leave to remark that it was not in our interests, but those of the bond and net-profit certificate-holders of the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, that we felt it to be our duty to invoke Sir Edward Grey's attention to the detrimental effect which the Shanghae-Kashing line would have upon the Shanghae-Nanking line and the Soochow-Ningpo line.\n\nWe are, Sir \n(Per the British and Chinese Corporation, Limited), \n(Signed) **W. KESWICK**, Chairman\n\n[2571 a-3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412077, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 577, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n28491\nJuly Rec'd\n*TREGE 10 AUG 07 SECTION 3*\n[21607]\n\n**(No. 233.)**\nSir,\n\n**No. 1.**\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 1.)\n\nPeking, May 15, 1907.\n\nIN my despatch No. 170 of the 4th ultimo I referred to some projected educational reforms which a Mongol Prince of my acquaintance was introducing within his territory, and I have now the honour to transmit to you copy of a Memorial presented on his behalf, in which he has asked permission to draw an advance of five years' allowances for the improvement of education amongst his tribesmen.\n\nThe request has been granted.\n\n### Inclosure in No. 1.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n**Memorial by the Li Fan Pu on behalf of Prince Kung-sang-no-erh Pu, Dzassak of the Kharachin Tribe.** (Translation.)\n\nTHE Board begs to submit to the Throne the following representations from the Prince :-\n\n'In order to effect an improvement in the state of education among the Mongols, which would strengthen the dependencies and frontiers, and further the Imperial desire to promote learning and foster talent, the Prince in 1902-1903 opened schools at his own expense for the benefit of the Chinese and Mongol youth of his own banner. During the years that have elapsed this enterprise has been proved to be a great success. In the winter of 1905-1906, Sung Shou, then Military Governor of Jehol, and the Board of Education reported these facts in a Memorial, asking sanction for an award to be given, which was granted. Again, in the summer of last year, an honorific tablet was granted by the Throne to the Prince. Now that the Imperial commands have been laid upon all the people to advance education in the interests of good government, there is great eagerness to enter the schools, and it is urgently necessary that they should be extended. The Prince is aware that he has received many Imperial favours, and that education and the cultivation of talent is a matter of local advantage, and no more than his duty. But, the territory of his banner being cold, and not very productive, and the people being indigent, it is no easy matter to raise money. During these years the expenses of the schools have been met from the rents of the banner. But last autumn the growing crops of the whole banner were damaged by frost and snow, whereby not only was the payment of rent rendered difficult, but there was even a loss on the outlay for fodder and seed. In these circumstances it is a matter of serious difficulty to raise money, and the Prince can think of no other plan but to implore the Imperial favour to grant him an advance of five years' salary to support the schools of his banner. It is not that he does not know that the Imperial Treasury is at present ill-supplied, but, the matter being one of the greatest urgency, he cannot but represent the facts, and beg that the Board will lay them before the Throne on his behalf.'\n\nThe Board begs their Majesties' instructions in the matter.\n\nThe advance is sanctioned.\n\n**Imperial Rescript.**\n\n575 \n[2570 a~~3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412409, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 169, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n34181 \n166 96 SEP C7 \nJune 29 \n\n### SECTION\n\n[21389]\n\nSir,\n\nNo. 1. \nThe Chinese Engineering and Mining Company to Foreign Office.-(Received June 29.) \n22, Austin Friars, London, June 27, 1907.\n\nON the 19th July, 1906, I wrote informing you that it had come to the knowledge of my directors that rumours were in circulation in North China to the effect that the Viceroy Yuen Chi Kai contemplated taking action hostile to this Company's interests, either of a directly forcible character or by the granting of Concessions for the working of coal within the area owned by this Company.\n\nThe Secretary of State was good enough to communicate with His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, and on the 4th August you wrote informing me that the latter had stated that he was reliably informed that the rumours in question were ill-founded, and that the Vicer ... was hostile, would do nothing illegal or by force.\n\nI am now instructed by my Board to advise you that a very grave situation has arisen. Information has been received by cable during the last few days from this Company's agent and general manager in China, Major Walter S. Nathan, R.E., that, acting on a Petition dated the 7th June, which had been presented to his Excellency Yuen Chi Kai, requesting permission to open a new mine in the Kaiping coal basin, his Excellency has issued a Rescript dated the 8th June approving a Concession which grants to a Chinese Company mining rights over the whole of the Kaiping coal-field, and limits this Company's working to 10 li from Tongshan and 6 li from Linsi.\n\nMajor Nathan further states that machinery is now arriving for a new Chinese mine at Ma Chia Kan, which is situated in the Kaiping basin about 6 miles from this Company's Tongshan colliery, but that no actual work has yet been started.\n\nAmong the rights acquired by this Company under the purchase Agreement of the 19th February, 1901, Ma Chia Kau is specifically mentioned, clause 1 of the Agreement being as follows:--\n\n\"All the lands, mines, and coal-field, commonly known as the Estate Kaiping Coal-field, situate in the Province of Chihli aforesaid, and including all the mines and seams of coal and minerals geologically connected with the mines and seams of coal known as Tongshan, Hse-Shan, Pan Pe Tien, Ma Chia Kau, Wu Shu Chwang, Chao Ko Chwang, and Linsi, and the exclusive right to search and mine for coal and minerals within the area and coal-field aforesaid, and all other rights and privileges enjoyed in connection therewith, and all other the interest of the said Chinese Engineering and Mining Company therein.”\n\nUnder these circumstances the granting of the Concession in question, and the attempt to arbitrarily limit the rights of this Company to the immediate neighbourhood of the Tongshan and Linsi mines, which are in active operation, constitute a wanton act of aggression upon the property and rights of this Company.\n\nWe learn from Major Nathan that he has been in personal communication with His Majesty's Minister at Peking, who has sent the British Consul at Tien-tsin to see the Viceroy.\n\nWhilst appreciating the promptitude of this action, my directors feel that it is of vital importance that the matter should be dealt with decisively at once, as it is certain that any delay will inevitably render the situation still more grave and complicated, and add to the difficulties of the situation.\n\nI am therefore desired by my directors to ask that instructions may be given by cable to His Majesty's Minister in Peking to protest to the Chinese Government and to the Viceroy immediately against this violation of the Company's rights, and to require that all proceedings under the Concession shall be stopped forthwith, and that the Concession itself shall be cancelled.\n\nAwaiting the favour of your reply, I am, &c.\n\nFor the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company (Limited), \n(Signed) \n**ALFRED W. BERRY**, Secretary.\n\n[2524 ƒ-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412414, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 174, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]\n\n171\n\nC. O.\n\n## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[August 26.1907]\n\n## SECTION\n\n25 SEP 07\n\n[28444]\n\n**(No. 328.) Sir,**\n\nNo. 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,~(Received August 26.)**\n\nPeking, July 8, 1907.\n\nON the 20th June last Major Nathan came up from Tien-tsin to consult me with regard to a Concession alleged to have been granted to a Chinese Company within the limits of the property claimed by the Chinese Mining and Engineering Company (Limited), and which he regarded as an infringement of the rights of the latter.\n\nAs the case did not appear to be one in which a direct appeal to the Central Government was likely to facilitate matters, I telegraphed to His Majesty's Consul-General at Tien-tsin instructing him, after he had satisfied himself of the justice of the complaint, to approach the Viceroy on the subject, and endeavour to arrange an amicable adjustment of the difficulty.\n\nMr. Hopkins duly carried out these instructions, and reported the result in a despatch, copy of which I have the honour to transmit to you herewith.\n\nThe Viceroy, it will be observed, declined to recognize the existence of the British Company, and repudiated all knowledge of the deed of transfer on which their claim was based. Major Nathan returned to Peking on the 28th June, and placed me in possession of a fuller statement of the circumstances, copy of which I have the honour to inclose, together with a copy of the Memorial to the Viceroy and his Excellency's Rescript, which form the Charter of the Concession to which objection is taken. There is no doubt that some of the localities mentioned in the Memorial are the same as those covered by the deed of transfer. The British Company hold Chinese title-deeds, I understand, for only small portions of the Kaiping coal-field, but they claim under the first clause of the deed of transfer exclusive mining rights over the whole of it. While the Viceroy professed in his interview with Mr. Hopkins to disregard the transfer-deed entirely, the promoters of the new Company further seek to justify their position by claiming that they are not interfering with the rights enjoyed by the Chinese Company before the transfer took place.\n\nAs Major Nathan himself was of opinion that no useful action could at present be taken at the Wai-wu Pu, I advised him to make a further attempt to adjust the question with the Viceroy, and promised to give him any assistance in my power in effecting an understanding.\n\nOn the 29th June I accordingly saw Liang Tun-yen, the Minister designate to the United States, who enjoys the Viceroy's confidence, and has taken a prominent part in previous negotiations with Major Nathan. I told him that the Viceroy's action was likely to create a very grave situation, and warned him that any overt attempt to deprive the British Company of rights which they had acquired under the transfer was certain to bring things to a crisis.\n\nLiang replied that he could not imagine that the British Government would support the Company in its wrong-doing. The Viceroy's patience was exhausted. Both his Excellency and Chang Yen Mao had done their utmost to arrive at an amicable settlement, but Major Nathan had invariably maintained an attitude of non-committal, and both he and his Company evidently trusted to prolonging the present situation indefinitely.\n\nI informed Mr. Liang that Major Nathan's version of the negotiations differed diametrically from his, to which he retorted that if I wished to get at the truth I should depute an official from the Legation to be present at the interviews and report what occurred. The pecuniary question had, he understood, been practically settled, but Major Nathan had done nothing towards giving effect either to the Memorandum or to the suggestions which Sir Ernest Satow had privately made for a settlement. The creation of a Board in China, the registration of the Company in the Board of Commerce at Peking, and a Chinese share in the management were incidentally mentioned by Mr. Liang as some of the conditions of an arrangement.\n\nThe following day Chang Yen Mao came to see me and went through the whole history of the question at great length. He hinted, somewhat obscurely, that the Viceroy was using the new Concession as a lever to force the Chinese Mining and ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412415, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 175, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## Engineering Company (Limited) Negotiations\n\nThe Engineering Company (Limited) attempted to come to terms, and an arrangement was possible if steps were taken to save the Viceroy's \"face.\" He confirmed Mr. Liang's account of the negotiations with Major Nathan and found it impossible to extract a definite offer from the latter. On his return to Tien-tsin, he would make another effort to come to terms with Major Nathan.\n\nI telegraphed the substance of what had passed at these interviews to Major Nathan, who telegraphed on the 4th instant that at a meeting between Chang, the Tien-tsin Customs Taotai, and himself, it was decided that he should submit proposals for a settlement to the Taotai, who, if he considered them satisfactory, would approach the Viceroy.\n\nFrom a telegram received today from Mr. Hopkins, I learn that the Customs Taotai is acting as an intermediary between Major Nathan and the Viceroy, and negotiations are being reopened. To strengthen Major Nathan's hands, I repeated to Mr. Hopkins your telegram No. 80 and instructed him to let the Viceroy know that His Majesty's Government cannot allow confiscation of the Company's property while willing to promote an amicable adjustment.\n\nI have also offered to dispatch Sir Alexander Hosie to take part in the negotiations if it is considered likely to facilitate matters, but have stipulated that I should receive an assurance beforehand that the Viceroy is prepared to accept this method of settlement.\n\nThat the original transfer was defective from a Treaty point of view is conclusively shown in Sir Ernest Satow's despatch No. 183 of the 24th May, 1904. The Chinese contend that rights are claimed under it that were not enjoyed by the old Company and that it was beyond Chang's power to confer upon anyone. Chang Yen Mao denies that the old Company had exclusive mining rights over the whole area known as the \"Estate Kaiping Coal-field.\" Major Nathan's only evidence is that in practice, no private mines were allowed to be worked within that area.\n\nThe whole question is eminently one for friendly adjustment based on accomplished facts. However, considering past efforts and the Viceroy's attitude, one cannot be sanguine that the present attempt will be more successful.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n**(No. 36.) Sir,**\n\n**(Signed) J. N. JORDAN**\n\n## Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\n### Consul-General Hopkins to Sir J. Jordan\n\nTien-tsin, June 28, 1907\n\nWith reference to my telegram of the 26th instant, reporting the result of my interview with the Viceroy Yuan on the subject of the Concession granted to a Chinese Company to mine coal in an area where the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company (Limited) claim exclusive rights, I now furnish the following report:\n\nBefore the interview with the Viceroy, I communicated with Major Nathan to acquaint myself with the grounds on which his Company claims that the recent Concession to the Luanchou Mining Company is an infringement of their rights and to know what position Major Nathan took regarding practical means to reach a friendly arrangement.\n\nRegarding the passage in your telegram of yesterday, \"within the area of the land covered by the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company's title-deeds,\" none of this mining area is covered by title-deeds registered in this Consulate, as the locality is not an open port. Only particular parcels of land are covered by Chinese title-deeds.\n\nThe Engineering and Mining Company bases their claim to exclusive mining rights on a clause in the deed of transfer of the 19th February, 1901, from the old Chinese Engineering and Mining Company to the new Chinese Engineering and Mining Company (Limited):\n\n| Clause Description | Details |\n| --- | --- |\n| Lands, mines, and coal-fields | Commonly known as the Estate Kaiping Coal-field, situate in the Province of Chihli |\n| Exclusive rights | To search and mine for coal and minerals within the area and coal-field aforesaid |\n\nNo map of the \"Estate Kaiping Coal-field\" accompanies my copy of this deed of transfer. It might have been an issue of fact whether any given points in the Viceroy's Concession were within the area of the \"Estate Kaiping Coal-field.\" Some points named in the Memorial submitted by the promoters of the Luanchou Mining Company are specifically named in the deed of transfer.\n\nWhen I met the Viceroy at 1 P.M. on the 26th instant, I opened our conversation by telling him that the Agent and General Manager of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company had seen a summary of a Memorial submitting a scheme and regulations for opening coal mines in Luanchou and considered his Company's rights infringed. The Viceroy replied that the Chinese authorities have never recognized the Limited Company and that the deed of transfer is not recognized by them.\n\nThe Viceroy stated that Chang had been cheated by Hoover and others and that the whole transaction is not recognized by the Chinese Government. He referred to a conversation he had with Sir Ernest Satow about two years ago regarding the new Company having to carry out some course of action, which they had not done.\n\nWhen I asked if he knew that all the Chinwangtao property had been registered in this Consulate since 1901 as British land, he \"knew nothing of it.\" His Excellency also dwelt on the distress caused by the high price of coal as a motive for giving a Concession for the opening of further mines.\n\nAs it was impossible to discuss any modus vivendi respecting the proposed Concession on the basis that the Engineering and Mining Company (Limited) has no legal existence, I took my leave.\n\nThe Viceroy's Rescript to the Memorial of the promoters reads:\n\n\"I have considered this Memorial and approve the scheme for opening coal mines at Luanchou and the regulations for raising share capital. The matter will be reported...\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412416, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 176, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "173 \n\n4 \n\nto the Throne and communicated to the high officials concerned for the purpose of being placed on record.\n\n\"The petitioners point out that this mine is intended to supply coal for Government purposes, and thus differs from other mines. They suggest that the limit of area allowed for mines be extended in this case. This request is granted, but other mines may not use this as a precedent.\n\n\"In their further Petition they point out that the boundaries of this mine pass through Pai Tao-tzu and other places, but that this does not in any way affect the mining rights of the Kaiping Company. I approve of this being placed upon record, and the Mining Bureau and the Luanchou Magistrate will likewise be ordered to place these facts upon record. The plan and Memorial are to be filed, and this Rescript handed back to the petitioners.\"\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nL. C. HOPKINS.\n\nStatement furnished by Major Nathan to Sir J. Jordan respecting a Concession granted to a Chinese Company to mine Coal, June 28, 1907.\n\nThe first contract made with regard to the handing over of the old Company was that of the 30th July, 1900, signed between Detring and Hoover. This document is a sale of the old Mining Company's rights and possessions to Hoover on the agreement that he was to form, with the help of Moreing, an English Liability Company. The conditions of the formation of the Company were that it was to have a registered share capital of £1,000,000 in £1 shares, and that the sum of £100,000 as working capital should be raised for carrying on the work of the new Company; that each share of the old Company, which had a par value of 100 taels, was to be converted into twenty-five shares of the Limited Liability Company of the par value of £1. This was in consideration of and in full compensation for the transfer by the shareholders of all their rights and interests in the Company. The Limited Company was to be formed to take over the affairs of the old Company not later than the 28th February, 1901, or as soon after that date as possible in view of the military operations in North China.\n\nThe terms of this document having been carried out, a transfer deed was made out on the 19th February, 1901, between the new Company and the old. This transfer was made in the name of Chang Yen Mao and Detring, Chang Yen Mao signing as a Reader of the Grand Secretariat, Director-General of all the mines in the Province of Chihli and Jehol, Director-General of the Imperial Railways of North China, and Director-General of the Mining Company.\n\nIn the body of the Agreement it is stated that the said Chang Yen Mao, as Director-General of all the Mines in the Province of Chihli and Jehol, that is to say, in his official capacity, confirms the transfer.\n\nNow the great point raised by the Viceroy, by which he seeks to deny the right of the Mining Company to its property, is the fact that it was the act of Chang Yen Mao, and that the Chinese Government has never recognized it. I believe, in making his assertions, he is unaware of Chang Yen Mao's Petition to the Throne, and of the Imperial Rescript thereto, and also that he is unaware that the name of the previous Viceroy, Li Hung Chang, is coupled with the name of Chang Yen Mao in the latter's Petition to the Throne. This Petition was dated the 26th day of the 5th moon of the 27th year of Kuang Hsü, corresponding to the 11th July, 1901. The Memorial was about adding foreign capital to the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, and changing it into a foreign Co-operative Limited Liability Company. In this document, after describing the formation of the Company and discussing the arrangements made, the following paragraph occurs:\n\n\"In addition to satisfactorily arranging some matters which had not been finally settled, and forthwith requesting the Railway and Mining Bureau as well as the Tsung-li Yamen to take note and put it on record, I therefore conjointly with Li Hung Chang (Superintendent of Northern Trade and Governor of Chihli) respectfully present this Memorial, giving the reasons for the establishment of the Chinese and Foreign Co-operative Company, and humbly beg the sacred glance thereon.\"\n\nThe Imperial Rescript was received: \"This has been noted. The said Minister must bear the whole responsibility and let him zealously and satisfactorily manage the Company in order to protect this source of profit.\" It therefore seems obvious that the contention of the Viceroy that the Chinese Government has never recognized the Company is absolutely wrong, and that it may be construed to mean that the Viceroy himself has never recognized the Company. The deed of transfer itself is explicit as to the rights of the Company obtained in the transfer.\n\nWith regard to the coal-field, it is stated in the transfer:\n\n\"First, all the lands, mines, and coal-field commonly known as Kaiping Coal-field, situate in the Province of Chihli aforesaid, and including all the mines and seams of coal and minerals geologically connected with the mines and seams of coal known at Tongshan, Hse Shan, Pan Pe Tien, Ma Chia Kou, Wu Shui Chuang, Chao Ko Chuang, and Linsi and the exclusive right to search and mine for coal and minerals within the area and coal-field aforesaid, and all other rights and privileges enjoyed in connection therewith, and all other interest of the said Chinese Engineering and Mining Company therein.\"\n\nThis paragraph can only be made to read in one way, namely, that the Company possesses exclusive right to mine in the whole of the Kaiping coal-field. Fortunately, the boundaries of this coal-field are remarkably clearly marked geologically, as traced by the outcrop in a continual line from Tongshan to Linsi. It is thus seen that the Viceroy's contention with regard to the Company's rights is absolutely wrong, and in no way supported by any of the facts.\n\nConsidering the Petition presented by the Tien-tsin Government Bank to the Viceroy, on which the latter has sanctioned the Concession of the whole of the Kaiping coal-field other than the Tongshan and Linsi mines, the following points are important:\n\nFirst, the reason given for the opening of a new mine is that the supply of coal from the mines at Tongshan and Linsi cannot possibly keep pace with the demand. There is no doubt that at the present moment these two mines have not kept pace with the demand, the latter having increased so enormously in the last few years, but this is no reason for the statement made, which is not really a fact. The output from the two mines at Tongshan and Linsi will, in the course of the next two years, provided that this is sufficient labour is obtainable, rise from 3,500 tons per diem to 6,000 tons. If this is not sufficient, then it is up to the Company, who are able and will take steps to increase the supply by sinking new shafts.\n\nSecond, the Tien-tsin Bank states that they intend to commence operations at Ma Chia Kou. This is one of the places specifically mentioned in the deed of transfer of the Company. It is also interesting to note that, in Chang Yen Mao's Memorial to the Throne, he states that:\n\n\"Apart from sinking additional shafts at Lin-Hsi, which is 50 li distant from Tongshan, permission was obtained to buy land and sink shafts at Wu Shui Chwang, Pai Tao-tzu, and other places in the Lanchou district which were found to be connected by the same seam of coal as Tongshan. The object was to provide a supply in case the output of the Tongshan and other mines should not be sufficient.\"\n\nThird, the Viceroy confers a grant of the whole of the Kaiping coal-field on the ground that the mine is to supply coal needed for Government purposes in North China. This, of course, is a ridiculous pretext, as a very small area would suffice for the purposes of supplying the coal required by the Government.\n\nIn the further Petition of the Tien-tsin Bank the position of the Mining Company with regard to the new Company is considered. In this it is to be noted that a statement is made that \"no permission has ever been given to open mines at these places\" (referring to Pan Pe Tien, Wui Shui Chuang, Ma Chia Kou, and Chao Ko Chuang). I have not got a copy of the general permission to the old Company to open mines at the various places, but I have no doubt that Chang Yen Mao's statement is a true one. Generally speaking, the old Company had absolute right over the whole field, as can be readily seen by the fact that all native mines in the whole field were shut down by the officials through the instrumentality of the old Company.\n\nEven, however, if this had not been the case, the transfer gives the right to the present Company to mine exclusively over the whole field without in any way considering the position that the old Company may have held, and this right can only be annulled ... \n\n5 \n\nC [2621 cc-5]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412417, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 177, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "174 \n\n6 \n\nby annulling the whole Concession. In fact, it may be said that the Viceroy has got just as much right to grant the Concession to the Tien-tsin Bank as he would have to turn us out of the whole field altogether, including our present mines.\n\nOther facts, as stated in the Petition, with regard to Chang having raised the point of non-possession of proper sealed deeds in the Law Courts in England; also with regard to the stopping of boring at Pan Pe Tien and Ma Chia Kou by Taotai Yang pervert the truth. The statement that when Kuo Lian Shan petitioned the Board of Commerce for a mining permit for Pai Tao-tzu, Ch'enchialing, and Ma Chia Kou, the fact that no objection was made by the foreigners at Kaiping is clear evidence that the transfer does not confer any special rights in regard to such places is of course ridiculous. No objection was made, because it was known at the time that the proposed permit was not seriously meant for anything more than a threat against the Mining Company, and I decided that the movement was not of sufficient importance to warrant my taking serious action. This proved subsequently to be the correct view, as after a short time the attempt to open a mine was abandoned, an argument rather against the Tien-tsin Bank's scheme than for it.\n\nThe remaining paragraphs of this Petition form an attempt to prove that we have got no mining rights other than at Tongshan and Linsi, and that the boundaries of the new mine have been settled without interfering with the Kaiping Company. The statements made absolutely omit any reference to the Company's transfer or the agreement of the Company, and are therefore worthless.\n\nFrom the statements made by the Viceroy to Mr. Hopkins at their recent interview, it would appear as if the former were endeavouring to use the circumstances of the financial formation of the Company as an argument why it should not be recognized by the Government. It is extraordinary the way in which a presumably enlightened official like the Viceroy finds himself unable to separate the purely commercial affairs of the Company from its political position vis-à-vis the Government.\n\nThe financial arrangements concern the old Company and the new only, and have nothing whatsoever to do with the Government. If the old shareholders consider themselves aggrieved, it is open to them to point out any illegalities that have been committed if such were possible. They have not done so, and they have signified their acquiescence of the new state of things by accepting the transfer, in that for all practical purposes the whole of the shareholders of the old Company have converted their shares for shares in the new, and are, I believe, absolutely contented with the results that have been obtained, which have been far more satisfactory than any that were reached in the days of the old Company.\n\nThe Viceroy in this matter appears to accept the views spread about by the enemies of the Company, about whom I have already spoken to you, without in any way troubling himself to go into the details of the matter, and he uses such expressions as \"swindling\" in the most unjustifiable and reckless manner for one in such a high position.\n\nChang Yen Mao has had recourse to the Law Courts at home to remedy his grievances, and that course is still open to him, and no Government interference should, I consider, be tolerated in this matter after the whole subject has been thrashed out thoroughly in the highest Courts of Law in England. It must always be remembered that the Court of Appeal laid down clearly and emphatically that no case had been made out which could in any way justify rescission of the Company's rights, which is exactly what the Viceroy is seeking to do.\n\n**The Chinese Engineering and Mining Company (Limited), Tien-tsin, June 27, 1907.**\n\n## Inclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\n**Memorial by the Tien-tsin Government Bank submitting Scheme and Regulations for opening Coal Mines in Luanchow, together with further Petition from the Bank and Rescript thereon.**\n\n(Translation.)\n\n**Memorial.**\n\nIn the 12th moon of the 32nd year of Kuang Hsü, we (the bank) were instructed by the Viceroy to prepare a scheme immediately for raising capital for the purpose of working coal mines in the Luanchow district, which had already been surveyed by the Bureau of Railway Administration. We have already sent in various reports to your Excellency setting out what officers we had selected and dispatched to purchase land, and explaining our scheme for opening mines.\n\nAmong the natural resources of a country, mines take foremost rank, and in order to attain wealth and power, it is primarily essential that the resources of a country be developed. There has recently been a great development of trade in North China, and in consequence of the better facilities for transit and communication provided by steamers and railways, the population has become more numerous and the consumption of coal has greatly increased. Moreover, coal is the very life blood of the Imperial navy and Government factories. It is thus absolutely impossible for the supply of coal from the two mines at Kaiping and Linhsi to keep pace with the demand.\n\nIn accordance with instructions, the district of Luanchow has now been surveyed and land has been purchased in localities where traces of coal were found. We propose to begin operations at Machiakou, and to provide capital both by raising a loan and by means of shares. But, as the public welfare is concerned, it is necessary to draw up a proper scheme and regulations in order to guard against all eventualities in the future. We, the Commissioner and the Taotai, have therefore consulted together and have carefully elaborated a scheme for forming a Company with Regulations for the subscription of share capital, which, together with a map showing the boundaries of the mine, we beg to submit for your Excellency's consideration. We also inclose herewith a copy of the Regulations and map, which we beg that you will forward to the Nung Kung Shang Pu to be approved and recorded.\n\nWe have also, in accordance with the Regulations, applied for and received a mining permit, and have paid the fees thereon. We therefore now submit this Memorial, setting out all the facts for your Excellency's consideration and instructions thereon.\n\nWe would further point out that, under the Government Regulations, no mine may exceed in area 30 square li, but the object of opening this mine is to supply coal needed for Government purposes in North China. It thus differs in principle from other mines, and some slight distinction should be made. That is to say, the limit of area allowed for the mine should be extended, it being provided that no other mine may take this in future as a precedent.\n\n(The scheme and Regulations are appended hereto.)\n\n## A further Petition.\n\nWhen the Kaiping Mining Company first sank a shaft at Tongshan, Taotai Tang Ting Shu received the assent of Viceroy Li to his petition that no other person should open any mine within 10 li of Tongshan, but that if the price of coal should at any rise higher than 800 cash (“t'ung ch'ien\") per bushel (\"hu\"), the people would then be allowed to mine coal. A shaft was subsequently sunk at Linhsi, but in this case, there was no prohibition against opening other mines within 10 li thereof. The British Company's transfer Agreement recites the names of the following places: Panpitien, Machiakou, Wushuichuang, and Chaokochuang. But as no permission has ever been given to open mines at these places, this merely means that the Kaiping Company had purchased several tracts of land at these places which they hold on the same tenure as ordinary people who cultivate the soil and pay land tax; it has nothing whatever to do with opening mines. Moreover, no sealed deeds have ever been issued for the land in question, nor has the change of ownership ever been recorded in the Land Register of the territorial officials of Luanchow. This was a point raised by Taotai Chang Yi before the English Court of Law, and considered by the Judge to be of very great importance. Thus, year before last, the foreigners at Kaiping began boring at Panpitien and Machiakou, but on being forbidden to do so by Taotai Yang Hsi Ching and the Luanchow Magistrate, they desisted. Moreover, last year, when Kuo Lien Shan petitioned the Board of Commerce for a permit for Paitaotzu, Ch'enchialing, and Machiakou, the foreigners at Kaiping made no objection. This is clear evidence that the mere recital of names of places in the Company's transfer Agreement does not confer any special rights in regard to such places.\n\nThe boundaries of the mine, as settled by us, are, on the west, a line drawn 10 li from Tongshan and on the east 6 li from Liuhsi.\n\nNo objection can be made to this because the 10-li rule was not laid down in the case of Linhsi, and therefore, under the Government Regulations, they are only entitled to 30 square li of territory, which is... \n\n7 \n\n## Page 175", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412418, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 178, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# है \n\na perfectly fair and just arrangement, But if hereafter they should make any unreasonable claim we will stand firm, conscious of the justice of our claim.\n\nWe have purchased sufficient land to sink shafts at the proposed place, without encroaching on the land originally purchased by the Kaiping Company, so that each party can have the use of his own property without fear of let or hindrance on the part of the other.\n\nThe above are the facts, showing how we have settled the boundaries of the mine without interfering with the Kaiping Company.\n\nTo sum up, mining rights and rights of ownership of land are two distinct things, Any one may purchase land, but any one may not indiscriminately open a mine. This law holds good both in China and in foreign countries. The Kaiping have no mining rights outside the 10-4 limit from Tongshan, and therefore, no matter who may be the owner of the land, they have no right to open mines without the permission of the local authorities and a permit obtained through them from the Board of Commerce. This would also have held good had the Kaiping Company remained in Chinese hands up to the present time. How then can the Company possibly assert that they have the right to open mines in places beyond the limits of the mining area originally purchased by them, and on land their title to which has never been recognized by the Chinese Government, because no proper transfer has ever been made and because the change of ownership has never been reported to or recorded in the \"Land Register\" of the local authorities?\n\nI, the Commissioner Chou Hsueh Hsi, was for many years Director-General of the Kaiping Company, and therefore, being well acquainted with all the facts, am able to make this detailed statement. Fearing that in time to come there may be no one who fully knows the ins and outs of the case, I now set them out here in minute detail, and pray that your Excellency will, in the public interest, place the same upon record, and will order the Mining Bureau and the Luanchow Magistrate to do likewise.\n\nWe respectfully present this petition, and, with prayers for your Excellency's welfare, beg that you will be pleased to give the matter your attention.\n\n## Rescript by Viceroy Yuan\n\nI have considered this Memorial, and approve the scheme for opening coal mines at Luanchow and the Regulations for raising share capital. The matter will be reported to the Throne, and communicated to the high officials concerned for the purpose of being placed on record. The petitioners point out that this mine is intended to provide coal for Government purposes, and thus differs from other mines. They request that the limit of area allowed for mines be extended in this case. This request is granted, but other mines may not use this as a precedent.\n\nIn their further Petition they point out that the boundaries of this mine pass through Paitantzu and other places, but that this does not in any way affect the mining rights of the Kaiping Company. I approve of this being placed upon record, and the Mining Bureau and the Luanchow Magistrate will likewise be ordered to place these facts upon record,\n\nThe plan and Memorial are to be filed, and this Rescript handed back to the petitioners.\n\n## Inclosure 4 in No. 1\n\nExtract from the \"Peking and Tien-tsin Times\" of June 20, 1907.\n\nThe following are the Rules and Regulations submitted by the Tien-tsin Bank and approved by his Excellency Viceroy Yuan, in connection with the **Peiyang-Luanchow Coal Mining Company (Limited)** :—\n\n1. This coal mine is situated in the district of Luanchow, and is to be worked under the title of the Peiyang-Luanchow Coal Mining Company (Limited). Plans and Memoranda are to be submitted through the Viceroy to the Board of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce for record, and in order to obtain the mining permit.\n\n2. A wooden seal is to be engraved by order of the Viceroy, and authorized for use on documents, share scrips, receipts, &c., with the characters of the title of the Company affixed with the words \"kuanfang\" or seal.\n\n3. The boundaries of the mining area are from Fankochuang on westward to Wushuichuang, Paitaotzu, Shihfoussu, Yangtzuling, Chenchiachuang, Machiakon, and Panpitien. To the north is the mountain range, while on the south are the Kaiping, Wali, and Kuych railway stations, besides Palichuang, Yaug Chiakao, and Yuchiachuang—an area in all of 40 li from east to west, and 18 li from north to south. It is proposed to begin working at Machiakou, and with an extension in view. As this mine is for the convenience of coal supply to the Peiyang Government, it is entitled to a larger area than that of 30 li specified in the Mining Regulations of the Board, and this must not be claimed as precedent by any other mine. A Proclamation will be issued by the local officials prohibiting other people from working mines in the area described.\n\n4. The mine occupies a large area, and is very rich in coal. 2,000,000 taels will be raised in the form of 20,000 shares at 100 taels each to start the work, 50 taels being paid on registration, the balance to be paid after six months for the exchange of share scrip. Six per cent. interest will be declared from the date of receipt of payment, and profit will be allotted according to Rule 11 when the output of coal permits.\n\n5. The object of opening this mine is to develop Chinese trade and the supply of coal to the Peiyang Government. No shares will be sold to foreigners. The name, province, and address of the shareholders must be given in detail, so that constant communication may be possible with the Company. If foreigners take up shares secretly through Chinese, their claims will not be recognized by the Company, and any transfer of shares to foreigners will be cancelled in order to avoid trouble.\n\n6. The Tien-tsin Bank will arrange for the advance of money, and undertake for the time being the purchase of land, plant, the erection of buildings, and the sinking of shafts. Monthly interest will be granted on the sum thus advanced, repayment to be made soon after the shares are fully taken up.\n\n7. A Superintendent will be appointed at the mine to manage affairs under the direction of the Bank, The engineers and other members of the staff shall be recommended by the Superintendent for approval.\n\n8. A Director-General, two Directors, and four Vice-Directors are to be elected from among the shareholders. The Director-General and Directors are to attend the office regularly, seeing to the accounts and all affairs in connection with the management, while the Vice-Directors need not be present unless special meetings are called. The term of office will be for five years for the first term and three years for subsequent terms. Two of the old Directors must remain on the Board when the change is made at the end of the first term. Salaries will only be granted to the Director-General and Directors, but travelling expenses will be granted to Vice-Directors when summoned to meetings.\n\n9. This Company will be run as a purely commercial concern, and all official red tape must be done away with. The employés will be employed in accordance with commercial rules, and no friendship or partiality must be exercised in the management. The men must be paid according to their ability and work, and no advance in salary or expenses for entertainment will be granted.\n\n10. A day-book must be kept for recording the daily output and sale of coal, and current accounts. Monthly and annual returns will be published and distributed among the shareholders. Persons who hold upward of 200 shares may appoint representatives to inspect the accounts.\n\n11. Twelve months after the beginning of an actual output of coal, the profit obtained will be disposed of in the following manner: After deducting 6 per cent. interest on the share capital, the balance will be divided into ten parts, one-tenth bonus to staff, two-tenths reserve, two-tenths royalty, and five-tenths dividend to shareholders.\n\n12. The duty shall be similar to that granted to the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, for which Imperial sanction will be obtained and be duly noted on the official record.\n\n13. Special Regulations must be drawn up for the control of the labourers at the mine. In case of violation of the rules, small cases may be settled by the Mining Office, while serious cases must be handed to the local authorities for punishment. Pensions in case of accidents will be granted according to the rules in force in the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412556, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 316, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## 4\n\nimpossible. Under the circumstances the dealers should be invited to establish a General Syndicate to undertake the preparation of opium under official control. The dealers authorized to act as branch establishments shall deal only with this Syndicate. This Syndicate shall be licensed by the Government Office, and shall, in addition to the excise on prepared opium, pay an annual licence fee. The branch establishments shall also pay annual licence fees, being divided for this purpose into classes according to the amount of their business.\n\n4. Regulation of Prices-In Formosa the official price was only slightly increased, and consumption was not altogether prohibited. In China also public opinion is not ripe for absolutely prohibitory prices, and reasonable prices must be fixed according to quality. In Nanking Indian opium and Hsuchou opium-cakes are most used, Szechuan and Kuangtung opium next, and lastly Honan and Anhui opium. It is now proposed that the maximum price of prepared opium, i.e., for the best quality, shall be 1 dollar (Mexican) an ounce; for the second quality, 80 cents; and for the third quality, 60 cents. Taxes are extra. The General Syndicate cannot sell less than one jar (10 oz.); branch shops cannot buy less than a jar, but can sell in retail. A reduction of 10 cents in the dollar is to be allowed by the General Syndicate on every sale to branch shops, but no one except such duly licensed branch shops shall obtain the benefit of this reduction.\n\n5. Increase of Excise.-The present excise is 20 cash an ounce. The annual amount realized is only one million some hundred thousand cash, representing a consumption of over 100,000 oz. This is obviously less than it should be, for, assuming 5,000 smokers at 2 mace per smoker per day, the consumption must be at least 10,000 oz. a day. At Soochow the excise is now increased to 30 cash an ounce, and it is proposed that it shall be the same at Nanking. It shall be collected each time that deputies are sent to the General Syndicate to inspect and stamp the prepared opium. Security shall be deposited by the General Syndicate when their operations are authorized.\n\n6. Issue of Stamps.-A stamp like a postage stamp, marked with the weight and price, shall be affixed to each jar by the official inspector every time the General Syndicate prepares opium, and cancelled. The expenses of this shall be borne by the Government Office. A fine of one hundred times the excise shall be inflicted on jars sold without stamp, all to go to the informer.\n\n7. Register of Smokers.-At Soochow this is already in force, and the same should be done in Nanking. An office or offices shall be established for this purpose, when the number of smokers is ascertained.\n\n8. Prohibition of Opium Dens.-According to the Regulations all opium dens are to be closed within six months. In the meantime, however, they are all to be licensed, and a tax to be paid monthly until the end of the period. The lamp tax is to be abolished. Illicit preparation of opium is to be punished.\n\n9. Appointment of Inspectors. The excise shall continue to be collected by the regular officials of the Revenue Department, but when this scheme comes into operation special officers shall be appointed, and shall work in co-operation with the police.\n\n10. Extension of the Scheme.--Operations shall begin at Nanking, but shall be gradually extended to other districts.\n\n11. Viceroy's Indorsement.-General approval of the above scheme is expressed, and its adoption experimentally is sanctioned. When details are settled, and the date for commencing operation is fixed, the Revenue Department is to refer the matter to the Governor of Kiangsu in a Supplementary Petition embodying the present Rescript.\n\n## Inclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nExtract from the Nanking Official Gazette of July 19, 1907.\n\n**Instructions issued by Viceroy Tuan Fang to the Financial Commissioner and the Taotai Sun T'ing-lin establishing the “Kiangnan Head Office for Government Monopoly of the Sale of Government Prepared Opium.”**\n\n(Translation.)\n\nTHE Viceroy received some time ago the Report drawn up by the Kiangnan Revenue Department in reply to instructions, embodying Regulations for the Government monopoly of the preparation and sale of prepared opium, in which it was proposed that the scheme should be carried out by merchants under official control, and that it should be gradually extended from Nanking to other districts. In the Rescript to this Report instructions were given that the matter should be further considered and recommendations submitted. It was also ordered that an Anti-Opium Head Office and a Head Office for Examination and Taxing of Government Prepared Opium should be established at Nanking, under the management of the Financial Commissioner.\n\nThe original report of the Revenue Department set forth that on account of the present large consumption of opium in China the purchase by Government would entail an enormous initial expenditure, and recommended that for the present the merchants should be invited to undertake it. This recommendation is based on sound financial considerations, but it must be remembered that Imperial Decrees with regard to the restriction of opium have been issued providing for prohibition within a term of years. These Edicts are absolute and uncompromising to the last degree, and there is reason to fear that if the idea of intrusting the operations to merchants is entertained there may be evasions and pretexts for delay which would prevent immediate results.\n\nThe Government must therefore after all provide for the funds required, and an office must be established for the purchase of raw opium and the boiling and sale of prepared opium, so that restriction may be gradually enforced. The Office for Examination and Taxing of Government Prepared Opium shall be changed to the \"Kiangnan Head Anti-Opium Office for Monopoly of the Sale of Government Prepared Opium.\" This Office shall be under the control of the Nanking Financial Commissioner, and Sun Ting-ling, expectant Taotai, transferred from Hupei, is hereby appointed Director thereof. The Yunnan Government Bank shall provide a capital of 500,000 taels. Operations shall begin at Nanking, but Yangchou, Chinkiang, and other populous centres shall also make provision for the establishment of branch offices, which will be gradually extended. At all places where Government prepared opium offices have been established no private individuals, shops, or opium dens shall be allowed to boil opium themselves on pain of being treated as smugglers.\n\nAs regards the methods to be adopted for the purchase of raw opium, the boiling and sale of prepared opium, the prevention of smuggling, and the prohibition of the habit, and the financing and personnel of the Office, all these matters shall be considered by the said Financial Commissioner and Taotai in joint consultation, and detailed recommendations shall be submitted for approval. The Financial Commissioner shall select and engrave in Manchu and Chinese an official seal for the use of the Office, and send it to the Viceroy for issue.\n\n## Inclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\n**Third Article of Proposed Regulations for Government Prepared Opium Office.**\n\n(Translation.)\n\nBEFORE the expiry of the term of years set for total prohibition it is impossible to enforce the closing of all opium shops, while on the other hand they cannot be left altogether uncontrolled. It appears that in the opium trade the number of dealers who have sufficient capital to import the drug themselves is limited; the others are small shops which purchase wholesale from the large shops and sell in retail. In future all opium dealers who have sufficient resources to carry on their own import trade shall be allowed to undertake the supply of the raw opium required for the Government prepared opium, and the Office shall issue to them a licence to engage in this trade, such licence being issued without payment of fee. All opium imported hereafter shall be purchased from them by the Government Prepared Opium Office exclusively, and they shall not be allowed to sell on their premises. Those dealers who have not sufficient resources to undertake the supply of the raw opium required for the Government prepared opium shall have to become Government prepared opium branch establishments, and the Office shall fix a period within which they must be duly registered and licensed, such licence to be without payment of fee. If they prefer to change to another business, they shall be free to do so.\n\nWith regard to the opium dens at Nanking, a term of six months has already been fixed within which they must be closed. If they desire to act as Government prepared opium branch establishments, they shall be allowed to do so. \n\nPage 313", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412676, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 436, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\n### Consul Ker to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nNanking, August 1, 1907.\n\nIN continuation of my despatch No. 17 of the 24th ultimo, on the subject of the proposed Government opium monopoly, I have the honour to inclose herewith copy and précis of the Regulations now drawn up to replace the original proposals of the Revenue Department. They have not yet been published.\n\nThe Viceroy's approval seems to be given in the same tentative manner as in the case of the former proposals, and it is by no means certain that the scheme will be found capable of being carried into effect.\n\nI am sending copy of this despatch and inclosures to Sir Pelham Warren.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) **W. P. KER**.\n\n### Nanking Government Opium Monopoly.\n\n#### Précis of Regulations drawn up by Financial Commissioner and Sun Taotai.--(Communicated July 29, 1907.)\n\n1. YUNING Bank to provide 500,000 taels for the establishment of the \"Kiangnan Head Office for the Suppression of Opium and for making Provision for the Monopoly of the Sale of Government Prepared Opium.\"\n\nThis Office has three objects: the purchase of raw opium; the sale of prepared opium; the suppression of opium. It is to be established first at Nanking; branches afterwards at Chinkiang, Chingkiangpu, Hsu-chou, &c. Other places to wait success of Head Office.\n\n2. At all places where there is a Government prepared opium office, anti-opium offices are to be established in numbers proportionate to the size of the district. The Nanking Head Office shall lead the way, and take in hand the provision of anti-opium remedies and the licensing of smokers according to the Regulations of the Central Government. Until the licensing of smokers comes into force, the branch prepared opium shops are to report their sales every three days.\n\n3. (This Article has been already translated.)\n\n4. As soon as operations are commenced, the raw opium dealers shall have a limited time within which to report their stocks in hand, for purchase by the Government Office. If the stock is very extensive, the Government Office can purchase by instalments at market prices. No sales on the premises to be allowed.\n\nAll dealers contracting to supply opium to the Government Office must, before buying raw opium of any kind, obtain a pass from the Office specifying the place of purchase and the quality and amount to be purchased. Stations for prevention of smuggling shall be established at certain important points on roads and waterways. For the sake of economy, the existing li-kin stations can be used for this purpose. Opium passing such places must be examined and compared with the pass; if in order, it will then be released; if not, it will be confiscated or a fine imposed. Opium passing from one province to another shall be escorted across the frontier by a messenger from the li-kin station, in accordance with the Hupei Regulations for opium duty.\n\nWhen the opium arrives, it shall be carefully examined by the Government Prepared Opium Office, and a price shall be arranged with reference to existing prices elsewhere and the quality of the opium, provided, on the one hand, that the merchant shall receive a fair profit, and, on the other hand, that he shall not make extortionate demands.\n\n5. This Article dwells on the difficulties of the task and the reasons for its being carried out, nevertheless, by the Government instead of by merchants as at first proposed. A list follows of the titles of the officers to be appointed, with the duties and responsibilities attaching to each.\n\n6. This Article contains regulations for keeping the different qualities apart by using three separated places for storing the raw opium, for boiling it, and for putting the prepared opium into jars; also regulations for stamping of the jars by the proper officials.\n\n7. Regulation of prices of prepared opium. It was originally intended to keep prices moderate for the convenience of users, but, in view of the Imperial legislation and the necessity of discouraging the use of opium, prices must be high. The prices proposed by the Revenue Department are to be tried for one year, but afterwards the sales are to be annually diminished and the prices annually raised with a view to eventual abolition.\n\n8. Each jar of prepared opium is to contain oz. extra (i.e., 10½ oz.) to allow for waste in retail selling, thus giving no excuse for adulteration, which will be strictly punished.\n\n9. On account of the unnecessary expenditure that would be entailed by having factories at the branch places, the Nanking Head Office only shall be allowed to boil opium, but each branch office shall buy the raw opium required for its own consumption and send it monthly to Nanking to be boiled.\n\n10. At places where a Government office is established, all raw opium held by shops or private individuals shall be reported to the office. If in large quantities, the office shall purchase the stock; if in small, a limit of two months shall be allowed during which it may be boiled; but after this period, no raw opium can be held. Preventive officers to act in co-operation with the police to enforce this rule. Travellers, however, can carry up to 20 oz. for their own consumption.\n\n11. Investigation to be made into the production of poppy at Hsuchou with view to reduction. The Head Office to send inspectors for this purpose to act in conjunction with the Hanchon local authorities. All intending purchasers from Hsuchou must get a pass from the Hsuchou branch office, specifying amount and destination. Opium purchased without a pass or in excess of the pass shall be confiscated or a fine imposed. These passes are to be collated every three months and sent up to the Head Office. The expenses of this investigation are to be met by a fee of 5 taels on every picul, to be paid by the cultivators, one-fifth of the proceeds to go to the Hsuehou local authorities.\n\n12. Anti-Opium Remedies - The sale of such is to be allowed if the formula is first submitted showing that they contain no opium or morphia. The Head Office will appoint experts to go from time to time and buy such pills for analysis. Shops selling pills found to contain opium shall be closed and a fine imposed.\n\nThe above Regulations can be added to as required. The original Regulations of the Revenue Department regarding investigation of consumption, prices, and issue of stamps (i.e., Articles 1, 4, and 6 of the original Regulations) are to hold good.\n\n### Viceroy's Rescript on above.\n\nIn view of Imperial commands, the matter must be taken in hand in spite of all difficulties. The Regulations are approved and are to be put in force experimentally. But special precautions must be taken at starting, and attention must be given to particulars not covered by the above or requiring alteration. The officials required for the new Office have been duly appointed. Yangchou, Chinkiang, &c., are to make provision for branch establishments as proposed. The above Regulations will be published by Proclamation; form of this to be settled later. As regards Hsuchon, the proposals are generally approved, but the sanction of the Throne must be obtained before the fee of 5 taels per picul is imposed. A report is also to be submitted to the Governor at Soochow and his rescript obtained.\n\nPage 433", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412764, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 524, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## them. \nIt was originally stated that the arsenal would be shut down, but recently, owing, it is said, to repeated attempts on the part of Japanese to lease it, the Viceroy has decided to keep it open under the superintendence of the French-trained native officers.\n\nThe arsenal was founded in 1868 under the direction of two French officers, with a staff of some thirty officers and overseers, who remained until 1872, when the Chinese engineers who had been trained under their supervision took entire charge. French engineers were again employed from 1875 to 1878, and from time to time up to 1897 foreign-trained native engineers were in charge. It was during this latter period that the dock at Pagoda Island was constructed, it having been commenced in 1887. In 1897 French officers again took charge.\n\nThe position of the arsenal was at the time of its foundation excellent; vessels could easily go alongside the wharf, and there was deep water and good anchorage in the stream immediately opposite the frontage. Unfortunately, however, the barrier, laid down during the war with France in 1884, between Foochow and Pagoda has completely altered the course of the river, and caused the arsenal frontage to silt up. If the removal of this barrier would result in the river resuming its former course, there would be a great improvement, not only to the arsenal and dock entrance, but also to navigation in general.\n\nOwing to the absurdly high prices asked by the Chinese land-owners, it was impossible to obtain land necessary to build the dock in the immediate vicinity of the arsenal, and the authorities were compelled to find a site further down the river, and at some little distance from the arsenal itself. A site was eventually obtained at Pagoda Island, and there in 1887 was constructed a dock capable of taking in the cruisers--- 2,200 tons---which were projected in that year. The entrance to the dock remained free for some ten years, when a sand-bank, which now seriously obstructs the approach, commenced to form. This bank could easily be dredged away, and, as there is a current of nearly 4 knots at that point, little labour would be required after the first dredging to keep the entrance quite clear.\n\nThe arsenal proper has a river frontage of about 500 metres, and a depth of about the same measurement. It contains three building slips, a crane capable of lifting 40 tons weight, a \"Labat\" patent slip, 90 metres in length, for vessels up to 1,000 tons, and coal depôt. Behind the slips are the workshops, and behind the coal depôt the foundry, electric light plant, and the general store. Outside the arsenal compound there are workmen's houses, the English and French school buildings, and the Chinese Director's yamên.\n\nForty steam-vessels have been built, four of which were over 2,000 tons displacement. These were constructed, machinery included, entirely at the arsenal by their own workmen.\n\nThe French school was intended for the training of constructing engineers, while the English school was for the instruction of naval officers.\n\nA large number of overseers and petty officers also received their training in these schools. But owing to lack of funds the buildings have fallen into disrepair, and the schools are practically empty, so that in order to bring the arsenal back to anything approaching its former degree of usefulness, complete reorganization and liberal expenditure of money is now necessary.\n\nThe position of the arsenal has of late years been severely criticized, but it must not be forgotten that the present condition of its water frontage, as also the entrance to the dock, is entirely due to the Kusban barrier; and it is not unreasonable to surmise that the abolition of this obstruction would remove, or at any rate modify, the rapidly growing sand-banks in the vicinity, especially at the arsenal frontage, where, before the laying down of the Kushan barrier, it had become necessary to protect the bank from encroachment by the river.\n\nPeking!\n\nThe following extracts on various subjects from native newspapers may be of interest:\n\nAugust 25.-\"The Ministers of the Revenue Council propose placing foreign custom-houses at Su-lo Fu (Kashgar) and Ili Fu (Kuldja) in Hsinchiang, with Chinese and foreign officers in charge of them. They are also negotiating with the Russians a Tariff suitable to the trade conditions of the frontier.\"\n\nAugust 25.-\"The Li Fan Pu intends to devote strenuous efforts to the formation of a Mongolian army. A Memorial will shortly be sent to the Throne on the subject.\"\n\n## \nAugust 23.-\"The Government is considering a vigorous effort to suppress the custom of foot-binding, by reducing women with bound feet to the level of the non-respectable classes, so that they cannot share in any honours or titles conferred upon their husbands or sons.\"\n\nCurrency. August 23.-\" A Committee of Princes and Ministers has been meeting in the Grand Secretariat to consider the currency question, and it has been decided to adopt Professor Jenks' proposal for a gold basis, and to prohibit the import of foreign coins and notes, or the unofficial printing or making of notes, so as to secure uniformity.\"\n\nTaku Forts. August 26.—“ A proposal has been made to obtain the consent of the Powers to the rebuilding of the forts at Taku, which form the gate of Peking.\"\n\nManœuvres. September 1.-\" Owing to the disturbed state of the Yang-tsze region, there will be no autumn manoeuvres this year.\"\n\nRailway Construction in Chinese Turkestan. September 9.—“ A Russian merchant has proposed the joint undertaking of railway construction in Ili and Hsinching. The Wai-wu Pu has refused, and the Yu-chuan Pu has sent telegrams to the Governor of Ili urging him to find money without delay to undertake it himself and anticipate the foreigners, and also to consider the opening of trade marts as a safeguard to the rights of China,\"\n\nPolitical Situation. September 11.-\" The dispatch of Commissioners to England, Japan, and Germany to study the Constitutions of those countries is due to the advice of Yuan Shih-k'ai, who has also sent up a Memorial containing detailed proposals on constitutional government in ten Articles.\"\n\n\"It is also said that Wang Ta-hsieh and Yu Shih-mei were appointed to these Commissions in order to get them out of the way, Wang being a friend of C'hu Hung-chi and Yu Shih-mei having been a protégé of Ts'en Ch'un-hsuan.\"\n\nAnd the same paper on the same day stated that: \"The Government is thinking of bringing back Tang Shao-yi to the Wai-wu Pu.\"\n\nPeking-Hankow Railway. September 13.-\" Yuan Shih-k'ai is reviving the question of redeeming the Peking-Hankow Railway, and is resolved to bring it to a successful issue. Instructions have been given to Yang Shih-ci, on his mission to the South Sea ports, to collect money for this purpose from the Chinese communities.\"\n\nOn the 18th September a paper stated that: \"On the 10th September the Director-General of the Peking-Hankow Railway waited upon Yuan Shih-k'ai to confer on the subject of the redemption of the railway, which he has been deputed to propose to the Company. One of the Yuchuan Board says that it may possibly be brought about this year, as the Government is very pressing in the matter.\"\n\nDalai Lama,\n\nSeptember 18.-\"The Dalai Lama has again petitioned through the Grand Council for leave to return to Thibet. The Rescript to the Council's Memorial directed that for the present he should not return.”\n\nGermans in Shantung. September 18.\" Agreements have been signed for German Mining Concessions at five places in Shantung.\"\n\nSeptember 25.-\"The Germans have sent fifty German students to travel in Shantung, and have engaged expectant officials to show them the topography, the trend of the hills, the watersheds, &c., of which they are to make plans. The object of the expedition is not apparent, and the Chinese Government feels much suspicion, It is intended to address the German Minister on the subject, and ask for the recall of the students.\"\n\nPolitical Situation. September 18-Chang Chih-tung has been having audiences on consecutive days, to which only he himself was admitted, and at which the matters spoken of are kept so secret that they are not even confided to Prince Ch'ing and the other members of the Grand Council.”\n\nPeking-Kalgan Railway.-Great activity is being shown along the whole section under construction from Nankow to the top of the pass, and a great number of workmen are employed. They sleep in small mat sheds erected among the boulders by the side of the stream, and appear to work from early morning till late at night. I have the honour to report the following on the authority of the Chinese Engineer-in-chief' :-----\n\nThree miles of rails have been already laid inside the valley from Nankow. As regards the tunnels, two have been completed, the third (1,200 feet long) has been driven through, as also two-thirds of the fourth (3,450 feet long). The rails are not laid as yet through any of the tunnels. Work has already been begun at the north side of the pass, and about two-thirds of the earthwork to Huailai is finished. The line is to be opened to traffic as soon as the rails reach Huailai. The Engineer-in-chief\n\nPage 521", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412772, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 532, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# \n## Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\nExtract from the \"Seventy-two Guilds Commercial News\" of August 26, 1907.\n\n## Acting Viceroy Hu takes Measures to prevent the Recurrence of Misdemeanours in settling Foreign Cases. (Translation.)\n\nTHE following Minute has been made by the Viceroy on the report submitted by the Hsin Hsing Magistrate Tsou on the robbery of the foreign missionary Snuggs:-\n\n\"In cases in which foreign merchants or foreign missionaries are the victims of a robbery, the Treaties only demand the arrest of the delinquents and the restoration of the property stolen. There is no obligation to pay compensation. And this principle has been illustrated in more than one past case. After causing careful search to be made in the correspondence which passed between the British and American Consuls and the late Viceroy Chou, relative to the robbery of the American missionary Snuggs, and Miss Commin, a missionary lady, on the river at P'ang Ts'un in the Magistrate's district, I am unable to find anything which goes beyond the principle just enunciated. Nevertheless, instead of recovering the property and punishing the offenders, the Magistrate compelled one of the robbers named Su Ya Kuei, who fell into his hands, to make out a list of the families of the ringleaders in the outrage, and forced them to pay the full value of the property stolen, as estimated in a letter written to him personally by a missionary pastor of the name of Chang. The action taken is entirely in the wrong. Having once established such a precedent, if another similar case arises and the bad example now set is imitated by others, an altogether anomalous state of affairs will be produced. Apparently the Magistrate is not aware that all cases affecting foreigners should first be reported to me and my instructions asked in the matter. In the present instance the money was paid over to the missionaries before I was informed of the case. And even then the Magistrate only reports that he made good the estimated value of the property, and vouchsafes no details as to what was asked and what was given. The whole conduct of the Magistrate in this matter proves that he acts too much on his own assumption and performs his official duties in a far from satisfactory manner. In these circumstances I feel that it is my duty to make an example of his case, and I therefore propose to set three bad marks against his name. He will also be fined twice the value of the money obtained from the relatives of the robbers, such fine to be offered in rewards for the apprehension of the actual offenders. Further, he will be given half a month in which to hunt down the ringleaders in this affair, and report their capture and punishment. Lastly, he must surrender the receipt given to him by the missionary Snuggs for inspection.\n\nI shall be glad, therefore, if the Kuangtung Central Police Office and the Provincial Judge will see that my instructions are duly transmitted to the proper quarter and write to the Provincial Treasurer to record the bad marks and take the necessary steps to secure the fulfilment of my wishes. I shall also be glad if they will at the same time send a circular notice to the various officers in this jurisdiction to the effect that, in future, cases of this kind are to be dealt with strictly in accordance with Treaty. And particular stress should be laid on the great importance of avoiding any imprudent individual action which might cause complications in dealing with future cases.\"\n\n## Inclosure 3 in No. 1.\n### Consul-General Mansfield to Acting Viceroy Hu Hsiang-Lin.\n\nCanton, September 15, 1907.\n\nMY attention has just been called to an article which appeared in the \"Ch'i-shih-erh Hang Shang Pao\" on the 26th August last, purporting to be your Rescript to the Petition of the Magistrate at Hsiu Hsing on the robbery by armed men from the missionaries Snuggs and Miss Commin.\n\nFrom this it appears that the Magistrate, having arrested one of the robbers, but being unable to find the actual property stolen, compelled him to make out a list of the families of the ringleaders, and forced them to pay the full value of the goods stolen, which he then refunded to the missionaries concerned.\n\nI have always supposed that your Excellency was desirous to put a stop to the piracy and robbery which for so long has been a disgrace to the province under your jurisdiction, and would have thought that the vigorous and just action of the Magistrate would have met your approbation and reward. To my great surprise, however, your Rescript, as quoted, severely censures him, places three bad marks against his record, and fines him a sum of money. You also send to the various officers in your jurisdiction circular orders which are most obviously calculated to encourage piracy and robbery, especially in cases which have relation to the subjects of friendly Powers.\n\nIf it is correct, I feel sure that the Chinese Government in Peking will, on hearing the facts, disapprove of such unfriendly action on the part of its high officials.\n\nI have difficulty in believing that the newspaper article, of which I inclose a copy, can be a correct report of what has happened, and if it is not I trust your Excellency will direct the \"Ch'i-shih-erh Hang Shang Pao\" to publish a contradiction.\n\nYour Highness,\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) \nR. W. MANSFIELD.\n\n## Inclosure 4 in No. 1.\n### Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nOctober 5, 1907.\n\nIN the numerous consultations which have taken place between the Ministers of the Board and myself during the past year on the subject of the prevention of piracy in Canton waters, it has been mutually recognized that the problem presents considerable difficulties, but that it is capable of adjustment if the local officials act with vigour.\n\nThe District Magistrate of San Hing (Hsin Hsing) recently arrested one of the robbers who had attacked and looted a native boat upon which two missionaries were travelling, and obliged the families of the ringleaders to make restitution of the value of the stolen articles.\n\nA few weeks later a native paper called the \"Commercial News\" published what purported to be a Minute of the Acting Viceroy Hu on the District Magistrate's Report. I have the honour to inclose a copy of this newspaper extract.\n\nIn this document the Acting Viceroy is represented as censuring the District Magistrate for paying compensation, lest it should be taken as a precedent. The Magistrate, therefore, has three bad marks entered on his record, and is fined twice the value of the money obtained from the relatives of the robbers, this sum being offered as rewards for the arrest of the actual offenders.\n\nMr. Mansfield, His Majesty's Consul-General, on becoming aware of this publication in the newspaper, addressed a note to the Acting Viceroy, a translation of which I have the honour to inclose, asking if the newspaper extract was authentic. No reply had been received when Mr. Mansfield made his report to me, and the new Viceroy was expected to arrive at his post within a few days.\n\nI have the honour to request your Highness' Board to examine the inclosed documents, and to be good enough to ascertain by telegraph whether the newspaper extract is what it professes to be. If it is not, an official contradiction should clearly be published. If it is an accurate reproduction of the Acting Viceroy's Minute, I need hardly point out to your Highness' Board that it constitutes a direct encouragement to piracy, and serves as a warning to local officials to regard the robbery of foreigners with indifference. To pirates it is an intimation that if they can enrich their families by their depredations, their families will not suffer. They themselves may be arrested, but the risk of this is not great, and they can always look forward to enjoying the fruits of their plunder when they are released. To the local officials it implies that they need take no steps to render piracy unprofitable. If they can arrest pirates after an attack and recover the stolen property, they may do so; but if the plunder has been disposed of, the pirate's family is so much the richer, and must not be regarded as accessories to the crime.\n\n[2732 yg-6] \nB 2 \n528", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 414165, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10]", "page_number": 76, "title": "CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10]", "content_text": "# \nPeking, March 27th.\n\nC.O. 29050\n\nP 10 AUG 08\n\n1908.\n\nReferring to my despatch of March 3rd., 74 and to my telegram of yesterday, I have the honour to enclose a translation of a note from the Wai Wu Pu, dated March 24th., in which the measures taken by the Chinese Government to meet Your Excellency's wishes in regard to the prohibition of the export of prepared opium from China to Hongkong are stated.\n\nA memorial was presented to the Throne on March 22nd. to the effect that His Majesty's Government had agreed that both countries should take steps to stop smuggling, and recommending that the trade in prepared opium to Hongkong from China should be prohibited; an Imperial Rescript sanctioning the memorial has been issued, and also instructions to the Provincial Authorities concerned; and the Viceroy of Canton has ordered all Customs and Likin stations and Local Authorities to take preventive measures, and has issued a proclamation.\n\nI have the honour to request that I may be informed by telegraph as soon as Your Excellency has taken the steps referred to in paragraph 4 of your despatch of January 15th., 1908 (No. 10208/1908).\n\nI have etc.,\n\n**(Sd.) Stephen Leech, for H. M's. Minister.**\n\nHis Excellency\n\n**Sir Frederick D. Lugard, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O., Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Hongkong.**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 414167, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10]", "page_number": 78, "title": "CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10]", "content_text": "## Y TO \n\n76 \n\nIt is evident that the smuggling of opium is a significant issue. The Imperial Government has taken steps to address this problem.\n\nThe Imperial Government had agreed that each country should take steps to prevent the smuggling of opium into its own territory and recommended that the trade in prepared opium to Hongkong should be prohibited. An Imperial Rescript sanctioning the Memorial was received, and instructions were issued accordingly to all the Provincial Authorities.\n\nIt is evident, therefore, that China has faithfully performed her undertaking to prohibit the illicit export of Chinese opium to Hongkong, and the British Government's undertaking to prohibit the illicit export of prepared opium from Hongkong to China should accordingly be carried out without loss of time.\n\nI have therefore the honour to request Your Excellency to ask the Governor of Hongkong by telegraph to afford us his assistance by putting into effective operation the prohibition to export prepared opium from Hongkong to China.\n\nI avail, etc., \n**(Sd.) Prince Ch'ing**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 414168, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10]", "page_number": 79, "title": "CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10]", "content_text": "# \n## Government House, Hongkong, 30th May, 1908.\n\n**C. O.**\n\n**Rec** 29050\n\n**R 10 AUG 08**\n\nSir,\n\nI have the honour to confirm my telegram of the 14th instant and to inform Your Excellency that a Bill entitled **An Ordinance to prohibit the Exportation of Prepared Opium to China** has been introduced into the Legislative Council of this Colony and has passed a first and second reading.\n\n2. In your despatch of the 27th of last March, Your Excellency informed me that a memorial was presented to the Throne on the 22nd idem to the effect that His Majesty's Government had agreed that both countries should take steps to stop smuggling and recommending that the trade in prepared opium to Hongkong from China should be prohibited and that an Imperial Rescript had been issued. But, as intimated in my despatch No. `10208/06` of the 15th of last January, I do not propose to proceed with the Bill until an Imperial Decree prohibiting the export of prepared opium from China to Hongkong shall have been issued and a copy of it is in my hands.\n\n3. I shall be obliged therefore if Your Excellency will be good enough to inform me when such a decree will be issued.\n\nI have etc.,\n\n(Sd.) **F. D. Lugard, Governor**\n\n**Britannic Majesty's Minister, PEKIN**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 414169, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10]", "page_number": 80, "title": "CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10]", "content_text": "# Peking, 16th. June, 1908.\n\nWith reference to Your Excellency's despatch No. `10208/1906` of May 30th. on the subject of an Ordinance to prohibit the exportation of Prepared Opium to China, I have the honour to state that the words \"Imperial Rescript\" in my despatch of March 27th. and its enclosure should have been \"Imperial Decree\". A copy of the Chinese text of the Waiwupu's Note of March 24th. is enclosed herewith for your information.\n\nI have no hesitation in assuring you that in my view the Chinese Government have taken the action indicated in paragraph 2 of Your Excellency's despatch No. `10208/1906` of January 15th. last.\n\nI have etc.,\n**(sd.) J. N. Jordan**\n\nHis Excellency \nSir F. D. Lugard, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O., \nHongkong.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415630, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 325, "title": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "# AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n[39249]\n\n### No. 1\n\n**RECEIVED** 1798 [December 9.] **REG 17 JAN 03.**\n\nSir,\n\nForeign Office to Chinese Engineering and Mining Company.\n\nForeign Office, December 9, 1907.\n\nI am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo respecting the mining rights of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company in Chilli.\n\nI am to inform you that in a recent despatch His Majesty's Minister at Peking reported that, as he wished to prevent the Viceroy Yuan from trying to bring pressure to bear on the Company by any open act of aggression while the question of an adjustment was under consideration, he sent Mr. Mayers, Acting Chinese Secretary, to Tien-tsin on the 15th August to inform the Customs Taotai there, on Sir J. Jordan's behalf, that he was prepared to use his best endeavours towards effecting a reasonable and amicable adjustment of the existing difficulties on the lines of the scheme for settlement, which it was understood Major Nathan had already submitted to the Chinese authorities, and that he was ready to depute Sir Alexander Hosie, Acting Commercial Attaché to His Majesty's Legation, to meet the Viceroy's delegate and the Company's representative with the object of arranging a settlement acceptable to both parties. In the meantime, Sir J. Jordan desired to strongly impress on the Viceroy the inadvisability of resorting to any overt act of hostility towards the Company.\n\nIn a letter dated the 16th August, the Customs Taotai stated that he had conveyed Sir J. Jordan's message to the Viceroy, who was quite prepared to accept Sir Alexander Hosie's mediation in the matter.\n\nSir J. Jordan now proposes to arrange for an early meeting between the parties, with a view to reconciling if possible their divergencies of view.\n\nI am to add that, in a telegram dated the 27th November, Sir J. Jordan reported that he considered the dispute between the Viceroy and the Company to be no longer in an acute stage.\n\nA copy of your letter will therefore be forwarded to Sir J. Jordan by mail for any observations he may have to offer on it. With reference, however, to the statement contained in your letter in regard to the transfer of the property from the old Chinese Company having been confirmed by Imperial Decree, I am to observe that this Department has understood throughout the discussion of the matter that the Company's case was much prejudiced by the fact that the transfer has never received the Imperial assent, and that the wording of the Rescript quoted in your letter rather tends to show that what was contemplated in the Decree was the retention of the property in purely Chinese hands.\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed) \nF. A. CAMPBELL.\n\n[2769 i-1] \n323 \n(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415704, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 399, "title": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "# AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\nC.0.\n\n[November 23, 1907]\n\n## No. 1. Chinese Engineering and Mining Company to Foreign Office.-(Received November 29.)\n\nSir,\n\n22, Austin Friars, London, November 27, 1907.\n\nREFERRING to my letter of the 27th June last on the subject of a Rescript which had been issued by Yuen Chi Kai, then Viceroy of the province of Chihli purporting to grant to a Chinese Company certain mining rights in the Kaiping Basin, over which this Company claims exclusive rights, I am instructed by my Board to send you the following statement in support of this Company's position.\n\nBy a Deed dated the 19th February, 1901, the \"Chinese Engineering and Mining Company Tien-tsin,\" which will hereafter be called the \"Chinese Company,\" represented by Chang Yen Mao and by Gustav Detring, two of its Directors, transferred to \"The Chinese Engineering and Mining Company (Limited),\" which will be called the \"English Company\" all its assets, and amongst others—\n\n| Asset Description | Details |\n| --- | --- |\n| Lands, mines, and coalfield | Known as the Estate Kaiping Coalfield, situate in the Province of Chihli |\n| Mines and seams of coal and minerals | Geologically connected with the mines and seams of coal known at Tongshan, Hse-Shan, Pan Pe Tien, Ma Chia Kau, Wu Shui Chwang, Chao Ko Chwang, and Linsi |\n| Exclusive right | To search and mine for coal and minerals within the area and coalfield aforesaid |\n\nChang Yen Mao executed this Deed, not only as Director of the Chinese Company, but also in the capacity of Director-General of the Imperial Administration of all the mines of the Province of Chihli and Jehol, and the Deed bears the official seals of the Chinese Company and of the Director-General of Mines of the Province of Chihli and Jehol.\n\nThe English Company has therefore, in virtue of the Deed of Transfer (`Annexure No. 1`), exclusive rights over the whole of the Kaiping Basin.\n\nIn the twelfth month of the 32nd year of Kuang Hsu (1907) the \"Tien-tsin Government Bank\" received from the Viceroy of Petchihli, Yuen Chi Kai, an order to prepare a proposal for raising capital for the purpose of exploiting coal-mines in the district of Luan Chow, situated in the Kaiping Basin.\n\nThe \"Tien-tsin Government Bank\" prepared a Memorial (`Annexure No. 2`) proposing the opening of workings at Ma Chia Kau, which is one of the places specifically mentioned in the Deed of Transfer (`Annexure No. 1`). The reason given for the proposal was to supply coal to the Chinese Government, and the petitioners therefore asked the Viceroy to depart in their favour from the general Mining Regulations, in virtue of which Mining Concessions must not exceed 30 li square. As a result of this Petition, and of a supplementary Petition (`Annexure No. 3`), which was presented by the Bank, the Viceroy issued a Decree (`Annexure No. 4`) purporting to grant the right to open a colliery at Ma Chia Kau, the area conceded being of a considerably greater extent than the 30 li fixed in the Mining Regulations. The terms of this Concession would cover the whole of the Kaiping Coal Basin, with the exception of the lands comprised within a radius of 10 li from Tongshan and 6 li around Linsi, which the Decree reserves to the English Company. (See map annexed under `No. 5`.)\n\nIt is important to note that the Tien-tsin Government Bank in its supplementary Petition (`Annexure No. 3`) recognizes the rights of the English Company in the neighbourhood of Tongshan and Linsi. After describing the extent of the Concession which they solicit, they add:—\n\n\"No objection can be made to this because the 10-li rule was not laid down in the case of Linsi, and therefore, under the Government Regulations they (the English Company) are only entitled to 30 square li of territory, which is a perfectly fair and just arrangement.\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415705, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 400, "title": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\n{\n\n3\n\n393\n\nThe petitioners further say:\n\n\"The Kaiping Company (English Company) have no mining rights outside the 10-k limit from Tongshan, and therefore no matter who may be the owner of the land, they have no right to open mines without the permission of the local authorities and a permit obtained through them from the Board of Commerce.\"\n\nIn the Deed of Concession (Annexure No. 4) the Viceroy has taken care to state that in their further Petition they (the Tien-tsin Government Bank) point out that the boundaries of this mine pass through Paitaotzu and other places, but that this does not in any way affect the mining rights of the Kaiping Company (English Company).\n\nThe statement of the Tien-tsin Government Bank is quite unfounded, and can only be attributed to the fact that not being able to deny the validity of the Deed of Transfer of the 19th February, 1901, as a whole, they seek to limit the rights of the English Company in the Tongshan Basin.\n\nThe assertion made by the Tien-tsin Government Bank that the old Chinese Company, whose rights the English Company acquired, did not possess the right to establish mines in the whole of the basin cannot be maintained. In proof of this, it is only necessary to refer to two letters written in the year 1899 by Chang Yen Mao to Mr. C. A. Moreing at the time when the former was endeavouring to obtain a loan of 200,000l. for the Chinese Company.\n\nIn a letter dated the 20th September, 1899 (Annexure No. 6), Chang Yen Mao expressly states that the loan has for one of its objects the opening of a new colliery near to the railway station at Kuyeh, on the line from Tien-tsin to Shanhaikwan, in the Province of Chihli, and he adds:--\n\n\"The loans and premiums to be secured by the coal-fields, mining rights, and plant, and all the property acquired, or to be acquired, by the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company (Chinese Company) in connection with the collieries at Tangshan, Linsi, and Kuyeh.\n\nIn another letter, of the 17th October, 1899 (Annexure No. 7), Chang Yen Mao repeats that the loan is necessary as much for the construction of a harbour pier at Ching-wang Tao as for the opening of a new colliery at Wu-shui Chwang.\n\nThe loan that Chang Yen Mao applied for was ultimately made, and an Edict was obtained from the Throne by Chang Yen Mao authorizing him to raise the loan on behalf of the Chinese Company (Annexure No. 8).\n\nThe general mortgage bond, which was drawn up to secure the loan, is dated the 20th September, 1899 (Annexure No. 9). It expressly states that the proceeds of the loan are to be applied, amongst other objects, to the acquisition and opening up of a new colliery near the railway station of Kuyeh on the Tien-tsin-Shanhaikwan Railway line in the Province of Chihli, or such other colliery as may be approved by the said Bewick, Moreing, and Co. and Gustav Detring.\n\nThe loan having been thus raised by the Chinese Company, the preliminary work for the establishment of a new colliery at Wu-shui Chwang was immediately entered upon, and was only abandoned in consequence of the Boxer rising.\n\nThe documents quoted above prove that the Chinese Company enjoyed complete rights over the whole of the Kaiping Basin. The fact is confirmed in the clearest manner by an official Memorial addressed to the Throne on the 20th day of the 5th moon of the 27th year of Kuang-su, i.e., on the 11th July, 1901, by Chang Yen Mao and Li Jung-chang, then Viceroy of Petchili. This document was prepared for the express purpose of making known the Agreements entered into between the Chinese Company and the new English Company (Annexure No. 10). We extract therefore the following passage:-----\n\nS\n\nApart from sinking additional shafts at Liu-shi, which is 50 li distant from Tongshan, permission was obtained to buy land and sink shafts at Wu-Shui-Chwang, Pai Tao Tzu, and other places in the Lanchow district which were found to be connected by the same seam of coal at Tongshan. The object was to provide a supply in case the output of the Tougshan and other mines should not be sufficient.\n\nIt should be remembered that Chang Yen Mao, in the action which he brought in the English Courts on the order of the Throne and of the Viceroy himself, far from attacking the validity of the Deed of Sale of the 19th February, 1901, recognized its validity, and only asked the English Court that an accessory Agreement called the\n\nA\n\n\"Memorandum\" which had been entered into at the same time should be made equally binding on the English Company.\n\nThe Deed of Sale of the 19th February, 1901, was not only entered into by Chang Yen Mao with the knowledge of Li Hung-chang but the latter subsequently recognized the transaction by joining on the 11th July, 1901, in a Memorial which Chang Yen Mao addressed to the Throne in order to report the sale of the Chinese Company's undertaking and the registration in London of the English Company. Attention will be drawn later on to this important document, and it is sufficient to note here that the Viceroy, so far from ignoring the transfer, expressly approved it.\n\nWhen Chang Yen Mao came to Europe to bring the action against the English Company it was, as above pointed out, at the express order of the Throne and the Viceroy Yuen Chi Kai. He had been instructed to \"recover the Company.\"\n\nOn receipt of the Memorial above mentioned the Throne signed the following Rescript:--\n\n\"This has been noted: the said Minister must bear the whole responsibility and let him zealously and satisfactorily manage the Company in order to protect this source of profit.\"\n\nThe Imperial Rescript thus confirms the transaction but reserves Chang's responsibility vis-à-vis the Chinese authorities.\n\nIt was only after the date of this Rescript that the debenture and share capital was issued.\n\nSince then, the English Company has proceeded with its business for six years and has always regularly met its obligations towards the Chinese Government, as Yuen Chi Kai himself states in his report to the Throne. (Annexure No. 11.)\n\nRespecting the sovereignty of the Chinese Government, the Limited Company cannot of course encroach upon that, and the duties, taxes, li-kin, and royalties the Company has not forgotten to pay.\n\nHe is still more explicit in his letter to Chang (Annexure No. 12), where he declares:--\n\n\"The rights and powers of the Imperial Government cannot be, never were, nor will be encroached by the said Company (the English Company). They paid their taxes and reported their proceedings and annual accounts.\"\n\nThe position may therefore be summed up as follows:--\n\n(a.) The English Company has validly acquired the exclusive mining rights over the whole of the Kaiping Basin by the Deed of the 19th February, 1901, which was entered into by Chang Yen Mao in his capacity as Director-General of the Chinese Company and Minister of Mines for the Province of Chibli.\n\n(b.) This Deed has been approved by Li Hung-chang, then Viceroy of Petchili. (c.) It has also been confirmed by Imperial Decree.\n\nUnder these circumstances the Concession purported to have been granted by the ex-Viceroy Yuen Chi Kai to the Lanchow Mining Company is a direct infringement of the English Company's rights and ought to be cancelled.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(The Chinese Engineering and Mining Company,\n\nLimited),\n\n(Signed) ALF. W. BERRY, Secretary.\n\nAnnexures No. 1 to No. 4.\n\n[Already printed.]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415709, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 404, "title": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "# Apart from sinking additional shafts at Lin-hsi...\n\nApart from sinking additional shafts at Lin-hsi, which is 50 li distant from Tongshan, permission was obtained to buy land and sink shafts at Wui-shui Chuang, Pai-tao Tzu, and other places in the Lanchow district which were found to be connected by the same seam of coal at Tongshan. The object was to provide a supply in case the output of the Tongshan and other mines should not be sufficient. Furthermore, I received instructions through the Tsung-li Yamên that the Imperial sanction had been given to the voluntary opening by China of Chinwangtao as a commercial port. Land, on which the various wharves, yards, and godowns required to be constructed by the Company, has been bought ready for use. These facts are also on record; but the cost of buying the land just referred to is very great, and the reserve fund which the Company has accumulated during the successive years has been used to pay for the wharves, machinery, &c., and there is no balance left. At this critical period the national treasury is short of money, and, furthermore, it is not a fitting time to request a loan from the Government. I have frequently reflected on this, as all these points are essential and must not be neglected. The only way is either to seek foreign loans, or invite additional capital in a sufficient amount to help to carry on the business.\n\nWhile I was thinking how to carry out this, it happened that in the 5th moon of last year bad characters raised a disturbance, and the allied troops came to Tien-tsin and forcibly seized the wharves, yards, and godowns at Tongku and Tien-tsin, and also took the Company's steamers at Tien-tsin. The reason was that the Kaiping mines have been for a long time an object jealously coveted and secretly aimed at by all the Powers. They have certainly harboured such thoughts, so that when a quarrel happened to break out between China and foreign countries they immediately seized, without exception, all the important places of the Company, and the Company has therefore lost half of its substance. The Boxer trouble breaking out so suddenly at that time, affairs were in a very dangerous state, and my power was not sufficient to find a means of saving the situation.\n\nIn my humble opinion this mine is one of China's successful enterprises. If on the one hand the revenue which the State derives and on the other the merchants' capital were recklessly wasted in one day, the whole situation in Peiyang would have been very much affected. I was in a great state of anxiety, having no one to whom I could report or receive instructions from. At that time I learnt that the former Commissioner of Customs, Detring, happened to be in Tien-tsin. The Commissioner had been a long time in China, and has been very just in transacting business—he can be relied upon. Because I thought by getting a foreigner to manage things there might be just a chance of saving the Company, I accordingly appointed the said Commissioner to temporarily act as general manager of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company's affairs.\n\nThe Commissioner, after his appointment, conducted affairs in a very zealous manner; unfortunately it was impossible for the strength of the Company to withstand the united forces of the allied troops. In the eighth moon the allied troops unexpectedly moved eastwards from the Poi Tang and Lutai stretch of country straight up to Hsu Ko-chuang, and from there to Tongshan, Linhsi and other places. They seized all the yards and godowns of the Company, and hoisted the flag of all nations on the Company's land at Tongshan.\n\nIt appears that very luckily when the Tongshan shafts, which are the foundation of the Company, were seized, the staff and workmen did not all bolt. Moreover, in my opinion, the Company is a commercial undertaking and is not on the same footing as Government property. I learn that according to European law although war is going on, no merchant property can be confiscated. If the management of the Company is closely connected with foreign commercial undertakings there may be a chance by this means of saving the Company.\n\nMoreover, it appears that there is a clause in the regulations formerly issued by the Railway and Mining Head Bureau, authorizing the inviting of foreign capital in co-operation. At this critical period there is no other means of saving the Company since I dare not let it be ruined or leave everything to fate, and, furthermore, I do not dare by blindly following the public opinion to sit by and lose this opportunity. I have again and again not been able to come to a decision, but apart from the idea of adding foreign capital to co-operate in the Company, there is really no other possible scheme.\n\nI accordingly jointly consulted the Commissioner Detring, and the rich English merchant, Moreing, and a satisfactory arrangement was come to by which it was decided to invite capital from all nations for the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, which, together with the shares originally issued would make up a capital of 1,000,000l., i.e., the Chinese old shares as well as the new Chinese capital added to the Company would make up a total of 500,000l., while the remaining 500,000l. of shares would be divided amongst the merchants of all nations, and the Company changed into a Chinese and foreign co-operative limited liability Company. The meaning of the word \"liability\" is that in the Company's various undertakings the sum of 1,000,000l. will be the limit of their capital, and apart from this there will be no further liability.\n\nAn Agreement was then drawn up and a telegram was sent to London to register the Company coming into operation from the 1st month of the 27th year. Regulations formerly agreed on and the requisite amount of duty to be paid to the State, it was decided to go on with as formerly. As regards the managing staff, Chinese and foreigners would have the same rank and power and Regulations to serve as a guide, were unanimously decided on for managing the Company.\n\nAfter the Agreement had been drawn up I at once ordered the staff of the Company to immediately wind up the former accounts, and at the same time I instructed a foreign mining engineer to proceed to Tongshan and other spots in order to reorganize affairs. The flags of the various nations were all removed and replaced by the flags of the Chinese and Foreign Co-operative Company. Workmen were collected and coal began to be extracted from the shafts at Tongshan and Linusi, and again transported by railway to Tien-tsin and Tongku to provide for the needs of the various steamers arriving at those ports. The yards and godowns with former deposits of coal were all recovered, foreigners not being able to confiscate them. The Company's steamers which were seized by the allied troops were also all recovered, and are in our hands now.\n\nAs regards the duty and li-kin on coal due to the State it was arranged that the amount should be entered up in the books, and that when the allied forces had withdrawn it should be handed over without any shortage. This is the general statement of what happened after the Co-operative Company had been formed. In the midst of the confusion affairs were suddenly righted, and it was really due to the Government's profound kindness and unbounded favour which pervades everywhere and wherever its virtuous influence reached all men were favourably affected, and therefore enabled this Company which was ruined to finally recover itself, a thing which in my humble opinion could not at first possibly be expected.\n\nIn addition to satisfactorily arranging some matters which had not been finally settled, and forthwith requesting the Railway and Mining Bureau, as well as the Tsung-li Yamên, to take note and put it on record, I, therefore, conjointly with Li Hung-chang (Superintendent of Northern Trade, and Governor of Chihli) respectfully presents this Memorial giving the reasons for the establishment of the Chinese and Foreign Co-operative Company, and humbly beg the sacred glance thereon.\n\n## The Imperial Rescript\n\nThe Imperial Rescript was received: \"This has been noted, the said Minister must bear the whole responsibility, and let him zealously and satisfactorily manage the Company in order to protect this source of profit.\"\n\nKuang Hsü, 27th year, 5th moon, 26th day.\n\n## Annexure No. 11\n\n### Viceroy Yuan Chi Kai's Memorial impeaching Chang Yi Mow\n\nHaving carefully found out that the Kaiping Coal Mines and Chingwangtao port were formerly sold to an English Company by the degraded official Chang Yi privately, I memorialized the throne, and have received the Imperial order to strictly order Chang Yi to make entire restoration as marked by the Vermillion Pen.\n\nLast year, on the 30th of the 10th moon, I repeated the Memorial in obedience to the Imperial order for the limit of two months time, and strictly ordered the degraded official to make restoration immediately, and without further delay. Up to the 1st part of the 1st moon this year, the limited time having expired without any reply coming, a despatch was sent to hurry him up, and the degraded official tried to hide his follies. According to his replies to various points they are much different from the Memorial. He has agreed with W. S. Nathan, an English citizen of the Company upon six articles, as follows:\n\n| Article | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1 | That the English Company shall in no way encroach on the territorial land of the Chinese Government and the power of Chinese local officials. |\n| 2 | That all coal duties, taxes, li-kin, and royalties will be paid by the Company. |\n| 3 | The proceedings and statements of yearly accounts of the Company shall be reported to the Viceroy of Chihli. The laws and regulations which have been enacted by the Chinese Government will be duly conformed by the Company. |\n\nPage 402", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415710, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 405, "title": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "403\n\n12\n\n4. That the detailed arrangements connected with the outstanding affairs of the Company will be equitably arranged between Chang Yi and General Manager Nathan.\n\n5. That the Company will not interfere with the territorial jurisdiction of the Chinese Government respecting the land and harbour at Chingwangtao.\n\n6. At Chingwangtao on the land obtained by the Company through purchase and on that held in trust for the Chinese Government the sovereignty of the Chinese Government and Chinese local officials in exercising their territorial powers and rights shall be fully respected and recognized by the Company.\n\nRespecting the information of a Settlement and the establishment of a municipality, &c., these will be arranged by the Customs Taotai of Tien-tsin according to the original despatch of the Viceroy of Chihli and subject to the approval of the Viceroy. The Imperial Edict strictly ordered Chang Yi to make complete restoration and what has been presented cannot be called restoration. Restoration means that the registration in England of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company as a Limited Company should be entirely cancelled and the Company revert to Chinese control, and that all the Company's lands and buildings, and all the steamers for shipping coal, &c., belonging to the Company should be also restored and be under Chinese control. The matter of the land and harbour at Chingwangtao to be clearly settled by a payment to the Limited Company of a certain sum of money incurred in expenses and to become Chinese Government property again, and in so doing will he act in accordance with the Imperial Edict, as it points out to strictly order Chang Yi to make complete restoration. These six Articles were agreed upon and still exist in the Limited Company, and the Company has not been cancelled yet. Respecting the sovereignty of the Chinese Government, the Limited Company cannot, of course, encroach upon that and the duties, taxes, li-kin, and royalties the Company has not forgotten to pay. The report sent to me is made up of useless language and most of it is full of ineffective thoughts.\n\nIn the sixth Article it is evidently recognized that the arrangements for the converting of Chingwangtao Harbour have not been decided on and that the Limited Company having already recognized it as a commercial port it can be arranged that the Customs Taotai of Tien-tsin will have the decision regarding the arrangements in accordance with the despatch of the former Viceroy. In this there seems a slight chance of being able to deal with the matter.\n\nThe Customs Taotai, Tang Shai Yi, reports that he has consulted with W. S. Nathan on several occasions regarding Chingwangtao, and that the understanding come to is similar to the sixth Article, but I should still be allowed to order the Customs Taotai to arrange terms for a proper settlement which may enable us to get back a portion of the land, and in this case we can consider that the portion of the land recovered has been rescued in conformity with the wishes of the Chinese Government orders which is so careful about territorial land. The outcome of this case depends purely on whether the mine and properties can be restored or not.\n\nChang Yi in the spring of last year received several Imperial Orders ordering him to make restoration, but one year has now elapsed and he has been still unable to restore it. According to the opinion of some of the English people here, if Chang Yi were to go to England and be present in Court during the lawsuit which has been instituted for the recovery of the property the desired result might be arrived at easier, but even then it is not certain that this would be the case. Again, I have consulted foreign lawyers on the subject four different times and their opinion is that Chang Yi in the 27th year (1901) made an Agreement to sell Government land and that he undoubtedly used the official seal. That, although this has occurred several years ago, it had been so far impossible for him to make restoration as he was ordered to do, and that even if it could be restored a sum of 6,000,000 or 7,000,000 taels would have to be paid back to the English people as an indemnity for their loss, but as China is overburdened with debt it is, of course, quite impossible to raise such a sum. Further, that Chang Yi was a poor man and only owed his success to the great favour shown him at all times by the throne, and that instead of exerting himself to repay their favours by noble deeds he seized the first opportunity to sell the mines and land of the Imperial Government to a foreigner, and this during the Boxer outbreak in 1900, and while Prince Ching and Li Hung-chang were negotiating for peace at Peking, and that the degraded Chang Yi did make the sale above mentioned on his own accord and without having first obtained the very necessary permission and that he used the official seal in connection with this sale.\n\nA.\n\n13\n\nHe never waited for Li Hung-chang to compose the Memorial to the throne and, moreover, he caused the impression to be spread that Li Hung-chang, acting conjointly with himself, had memorialized the throne, but it is apparent that the real truth was never presented to the throne. He has been guilty of fraud. He wished to raise foreign shares and to change the Company into an Anglo-Chinese Company, and the Agreements and Memorandums entered into with the foreigners have never been copied or memorialized to the throne. I have justified my statement that he had the full intention to cheat and disregard the throne, and when his follies began to come to light he was still unwilling to take steps for a speedy restoration of the mine and lands, but kept putting it off and concealing his follies until the matter has gone on entirely too long and it seems that no remedy can be effected. Surely he is too ungrateful, and with regard to the steps that should now be taken, I earnestly beg the Imperial throne to give their decision, hence my Memorial which I lay before the throne.\n\nRescript received, written with the Vermillion Pen, thus\n\nTo strictly order Chang Yi to make complete restoration as quickly as possible.\n\n18th, 2nd moon.\n\nAnnexure No. 12.\n\nViceroy Yuan Chi Kai to Chang Yen Mao.\n\nI understand by your Excellency's letter that you have recently come to an understanding with Major Nathan, Agent and General Manager of the Limited Company, and the points agreed on are roughly as follows:-\n\n1. That the Limited Company shall on no account encroach on the rights and powers of the Chinese Imperial Government as the Lord of Soil.\n\n2. That the Limited Company agree to pay the taxes and li-kin, royalties, &c., which have been imposed on the produce of the mines.\n\n3. That the proceedings of the Limited Company and its annual accounts shall be reported regularly to the Viceroy of Chihli. That the Regulations laid down by the Central Government shall be observed by the Limited Company.\n\n4. That the general administration of the Company shall be only discussed and settled by you and the Agent of the Limited Company.\n\n5. That with regard to the establishment of the Port of Chingwangtao, the rights and powers of the Chinese Imperial Government shall be in no way infringed by the Limited Company.\n\n6. That at Chingwangtao there are lands owned by the Company and those which were put under the charge of the Company, in dealing with them the Customs Taotai of Tien-tsin shall refer to the original despatch of the late Viceroy wherein he ordered the Company to buy lands.\n\nIn reply to your letter I am obliged to intimate to you that, in full conformation with the Imperial Edict issued last December, you are ordered to effect a complete restoration of the said Company to the original Chinese ownership. By complete restoration we mean that in the first place the registration of the newly incorporated Company in London should be cancelled and nullified. And further all the properties of, and those in connection with the Company, such as lands, rails, canals, wharfs, buildings, depôts, coal-yards, manufactories and other branches of mining enterprise, ships, &c., must all be received back, and reinstituted to the management of our own people. And thirdly, as to the Port Chingwangtao, the money spent by the Limited Company should be estimated and refunded to them in order that it may become a purely Chinese port and to be managed by proper officials. This is the meaning of the term \"Complete Restoration,\" as it is used in the said Imperial Edict.\n\nIn the agreement you presented, the said Limited Company enters therein as a party, this of course shows that the same is in full existence, and therefore the very first requirement has not been fulfilled. As on other points, the limitations laid down to the powers of the Limited Company seem all superfluous. The rights and powers of the Imperial Government cannot be, never were, nor will be encroached by the said Company. They paid their taxes, and reported their proceedings and annual accounts. To what purpose, therefore, your newly signed agreement was meant, I fail to see.\n\nHowever, in the 6th Article about the Port Chingwangtao the Limited", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415714, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 409, "title": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "## deliberations. After he had sent in over a score of Memorials, he got the whole eighteen-Article Treaty of Ch'ung-hou abrogated.\n\n[Editorial Note—At the time there was not one of the Court who understood the conduct of foreign relations; the study of foreign business by the Peking officers started from this incident.\n\nWhen Chung-hou was going to Russia to negotiate the Treaty, [Chang] had, on behalf of another, presented a request that Ch'ung-hou be ordered to pay a visit first to Tso Tsung-tang in the New Dominion and, investigating the conditions there, devise a suitable scheme so as to avoid blundering from ignorance. The Court's refusal of the suggestion led to the danger of Ch'ung-hou's unauthorized eighteen Articles.]\n\n## 15. When in Shansi he obtained the removal of the embargo on the export of Tsê chou, Lu-chiêng, Ping-yang, and Yu-hsien iron-ware because at the time foreign iron swamped the provinces, while native iron under the old law could not leave the country.\n\n22. In Canton he started the idea of relieving the pressure of the French blockade of Formosa by an attack on Tonkin, and of enlisting Black Flag Liu Yung-fu under Government. The scheme being approved, he arranged for an invasion in three columns, and supplied funds and arms to Yüunan, Kuangsi and Generals Liu and Tang, as well as to Formosa, viz., 2,000,000 taels each to the two provinces, and 400,000 taels each to Formosa and the two Generals.\n\n23. The French attacked Tonkin briskly, and on the collapse of its armies Kuangsi was invaded, causing panic in the Two Kuang and the abandonment of Lungchow by the Kuangsi military and civil authorities. He specially requested despatch of General Fêng Tzu-ts'ai and Brigadier Wang-Hsiao-ch'i's armies to succour Kuangsi. These occupied the Kuan-chien defile inside the Chên-nan Pass, and after two days and nights' stubborn fighting succeeded in routing the foe and recovering Langson—a victory greater than ever was known during the several centuries of China's intercourse with the West. The Powers presented congratulations to the Tsung-li Yamên; the French were much afraid, and daily sent urgent telegrams asking for peace, while the French President Jules Ferry was promptly driven from office. [Chang] sent seven telegraphic memorials strongly urging some delay, but in vain. The Yamen and the Northern Superintendency defined boundaries and came to terms with the French.\n\n## 36. At Canton he started licences for prepared opium shops; at Wuchang he started the system of simultaneously collecting raw and prepared drug taxes for the four provinces, Hupei, Yunnan, Kiangsi and Anhui, which provided Hupei's indemnity fund, and saved a heavy yearly charge on the people. The Board of Revenue, on pretext that Hupei's share was too great, took over the control, causing a loss to Hupei of over 1,000,000 a-year, while the Board got a sudden big accession of funds.\n\n37. At Canton he started coining dollars with an annual profit of over 300,000 dollars. This was the beginning of China's silver coinage.\n\n[Note. Earlier Lin Tse-hsu's similar proposal was stopped by evil tongues.]\n\n38. Macao is a thorn in Kuangtung's flesh. After the increase in opium taxation, the Yamen, in hope of getting Macao's support, went out of its way to tempt Macao and changed part of old Treaty. Macao's increasing prosperity led to several requests for extension, which were refused, and the Macao Sub-Prefect stationed at the chief pass from Macao into interior; the boundary was kept strictly, and military guards maintained to stop any encroachment.\n\n39. While he was at Canton the new system of collecting duty and li-kin together on foreign opium started, and Hart wanted to place a lot of revenue cruisers on the coast, all to be under his control, and to be for coast defence also. His object in thus getting the whole control of the coast defence was hard to fathom, but by a vigorous report against the plan it was stopped.\n\n40. While he was at Canton he promptly suppressed cassia stores opened unauthorizedly by foreigners at Lo Ting-chou and rejected the compromise proposed by the Yamên. While he was at Wuchang he succeeded in stopping the forcible appropriation of Chu-shan copper mine by foreigners, in which his predecessor had acquiesced. There have been abundance of other similar instances of his vigorous maintenance of rights in all sorts of industrial and trade matters.\n\n43. When he was at Canton, as men-of-war were urgently needed, and the Board funds very short, he devised great yearly payments out of his 40 per cent of the military camp gambling fees and the salt fees, and built there six ships. In Fokien he also ordered ten ships, but when three had been delivered his successor stopped the order without recovering the money from Fokien.\n\n44. When he was at Canton he mooted the building of the Lu-han Railway and in 1885 of the Canton-Hankow line, the present traces of which are in accordance with his original memorials. He also mooted the Nanking-Shanghae Railway, and when he was at Nanking in 1893, perceiving that the completion of the Russian-Siberian Railway was a grave menace to Manchuria, he advised a line from Mukden to the frontier. The proposal was in detail and all ready for carrying out, but the Government, in its blindness, put it aside, and so came the calamity of Russian designs on the East.\n\n47. At present foreign cotton and yarn yearly cost China forty odd millions; so in Hupei he set up spinning and weaving, silk and hemp mills—four in all, taking most interest in the hemp, as this Chinese product, abundant and cheap, a native of provinces both north and south, provided the best means of enriching the people and stopping the drain. Silk and satin so woven were equal to silk products, its cloth the same as cotton cloth. This was the first hemp mill in China.\n\n49. As the purchase of Chinese hides to return from abroad in the shape of leather caused an incalculable drain, he set up a tannery which is now finished and producing.\n\n50. This article claims for him the arming with breech-loading cannon and remodelling of Kiangyin and Chinkiang forts, and says his project to fortify Woosung and Tsungming strongly was stopped by a certain President of the Board of Revenue. (Qy. Weng Trung-ho.)\n\n55. Claims that he supported a proposal to continue the roads to south of Shanghae, and established police so as, by cutting off foreign intrusion into Chinese bounds, to safeguard rights of administration and gain. The cost was to be repaid in a term of years out of the expenses of missions abroad. The Yamen agreed. Besides, in view of the constant extension by the Powers of Settlement roads, which implied policing and virtual absorption of the ground so covered, he asked leave to start a road at the terminus of each Settlement road to block their advance. The Yamên, in its blindness, shelved the suggestion, and so the Shanghae Settlements have gone on growing.\n\n57. In 1898 the English member of Parliament, ex-Admiral Beresford, came from Peking, the Yamên having got leave to bid him train for Hupei 2,000 Chinese and 1,000 Manchu troops. He pressed and fussed for many days on the strength of having a Rescript, but Chang steadily and firmly refused, and ignored a Yamên telegram which came to support Beresford.\n\n59. When Kang-yi was in power in 1898-9 he called on the Empire to carry out militia training, but Chang vigorously denounced its evil to the Throne, prophesying that if this proposal were carried out every mission in China would be wrecked and there would be great disorder. He persistently refused to comply, and the following year saw the Boxer trouble in Chihli and Shantung.\n\n60. At the start in 1900, when the Boxer trouble had passed only from Lai-shui to Ting-hsiang district (in Chihli), on the 1st June he telegraphed the Yamen to put them down firmly, and thereafter in that month he kept telegraphing to the Throne against the heretics and rebels, urging protection of the Legations, the suppression of all robbers, and the retention of the missions abroad. He also telegraphed alone to the various Foreign Offices and the foreign Admirals in China to join in a covenant to protect the south and east, not to attack the capital, not to frighten away the Court. Besides, he leagued together a dozen Viceroys and Governors to telegraph to the various Foreign Offices, and, in conjunction with Viceroy Liu concerted with the Shanghae Consuls an Agreement not to attack the Yang-tsze. When their Majesties took their westward tour, he insisted on the Powers holding back and not attacking Siangyang and Fanchiêng, thus keeping open a route for supplies from the south-east.\n\n61. In the middle of August 1900, when Peking was in extreme peril, he heard of their Majesties' purpose to go west. Li Hung-chang combined the high provincial authorities to do their best to prevent the move, and, without consulting, had telegraphed Shantung. [Chang] sent in the Memorial. Then only he telegraphed what he had done. Thereupon Chang sent an urgent telegram to Yuan Shih-k'ai pointing out how wrong the proposal was and how utterly impracticable. Hupei absolutely declined to join, and if the Memorial had gone, must present its views separately. Thereon Hupei was removed from the list. Luckily the proposal reached Peking when the district was in confusion, and did not get through till their Majesties had started; otherwise there is no saying what might have happened. Li also sent a combined request to their Majesties to stay in Shansi and not to go to Shensi; this request also Chang opposed.\n\n## Page 407", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415774, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 469, "title": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "British merchants in great expense without conferring upon them adequate protection. My Government is therefore entirely unable to agree to the Regulations in this form, and I can only urge, if the Board of Commerce is sincerely desirous of producing a trade-marks enactment acceptable to the Powers, that the draft Rules prepared by the Ministers of Great Britain, France, and Germany in 1905 should be taken as the basis of negotiation.\n\nI avail, &c. (Signed)\nJ. N. JORDAN,\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]\nCHINA TRADE.\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n466\n[January 11.]\nSECTION 4.\n[1042]\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 11.)\n(No. 550.) Sir,\nPeking, November 26, 1907. IN continuation of my despatch No. 537 of the 13th instant respecting the Chinese Mining Regulations, I now have the honour to inclose a copy of my note to Prince Ch'ing of the 21st instant objecting to this enactment, on the ground that its provisions are contrary to existing Treaty Rules, and do not constitute in any way a fulfilment of China's pledge, under the Commercial Treaty of 1902, to revise her Mining Laws with a view to attract foreign enterprise.\n\nI understand that similar communications are likely to be addressed to the Chinese Government by several of my colleagues.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nP.S.--At interview yesterday with the Grand Secretary, Na Tung, at the Wai-wu Pu, I asked what the Chinese Government proposed to do in regard to the new Mining Regulations. My view of them had been sufficiently expressed in a recent note, and I need only draw attention to the issue of these Regulations as a further proof of China's unwillingness to utilize foreign capital in the development of the country, in spite of her engagement under Treaty to facilitate its employment.\n\nThe Grand Secretary said that he had read my note of the 21st instant, and that the Board were only awaiting the replies of other foreign Representatives before taking the question into detailed consideration.\n\nPeking, November 27, 1908.\nJ. N. J.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\nSir J. Jordan to Prince Ching.\n\nYour Highness,\nPeking, November 21, 1907. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Highness' note of the 14th ultimo, transmitting a copy of the Mining Regulations submitted to the Throne by the Wai-wu Pu and Board of Commerce, and sanctioned by Imperial Rescript.\n\nOwing to the length of this document the work of translation has only been completed within the past few days, and I regret to find, on reading the Regulations, that they offer little inducement to foreign or native capitalists to engage in the development of mines in China. I have formed this opinion, as far as foreign enterprise is concerned, from those sections of the Regulations-for example, sections 4, 10, 49, 60, 61, 62, &c.-which seek to place foreigners under Chinese jurisdiction, and to deprive them of extraterritorial rights. It need scarcely be said that British subjects are not prepared to submit themselves to such conditions, or that His Majesty's Government is not yet satisfied that the state of the Chinese laws warrants her relinquishment of her extraterritorial privileges.\n\nSince the above-mentioned Articles are entirely contrary to the stipulations of existing Treaties, I am at a loss to understand your Highness' object in submitting them to the Throne for sanction.\n\nBritish enterprise in mines being thus rendered impossible at the outset, it is not necessary for me to deal in detail with the many grave objections presented by the rules affecting partnership, the payment of dues, the division of profits, and the numerous restrictions regarding the time-limits allowed for prospecting, and the area of mining properties.\n\nBut the Regulations do not only stand in the way of new mining enterprises. By section 8 it is laid down that existing Mining Agreements must be submitted for\n\n[2813 -4]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415893, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 58, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "led to appointment of Secretary Wang to audit the accounts on the spot, and no arts will prevent so skilled a workman from discovering the truth. As the line is now being handed over to business management, it is requisite to review its abuses and its future.\n\n\"The essentials in railway cases are finance and construction. If the money is raised unjustly the people will rise, and if the line is not wisely built the biggest funds will never accomplish the job.\n\n\"Now as to construction. Hu Chun pretends to take the whole matter easily, whereas the Head Director, Ch'iao, found it too serious for him. The whole line- Ichang up to Ch'engtu-comes to 2,600 to 2,700 li, and Hsu-liang reckoned the cost, at only double ordinary track rate, at about 50,000,000 taels. As investigation proves this is far too low, let us consider only the Ichang-Wan-hsien section. This included the Wu-shan gorge, 1,000 li of hill and valley necessitating cuttings and tunnels, so that the Szechuan engineer estimated 100,000 taels, the British over 70,000 taels, and the Japanese over 60,000 taels. Taking the average, this means a total of 70,000,000 to 80,000,000 taels-even if the distance by land is not longer than that by water. As for the time needed for building, the British put this section at ten years. There remain 1,600 or 1,700 li to Chengtu, which section is also not over ordinary ground, which means that the total cost of the line will run over 100,000,000 taels, and that twenty years will pass before completion. As from poverty-stricken Szechuan it has taken three years to wring these 7,000,000 or 8,000,000 taels, it would take thirty years to raise the capital for the Ichang-Wan-hsien section alone. Such a vast scheme, with the interests of the Szechuan people and resources, and the foreign intervention and frontier risks, cannot be lightly undertaken. Besides, the I-Wan section must be completed from both ends before trains can run, and its upkeep be provided for, that is, this vast capital would bring in nothing for a dozen years. Any one with any sense would see that this work can never start, or if started never succeed-which shows what a fool Hu Chun is.\n\n\"The Hukuang Viceroy, knowing the magnitude of the undertaking, proposed joint action, but the Szechuan gentry refused. Then his Excellency suggested each province doing its own portion, but Hu Chun insisted on Szechuan's undertaking all from Ichang westward, and this was assented to, the Hupei part being redeemable after twenty-five years. If either of the original schemes had been adopted after three years there would have been some actual work to show, as each would have started from its end. Last year the Peking officials revived his Excellency Chang's first proposals, but the Szechuan officers were too proud of doing Hupei's work to agree to drop it. And now after another year nothing has happened except expensive building and entertainments and gambling away the deputies' and gentry's salaries. No wonder 1,500,000 taels has been wasted and popular suspicion raised. In the 5th moon Hu Chun wired that the trace was laid down and the surveys completed. Now the gorges section is as great a work as the Suez Canal, and demands an engineer of the highest skill and experience. So last year the Hukuang Viceroy's Memorial pointed out the doubt of possibility of tunnelling the hills, and the Board of Communications suggested the special engagement of first-class Belgian and Norwegian engineers, as no student who had been abroad was equal to such a location survey, and any error might involve throwing away several millions. The pressing needs of the moment are to organize the Company properly according to law and to improve the share-collecting system, to found a bank, combine the provinces, and on the lines of Hunan and Kuangtung's new rules raise the missing capital for financing the whole job. As important is the engagement of first-class foreign engineers to locate the trace anew and then to begin on the I-Wan section from both ends at once, instead of building a cul-de-sac line inland. might get the gentry of both provinces to form one general Company and give up the The Board twenty-five years redemption idea; otherwise, each province attending to its own part, people will not put money into such a piecemeal project as the past three years have shown. The only other method possible is for the Court to appoint a head and let the shareholders decide as to employés and measures, the head, as representative of the gentry and merchants of the two provinces, arranging with the two Viceroys as to funds, surveys, purchase of land, &c. This is what I mean by reforming the scheme of construction.\n\n\"These proposals, which will spare the people's means and facilitate railway affairs, have no light bearing on the general situation, otherwise too many cooks will spoil the broth, and there will be no hope of completing the job.\n\n\"A rescript hands the above to the Board of Communications for consideration and report.\n\n5\n\nSoochow-Ningpo Railway.\n\nThe \"Nan Fang Pao\" of the 6th October discusses the Wai-wu Pu's attempt to force a foreign loan for the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway. The writer quotes a Japanese as saying that foreign trade in China has at one step changed from an economic to a political question of influence, and thence will change as quickly to a military question, India and Egypt being sad examples to China. \"Such a warning from an outsider we think a disgrace to our rulers and, still worse, a bad omen for the future. India and Egypt perished from the incoming of foreign capital, but also because the treasury was empty, the people impoverished, while tyrannous sovereigns and vile officers shortsightedly welcomed foreign funds to supply their pleasures. If our own resources can be applied to our own industries in abundance, no such reckless and suicidal policy need be adopted, and if only China discourages foreign capital her fate need not be that of India and Egypt. While the people remain sunk in ignorance and no reforms start, a crisis may necessitate foreign aid, but the Canton-Hankow Railway redemption proved our readiness to seize an opportunity to secure lost rights, and, the draft Agreement proving useless, the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway funds have been got together, survey work completed, when not an ignorant person but a mighty Board, at the threat of outsiders, suddenly would force the gentry and traders of two provinces to raise a foreign loan!\n\n\"Some say that this is due to foreign intrigue. All foreign States try to promote trade by improving communications and getting hold of railway rights. But of late our people are waking up to the danger of foreign-built railways, and projects of resumption are rife, so foreigners have changed offers to finance lines as a blind to their aggressive plans. As the people are not to be duped, the foreigners chose a critical moment for squeezing our incapable Government by threats of armed intervention, or they make diplomatic demands, or use bribes to effect their purpose. Perhaps this explains the present case as it does others.\n\n\"Others ascribe it to the Government's rooted slackness, which neglects all State matters and popular interests for dissipation and private struggles for wealth and rank. The foreigners present demand found them ignorant of law and the particulars of the case and ready to accept any threatening demand. Thus they earn the foreigners' contempt, and will alienate the people while not ready to maintain any administrative act to be unalterable.\n\n\"Others, again, say that this is due to the old ways of each putting responsibility on someone else. Our statesmen, instead of taking their part in vindicating our rights at home and abroad, always disclaim any power to act and seek the easiest present way out of every difficulty, as now they no doubt hope the provinces will not acquiesce, and so will give an excuse to offer to the foreigner.\n\n\"If our statesmen's action on this subject arises from one of the above three causes it is not so very reprehensible; if not, the Wai-wu Pu should not have entered on discussion of foreign exorbitant demands or interfered with the provinces' past action. If the Board professes to be trying to find a compromise to save interest on both sides, it should remember that encouragement of foreign capital being injurious to vital interests of the State, even without the extra burden of security pledged, the result will be to render the completed line of no benefit except to the foreigner, whose claim to interfere with the lives and property of the provinces will be the stronger for the loan. In case of default the result may be ruin to China, as the Japanese says, and as a Government that should be the defence of the people, instead of refuting outsiders, adopt this lowest policy of compromise in regard to the railway, it is certain that when weightier matters than this arise, as they often will, this case will be quoted against the Wai-wu Pu with success, and this is why I see in this case shame to the Government and sorrow for China's future.'\n\nThe Nan Fang Pao\" of the 25th October discusses the forced borrowing for Kiangsu and Chekiang Railways and the permitted rice purchase by Japanese at Wuhu. Yang, of Siangtan, says our Government now is one that shirks its responsibility. Towards foreigners it is a presenting, towards its own people it is a robbing, Government. Mere shirking of responsibility implies being a spectator, but still not disregard for people's lives and property nor the forcible handing of them over to outsiders. But our present Government goes so far as to play jackal to tiger, guide to robber, as though it feared the Powers' own resources would not suffice to extinguish our China nor China's straits to crush our people, and so must hurry on the date of our dismemberment and ruin. Some say of late the Government has been keen on genuine reforms in accordance... \n\n[2818 bb-1]\n\n0\n\n55", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415894, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 59, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "6 \n\nwith popular wish; but this is going too far. What puzzle me are the two subjects at the head of this article.\n\n\"As regards the first, the Agreement is cancelled, funds subscribed, work begun, and there is no call for additional foreign money.\n\nYet a loan is forced on the officials and gentry, whose distress is pitiful. As to the rice the Japanese refused in Hunan, turn to the Nanking Viceroyalty. The Viceroy's and Governor's telegrams prove the wrong policy of rescuing a man from a well (referring to a Tso Chuan story of a warrior who hauled his foe out of a well only to be captured by him.-E. H. F.), yet the Government, unheeding, insists on compelling them to satisfy outsiders' boundless wants. Mencius' warning to take notice of general objection is disregarded by this violent adoption of a policy of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Does the Government wish to alienate the people, whose attachment it is hard enough to secure in these times of crisis? Does it want to please outsiders, who need no encouragement in their schemes against us? These things puzzle me.\n\n\"Foreign loans are admissible enough when home funds are short and the people unenlightened; when projected reforms, general or particular, are blocked by want of money, then it may be worth risking the fate of Egypt and India by undertaking monetary burdens in hope of future good to State and people. And such action in face of popular objection may be pardoned if there is no other motive.\n\nBut do any of these considerations apply to the forced railway loan?\n\n\"Relief of distress, charity to neighbours, is indeed a way to cement friendly relations, but we must really have surplus before we help outsiders. Now, the Kiang-huai has year after year been starving, and this year the unfed people died of hunger in the ditches in untold numbers. Does the Government forget, or does it purposely shut its eyes? Moreover, its action is styled charity, but is it charity to let one's own stomach go empty in order to supply the rich? Does the duty of mutual exchange justify forcing what is non-existent into being?\n\nIt is called keeping its word. But does the duty... Ab me! To-day society men pervade capital and provinces, evil folk stupidly plot rebellion, daily spying of blunders by Government to give excuse for stirring general disorder, men of purpose constantly lament that the danger of disunion and debacle is not far off. If the Government schemed for a happy future of peaceful constitutional Government it would base its external and internal policy on popular feeling as ascertained by inquiry. But if its policy is repression, does it want to see how much the people will stand, or does it look on them as mere pawns to be given as presents? If so, Yang's words unhappily apply to it.\"\n\nThe \"Nan Fang Pao\" of the 9th November, under \"Railways and Mining,\" has the following:-\n\n\"Censor Hsu Ting-ch'ao has presented a sealed Memorial regarding the forced loan. He points out that though the Soo-Hang-Ning Preliminary Agreement was made by the British Envoy, Sheng notified by letter its abrogation for delay in starting work, and Governor Chang announced its non-recognition. The other side also recognized that they could not build in time, and acknowledged its abrogation. It is by no means good policy now to lose faith with the people in order to acquiesce in a neighbour State's request, and it is impossible to turn forcibly a commercial into a Government railway. Of late the people have been enthusiastic and shares subscribed reached 30,000,600, but the sudden news that the English money is going to be borrowed to build it has greatly incensed people's feelings, and trouble may be apprehended. But if the Wai-wu Pu are in an utter quandary and cannot retrieve the position, we must treat this loan as a State loan independent of railways, though the two provinces will still have to repay its principal and interest out of railway funds. Thus railway rights will not pass into foreign control. This question is a very serious matter for China, since any compromise over it will probably have a great bearing on the cancelled Hankow-Canton Railway question and on the diplomatic difficulties as to Yunnan and Tonquin,\n\n\"The Wai-wu P'u is, by rescript, bidden to take note of the above.\"\n\nThe \"Universal Gazette\" of the 8th November reports that certain shareholders in the Hunan Railway Company have presented a joint application to the Viceroy to withdraw their subscriptions, on the score of there being no definite date for starting and of the managers having thrown up their responsibilities. The Viceroy, Chao, bade them wait quietly and not set an example which might shake the whole business.\n\nThe same paper says that the Hankow Electric Light and Waterworks Company has applied to be paid the 300,000 dollars promised by his Excellency Chang as Government share in the enterprise, now that all the private capital has been paid in and all arrangements made.\n\nGrand Councillor\n\nThe \"Nan Pao\" of the 10th November: \"Important news. Yuan's maintenance of mistaken views as to borrowing funds.\n\n\"His Excellency Yuan vigorously fathers the loan for the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway and is quite unmoved by the telegraphic protests from all over China. A very trusted secretary took an opportunity to ask privately his reasons, whereupon his Excellency recounted his views to the following effect: The development of mines and railways is China's most urgent task and admits of no delay. Unluckily it requires a dozen millions, which the utterly impoverished provincials cannot supply. The inevitable delay in Chinese development will not only make outsiders' interference inevitable, but is also bad for China. Moreover, lots of European States attained to wealth and strength only by borrowing for important works as their own funds were insufficient for. Everything depends upon clear limitation of the Concession granted when making agreements, but if sovereign rights are not let slip it does not follow that the mere raising of foreign loans is to be considered a boundless calamity. So I feel bound to support borrowing to develop mines and railways in every province, the Soo-Hang-Ning Railway being only one instance. Now the final scheme in controlling the State must be to have a single object. However much provincial officials and gentry oppose, I'd rather use absolute force than let popular opinion sway me for hope that the overcoming of this obstacle, by preventing any one daring to stand forth in opposition to future loans for similar ends in other provinces, will enable me to answer to myself without shame. Five per cent. discount, which went into the agent's pocket, has been the rule in arranging loans; but my firm determination is not to take a cent, turning the discount into the principal. My sole aim is by saving the people a fraction of State debt to accomplish a fraction more of my duty. As to public right and public wrong, they take a long time to prove; could the animadversions of the present overthrow my fixed policy? From this his entourage perceived that his mind was made up and did not venture to offer any more advice on this subject.\"\n\n0 \n\nو دوران ایران اسلام \n\n56", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416011, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 176, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL\n\n[7885]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[March 7.]\n\nSECTION 2,\n\n173\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received March 7.)\n\n(No. 41.) Sir,\n\nPeking, January 22, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 526 of the 12th November, 1907, on the subject of the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railway, and to subsequent telegrams dealing with the question as to whether the agreement for this loan could be signed before the Suchow-Nangpo Railway Agreement, I have the honour to confirm my telegram No. 12 of the 13th January, reporting the signature on that day of the Agreement in question. I also have the honour to inclose a translation of a note from Prince Ch'ing, dated the 20th January, informing me officially of this fact.\n\nA translation is also inclosed of an Imperial Decree, gazetted on the 21st January, by which Lu Hai Huan is appointed Director-General of the line. This official has recently been one of the Comptrollers-General of the Revenue Department (\"Shui-wu-ch'u\"), and was formerly for some years Commissioner of Treaty revision at Shanghae.\n\nThe document as signed does not vary from the initialled text, inclosed in my despatch No. 526, in any material particular, except as regards the name of the railway. This has now been defined as the Tien-tsin-Pu-k'ou Line, P'u-k'ou being the proposed terminus at the Yang-tsze end, and being situated opposite Nanking. Printed copies of the Agreement will be forwarded as soon as they are ready.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\n(Translation.) Sir,\n\nPrince Ching to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nPeking, January 20, 1908. I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that on the 13th instant a Memorial on the subject of the conclusion, in a revised form, of the Tien-tsin-P'u-k'ou Railway Loan Agreement was presented to the Throne by the Grand Secretary Chang Chih-tung and others, and the following Imperial Rescript was issued, \"Approved.\" On the same day the English (foreign) and Chinese texts of the Agreement were duly signed and sealed at the offices of this Board.\n\nWhile sending this note for your Excellency's information, I avail, &c.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nExtract from the \"Peking Gazette\" of January 21, 1908.\n\nImperial Decree.\n\nLU HAI HUAN, President (in rank) of a Metropolitan Board, is hereby appointed Director-General of the Tien-tsin-P'u-k'ou Railway. The Viceroys and Governors of Chihli, Shantung, and Kiangsu are also commanded to co-operate with him.\n\n[2880 g-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416072, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 237, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA,\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[December 31.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n234\n\n[42690]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nThe Chinese Engineering and Mining Company to Foreign Office.-(Received December 31.)\n\n22, Austin Friars, London, December 30, 1907.\n\nSir,\n\nI AM instructed by my Board to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, and to express their thanks for the action taken by His Majesty's Minister at Peking.\n\nAs regards the final paragraph of your letter, my Board fear that their argument has not been clearly expressed, and it is therefore thought desirable to reproduce it here.\n\nTheir Imperial Majesties, the Tsung-li Yamên, and the Railway Bureau were expressly advised of the transfer, as well as of the constitution and the registration of the English Company, for the Memorial addressed jointly to the Throne by Chang Yih Mao and Li Hung Chang contains the following passage:\n\n\"Apart from the idea of adding foreign capital to co-operate in the Company there is really no other possible scheme. I accordingly jointly consulted the Commissioner Detring and the rich English merchant Moreing and a satisfactory arrangement was come to, by which it was decided to invite capital from all nations for the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, which, together with the shares originally issued, would make up a capital of 1,000,000l., and the Company changed into a Chinese and Foreign Co-operative Limited Liability Company. An Agreement was then drawn up and a telegram was sent to London to register the Company, coming into operation from the 1st month of the 27th year.\"\n\nAt the foot of this Memorial the Throne added the following rescript:- \"This has been noted: The said Minister must bear the whole responsibility, and let him zealously and satisfactorily manage the Company in order to protect this source of profit.\"\n\nThese quotations show conclusively that the Throne was fully informed of the formation of the English Company and raised no objection whatever to it. The rescript can therefore only be regarded as a ratification of the position of the English Company as owners of the property.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nALFRED BERRY, Secretary.\n\n[2769 kk-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416093, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 258, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "munications. All of them are Chekiang or Kiangsu men, and it is obvious that their appointment is intended to show that provincial interests will not be disregarded.\n\nOn the 22nd instant Wang Ta-hsieh called upon me. He was careful to explain that he desired merely to talk with me unofficially on the subject of the Chekiang Railway. It had been suggested to him that he might try to smooth over the difficulty, and he was willing to make the attempt if I saw no objection to his reappearance in this matter. If only some change could be made in the terms of the loan the \"face\" of the provincials would be \"saved.” As an example, he suggested that the period of redemption might be shortened.\n\nI replied that one change would lead to another, and if the terms were sufficiently satisfactory for the Tien-tsin-Yang-tszo Railway there was no reason why they should be changed in the case of the Chekiang line. I had understood from Mr. Bland that his Excellency had been reappointed to conduct the negotiations, and my only advice was that the Agreement should be signed without further vacillation.\n\nWang Ta-jên denied that he had been officially reappointed, and expressed the opinion that a settlement could not be expected for some time to come.\n\nI was received at the Wai-wa Pu on the same day by the Grand Secretary Na Tung, who confirmed Wang Ta-jên's statement that no actual change had been made in the negotiator. According to the Grand Secretary, Mr. Liang could not divest himself of his responsibility by merely writing a letter to Mr. Bland. Liang Ta-jên remained as negotiator, but the Prince wished the other officials, who were natives of the provinces concerned, to use their good offices in rendering him assistance. Some progress was being made by the efforts of the provincial delegates, half of whom had returned home in order to explain the situation to their fellow provincials. There was now no more talk of resisting the loan, and it only remained to thoroughly pacify the feeling which had been provoked. His Excellency could not say how long this would take. The local disturbances were unimportant, and it was no longer considered necessary to send troops from Peking,\n\nThis view of the local situation coincided with that reported to me on the 19th instant by His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae, who considered that the disturbances have no political significance, and that they originated in the refusal of the authorities to reduce taxation, in spite of the failure of the harvest.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nAgreement belonged to the responsible officials who made it. The British and Chinese Corporation could not fix a definite date, and he instanced the Shanghae-Nanking Agreement, which had taken over a year to negotiate. The delay was not intentional, and the Corporation hoped for a speedy settlement.\n\nThis was before the constitution of the Board of Commerce.\n\nMemorialist submits that his letter to Mr. Brenan was quite reasonable, but suggests the inference that Mr. Brenan's reply was not. He complains of further delay and neglect to enter into negotiations subsequently to the letter. Out of this further delay arose the whole question of cancellation.\n\nIn September 1905 came the Decree in answer to a request emanating from the Censor Chu Hsi En, authorizing the people of the province to build the railway themselves, and ordering the cancellation of the preliminary Agreement with the Memorialist then wrote to the Corporation to be arranged by memorialist. Corporation, and a correspondence ensued leading to present situation. Memorialist suggested that as the preliminary Agreement called for alteration in the event of local difficulty, the fact that local difficulty now existed ought to supply sufficient reason for the cancellation even without the delay. In March 1906 memorialist's connection with the negotiations came to an end, and he handed over to the provincial officials.\n\nMemorialist goes on to remark that although there is no real proof of the Corporation's consent to cancellation, there is ample evidence on his part of his having negotiated for cancellation,\n\nMemorialist explains that the British Minister's refusal to negotiate with him arose from the fact that the preliminary Agreement, not having received Imperial sanction, it could not be completely relied on as a binding document, hence the reluctance to discuss the question with the original negotiator. Memorialist admits, however, later on, that the British and Chinese Corporation could not be said to have tacitly agreed to cancellation, but qualifies this admission by saying that the provincials are not without reason on their side.\n\nEditor's note is rather sarcastic about this Memorial, and it asks why did not Sheng admit the existence of Mr. Brenan's reply to his letter before, and why does he now qualify his former vehement statements with \"buts\" and \"possiblys\"? It also points out that Shêng waited till the Provincial Delegates were on the point of arriving in Peking and then hastened to tell the Emperor that the British and Chinese Corporation letter of the 15th June, 1904, existed a fact which he had denied in Hankow.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nSecret Memorial of Shông Kung-pao recapitulating the facts regarding the Suchow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway,\n\n(Précis translation.)\n\nMEMORIALÍST explains that having been ordered by an Imperial Rescript, handed to him personally by the Council of State, to prepare a Memorial to explain once and for all whether the draft Agreement with regard to the Soo-Hang-Yung line ever was actually cancelled, and whether the British and Chinese Corporation ever did tacitly acquiesce (in view of the numerous Memorials that keep on coming from various officials all claiming that the draft Agreement had been cancelled by agreement with Sheng Kung-pao), he has the honour to recapitulate the facts of his connection with this question from first to last.\n\nMemorialist then proceeds to describe the original arrangement with Sir Claude MacDonald, and quotes the draft Agreement made between himself and Jardine, Matheson, and Co. Memorialist then adds that it was understood that alterations were to be made in this Agreement if the Governors should find local objections.\n\nOn the 11th June, 1904, memorialist wrote to Mr. Brenan, the representative of the Syndicate, explaining that there were other applicants to build the line, and that the delay ought not to be prolonged. A limit of six months from the date of this letter was given within which to carry out the survey and make an estimate, failing which the undertaking would lapse by default. On the 18th June, 1904, memorialist received a reply from Mr. Brenan to the effect that he had notified the Corporation of memorialist's desire to come to an early settlement, but that he was unable to agree to the six months' notice, because the right to decide upon the limit of an\n\n255", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416198, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 363, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": ".2\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nShanghae Municipal Council to Senior Consul.\n\nCouncil Room, Shanghae, January 10, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inform you that the steady increase in the number of cases of petty crime brought under the notice of the police, and in the number of native prisoners in municipal custody have again brought into prominence the desirability of the reintroduction of the bamboo, a matter which has engaged the Council's attention at intervals since November 1905, when the change in procedure in this respect was inaugurated at the Mixed Court.\n\nThe method observed in affecting this change offers special features, and the exact position of the question is best recalled by means of a cursory review of what had passed.\n\nAuthority for the abolition of the bamboo is apparently based on an Imperial Rescript issued on the 24th April, 1905, which approved generally the terms of a Report by the Land Revision Commissioners on a Memorial by the Nanking Viceroy. This Report referred to the abolition of torture, and contained a proposal for the substitution of fines for blows. On the 25th April an Edict was issued primarily in reference to the use of torture and the cruelties practised in the native yamêns, and briefly stating that the usual formal sanction had been given to the terms of the Report. There is thus reason to suppose that, in so far as these documents refer to the use of the bamboo, the promulgation of the new procedure was intended to be regarded neither as emphatic nor as universal. On the 15th October a Memorial upon the same matter, and from the same quarter, was similarly sanctioned, wherefrom it was understood that the application of the new rule would be general, though, in the light of what has passed, its terms as published in the native press, seem to express an intention to establish strict observance of the new procedure as an experiment at the Mixed Court alone. The foreign authorities were then at the beginning of November formally notified of the order received.\n\nThe views of the community generally upon the subject again unequivocally found voice at the ratepayers meeting in March last, and lately in the request for the active co-operation of the Consular Body contained in the Council's letter of the 13th April, to which there is little to add. On the 24th May last a telegram appeared in a well-informed native organ stating that the Nanking Viceroy had memorialized the Throne by telegram requesting the reintroduction of blows at the Court on the ground that criminality had largely increased since their cessation, and two days later a second message announced that the formal Imperial sanction had been given. The denial of this announcement had come to the Council's notice, and the grounds therefor may doubtless be verified by the Consular Body.\n\nIt is meanwhile beyond doubt that the recent increase in police cases of all kinds is to be traced directly to the fact that the Settlement, as the sole locality throughout China wherein the bamboo is known to be in disuse, offers an inviting field to habitual malefactors from all quarters. In Tien-tsin and Hankow the bamboo is applied as a matter of ordinary procedure. In the native city and the neighbouring suburb of Nantao the maintenance of order is aided by blows daily administered under orders of the officials in charge. The municipal gaol, moreover, compares so favourably with neighbouring prisons under purely native control, that alone it forms an inadequate deterrent in the eyes of the native criminal, a fact which was recently evidenced by the statement of one prisoner in open Court to the effect that he desired to return to gaol in order to obtain good food. The abolition of blows in the foreign Settlement, if genuinely an experimental administrative reform, has thus clearly proved an inequitable, premature, and perilous measure. I am confident, however, that consideration of the events concurrent with this innovation, and the manner in which it has been carried out, will confirm the Consular Body in the views expressed in the Council's letter of the 13th April.\n\nIn conclusion, it may be observed that in the Council's opinion the bamboo is eminently suited to the character of the native offender, is an adjunct of criminal justice rendered vitally necessary under present conditions if only by reason of immemorial use, and, administered after guilt had been established under the check exercised by the presence of foreigners at the Court, is a wholly humane and salutary mode of correction.\n\nIn inquiring therefore whether the contents of the Council's letter are receiving attention at the hands of the Diplomatic Body at Peking, I have the honour to request\n\n3\n\nthat, since this matter is now of the gravest moment to the security of the community, negotiations may be reopened or vigorously sustained to a satisfactory settlement.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nD. LANDALE, Chairman,\n\nDoyen's Circular, dated January 27, 1908.\n\nLE doyen a l'honneur de faire circuler une lettre du doyen du Corps Consulaire à Shanghai en date du 15 Janvier courant, avec une annexe, par lesquelles la question du rétablissement de l'usage du bambou, comme moyen de châtiment à la Cour Mixte à Shanghai, est soumise au jugement du Corps Diplomatique.\n\nIl prie ses honorables collègues de vouloir bien se prononcer à ce sujet.\n\n(Signé) A. J. VAN CITTERS.\n\nPékin, le 27 Janvier, 1908.\n\nP.S.-Je suis d'avis qu'il sera nécessaire de se conformer au désir du Conseil Municipal et de consentir en conséquence au rétablissement de l'usage du bambou.\n\n(Signé) A. J. VAN CITTERS.\n\nIt is, in my opinion, not desirable for the Diplomatic Body to take any direct initiative in pressing for the reintroduction of the bamboo. The return to the former practice should rather be made by the Chinese authorities under the pressure of the local public opinion, Chinese and foreign, which the Municipal Council may perhaps be able to direct towards the question.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n(Signed)\n\n358\n\n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416202, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 367, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "362\n\n6\n\nOn the night of the 20th December some men from torpedo-boat \"No. 036\" were on shore drinking at Kee Cheung's store in the city. Two engine-room artificers named Hayward and Bushby appear to have had too much to drink, Hayward being in the worse condition of the two. It seems that he went out into the street and made trouble with the Chinese. A crowd collected and things became lively, missiles of various sorts being thrown. The police, who had arrived on the scene, kept the crowd back, and would seem to have behaved in a reasonable and proper manner.\n\nThe sequel was that Bushby, who appears to have been on the whole less to blame than Hayward, was arrested by the police and taken off to the police station. Hayward, in the meantime, had been taken on board the torpedo-boat by a patrol sent on shore for the purpose of bringing the men off.\n\nThe Lieutenant in command of the torpedo-boat, Mr. Kirby, was dining at His Majesty's Consul's house when Kee Cheung's compradore came up to report the trouble, Mr. Kirby and His Majesty's Consul went to the torpedo-boat, where they ascertained that Hayward had been brought on board, but that Bushby was still on shore. They then landed, accompanied by two unarmed bluejackets, and proceeded to Kee Cheung's store. A good many people were collected in the street outside the store but, though excited, they did not attempt to interfere in any way. At the store His Majesty's Consul learnt that Bushby had been arrested and taken off to the police station. He proceeded there, and the officer in charge of the station knowing who he was handed over the man at his request, and he conveyed him back to the ship.\n\nThe whole matter was a drunken brawl, but it occurred at a most unfortunate time, and might have had serious consequences. As it was, however, beyond the copy it afforded the native papers, and the untrue reports that were circulated about in Canton and elsewhere, nothing further happened.\n\nMr. Kirby and His Majesty's Consul called on the Taotai, and the former tendered his apologies for the regrettable affair. At a later date His Majesty's Consul saw the Taotai and, at the request of the Admiral, apologized also on his behalf for the conduct of the two men.\n\nThe Taotai treated the matter in a very friendly spirit, but suggested that in future when men on shore leave were visiting any place in the city, they should be accompanied by some one able to interpret; and that parties landed for rifle practice should not bring their rifles through the city—both reasonable suggestions.\n\nOn his part, His Majesty's Consul asked him to issue instructions that, whenever a seaman was arrested by the native police, some one should be immediately sent off to the man's ship, so that a patrol could be landed without delay to take him over, and convey him on board to be dealt with.\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. C.O.\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[10444]\n\n(No. 99.)\n\nNo. 1.\n\n14855\n\n[March 27.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n20 APR 08\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received March 27.)\n\nPeking, February 29, 1908. Sir,\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches No. 506 of the 11th December, 1907, and No. 12 of the 8th ultimo, transmitting copies of correspondence with the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company (Limited) on the question as to whether the transfer of the property from the old Chinese Company was actually confirmed by Imperial Decree.\n\nAfter a careful examination of the arguments adduced by the Company in this correspondence, and especially of the translation of the Memorial to the Throne presented by Li Hung-chang and Chang Yen Mao in July 1901, I can only maintain the view that the Company's contention is not borne out by that document.\n\nThis Memorial and the Rescript attached thereto, as Sir Ernest Satow pointed out in his despatch No. 183 of the 24th May, 1904, contemplated the addition of foreign capital to the existing Chinese enterprise, so as to change it into a Chinese and foreign co-operative Company with limited liability, but I have been unable to find therein any disclosure of the actual course of action which had been pursued.\n\nIn all analogous cases where a foreign Syndicate or foreign capital has been granted privileges in China beyond the limits of the Treaty ports, and not provided for by Treaty—as, for example, in the case of the Peking Syndicate, the Anhui Mining Company, and the Railway Agreements of the British and Chinese Corporation—the documents have been submitted to the Throne and communicated to the Legation by the Board of Foreign Affairs, after receiving the Imperial approval. If it could be shown that some such procedure had been followed, there would be no room for doubt in the present instance, but there is no evidence forthcoming to prove that the transfer deed of the 19th February, 1901, which was drawn up in English, was ever laid before the Emperor.\n\nIt is true that an allusion is made in the Memorial to an Agreement having been drawn up and a telegram sent to London \"to register the Company.\" But the original Chinese of this passage is somewhat more vague. The words \"the Company\" do not occur, and a literal translation would read: \"And so an Agreement was made and a telegram sent to London to register, to commence operations from the beginning of the twenty-seventh year.\" There is nothing here to indicate that a British Company, under English law, and independent of Chinese control, had been formed or was implied by the \"addition of foreign capital.\"\n\nIt appears to me, therefore, that the most that can be said is that the Rescript sanctioned whatever the Memorial proposed, and it is clear from the wording of the Rescript that the Throne interpreted the Memorial in a sense entirely different from that adopted by the Company.\n\nFortunately the question is not an acute one, although it might become so if the Company attempt to enforce in practice a claim to exclusive mining rights over the Kaiping coal-field. The present observations are therefore only evoked by the Company's insistence upon arguments which could not, in my opinion, be used effectively in their favour.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n[2895 dd-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416322, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 487, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "Sir,\n\nC.O. 16754 HEAD 11 MAY 08\n\nPEKING, 31st March, 1908.\n\nIn my despatch No.107 of the 30th instant, I had the honour to enclose translation of a Note from the Waiwupu, informing me that telegraphic instructions had been sent to the Viceroy at Canton to take the necessary steps for prohibiting the export of prepared opium from China into Hongkong.\n\nI have now received a communication from the Waiwupu, of which I have the honour to enclose a translation herewith, stating that the Viceroy has taken effective action locally, and that an Imperial Rescript has been issued prohibiting trade in prepared opium with Hongkong.\n\nIn accordance with the request of the Chinese Government, I have communicated with the Governor of Hongkong, sending him a copy of the Waiwupu's Note under cover of a despatch, of which is also enclosed herewith.\n\nSir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P. &C. &C.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416326, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 491, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "ESA \n\n-stroqri neqo on al erent bus sorol mi at moldoaqant \n\n484 \n\nmulqo beraQETG \n\n€ \n\nTevawor ̧8Å \n\nent sotws \n\n-ajivent at t \n\n.quoxanoн ogni nolj \n\nanoжgnoй mit eɔmuo ne Ɛà revo Ja alise \n\nantro to Totajni and mt bleq eoing \n\nlo sxaa eris hot no os bivore gntisauma smoa dant 91d \n\nmulqo beragung aldt to Jao` .sidentado Jilong S:t \n\nTevi Jask srij bus wojew? Jaranan morl tgvord al \n\nesaanio auottav to aleaaev antitea bna aqtíamseja voi \n\nIdenш 98 ow serw areJew data at Torfone notw \n\n.\"mod) donaga of \n\n-avo Ifa berebro and ed Jant aotsje vorso¡V sɗI \n\narenotaalmoo art an Ilew as \n\nanoljeta mbili bris amo. \n\nevijnever edat of astrove Iesol bra amodavo to \n\nJistiqxs mi noltamsioorg s berat esti brs 86TU885m \n\nJotit at of goja e gnijjuq of welv a dtw anrrej \n\n.muutgo nt obeyJ \n\nAn \n\nprepared opium to Hongkong should be prohibited. \n\nImperial Rescript sanctioning the Memorial was received and instructions were issued accordingly to \n\nall the Provincial Authorities. \n\nIt is evident, therefore, that China has faithfully performed her undertaking to prohibit the \n\nillicit export of Chinese opium to Hongkong, and the British Government's undertaking to prohibit the \n\nillicit export of prepared opium from Hongkong to China should accordingly be carried out without loss \n\nof time. \n\nI have therefore the honour to request Your Excellency to ask the Governor of Hongkong by tele-\n\ngraph to afford us his assistance by putting into effective operation the prohibition to export pre-\n\npared opium from Hongkong to China. \n\na bejnsasiq bïsof ANJ Jnstant brSS grit no \n\n-vod delstra and Jadd anijaja suornT and of lattomak \n\nedet bluoria vijnwoo doge Jart beerys beri JnSMNTS \n\nwo afl osnt mulgo to antigamma end jneverq of aqeja \n\n-erq ni abart erit jerit antbrennosex bna VTOJITTAJ \n\nbe189 \n\nI avail, &c., \n\n(Signed) \n\nPrince Ching.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416327, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 492, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "PEKING, March 27th, 1908.\n\nReferring to my despatch of March 3rd and to my telegram of yesterday, I have the honour to enclose a translation of a note from the Wai-Wu-Pu, dated March 24th, in which the measures taken by the Chinese Government to meet Your Excellency's wishes in regard to the prohibition of the export of prepared opium from China to Hong Kong are stated. A memorial was presented to the Throne on March 22nd to the effect that His Majesty's Government had agreed that both countries should take steps to stop smuggling, and recommending that the trade in prepared opium to Hong Kong from China should be prohibited; an Imperial Rescript sanctioning the memorial has been issued, and also instructions to the Provincial Authorities concerned; and the Viceroy of Canton has ordered all Customs and Likin stations and Local Authorities to take preventive measures.\n\nHis Excellency\n\nSir F.D.Lugard, K.C.M.G., C.B.\n\nGovernor and Commander-in-Chief,\n\nHong Kong.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416331, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 496, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[10451]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n16992\n\n[March 27.\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n13 MAY 08\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received March 27.)\n\n(No. 115.) Sir,\n\nPeking, March 5, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 24 of the 9th January regarding the understanding between the Chinese Government and the German Minister on the question of future railway construction in Shantung, I have the honour to inclose a translation of the Memorial presented by Chang Chih Tung, Yuan Shih K'ai, and Liang Tun Yen prior to the signature of the Tien-tsin-P'u-k'ou Railway Agreement.\n\nThe memorialists state in this document that an understanding exists with the German Minister, whereby the line from Kiaochow to Yen Chou-fu shall be constructed as a branch of the Tientsin-P'u-k'ou line, which implies that it will be under Chinese control, and not on the same footing as the Kiaochow-Chinan Railway.\n\nOn her part China has agreed with the German Minister that the Tientsin-P'u-k'ou line will be connected with the Peking-Hankow system by two connecting lines, north and south, and that Germany shall have the first option if a foreign loan is required for these railways. I have been unable to ascertain why the long period of fifteen years was determined on in respect to this obligation.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nMemorial presented by Chang Chih Tung and Yuan Shih K‘ai with reference to the Amended Loan Agreement for the Construction of the Tien-tsin-P'u-k'ou Railway.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nIN response to a Petition presented by natives of Chibli, Kiangsu, and Shantung on the 29th March of last year praying that these provinces might be permitted to carry out for themselves the construction of the Tien-tsin Chinkiang Railway, an Imperial Rescript was issued directing Chang Chih Tung and Yuan Shih K'ai to settle the question. Liang Tun Yen was afterwards instructed to co-operate with the above two Ministers in negotiating the matter with the British and German Ministers.\n\nThe memorialists then give the following résumé of previous negotiations in regard to this railway:\n\nIn June 1899 a draft loan Agreement for the construction of a railway from Tien-tsin to Chinkiang was concluded between the Director-General of Railways and the Hong Kong and Shanghae and German Banks, and received the Imperial sanction. The following were the main provisions of this draft Agreement:\n\nThe line was to be divided into two sections, one from Tien-tsin to Yi Hsien and the other from Yi Hsien to Chinkiang, the total length being estimated at 1,800 li. The amount of the loan was 7,400,000l. at 5 per cent, to be repaid in fifty years. Until the repayment of the loan all matters with regard to the construction and working of the line were to be under the direction of the banks. For the administration of the railway two offices should be established, one for each of the two sections of the line. Each of these general offices would be administered by a Board of five Directors, Chinese and foreign, as well as a foreign General Manager and foreign Chief Engineer, and would have full control of all income and expenditure. Out of the annual profits of the railway 20 per cent. should be paid to the banks for their services and 10 per cent. should be deposited with the banks to form a sinking fund.\n\nIn August 1902 Yuan Shih K'ai was directed to negotiate the final Agreement, and he deputed T'ong Shao Yi and Liang Ju Hao to arrange the matter with the banks. It was found impossible to come to an agreement over the question, for the German Representative wished to introduce various alterations into the Agreement,\n\n[2880 dd-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416332, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 497, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\naltering the amount of the loan for the northern section to 8,000,0001, and providing for the construction of two branch lines, from Te Chou to Cheng Ting-fu and from Yen Chou-fu to K'ai Feng-fu. It was also found impossible to carry on satisfactorily at the same time the negotiations for the two sections.\n\nThese negotiations were continued for several years without arriving at any satisfactory result, and a proposal was then made that the line should be constructed by the three provinces concerned without foreign assistance. As, however, the original draft Agreement had received the Imperial sanction, it was considered inexpedient to annul it altogether, and the only other course was to introduce such amendments as would render it acceptable to all parties. Lien Tun Yen was directed to take charge of the negotiations, under the supervision of Chang Chih Tung and Yuan Shih K'ai, with the representatives of the German and British Syndicates. After much discussion an arrangement on the following lines was agreed to:\n\nThe loan should be quite distinct from the administration of the railway. Other sources of revenue should be assigned as security for the payment of the interest, &c., and the rights enjoyed by the two foreign Companies concerned, viz., to receive 20 per cent. of the nett profit, and to supply material to the railway, should not be considered as giving them any right to interfere in the working of the line. As security for the loan, the provincial authorities agreed to furnish an annual sum of 3,800,000 taels out of the revenue from li-kin.\n\nAs regards the question of branch lines, a Memorandum has been received from the German Minister stating that Germany will be prepared, after the signature of the Tien-tsin--P'u-k'ou Railway Loan Agreement, to discuss a settlement of this question on the following lines:\n\n1. Germany agrees that the line from Kiaochow to Yen Chou-fu shall become a branch of the Tien-tsin-P'u-k'ou Railway, and that the line from Chinan-fu to the borders of Shantung shall be incorporated in the main line.\n\n2. China agrees that within fifteen years she will undertake the construction of two lines--one from Te Chou to Cheng Ting-fu, and the other from Yen Chou-fu, or some other point on the main line-through Chi Ning Chou to K'ai Feng-fu; should it be found necessary to raise a foreign loan for this purpose, application shall be made to the German Bank.\n\nA Loan Agreement in twenty-four Articles was then drawn up, the amount of the loan being fixed at 5,000,000l., bearing interest at the rate of 5 per cent., and the period of the loan was fixed at thirty years. The loan might be repaid after ten years at a premium of 21/2 per cent., or after twenty years at par. A first issue of bonds to the value of 3,000,000l. should be made at 93,\n\nA period of four years was fixed for the completion of the line, and work must be commenced within six months after the signature of the Agreement. The construction and administration of the railway should be entirely under the direction of the Chinese Government, through the Director-General, who should on his own responsibility engage one German and one British Engineer-in-chief--one for each section of the line.\n\nThe memorialists consider this amended Agreement preferable in every way to the original draft Agreement, and that it does not prejudice in any particular China's right to the independent administration of the railway. As the Ministers of Wai-wu Pu agree with them in this opinion, they have the honour to request that the Agreement shall receive the Imperial sanction. After the signature of the Agreement for the main line, the Wai-wu Pu will negotiate with the German Minister a settlement of the question of branch lines in accordance with the terms of the Memorandum from the German Minister above referred to.\n\n1\n\nOn the 13th January the following Imperial Rescript was issued: \"Approved.\"\n\nC. O.\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS,\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n1699490\n\nRECP [April 4] 13 MAY 08\n\n[11441]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received April 4,) (No. 73.) Sir,\n\nPeking, February 17, 1908.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 248 of the 28th May last, on the subject of the Canton-Hankow Railway, I have the honour to report that His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow, on hearing recently that Herr Cordes, of the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, was likely to renew his application for a loan, to be devoted to the Hupei section of the Hankow-Szechuan Railway, addressed a letter to the Viceroy Chao inclosing copies of Sir Ernest Satow's correspondence with the Wai-wu Pu of September 1903, and also reminding him of the ex-Viceroy Chang's engagement on this subject.\n\nThe Viceroy replied on the 27th January by sending his Secretary to Mr. Fraser with a message to the effect that no foreign loan would be required for either of the trunk lines as funds were already provided, and that as regards engineers Mr. Ross had already been engaged (see my despatch No. 248 of last year).\n\nMr. Fraser then suggested the employment as Chief Engineer on the Hupei section of the Hankow-Canton line of Mr. R. St. George Moore, M.I.C.E., who is engaged as Consulting Engineer of the Hankow Waterworks.\n\nThe Viceroy thought that this gentleman was not sufficiently well known in China, and asked Mr. Fraser's assistance in inducing Mr. Kinder, of the Northern Railways, to accept the post for both the Hupei and Hunan sections, and in all probability for the whole line.\n\nI accordingly wrote to Mr. Kinder on the 3rd February, urging him to accept the post, in the interests, not only of British trade, but of China herself; and on the 10th February received his reply, copy of which I have honour to inclose, expressing his willingness to undertake this duty under certain conditions.\n\nIn a despatch dated the 7th February, copy of which also is inclosed, Mr. Fraser reported that the Viceroy was going to apply to the proper authorities for the loan of Mr. Kinder's service.\n\nAt the same time the ex-Viceroy Chang Chih Tung has made an offer to the British and Chinese Corporation for a loan for the northern section of this railway.\n\nThis proposal conflicts with the Viceroy's Chao's asseverations to Mr. Fraser that sufficient capital is obtainable from native sources, but in view of Chang Chih Tung's present position as Grand Councillor, and of the fact that he has brought with him to Peking the correspondence which passed between Mr. Fraser and himself on the subject in 1905, it is sufficiently evident that his overtures cannot be disregarded,\n\nBut this offer to borrow British capital revives the difficulty entailed by the Anglo-French combination of interests. The Chinese pledge is to apply in the first instance to us for any capital she may require for the construction of the line, but if conditions are introduced by the French which are unacceptable to the Chinese there is little doubt that the business will be offered to our German competitor.\n\nI therefore had the honour to telegraph to you on the 16th February pointing out the urgent necessity for the French Government to give their financiers a free hand, and I spoke in this sense to M. Bapst, my French colleague, and represented to him at the same time the advisability of waiving the claim to a share in orders for materials, which I understood was put forward by the French Government, but which their financiers would not demand on their own initiative, and which the Chinese would not accept. M. Bapst appeared to be unaware of His Government's determination on this point, and considered that all they would ask for would be that they should not be completely effaced in the loan negotiations. He asked me to telegraph to His Majesty's Government on the subject first, and promised to telegraph himself a day later.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n[2934 d-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416363, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 528, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[13982]\n\n[April 24.]\n\nSECTION 4.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 24.)\n\n(No. 154.) Sir,\n\nPeking, March 31, 1908.\n\nIN my despatch No. 107 of the 30th instant I had the honour to inclose translation of a note from the Wai-wu Pu, informing me that telegraphic instructions had been sent to the Viceroy at Canton to take the necessary steps for prohibiting the export of prepared opium from China into Hong Kong.\n\nI have now received a communication from the Wai-wu Pu, of which I have the honour to inclose a translation herewith, stating that the Viceroy has taken effective action locally, and that an Imperial Rescript has been issued prohibiting trade in prepared opium with Hong Kong.\n\nIn accordance with the request of the Chinese Government, I have communicated with the Governor of Hong Kong, sending him a copy of the Wai-wu Pu's note under cover of a despatch, copy of which is also inclosed herewith.\n\nI have, &c. (For His Majesty's Minister),\n\n(Signed)\n\nSTEPHEN LEECH.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ch'ing to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nPeking, March 24, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to refer your Excellency to your note of the 30th January on the subject of the prohibition of the trade in prepared opium between China and Hong Kong.\n\n[His Majesty's Minister's note of January 30 quoted at length.]\n\nAs the prohibition of the import of Chinese opium into Hong Kong could only be made effective if the local officials were made responsible for its enforcement, the Board requested the Viceroy at Canton to take active steps to put the prohibition in force. His Excellency, in his reply, states that he is in receipt of the following report from the Commissioner of Customs at Kowloon, whom he had directed to investigate the matter:--\n\n\"The trade in prepared opium at Hong Kong is a monopoly in the hands of certain merchants, and the import of prepared opium from other places is already prohibited; an extremely strict system of customs inspection is in force, and there is no open importation into Hong Kong. As, however, prepared opium sells at over 3 dollars an ounce in Hong Kong (twice the price paid in the interior of China), it is inevitable that some smuggling should go on for the sake of the profit obtainable. Most of this prepared opium is brought from Shanghai, Swatow, and the West River by steam-ships and sailing-vessels of various classes, which anchor in British waters, where we are unable to search them.\"\n\nThe Viceroy states that he has ordered all customs and li-kin stations, as well as the Commissioners of Customs and local authorities, to take preventive measures, and has issued a Proclamation in explicit terms with a view to putting a stop to the illicit trade in opium.\n\nOn the 22nd instant the Board presented a Memorial to the Throne, stating that the British Government had agreed that each country should take steps to prevent the smuggling of opium into its own territory, and recommending that the trade in prepared opium to Hong Kong should be prohibited. An Imperial Rescript sanctioning the Memorial was received, and instructions were issued accordingly to all the provincial authorities.\n\nPage 521\n\n \n[2918 aa-4]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416364, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 529, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\nIt is evident, therefore, that China has faithfully performed her undertaking to prohibit the illicit export of Chinese opium to Hong Kong, and the British Government's undertaking to prohibit the illicit export of prepared opium from Hong Kong to China should accordingly be carried out without loss of time.\n\nI have, therefore, the honour to request your Excellency to ask the Governor of Hong Kong by telegraph to afford us his assistance by putting into effective operation the prohibition to export prepared opium from Hong Kong to China.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n)\n\n522\n\nHONG KONG STRAITS\n\nNo. 17831\n\n(Subject.)\n\nREC\n\nDOMESTIC.\n\nC O.\n\n17831\n\nIS MAY 08\n\nSir,\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\n(Signed)\n\nSir J. Jordan to Governor Sir F. Lugard.\n\nPrince CHING.\n\nOffice Individual.\n\nForeign\n\n1908\n\nChina\n\nTrade\n\nMay\n\nPeking, March 27, 1908.\n\nREFERRING to my despatch of the 3rd March and to my telegram of yesterday, I have the honour to inclose a translation of a note from the Wai-wu Pu, dated the 24th March, in which the measures taken by the Chinese Government to meet your Excellency's wishes in regard to the prohibition of the export of prepared opium from China to Hong Kong are stated. A Memorial was presented to the Throne on the 22nd March to the effect that His Majesty's Government had agreed that both countries should take steps to stop smuggling, and recommending that the trade in prepared opium to Hong Kong from China should be prohibited. An Imperial Rescript sanctioning the Memorial has been issued, and also instructions to the provincial authorities concerned, and the Viceroy of Canton has ordered all customs and li-kin stations and local authorities to take preventive measures, and has issued a Proclamation.\n\nI have the honour to request that I may be informed by telegraph as soon as your Excellency has taken the steps referred to in paragraph 4 of your despatch of the 15th January last.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(For His Majesty's Minister),\n\n(Signed) STEPHEN LEECH.\n\nast previous Paper.\n\n10.\n\n3957\n\nTransmits prints of Conf.\n\nMy Fisses\n\n(Minutes.)\n\nPruits to Starts songhong\n\nConf LFF\n\n· F.& 8. Lu).—20362--- 3-W. S. Lent.-140-\n\n23030-17-67.\n\next subsequent Paper.\n\n1.2+7875 Prt. 19", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416427, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 592, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[14851]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n585\n\n18960\n\n[May 1.]\n\nSECTION 18: 26 MAY 08,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.(Received May 1.)\n\n(No. 164.) Sir,\n\nPeking, April 9, 1908. IN my telegram No. 57 of the 6th March you were informed of the appointment of Chao Erb-feng, the Acting Viceroy of Szechuan, as Amban in Thibet. It is unusual to select an official of his standing and record for this position. The appointment was all the more significant because his brother, Chao Erh-hsun, who succeeded Chang Chih-tung as Viceroy at Hankow in September last, was suddenly transferred to the less important post of Viceroy of Szechuan at the same time as Chao Erh-feng was sent to Thibet.\n\nA Memorial of the Board of Finance, approved by an Imperial Rescript of the 19th March, which was published in the Chinese press on the 31st March, and a translation of which is inclosed for your information, throws some light on these appointments and the intentions of the Chinese Government, Chao Erb-feng is apparently expected to perform in Thibet functions similar to those of the Marquis Ito in Corea, and especially to extend the control of the Chinese Government over the Thibetan Administration. The funds assigned, 500,000 taels a-year (60,000l.), are to be provided in the first place by Szechuan, and the appointment of Chao Erh-hsun as Viceroy is intended to strengthen his brother's hands and insure harmony of action.\n\nI have, &c. (For His Majesty's Minister),\n\n(Signed)\n\nSTEPHEN LEECH,\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nMemorial submitted by the Board of Finance containing Proposals for the Provision of\n\nFunds to meet the Annual Expenditure for the Administration of the Thibetan Marches.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nON the 9th March the following Imperial Decree was issued and was transmitted to the Board by the Grand Council\n\n\"Thibet acts as a rampart for the Province of Szechuan, and, in view of its extent, and the backward civilization of the natives, plans for such important measures as the training of troops, the promotion of education, the development of agriculture, mining, and industries, the improvement of means of communication, the increase in the number of officials, and the reform of the Government should be prepared without delay, so that the administration of the country may gradually be put on a better basis.\n\n\"We have appointed Chao Erh-feng to the post of Imperial Resident in Thibet, and, as a mark of the importance of his office, have conferred exceptionally high rank upon him. Chao Erb-hsun has at the same time been transferred to the post of Viceroy of Szechuan, with a view to avoiding friction and insuring harmonious co-operation.\n\n\"We now direct Chao Erh-feng to investigate the local conditions in concert with Lien Yu, prepare comprehensive schemes for all the measures to be undertaken in Thibet, and draft regulations which shall be submitted for our approval before being put into force. The Szechuan provincial authorities shall be permitted to appoint the officers required, who must be selected with care. They shall receive liberal salaries, and be generously rewarded for meritorious service. They shall all be permitted to bring their families with them, and will be required to hold their appointments for long periods. To meet the necessary expenditure, let the Board of Finance provide a sum of from 400,000 to 500,000 taels every year in order to aid in this important undertaking, and let the Viceroy of Szechuan give his assistance when required, even beyond the limits of his own jurisdiction.\"\n\n[2960 a-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416428, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 593, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n583\n\n0.\n\n2\n\nIn the third month of last year (April-May 1907), in accordance with a Memorial containing proposals with regard to frontier affairs submitted by Hsi Liang, the Viceroy of Szechuan, and others, the Board proposed that a sum of 1,000,000 taels should be appropriated from the surplus funds of the Chungking, Chinkiang, and Shanghae customs to meet the initial expenses, and that as soon as the Viceroy and others had decided what sum was required to meet the annual expenses, and had presented a Memorial on the subject, the Board would consider what funds should be appropriated for the purpose.\n\nIn the fifth month (June-July 1907), in consequence of a Memorial on affairs in Thibet submitted by Lien Yu, the Imperial Resident, the Board recommended that the sum of 200,000 taels should be provided out of the Szechuan and Kwangtung Salt Gabelle. Both the above proposals were sanctioned by Imperial Rescript, and the authorities were duly informed.\n\nBy the Imperial Decree now issued Chao Erh-feng and others are directed to carry out all measures necessary in Thibet, and the Board are required to provide the funds required every year. We must, of course, do our best to furnish the money, but of late the financial situation both in the capital and the provinces has been so bad that if any province were required to furnish the funds it is doubtful whether they could be forwarded by the due date, and the only course is to retain in Szechuan, in aid of this scheme, funds which the province is required to contribute towards the payment of foreign indemnities. Szechuan has to furnish 400,000 taels towards the payment of French and Russian indemnities, and 550,000 taels towards the payment of British and German indemnities. The Board propose that 200,000 taels of the former and 300,000 taels of the latter, 500,000 taels in all, should be held back by the province and forwarded in full to Thibet, in order that the necessary measures may be undertaken without delay. The 500,000 taels which should be contributed every year by Szechuan will be made up out of the revenue of the foreign customs and foreign opium li-kin at Shanghae. Should these proposals receive Imperial sanction, the Board will direct the Viceroys of Szechuan and the Liang Kiang to take the necessary action.\n\nSzechuan has always been considered a rich province, and has been in the habit of assisting other provinces out of her surplus revenue. The present matter concerns the frontiers of Szechuan, and it is clearly the duty of that province to help. If funds prove insufficient, the Viceroy of Szechuan should, in accordance with Imperial instructions, provide assistance in order to strengthen the frontiers.\n\nThis Memorial reporting the assignment of funds by the Board is reverently submitted to their Majesties the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.\n\nOn the 19th March the following Imperial Rescript was received: \"Approved.\"\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA,\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n感\n\n[14954]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 2.)\n\nT8960\n\n[May 2.] RE\n\nMAY 08\n\nSECTION 3.\n\n(No. 130. Confidential.)\n\nPeking, March 16, 1908. Sir,\n\nI HAVE the honour to report the further progress and final settlement of the case of the steam-ship \"Tatsu Maru,\" which formed the subject of my despatch No. 108 of the 4th instant.\n\nOn the 12th instant Liang Ta-jên, one of the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu, called at the Legation and asked me, on behalf of Prince Ching and Yuan Shih K'ai, if I would approach the Japanese Minister with the view of arranging the terms of an amicable settlement.\n\nI saw Baron Hayashi later on the same day and had an informal conversation with him on the subject, the result of which was that he authorized me to inform Liang Ta-jên of the terms which he was prepared to recommend for the acceptance of his Government. These stipulated for the immediate release of the ship, a salute to the flag in the presence of the Japanese Consul, and suitable reparation for the loss entailed upon the ship and cargo. In return, and as a separate arrangement, Baron Hayashi felt certain that his Government would be willing to co-operate with the Chinese Government in preventing the importation of arms into China in the future.\n\nAs regards the arms, Baron Hayashi agreed that their purchase by the Chinese Government might be the best way out of the difficulty.\n\nIn communicating the views of the Japanese Minister to Liang Ta-jên, I impressed upon him the importance of securing a satisfactory arrangement for the future, which appeared to me to be a sufficient offset to any drawbacks which the settlement of the present case might entail, and he promised to lay stress upon this aspect of the question in submitting it to the Prince and Yuan Shih K'ai. The same evening he informed me that the Chinese Government was willing to release the ship and salute the flag, but would like to leave the question of demurrage and the disposal of the arms to arbitration. The Japanese Minister telegraphed the substance of these pourparlers to his Government, and on the following day submitted a Memorandum to the Wai-wu Pu, the contents of which are embodied in the inclosed note from Liang Ta-jên to me. The Chinese introduced some slight amendments into the wording of one or two of the conditions, which the Japanese accepted, and the incident is now happily closed.\n\nSir C. MacDonald's telegram No. 20 of the 12th March will have shown you the moderation with which the Japanese Government treated the question, and their Minister here has fully reflected the spirit of his Government.\n\nAlthough the matter had little direct connection with British interests, this Legation has had some difficulty in resisting the earnest appeals for assistance which have been made to it by the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires, who came here daily for advice, and in the end desired our active intervention in obtaining such a modification of the settlement as would bring it into harmony with the views and susceptibilities of the Government at Lisbon. M. Brederode wished in effect to secure an assurance from the Chinese Government absolving the Government of Macao from any intention of encouraging the importation of contraband into China.\n\nThis is precisely what the Chinese declined to admit. They stated openly that their justification for the seizure of the vessel was the moral certainty that the arms were intended for Chinese revolutionaries, and that the connivance or culpable negligence of the Macao authorities was a matter of common knowledge. This plea of extenuation was fully admitted by the Japanese Minister, and as evidence that the Chinese charge was well founded, I have the honour to inclose paraphrase of a telegram which I received two days ago from Admiral Moore, in which he describes what passed at his farewell interview with the Viceroy of Canton, and expresses the view that his Excellency should be supported in his endeavour to prevent the smuggling of arms through Macao.\n\n[2960 b-3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416438, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 603, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "(Translation.) Sir,\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ching to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nPeking, March 10, 1908. ON the 6th March this Board submitted to the Throne, in a Memorial, the agreement which has been made with the British and Chinese Corporation for the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway Loan, and upon the receipt of the Imperial Rescript approving this agreement, it was signed on the same day at this Board in English and Chinese, and was officially sealed.\n\nI now have the honour to make this formal communication to your Excellency, and to request that the Corporation may be directed to proceed with the execution of the agreement.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nPrince CHʻING.\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nPeking, March 12, 1908. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Highness' note of the 10th March, informing me of the Imperial Rescript approving the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway Agreement, which was submitted to the Throne in a Memorial by your Highness' Board, and which was signed on the same day (6th March) and officially sealed at the Wai-wu Fu.\n\nI have duly notified the Corporation, and am communicating a translation of your Highness' note to His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nC. O.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[14951]\n\n18960\n\nREC2 IRG 28 MAY 08\n\n[May 2.]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 2.)\n\nSECTION 3.\n\n(No. 127.) Sir,\n\nPeking, March 16, 1908. IN my despatch No. 73 of the 17th February I had the honour to report on the steps which were being taken to secure the services of Mr. C. W. Kinder as Chief Engineer for the Hankow-Canton Railway. I regret to state that the Board of Communications have refused the Viceroy's application for his services on the plea that he cannot be spared from the Northern Railway.\n\nMr. Kinder, in a letter of the 4th instant, informing me of this decision, suggested that the Viceroy should proceed to apply for the services of Mr. Newmarch, one of the District Engineers on the Northern Railway.\n\nI communicated this suggestion to His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow on the 6th instant, but the issue on that date of an Imperial Decree, transferring the Viceroy Chao to Szechuan, renders it improbable that he will interest himself further in the question. The new Viceroy at Wuchang is to be Ch'en K'uei Lung, who was appointed to the Viceroyalty of Szechuan in September 1907, but did not proceed. His record as an official, coupled with the impression that I gained of his personality through an exchange of visits last year, lead me to regard the appointment as unfortunate, and I have sounded Mr. Liang Tun Yen, of the Wai-wu Pu, as to the possibility of its being reconsidered. He gave me no encouragement, however, and hinted that Chang Ta-jên owes the appointment directly to Prince Ching. According to Mr. Fraser's information, the Viceroy Chao was not regarded favourably by Chang Chih Tung.\n\nWhatever the reasons for the change may be, the departure of the enlightened Viceroy Chao is to be regretted, especially since the difficulties with regard to Anglo-French financial co-operation have apparently been overcome.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nO\n\n[2972 b-3]\n\n506", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416454, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 619, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[13298]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n612\n\n[April 18.]\n\nC\n\nSECTION 2.\n\n19817\n\n1 JUN 08\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 18.)]\n\nPeking, March 4, 1908.\n\n(No. 112.) Sir,\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose for your information a translation of a set of Regulations for the control of a central bank, which were published in the Chinese press on the 1st March. These Regulations were drawn up by the Board of Finance and sanctioned by an Imperial Rescript of the 17th February.\n\nThe intention is to found a great central banking institution under Government auspices for the whole of China, after the pattern of the Bank of England or Bank of France, which is to be styled \"Ta Ching Yin Hang,\" or Bank of China, and which, besides ordinary commercial banking, will undertake the financial business of the Chinese Government in all its forms.\n\nThe Regulations are based on Western models, and come into force in three months from the date of the Imperial sanction, that is to say, in the middle of May next.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nRegulations for the Administration of the Bank of China, drawn up by the Board of Finance.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nTHE capital of the Board of Revenue Bank, now superseded by the Bank of China, was 4,000,000 taels. It is now proposed to make a further issue of shares to the value of 6,000,000 taels, bringing the total value up to 10,000,000 taels in 100-tael shares, each share bearing the name of its holder; 50,000 shares will be taken up by the Government, the remainder being offered for subscription to the Chinese public. Should the expansion of the bank's business render a further increase of capital advisable, and a Resolution to this effect be passed by a general meeting of shareholders, additional issues of shares may subsequently be made, subject to the approval of the Board of Finance.\n\nThe procedure to be adopted in raising the share capital is left to the discretion of the Bank of China, with the proviso that foreigners shall not be permitted to subscribe for shares, nor shall a shareholder be permitted to transfer his share to a foreigner,\n\n2. The Bank of China shall be a Limited Liability Company, a shareholder's responsibility being limited solely to the amount of his shares.\n\n3. The head office of the Bank of China shall be in Peking. Branch offices will be opened, in accordance with the Regulations and with the sanction of the Board of Finance, at commercial centres on the sea-coast and rivers as well as in the chief cities of the prefectures, sub-prefectures, departments, and districts throughout the provinces wherever the local conditions appear favourable. It shall also be open to the Bank of China, with the sanction of the Board of Finance, to appoint other banks of good standing to act as its agents, under an agreement in conformity with the Banking Regulations, or to enter into arrangements with such banks for mutual facilities in regard to drafts.\n\nShould the Board consider it desirable that a branch should be opened at any given place they may direct the Bank to do so.\n\n4. The business of the Bank of China shall consist in the issue of loans for short periods, discounting and selling bills of all descriptions, dealing in gold and silver bullion, the transmission of funds for public authorities or private customers, advances against goods, the collection of bills issued by banks, Companies, or private merchants, accepting deposits of money and of valuables of every kind, making loans and issuing notes.\n\n5. The Bank of China shall have the privilege of issuing notes on behalf of the Government, but Regulations on the subject, in accordance with the rules for the pay-\n\n[2918 s--2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416499, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 664, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n657\n\nC.O.\n\nS\n\nThe French in Kuangsi.\n\nThe Kuangsi correspondent of a paper deplores the growth of French influence in this province and states that great numbers of disorderly persons are professing to be members of the French mission with a view to securing immunity from punishment.\n\nTsitsihar-Aigun Railway.\n\nThe Board of Communications have telegraphed to the Governor of Heilungchiang instructing him to commence work on this line at once.\n\nIntermarriage of Manchus and Chinese.\n\nUp to the present little advantage has been taken of the new law permitting the intermarriage of Manchus and Chinese. It is reported that, with a view to the encouragement of such marriages, the Empress-Dowager proposes to call on the higher officials to furnish a list of their sons and daughters, and will herself arrange marriages between members of the two races.\n\nOrdnance College.\n\nThe Army Board propose to establish a college for the purpose of giving instruction in the mechanism of rifles, cannon, &c. Two German and five French artificers are to be engaged as instructors.----[Extract from Chinese press.]\n\nNew Bridge over the Yellow River.\n\nA French firm at Tien-tsin has obtained a contract for the construction of an iron bridge over the Yellow River at Lanchow, to cost 165,000 taels. Work will be commenced at once.- -Extract from Chinese press.]\n\n0\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[16813]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[May 16 20024]\n\nSECTION\n\nA 6 JUN 08\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 16.)\n\n(No. 148.) Sir,\n\nI HAVE the honour to submit to you herewith copy of a despatch which I have\n\nPeking, March 30, 1905. received from His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Mukden, reporting on the Fushun coal mines which were taken possession of by the Japanese military authorities during the war and by them handed over to the South Manchurian Railway, though the rights were originally granted by Imperial Rescript to a Chinese subject.\n\nI have, &c. (For His Majesty's Minister.)\n\n(Signed)\n\nSTEPHEN LEECH.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nActing Consul-General Willis to Sir J. Jordan.\n\n(No. 29. Confidential.) Šir,\n\nMukden, March 16, 1908. I HAVE the honour to submit the following Report on the Fushun coal mines, which has been gathered from various sources, some of which I have been asked to treat as confidential,\n\nIn Baron Goto's recent Report to the shareholders of the South Manchurian Railway, a copy of which, in translation, has been sent to me by His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Dalny, considerable stress is laid upon the importance to the Railway Company and the intrinsic value of these mines. They are at present the only mines that are being worked along the line of the South Manchurian Railway; new machinery has been ordered to increase the output, and it is the declared policy of the Company \"to develop this branch of their property to its fullest extent.\"\n\nFrom the time of the Railway Company taking over charge of the property from the Japanese military authorities until the date of the compilation of the Report, the output from the mines was 94,873 tons, and the net profit 29,881. The total net profit of the South Manchurian Railway and all its subsidiary enterprises for a similar period was only 92,859.\n\nThe legal title of the Company to this valuable asset would, however, appear somewhat doubtful.\n\nThe mines are situated about 25 miles E.S.E. of Mukden, and about 8 miles southwards from the town of Fushun. The mining area, I am informed, measures about 3 miles from east to west by 2 miles from north to south. The district is divided into two portions by a small river, the western portion being termed Ch'ien Chin-shan, and the eastern Yang Po-pao.\n\nIt appears that as far back as September 1901 two Chinese merchants, named Weng Shou and Wang Cheng-jao, applied to the Provincial Government for permission to open these mines, each of them contributing 10,000 taels to the Government Treasury. The matter was reported to the Throne, and an Imperial Rescript issued granting the Concession,\n\nA survey was then made and the western portion of the district was assigned to Wang, the eastern to Weng. Endless disputes over their respective boundaries now arose between the two concessionnaires, and in order to strengthen their case each side ultimately had recourse to the support of Russian capital. Wang succeeded in persuading the Russo-Chinese Bank to invest 60,000 taels in the enterprise, and with this backing he was able to obtain recognition by the provincial authorities as the sole proprietor of mining rights in the district. The Central Government, however, signified its disapproval of this arrangement, and whilst the question was still under discussion between the Provincial and Central Governments the Russo-Japanese war broke out.\n\n[2960 g--2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416713, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 40, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[June 15] 7 JUL OS\n\nSECTION 5.\n\n(No. 193.) Sir,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 15.)\n\nPeking, April 30, 1908.\n\nIN a despatch, No. 106 of the 27th April, 1899, to the Marquess of Salisbury, Mr. Bax-Ironside inclosed a translation of a Memorial of the Tsung-li Yamên fixing the relations to be observed between the Provincial authorities and the Roman Catholic clergy in China, which had been approved by an Imperial Rescript of the 15th March, 1899. The extraordinary privileges conceded by this document, which were negotiated by Mgr. Favier, formerly Roman Catholic Bishop of Peking, gave rise to much comment, generally of an unfavourable character.\n\nThe desirability of acquiring similar privileges for themselves and their clergy was considered by the Bishops of the Anglican Commission, and by a Resolution of the 21st October, 1899, which was passed at a Conference held at Shanghai, they decided that it was not advisable to take such a step. A copy of the Resolution was sent by Mr. Bax-Ironside to Lord Salisbury in a despatch, No. 817 of the 31st October, 1899, and his Lordship referred the matter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who approved the conclusion arrived at by the Bishops, and considered that both as a matter of principle and of policy it was undesirable that the Protestant missionaries in China should claim the privileges. In this opinion His Majesty's Government concurred.\n\nThe wisdom of this course is now justified by the fact that the Chinese Government have found it necessary to cancel the rules of March 1899. This was done by an Imperial Rescript of the 10th April, approving a Memorial of the Wai-wu Pu, which appeared in the \"Official Gazette\" of the 16th April, and a translation of which is inclosed herewith. In the Memorial the Wai-wu Pu point out the impolitic character of the rules, which gave to a Catholic Bishop the status of a Viceroy, and mention that cases arose where missionaries arrogated the use of the official insignia of territorial authorities in a way which misled the common people as to their true position in the country. With the abolition of the rules the relations between Catholic missionaries and Chinese officials revert to those of ordinary courtesy.\n\nI should add that it is well known that the present action of the Chinese Government in this matter is mainly due to advice continuously given to prominent Chinese statesmen by Dr. Morrison for some time past. The nature of this advice is shown in the Memorandum, copy of which I inclose, and which, he informs me, was written by him in May 1907, translated into Chinese, and communicated to Yuan Shih-k'ai, Tuan-fang (Viceroy of Nanking), Chao Erh-hsun (Viceroy of Hankow), Tong Shao-yi, Liang Tun-yen (a Vice-President of the Wai-wu Pu), and others to whom he had also spoken on the subject.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nExtract from the \"Official Gazette\" of April 16, 1908.\n\nMemorial submitted by the Wai-wu Pu proposing the Amendment of the Regulations governing the Relations between Territorial Officials and Missionaries.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nON the 16th March, 1899, an Imperial Rescript was issued approving a Memorial submitted by the Tsung-li Yamên on the subject of the relations between territorial officials and missionaries, and embodying five proposals. In this Memorial it was\n\nPage 5", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416714, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 41, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "provided that when an Archbishop or Bishop asks for an interview with a Governor-General, Governor, Treasurer, Judge, Taotai, Prefect, Sub-Prefect, Department or District Magistrate, the Chinese official of any of the ranks above mentioned shall return the courtesy in accordance with the rank of the missionary.\n\nThe object of the Tsung-li Yamên in arranging definite rules for the relations between territorial officials and missionaries was to facilitate the settlement of missionary questions. As, however, it cannot be claimed that Bishops and others who are doing missionary work in China have in reality any official position they cannot be regarded as being of equal rank with Governor-Generals, Governors, or other officials. The attitude adopted by territorial officials towards missionaries in recent times has, too, been of quite a different character to that existing at the time when these Regulations were laid down. Furthermore, since these Regulations were promulgated there have been cases where missionaries have arrogated to themselves the use of the official insignia of territorial officials, and have thereby given rise to misconceptions in the minds of the ignorant populace. This was certainly not contemplated when the Regulations were issued, and the time is now opportune for introducing such modifications as will make them entirely satisfactory.\n\nThe Board request, therefore, that Imperial instructions be issued for the annulment of the provisions contained in the Tsung-li Yamên's Memorial regulating the official intercourse between territorial officials and missionaries in accordance with the rank of the missionaries, and that in future it shall only be necessary that the relations between territorial officials and missionaries shall, in accordance with Treaty provisions, be conducted with courtesy. On receipt of Imperial instructions to this effect the Board will at once issue the necessary directions to the provincial authorities for transmission to their subordinates.\n\nOn the 10th April the following Imperial Rescript was received:--\n\nApproved.\n\n<<\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nMemorandum by Dr. Morrison,\n\nDURING recent years opportunity has been given me to travel in many provinces of China and to discuss, with all manner of men, every conceivable subject dealing with the Empire and its foreign relations. In all this time nothing has impressed me more deeply than the unanimity with which all disinterested observers have condemned Chinese procedure in connection with the Catholic question. Condemnation has indeed gone to the extent of affirming that, probably never in the history of any country has there been a more astonishing surrender of national dignity than when, on the 15th March, 1899 (4th day, 2nd moon, 25th year Kuang Hsü), Imperial assent was given to the Memorial of the Tsung-li Yamên granting Chinese official rank to Catholic missionaries, proclaiming throughout the Empire that a Catholic Bishop was entitled to the rank and dignity of a Viceroy, commanding that even the simplest priest should be accorded honour to that of a Prefect, and decreeing that Catholic functionaries should have the right to arrange affairs locally with the Chinese authorities. Now, in the great majority of cases the Bishop and the priests are of higher rank than the local authorities, for there are few Viceroys--at that time eight in all, now nine--while there are no less than forty-six Catholic Bishops equal in rank to Viceroys. There are 1,100 Catholic missionaries, a number far in excess of local authorities of equal rank, so that in many large areas the Catholic priest has the highest official rank in the whole district. What is the effect of this? If the Bishop and priest are conceded this authority by Imperial Decree, will they not use it? Will not Chinese of bad character join their Church in order to obtain the support of such high functionaries? It is a well-established fact that the exercise of authority and assumption of rank, voluntarily given by China in the Rescript above referred to, are a source of a large proportion of the trouble with which the authorities are confronted in the internal administration of the Empire.\n\nThis Rescript ought to be cancelled forthwith. No excuse, no apology. It is purely a question of internal administration. The Rescript was in reply to a Memorial of the Tsung-li Yamên. No explanation need be given; the Rescript has been a failure, circumstances have materially changed since that date. Fair trial has been given. The Rescript should now be withdrawn.\n\nI draw your attention to certain considerations:--\n\nThe\n\n1. In the Memorial the words \"France\" and \"French\" do not occur. The Memorial was in the interests of the Catholic religion. It was drawn up by Yu K'eng and by Bishop Favier, the latter negotiating not as a Frenchman, but as a Catholic.\n\n2. The Rescript has been adversely criticized by the best Frenchmen. No name stands higher in France than that of Henri Cordier, who is undoubtedly the leading French authority on China. In his work, \"Histoire des Relations de la Chine avec les Puissances Occidentales,\" vol. III, p. 468, M. Cordier, speaking of this Decree, says: “Jamais la France n'eut dû laisser commettre cette faute\" (Never ought France to have allowed this blunder to have been committed). He stigmatizes the Decree as no insignificant factor in the many causes which led to the anti-foreign outbreak of 1900. And he declares that \"ce Décret intempestif et impolitique doit être rapporté le plus tôt possible\" (this untimely and impolitic Decree ought to be withdrawn as soon as possible). When you have a French authority himself urging the repeal of the Decree you cannot lightly disregard his advice, especially as his words were written before those events in France which have led to the expulsion of the very Congregations whom France is protecting in China.\n\n3. Moreover, the Rescript is, I am certain, condemned by the present French Foreign Minister, M. Pichon. When M. Pichon was in Peking it was no secret that, personally, he condemned the Protectorate as disadvantageous to France, because it led to constant embroilment with the Chinese authorities, in cases in which Frenchmen, as such, had no interest. With M. Clemenceau, the Premier, sympathetic, and M. Pichon more than sympathetic, the time could not be better chosen for annulling the Decree. No true French interests would be assailed. On the contrary, there is not a French official in China who has not experienced the anomaly of his position in relation to the Catholic mission, he, the Representative of France, ranking and holding direct intercourse with the Taotai only, while his subject, the French Bishop, or his protégé, the Dutch or Belgian Bishop, have access on an equal footing to the Viceroy.\n\nYou seized the opportunity of the presence of Mr. John Morley in the India Office to undertake the task of opium suppression. You have the same, or even more favourable, opportunity with M. Pichon at the French Foreign Office to take in hand the Catholic question, and annul the Rescript which has been so subversive of the authority and dignity of your officials throughout the interior.\n\n4. When that Rescript was issued conditions in China were widely different. How could the Nanchang case have occurred if the Decree of the 15th March, 1899, had not been in existence? Moreover, it is the duty of every Chinese to encourage the national ambition, and to press forward the development of the consciousness of nationality, and how could greater help be given than by repealing a Decree which exalts a foreign missionary Bishop of no standing in his own country to the level of a Viceroy in the country in which he is a stranger? Have you ever seen the progress of a Bishop in the interior? He travels with the state of a Viceroy, with the paraphernalia of a Viceroy, and exacts the honours of a Viceroy. It is worth going to Ningpo--to speak of a port easily accessible--to see Mgr. Reynaud in procession, in order to realize how destructive of the national dignity has been that unfortunate Decree of the 15th March, 1899.\n\n5. Repeal of the Decree, without giving any reasons, or excuse, or apology, further than that the conditions have changed, would meet with the support of the entire English, American, and Japanese press, to cite only the three countries where the press is most powerful. Its repeal would be welcomed in Russia, in Germany--whose Throne is Protestant--and I am convinced it would be received without demur by the immense mass of public opinion in France.\n\n6. The Rescript having been repealed, China could then come into direct relations with the Pope. France at one time exercised the undisputed Catholic protectorate in China. Every Catholic missionary, no matter what his nationality, obtained his passport through the French Legation or through the French Consul. China even now recognizes the validity of such passports, although they are in many cases direct misrepresentations of the truth.\n\nA Dutchman, or Belgian, or Spaniard, or Portuguese, being a Catholic missionary, can claim a passport from the French authorities. That passport speaks of the bearer as \"our countryman\"—that is, declares him to be a Frenchman--and affirms that the bearer \"enjoys a good reputation in our country\"—that is, in France, though he may never have been in France. Why should China not dispute these passports? Why should China accept a Minister as \"Plenipotentiary\" when he is unable to issue a passport to his own Catholic missionary?\n\n7. As you know, Germany has renounced this protectorate. In 1882 the German Ambassador in Paris informed the French Government that in future his country would\n\n39", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416718, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 45, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\nexistence of a Loan Agreement or the terms of security; and if difficulties arise, the Chinese Government will not undertake to recover losses.\n\nThis Memorial was approved by Roscript on the 11th May, 1908.\n\nWe have taken this step in consideration of the importance attaching to such loans, and to prevent foreigners from becoming involved in difficulties. I have the honour to request that British subjects may be directed to comply therewith.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nRE\n\n[June 23. 7 JUL 08\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n[21657]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nThe Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company to Foreign Office.--\n\n(Received June 23.)\n\n(Confidential.) Dear Sir Francis,\n\nElectra House, Finsbury Pavement, London, June 22, 1908.\n\nWHEN in Lisbon recently attending the International Telegraph Conference, we were informed that, on the suggestion of Mr. Babington Smith, you had instructed the British Minister at Peking to make representations to the Chinese Government with a view to inducing them to accept Japan's counter-proposal for the settlement of the long-outstanding difficulty between China and Japan in regard to the Manchurian telegraph question.\n\nWe now learn from Mr. Dresing, who has just arrived in London, that the Chinese Government has agreed to accept the counter-proposal on the following conditions, viz.:-\n\n1. That Japan retains the Japanese telegraph stations in Manchuria outside the actual railway territory for two years.\n\n2. That Japan then hands these stations over to China on the understanding that China undertakes to have by that time operators trained to telegraph \"katakanas.\"\n\nUnfortunately these conditions are unacceptable to Japan, and they have been rejected. At the same time, Japan has promised to only deal with traffic at the retained stations exchanged with the Japanese system.\n\nIn these circumstances the Chinese-Japanese telegraph negotiations are again at a deadlock, and unless China can be induced to withdraw the above conditions and accept Japan's counter-proposal without further delay, very serious consequences may result to British as well as to Chinese telegraph interests, especially as Russia has given notice to cancel her Convention with China regarding the North Manchurian telegraphs, unless before the 1st November next a similar Convention is made between Japan and China respecting the South Manchurian telegraphs.\n\nWe should therefore be glad if you could see your way to instruct the British Minister at Peking to make further representations to the Chinese Government on the subject.\n\nYours faithfully, (Signed) F. E. HESSE.\n\n[1819-]\n\n-1]\n\n43", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416753, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 80, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[June 24.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n[21726]\n\n(No. 249.) Sir,\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 24.)\n\nPeking, June 4, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith a Report drawn up by Mr. Seeds, Third Secretary in His Majesty's Legation, summarizing the events of minor importance which have occurred during the past month.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nJ. N. JORDAN,\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nSummary of Events for the month of May.\n\nAmoy.\n\nA FURTHER instance of the activity displayed by the Japanese in this district is to be found in the efforts now being made by the Japanese Consul to secure the appointment of one of his nationals as foreign engineer in charge of the Amoy-Changchou Railway. This line, which was reported on in the monthly summary inclosed in Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 101 of the 3rd March last, is making slow progress owing, to some extent, to the present foreign engineer. The Railway Company wish to dismiss this person—a Frenchman—and to engage a British engineer in his place. This the Japanese Consul is strenuously opposing. He is, unfortunately for British interests, sure of the support of the Amoy Taotai, an official with strong pro-Japanese leanings.\n\nIn another case which occurred some little time ago the Japanese efforts were crowned with success. A Company which had been formed to exploit some mines near O-thau, not far from Chuanchou-fu, had engaged a British engineer, but the Japanese Consul was successful in bullying the Company into dismissing the Englishman and appointing a Japanese engineer in his stead.\n\nChengtu.\n\nThe Manchu Garrison at Chengtu.---Dissatisfaction among the members of the Manchu garrison with the Edict of September and the Proclamation of November last respecting the removal of distinctions between Manchus and Chinese and the provision of a working livelihood for the former, culminated on the 19th January in a riot in the Tartar city. Some hundreds of Manchus, men and women, went to the Tartar General's yamên and commenced to wreck the buildings. The assistance of the Chengtu police and of the Chinese garrison troops were called in, and the Acting Viceroy, with the whole body of local officials, went to the scene of the disturbance, which was suppressed before any very serious damage was done. The Tartar General and the Acting Viceroy reported the affair to the Throne, and on the 20th January a Rescript was received ordering the punishment of the ringleaders and of the officers whose duty it should have been to suppress any such outbreak.\n\nA lengthy Proclamation in the vulgar dialect was issued at the end of February, explaining that, to guard against the increasing poverty likely to result gradually from the increase in their numbers, land is to be given to the bannermen to cultivate, and schools are to be established where they may learn to gain a living, and that there is no intention of withdrawing their pensions without compensation. A severe warning is given against further disturbances.\n\nThe Chuan Han Railway—No further statement of accounts would seem to have been published since the balance sheet of the 9th July, 1907, which formed the subject of Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 549 of the 25th November last. There is no great\n\n[1819 aa-1]\n\n77", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416757, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 84, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[22276]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 29.)\n\n81\n\n[June 29.]\n\nSECTION 3.\n\n1\n\n(No. 208.) Sir,\n\nPeking, May 11, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to report that in August last M. Boissonnas, the French Chargé d'Affaires, consulted me on the question of agreeing to the reinstatement of a Chinese official who had been degraded as a consequence of the Boxer troubles of 1900.\n\nI expressed the view that there were grave objections to reopening questions settled in the course of the peace negotiations of 1901, and that although there might be, as he suggested, cases of injustice, it seemed to me safer to adhere to the decisions of our predecessors. I promised, however, to look into the circumstances of this particular case and let him have a reply.\n\nOn finding that six British missionaries had been murdered in the district where this official held a command, I wrote to M. Boissonnas, pointing out this fact and declining to take any action in his favour.\n\nThe incident passed out of my mind till my attention was called to a Rescript in the \"Peking Gazette\" of the 15th February, reinstating the official in question.\n\nOwing to important business with the Wai-wu Pu at that time I did not make immediate inquiries of that Department, but asked the French Minister, M. Bapst, if he could give me any information on the subject since it was one which I felt bound to take up.\n\nHearing nothing from M. Bapst, I addressed the Wai-wu Pu on the 27th February in the note copy of which I have the honour to inclose.\n\nOn the following day Messrs. Campbell and Mayers were at the Wai-wu Pu, and were shown by the Grand Secretary Na Tung a letter written by the Roman Catholic Bishop, Mgr. Jarlin, to the Wai-wu Pu, in which it was stated that the British Minister had been consulted by the French Legation, and had offered no objection to the reinstatement of Yang Hung-li.\n\nOn learning this I at once sought my French colleague and M. Boissonnas. The latter said that while fully understanding my objection to reopening settled cases of that period, he had gathered the impression that I would probably not protest in this instance if the punishment was rescinded. He had, however, never authorized the Bishop to communicate as he had done with the Wai-wu Pu. I replied that I had never intended to convey such an impression, since I could hardly acquiesce in the pardon of an official under the circumstances in question, and I expressed my surprise that the Wai-wu Pu had been encouraged to take such a step without consulting me personally.\n\nM. Bapst called in the evening and expressed much regret for the misunderstanding. I also received a visit from Mgr. Jarlin, greatly perturbed at the mistake which he had made. From his account it appeared that he had no interest whatever in Yang Hung-li. He had been approached by a Chinese General who had befriended the Catholic missionaries in various parts, and who wished to see Yang Hung-li restored to office. In order to oblige the Chinese General the Bishop had interested himself in the case.\n\nOn my next visit to the Wai-wu Pu, I explained what had occurred, and invited them to find a solution of the difficulty in which they had placed themselves by acceding to the wishes of the French Bishop in so complaisant a manner.\n\nAfter my return from the south, I again made inquiries, and intimated to his Excellency Yuan Shih-k'ai that, while I had no desire to press the matter to an extreme, the Chinese Government should show that the irregularity was being corrected as far as possible. A few days later I received the note, a translation of which is inclosed, and which appears to me to offer a satisfactory settlement of the case.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n[1819 ƒ-3]\n\n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416758, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 85, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\n82\n\n[June 29.]\n\nSECTION 4.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nPeking, February 27, 1908.\n\nON the 15th February the \"Official Gazette\" published an Imperial Rescript issued on the previous day to the Wai-wu Pu and the Army Board, in response to a Memorial of the former Department, whereby the degraded Brigade-General, Yang Hang-li, is reinstated in rank, and the condemnation \"never to be re-employed\" is withdrawn.\n\nThis officer was Brigade-General at Ta Tung-fu, in Shansi, in 1900, when, as a result of the Boxer disturbances, six British missionaries, two men and four women were murdered in that locality.\n\nOn account of his failure to protect these missionaries, the Brigade-General Yang was denounced by the foreign Representatives, and by an Imperial Decree of the 19th August, 1901, he was condemned to immediate degradation and precluded from all further employment.\n\nSince he has now been reinstated in rank, and appears by newspaper reports to be again employed officially, my Government will desire to learn the reasons which have led your Highness' Board to apply to the throne for a remission of the sentence imposed in 1900, under an Imperial Decree, which is mentioned under Article 2 (a) of the Protocol of 1901.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n(Translation.) Sir,\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nWai-wu Pu to Sir J. Jordan,\n\nPeking, May 9, 1908.\n\nWITH regard to the case of Yang Hung-li, who was restored to the rank of Brigadier-General, your Excellency stated in a recent interview that if the Chinese Government did not employ him, the British Government would, of course, take a reasonable view of the occurrence.\n\nAs your Excellency is aware, Yang Hung-li has been attached to the staff of General Chiang. The Board have now written to General Chiang, telling him to call upon Yang Hung-li to resign, and to serve in no other official capacity.\n\nWe avail, &c.\n\n(Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu.)\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[22272]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 29.)\n\n(No. 202.) Sir,\n\nPeking, May 7, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches Nos. 49 and 127 of the 28th January and the 6th March respecting the dispute between the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company and the local French authorities with regard to certain lands in French occupation in Ching Wang Tao.\n\nI have conferred on two occasions since the receipt of these despatches with Major Nathan on this question, and have found him to share the views of his Company that there is no possibility of arriving at a settlement here if the negotiations are to be limited by the Memorandum of the 4th July, 1907.\n\nActing on the suggestion of Mr. Leech, Major Nathan took means of ascertaining indirectly if the French Minister was prepared in any way to modify the attitude he has invariably maintained towards the Company in this matter, and the result convinced him that it would be useless to make further overtures to M. Bapst.\n\nTo insure that there could be no mistake about M. Bapst's views, I myself alluded to the question in the course of conversation with him a few days ago, and found him quite opposed to any amicable arrangement with the Company. He said that, if there was an upheaval in China, Ching Wan Tao and the land in question would doubtless again be occupied by the foreign Powers, while, on the other hand, if the country attained a settled state of tranquillity, France would be bound to return the land to the Chinese Government. This is the veiled threat against which I had protested on previous occasions.\n\nAs a subsequent despatch will show you, the question of regularizing the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company's position and of the purchase by the Chinese Government of the Company's property at Ching Wan Tao is now under consideration, and a general solution on these lines would dispose of the dispute between the Company and the French Government. I think, therefore, and Major Nathan agrees, that it is desirable to leave the smaller and comparatively unimportant matter in abeyance until we see whether there is any prospect of arriving at an arrangement of the general question. This is the more necessary as the French Minister would doubtless not hesitate, as he has done before, to appeal to the Chinese authorities and support their view that the Company's title to the Ching Wan Tao land rests on an insecure basis.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n[1819-4]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416786, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 113, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[32969]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n(June 25.)\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nQuestion asked in the House of Commons, June 25, 1908.\n\nMr. Theodore Taylor,-To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, having regard to the recent Rescript of the Government of China ordering the entire cessation of the growth of the poppy and the manufacture of opium therefrom throughout that Empire within two years, and in view of the declared policy of His Majesty's Government to proceed pari passu with China in restricting the opium traffic, the Secretary of State for India will give orders that the planting of poppy in India during the coming autumn shall be materially further restricted.\n\nAnswer,\n\nThe Secretary of State is not aware that a Rescript abolishing poppy cultivation and opium production throughout China within two years was recently issued.\n\n[1815 bb-1]\n\nPage 201\n\nPage 201\n\n留\n\n...\n\nPage 110\n\nPage 110", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416788, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 115, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[July 20.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\n[25131]\n\n(No. 283.) Sir,\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received July 20.)\n\nPeking, June 23, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour, in continuation of my despatch No. 154 of the 31st March, to transmit to you herewith copies of correspondence with the Governor of Hong Kong with regard to the prohibition of the trade in prepared opium between China and Hong Kong.\n\nIn his despatch of the 30th May Sir F. Lugard informed me that an Ordinance to prohibit the export of prepared opium to China had been introduced into the Legislative Council, but stated that he did not propose to proceed with the Bill until an Imperial Decree prohibiting the export of prepared opium from China to Hong Kong had been issued and a copy of it placed in his hands.\n\nSir F. Lugard evidently did not regard the Imperial Rescript, the issue of which was notified in the Wai-wu Pu's note of the 24th March, as constituting sufficient authority for his purpose.\n\nIn replying to this communication, I have informed Sir F. Lugard that the words \"Imperial Rescript\" should in reality have been translated \"Imperial Decree,\" as the Chinese text, of which I forwarded him a copy, will show, and I have added my personal assurance that the Chinese Government have, in effect, followed the course indicated in Sir F. Lugard's despatch of the 15th January, which formed an inclosure in my No. 59 of the 3rd February.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nSir,\n\nGovernor Sir F. Lugard to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nGovernment House, Hong Kong, May 30, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to confirm my telegram of the 14th instant and to inform your Excellency that a Bill entitled \"An Ordinance to Prohibit the Exportation of Prepared Opium to China\" has been introduced into the Legislative Council of this Colony, and has passed a first and second reading.\n\n2. In your despatch of the 27th March last your Excellency informed me that a Memorial was presented to the Throne on the 22nd idem to the effect that His Majesty's Government had agreed that both countries should take steps to stop smuggling, and recommending that the trade in prepared opium to Hong Kong from China should be prohibited, and that an Imperial Rescript had been issued; but, as intimated in my despatch of the 15th January last, I do not propose to proceed with the Bill until an Imperial Decree prohibiting the export of prepared opium from China to Hong Kong shall have been issued and a copy of it is in my hands.\n\n3. I shall be obliged, therefore, if your Excellency will be good enough to inform me when such a Decree will be issued.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) F. D. LUGARD.\n\n[1844]\n\n[-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416789, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 116, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "113\n\nDOMESTIC.\n\n2\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Governor Sir F. Lugard.\n\nSir,\n\nPeking, June 16, 1908. WITH reference to your Excellency's despatch of the 30th May, on the subject of an Ordinance to prohibit the exportation of prepared opium to China, I have the honour to state that the words \"Imperial Rescript\" in my despatch of the 27th March and its inclosure should have been \"Imperial Decree.\" A copy of the Chinese text of the Wai-wu Pu's note of the 24th March is inclosed herewith for your information.* I have no hesitation in assuring you that, in my view, the Chinese Government have taken the action indicated in paragraph 2 of your Excellency's despatch of the 15th January last.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nOffice or Individual.\n\nForeign\n\n1908\n\n15 July\n\nLast previous Paper.\n\n755\n\nHONG KONG\n\n0.\n\n25781\n\n10 JUL 08\n\n(Subject.)\n\nNo. 25781\n\nChina Trade\n\nSends prints of confl. correspondence\n\n* Not printed.\n\n$150006-W. & 3, Ltd.-9963–\n\n819-W. & S. Ltd,-23140-\n\n28000-11-07\n\nxt subsequent Paper.\n\nO\n\n605\n\n(Minutes.)\n\nM2 Stubbs\n\nQuito to Hongkong +847 Confess\n\nOnit June\n\n2117\n\n22.52.\n\nBE\n\n21\n\natonce", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416837, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 164, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "Reports were to be furnished by each province at the close of each year as to the measures taken to decrease cultivation and consumption of opium, while the Board of Finance was to provide the funds required to replace the prospective diminution of revenue from the opium tax. The Memorial (Appendix (A)) reviewed the steps taken by China in the matter and the negotiations with foreign Powers and the Government of India.\n\nThe Decree of the 7th April (Appendix (B)) followed. Under this instrument Prince Kung and other high officers of State were appointed Imperial Commissioners to enforce the application of the prohibition in the case of persons holding official positions. Within three months the Prohibition Commissioners were to establish a special Department for the purpose of weeding out of the public service all those addicted to the drug.\n\nIt was foreseen that the duties imposed upon them were not likely to prove agreeable or popular, and they were consequently exhorted to perform them fearlessly and not to be influenced by personal considerations.\n\nThe high rank and character of the Commissioners left no doubt of the sincerity of the Court's intentions.\n\nThe supervisory Regulations which the Boards of Finance and of the Interior were called upon to prepare were approved by an Imperial Rescript of the 23rd May (Appendix (C)).\n\nIt was recognized that the most important step to be taken was the restriction of the growth of the poppy, and the provincial authorities in the Regulations were called upon periodically to furnish detailed reports on the area in cultivation, and to enforce the proposed annual reduction.\n\nThe revenue question, which has hitherto been one of the chief obstacles to a thorough compliance with the previous Edicts in the provinces, was left for further consideration. Public hongs were to be established in every province for the purchase and sale of native opium, and rules were laid down for the more efficient regulation of shops and dens, of smokers, and the cure of those addicted to smoking, also for the encouragement of Anti-Opium Societies and for the distribution of medicines. Rewards in the shape of promotion were held out to those who conscientiously carried out the Imperial wishes, whilst punishments are provided for those who fail to do their duty.\n\nThe apathy of the provincial authorities, to which allusion has been made, is to be noticed chiefly in a growing indifference as to whether the rules of the Decree of November 1906 are stringently carried out or not. Generally speaking, smokers do not take out licences. Dens, though officially closed, are in many cases surreptitiously opened. Opium shops are only spasmodically inspected, while Anti-Opium Societies are gradually dying a natural death from lack of funds or interest, or both.\n\nThough there are exceptions to this state of affairs in certain districts, due to enlightened officials, especially in the coast provinces, it cannot be said that officials in general have fully carried out the duty of leading the movement imposed upon them by the Court.\n\nTwo principal reasons may be assigned for this apathy, namely, the fact that so many public officials are still addicted to the drug, and further the question of provincial finances, and of finding revenue to replace that at present derived from opium. This latter question is still left for future consideration, no concrete proposals having yet been made.\n\nOn the whole, it may be said in regard to the Anti-Opium Regulations that officials showing sufficient force of character to uphold them are almost sure of support from the people, prompted as the latter are by the force of public opinion, a force formerly unknown in China and of recent growth, but which is well upheld by the native press, and the incipient moral education of the nation and the awakening of a national conscience. The Times' correspondent has aptly used the expression \"bad form\" in describing the view of the educated Chinese towards opium smoking in public, and should this sentiment gain in moral force there seems no reason why it should not develop into \"losing face,\" that most powerful of all rules of conduct in China, corresponding either to \"dishonourable\" or \"ungentlemanlike,\" as the case may be.\n\nPage 66\n\nIn accordance with the 10th Article of the Anti-Opium Decree, China was to enter into negotiations with the object of prohibiting the importation of foreign opium. Very material progress has been made in this direction, and, as far as Great Britain is concerned, the negotiations are concluded, and the measures agreed upon are already in operation.\n\n3\n\nBriefly summarized, they are as follows:-\n\nThe Indian Government reduce the gross export from India, taken on the basis of 51,000 chests, by 5,100 chests per annum, to commence from 1908 (not 1905), an arrangement which continues for three years, and will be proceeded with until the export trade from India thus extinguishes itself automatically within the ten years' limit prescribed by the Chinese Government for the abolition of opium in China, provided always that China during these three years has proportionately reduced the production and consumption of Chinese opium, and has similarly arranged for the reduction of the importation of Turkish and other opium. The good-will of the Indian Government was manifested by the practical application of the proposed annual reduction of export without waiting for the conclusion by the Chinese Government of arrangements for the reduction of the import of Turkish, Persian, and other opium, which chiefly finds its way to China viâ Hong Kong. This latter question has been settled in the following just and reasonable manner by the Chinese Government, neither Turkey nor Persia being Treaty Powers, the system adopted being similar to that now in force in regard to Indian opium.\n\nFrom the 1st January, 1909, any merchant wishing to import into any open port in China any Persian or Turkish opium must apply to the Commissioner of Customs at Kowloon for a special permit—one for each chest of opium. This permit shall state that the opium may be shipped to any open port in China, and that, on its arrival, duty and likin will be paid in accordance with the Regulations. Any Persian or Turkish opium shipped to China for which this special permit cannot be produced shall be confiscated.\n\nTaking 1,125 piculs as the mean annual import of Persian and Turkish opium, this quantity shall be reduced every year by one-ninth, i.e., 125 piculs. Thus in 1909 special permits will only be issued for 1,000 piculs, and by making a similar reduction annually the import will entirely cease in nine years.\n\nAfter 1916 no more special permits will be issued, and the import into China of Persian and Turkish opium, as well as that of Indian opium, will be completely suspended.\n\n2\n\nThe special permits will only be issued to merchants who have hitherto, to the knowledge of the Imperial Maritime Customs, been engaged in the trade in Turkish and Persian opium. In fixing the number of special permits to be issued annually to each merchant, the total import during the two years 1906-7, and the quantities imported by each merchant during those years, will be taken as a basis, the number of permits being annually decreased. With regard to the importation of \"other kinds of opium\" into China, she must make arrangements with the Treaty Powers. No particulars are available as to the place of origin, but the quantity is so trifling, amounting in 1906 to 64 piculs only, which is said to have been all re-exported, that the Chinese Government do not consider the matter worth noticing in their anti-opium schemes. It would, however, seem advisable to come to definite arrangements with all Treaty Powers on the subject, even with those at present not interested in the opium trade. Neither France, Holland, America, nor Japan allow the cultivation of the poppy in their Colonies and possessions in the Far East, which thus practically reduces the other opium-producing countries to India, Persia, and Turkey.\n\nFrom various quarters in China it is announced that the price of foreign opium is rising, and this increase is likely to continue in proportion to the reduction of production in China and of importation from abroad, except in the somewhat improbable contingency of the demand for the drug decreasing proportionately to the reduction of supply. There can be no doubt that foreign opium is superior both in quality and strength to the native product, consequently a great stimulus will be given to smuggling in a country where people attach more importance to quality than to price. Moreover, possessing great value in small bulk, and being by the simplest process reduced to a marketable commodity, it is not improbable that, unless all the Treaty Powers agree to the eventual cessation of the import of the drug into China, the desire of high profits may cause poppy crops to appear in places to which it is at present a stranger with a view to the introduction of the drug into China.\n\nThe other arrangements concluded with Great Britain are fully set forth in the Chinese Memorial to the Throne (Appendix (A)), and are briefly as follows:-\n\nA Chinese official will be sent to Calcutta to watch the opium auctions and packing, but will have no other authority, and in this connection it might be thought advisable that corresponding British officials should be sent to observe the reduction of\n\nPage 161", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416841, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 168, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "10\n\n11\n\nYunnan Province.\n\nThe energetic Viceroy has shown great zeal in reducing smoking and cultivation in and near the capital. Practically all the ground is now planted with other crops. He has reduced the abolition time limit from ten to three years, and cultivators are registered. At Talifu the officials and gentry are giving up the habit.\n\nKiangsi Province.\n\nPractically no opium is grown in this province. Smokers are registered in the towns, but not in the country districts. Government bureaux for the sale of prepared opium exist in several districts, and the Legation is at present protesting against them in connection with foreign opium.\n\nIn conclusion, it may be said that, although there may still be difficulties to be overcome before the drug is definitely exterminated from the Chinese Empire, the Central Government, owing to their determined attitude, the assistance they have received from foreign Governments, the energy of some of the provincial officials, and last, but not least, the somewhat unexpected moral support of the Chinese people, may look upon the battle as already won.\n\nAPPENDIX (A).\n\nAnti-Opium Regulations.\n\nMemorial presented by the Wai-wu Pu on March 22, 1908, with reference to the Arrangements concluded with Foreign Powers.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nON the 22nd November, 1906, a Memorial embodying proposals for carrying out the prohibition of opium was submitted to the Throne by the Government Council, and the following Imperial Rescript was issued: \"Approved.\" A copy of this Memorial was forwarded by the Grand Council to the Board.\n\nIn the 10th section of the Memorial the following passage occurs:—\n\n\"The question of foreign opium, which is imported from abroad, impinges on our foreign relations, and the Board of Foreign Affairs should therefore make a satisfactory arrangement with the British Minister with a view to effecting an annual decrease of the import of foreign opium pari passu with the decrease of native opium, so that both may be absolutely prohibited on the expiry of the time limit.\n\n\"Besides Indian opium, the drug is also imported from Persia, Annam, and the Dutch Indies in no small quantities. In the case of the Treaty Powers negotiations should similarly be entered into with their Representatives in Peking to effect the prohibition of such import; while with the non-Treaty Powers we can exercise our own prerogative in strictly forbidding the import.\n\n\"All Tartar Generals, Military Lieutenant-Governors, Governors-General, and Governors should also direct their subordinate authorities and Commissioners of Customs to take preventive measures along the trade routes and frontiers to stop smuggling.\n\nAs regards morphia and the instruments used for its injection, the effects of which are even more injurious than those of opium itself, proper effect should be given to the stipulations laid down in Article 2 of the British Commercial Treaty and Article 16 of the American Commercial Treaty, and instructions be issued to all custom-houses to disallow the import of any morphia or instrument into China which are not for medical use; while a strict prohibition must be enforced against any shops in China, whether native or foreign, manufacturing morphia or instruments for its injection.\"\n\nThe Board then prepared a Memorandum embodying six proposals and forwarded it to His Majesty's Minister at Peking for transmission to His Majesty's Government. These proposals were as follows:-\n\n\"1. To decrease the amount of foreign opium imported year by year, until it finally disappears. Taking the average of the annual import of foreign opium for the preceding five years (1901-5) as the figure to work upon, to reduce the import by one-tenth each year after 1907, so that it shall disappear entirely in ten years.\n\n2. Calcutta being the chief emporium for foreign opium, we proposed that China should appoint an officer to proceed to Calcutta for the purpose of watching the opium auctions and the packing, in order to ascertain the actual quantities of foreign opium delivered for export,\n\n3. The strength of foreign opium is double that of the native drug. Although, however, the duty on native opium has been raised to 115 taels per picul, the combined duty and li-kin on foreign opium remains at 110 taels. We proposed, therefore, that as a prohibitive measure the duty on foreign opium should be doubled.\n\n4. Hong Kong being a place where foreign opium is prepared, the Governor of Hong Kong should be asked to assist us by strictly forbidding the export to China of prepared foreign opium. \n5. With regard to the opium shops and opium dens, as well as the shops for selling appliances for opium smoking in the foreign Settlements and Concessions, we proposed that the measures for the inspection and prohibition of such places should be similar to those adopted by the Chinese territorial authorities.\n\n6. The British and American Commercial Treaties already contemplate steps to be taken for effecting the prohibition against the dangers involved in the importation of morphia and instruments for its injection. But the adhesion of all the Treaty Powers is necessary before this Article comes into operation. We proposed that this Article should be put into effective operation as soon as possible.\"\n\nAfter much discussion and correspondence in the course of last year the following Agreement was arrived at between His Majesty's Minister and the Board:--\n\n1. Taking the total export of Indian opium to all countries to be 51,000 chests, this quantity is to be decreased annually by 5,100 chests, so as to put an end to the traffic entirely in ten years from 1908.\n\n\"2. An officer will be sent to Calcutta to watch the opium auctions and the packing, but it shall be clearly understood that this officer is there solely for the purpose of ascertaining the actual quantities of foreign opium delivered for export and has no other authority.\n\n165\n\nTY", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416843, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 170, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "14\n\nsmoking, or has really abandoned the habit altogether, the office shall furnish him with a certificate to that effect, and he shall be allowed to continue to hold his official position; but should it be proved on investigation that he is addicted to the habit he shall be dismissed from his office.\n\nAs regards the subordinate officials in the various public offices in the capital and provinces, their superior officers are required to take stringent measures for the strict enforcement of the prohibition. If, therefore, it be discovered by the Commissioners, and be proved on investigation, that an official is addicted to opium, his superior officers shall also be reported to the Board for punishment in proportion to the degree of weakness and remissness displayed by them.\n\nThe Commissioners for the enforcement of the prohibition of opium have all been specially selected for the post. They must set aside all personal feelings, and, performing their duty zealously and fearlessly, must not shun the high responsibility placed upon them or execute it perfunctorily. Should the prohibition of opium still fail to show satisfactory results in the future, the Commissioners shall be held to account.\n\nLet the Comptroller-General of Opium Taxation, K'o Feng Shih, provide 30,000 taels out of the revenue from the consolidated tax on native opium for the expenses connected with establishing the office above referred to, and 60,000 taels for the annual expenditure, in order to assist this important work.\n\n15\n\nWith regard to the measures to be taken to secure the strict enforcement of the Regulations, the question of rewards or punishments will turn upon whether a strict supervision has been exercised, and whether the Regulations have been faithfully carried out. The matter of rewards and punishments, however, concerns the Board of Civil Office, and these Regulations merely outline what is to be done; special Regulations in detail should be prepared by the Board of Civil Office, in accordance with precedent, and submitted for approval to the Throne, in order that uniformity may be preserved.\n\nWhen those who should set a good example to others become addicted to opium smoking they should be dealt with, after an investigation into their case, by the Commissioners for the Prohibition of Opium.\n\nThe question of finding other sources of revenue to take the place of the opium tax will have to be considered as a separate question by the Board of Finance, who will present a Memorial on the subject, and take action.\n\nWe now reverently submit for your Majesties' consideration the twenty-three supervisory Regulations prepared by the two Boards in consultation. Should they meet with your Majesties' approval, they will then be sent to the Commissioners for the prohibition of opium for their information, and instructions will be issued to the Board of Civil Office and the provincial authorities to take the necessary action.\n\nThis Memorial, setting forth the supervisory Regulations for the prohibition of opium prepared by the Boards in consultation and the methods suggested for securing their Enforcement, is now submitted for your Majesties' approval, and the Imperial commands are requested.\n\nThis Memorial has been drafted by the Board of Interior with the co-operation of the Board of Finance.\n\nOn the 23rd May the following Imperial Rescript was received:— “Approved,”\n\n167\n\nAPPENDIX (C).\n\nExtract from the \"Official Gazette\" of May 30, 1908.\n\nPROHIBITION OF OPIUM.\n\nJoint Memorial submitted, in obedience to an Imperial Decree, by the Board of the Interior and Board of Finance proposing certain Supervisory Regulations, and suggesting methods for enforcing compliance therewith.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nON the 22nd March the following Imperial Decree was received by the Grand Secretariat:-\n\n[Quoted at length.]\n\nThe prohibition of opium, with a view to the removal of this long-standing evil and the reclamation of those enfeebled by its use, is a measure of the first importance to the strength of the country. Several urgent Decrees have already been issued fixing a limit of time within which the abolition of opium must gradually be effected, and orders of the most comprehensive description have repeatedly been given prohibiting its use. This further Decree directing the Boards of the Interior and of Finance to prepare supervisory Regulations and to devise means of enforcing compliance therewith is a mark of your Majesties' anxiety for the people's welfare and earnest desire to secure the effectiveness of this measure.\n\nAfter discussion and careful deliberation on this matter, the Boards have come to the conclusion that the success of the prohibition of opium depends upon the degree of thoroughness with which supervision is exercised, and that the obedience accorded to the prohibition depends upon the degree of stringency with which it is enforced. The only way in which abuses can be rooted out and deceptions avoided is to prepare explicit supervisory Regulations for the prohibition of opium, and to devise means of compliance therewith.\n\nThe measures involved in the prohibition of opium are many and difficult, including as they do the supervision of the cultivation, consumption, and sale of the drug. All these measures are of great importance, but the first step should be to investigate the amount of land under opium cultivation, and gradually diminish the quantity grown. This plan attacks the evil at its source, and other measures, such as the investigation of the number of opium smokers, the closing of opium dens, and the limitation of the sale of the drug, must then be carefully considered in their turn.\n\nAs all the above matters are connected with land and taxation or else are concerned with the police administration and the public health they come within the province of the Boards of Finance and of the Interior, and it is, of course, our duty to consider them carefully. We have now the honour to submit supervisory Regulations for the prohibition of opium, and to request that Imperial instructions may be issued to the high provincial authorities to furnish detailed reports, in accordance with these Regulations, for the information of the Board of Interior. As to whether it may be possible to shorten the time limit with a view to hastening the attainment of the object in view, or to introduce any modifications into the Regulations, such points will be for the provincial authorities concerned to decide on consideration of the local conditions.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nPROHIBITION OF OPIUM.\n\nSupervisory Regulations.\n\nSection 1.-Diminution of Cultivation.\n\nArticle 1. Returns of the amount of land under opium cultivation, the names of the owners, and the amount of opium produced shall be made by all local officials within six months to the high provincial authorities, who shall forward collective reports to the Board of Finance and Board of the Interior.\n\nArt. 2. The ten years' period within which opium is to be abolished shall be reckoned from Kuang Hsü 32 (1906-7), and the cultivation of opium is to be diminished in accordance with the Regulations laid down by the Grand Council. No opium must ever be grown on land not hitherto under opium cultivation, and in the case of land already under opium cultivation the amount must be annually decreased by one-eighth, taking as a basis the figure given in the returns for Kuang Hsü 34 (1908-9). The cultivation of opium will thus cease entirely in Kuang Hsü 41 (1915-6). Returns shall also be made from time to time as to what crops are being grown on the land withdrawn from opium cultivation.\n\nArt. 3. Permits, sealed by the provincial authorities, shall be issued by the local officials to opium growers, the permits being altered annually. Any person growing opium without a permit shall be liable to punishment. A fee of 15 cash per mou shall be levied on each permit, but no further charge whatever may be made.\n\nSection 2.- Public Hongs.\n\nArt. 4. Since the inauguration of a consolidated tax on native opium, the Provinces of Anhui, Honan, and Shansi have already established a system of public hongs for the sale of native opium appointed by the Branch Consolidated Tax Office and the local official. These public hongs are responsible for the payment of the tax on native opium, and the grower must sell and the dealer purchase opium through them. The warehouseman must also report all purchases and sales of opium to the public hong, which sees that the taxes are paid. This system will now be extended to the other provinces, and these public hongs shall keep a daily record of all sales of opium, giving the names of the purchasers, and shall report to the Branch Consolidated Tax Office. A general Report, setting forth the reductions effected by each public hong, shall be furnished annually to the Board of the Interior by the Directors-General of Native Opium Taxation. In the case of Szechuan, Yünnan, Kweichow, Turkestan, and Manchuria, where there is no consolidated tax on native opium, the provincial authorities shall take action on the same lines.\n\nNative opium warehousemen must hold permits from the Local Consolidated Tax Bureau and local official. Without such permits they will not be allowed to purchase opium either through the public hong or from the grower.\n\nF\n\nPage 168\n\n \n\n[1814]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416853, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 180, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n28370\n\nSECTION 4.\n\n4-AUG 08\n\n[22610]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n(No. 261.) Sir,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 1.)\n\nPeking, June 5, 1908. AS reported in my despatch No. 151 of the 30th March last, the Boards of Finance and of the Interior were instructed by the Throne to prepare Supervisory Regulations for the strict enforcement of the Anti-opium Edicts.\n\nI have now the honour to inclose copy of the joint Memorial presented in obedience to these instructions, and of the Imperial Rescript, dated the 23rd May, by which the proposed Regulations are approved.\n\nThe anxiety and energy of the Central Government in the anti-opium crusade seem to increase in proportion to the apathy and lack of zeal which are gradually being shown in the provinces in regard to the movement.\n\nThe former Regulations, which appeared to allow of no means of evasion, have not been enforced with the completeness necessary for success, although marked progress has been made to eradicate the evil, especially in regard to the reduction of smoking among the humbler classes.\n\nIt is now recognized that the most important step to be taken at this juncture is the restriction of the growth of the poppy, and the provincial authorities, in the Regulations which are now inclosed, are called upon to furnish periodically detailed reports on the area in cultivation, and to enforce the proposed annual reduction.\n\nShould this be efficiently carried out, considerable hardships will be suffered, especially by the inhabitants of the great opium-growing provinces of Szechuan, Yunnan, and Kweichow.\n\nNo proposals for compensation are contemplated to those who are now called upon to abandon a hitherto legitimate and lucrative form of agriculture, chiefly carried on in remote districts, where the farmers will no doubt have great difficulty in finding other remunerative crops, owing to the expense of transport. They may therefore be reasonably expected to manifest their discontent in the future in some form or other.\n\nThe revenue question, which has doubtless been one of the chief obstacles to a thorough compliance with the previous Edicts in the provinces, is left for further consideration.\n\nPublic hongs are now to be established in every province for the purchase and sale of native opium, and rules are laid down for the more efficient regulation of shops and dens, of smokers, and the cure of those addicted to smoking, also for the encouragement of Anti-opium Societies and for the distribution of medicine.\n\nRewards in the shape of promotion are held out to those who conscientiously carry out the Imperial wishes, while punishments are provided for those who fail to do their duty.\n\nThe whole question seems now to have resolved itself into a trial of strength and authority between the Central Government and the provincial officials. The former may be said to have \"burnt their boats,\" and must go forward in the movement, while the latter, in some cases owing to the pleasing effects of the drug, in which they still indulge, hesitate in complying fully with the wishes of the Central Government. In most cases it is only fair to say that the dislocation of provincial finances and the difficulty of replacing revenue hitherto derived from opium have considerably hampered the progress of the crusade.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nB\n\n177\n\nPage 180\n\nPage 181", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416854, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 181, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "Inclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nExtract from the \"Official Gazette\" of May 30, 1908.\n\nPROHIBITION OF OPIUM.\n\nJOINT MEMORIAL submitted in obedience to an Imperial Decree, by the Board of the Interior and Board of Finance, proposing certain Supervisory Regulations and suggesting methods for enforcing compliance therewith.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nON the 22nd March the following Imperial Decree was received by the Grand Secretariat:--\n\n[Quoted at length.]\n\nThe prohibition of opium, with a view to the removal of this long-standing evil and reclamation of those enfeebled by its use, is a measure of the first importance to the strength of the country. Several urgent Decrees have already been issued fixing a limit of time within which the abolition of opium must gradually be effected and orders of the most comprehensive description have repeatedly been given prohibiting its use. This further Decree directing the Boards of the Interior and of Finance to prepare Supervisory Regulations and to devise means of enforcing compliance therewith is a mark of your Majesties' anxiety for the people's welfare and earnest desire to secure the effectiveness of this measure.\n\nAfter discussion and careful deliberation on this matter, the Boards have come to the conclusion that the success of the prohibition of opium depends upon the degree of thoroughness with which supervision is exercised, and that the obedience accorded to the prohibition depends upon the degree of stringency with which it is enforced. The only way in which abuses can be rooted out and deceptions avoided is to prepare explicit Supervisory Regulations for the prohibition of opium and to devise means of enforcing compliance therewith.\n\nThe measures involved in the prohibition of opium are many and difficult, including as they do the supervision of the cultivation, consumption, and sale of the drug. All these measures are of great importance, but the first step should be to investigate the amount of land under opium cultivation and gradually diminish the quantity grown. This plan attacks the evil at its source, and other measures, such as the investigation of the number of opium smokers, the closing of the opium dens and the limitation of the sale of the drug, must then be carefully considered in their turn.\n\nAs all the above matters are connected with land and taxation or else are concerned with the police administration and the public health, they come within the province of the Board of Finance and of the Interior, and it is, of course, our duty to consider them carefully. We have now the honour to submit Supervisory Regulations for the prohibition of opium and to request that Imperial instructions may be issued to the high provincial authorities to furnish detailed reports, in accordance with these Regulations, for the information of the Board of the Interior. As to whether it may be possible to shorten the time limit with a view to hastening the attainment of the object in view or to introduce any modifications into the regulations, such points will be for the provincial authorities concerned to decide on consideration of the local conditions.\n\nWith regard to the measures to be taken to secure the strict enforcement of the Regulations, the question of rewards or punishments will turn upon whether a strict supervision has been exercised and whether the Regulations have been faithfully carried out. The matter of rewards and punishments, however, concerns the Board of Civil Office, and these Regulations merely outline what is to be done. Special Regulations in detail should be prepared by the Board of Civil Office in accordance with precedent and submitted for approval to the Throne, in order that uniformity may be preserved.\n\nWhen those who should set a good example to others become addicted to opium smoking they should be dealt with after an investigation into their case by the Commissioners for the prohibition of opium.\n\nThe question of finding other sources of revenue to take the place of the opium tax will have to be considered as a separate question by the Board of Finance, who will present a Memorial on the subject and take action.\n\nWe now reverently submit, for your Majesties' consideration, the twenty-three Supervisory Regulations prepared by the two Boards in consultation. Should they meet with your Majesties' approval, they will then be sent to the Commissioners for the prohibition of opium for their information, and instructions will be issued to the Board of Civil Office and the provincial authorities to take the necessary action.\n\nThis Memorial, setting forth the Supervisory Regulations for the prohibition of opium, prepared by the Boards in consultation, and the methods suggested for securing their enforcement, now submitted for your Majesties' approval, and the Imperial commands are requested.\n\nThis Memorial has been drafted by the Board of the Interior, with the co-operation of the Board of Finance.\n\nOn the 23rd May the following Imperial Rescript was received: \"Approved.\"\n\nRegulations attached.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nSupervisory Regulations respecting the Prohibition of Opium.\n\nSection 1.--Diminution of Cultivation.\n\nARTICLE 1. Returns of the amount of land under opium cultivation, the names of the owners, and the amount of opium produced, shall be made by all local officials within six months to the high provincial authorities, who shall forward collective reports to the Board of Finance and Board of the Interior.\n\nArt. 2. The ten years' period within which opium is to be abolished shall be reckoned from Kuang Hsü 32 (1906-7) and the cultivation of opium is to be diminished in accordance with the Regulations laid down by the Grand Council. No opium must ever be grown on land not hitherto under opium cultivation, and in the case of land already under opium cultivation the amount must be annually decreased by one-eighth, taking as a basis the figures given in the returns for Kuang Hsü 34 (1908-9). The cultivation of opium will thus cease entirely in Kuang Hsü 41 (1915-16). Returns shall also be made from time to time as to what crops are being grown on the land withdrawn from opium cultivation.\n\nArt. 3. Permits sealed by the provincial authorities shall be issued by the local officials to opium growers, the permits being altered annually. Any person growing opium without a permit shall be liable to punishment. A fee of 15 cash per mou shall be levied on each permit, but no further charges whatever may be made.\n\nSection 2.--Public Hongs.\n\nArt. 4. Since the inauguration of a consolidated tax on native opium the Provinces of Anhui, Honan, and Shansi have already established a system of public hongs for the sale of native opium appointed by the branch consolidated tax office and the local official. These public hongs are responsible for the payment of the tax on native opium, and the grower must sell and the dealer purchase opium through them. The warehouseman must also report all purchases and sales of opium to the public hong, which sees that the taxes are paid. This system will now be extended to the other provinces, and these public hongs shall keep a daily record of all sales of opium, giving the names of the purchasers, and shall report to the branch consolidated tax office. A general report, setting forth the reductions effected by each public hong, shall be furnished annually to the Board of the Interior by the Director-General of Native Opium Taxation. In the case of Szechuan, Yünnan, Kweichow, Turkestan, and Manchuria, where there is no consolidated tax on native opium, the provincial authorities shall take action on the same lines.\n\nNative opium warehousemen must hold permits from the local consolidated tax bureau and the local official. Without such permits they will not be allowed to purchase opium either through the public hong or from the grower.\n\nPage 3", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416987, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 313, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\nIn submitting this Memorial regarding the establishment of a printing office and of a military college, I have the honour to request the issue of your Majesties' instructions thereon.\n\nOn the 30th the following Imperial Rescript was issued:--\n\n\"Let these measures be carried out zealously so that good results may be obtained. Let the proper Board take note.\"\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[July 28.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n[26213]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nConsul Carlisle to Sir Edward Grey-(Received July 28.)\n\n(No. 9.) Sir,\n\nHanoi, June 23, 1908. IN continuation of my despatch No. 8 of the 8th instant, I have the honour to inform you that another and still more disastrous incident has occurred in connection with the disturbances on the Tonquin-Yunnan frontier, in which two French officers, two non-commissioned officers, and a number of native soldiers have lost their lives. On this occasion, however, the aggressors were not Chinese Government troops, but a band of revolutionaries.\n\nVery few details are known here at present, and the Government is reticent about the matter, but the following facts seem certain:--\n\nAbout the 16th instant, news arrived here that a large band of revolutionaries had evaded the vigilance of the French and crossed with their arms into Tonquin. Orders were at once given for troops to be sent to locate and disarm them. On the 18th Commandant Lecreux, with a force composed of Tirailleurs Tonquinois, arrived at a place called Yen Binh Xa, about 50 miles nearly due east of Laokay, and sent a message to the revolutionaries, who were heard of in the neighbourhood, to come and surrender. On the evening of the same day two detachments of tirailleurs, who had been apparently working independently, effected a junction at a place called Ban-Mang, which I have been unable to find on the maps, but which is in the neighbourhood of Yen Binh Xa. They numbered in all 150 men, under two French lieutenants. At Bau-Mang they found a party of 150 Chinese revolutionaries with some seventy rifles. The Chinese surrendered their arms without difficulty, and camped alongside the French force as their prisoners. During the night, however, the main party of revolutionaries, estimated at 600 rifles, came up and surrounded the camp and demanded the restoration to them of the arms taken. This, of course, the French officers refused. At daybreak the Chinese opened a murderous fire. Apparently the French force had not camped in a place suitable for defence, for it was practically annihilated. The two lieutenants and two of the European sergeants were killed, and two other sergeants were taken prisoners, and a number of the Annamite rank and file, variously stated as from fifty to 120, were killed. Some of the Annamites were taken prisoners and the rest escaped as best they could.\n\nOn the 21st the revolutionaries advanced on the post at Yen Binh Xa, and sent a demand to the Commandant to be allowed to pass. This was refused, and they opened fire. The tirailleurs in the post, however, replied vigorously, and the Chinese broke up and fled into the hills. During this engagement one of the French sergeants and five tirailleurs who had been captured at Ban-Mang succeeded in escaping and rejoining the French. The other sergeant had escaped or been released previously.\n\nIt is said that Yen Binh Xa has now been reinforced by a company of the Foreign Legion. Travelling in the district is extremely difficult at this time of year.\n\nThe population of Laokay has been somewhat alarmed during these events. The Chinese troops at Hokou are reported to have been putting the place hurriedly into a state of defence, and there seems to have been an idea that the revolutionaries might come down through Tonquin and attack Hokou again from the side of Laokay. \"In reply to telegrams from Laokay (where the civilians had taken steps towards the raising of a volunteer force) a company of colonial infantry has been sent up there.\n\nIt seems, indeed, that the authorities were somewhat premature in withdrawing all the white troops from the district immediately after the recapture of Hokou from the revolutionaries.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) T. FE CARLISLE.\n\n[1865 ee-1]\n\n310", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417172, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 498, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\n3303795\n\n[August] 26. 0 SEP 08\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[29650]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n(No. 357.) Sir.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 26.)\n\nPeking, August 5, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose, for your information, copies of documents relating to the affairs of the Shanghae-Ningpo Railway.\n\nThe Memorial of the Board of Communications, with Rescript of the 15th April and attached Regulations, was not made known to me in any way officially. It was brought to my notice by Mr. Bland, who obtained a copy privately some time after the date of the Rescript, and who considered that, the control of the line being apparently handed over by the Board to the Kiang-su and Chêkiang Railway Companies, the Loan Agreement was contravened, and that His Majesty's Government should demand the revocation of the Rescript and the cancellation of the obnoxious features of the transaction.\n\nIt is true that the arrangement thus made between the Board and the Companies did not accord with some important provisions of the Loan Agreement, but it seemed to me to be explainable as a Chinese internal method of smoothing over strong local objections, which the Board would find means to vary according as it was found in practice to conflict with external obligations under the Loan Agreement.\n\nIn any case I felt that, before embarking upon a serious demand for the revocation of an Imperial Decree in such a case, I must be satisfied that the Chinese Government really meant to set the Loan Agreement directly at naught. A merely departmental scheme, which was probably devised to tide over temporary difficulties created by two influential provinces in a very contentious matter, and which, as far as I could judge, was not intended to come to the knowledge of His Majesty's Government, did not appear to me sufficient to convict the Chinese Government of deliberate bad faith and of an intention to violate the Agreement, formed almost as soon as the latter was signed.\n\nI advised Mr. Bland to ignore these documents for the time being, and on all occasions to press steadily for the proper fulfilment of the loan terms. It appeared to me that, until it was proved in practice that the internal scheme arranged between the Board and the Companies was real, and not, so far as we are concerned, a mere paper concession to popular feeling, and that the carrying out of the Loan Agreement was seriously prejudiced thereby, it was not necessary to take any official steps in regard to it.\n\nIn the middle of May a proposal was mooted by the present Managing Director, before his actual appointment, to engage two Belgian Assistant Engineers to serve under the English Engineer-in-chief. I took an early occasion to express verbally to members of the Wai-wu Pu and the Board of Communications my strong objections to such a proposal which, I warned them, I should oppose firmly if it was seriously put forward. It was not reasonable, I said, that such a thing should be done in the case of a railway financed with British capitalists; it would undoubtedly be construed as an unfriendly step, and one which must lead to friction. The proposal was dropped.\n\nThe appointments of the Managing Director and Chief Engineer under the Loan Agreement were not made as rapidly as might have been expected, but I was aware that in the case of the first the post was not sought after because of the difficulties anticipated from the provinces, and I knew that at least one competent British Engineer had declined the other partly for similar reasons.\n\nAfter the receipt of your telegram No. 101 of the 4th July, I requested the Wai-wu Pu by letter to hasten the appointment of the Engineer, and that and the selection of a Managing Director have been repeatedly urged verbally at the Board of Communications and the Wai-wu Pu.\n\nOn the 23rd July I learnt that Taotai Shih Chao-tseng, who was educated in America and appears to be qualified, was appointed Managing Director, and soon after Mr. Foord accepted the terms of the Agreement, copy of which is inclosed, and is now the Chief Engineer.\n\nMr. Foord surveyed the trace of the Pukow-Sinyang Railway for the Chinese Central Railways (Limited), and was at the time of his present appointment employed on the Canton-Kowloon Railway. In considering his Agreement, which does not appear to be a very satisfactory one, it should be borne in mind that, from his previous experience in China, he must be well aware of the meaning of the terms he has accepted.\n\n[1897 cc-1]\n\nB", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417173, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 499, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "496\n\n2\n\nAnother difficulty relating to the security for the payment of interest on the bonds, in fulfilment of Article 3 of the Loan Agreement, was the subject of the correspondence inclosed in Mr. Bland's letter of the 31st July. I have maintained that it is Mr. Bland's duty to exhaust every effort of his own to secure the execution of the Loan Agreement before applying to me, and I think it is evident from the inclosure in his letter of the 3rd August that by a policy of patient insistence it is possible for the agent of the Corporation to keep the Chinese to their engagements by amicable means and without the incessant intervention of this Legation. This inclosure also seems to me to justify up to the present the attitude which I have adopted of ignoring the Rescript of the 15th April until it is clear that the Chinese Government mean to act upon it in contravention of the Loan Agreement.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nP.S.--Mr. Bland has to-day handed me letter on this subject from Mr. Landale, of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., at Shanghae, of which I inclose an extract.\n\nMr. Landale takes much the same view of the question as I have done, and I entirely agree with him that we shall be in a stronger position to make representations to the Board of Communications regarding the non-fulfilment of the Loan Agreement after Mr. Foord's appointment has been made. Mr. Bland, at my suggestion, has asked Mr. Landale to inform Mr. Foord that, in the event of trouble, he can look to the Legation for support, his object in the meanwhile being to work smoothly with the Provincial Bureau and secure the efficient construction of the railway.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nJ. N. J.\n\nKIANGSU and Chêkiang Railway Companies: Memorial submitted by the Board of Posts and Communications on the 15th April, proposing Regulations with reference to the Loan of Funds by the Board to the Companies.\n\nON the 6th March a joint Memorial was submitted by the Board of Communications and the Wai-wu Pu proposing that a loan should be made by the Board to the Companies for the construction of the Shanghae-Hangehow-Ningpo Railway; that arrangements should be made for the repayment of this loan, and the railway should be under private (not official) management. This Memorial received the Imperial sanction. Regulations have been prepared by the Board and approved by representatives of the Companies.\n\nIn the Loan Agreement between the Board and the British and Chinese Corporation, the former, in consideration of obtaining the cancellation of the draft Agreement and regaining control of the line, accepted certain conditions involving a financial loss, as by agreeing to the issue of the loan below parity. Now that the line has been transferred to private ownership the Board are unwilling that this loss should fall entirely on the shareholders, and whilst it will be made up in part by the Companies, who have agreed to pay 5 per cent interest to the Board (the interest on the British and Chinese loan being 5 per cent.), any deficit still remaining will be met in the manner suggested in the annexed Memorandum.\n\nFourteen Regulations are submitted for Imperial sanction, on receipt of which they will be communicated to the provincial authorities, and the loan will be issued forthwith, so that work may be commenced at once.\n\nThe Board also recommend that, as the loan will probably not be sufficient to complete the line, and it is also desirable to extend the railway system of the two provinces, the Companies should endeavour to raise additional capital, and that the provincial authorities should encourage them to do so.\n\nMemorandum.\n\nIt is calculated that the losses incurred by the Board under its agreement with the British and Chinese Corporation, in respect of the issue of the loan at 93, payment of 21/2 per cent. premium on repayment of loan, having to deposit funds in London at 4 per cent, agency charges, &c., will amount in thirty years to about 3,490,000 taels. The additional per cent. interest paid by the Companies will in thirty years amount to 890,000 taels, and the Board of Communications have arranged with the Board of Finance that the residue shall be made up as follows: 20,000 taels shall be provided annually by the Board of Finance, 30,000 each by the Provinces of Chêkiang and Kiangsu, and 10,000 by the Board of Communications. The total amount will be forwarded to the Board of Communications in the fourth month of each year for payment to the British and Chinese Corporation. The loss arising from the deposit of funds with the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank at Shanghae, cost of transmission, and the premium of 2 per cent. payable if the loan is repaid after ten years, will be met by the Board of Communications. As soon as the Companies are making a nett profit, per cent, of the royalty which, under their agreements, they have then to pay to the Chinese Government will be paid to the Board until the advance has been repaid in full. If this proposal is approved by the Throne the necessary instructions will at once be issued.\n\nOn the 15th April this Memorial was approved by Imperial Rescript.\n\n5\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nRegulations with reference to the Loan made by the Board of Communications to the Kiangsu and Chêkiang Railway Companies.\n\nON the 6th March a Memorial was presented by the Board and was sanctioned by the Throne, providing that the railways should be under private management, and that a loan should be made by the Board to the Companies.\n\n2. As by this Memorial the Kiangsu and Chêkiang Railway Companies reverted to private management, although a loan is made by the Board for the purpose of building the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway, this line remains entirely under private management, and will be treated by the Board in the same way as any other Railway Company.\n\n3. All matters with regard to the loan from the British and Chinese Corporation will be managed by the Board of Communications, the British and Chinese Corporation cannot interfere in any way with the management of the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway.\n\n4. The nominal amount of the loan made by the Board to the Companies is 10,000,000 taels. The actual amount shall not exceed 10,000,000 taels, or be less than 7,500,000 taels. The loan will be issued in instalments, notice being given to the Companies ten days before the payment of each instalment. The first instalment of 800,000 taels shall be paid within seven months from the 6th March. The whole amount shall be issued in twelve months, which period may be extended to eighteen months, or at the most to twenty-four months. If it is found impossible to pay full amount of the loan within the stipulated period, these Regulations become void, and the Companies must repay with interest within six months, or at the most twelve months, the whole sum actually received.\n\n5. The Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway Bureau shall make formal application to the Board when funds are required. Fifteen days' notice shall be given by telegraph when more than 130,000 taels is to be applied for.\n\n6. Interest at the rate of 51/2 per cent, shall be paid by the Companies on the money borrowed from the Board, interest being payable half-yearly. The charges incurred by the Board through the issue of the loan from the British and Chinese Corporation at 93, agency charges, &c., shall be made up in the manner provided in the Memorandum attached.\n\n7. The section of the railway from Chiangkan has already been completed, and trains are being run thereon. As this loan is now being made by the Board, the responsibility for the repayment of capital and interest rests with the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway Bureau.\n\n8. After ten years from the 6th March, 1908, the Companies shall commence to repay the loan, payment to be completed in thirty years from the above date. The date on which the annual payments are to be made will be fixed by the Board. The Companies shall also be at liberty after ten years to repay the whole amount of the loan either in one or in several payments. As soon as the loan has been repaid in full these Regulations become void.\n\n9. Interest shall be paid half-yearly on the amount actually received from the Board.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417487, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 199, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\nC. 0195 41116\n\n## CHINA RAILWAYS\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[October 26.]\n\n### SECTION 10 NC, 08\n\n1.\n\nSir,\n\nForeign Office to British and Chinese Corporation.\n\nForeign Office, October 26, 1908.\n\nI AM directed by Secretary to Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant in regard to the Shanghae and Ningpo Railway.\n\nI am to inform you that, under date of the 5th August last, His Majesty's Minister at Peking reported that the Memorial of the Board of Communications with the Imperial Rescript of the 15th April, to which reference is made in your letter under reply, was not made known to him in any way officially, but was brought to his notice by Mr. Bland. Mr. Bland informed Sir J. Jordan at the time that he considered that the control of the line, being apparently handed over by the Board to the Kiangsu and Chekiang Railway Companies, the Loan Agreement was contravened. Though the arrangement thus made between the Board and the Companies did not accord with some important provisions of the Loan Agreement, it seemed to Sir J. Jordan, however, to be explainable as a Chinese method of smoothing over strong local objections which the Board would find means to vary according as it was found in practice to conflict with external obligations under the Loan Agreement, and Sir J. Jordan felt that in any case, before embarking upon a serious demand for the revocation of an Imperial Decree in such a case, he must be satisfied that the Chinese Government really meant to set the Agreement directly at naught. He therefore advised Mr. Bland to ignore the Rescript in question for the time being, and on all occasions to press steadily for the proper fulfilment of the terms of the Loan Agreement. No official steps were considered by Sir J. Jordan necessary until it was proved that the scheme between the Board and the Companies was real, and not a mere paper concession to popular feeling.\n\nWith regard to the appointments of a Managing Director and Chief Engineer under the Loan Agreement, Sir J. Jordan was aware that the reason why these appointments were not made as rapidly as might have been expected was that in the case of the first the post was not sought after because of the difficulties anticipated from the provinces, and that at least one British engineer had declined the other partly for similar reasons. These appointments were the subject of repeated representations by Sir J. Jordan to the Chinese Government, and in July he was informed that Taotai Shih Chaotseng had been appointed Managing Director of the line, while Mr. Foord subsequently accepted the post of Chief Engineer. According to a statement made to Sir J. Jordan on the 14th August, the Agreement with Mr. Foord was then already signed.\n\nIn a subsequent despatch, Sir J. Jordan reported that he had drawn Mr. Liang's attention to the fact that the recent action of the Board of Communications conflicted with the terms of the Loan Agreement, and that the terms of the Engineer's engagement further showed a tendency to disregard the terms of that Agreement, and were such that a British subject could not under ordinary circumstances have accepted them. He further represented that he had as yet taken no action in regard to the matter, as he wished to trust to the good faith of the Board of Communications in loyally carrying out the stipulations of the Loan Agreement in spite of these preliminary acts.\n\nMr. Liang, in reply, stated that he had no hesitation in giving an explicit assurance that the terms of the Loan Agreement would be respected. When the Loan Agreement was ready for signature on the 6th March last the provincial Delegates had endeavoured to make a certain alteration in Article 17 concerning the position of the Chief Engineer; their wishes had, however, been overruled by the Wai-wu Pu, and Mr. Bland had, in the course of a discussion on the subject, himself suggested that steps should be taken subsequently to effect what the provincial Delegates required. The arrangement between the Board of Communications and the provincial Companies was merely the outcome of this episode. Sir J. Jordan said he felt sure that Mr. Bland had said nothing to warrant the conclusion of an... \n\n[1983 cc-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417515, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 227, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "223\n\n2\n\nCompanies for the construction of the Shanghac-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway; that arrangements should be made for the repayment of this loan, and that the railway should be entirely under private (not official) management. This Memorial received the Imperial sanction. Regulations have been prepared by the Board, and approved by representatives of the Companies.\n\nIn the Loan Agreement between the Board and the British and Chinese Corporation, the former, in consideration of obtaining the cancellation of the draft Agreement and regaining control of the line, accepted certain conditions involving a financial loss, as by agreeing to the issue of the loan below parity. Now that the line has been transferred to private ownership, the Board are unwilling that this loss should fall entirely on the shareholders, and, whilst it will be made up in part by the Companies, who have agreed to pay 5 per cent. interest to the Board (the interest on the British and Chinese Corporation loan being 5 per cent.), any deficit still remaining will be met in the manner suggested in the annexed Memorandum.\n\nFourteen Regulations are submitted for Imperial sanction, on receipt of which they will be communicated to the provincial authorities, and the loan will be issued forthwith so that work may be commenced at once.\n\nThe Board also recommend that, as the loan will probably not be sufficient to complete the line, and it is also desirable to extend the systems of the two provinces, the Companies should endeavour to raise additional capital, and that the provincial authorities should encourage them to do so.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nMemorandum.\n\nIT is calculated that the losses incurred by the Board under its Agreement with the British and Chinese Corporation, in respect of the issue of the loan at 93, payment of 23 per cent. premium on repayment of loan, having to deposit funds in London at 4 per cent., agency charges, &c., will amount in thirty years to about 3,490,000 taels. The additional per cent. interest paid by the Companies will in thirty years amount to 890,000 taels, and the Board of Communications have arranged with the Board of Finance that the residue shall be made up as follows: 20,000 taels shall be provided annually by the Board of Finance, 30,000 taels each by the Provinces of Chekiang and Kiangsu, and 10,000 taels by the Board of Communications. The total amount will be forwarded to the Board of Communications in the fourth month of each year for payment to the British and Chinese Corporation. The loss arising from the deposit of funds with the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank at Shanghae, cost of transmission, and the premium of 21 per cent. payable if the loan is repaid after ten years will be met by the Board of Communications. As soon as the Companies are making a net profit, 5 per cent. of the royalty which under their Agreements they have then to pay to the Chinese Government will be paid to the Board until the advance had been repaid in full. If this proposal is approved by the Throne, the necessary instructions will at once be issued.\n\nOn the 15th April this Memorial was approved by Imperial Rescript.\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nRegulations with reference to the Loan made by the Board of Communications to the Kiangsu and Chekiang Railway Companies.\n\nON the 6th March a Memorial was presented by the Board, and was sanctioned by the Throne, providing that the railways should be under private management, and that a loan should be made by the Board to the Companies.\n\n2. As by this Memorial the Kiangsu and Chêkiang Railway Companies reverted to private management, although a loan is made by the Board for the purpose of building the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway, this line remains entirely under private management, and will be treated by the Board in the same way as any other Railway Company.\n\n3. All matters with regard to the loan from the British and Chinese Corporation will be managed by the Board of Communications: the British and Chinese Corporation cannot interfere in any way with the management of the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway.\n\n4. The nominal amount of the loan made by the Board to the Companies is 10,000,000 taels. The actual amount shall not exceed 10,000,000 taels, or be less than 7,500,000 taels. The loan will be issued in instalments, notice being given to the Companies ten days before the payment of each instalment. The first instalment of 800,000 taels shall be paid within seven months from the 6th March. The whole amount shall be issued in twelve months, which period may be extended to eighteen months, or at the most to twenty-four months. If it is found impossible to pay the full amount of the loan within the stipulated period, these Regulations become void, and the Companies must repay with interest within six months, or at most twelve months, the whole sum actually received.\n\n5. The Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway Bureau shall make formal application to the Board when funds are required. Fifteen days' notice shall be given by telegraph when more than 130,000 taels is to be applied for.\n\n6. Interest at the rate of 51 per cent. shall be paid by the Companies on the money borrowed from the Board, interest being payable half-yearly. The charges incurred by the Board through the issue of the loan from the British and Chinese Corporation at 93, agency charges, &c., shall be made up in the manner provided in the Memorandum attached.\n\n7. The section of the railway from Chiangkan has already been completed, and trains are being run thereon. As this loan is now being made by the Board, the responsibility for the repayment of capital and interest rests with the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway Bureau.\n\n8. After ten years from the 6th March, 1908, the Companies shall commence to repay the loan, payment to be completed in thirty years from the above date. The date on which the annual payments are to be made will be fixed by the Board. The Companies shall also be at liberty after ten years to repay the whole amount of the loan either in one or in several payments. As soon as the loan has been repaid in full these Regulations become void.\n\n9. Interest shall be paid half-yearly on the amount actually received from the Board.\n\n10. The amount of interest payable by the two Companies shall be deposited six months before it is due in the Chiao Tung Bank at Shanghae. After ten years the amount due each year for repayment of the loan shall also be deposited six months before in that bank. The interest on these deposits will be refunded to the Companies. The interest shall be at the ordinary rate of the bank, but must not be less than the rate charged on the loan made by the Board.\n\n11. The two Companies have the right to appoint an auditor, elected by the shareholders. The Board shall not, by reason of this loan, have power to send any other person to inspect the Companies' books.\n\n12. The construction and management of the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway shall be entirely under the direction of the Companies, who shall appoint a British General Manager of the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway Bureau. Engineer-in-chief shall be engaged either in England or from among the engineers engaged on the Chinese State Railways. The Engineer-in-chief shall be under the direction of the General Manager, by whom his contract will be prepared. The engagement of the technical staff for the service of the railway, their dismissal, &c., will be under the direction of General Manager or his deputy, in consultation with the Engineer-in-chief. In case of disagreement the Board will instruct the directors of the Companies to decide. A British Engineer-in-chief shall still be employed after the completion of the line until the repayment of the loan.\n\n13. When foreign materials are purchased, if they are bought through the British and Chinese Corporation, no agency charge shall be paid by the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway Bureau, this charge being already provided for under the Agreement between the Corporation and the Board. If materials are not purchased through the Corporation, the agency charges must be paid by the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway, and cannot be deducted from the amount payable to the Corporation.\n\n14. The loan shall be issued through the Chiao Tung Bank at Shanghae.\n\n3", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417546, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 258, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "254\n\n2\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nExtract from the \"Official Gazette\" of July 30, 1908.\n\nMEMORIAL by the Board of Laws and the Imperial Commissioners for Law Reform reporting on a Memorial by the Governor of Kiangsu, recommending the enactment of special penal laws against the sale of morphia.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nOn the 14th December, 1907, a Memorial was submitted by Ch'en Ch'i-t'ai, Governor of Kiangsu, in which he proposed that special laws should be laid down providing for the punishment of those convicted of selling morphia or of manufacturing needles for its injection. In accordance with the Imperial Rescript, \"Let the proper Department consider the matter and report,\" the Memorial was referred to the Board of Laws.\n\nThe Memorial of the Governor was as follows :--\n\nMorphia contains poisonous substances fatal to human life, but foreigners use it in compounding medicines for treating certain diseases, and its use has now spread to China, where it is taken by injection to satisfy the craving for opium. Its effects are very similar to those produced by opium, but whilst there is some chance of curing the opium habit, when recourse has once been had to morphia its use cannot be abandoned, and as time goes on and more injections are constantly made the whole body finally becomes corrupted and death ensues. In view of the fact that this drug is still more pernicious than opium, clauses were inserted in the Commercial Treaties with Great Britain and America prohibiting its importation except under special Customs permit and for medical purposes, and the 10th Article of the Rules for the prohibition of opium submitted to the Throne by the Government Council last year provided that instructions should be sent to Customs authorities to call attention to this Treaty provision, and that shopkeepers, whether native or foreign, should be strictly prohibited from manufacturing morphia or instruments for its injection.\n\nUnfortunately there are still unprincipled persons who, in their greed for gain, delude people into using morphia, and as all the opium saloons have been closed owing to the enforcement of the prohibition of opium, and the poorer people cannot procure the utensils for opium smoking, when they find that they can satisfy their craving with morphia at a fraction of the cost there are few with sufficient strength of mind to resist doing so, This being the case in Kiangsu the same conditions are probably to be found in other provinces, and it therefore appears advisable that special laws should be provided so that one man's punishment may act as a deterrent to a hundred others.\n\nBy law it is an offence punishable with decapitation to manufacture or cause others to manufacture poisons dangerous to human life, and further, if a man be poisoned the seller, if aware of the purpose for which the poison was bought, is liable to the same penalty as a murderer. Now, if a person manufactures morphia, which is poisonous in its effects, and sells it to another to satisfy his craving for opium, if the latter finally dies through inability to abandon the use of morphia, the case is really similar to that of a man who manufactures poison for the purpose of committing murder. The law formerly in existence against opium provided for the death penalty, and as morphia is much more dangerous than opium the death penalty in accordance with the law against the manufacture of poisons would not be excessive. As, however, the object of its manufacture is not murder but gain, and as, too, the victims of the craving voluntarily bring their death upon themselves, the conditions are somewhat different; and I would, therefore, venture to suggest that the Board of Laws should be directed to consult with the Commissioners for Law Reform with a view to drawing special enactments on the subject.\n\nWe were instructed by Imperial Decree to report on this Memorial, and have the honour to observe, in the first place, that morphia is a natural salt, forming the essential constituent of opium, from which it is extracted by chemical processes and made into medicines for treating diseases. It possesses the property of producing sleep, whence its name morphia, from Morpheus, the God of Sleep, is derived, and its effects are still more powerful than those of opium.\n\n3\n\nLast year an Imperial Decree was issued ordering the entire abolition of opium, and the Regulations prepared by the Government Council contained a provision that arrangements should be made for the prohibition of the import of foreign opium so that the evil might be cut off at the source. It was also provided that, as morphia and the instruments for its injection were still more injurious than opium, full effect should be given to Article 11 of the British Commercial Treaty and Article 16 of the American Treaty and instructions be given to the Customs to prohibit the importation of any morphia not covered by a special permit and imported for medical purposes. Shopkeepers, whether native or foreign, should also be strictly forbidden to manufacture morphia or instruments for its injection, so that this evil might be completely eradicated.\n\nThese Regulations were sanctioned by the Throne and circulated, but, in spite of the stringent nature of this prohibition, it appears that there are still unprincipled persons who delude people into using morphia and the trade has not been entirely suspended. The prohibition of opium is now being enforced, opium saloons have been closed, and the poorer classes, having no other means of allaying their craving, have recourse to morphia, being attracted thereto in the first place by its cheapness. As time goes on their consumption of morphia constantly increases and they cannot abandon its use, their system becomes full of the poison and in the end their bodies become covered with sores from the injecting needle and their health is ruined. Seeing that the evils of morphia are so difficult to avoid even now before opium has been entirely eradicated, after the abolition of opium it is to be feared that there will be still greater danger of falling a victim thereto, and we shall thus merely pass from Scylla to Charybdis.\n\nThe Governor's suggestion that a special enactment against morphia, founded on the law against the manufacture of poisons, should be laid down springs from an earnest desire to extirpate the evil and preserve the lives of the people. The original law against the manufacture of poisons provided that, whether any person was actually killed or not, the maker was liable to decapitation, the punishment being thus more severe than in the case of ordinary homicide on the grounds that this class of criminals made murder their trade. Now, in the case of persons manufacturing instruments for the injection of morphia and selling them to people for the purpose of satisfying their craving for opium the maker is on the same footing as a person manufacturing poisons, but as his object is merely gain and not murder, and as, moreover, the victims of the craving bring about their own death, the conditions are, as the Governor has pointed out, somewhat different, and justice requires that the law should be made slightly less severe.\n\nAs regards the sale of morphia by shops, the Customs should be directed to enforce the provisions of the British and American Treaties prohibiting the import of morphia except under special permit for medical purposes, and a punishment must be fixed for any evil-minded persons in the interior who may conspire to carry on an illicit trade in the drug. A person who knowingly sells poison is liable to the same punishment as the actual murderer, and a person who sells morphia, knowing its poisonous properties, should therefore be liable to the same punishment as the man who manufactures the instruments for its injection. Again, under the now obsolete law against opium the person preparing and the person selling the drug were liable to the same punishment (strangulation); and therefore, although the death penalty need not be decreed either against the person making instruments for the injection of morphia or the person selling the drug, the two classes of offenders should be treated as being on the same footing.\n\nAfter careful deliberation we venture to recommend that those convicted of manufacturing instruments for the injection of morphia should be sentenced in accordance with the law against the manufacture of poisons, the punishment being reduced from decapitation to banishment to the most remote and unhealthy regions of the Empire; those convicted of selling morphia, except under a special Customs permit, being liable to the same punishment in accordance with the law against knowingly selling poisons, and their shops will also be confiscated.\n\nWe would also pray that instructions be sent to the Customs authorities to enforce the Treaty provisions and put a stop to smuggling so that the evil may be cut off at its root, and when definite Regulations have been laid down we trust that the people will reverently obey them and that the prohibition of opium may then become really effective.\n\nOn receipt of Imperial sanction the Board will issue the necessary instructions to ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417908, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 620, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "The measures taken to decrease cultivation and consumption of opium, while the Board of Finance was to provide the funds required to replace the prospective diminution of revenue from the opium tax. The Memorial (Appendix (A)) reviewed the steps taken by China in the matter and the negotiations with foreign Powers and the Government of India.\n\nUnder this instrument the Decree of the 7th April (Appendix (B)) followed. Prince Kung and other high officers of State were appointed Imperial Commissioners to enforce the application of the prohibition in the case of persons holding official positions. Within three months the Prohibition Commissioners were to establish a special Department for the purpose of weeding out of the public service all those addicted to the drug.\n\nIt was foreseen that the duties imposed upon them were not likely to prove agreeable or popular, and they were consequently exhorted to perform them fearlessly and not to be influenced by personal considerations.\n\nThe high rank and character of the Commissioners left no doubt of the sincerity of the Court's intentions.\n\nThe supervisory Regulations which the Boards of Finance and of the Interior were called upon to prepare were approved by an Imperial Rescript of the 23rd May (Appendix (C)).\n\nIt was recognized that the most important step to be taken was the restriction of the growth of the poppy, and the provincial authorities in the Regulations were called upon periodically to furnish detailed reports on the area in cultivation, and to enforce the proposed annual reduction.\n\nThe revenue question, which has hitherto been one of the chief obstacles to a thorough compliance with the previous Edicts in the provinces, was left for further consideration. Public hongs were to be established in every province for the purchase and sale of native opium, and rules were laid down for the more efficient regulation of shops and dens, of smokers, and the cure of those addicted to smoking, also for the encouragement of Anti-Opium Societies and for the distribution of medicines. Rewards in the shape of promotion were held out to those who conscientiously carried out the Imperial wishes, whilst punishments are provided for those who fail to do their duty.\n\nThe apathy of the provincial authorities, to which allusion has been made, is to be noticed chiefly in a growing indifference as to whether the rules of the Decree of November 1906 are stringently carried out or not. Generally speaking, smokers do not take out licences. Dens, though officially closed, are in many cases surreptitiously opened. Opium shops are only spasmodically inspected, while Anti-Opium Societies are gradually dying a natural death from lack of funds or interest, or both.\n\nThough there are exceptions to this state of affairs in certain districts, due to enlightened officials, especially in the coast provinces, it cannot be said that officials in general have fully carried out the duty of leading the movement imposed upon them by the Court.\n\nTwo principal reasons may be assigned for this apathy, namely, the fact that so many public officials are still addicted to the drug, and further the question of provincial finances, and of finding revenue to replace that at present derived from opium. This latter question is still left for future consideration, no concrete proposals having yet been made.\n\nOn the whole, it may be said in regard to the Anti-Opium Regulations that officials showing sufficient force of character to uphold them are almost sure of support from the people, prompted as the latter are by the force of public opinion, a force formerly unknown in China and of recent growth, but which is well upheld by the native press, and the incipient moral education of the nation and the awakening of a national conscience. The \"Times\" correspondent has aptly used the expression \"bad form\" in describing the view of the educated Chinese towards opium smoking in public, and should this sentiment gain in moral force there seems no reason why it should not develop into \"losing face,\" that most powerful of all rules of conduct in China, corresponding either to \"dishonourable\" or \"ungentlemanlike,\" as the case may be.\n\nIn accordance with the 10th Article of the Anti-Opium Decree, China was to enter into negotiations with the object of prohibiting the importation of foreign opium. Very material progress has been made in this direction, and, as far as Great Britain is concerned, the negotiations are concluded, and the measures agreed upon are already in operation.\n\n3\n\nBriefly summarized, they are as follows:-\n\nThe Indian Government reduce the gross export from India, taken on the basis of 67,000 chests, of which 51,000 chests only were exported to China by 5,100 per annum, being one-tenth of the latter amount, to commence from 1908, an arrangement which continues for three years, and will be proceeded with until the export trade from India to China thus extinguishes itself automatically within the ten years' limit prescribed by the Chinese Government for the abolition of opium in China, provided always that China during these three years has proportionately reduced the production and consumption of Chinese opium, and has similarly arranged for the reduction of the importation of Turkish and other opium. The good-will of the Indian Government was manifested by the practical application of the proposed annual reduction of export without waiting for the conclusion by the Chinese Government of arrangements for the reduction of the import of Turkish, Persian, and other opium, which chiefly finds its way to China viâ Hong Kong.\n\nThis latter question has been settled in the following just and reasonable manner by the Chinese Government, neither Turkey nor Persia being Treaty Powers, the system adopted being similar to that now in force in regard to Indian opium.\n\nFrom the 1st January, 1909, any merchant wishing to import into any open port in China any Persian or Turkish opium must apply to the Commissioner of Customs at Kowloon for a special permit—one for each chest of opium. This permit shall state that the opium may be shipped to any open port in China, and that, on its arrival, duty and li-kin will be paid in accordance with the Regulations. Any Persian or Turkish opium shipped to China for which this special permit cannot be produced shall be confiscated.\n\nTaking 1,125 piculs as the mean annual import of Persian and Turkish opium, this quantity shall be reduced every year by one-ninth, i.e., 125 piculs. Thus in 1909 special permits will only be issued for 1,000 piculs, and by making a similar reduction annually the import will entirely cease in nine years.\n\nAfter 1916 no more special permits will be issued, and the import into China of Persian and Turkish opium, as well as that of Indian opium, will be completely suspended.\n\nThe special permits will only be issued to merchants who have hitherto, to the knowledge of the Imperial Maritime Customs, been engaged in the trade in Turkish and Persian opium. In fixing the number of special permits to be issued annually to each merchant, the total import during the two years 1906-7, and the quantities imported by each merchant during those years, will be taken as a basis, the number of permits being annually decreased.\n\nWith regard to the importation of \"other kinds of opium into China, she must make arrangements with the Treaty Powers. No particulars are available as to the place of origin, but the quantity is so trifling, amounting in 1906 to 64 piculs only, which is said to have been all re-exported, that the Chinese Government do not consider the matter worth noticing in their anti-opium schemes. It would, however, seem advisable to come to definite arrangements with all Treaty Powers on the subject, even with those at present not interested in the opium trade. Neither France, Holland, America, nor Japan allow the cultivation of the poppy in their Colonies and possessions in the Far East, which thus practically reduces the other opium-producing countries to India, Persia, and Turkey.\n\nFrom various quarters in China it is announced that the price of foreign opium is rising, and this increase is likely to continue in proportion to the reduction of production in China and of importation from abroad, except in the somewhat improbable contingency of the demand for the drug decreasing proportionately to the reduction of supply. There can be no doubt that foreign opium is superior both in quality and strength to the native product, consequently a great stimulus will be given to smuggling in a country where people attach more importance to quality than to price. Moreover, possessing great value in small bulk, and being by the simplest process reduced to a marketable commodity, it is not improbable that, unless all the Treaty Powers agree to the eventual cessation of the import of the drug into China, the desire of high profits may cause poppy crops to appear in places to which it is at present a stranger with a view to the introduction of the drug into China.\n\nThe other arrangements concluded with Great Britain are fully set forth in the Chinese Memorial to the Throne (Appendix (A)), and are briefly as follows:--\n\nA Chinese official will be sent to Calcutta to watch the opium auctions and packing, but will have no other authority, and in this connection it might be thought advisable that corresponding British officials should be sent to observe the reduction of\n\n616", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417912, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 624, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "# YUNNAN PROVINCE.\n\nThe energetic Viceroy has shown great zeal in reducing smoking and cultivation in and near the capital. Practically all the ground is now planted with other crops. He has reduced the abolition time limit from ten to three years, and cultivators are registered. At Talifu the officials and gentry are giving up the habit.\n\n## KIANGSI PROVINCE.\n\nPractically no opium is grown in this province. Smokers are registered in the towns, but not in the country districts. Government bureaux for the sale of prepared opium exist in several districts, and the Legation is at present protesting against them in connection with foreign opium.\n\nIn conclusion, it may be said that, although there may still be difficulties to be overcome before the drug is definitely exterminated from the Chinese Empire, the Central Government, owing to their determined attitude, the assistance they have received from foreign Governments, the energy of some of the provincial officials, and last, but not least, the somewhat unexpected moral support of the Chinese people, may look upon the battle as already won.\n\n## APPENDIX (A).\n\n### Anti-Opium Regulations.\n\nMemorial presented by the Wai-wu Pu on March 22, 1908, with reference to the Arrangements concluded with Foreign Powers.\n\n**(Translation.)**\n\nOn the 22nd November, 1906, a Memorial embodying proposals for carrying out the prohibition of opium was submitted to the Throne by the Government Council, and the following Imperial Rescript was issued: \"Approved.\" A copy of this Memorial was forwarded by the Grand Council to the Board.\n\nIn the 10th section of the Memorial the following passage occurs:—\n\nThe question of foreign opium, which is imported from abroad, impinges on our foreign relations, and the Board of Foreign Affairs should therefore make a satisfactory arrangement with the British Minister with a view to effecting an annual decrease of the import of foreign opium pari passu with the decrease of native opium, so that both may be absolutely prohibited on the expiry of the time limit.\n\n\"Besides Indian opium, the drug is also imported from Persia, Annam, and the Dutch Indies in no small quantities. In the case of the Treaty Powers negotiations should similarly be entered into with their Representatives in Peking to effect the prohibition of such import; while with the non-Treaty Powers we can exercise our own prerogative in strictly forbidding the import.\n\n\"All Tartar Generals, Military Lieutenant-Governors, Governors-General, and Governors should also direct their subordinate authorities and Commissioners of Customs to take preventive measures along the trade routes and frontiers to stop smuggling.\n\nAs regards morphia and the instruments used for its injection, the effects of which are even more injurious than those of opium itself, proper effect should be given to the stipulations laid down in Article 2 of the British Commercial Treaty and Article 16 of the American Commercial Treaty, and instructions be issued to all custom-houses to disallow the import of any morphia or instrument into China which are not for medical use; while a strict prohibition must be enforced against any shops in China, whether native or foreign, manufacturing morphia or instruments for its injection.\"\n\nThe Board then prepared a Memorandum embodying six proposals and forwarded it to His Majesty's Minister at Peking for transmission to His Majesty's Government. These proposals were as follows:-\n\n| Proposal | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1 | To decrease the amount of foreign opium imported year by year, until it finally disappears. Taking the average of the annual import of foreign opium for the preceding five years (1901-5) as the figure to work upon, to reduce the import by one-tenth each year after 1907, so that it shall disappear entirely in ten years. |\n| 2 | Calcutta being the chief emporium for foreign opium, we proposed that China should appoint an officer to proceed to Calcutta for the purpose of watching the opium auctions and the packing, in order to ascertain the actual quantities of foreign opium delivered for export. |\n| 3 | The strength of foreign opium is double that of the native drug. Although, however, the duty on native opium has been raised to 115 taels per picul, the combined duty and li-kin on foreign opium remains at 110 taels. We proposed, therefore, that as a prohibitive measure the duty on foreign opium should be doubled. |\n| 4 | Hong Kong being a place where foreign opium is prepared, the Governor of Hong Kong should be asked to assist us by strictly forbidding the export to China of prepared foreign opium. |\n| 5 | With regard to the opium shops and opium dens, as well as the shops for selling appliances for opium smoking in the foreign Settlements and Concessions, we proposed that the measures for the inspection and prohibition of such places should be similar to those adopted by the Chinese territorial authorities. |\n| 6 | The British and American Commercial Treaties already contemplate steps to be taken for effecting the prohibition against the dangers involved in the importation of morphia and instruments for its injection. But the adhesion of all the Treaty Powers is necessary before this Article comes into operation. We proposed that this Article should be put into effective operation as soon as possible.\" |\n\nAfter much discussion and correspondence in the course of last year the following Agreement was arrived at between His Majesty's Minister and the Board:—\n\n| Agreement | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1 | Taking the total export of Indian opium to all countries to be 51,000 chests, this quantity is to be decreased annually by 5,100 chests, so as to put an end to the traffic entirely in ten years from 1908. |\n| 2 | An officer will be sent to Calcutta to watch the opium auctions and the packing, but it shall be clearly understood that this officer is there solely for the purpose of ascertaining the actual quantities of foreign opium delivered for export and has no other authority. |\n| 3 | In view of the difficulty of ascertaining the amount of dues levied on native opium and its price, the proposal to double the duty on foreign opium shall be postponed for future discussion. |\n| 4 | As regards the prohibition to export opium prepared in Hong Kong to China, it was arranged that each country should take steps within its own territory to prohibit the illicit importation of opium, and the export of Hong Kong prepared opium to China and of Chinese prepared opium to Hong Kong should be prohibited. |\n| 5 | As regards the prohibition of opium dens and other places for the consumption of opium and sale of articles used in opium smoking within the foreign Settlements, it was agreed that if effective prohibitive measures were taken by the Chinese authorities outside any such Settlement the Municipal Council would take the necessary steps without waiting for a request from the Chinese authorities. |\n| 6 | The unrestricted import of morphia and of instruments for its injection should be prohibited as soon as all the Treaty Powers had signified their agreement. |\n\nThe Board were informed in a note from His Majesty's Minister that the British Government had given their assent to the above arrangement.\n\nAs foreign opium is also imported from Annam and the islands of the Southern Seas, the Board also appealed to the French and Dutch Ministers for their assistance in prohibiting the trade, and as opium is also transhipped and prepared at Macao, a similar request was addressed to the Portuguese Minister. Persia being a non-Treaty Power, China can exercise her prerogative by forbidding the import of foreign opium from that country, and the Board have accordingly requested the Revenue Council to direct the Inspector-General of Customs to take the necessary steps.\n\nWith regard to the prohibition of the unrestricted import into China of morphia and of instruments for its injection, a Circular note was sent by the Board to all the foreign Representatives in Peking in April 1906, and replies have now been received, all, except the Japanese Minister, being in favour of our proposals.\n\nThe prohibition of opium is such a worthy undertaking that all countries are naturally in sympathy with it. As India is the place of origin of foreign opium, the Board entered into negotiations with His Majesty's Minister at Peking, and on the matter being referred to the British Government the latter agreed to do all in its power to assist us. In arranging that, from January 1908, the export of foreign opium from India should be annually decreased, the British Government gave a clear proof of their friendly feeling, and of their sincere desire to aid in the prohibition of opium. As, however, it has been laid down that the scheme shall be tried for three years, and shall only be continued on the expiration of that period if it is found that China has effectively decreased the cultivation and consumption of opium, it is absolutely necessary that drastic measures should be taken to decrease the cultivation of opium, and the opening of opium dens and sale of articles used in opium smoking should be strictly prohibited, in order that the consumption of the drug may be gradually decreased, and that we may preserve our reputation in the eyes of foreign nations.\n\nAs January 1908 (the 12th month of the 33rd year of Kuang Hsü) was the date fixed for putting the scheme in operation, the export of foreign opium from India is already being decreased. The short period of three years will soon pass by, and the British Government have made it known that the continuation of the scheme is contingent on China herself taking effective action. The opportunity must not be lost, and the matter does not admit of delay.\n\nThe Ministers of the Board pray that Imperial instructions be given to the Board of the Interior and Board of Revenue to prepare supervisory Regulations to be issued in all the provinces, and that the high provincial authorities be enjoined to do their utmost to put them in operation. Prefects, Sub-Prefects, Department and District Magistrates must not deal with this matter in a half-hearted and perfunctory manner, or regard it as a question of no importance, if this long-standing disease is to be cured, and the evils which it entails removed. If this can be... \n\nPage 10\nPage 11\nPage 620", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417914, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 626, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "1\n\nupon the degree of stringency with which it is enforced. The only way in which abuses can be rooted out and deceptions avoided is to prepare explicit supervisory Regulations for the prohibition of opium, and to devise means of compliance therewith.\n\nThe measures involved in the prohibition of opium are many and difficult, including as they do the supervision of the cultivation, consumption, and sale of the drug. All these measures are of great importance, but the first step should be to investigate the amount of land under opium cultivation, and gradually diminish the quantity grown. This plan attacks the evil at its source, and other measures, such as the investigation of the number of opium smokers, the closing of opium dens, and the limitation of the sale of the drug, must then be carefully considered in their turn.\n\nAs all the above matters are connected with land and taxation or else are concerned with the police administration and the public health, they come within the province of the Boards of Finance and of the Interior, and it is, of course, our duty to consider them carefully. We have now the honour to submit supervisory Regulations for the prohibition of opium, and to request that Imperial instructions may be issued to the high provincial authorities to furnish detailed reports, in accordance with these Regulations, for the information of the Board of Interior. As to whether it may be possible to shorten the time limit with a view to hastening the attainment of the object in view, or to introduce any modifications into the Regulations, such points will be for the provincial authorities concerned to decide on consideration of the local conditions.\n\nWith regard to the measures to be taken to secure the strict enforcement of the Regulations, the question of rewards or punishments will turn upon whether a strict supervision has been exercised, and whether the Regulations have been faithfully carried out.\n\nThe matter of rewards and punishments, however, concerns the Board of Civil Office, and these Regulations merely outline what is to be done; special Regulations in detail should be prepared by the Board of Civil Office, in accordance with precedent, and submitted for approval to the Throne, in order that uniformity may be preserved.\n\nWhen those who should set a good example to others become addicted to opium smoking, they should be dealt with, after an investigation into their case, by the Commissioners for the Prohibition of Opium.\n\nThe question of finding other sources of revenue to take the place of the opium tax will have to be considered as a separate question by the Board of Finance, who will present a Memorial on the subject, and take action.\n\nWe now reverently submit for your Majesties' consideration the twenty-three supervisory Regulations prepared by the two Boards in consultation. Should they meet with your Majesties' approval, they will then be sent to the Commissioners for the prohibition of opium for their information, and instructions will be issued to the Board of Civil Office and the provincial authorities to take the necessary action.\n\nThis Memorial, setting forth the supervisory Regulations for the prohibition of opium prepared by the Boards in consultation and the methods suggested for securing their enforcement, is now submitted for your Majesties' approval, and the Imperial commands are requested.\n\nThis Memorial has been drafted by the Board of Interior with the co-operation of the Board of Finance.\n\nOn the 23rd May the following Imperial Rescript was received:---\n\n\"Approved.\"\n\n(Translation.)\n\nPROHIBITION OF OPIUM.\n\nSupervisory Regulations.\n\nSection 1.—Diminution of Cultivation.\n\nArticle 1. Returns of the amount of land under opium cultivation, the names of the owners, and the amount of opium produced shall be made by all local officials within six months to the high provincial authorities, who shall forward collective reports to the Board of Finance and Board of the Interior.\n\nArt. 2. The ten years' period within which opium is to be abolished shall be reckoned from Kuang Hsü 32 (1906-7), and the cultivation of opium is to be diminished in accordance with the Regulations laid down by the Grand Council. No opium must ever be grown on land not hitherto under opium cultivation, and in the case of land already under opium cultivation, the amount must be annually decreased by one-eighth, taking as a basis the figure given in the returns for Kuang Hsü 34 (1908-9). The cultivation of opium will thus cease entirely in Kuang Hsü 41 (1915-6). Returns shall also be made from time to time as to what crops are being grown on the land withdrawn from opium cultivation.\n\nArt. 3. Permits, sealed by the provincial authorities, shall be issued by the local officials to opium growers, the permits being renewed annually. Any person growing opium without a permit shall be liable to punishment. A fee of 15 cash per mou shall be levied on each permit, but no further charge whatever may be made.\n\n14\n\n15\n\nSection 2.—Public Hongs.\n\n622\n\nArt. 4. Since the inauguration of a consolidated tax on native opium, the Provinces of Anhui, Honan, and Shansi have already established a system of public hongs for the sale of native opium appointed by the Branch Consolidated Tax Office and the local official. These public hongs are responsible for the payment of the tax on native opium, and the grower must sell and the dealer purchase opium through them. The warehouseman must also report all purchases and sales of opium to the public hong, which sees that the taxes are paid. This system will now be extended to the other provinces, and these public hongs shall keep a daily record of all sales of opium, giving the names of the purchasers, and shall report to the Branch Consolidated Tax Office. A general Report, setting forth the reductions effected by each public hong, shall be furnished annually to the Board of the Interior by the Directors-General of Native Opium Taxation. In the case of Szechuan, Yunnan, Kweichow, Turkestan, and Manchuria, where there is no consolidated tax on native opium, the provincial authorities shall take action on the same lines.\n\nNative opium warehousemen must hold permits from the Local Consolidated Tax Bureau and local official. Without such permits, they will not be allowed to purchase opium either through the public hong or from the grower.\n\nSection 3.—Opium Shops.\n\nArt. 5. Returns shall be furnished within six months by the local officials, through the provincial authorities, to the Board of the Interior of the number, situation, capital, &c., of opium shops in their jurisdiction. No new opium shops must be opened.\n\nArt. 6. Opium shops must have permits issued by the provincial authorities and changed annually. Fees of from 2 to 6 dollars will be charged for these permits, according to the capital of the shop.\n\nArt. 7. Monthly returns shall be furnished by every opium shop of the amount of opium sold. No opium must be sold except to persons provided with permits. A general annual Report shall be furnished by the provincial authorities to the Board of Interior.\n\nArt. 8. All opium shops should endeavour to establish some other line of business apart from the trade in opium, for this trade must cease entirely within the fixed time limit.\n\nSection 4.—Opium Divans.\n\nArt. 9. Under the instructions issued by the Government Council in Kuang Hsü 32 (1906–7), all opium dens were to be abolished within six months. Should there still remain any opium divans, or tea-houses, wine-shops, &c., providing facilities for opium smoking, they must be closed at once under pain of severe punishment.\n\nSection 5.—Utensils for Opium Smoking.\n\nArt. 10. Instructions have already been issued in Kuang Hsü 32 (1906-7) for the closure of all shops selling utensils for opium smoking. The local officials must now investigate whether any shops for the manufacture or sale of such articles still exist, and, if any are discovered, they must be closed and the proprietors fined.\n\nSection 6.—Opium Smoking.\n\nArt. 11. The authorities of each province shall fix a time within which returns shall be furnished by each local official of the name, residence, and age of every opium smoker within his jurisdiction. An annual Report embodying these returns shall be made by the provincial authorities to the Board of the Interior.\n\nArt. 12. Opium smokers must obtain a permit from the local officials, stamped by the provincial authorities, and renewable annually. Only those holding such permits may purchase opium. The amount of opium required for daily consumption shall be entered on the permit, and not more than that amount can be purchased.\n\nSection 7.—Cure of the Opium Habit.\n\nArt. 13. Offices shall be established by local officials for the purpose of issuing to medicine shops and philanthropic institutions anti-opium medicines recommended by the Board of the Interior. These medicines shall be sold at cost price or given free to poor persons. Provincial authorities should send to the Board, for investigation, samples of any good anti-opium remedies discovered by persons in their jurisdiction.\n\nArt. 14. Local officials should encourage the foundation of societies for the cure of the opium habit, the publication of anti-opium literature, &c., but such societies must not be allowed to concern themselves with anything apart from the abolition of opium.\n\nArt. 15. Local officials shall investigate whether any of the medicines sold by drug shops or other establishments in their jurisdiction are compounded with morphia, and shall take steps to prevent the illicit sale of that drug.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417928, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 640, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "Inclosure in No. 1.\n\nExtract from the “Official Gazette\" of July 30, 1908.\n\nMEMORIAL by the Board of Laws and the Imperial Commissioners for Law Reform reporting on a Memorial by the Governor of Kiangsu, recommending the enactment of special penal laws against the sale of morphia.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nOn the 14th December, 1907, a Memorial was submitted by Ch'en Chi-t'ai, Governor of Kiangsu, in which he proposed that special laws should be laid down providing for the punishment of those convicted of selling morphia or of manufacturing needles for its injection. In accordance with the Imperial Rescript, \"Let the proper Department consider the matter and report,\" the Memorial was referred to the Board of Laws.\n\nThe Memorial of the Governor was as follows:--\n\nMorphia contains poisonous substances fatal to human life, but foreigners use it in compounding medicines for treating certain diseases, and its use has now spread to China, where it is taken by injection to satisfy the craving for opium. Its effects are very similar to those produced by opium, but whilst there is some chance of curing the opium habit, when recourse has once been had to morphia its use cannot be abandoned, and as time goes on and more injections are constantly made the whole body finally becomes corrupted and death ensues. In view of the fact that this drug is still more pernicious than opium, clauses were inserted in the Commercial Treaties with Great Britain and America prohibiting its importation except under special Customs permit and for medical purposes, and the 10th Article of the Rules for the prohibition of opium submitted to the Throne by the Government Council last year provided that instructions should be sent to Customs authorities to call attention to this Treaty provision, and that shopkeepers, whether native or foreign, should be strictly prohibited from manufacturing morphia or instruments for its injection.\n\n\"Unfortunately there are still unprincipled persons who, in their greed for gain, delude people into using morphia, and as all the opium saloons have been closed owing to the enforcement of the prohibition of opium, and the poorer people cannot procure the utensils for opium smoking, when they find that they can satisfy their craving with morphia at a fraction of the cost there are few with sufficient strength of mind to resist doing so. This being the case in Kiangsu the same conditions are probably to be found in other provinces, and it therefore appears advisable that special laws should be provided so that one man's punishment may act as a deterrent to a hundred others.\n\n\"By law it is an offence punishable with decapitation to manufacture or cause others to manufacture poisons dangerous to human life, and further, if a man be poisoned the seller, if aware of the purpose for which the poison was bought, is liable to the same penalty as a murderer. Now, if a person manufactures morphia, which is poisonous in its effects, and sells it to another to satisfy his craving for opium, if the latter finally dies through inability to abandon the use of morphia, the case is really similar to that of a man who manufactures poison for the purpose of committing murder. The law formerly in existence against opium provided for the death penalty, and as morphia is much more dangerous than opium the death penalty in accordance with the law against the manufacture of poisons would not be excessive. As, however, the object of its manufacture is not murder but gain, and as, too, the victims of the craving voluntarily bring their death upon themselves, the conditions are somewhat different; and I would, therefore, venture to suggest that the Board of Laws should be directed to consult with the Commissioners for Law Reform with a view to drawing special enactments on the subject.\"\n\nWe were instructed by Imperial Decree to report on this Memorial, and have the honour to observe, in the first place, that morphia is a natural salt, forming the essential constituent of opium, from which it is extracted by chemical processes and made into medicines for treating diseases. It possesses the property of producing sleep, whence its name morphia, from Morpheus, the God of Sleep, is derived, and its effects are still more powerful than those of opium.\n\nLast year an Imperial Decree was issued ordering the entire abolition of opium, and the Regulations prepared by the Government Council contained a provision that arrangements should be made for the prohibition of the import of foreign opium so that the evil might be cut off at the source. It was also provided that, as morphia and the instruments for its injection were still more injurious than opium, full effect should be given to Article 11 of the British Commercial Treaty and Article 16 of the American Treaty and instructions be given to the Customs to prohibit the importation of any morphia not covered by a special permit and imported for medical purposes. Shopkeepers, whether native or foreign, should also be strictly forbidden to manufacture morphia or instruments for its injection, so that this evil might be completely eradicated.\n\nThese Regulations were sanctioned by the Throne and circulated, but, in spite of the stringent nature of this prohibition, it appears that there are still unprincipled persons who delude people into using morphia and the trade has not been entirely suspended. The prohibition of opium is now being enforced, opium saloons have been closed, and the poorer classes, having no other means of allaying their craving, have recourse to morphia, being attracted thereto in the first place by its cheapness. As time goes on their consumption of morphia constantly increases and they cannot abandon its use, their system becomes full of the poison and in the end their bodies become covered with sores from the injecting needle and their health is ruined. Seeing that the evils of morphia are so difficult to avoid even now before opium has been entirely eradicated, after the abolition of opium it is to be feared that there will be still greater danger of falling a victim thereto, and we shall thus merely pass from Scylla to Charybdis.\n\nThe Governor's suggestion that a special enactment against morphia, founded on the law against the manufacture of poisons, should be laid down springs from an earnest desire to extirpate the evil and preserve the lives of the people. The original law against the manufacture of poisons provided that, whether any person was actually killed or not, the maker was liable to decapitation, the punishment being thus more severe than in the case of ordinary homicide on the grounds that this class of criminals made murder their trade. Now, in the case of persons manufacturing instruments for the injection of morphia and selling them to people for the purpose of satisfying their craving for opium the maker is on the same footing as a person manufacturing poisons, but as his object is merely gain and not murder, and as, moreover, the victims of the craving bring about their own death, the conditions are, as the Governor has pointed out, somewhat different, and justice requires that the law should be made slightly less severe.\n\nAs regards the sale of morphia by shops, the Customs should be directed to enforce the provisions of the British and American Treaties prohibiting the import of morphia except under special permit for medical purposes, and a punishment must be fixed for any evil-minded persons in the interior who may conspire to carry on an illicit trade in the drug. A person who knowingly sells poison is liable to the same punishment as the actual murderer, and a person who sells morphia, knowing its poisonous properties, should therefore be liable to the same punishment as the man who manufactures the instruments for its injection. Again, under the now obsolete law against opium the person preparing and the person selling the drug were liable to the same punishment (strangulation); and therefore, although the death penalty need not be decreed either against the person making instruments for the injection of morphia or the person selling the drug, the two classes of offenders should be treated as being on the same footing.\n\nAfter careful deliberation we venture to recommend that those convicted of manufacturing instruments for the injection of morphia should be sentenced in accordance with the law against the manufacture of poisons, the punishment being reduced from decapitation to banishment to the most remote and unhealthy regions of the Empire; those convicted of selling morphia, except under a special Customs permit, being liable to the same punishment in accordance with the law against knowingly selling poisons, and their shops will also be confiscated.\n\nWe would also pray that instructions be sent to the Customs authorities to enforce the Treaty provisions and put a stop to smuggling so that the evil may be cut off at its root, and when definite Regulations have been laid down we trust that the people will reverently obey them and that the prohibition of opium may then become really effective.\n\nOn receipt of Imperial sanction the Board will issue the necessary instructions to ...\n\nPage 636", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417991, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 703, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "698\n\n#!\n\n16\n\nBoard suggested a tax of 4 cash on production, but this was reduced to 3 cash at the request of the Governor-General, who, in his Proclamation imposing the tax, explains that he is acting under the directions of the Board of Finance, and that the additional levy is to compensate for the loss of revenue derived from opium. As the annual output of salt in Szechuan amounts to about 500,000,000 catties, of which some 100,000,000 catties are exported to Hupei, the annual revenue derivable from this new tax should fall little short of 2,000,000 dollars (about 200,000l).\n\nFurther proof of the curtailment of production is found in the fact that the Director-General of Native Opium Taxation, whose head-quarters are at Wuchang, the capital of the Province of Hupei, has recently represented to the Grand Council that, owing to the decrease in the revenue from native opium taxation, it is impossible for him to remit the full amount which he has been directed to furnish out of this revenue. He states that since the enforcement of the prohibition of opium the consolidated tax has yielded a smaller return; that many offices do not collect sufficient to pay expenses; and that, with the shortening of the time-limit, the revenue will be still further reduced, and it will be necessary to close several offices during the current year. As, therefore, the abolition of opium necessarily entails decrease in the revenue from its taxation, he requests that some other means may be found for making up the deficiency. The answer to this representation is a Memorial by the Board of Revenue stating the steps that have already been taken in the provinces for making up this deficiency by an addition to the price of salt, which is a Government monopoly, and instituting from the 1st of the coming Chinese year (22nd January, 1909) a new tax on opium, in the shape of a fee, to be paid by every person buying the drug, amounting to 40 and 60 cash per Chinese ounce of raw and prepared opium respectively. The Memorial further states that, if it be found at the end of next year that these additional levies on salt and opium are insufficient to make good the loss of revenue hitherto derived from opium taxation, the Head Consolidated Opium Tax Office will have to provide the deficiency. A translation of this Memorial, which was approved by Imperial Decree on the 24th October and appeared in the \"Official Gazette\" of the 7th November, is annexed.\n\nALEX. HOSIE,\n\nPeking, November 10, 1908.\n\n(Signed)\n\nActing Commercial Attaché.\n\nAppendix (A).\n\nExtract from the \"Official Gazette\" of the 30th July, 1908.\n\nMEMORIAL by the Board of Laws and the Imperial Commissioners for Law Reform reporting on a Memorial by the Governor of Kiangsu recommending the enactment of special penal laws against the sale of morphia.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nOn the 14th December, 1907, a Memorial was submitted by Ch'en Ch'i-tai, Governor of Kiangsu, in which he proposed that special laws should be laid down providing for the punishment of those convicted of selling morphia or of manufacturing needles for its injection. In accordance with the Imperial Rescript, \"Let the proper Department consider the matter and report,\" the Memorial was referred to the Board of Laws.\n\nThe Memorial of the Governor was as follows:——\n\nMorphia contains poisonous substances fatal to human life, but foreigners use it in compounding medicines for treating certain diseases, and its use has now spread to China, where it is taken by injection to satisfy the craving for opium. Its effects are very similar to those produced by opium, but whilst there is some chance of curing the opium habit, when recourse has once been had to morphia its use cannot be abandoned, and as time goes on, and more injections are constantly made, the whole body finally becomes corrupted and death ensues.\n\n17\n\nIn view of the fact that this drug is still more pernicious than opium, clauses were inserted in the Commercial Treaties with Great Britain and America prohibiting its importation except under special Customs permit and for medical purposes, and the 10th Article of the Rules for the Prohibition of Opium submitted to the Throne by the Government Council last year provided that instructions should be sent to Customs authorities to call attention to this Treaty provision, and that shopkeepers, whether native or foreign, should be strictly prohibited from manufacturing morphia or instruments for its injection.\n\nUnfortunately, there are still unprincipled persons who, in their greed for gain, delude people into using morphia, and, as all the opium saloons have been closed owing to the enforcement of the prohibition of opium, and the poorer people cannot procure the utensils for opium smoking, when they find that they can satisfy their craving with morphia at a fraction of the cost there are few with sufficient strength of mind to resist doing so. This being the case in Kiangsu, the same conditions are probably to be found in other provinces, and it therefore appears advisable that special laws should be provided so that one man's punishment may act as a deterrent to a hundred others.\n\n\"By law it is an offence punishable with decapitation to manufacture, or cause others to manufacture, poisons dangerous to human life; and further, if a man be poisoned, the seller, if aware of the purpose for which the poison was bought, is liable to the same penalty as the murderer. Now, if a person manufactures morphia, which is poisonous in its effects, and sells it to another to satisfy his craving for opium, if the latter finally dies through inability to abandon the use of morphia the case is really similar to that of a man who manufactures poison for the purpose of committing murder. The law formerly in existence against opium provided for the death penalty, and as morphia is much more dangerous than opium the death penalty in accordance with the law against the manufacture of poisons would not be excessive. However, the object of its manufacture is not murder but gain, and as, too, the victims of the craving voluntarily bring their death upon themselves, the conditions are somewhat different, and I would therefore venture to suggest that the Board of Laws should be directed to consult with the Commissioners for Law Reform with a view to drawing up special enactments on the subject.\"\n\nWe were instructed by Imperial Decree to report on this Memorial, and have the honour to observe, in the first place, that morphia is a natural salt, forming the essential constituent of opium, from which it is extracted by chemical processes and made into medicines for treating diseases. It possesses the property of producing sleep, whence its name morphia, from Morpheus, the God of Sleep, is derived, and its effects are still more powerful than those of opium.\n\nLast year an Imperial Decree was issued ordering the entire abolition of opium, and the Regulations prepared by the Government Council contained a provision that arrangements should be made for the prohibition of the import of foreign opium so that the evil might be cut off at the source. It was also provided that, as morphia and the instruments for its injection were still more injurious than opium, full effect should be given to the 11th Article of the British Commercial Treaty and the 16th of the American Treaty, and instructions be given to the Customs to prohibit the importation of any morphia not covered by special permit and imported for medical purposes. Shopkeepers, whether native or foreign, should also be strictly forbidden to manufacture morphia or instruments for its injection, so that this evil might be completely eradicated.\n\nThese Regulations were sanctioned by the Throne and circulated, but, in spite of the stringent nature of this prohibition, it appears that there are still unprincipled persons who delude people into using morphia, and the trade has not been entirely suspended. The prohibition of opium is now being enforced, opium saloons have been closed, and the poorer classes having no other means of allaying their craving have recourse to morphia, being attracted thereto in the first place by its cheapness. As time goes on their consumption of morphia constantly increases, and they cannot abandon its use; their system becomes full of the poison, and in the end their bodies become covered with sores from the injecting needle and their health is ruined. Seeing that the evils of morphia are so difficult to avoid even now before opium has been entirely eradicated, after the abolition of opium it is to be feared that there will be still greater danger of falling a victim thereto, and we shall merely pass from Scylla to Charybdis.\n\nThe Governor's suggestion that a special enactment against morphia, founded on the law against the manufacture of poisons, should be laid down, springs from an earnest desire to extirpate the evil and preserve the lives of the people. The original law against the manufacture of poisons provided that, whether any person was actually killed or not, the maker was liable to decapitation, the punishment being thus more severe than in the case of ordinary homicide, on the grounds that this class of criminals made murder their trade. Now, in the case of persons manufacturing instruments for the injection of morphia and selling them to people for the purpose of satisfying their craving for opium, the maker is on the same footing as a person manufacturing poisons, but as his object is merely gain and not murder, and as, moreover, the victims of the craving bring about their own death, the conditions are, as the Governor has pointed out, somewhat different, and justice requires that the law should be made slightly less severe.\n\nAs regards the sale of morphia by shops, the Customs should be directed to enforce the provisions of the British and American Treaties prohibiting the import of morphia except under special permit for medical purposes, and a punishment must be fixed for any evil-disposed persons in the interior who may conspire to carry on an illicit trade in the drug. A person who knowingly sells poison is liable to the same punishment as the actual murderer, and a person who sells morphia, knowing its poisonous properties, should therefore be liable to the same punishment as the man who manufactures the instruments for its injection. Again, under the now obsolete law against opium, the person preparing and the person selling the drug were liable to the same punishment (strangulation), and therefore, although the death penalty need not be decreed either against the person making instruments for the injection of morphia or the person selling the drug, the two classes of offenders should be treated as being on the same footing.\n\nAfter careful deliberation we venture to recommend that those convicted of manufacturing instruments for the injection of morphia should be sentenced in accordance with the law against the manufacture of poisons, the punishment being reduced from decapitation to banishment to ...\n\nF\n\n[2050 i-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421264, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 53, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# 52\n\n**\"This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\"** C.0.\n\n## CHINA TRADE\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[43326]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n1189\n\n[December 12.]\n\n### SECTION 3.\n\nIIAN AS\n\n(No. 482.)\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 12.)**\n\nPeking, October 27, 1908,\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 448 of the 12th October, transmitting a copy of the Yalu Timber Company's statutes, under Article 3 of which the capital of the Company was fixed at 3,000,000 dollars, I have the honour to report the conclusion of an Agreement between the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank and the Manchurian authorities for a loan of 1,100,000 taels, equivalent to 1,500,000 dollars, and representing the Chinese share in the Company.\n\nOn the 23rd October I was notified by Prince Ch'ing of this transaction in the note, of which I have the honour to inclose a translation. The Agreement, however, has not yet been signed, but it is expected that Mr. Mackintosh, the agent of the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank at Tien-tsin, will be summoned to Mukden in a few days for this purpose.\n\nIn the meantime Mr. Hillier has been informed that the present loan will ultimately form part of a larger transaction, namely, a loan for 6,100,000 taels, from which the Yalu Company's loan will first be paid off, leaving a balance of 5,000,000 taels, secured on the salt revenue of Manchuria, and to be devoted to general purposes in the province.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN\n\n### Inclosure in No. 1.\n\n**Prince Ch'ing to Sir J. Jordan.**\n\n(Translation.)\n\nPeking, October 23, 1908.\n\nON the 19th October, the Grand Council communicated to this Board the Memorial of the Governor-General of Manchuria, proposing to borrow from the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation a foreign loan, amounting to 1,100,000 taels, and on the same day an Imperial Rescript in the Vermilion Pencil was received, commanding as follows: \"Let it be as suggested, and let the proper Board take note.\"\n\nI accordingly have the honour to inform your Excellency, and to request that the Bank may be duly notified that they may act in accordance with the arrangement.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) PRINCE CHING\n\n[2050 m--3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421545, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 334, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# Inclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\n## Proclamation\n\n**THE Financial Bureau of Kiangnan**, in the matter of issuing this Proclamation for public information, state--\n\nWe have received a despatch from the Viceroy to the effect that, in compliance with the Regulations concerning the superintendence of opium prohibition furnished by the Board of Civil Administration, wholesale houses in the opium trade shall be established in the various provinces. They shall undertake the making of investigations in opium and the imposition of taxes. Any opium not purchased and resold by such wholesale houses shall be considered private and smuggled opium. Licences shall be issued to all the wholesale houses as well as opium shops at a cost which shall be decided upon, and new licences shall be issued once a-year; those not having obtained licences shall be prohibited from trading.\n\nWe are also in receipt of a despatch from the Viceroy, forwarding the revised edition of the Opium Prohibition Regulations of Kiangnan, and he has further instructed us to co-operate with the Bureau of Self-Government, the Bureau of Li-kin Taxes, and the Bureau of Police to carefully discuss the question of the fees to be charged the wholesale houses and retail shops for the licences and for the privilege of carrying on the trade.\n\nAccordingly, in obedience to the above instructions, we have decided the various points in co-operation with the said offices, and submitted a report to the Viceroy who has, in his Rescript thereto, given instructions that we should superintend the collection. We shall therefore proceed with the matter.\n\nIn addition to our giving instructions to our various subordinates to take steps accordingly, and appointing officials for the purpose of carrying on investigations, we deem it necessary to issue a Proclamation.\n\nThis Proclamation is therefore given for information to all those dealing in opium. All the firms, \"hongs,\" or shops dealing in the purchase and sale of opium, whether large or small, shall at the time of investigation give an actual report of the quantity of opium sold yearly by each of them for the purpose of calculation, with a view to issuing licences as permits to carry on their business. The imposition of licence fees and taxes for the privilege of carrying on the trade shall commence from the 1st day of the 12th moon of this year, and all firms, \"hongs,\" and shops, shall pay dues according to their respective classes to their respective yamens, bureaux, or other places for remittance.\n\nWe, in consideration of the great urgency of carrying out the prohibition of opium, further order that any licensed house venturing to conceal the actual amount of sales, or give a smaller report than the actual business, shall be fined and dealt with in the severest manner when detected.\n\nBe it obeyed by every one implicitly; urgent is this special Proclamation. The following are the Regulations :--\n\n1. Wholesale houses shall be established in all the different prefectures, sub-prefectures, and districts, as centres to undertake the making of investigations in opium and the imposition of taxes. Retail shops are only allowed to purchase opium from those wholesale houses for resale, and not from farmers, or outside their respective limits, or to purchase opium on a large scale from abroad.\n\n2. The number of wholesale houses is limited to ten only in a provincial city. In prefectures, sub-prefectures, districts, and prosperous market towns and villages the number shall be decided upon by local officials, but shall not exceed six in each place.\n\n3. Such wholesale houses shall be opened by the more substantial persons in the opium trade, with the option of running one individually or in co-operation with several others.\n\n4. Such wholesale houses and retail shops shall apply to their officials for licences to carry on the trade. We shall design licences with sales duly affixed, and send them to the respective yamens for distribution. If in any of the prefectures, sub-prefectures, and districts there are branch offices of the Opium Tax Departments, the local officials concerned shall communicate with such offices and co-operate with them in discussing the establishment of wholesale houses for which licences shall also be issued by us.\n\n5. Wholesale houses, having obtained licences, are allowed to purchase opium from outside their respective limits, and to sell also on behalf of merchants coming from abroad and dealing on a large scale, but shall not be allowed to purchase from farmers or other shops by retail.\n\n6. Every two months, wholesale houses shall submit a report regarding the actual quantity of opium purchased and resold by them to their respective yamens, bureaux, or other places for the purpose of inspection and verification.\n\n7. Wholesale houses shall reduce their business by one-eighth every year, starting from the actual quantity of opium purchased and resold this year, and are not allowed to deal more largely than allowed. If any of them be detected making false reports they shall be severely dealt with and fined.\n\n8. Wholesale houses, being required to undertake the duty of making investigations and the imposition of taxes, are exempted from paying any fee for their licence, but they shall renew their licences once a year, also free of charge.\n\n9. The licences for retail shops shall be divided into three classes, viz., 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes, and the fee shall be charged according to the amount of business done every year: \n| Class | Yearly Fee (Dollars) | Yearly Quantity of Opium Sold (Taels in weight) |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1st | 6 | 1,500 to 3,000 |\n| 2nd | 4 | 600 to 1,000 |\n| 3rd | 2 | 200 to 400 |\n\nThe above fees shall be paid at the time of obtaining the licences. Licences shall be renewed every year when the fees shall be paid accordingly.\n\n10. Wholesale houses as well as retail shops shall pay taxes for carrying on the trade. Each of the three different classes shall be subdivided into three, viz., high, middle, and low, these making up a total of nine classes :\n| Class | Scale per month (Taels in weight) | Dollars per month |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| high | above 8,000 | 12 |\n| middle | 2,000-3,000 | 10 |\n| low | 1,500-1,999 | 8 |\n| high | 1,000-1,499 | 6 |\n| middle | 800-999 | 4 |\n| low | 600-799 | 3 |\n| high | 400-599 | 2 |\n| middle | 200-399 | 1 |\n| low | below 200 | 0.50 |\n\n11. Retail shops selling both raw opium and prepared opium shall, in addition to the paying of licence fee and tax for carrying on the trade, also pay permit fees in accordance with the standing regulations governing fees that should be paid for permits for the sale of prepared opium. No advantage is to be taken in any case. Those having obtained no permits to sell prepared opium are not allowed to do so, as the regulations for permit fees are distinct from those for licence fees.\n\nBe it known to all.\n\nDated the 10th moon in the 34th year of Kwang Hsu.\n\n## Inclosure 6 in No. 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing**\n\nPeking, January 4, 1909.\n\nWITH reference to previous correspondence regarding the measures taken in various provinces by the high authorities for controlling the sale and consumption of opium by a system of licences, I have the honour to present to your Highness the views of the principal importers of foreign opium upon the effect which the Regulations introduced in Kwangtung and Kiangnan will have on their trade.\n\nThese importing firms consider that any regulation which seeks to confine the wholesale trade in foreign opium to a limited number of Chinese \"hongs\" is equivalent to granting a monopoly to those establishments, and therefore a contravention of Treaty. They submit that the importation of foreign opium is still a legitimate trade, which can only be restricted under agreement between the Governments concerned, and...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421546, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 335, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# Inclosure 7 in No. 1\n## Memorial by T'ai-pu, Tartar General at Ning-hsia, with reference to the Prohibition of Opium\n\n(Translation.)\n\n(Submitted to the Throne on December 14, 1908.)\n\nIN view of the many Imperial Decrees ordering the abolition of opium, and considering the importance of this measure, it is essential that it should be carried out in a thoroughly effective manner, and that there should not be merely a specious pretence at obedience to the Imperial commands. Some time ago the Commissioners for the Prohibition of Opium directed the Tartar General to furnish within two months a return of the number of opium-smokers amongst the Manchu garrison at Ning-hsia. As the number of smokers was very large—more than 60 per cent. of the total—the Tartar General asked that the time limit might be increased, so as to give time for taking effective measures to eradicate the evil. After careful consideration, he has come to the conclusion that no real progress can be made in the matter of abolishing opium until some genuine remedy for removing the craving has been discovered. Mere prohibitions will only lead subordinates to combine together for the purpose of hoodwinking their superiors, and it is impossible to maintain a sufficiently complete surveillance.\n\nThe reports furnished by officials with regard to the reductions effected in opium-smoking and cultivating are mere empty statements without any foundation in fact. For instance, in the Memorial submitted by the Board of Finance, giving returns of the production and consumption of opium during the last three years, Kansuh is stated to have purchased only 45 piculs in 1907. Now, if this were true, it would show that a great reduction had been effected, but as the deputy sent by the Board to investigate the question in Kansu did not reach the province until the middle of September, when all the poppy had been cut, he had to rely solely on the reports of the district magistrates and tax offices, which are far from being conclusive evidence. In the Manchu city of Ning-hsia alone the annual consumption of raw opium amounts to at least 200,000 ounces, and as 45 piculs amounts only to 72,000 ounces, the latter would be quite insufficient even for this one Manchu city. The statement that this is the amount consumed by the whole province can therefore deceive no one. If the Throne allows itself to be deceived by such reports as this into thinking that the proper reductions are being effected, the most serious consequences may ensue upon the completion of the ten years' period.\n\nAgain, the Report from Ta-hua district, in Kiangsi, states that the annual production of native opium paste is only 660 ounces. Now, 1 mou of good land produces about 200 ounces of opium paste, and, if the Report were true, it would follow that there were only 3 or 4 mou of land under opium cultivation in Ta-hua district during that year. Can this be credited? From the above two instances one can judge what are the facts in other provinces.\n\nThe memorialist has been endeavouring to find a cure for the opium craving, and has at length come to the conclusion that the remedy discovered by a Shantung man named Chao Kuei-chün is the most effective. He has brought this man to Ning-hsia for the purpose of trying his treatment on the troops there, and has met with great success. The first person treated was the Deputy Lieutenant-General Chih-jui, who had been obliged, owing to illness, to take opium since the age of 20, and in his case an immediate cure was effected. The treatment was then tried on the soldiers in batches of twenty every five days, and equally satisfactory results were attained. He now proposes to require all the opium-smokers amongst his troops to submit to the treatment, and hopes that in four months the habit will have been entirely eradicated.\n\nHe then refers to the consumption of opium throughout the Empire. The investigation made by the Board of Finance showed that the total annual consumption of native and foreign opium amounted together to over 170,000 piculs, or 200,000,000 taels, and, taking the annual consumption per head at 100 taels, this would show that there are at least 20,000,000 smokers [Note.—There is something wrong with the arithmetic here.—Translator.] without taking into account the amount of smuggled opium and that grown by people for their own consumption. The eradication of the habit amongst so large a number is an undertaking of the utmost difficulty. It is practically impossible to insure that all the Regulations for the diminution of opium cultivation and smoking are faithfully complied with, and any attempt to enforce these rules strictly only leads to further deceptions being practised. Further, at the end of ten years, owing to the constant changes in the public service, it will be impossible to fix the responsibility for any laxity upon the real offender.\n\nAfter deep study of the question, the memorialist has come to the conclusion that the only feasible course is to endeavour in the first place to deal with the victims of the habit among the official class and the troops. If his experiment at Ning-hsia proves completely successful, he proposes to submit a further Memorial, recommending that the treatment now being tried at Ning-hsia should be extended to other provinces, and that all opium-smokers amongst the officials and soldiers should be required to undergo it. As regards the general public, their number is too great to render this course practicable, and it only remains to order the total abolition of opium cultivation in all the provinces within the space of one year, and, as the supply of foreign opium will also be gradually decreasing, this should lead to the final suppression of the evil. Unless this course be adopted, it will be found, at the expiration of ten years, that the production of opium is as large as ever.\n\nThe Tartar General has been impelled by his deep sense of gratitude for the favours received from the Throne to submit this Memorial, and has not dared to follow the example of other provincial authorities in furnishing specious and useless reports about the establishment of bureaux and the preparation of Regulations.\n\nThe following Imperial Rescript was received: \"Let the proper Department take note.\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421560, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 349, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n# CHINA TRADE\n\n## SECTION 2\n### No. 1\n\nPeking, December 21, 1908.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 13, 1909.)\n\nIN the penultimate paragraph of my despatch No. 494 of the 29th October last, transmitting a Memorial presented to the Throne by the Board of Finance upon the opium question, I refuted the statement contained therein that the Hong Kong opium farmer is allowed to boil fifteen cases of opium daily, that less than three cases are required for the Colony's daily consumption, and that the balance is illicitly exported to China.\n\nThe Governor of Hong Kong having also drawn my attention to this statement and requested me to take such action as I might deem advisable to procure official rectification, I addressed a note to the Wai-wu Pu and also made verbal representations setting forth the true facts of the case and asking that steps should be taken to bring them to the notice of those concerned and to insert a notice correcting the error in the public press.\n\nThe statement complained of did not appear in the text of the Memorial as published in the Official Gazette, and the Wai-wu Pu promised me to bring the facts to the notice of the Board of Finance and of the Chinese members of the Shanghae Opium Commission.\n\nCopies of the correspondence with Sir F. Lugard and of my Memorandum to the Wai-wu Pu are inclosed herewith for your information.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\nGovernor Sir F. Lugard to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nHong Kong, November 25, 1908.\n\nWITH reference to the penultimate paragraph of your Excellency's despatch No. 494 of the 29th ultimo, I have the honour to refer you to pp. 3, 7, and 8 of my Memorandum regarding the restriction of opium in Hong Kong and China, a copy of which accompanied my despatch, Confidential, of the 12th instant.\n\n2. From the passages quoted your Excellency will observe that the statement in the Memorial by the Board of Finance that \"it appears that in Hong Kong, where the opium imported from abroad is prepared, under the arrangements for sales under official control, fifteen cases daily are disposed of by the Opium Company, while as a matter of fact less than three cases are required for Hong Kong consumption, the remainder being illicitly exported into China,\" is entirely false, as your Excellency has not failed to point out in your covering despatch to Sir Edward Grey. I have the honour to invite your Excellency's attention to the slander on this Colony to which the words quoted give currency, and to request you to take such action as you may deem advisable to bring about their withdrawal.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) F. D. LUGARD.\n\n### Inclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n## Memorandum\n\nA MEMORIAL of the Board of Finance on the subject of opium, which was approved by Imperial Rescript on the 4th October, contains the following statement-", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421563, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 352, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# Inclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\n## Proclamation\n\n**THE Financial Bureau of Kiangnan**, in the matter of issuing this Proclamation for public information, state----\n\nWe have received a despatch from the Viceroy to the effect that, in compliance with the Regulations concerning the superintendence of opium prohibition furnished by the Board of Civil Administration, wholesale houses in the opium trade shall be established in the various provinces. They shall undertake the making of investigations in opium and the imposition of taxes. Any opium not purchased and resold by such wholesale houses shall be considered private and smuggled opium. Licences shall be issued to all the wholesale houses as well as opium shops at a cost which shall be decided upon, and new licences shall be issued once a-year; those not having obtained licences shall be prohibited from trading.\n\nWe are also in receipt of a despatch from the Viceroy, forwarding the revised edition of the Opium Prohibition Regulations of Kiangnan, and he has further instructed us to co-operate with the Bureau of Self-Government, the Bureau of Li-kin Taxes, and the Bureau of Police to carefully discuss the question of the fees to be charged the wholesale houses and retail shops for the licences and for the privilege of carrying on the trade.\n\nAccordingly, in obedience to the above instructions, we have decided the various points in co-operation with the said offices, and submitted a report to the Viceroy who has, in his Rescript thereto, given instructions that we should superintend the collection. We shall therefore proceed with the matter.\n\nIn addition to our giving instructions to our various subordinates to take steps accordingly, and appointing officials for the purpose of carrying on investigations, we deem it necessary to issue a Proclamation.\n\nThis Proclamation is therefore given for information to all those dealing in opium. All the firms, \"hongs,\" or shops dealing in the purchase and sale of opium, whether large or small, shall at the time of investigation give an actual report of the quantity of opium sold yearly by each of them for the purpose of calculation, with a view to issuing licences as permits to carry on their business. The imposition of licence fees and taxes for the privilege of carrying on the trade shall commence from the 1st day of the 12th moon of this year, and all firms, \"hongs,\" and shops, shall pay their respective dues according to their respective classes to their respective yamens, bureaux, or other places for remittance.\n\nWe, in consideration of the great urgency of carrying out the prohibition of opium, further order that any licensed house venturing to conceal the actual amount of sales, or give a smaller report than the actual business, shall be fined and dealt with in the severest manner when detected.\n\nBe it obeyed by every one implicitly; urgent is this special Proclamation. The following are the Regulations :-\n\n1. Wholesale houses shall be established in all the different prefectures, sub-prefectures, and districts, as centres to undertake the making of investigations in opium and the imposition of taxes. Retail shops are only allowed to purchase opium from those wholesale houses for resale, and not from farmers, or outside their respective limits, or to purchase opium on a large scale from abroad.\n\n2. The number of wholesale houses is limited to ten only in a provincial city. In prefectures, sub-prefectures, districts, and prosperous market towns and villages the number shall be decided upon by local officials, but shall not exceed six in each place.\n\n3. Such wholesale houses shall be opened by the more substantial persons in the opium trade, with the option of running one individually or in co-operation with several others.\n\n4. Such wholesale houses and retail shops shall apply to their officials for licences to carry on the trade. We shall design licences with sales duly affixed, and send them to the respective yamens for distribution. If in any of the prefectures, sub-prefectures, and districts there are branch offices of the Opium Tax Departments, the local officials concerned shall communicate with such offices and co-operate with them in discussing the establishment of wholesale houses for which licences shall also be issued by us.\n\n5. Wholesale houses, having obtained licences, are allowed to purchase opium from outside their respective limits, and to sell also on behalf of merchants coming from abroad and dealing on a large scale, but shall not be allowed to purchase from farmers or other shops by retail.\n\n6. Every two months, wholesale houses shall submit a report regarding the actual quantity of opium purchased and resold by them to their respective yamens, bureaux, or other places for the purpose of inspection and verification.\n\n7. Wholesale houses shall reduce their business by one-eighth every year, starting from the actual quantity of opium purchased and resold this year, and are not allowed to deal more largely than allowed. If any of them be detected making false reports they shall be severely dealt with and fined.\n\n8. Wholesale houses, being required to undertake the duty of making investigations and the imposition of taxes, are exempted from paying any fee for their licence, but they shall renew their licences once a year, also free of charge.\n\n9. The licences for retail shops shall be divided into three classes, viz., 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes, and the fee shall be charged according to the amount of business done every year--\n| Class | Licence Fee (per year) | Yearly Quantity of Opium Sold (in taels) |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1st | 6 dollars | 1,500 to 3,000 |\n| 2nd | 4 dollars | 600 to 1,000 |\n| 3rd | 2 dollars | 200 to 400 |\n\nThe above fees shall be paid at the time of obtaining the licences. Licences shall be renewed every year when the fees shall be paid accordingly.\n\n10. Wholesale houses as well as retail shops shall pay taxes for carrying on the trade. Each of the three different classes shall be subdivided into three, viz., high, middle, and low, these making up a total of nine classes :-\n| Scale (per month) | High | Middle | Low |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| above 3,000 taels | 12 dollars | 10 dollars | 8 dollars |\n| 2,000 taels | 10 dollars | 8 dollars | 6 dollars |\n| 1,500 taels | 8 dollars | 6 dollars | 4 dollars |\n| 1,000 taels | 6 dollars | 4 dollars | 3 dollars |\n| 800 taels | 4 dollars | 3 dollars | 2 dollars |\n| 600 taels | 3 dollars | 2 dollars | 1 dollar |\n| 400 taels | 2 dollars | 1 dollar | 0.50 dollars |\n| 200 taels | 1 dollar | 0.50 dollars | ... |\n| below 200 taels | 0.50 dollars | ... | ... |\n\n11. Retail shops selling both raw opium and prepared opium shall, in addition to the paying of licence fee and tax for carrying on the trade, also pay permit fees in accordance with the standing regulations governing fees that should be paid for permits for the sale of prepared opium. No advantage is to be taken in any case. Those having obtained no permits to sell prepared opium are not allowed to do so, as the regulations for permit fees are distinct from those for licence fees.\n\nBe it known to all.\n\nDated the 10th moon in the 34th year of Kwang Hsü.\n\n## Inclosure 6 in No. 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing**\n\nPeking, January 4, 1909.\n\nWITH reference to previous correspondence regarding the measures taken in various provinces by the high authorities for controlling the sale and consumption of opium by a system of licences, I have the honour to present to your Highness the views of the principal importers of foreign opium upon the effect which the Regulations introduced in Kwangtung and Kiangnan will have on their trade.\n\nThese importing firms consider that any regulation which seeks to confine the wholesale trade in foreign opium to a limited number of Chinese \"hongs\" is equivalent to granting a monopoly to those establishments, and therefore a contravention of Treaty. They submit that the importation of foreign opium is still a legitimate trade, which can only be restricted under agreement between the Governments concerned, and...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421564, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 353, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# Inclosure 7 in No. 1\n## Memorial by Tai-pu, Tartar General at Ning-hsia, with reference to the Prohibition of Opium\n\n(Translation.)\n\n(Submitted to the Throne on December 14, 1908.)\n\nIN view of the many Imperial Decrees ordering the abolition of opium, and considering the importance of this measure, it is essential that it should be carried out in a thoroughly effective manner, and that there should not be merely a specious pretence at obedience to the Imperial commands. Some time ago the Commissioners for the Prohibition of Opium directed the Tartar General to furnish within two months a return of the number of opium-smokers amongst the Manchu garrison at Ning-hsia. As the number of smokers was very large - more than 60 per cent. of the total - the Tartar General asked that the time limit might be increased, so as to give time for taking effective measures to eradicate the evil. After careful consideration, he has come to the conclusion that no real progress can be made in the matter of abolishing opium until some genuine remedy for removing the craving has been discovered. Prohibitions will only lead subordinates to combine together for the purpose of hoodwinking their superiors, and it is impossible to maintain a sufficiently complete surveillance.\n\nThe reports furnished by officials with regard to the reductions effected in opium-smoking and cultivating are mere empty statements without any foundation in fact. For instance, in the Memorial submitted by the Board of Finance, giving returns of the production and consumption of opium during the last three years, Kansu is stated to have purchased only 45 piculs in 1907. Now, if this were true, it would show that a great reduction had been effected, but as the deputy sent by the Board to investigate the question in Kansu did not reach the province until the middle of September, when all the poppy had been cut, he had to rely solely on the reports of the district magistrates and tax offices, which are far from being conclusive evidence. In the Manchu city of Ning-hsia alone the annual consumption of raw opium amounts to at least 200,000 ounces, and as 45 piculs amounts only to 72,000 ounces, the latter would be quite insufficient even for this one Manchu city. The statement that this is the amount consumed by the whole province can therefore deceive no one. If the Throne allows itself to be deceived by such reports as this into thinking that the proper reductions are being effected, the most serious consequences may ensue upon the completion of the ten years' period.\n\nAgain, the Report from Ta-hua district, in Kiangsi, states that the annual production of native opium paste is only 660 ounces. Now, 1 mou of good land produces about 200 ounces of opium paste, and, if the Report were true, it would follow that there were only 3 or 4 mou of land under opium cultivation in Ta-hua district during that year. Can this be credited? From the above two instances one can judge what are the facts in other provinces.\n\nThe memorialist has been endeavouring to find a cure for the opium craving, and has at length come to the conclusion that the remedy discovered by a Shantung man named Chao Kuei-chün is the most effective. He has brought this man to Ning-hsia for the purpose of trying his treatment on the troops there, and has met with great success. The first person treated was the Deputy Lieutenant-General Chih-jui, who had been obliged, owing to illness, to take opium since the age of 20, and in his case an immediate cure was effected. The treatment was then tried on the soldiers in batches of twenty every five days, and equally satisfactory results were attained. He now proposes to require all the opium-smokers amongst his troops to submit to the treatment, and hopes that in four months the habit will have been entirely eradicated.\n\nHe then refers to the consumption of opium throughout the Empire. The investigation made by the Board of Finance showed that the total annual consumption of native and foreign opium amounted together to over 170,000 piculs, or 200,000,000 taels, and, taking the annual consumption per head at 100 taels, this would show that there are at least 2,000,000 smokers [Note.-There is something wrong with the arithmetic here.--Translator.] without taking into account the amount of smuggled opium and that grown by people for their own consumption. The eradication of the habit amongst so large a number is an undertaking of the utmost difficulty. It is practically impossible to insure that all the Regulations for the diminution of opium cultivation and smoking are faithfully complied with, and any attempt to enforce these rules strictly only leads to further deceptions being practised. Further, at the end of ten years, owing to the constant changes in the public service, it will be impossible to fix the responsibility for any laxity upon the real offender.\n\nAfter deep study of the question, the memorialist has come to the conclusion that the only feasible course is to endeavour in the first place to deal with the victims of the habit among the official class and the troops. If his experiment at Ning-hsia proves completely successful, he proposes to submit a further Memorial, recommending that the treatment now being tried at Ning-hsia should be extended to other provinces, and that all opium-smokers amongst the officials and soldiers should be required to undergo it. As regards the general public, their number is too great to render this course practicable, and it only remains to order the total abolition of opium cultivation in all the provinces within the space of one year, and, as the supply of foreign opium will also be gradually decreasing, this should lead to the final suppression of the evil. Unless this course be adopted, it will be found, at the expiration of ten years, that the production of opium is as large as ever.\n\nThe Tartar General has been impelled by his deep sense of gratitude for the favours received from the Throne to submit this Memorial, and has not dared to follow the example of other provincial authorities in furnishing specious and useless reports about the establishment of bureaux and the preparation of Regulations.\n\nThe following Imperial Rescript was received: \"Let the proper Department take note.\"\n\nPage 351", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421965, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 754, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## Inclosure 9 in No. 1.\n\n### Newspaper Extract.\n\n#### Address by Tuan Fung at Opening of International Opium Commission.\n\nGentlemen,\n\nON the 20th September, 1906, an Imperial Edict was issued prohibiting the cultivation and use of opium throughout the Empire within a period of ten years. According to a report from the Ministry concerned, the result of any inquiry into the question shows that, up to the present, progress has been made in reducing the area under cultivation of the poppy plant in the various provinces. As a matter of fact, the area where the poppy has been cultivated in the Kiangnan portion of Kiangsu Province has been now reduced by 80 per cent., while it is on record that from the six Provinces of Shansi, Yunnan, Fuhkien, Anhui, Honan, and Heilungkiang, or Northern Manchuria, Memorials have been presented to the Throne reporting that the cultivation of the poppy will be entirely stopped by the winter of the present year. Even more than that: the gentry and merchants of the various provinces of the Empire have everywhere started societies to exhort and assist opium smokers to get rid of the baneful habit. For instance, we have an Association in Fuhkien Province known as the Anti-Poison Society, which has been making considerable progress in its campaign against the drug.\n\nIndeed, from the present outlook, together with the state of public opinion throughout our Empire, there are great hopes that the consumption of opium can be stopped in its entirety before the end of the prescribed limit of ten years.\n\nTo-day it is my good fortune to be present at this International Conference, having been appointed by Imperial Rescript to open the proceedings. I am convinced that the countries of the world recognize that the benevolence and philanthropy which have led to the gathering of the present Conference in the interests of civilization, and I may state that the people of our whole Empire are most grateful for it. It will need more eloquence than mine to fittingly express the cordial welcome with which our country hails the inauguration of this International Opium Conference, but I may take this opportunity to first respectfully tender the thanks of my Government and that of the people of this Empire to the American Government for initiating the movement which has brought about this Conference, and next to thank the Governments of the various countries here represented for so heartily joining in it.\n\nAs the Representative of the whole Empire, I beg leave to give this Conference some of our ideas on the subject in view.\n\nI may be permitted to express my belief that this Conference will be principally guided by the feelings of reason, benevolence, and philanthropy in its desire to eradicate a poison and a bane to mankind. This being universally recognized, it becomes us to put aside all prejudices of nationality and race and be guided solely by that world-wide philanthropy and enlightenment which have brought about this International Conference. For instance, the manner in which the Governments of the countries concerned have set about to stop the consumption of opium in their Colonies and dependencies such as Formosa, Annam, the Philippine Islands, Java, &c., has been to undertake the monopoly of the sale of opium therein, a procedure which China alone has not yet put into actual force; as a matter of fact, the mere prohibition of opium without the Government having the monopoly of the sale of the drug will prevent the Government from learning the number of persons suffering from the habit, nor can it put into effect any laws for the suppression of opium consumption. Mr. Leech, Councillor of the British Legation in Peking, has stated: \"Whether China can completely obtain the good she seeks without Government control of opium both native-grown and imported is somewhat doubtful,\" an opinion which gains my deep admiration for his wisdom and far-sightedness, and merits our sincere thanks for his warm sympathy in our endeavours. What, however, is to be apprehended is that Chinese merchants importing opium may claim that such a step will be contrary to former Treaties and be disadvantageous to their trade and so oppose it, thereby preventing China from putting into effect a proper control over opium and the spread of the opium prohibition throughout the country. Thus not only will it not agree with the sincere intentions first expressed by the British Government to give every assistance to China, but also be a hindrance to the movement initiated by the American Government; nor will it enable the various countries represented in this Conference to show their unanimity in assisting this Conference to solve the questions before it. This is a matter to be regretted, indeed, and it is my earnest hope that this Conference will thoroughly go into this matter during its deliberations.\n\nIt was at first intended to limit the abolition of opium in this Empire to ten years, but the various provinces have been able to so reduce the cultivation of the poppy that it would seem that this cultivation may be entirely stopped within the next couple of years. Moreover, the sale of prepared opium has also been rapidly reduced to over one-half, so that we may certainly be able to entirely stop the sale and consumption of the native-grown opium within the prescribed limit of ten years, stoppage of our native-grown opium it would follow that the importation of the foreign drug will also stop as a natural sequence. Such being the case, the people of my country will have reason to congratulate themselves on what has gone before, and this we owe to the assistance given by the British Government and to the labours of the American Government in initiating the movement which brought about this Conference. On the other hand, the attempts of this Government to suppress opium are hampered by existing Treaties. Should a way be found by which such clauses in the Treaties that restrict the freedom of my Government in its work of abolishing the consumption of the drug in the Empire may be got over with, so that we may succeed in accomplishing our great and important task, fortunate indeed will it be for our Government and the people of this Empire. It is my earnest hope that this Conference will use its best endeavours to thresh out this question.\n\nOn the whole, since the main object of this Conference will be to consider the question of opium, fortunate indeed will it be for the whole world if by the labours of the Conference a way be found to shorten the limit and bring about the abolition of opium at an early date. I do not think that national interests and division of races will be brought forward and produce difficulties between our countries, thereby hampering the work of opium abolition.\n\nWhat is the meaning of the phrase: \"To seek for gain and yet fear to overcome difficulties\"? The honourable gentlemen who are present this day as members of the Conference have all been selected by their respective Governments for their benevolence, philanthropy, and fame. Since such is the case, I am certain that no one amongst this distinguished assembly will act contrary to the benevolent and enlightened objects which have brought them together here. I will therefore be the first to declare to this...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422564, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 593, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# 591\n\n(Translation.)\n\n## Inclosure 2 in No. 1\n\nExtract from the \"Yang Cheng Pao\" of March 2, 1909.\n\n### Text of telegram from Chang Chih Tung to Taotai Tong Ping Yen\n\nThe Director-General in Peking to the Resident Director in Canton.\n\nYOUR two telegrams. Although successive reports on the affairs of the Canton-Hankow Railway have been submitted by the general manager, Sir Chih Chen Liang Cheng, no complete detailed report has so far been furnished. The duties and responsibilities of the resident director in Canton are identical with those of the general manager. You should therefore consult with Liang and act in unison with him, in supplying the following particulars:\n\n1. Furnishing the complete dossier of all documents and accounts of the railway company since the redemption of the concession.\n2. A report showing the completed portion of the line at the time of the redemption, the portion since completed or under construction, the portion already surveyed but not yet under construction, and the portion of which the trace has already been decided but which has not yet been surveyed, giving the exact length of each.\n\nIn addition, a register and plans of all lands and rolling-stock, together with a complete list of the staff of employés.\n\n3. A report showing the amounts collected or still outstanding of the first and second calls upon the shares with a list of shareholders, the sum required for construction and for the company's annual expenditure, together with a balance sheet showing the balance in hand. In addition, a detailed account showing all sums placed out at interest.\n4. An account of the receipts from the sale of tickets and freight charges on the working portion of the line, giving full details of revenue and expenditure under this head.\n\nYou should, in obedience to these instructions, establish yourself in an office and start work immediately, submitting your report at an early date.\n\nI have received the Imperial commands to act as director-general of the railway, and my responsibility is a heavy one. The Imperial rescript is of a most stringent nature. The guiding principle to be observed is the advancement of the interests of the railway and the eradication of all abuses. It is incumbent upon me to consider the question in all its aspects in order that I may be in a position to render the capital invested secure, to prevent waste, and to inspire public confidence.\n\nYou must make my intentions known to the general manager and his co-directors, and have them published for the information of shareholders.\n\nMake an estimate of the expenses of your office and submit it to me before taking any action.\n\nSubmit a copy of this telegram to Viceroy Chang and supply the railway company with another.\n\n**CHANG, Director-General**\n\n### Text of Sir Chentung Liang Cheng's reply to Taotai Wong Ping Yen's letter, enclosing Chong Chili Tung's telegram\n\nYOUR letter just received and its important contents noted. I will, of course, act as directed. I have, in accordance with your request, handed your letter to the board of directors for communication to the shareholders, and will communicate their reply later.\n\nI propose to go to Whampoa to-morrow on ten days' leave, returning on the 9th or 10th instant.\n\nThe shareholders are scattered in all directions, and it is impossible for those living at a distance to attend at a short notice. It had been arranged to circulate the annual statement on the 29th instant, and it might be convenient to circulate the telegram at the same time, and ascertain the shareholders' views.\n\nThe resumption of control over the railway by the mercantile body has received Imperial sanction, and it would not do for me, a mere stopgap acting as general manager, to assume sole responsibility in such a matter. In any case, the details of management, the annual accounts, and the staff of employés have all formed the subject of periodical reports to the director-general and are, in addition, published in the weekly newspapers for the information of the public.\n\nWith regard to your request that I should arrange a time and place for a consultation, I should prefer to wait until after the annual statement has been circulated on the 20th instant. Do you agree?\n\n## Inclosure 3 in No. 1\n\nExtract from the \"Hong Kong Daily Press\" of March 10, 1909.\n\n### CANTON HANKOW RAILWAY\n\n#### The Question of Official Control\n\nTHE nine charitable institutions, the Canton General Chamber of Commerce, and the seventy-two trades' guilds have telegraphed the following petition to his Excellency Chang Chih Tung, chief superintendent of the Canton-Hankow Railway of the three provinces:\n\nYour Excellency has delegated Taotai Wong Ping Yen to superintend the construction of the Kwangtung section of the Canton-Hankow Railway and to reside permanently in Canton. Some time ago, we received a cablegram from your Excellency stating that your main object and desire is that the president of the Canton section of the railway will use his influence to protect the interests of the railway company, and that he will be held responsible for a proper exercise of his discretion in employing men to deal with the financial affairs of the company. Your Excellency cannot be aware of the innumerable troubles and difficulties in regard to the construction of the railway in this province, which we are now compelled to explain fully to you.\n\nWhen the railway was redeemed from the American Development Company, it was agreed that the gentry and the merchants were to construct it. This was entirely due to your efforts, and we are extremely grateful to you for your kindness. We undertook the responsibility of constructing the Kwangtung section of the railway, and consequently, an Imperial edict was issued sanctioning this arrangement. The terms and conditions for this section are quite different from those of Hupeh and Hunan.\n\nAfter the edict was issued, the different charitable institutions started to collect the call due on the first instalment of the shares, on condition that if the merchants either proved incapable of constructing the railway themselves or if they should fail to construct the railway, they (the charitable institutions) would refund the moneys paid to the company by the shareholders. These conditions were embodied in a memorial to the throne and officially recorded in Peking.\n\nThe dissatisfaction formerly created over the construction of this railway was mainly due to the officials having a hand in the management of affairs. Now your Excellency has authorised the establishment of a Government bureau to superintend the construction of the railway, it will be extremely difficult to allay the suspicions of the public, and we fear we shall not be able to collect the third instalment of the shares. Moreover, there are many shareholders who seize this as a pretext for demanding the return of their money, and trouble may therefore ensue.\n\nThe people will, moreover, lose confidence in the charitable institutions, who cannot take the responsibility of refunding such a huge sum of money. All this is contrary to what has been agreed upon between the merchants and the Government. This section is the most important part of the Canton-Hankow Railway. Both Chinese and foreigners have had their attention drawn to this matter. Now that it is in full operation, a change is detrimental, and the people cannot consent to a change.\n\nBesides telegraphing this to your Excellency, the seventy-two guilds and the charitable institutions have held a meeting and addressed a petition to the Viceroy of Canton bearing the chops of all the signatories.\n\nWith regard to the management of the company, it is difficult to please everybody. If there is a dishonest servant in...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423624, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "page_number": 228, "title": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "content_text": "# SHANSI\n\nWhat has happened in the past year in Shansi goes far to prove how entirely the final suppression of opium depends on the earnestness and activity of the Viceroys, governors, and other high provincial officials. For years past this province has been known as one of those most cursed by the opium evil. In Tai-Yuan Fu, the capital, it was said that half the adult population, female as well as male, smoked, and in many of the country districts the proportion was placed even higher. In spite of the great local consumption, opium was grown for export to Chihli and other neighbouring provinces; in fact, practically every well-watered district throughout the province was ablaze with poppy-blossoms during the early summer. No effective steps had been taken in Shansi before this year with a view to restricting cultivation, and Sir A. Hosie stated that the slight reductions reported from a few districts were outweighed by increased cultivation in others. He also mentioned that the governor of Shansi had memorialised the Throne, proposing the entire and immediate prohibition of the growth of opium throughout the province, but expressed some doubt as to his Excellency having sufficient energy to enforce such a stringent measure.\n\nGradually, however, reports began to reach His Majesty's Legation of stringent proclamations issued by the local authorities throughout Shansi prohibiting the cultivation of poppy after 1908, under a penalty of very heavy fines and confiscation of the land, and of the effective steps taken to carry these proclamations into effect. One missionary wrote in March, \"There is now no opium sown over vast areas that last year were devoted to the plant, and thousands of acres of the best irrigable land are set free for the cultivation of other crops. The price of opium is rising rapidly, and will soon be double what it was a year ago. Needless to say that the retail opium is adulterated more than ever, so that the poorer smokers are breaking off perforce.\"\n\nIn April, His Majesty's Minister in Peking received through a missionary at Tai-Yuan Fu a message from the provincial treasurer, Ting Pao-chuan, to the effect that the growth of the poppy and the cultivation of opium had been entirely suppressed in the province of Shansi. It being a matter of some interest to ascertain how far the Shansi authorities had been successful in suppressing the cultivation of the poppy in so short a space of time, His Majesty's Minister instructed Mr. Brenan, of His Majesty's consular service in China, to undertake an extensive tour in the province, and furnish him with a first-hand account of what had actually been done. Mr. Brenan started in the end of May and made a journey of 460 miles through a section of the province which was practically all devoted to poppy cultivation a year ago. His clear and concise statement of what he saw and heard is too long to be embodied in this report, but I consider it of such interest and of such good augury as furnishing a notable illustration of what can be effected in a short space of time by an active and well-intentioned Chinese administrator, that I have reproduced Mr. Brenan's account of his journey as an annexe to my report.\n\nMr. Brenan was unable to travel over the whole of Shansi, but his conclusions in regard to the southern half of the province are fully corroborated in regard to the remaining districts by reports received from missionaries. It may safely be said that not a stalk of poppy was to be seen this spring over large areas which in former years were covered with the plant; the price of the drug has gone up enormously; and were Shansi a self-contained State, instead of being a unit in a large Empire, opium smoking would soon be a thing of the past. It is indeed a great pity that the Central Government do not enforce greater uniformity of procedure in this matter, as otherwise it seems clear that success in suppression of cultivation in one province is only too likely to stimulate the production in the neighbouring provinces, in the present case in the provinces of Shensi and Hunan.\n\nMr. Brenan's conclusions have been corroborated in a letter which I have received from Lieutenant Pudsey, R.A., who travelled over a large area of central Shansi in June and July. He writes that during his journey he made frequent enquiries from inn-keepers, farmers, missionaries, &c., all of whom said that no opium was now being grown in the province, and this was borne out by his own observations, for he did not see a single poppy. The officer dispatched by the Board of Finance to enquire into the progress of the suppression movement in certain provinces was able to report that in the south of Shansi opium cultivation had ceased altogether, while in the north only an insignificant amount had been found to have been grown in a few out-of-the-way places.\n\nThe Viceroy, in a memorial dated the 14th April, proposed that if the increased tax on salt were not sufficient to make up the deficiency of revenue caused by decrease in the opium taxation, the taxes on tobacco, sugar, and wine might be raised. In a more recent memorial, published on the 15th September, the governor claims that the cultivation of opium in Shansi has entirely ceased and that the use of the drug will soon be entirely eradicated; and he has been ordered by Imperial rescript to submit a list of officials deserving of special recognition for their successful efforts to stamp out the cultivation of the poppy.\n\n## SHENSI\n\nMr. Brenan, who crossed over the Yellow River from Shansi to Shensi, reported that once across the river there was no lack of poppy cultivation, the fields extending nearly to the water's edge; and he also reported that the increase in the marketable value of opium in Shansi had had the effect of widening the area under cultivation in the adjoining province of Shensi, while a missionary writing to him from Meihsien, on the Wei River in Shensi, said that the poppy was grown to such an extent in the Wei valley that the farmers had actually to import wheat for their own consumption.\n\nShensi has always been one of the greatest opium-producing provinces. Before the famine of 1873, Shensi is said to have supplied 30 per cent of the native opium in China, and the Customs reports estimate the annual production up to 1906 at 50,000 piculs, and that for 1908 at 33,000 piculs. Unfortunately, neither the statement of Mr. Brenan nor the reports received at the consulate-general at Hankow from missionaries in various districts of Shensi during the past year confirm the decrease in the area of cultivation as given in the Customs reports. One missionary, writing from Feng Hsiang-fu, says that, judging from his own observations and from what the natives told him, more opium would appear to have been sown in 1908 in some districts, the chief reason given being that notwithstanding the increased tax on opium-growing land, it paid better to grow opium than grain.\n\nHis Majesty's consul-general at Hankow, writing on the 19th April, said that he had received eleven reports from missionaries resident in Shensi, covering the whole of the south of the province, and not one noted any real progress in the anti-opium movement. Proclamations had been issued but not enforced; there had been no restriction in the area under cultivation, while in one instance a notable increase had been reported. Other reform measures, except the publication of a few disregarded proclamations, were totally neglected. In some cases, medicines were no longer sold; inaction and indifference were rife among officials and gentry; shops were openly doing a brisk trade in opium, and dens were still open.\n\nIn the face of this information, it is difficult to attach much importance to the statements contained in a memorial of the Governor of Shensi dated the 31st May. He claimed that the usual steps had been taken, both in the capital and in other parts of the province, for enforcing the prohibition of smoking amongst the officials and the people; that opium saloons had been closed and a system of licences instituted; that 200 officials and 1,600 other persons in the capital and 155,000 persons in other parts of the province had been cured of the habit. He stated that cultivation had been gradually decreasing, and that the area of land under opium had diminished from 531,990 mou in 1906 to 350,300 mou in 1908. These statements are quite at variance with the information I have received from other sources. The memorial, however, stated that the governor had decided to follow the example of other provinces and reduce the time limit for the total prohibition of opium, and had issued proclamations ordering that no more opium was to be grown, and that when the time for sowing the poppy came in the autumn, the local officials would be required to see that the prohibition was properly enforced. Here again, it will be easier to estimate next year the progress that has been made. The Viceroy suggested cotton-planting and silk culture to take the place of the cultivation of opium, and said that the increase of the salt tax and the fees on the opium licences would in some degree supply the deficiency in revenue from the opium tax.\n\n## KANSU\n\nHere also there is little progress to report, though the optimistic Customs reports presented to the Shanghae Commission estimated a reduction in the total production from 34,000 piculs in 1906 to 23,000 in 1908. The reports received from the provinces are, as Sir Alexander Hosie remarked in his report last year, few in number. His Majesty's consul-general at Hankow having only received two during the last quarter of 1908 and the first quarter of 1909, the probable explanation being that the missionaries, to whom we are so greatly indebted for their invaluable... \n\n[2404 p-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428232, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 157, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "2+\n\norganisation office, with the provincial treasurer, chancellor of education, and judge as heads, and the president and vice-president were appointed deputies under them. Being soon impressed with the difficulties of carrying out the new rules, he set the chiefs of the organisation office the task of investigating the different systems of colonial government in East and West and elaborating a modification suitable to his territory.\n\nViceroy and Provincial Government show Deficiencies in proposed Electorate. ---- The nature of the difficulties is well brought out in the report of the organisation office, a copy of which was inclosed in his memorial. It was pointed out, for instance, that education having always been under official management in the New Dominion, there were no electors qualified under (1) of article 3; that there was not a single person in the territory qualified under (2); that the provincial quota under the old system of examination being only two graduates, there were few persons qualified under (3), and the greater number of these were disqualified under articles 7 and 8; that there were no civil officials of the 7th rank or higher, and only a few of the necessary military rank, most of whom were uneducated, and therefore, under article 6, lay under the disability that they could neither vote nor offer themselves for election; and that as for the property qualification, the region had frequently suffered from the ravages of war, and the number of persons qualified under articles 3 (5) and 4 was very limited. There were a few wealthy merchants from other provinces, but they were not on good terms with the natives. In the Northern Marches (Sungaria) the Mahommedans far outnumbered the Chinese, and the two were as \"fire and water.\" In the South Marches (Kashgaria) conditions were even worse: the Mahommedans were proportionately more numerous, of less tractable disposition, and differences of religion and usages were more marked. Few knew or spoke Chinese, and experience had shown that the native begs were not to be trusted with authority.\n\nSuggestion of modified Scheme based on Crown Colony system placed before Chinese Government.-A dissertation on Western methods of colonisation and rule of colonies follows, with the object of showing that the government of Turkestan, under representative institutions, should begin by the crown colony system, or something similar, and gradually progress to the full programme of the rest of the Empire. The scheme suggested by the organisation office, and supported by the governor, was a limited council composed of officials and of notables elected by persons possessing the franchise and approved by the provincial authorities. At the same time education was to be vigorously spread and schools founded with the object of increasing the proportion of persons knowing Chinese.\n\nThe governor's memorial, which wound up with excuses for delay on account of the distances and slow communications, received the Imperial rescript, \"Let the board concerned take note.\"\n\n39\n\nNothing further has appeared in the press.\n\n(Reports on the assemblies of Chekiang, Anhui, and Kuangsi have not yet reached the legation. They will be forwarded separately.)\n\nGeneral Remarks.-A few general remarks may be offered in conclusion. The extent of the Empire and the diversities of population, climate, and usages have driven the Chinese Government to seek their solution of the problem of popular government along the lines of the existing political divisions, and, to some extent, after the model of a federation of States. That they have done this with caution and in a hesitating spirit, and solely because they feel that the plunge must be taken, is evident from the almost universal attitude of the officials, who really govern the country, and from an examination of the franchise.\n\nApathy of Higher Officials of Central Government.-The reserve or apathy of the higher officials of the central Government has been striking. Not one has, by any overt act, shown interest in the elections or proceedings of the assemblies, which are rarely mentioned in conversation unless the foreigner expresses curiosity; and a resident in Peking in 1909 could not have known without special enquiry that such a thing as an election was proceeding during the greater part of the year, or that there was an electorate of any kind, or that the capital had any concern in the assembly which met at Tien-tsin on the 14th October. A Peking official of high rank, who was reminded on that day by a secretary of legation of the ceremonies then taking place at all the provincial cities, confessed that he had not given them a thought.\n\n* See précis translation of rules appended to this report.\n\n25\n\nSimilar Attitude in Provinces.-This attitude of indifference has prevailed widely in the provinces. It is true that the responsible provincial authorities, spurred by repeated decrees and warned by the removal of the Kansu Viceroy, have in a few instances zealously, in most perfunctorily, endeavoured to carry out the Imperial designs, but nowhere has there been any popular enthusiasm, and the opinion of the masses is one of expectancy or unconcealed distrust. In Shantung, where the official propaganda was most thorough, the elections were practically confined to the educated classes, though unavailing efforts were undoubtedly made to extend the interest lower down. At Shanghae it was not known how many persons voted, and from the general ignorance of what happened it appeared that the elections were largely in the hands of a clique of gentry and semi-official persons. Little public interest was aroused in what seemed to be considered an \"additional set of talons and teeth\" rather than the creation of an organ for the expression of the people's wishes. His Majesty's consul-general at Hankow states that, apart from the educated class, the public showed little interest in the proceedings, and that there was great difficulty in inducing sufficient voters to support the required number of candidates. The native press on the Yang-tsze perceive that finance is the point on which the success of the assemblies depends, and are by no means confident that the mass of the population will respond to extra levies at the bidding of the new bodies any more readily than to the exactions of the regular officials. From Foochow Mr. Playfair reported (27th October) that little appeared to be known on the subject by Europeans or natives whom he had questioned. At Chengtu (Szechuan) slight attention was paid to the elections, and there was difficulty in inducing a sufficient number of voters to go to the poll. Mr. Sly's experience at Chungking may be given in his own words-\n\n\"It was at first only with the greatest difficulty that I was able to obtain even a very general and imperfect idea of the franchise proposals, and a mere questioning of Chinese, who should have been fully acquainted with the main facts, was quite useless. Chungking is the great trading and distributing centre of Szechuan; it is a big city and has a large population. It might, then, have been expected that a measure which is in principle so great an advance upon any previous concession, and which carries with it the promise of popular government, would have excited a wide interest. It does not appear that such has been the case, and there would seem to be considerable apathy and indifference. It is doubtful whether the system of recording votes has been altogether regular, and there has been no little difficulty in obtaining the desired number of representatives. In some instances persons possessing the required qualifications were not to be found, and in others men able to serve have refused to come forward or to accept office even when elected.”\n\nRestricted Character of the Franchise. Assemblies merely the \"Gentry.\"--The caution of the Chinese Government is displayed in the franchise, the practical effect of which is to restrict the conceded privileges to the literati, officials, and property-owners, who have in the past always exercised the powers of local government in conjunction with the executive. Under the conditions laid down in articles 3 to 8 of the assembly rules, a précis of which is appended for reference, it is possible for provincial governments to see that no one outside the narrow circle of those who are now privileged registers a vote or enters an assembly. In other words, the assemblies are merely the \"gentry,\" of whom we have heard so much of recent years, but the gentry of different localities brought together in one building and acting coherently may have political force very different from the more or less independent bodies hitherto scattered over areas the smallest of which is larger than Ireland.\n\nApprehensions of Chinese Officialdom. That the Chinese Government are apprehensive is evident from the stress laid upon the limited powers of assemblies in the decrees and speeches of the Viceroys and governors, who do not let the members forget that their deliberations must not wander beyond the boundaries of their provinces; and it is commonly anticipated that the \"local bully\" type of notable, who has always been a thorn in the flesh of governors and governed, will prosper as demagogues under the new régime and acquire a wider and more baleful influence than was possible before.\n\nAssemblies so far appear to have Worked in Harmony with Provincial Governments.— There have been a few signs that the assemblies are not disposed to content themselves with purely local affairs, but as a rule the cases are not serious, and the members appear so far to have fulfilled their appointed rôle of working in harmony with the executive authorities in the interests of their respective provinces.\n\n[2605 -2]\n\nH\n\n155", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428284, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 209, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "Sir,\n\n2\n\nEnclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Robertson to Sir J. Jordan,\n\nDecember 15, 1909.\n\nI HAVE the honour to lay before your Excellency copy of a letter dated the 8th December from the joint managers of the corporation in Shanghae, in reference to the position of affairs on the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway, in which it is stated that the administration of the line under the local bureaux, since the departure of President Tang, has gone from bad to worse.\n\nIn view of the very serious conditions now obtaining in the construction of this railway, whereby the chief engineer, appointed in terms of the loan agreement, is entirely ignored, and where the loan funds are being irregularly used, I venture respectfully to request that your Excellency may be pleased to draw the attention of the central authorities to this most unsatisfactory state of affairs, and to urge upon them full recognition of the loan agreement.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nSir,\n\nEnclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nG. A. ROBERTSON,\n\nMessrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co. to Mr. Robertson.\n\nDecember 8, 1909.\n\nWE have for acknowledgment your letters of the 20th and 29th ultimo; contents noted with thanks.\n\nShanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway.-During President T'ang's absence two joint acting presidents have been appointed to conduct the affairs of the Chekiang bureau, with the result that the administration of the line has gone from bad to worse. The engineer-in-chief complains that whereas he was formerly, although practically ignored, treated with civility, marked discourtesy is now shown him.\n\nPurchases of timber and cement have been made without any reference whatever to Mr. Foord, who had previously informed the Chinese that no such material was required until the survey between Hangchow and Ningpo was completed.\n\nThe most serious aspect of the situation is, however, that the Yuchuanpu has apparently vacated the strong position it had taken up of not making further loan funds available until the authority of the managing director's office was recognised by the two local bureaux, and has recently paid over a sum of 300,000 taels without further insistence on the above point.\n\nThis amount, together with the 500,000 taels already handed over to the local bureaux, makes a total of 800,000 taels of loan funds which are being frittered away towards making good the deficit on the working of these two badly constructed and maintained railways, and, worse still, in the purchase of useless and inferior materials. Under the fourteen regulations, approved by Imperial Rescript on the 15th April, 1908, the above amount of 800,000 taels should have been paid over to the local bureaux before the 6th October, 1908, and the whole amount of the loan made by the board to the bureaux, viz, 7,500,000 to 10,000,000 taels, should be issued at the latest by the 6th March, 1910, failing which the regulations become void, and all amounts received by the bureaux must be refunded. Possibly the board is relying on this condition to abrogate the fourteen regulations and cancel the loan made by it to the bureaux, but we fear this is hardly probable.\n\nWe shall be obliged if you will bring the present position of affairs on this railway to the notice of Sir John Jordan.\n\nWe are, &c.\n\nJARDINE, MATHESON, and Co.\n\nEnclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\n(\n\n3\n\n207\n\nCO\n\nsince Jardine, Matheson, and Co.'s letter of the 8th, I am now in receipt of the latter's telegraphic reply stating: \"Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway: position exactly the same as per our letter of the 8th December.\"\n\nYour Highness,\n\nG. A. ROBERTSON\n\nRra II EL 10\n\nEnclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Wai-wu Pu.\n\nPeking, December 21, 1909.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Wai-wu Pu's letter of the 16th December, the general effect of which is that in consequence of an exchange of views between the Board of Communications and the former President Tang, the affairs of the Shanghae-Ningpo Railway will be managed without friction in the future. The letter further says that the engineer-in-chief is at the present time surveying and generally performing his duties.\n\nSince the receipt of this letter, telegraphic information has reached me from the British and Chinese Corporation in Shanghae which, unfortunately, shows that the affairs of the railway have lately gone from bad to worse, and it would appear that the Board of Communications is under a misapprehension as regards the position of the engineer-in-chief, who complains that whereas he was formerly treated with civility, though practically ignored, marked discourtesy is now shown him. Purchases of timber and cement have been made without any reference to Mr. Foord, who had previously informed the officials concerned that no such material was required until the survey between Hangchow and Ningpo was completed. Moreover, the loan funds are being drawn upon heavily, and employed without any regard whatever to the provisions of the loan agreement. Recently a sum of 300,000 taels was so drawn, and is no doubt being spent irregularly.\n\nI have the honour to request that the attention of the Board of Communications may be invited once more to these facts, and that the promises lately given to me both by the Wai-wu Pu and the board, that the provisions of the loan agreement will henceforth be strictly complied with, will be fulfilled in letter and spirit with as little delay as possible.\n\nI have the honour to request the favour of an early reply for the information of His Majesty's Government, and avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Highness the assurance of my highest consideration.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nDear Mr. Liang,\n\nEnclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Liang Shih-yi.\n\nDecember 31, 1909.\n\nAT our recent interview I understood you to say that the total payments which had been made out of the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo railway funds to the two railway bureaux of Kiangsu and Chekiang amounted to 800,000 taels.\n\nFrom a statement which has been furnished to me by the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank it appears, however, that you have made requisitions on the loan funds to the extent of 2,760,000 taels.\n\nAs the matter is one which continues to cause great anxiety to His Majesty's Government and myself, and affects the good name of all concerned, I shall be grateful if you will kindly let me know where the sum of 1,960,000 taels, which represents the difference between what was issued to the bureaux and the requisitions drawn by you, is now deposited.\n\nBelieve me, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nMr. Robertson to British Legation.\n\nDecember 17, 1909.\n\nWILL you please inform Sir John that, in response to my enquiry as to whether there was any improvement in the affairs of the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428467, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 392, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government\n\n6486\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS,\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n390\n\nREOF 4 MAR 10, [February 10.]\n\nSECTION 3.\n\n[4831]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 10.)\n\n(No. 29. Confidential.) Sir,\n\nPeking, January 24, 1910.\n\nIN my telegram No. 9 of the 14th instant I informed you that the American chargé d'affaires was continuing to press the Chinese Government to obtain an Imperial decree confirming the preliminary agreement of the 2nd October, 1909, for the construction of a railway from Chinchow to Aigun. In view of the instructions contained in your telegram No. 6 of the 11th instant, I refused to join Mr. Fletcher in any further action.\n\nOn the 21st instant Mr. Fletcher received a note from the Wai-wu Pu, of which I had the honour to inform you in my telegram No. 13 of the 22nd instant, and of which I now beg to enclose a translation, informing him of the issue of the Imperial decree. The note does not contain any specific reference to the preliminary agreement of the 2nd October, but Mr. Fletcher informs me that he has been assured by the Wai-wu Pu that the decree is to be taken as ratifying the terms of that agreement, and that any further negotiations for a final agreement will be based upon it.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(For Sir John Jordan),\n\nW. G. Max Müller.\n\nEnclosure in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ch'ing to Mr. Fletcher,\n\n(Translation.) Your Excellency,\n\nJanuary 21, 1910, IT is on record that the Viceroy of Manchuria and others have memorialised, asking permission to make a foreign loan to build by instalments a railway from Chinchow to Aigun. The Board of Foreign Affairs consulted with the Boards of Finance and Communications, and it was agreed to sanction the proposal. A memorial stating specifically that this sort of agreement should be drawn up in careful detail was sent into the Throne on the 10th day of the 12th Moon of the 1st year of Hsuan-t'ung (the 20th January, 1910), and the vermilion rescript \"Let it be as decided\" was reverently received. Besides instructing the Viceroy concerned to act accordingly, this despatch is now sent for the information of your Excellency. A necessary despatch.\n\n(Seal of the Wai-wu Pu.)\n\n[2631 k-3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428888, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 229, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "12\n\nEnclosure 12 in No. 1.\n\nExtract from \"Shih Pao\" of April 7, 1910.\n\nMemorial by Chang Jên-Chün, Viceroy of Liang Kiang.\n\nOWING to the increasing density of the population of the northern quarter of Shanghae and the undesirability of making an agreement with the British company for the supply of drinking water, application was made in an earlier memorial for the provision of 50,000 taels by the Shang Pu and for authority for the taotai and gentry to raise a loan of an equal amount.\n\nThe taotai and gentry now write as follows:---\n\n\"After repeated consultations, we were unanimously of opinion that to connect with the water-mains would only be a makeshift and the best course would be to undertake the business ourselves. We engaged Mr. Engel, engineer of the inland waterworks, to make a survey along the side of the Woosung River, and he found that at the north end of the Kuangtung Mortuary the water was deep and clear. There is in that place an area of over 20 mou, where the works can be placed. It is proposed to make a modest beginning with one water tank, two filtering tanks, and one pure water tank; to buy from abroad two sets of pumping machinery with a capacity of 600,000 gallons per twenty-four hours; and also an electric lighting plant for 2,000 lamps for lighting roads and shops in Chapei. It is estimated that the cost of land and buildings will be 100,000 taels, and this, together with the 100,000 taels for laying pipes, makes a total of 200,000 taels. By unceasing work the water could be ready to be supplied after eight months. This scheme is in all respects preferable to making connection with the (Shanghae Waterworks Company's) pipes, and will bestow lasting benefit at the expense of a single exertion.\n\nAs regards the additional 100,000 taels required, we would ask the Shang Pu again to provide 50,000 taels from the sums at its disposal, while the taotai will again raise a loan of 50,000 taels, thus making 200,000 taels in all, at 7 per cent. per month interest. Within one year after the opening of the works shares may be issued for the purpose of repaying both the board's advance and the loan.\n\nIf the subscriptions for shares do not amount within the year to enough to repay both, the board's advance, together with the interest on it, must be first repaid in full. If there is still not enough, repayment must be made from the annual profits.\"\n\nAs an impure water supply is injurious to public health, and it is better that we should have our own waterworks than join on to the British company's system, I feel it my duty to memorialise the Throne, praying that the board may be commanded to make arrangements to allow the proposed loan at 7 per cent. per month interest, in order that it may be possible to begin work at once.\n\nI have communicated with the Wai-wu Pu, the Board of Commerce, and the Board of Finance.\n\nImperial Rescript.-Boards to be informed.\n\n13\n\ncounty (\"hsien\") of Paoshan, which has never been opened to international residence and trade.\n\nThese objections do not appear to the department to be well taken. As to the first, no boundaries agreed to for such a settlement can be regarded as fixed for all time. The chief commercial metropolis is probably destined to continue for many years to come the wonderful growth which has characterised it in the past, and due provision must be made for such growth. The treaties expressly provide that the extent of such ground to be assigned to foreign residents at the open ports shall not be limited, but shall be determined according to the need and convenience of the parties (British supplementary treaty of 1843, article 7; French treaty of 1858, article 10).\n\nThe second objection is equally inadmissible. Although Shanghae was one of the five ports opened by the American treaty of 1844, it was not the county (\"hsien \") of Shanghae that was opened, but the port, and the fact that the port is situated near the boundary of another county cannot prevent its growth in a natural way over such an artificial boundary. Neither does the extension of the settlement into an adjoining county make necessary the opening of the city of Paoshan to foreign residence, much less the opening of that whole county, neither is there any insuperable obstacle to the opening to such trade and residence of any unopened territory which may be needed for such purpose.\n\nIt is impossible for the department to assent to the position taken by one or two Americans that an extension of the settlement would violate the consistent policy of this Government in the maintenance of the territorial integrity of China. This Government was already committed to that policy in 1899, when the last extension was agreed to and failed to see them, as it does still, that such extension affected the territorial integrity of the Chinese Empire, since Chinese sovereignty over such territory was recognised.\n\nThis department is unable from the data at hand to determine how much territory should be included in the extension in order to conserve American interests, or the exact location thereof. You are instructed to make careful investigation on this point, and unless serious reasons present themselves to your mind for acting otherwise, you will support the request of the Shanghae municipal council for such extension as will seem to meet the requirements of the present situation.\n\nThe legation will be instructed to give the project similar support at Peking. The department relies on your discretion to avoid in your presentation of the case any unnecessary friction with the Chinese authorities.\n\nI am, &c. (For Mr. Knox),\n\nI. WILSON.\n\nSir,\n\nEnclosure 13 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Knox to Mr. Wilder.\n\nMarch 1, 1910.\n\nI HAVE to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of the 24th December, 1909, enclosing copy of the report of the annual meeting of the American Association of China held at Shanghae on the 16th December, 1909, when resolutions were adopted favouring the extension of the international settlement at that port.\n\nIt appears from this report that the American community of Shanghae is all but unanimous in support of the proposed extension, and that the principal objections of the Chinese Government are two :-\n\n1. That the boundary of the settlement as determined in 1899 was fixed for all time; and\n\n2. That the proposed extension will carry the settlement into the neighbouring\n\n227", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429055, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 396, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "2\n\nAt a meeting of the diplomatic body held on the 21st December last, it was decided, as a first step, to charge a committee, composed of the assistant Chinese secretaries of the German, British, American, French, and Japanese Legations, with the duty of examining the whole question and submitting a report. At a further meeting of the diplomatic body held on the 18th February last, the report of this committee, of which I enclose a summary, was exhaustively discussed. It was felt that as the existence of the octroi had been tacitly recognised for so long, the best course would be to come to a compromise agreement with the Chinese Government, whereby the tax should be officially recognised in return for certain guarantees that the privilege should not be abused, but it was decided that it would be inopportune to raise the question of the right of residence of foreigners in Peking. A committee composed of the German and French Ministers, the American chargé d'affaires and myself, was appointed to draw up a note on these lines from the doyen to the Wai-wu Pu. The committee accordingly met on the 23rd March last, and agreed on the draft note, copy of which I have the honour to enclose herewith. You will observe that the note begins by pointing out the illegality, according to treaty, of octroi both in Peking and in the surrounding district; it lays stress on the fact that the refusal of the Imperial Maritime Customs at Tien-tsin to issue transit passes for foreign goods proceeding to Peking is contrary to treaty, and demands that such passes be issued in future. Having thus stated the position with regard to treaty rights, the note declares that the foreign representatives would be willing to come to an arrangement with the Chinese Government, whereby octroi would be levied subject to the following conditions:-\n\n1. That the tax shall only be charged on goods actually entering the walled precincts of the city of Peking.\n\n2. That the tax shall not exceed the present rate of 3 per cent. ad valorem, and shall be calculated on the appraisement made by the Imperial Maritime Customs, and appearing on the transit passes.\n\nThe calculation shall be so made as never to exceed three-fifths of the import duties paid to the Imperial Maritime Customs.\n\n3. That the tax shall only apply to merchants.\n\n4. That the octroi employés shall be bound to accept the appraisements in the transit passes, and shall only have the right to verify the identity of the packages presented with those enumerated on the transit pass. They must abstain from any examination of their contents.\n\n5. That the concession thus made by the Powers shall in no case be interpreted by the Imperial Government as implying a right to establish octroi charges or any other taxes on foreign merchandise in any other part of the Empire. The draft note was then circulated among the foreign representatives and finally adopted at a meeting of the diplomatic body on the 21st ultimo, but as the proposed arrangement involved a derogation of a treaty right, it was resolved that we should obtain the adherence of our Governments before forwarding the note to the Wai-wu Pu.\n\nI have therefore the honour to recommend this proposed agreement to your favourable consideration, and to request that you will inform me whether I am authorised to join my colleagues in addressing this joint note to the Wai-wu Pu.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nW. G. MAX MÜLLER.\n\nMonseigneur,\n\nEnclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nDean of Diplomatic Body to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nPékin, le 7 décembre, 1909. LES cas deviennent de plus en plus fréquents où des marchandises à destination de villes chinoises autres que Pékin et accompagnées de certificats de transit sont soumises à Fengtaï (et d'autres endroits des environs de la capitale) à une taxe nouvelle. Cette taxe, quelle qu'en soit la dénomination, ne saurait être justifiable en vue des prescriptions claires des traités de commerce, conclus entre la Chine et les Puissances, établissant que toutes marchandises couvertes de passes de transit peuvent être dirigées à une destination quelconque en Chine sans être passibles de droits ultérieurs.\n\nDe nombreuses plaintes étant parvenues aux représentants des diverses Puissances\n\n3\n\net le doyen du corps consulaire à Tien-tsin ayant protesté formellement contre l'abus susénoncé, j'ai l'honneur de m'adresser à votre Altesse Impériale, au nom de mes collègues, en la priant de vouloir bien provoquer les ordres nécessaires afin de supprimer toutes les mesures illégales qui pourraient entraver le commerce international transitant par Fengtai et ces autres endroits.\n\nEn priant votre Altesse de me faire tenir bientôt la réponse du Gouvernement Impérial de Chine, je saisis, &c.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nEnclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nWai-wu Pu to Dean of Diplomatic Body.\n\nPeking, December 11, 1909. WE are in receipt of your Excellency's official communication to the effect that in many cases recently a new tax has been levied on goods sent under transit passes to different places in China other than Peking, on their passing through Fengtai and other places in the neighbourhood of Peking, which is not in accordance with the treaties. Numerous complaints have now reached the Ministers of the different Powers, and the senior consul in Tien-tsin having made a formal protest, the dean, in the name of all the Ministers, requests that the board may take note and devise means for the prohibition of this practice.\n\nWe find that the system under which taxes are levied at the Ch'ung-wen-men (Hatamen) customs station and its sub-stations is one of long standing, and that there are no signs of a new tax having been levied. Occasionally petitions have been made by merchants of different nationalities respecting this tax, and all the foreign Ministers resident in Peking have addressed us communications discussing the matter. Having gone thoroughly into the circumstances of each case our Ministry sent despatches to the yamên of the Hatamen Customs with instructions to investigate the matter and replies were sent to the respective Ministers.\n\nAs in duty bound we have, &c.\n\nEnclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\n(Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu.)\n\nSummary of Report of Commission on Peking Octroi.\n\n1. The Hatamen Octroi.\n\nBESIDES the well-known li-kin-levied at first in 1853 during the Taiping rebellion, and nominally being a kind of war tax at one-tenth per cent.-there is still another local import duty of old origin, the so-called “lo-ti-shui,\" or \"bring-to-the-(market)-place tax,\" usually translated by \"octroi.\" For the collection of this octroi in the capital, the reigning Manchu dynasty has erected in Peking the Chung-wen-men octroi station near the Hatamen. The two superintendents of this station, always appointed for one year's service, are Imperial princes or high Manchu or Mongol officials who obtain this position as a reward and an opportunity to fill their pockets. They are only bound to deliver a certain amount, fixed by the Board of Finance, to this board and the Imperial household, the surplus being their own profit. At present the Khorchin Duke Po-ti-su, general of the Bordered Blue Banner, and the Imperial clansman and president of the Board of Dependencies, Shou-chi, are the two superintendents.\n\nThe first octroi tariff dates from the 8th year of K'ang Hsi (1669). After several supplements and alterations, made in 1752, 1771, and 1780, this tariff was revised in deference to foreign goods in 1884, and later on replaced by a new one, sanctioned by Imperial rescript of the 31st January, 1902. As a rule Chinese merchants had to pay an octroi of 5 per cent. ad valorem, and foreigners 3 per cent.; besides, there were minutely enumerated special rates for many different kinds of goods. This distinction between Chinese and foreigners having grown very unpopular in Chinese circles, a new tariff was published on the 17th December, 1908, which made the octroi of 3 per cent. ad valorem the general rule. An English translation of the tariff is being prepared by the octroi station.\n\n[2827 d-3]\n\nB 2\n\n393", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429274, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 11, "title": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "5\n\n4\n\nfrom the accumulated funds of the board, amounting to 50,000 taels, was appropriated. The taotai also undertook to guarantee a loan of a further 50,000 taels, and this was the subject of a special memorial at the time, which is now on record.\n\n\"The taotai now reports in detail to the effect that he has had repeated discussions with the local notables and merchants, and they have all expressed the view that the proposal to effect a connection with the pipes was to begin with a compromise, but that independent action is the better plan. The foreign engineers of waterworks in the interior were accordingly requested to be good enough to come forward, and all proceeded to the Soochow Creekside for the purpose of a survey. It was found that to the north of the Canton Cemetery the water is deep and clear, and there is a piece of land at the point in question about 20 mow in area whereon the waterworks can be established. The most convenient method of proceeding in the first place is to construct a high water tower, and two large sand filters, and one reservoir. A contract for the purchase of the necessary material from abroad will be fixed, and for two machines capable of producing 600,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. A further purchase to be effected will be one electrical machine for the installation of 2,000 electric lamps for street lighting in the Chapei district, with provision for the necessary land purchase and construction inclusive. The funds required will amount to 100,000 taels, which, together with 100,000 taels already prepared for the connection project, will amount to a sum of 200,000 taels. By working day and night water can be supplied within eight months. In respect to this extra amount of 100,000 taels required it is requested that 50,000 taels be loaned from the moneys held by the Board of Commerce, while another 50,000 taels will be a loan guaranteed by the taotai, and interest on the whole will be paid at 7 per cent, per annum. Within a year from the date of supply of water shares will be sought, and the mercantile and official funds above mentioned will be repaid. If the shares issued during one year are insufficient, and both the mercantile and official funds cannot be repaid, the capital and interests on the board's loan will be paid first, and if there is still insufficient for that also repayment will follow yearly from the profit account, and reports will be submitted regularly until the whole is paid off.\n\nThe Viceroy has been accordingly respectfully invited to request the Throne to give directions to the board for approval of the scheme by way of compromise, so that the work can be commenced at an early date.\"\n\nThe rescript from the Throne thereon is as follows :-- \"Let the board concerned take note.\"\n\nSir,\n\nEnclosure 6 in No. 1.\n\nDean of Consular Body to Municipal Council.\n\nShanghai, June 16, 1910. I HAVE the honour to refer to your letter of the 13th April as to the proposed establishment of waterworks in Chapei. As you are no doubt aware, the question has already received a commencement of practical solution. A company has been constituted, and orders for pipes and machinery have been placed with Chinese and foreign firms; the foundations for the buildings are now completed.\n\nThe consular body concurs in the view that it is not in the best interests of the population of Chapei nor those of the Chinese authorities that a second system of waterworks be established in a district that is already supplied by the Shanghai Waterworks. It is evident that this new departure is principally intended to interfere with our intention to extend the foreign settlement in the direction of Chapei, and we are thus bound to oppose it. On the other hand, it must be recognised that said extension has been steadily refused by the Chinese, also that their endeavour to provide the neighbourhood of the settlement with roads, light, water, police, &c., is commendable in itself, and that we cannot blame them on that account. Besides, it must not be forgotten that foreign interests might be or are already in the Chapei Waterworks. But we cannot admit any interference with the already laid down pipes or their connection with the houses along the roads where these pipes exist. Such pipes have been laid down on municipal roads with the agreement of the council, and on Chinese roads with the consent of the Chinese authorities. We cannot hope, however, to make the Chinese desist from establishing a waterworks system on their own roads where the Shanghai Waterworks have not yet been allowed to carry their system, though it is manifestly undesirable that a new system of waterworks be established in a district that is likely to become part of the settlement.\n\nI am directed to write to the taotai accordingly, and to report to the diplomatic body in Peking.\n\nEnclosure 7 in No. 1.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nD. SIFFERT.\n\nSir,\n\nEnclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\nDean of Consular Body to Ts'ai Ta-jên,\n\nShanghai, June 16, 1910. THE consular body has taken cognisance of a memorial to the Throne by the Governor-General at Nanking, submitting a scheme for the establishment of waterworks in Chapei, which memorial has been published in the local press.\n\nThe Shanghai Waterworks Company has already the main pipes laid down in the principal thoroughfares of Chapei, with the consent of the authorities concerned, and the capacity of the reservoirs and works of this company are amply sufficient for supplying the whole district with water.\n\nOn the other hand, we consider that this suburb of Chapei is indivisible by its shape and position from the international settlement itself, and we have already applied repeatedly for its inclusion in the limits of this settlement.\n\nUnder these circumstances, the establishment of a second system of waterworks is unnecessary and undesirable, for it would increase the present difficulties without serving the interests of the population, and I am directed to request you to convey to his Excellency the Governor-General our suggestion that this project should not be carried on, and that the existing water system should in no way be interfered with, but developed.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nD. SIFFERT.\n\nConsul-General Sir P. Warren to Mr. Max Müller.\n\n(No. 51.) Sir,\n\nShanghai, June 21, 1910. WITH reference to my despatch No. 36 of the 13th ultimo on the subject of the gas and water companies' operations in the northern suburb, I have the honour to enclose herewith copy of a letter addressed by the municipal council to the senior consul on the 13th April, protesting against the establishment of rival waterworks by the Chinese authorities.\n\nThis letter was discussed at the meeting of the consular body held on the 10th ultimo, when it was decided to refer the matter to a committee composed of the senior consul, my Austrian colleague, and myself.\n\nThis committee met on the 7th instant, and decided on drafts of letters to the diplomatic body, the taotai, and the municipal council. These drafts having been approved by the consular body, the letters, copies of which are enclosed,* were dispatched on the 17th instant.\n\nMeanwhile work on the new Chinese waterworks is proceeding; the foundations are being laid, and contracts for the pumping machinery have been made with an Austrian firm. Some difficulty has been experienced, however, in financing the scheme, and the ability of the Chinese company to provide the necessary funds is distrusted by native contractors and compradores of foreign banks alike. This distrust arises from the existence of official control of the scheme and from the knowledge that the scheme cannot be made to pay. The native press yesterday contained a telegram from Peking to the effect that the use for this purpose of funds at the disposal of the Board of Commerce had been sanctioned as requested in the Viceroy's memorial forwarded in my despatch No. 31 of the 9th April.\n\n* Not printed.\n\n10", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429637, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 374, "title": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "373\n\n*\n\nlearning that my repeated conversations with members of the board had, contrary to what I was led to believe, made some impression and had actually induced them to admit that the tax was an additional levy on foreign raw opium and, therefore, even from their point of view, a violation of our treaty rights. The reply of the Viceroy was a direct admission that the levy had been introduced and was maintained for purposes of revenue and not with the object of facilitating the work of opium suppression. His Excellency Na-t'ung made the usual excuse that the board could not instruct, but only advise, a Viceroy, but he said that they had that day received a telegram from the Viceroy reporting certain modifications which he was introducing into the regulations with a view to meeting my demands, and expressed the hope that, when communicated to me, they would prove satisfactory. I replied that what I wanted was a repeal of the tax, nothing more nor less, but I would, of course, give the proposed modifications my careful consideration.\n\nTwo days later Mr. Liu Yuk-lin handed to me a translation of the telegram from the Viceroy, copy of which I have the honour to enclose.* assurances given me by his Excellency Na-tung, I read this document with some disappointment. The extension of the time for converting raw into prepared opium and the consequent deferring of the date at which the levy, now admitted to be a tax on raw opium, has to be paid, appears to me to be a most trifling concession and does not in any way satisfy our contention that once the duty and li-kin are paid, no further taxation of Indian opium in a treaty port is permissible.\n\nArticles 2 and 3 regarding the withdrawal of the opium blockade at Maçao and the non-confiscation of smuggled opium are merely a clever device on the part of the Chinese authorities to place opium under customs transit certificate on the same footing as opium not under transit certificate presumably being smuggled from Maçao into the interior and to class both as smuggled opium. As a matter of fact they are on an entirely different footing and opium covered by a transit certificate is not smuggled opium, should never have been seized, and should be promptly and publicly restored to the owners. It is exempt from confiscation by treaty and not by favour of the Viceroy. It was not clear to me whether the proviso in article 3 regarding the restoration of confiscated opium was retrospective and covered the various cases of illegal seizure of opium under transit certificate which had been brought to my notice and had formed the subject of repeated representations on my part, though his Excellency Na-t'ung had given me to understand that such was the case. I accordingly telegraphed to Mr. Jamieson to ascertain, and I have to-day heard from him that he has as yet received no official reply to the enquiries which he has addressed to the Viceroy, who apparently still contends that the seizures were justified on account of the failure of the Chinese concerned to observe the regulations, and were not therefore infractions of treaty. The opium has, however, been returned in two cases as \"an act of grace.\" I shall await the receipt of fuller information from Mr. Jamieson before renewing my request for the return of all the opium seized and the refund of the fines imposed.\n\nIn regard to the general question of the illegal levy, I do not propose to take any further steps until I receive your reply in regard to the proposal which I have submitted to you for a fresh agreement for regulating the importation of Indian opium into China.\n\n* Not printed.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nW. G. MAX MÜLLER.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nOPIUM.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[40044]\n\n(No. 364.) Sir,\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[November 3.]\n\nSECTION 6,\n\nMr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 3.)\n\nPeking, October 15, 1910.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 363 of the 15th instant, I have the honour to report that the first item of business for discussion laid on the table of the newly-established Senate was the question of the suppression of opium shops in the province of Kuangsi. The matter was referred for discussion by order of the Grand Council; a telegram from the province in question was read out by the President of the Senate, and a committee of ten members was appointed to make an investigation.\n\nThe Kuangsi Provincial Assembly had made the suppression of opium shops throughout the province the subject of discussion, and the result of their deliberations was the passing of a resolution urging that the measure should at once be carried into effect. The governor, however, recognising the difficulties in the way of such stringent action, refused to comply with the resolution of the Assembly, and fixed one year as the limit of time for the suppression of the opium shops. Over a month was spent in considering and reconsidering the question, but all efforts to effect a compromise proved fruitless. The governor adhered to his decision, and the members of the Provincial Assembly consequently resigned in a body.\n\nThe occurrence of such an incident is an eloquent testimony to the manner in which the Provincial Assemblies, of comparatively recent institution as they are, have arrogated to themselves considerable powers of an executive nature. In this instance, the action of the Kuangsi Provincial Assembly was virtually condoned by the committee of the Senate, which, while criticising the dissolution on technical grounds, maintained that such a step was, under the circumstances, \"inevitable and not unreasonable.\" The committee recommended that the matter should be reported to the Throne, that the Governor of Kuangsi should be informed of this step in a telegram instructing him not to interfere with the action of the Provincial Assembly in regard to their scheme for the suppression of opium shops, and that orders should be sent to the Assembly to resume its sittings.\n\nThe finding of the committee was read out in the Senate, and gave rise to somewhat heated discussion; in the end, the resolution of the committee was put to the House and carried unanimously. If the rumour be true, which asserts that Chang Ming-ch'i, the Governor of Kuangsi, who is now on a visit to Peking, was actually present in the strangers' gallery of the Senate during the discussion of this question, it must have been a novel experience for one of the high provincial authorities of China to sit as a listener whilst his official action was being sharply criticised in open public debate.\n\nBut the most important feature of this incident is the action of the Senate, which, at the very outset of its career, has presumed, without waiting for the Imperial rescript to the report on the matter, to telegraph instructions to an official of the high rank of governor of one of the provinces, instructions, moreover, which forbid his interference with the action of the Assembly of the province over which he holds sway.\n\nChang Ming-ch'i, who during the past five years has risen from the rank of intendant of one of the circuits of Kuangsi through successive grades to the position of governor of that province, called to see me on the 6th instant. No mention was made during our conversation on that occasion of any intention on his part to apply for permission to resign his post, as has been asserted in at least one local native newspaper, which alleged as the reason for his so doing the incident above referred to. In this case perhaps the wish may have been father to the thought; a far more plausible theory for his outstaying his leave in the capital is that now advanced by the native press, namely, that he is intriguing to secure the appointment of Viceroy of the provinces of Kuangtung and Kuangsi.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nW. G. MAX MÜLLER.\n\n[2980 e--6]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 430266, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-374 - Public Offices & Others - 1910", "page_number": 458, "title": "CO129-374 - Public Offices & Others - 1910", "content_text": "525 & Kasten 88) by Imperial Rescript \n\nI \n\nto therefore binding on the brain com \n\nwon pur, \n\nG \n\nthe \n\ncontracting Chemière par to am not sure what is meant by \"joint Ser-Phugand management \n\nIntis \n\nthe proposal is \n\nin to be worked as \n\nthinks it means that each part of the line \n\nseparat hartong \n\nThe Gorts concerned having mucly running \n\nright \n\non the other part, Akong will \n\nsuffer my sensely \n\nI supposed that \"joint working\" does not include joint managa ment\"; ich so \n\nwe can't only \n\non the \n\nin \n\nagreement to wear out th's abov Moposals. \n\nBut clearly simply acted as a out the Chinese to \n\nAK, will have. \n\ncat's paw unless we can \n\nqu \n\nto joint management. \n\nPersonally I don't think that much will be gained Egong 420. until we get adeep from St.K. has Si 7. Lugard in \n\nanxion that no time and he lost & we night thin fore \n\n2 and copy of this litter to 2.0 \n\nLe the \n\nChirase \n\nproposal. \n\n442 \n\nsaying that the 5.LS. concurs in fir 2.L's new of the situation suggest that the Change l'Affanis anthe ischmated to \n\n(broach the mitter armee) \n\nR 187 \n\nalproach the ban tank the \n\nThe \n\nSupport in \n\nVibr \n\nstoms stimprat possible. \n\nof the H.K. Sot, which \n\nthe TA.S. \n\nhos communicated thin. \n\nSie I Hepword \n\nSopree. The maller \n\nbooming vital. \n\nProceed \n\n18.7. \n\n19.7 \n\nproposed \n\n5 19. VIT", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-374 - Public Offices & Others - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 434577, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 578, "title": "CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# Government to Devising a Method for Dealing with Opium Stocks\n\nGovernment to devise a method for dealing with them either by means of a time-limit or otherwise, but as regards a time-limit the board were anxious that any agreement arrived should be made effective at the earliest possible date.\n\nI asked Dr. Yen whether he had ascertained what the present stocks amounted to, but he replied that he had not done so, and I gathered from this that the board were determined to do nothing which might have the appearance of any acceptance on their part of responsibility to deal with this aspect of the question, though I feel sure that they are in reality well aware of the fact that the stocks do amount to a very large quantity.\n\nIn my telegram No. 58 of the 21st instant, I had the honour to report on the principal points raised at the meeting held on that date. Our next meeting was originally fixed for the 24th instant, but at the request of the Chinese delegate, it was postponed to the 28th instant.\n\nIn the meantime, I have had the opportunity to examine more closely the arguments contained in the Chinese memorandum in favour of an ad valorem taxation. Mr. Fox, the acting commercial attaché, informs me that the figures given in sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of paragraph 1 are substantially correct, but it would appear that the value for 1910, given in section 5 as 2,000 taels per chest, is far too high a figure to take as an average annual value, and it will probably be found that the average value in Shanghai for 1910 will not greatly exceed 1,000 taels. The present taxation upon Indian opium Mr. Fox estimates at about 7 per cent, ad valorem. In assuming a considerable loss to the Chinese revenue in section 6, the memorandum takes no account of the sums derived from the additional taxation imposed on Indian opium by the provincial authorities during the period under review.\n\nFurther, Mr. Fox informs me that the assumption that all sales of the drug in India are under Government control is incorrect as regards Malwa opium, which is the product of native States and is sold by the merchants themselves. While, therefore, the average auction values of Bengal opium, which is understood to be a Government monopoly, might possibly be obtainable, the valuation of Malwa opium would have to be based on its c.i.f value at each port of entry in China—a process likely to lead to endless disputes between customs and merchants, where such a highly speculative commodity as opium is concerned.\n\nThe memorandum, it will be noticed, is silent as to the feasibility of an ad valorem duty on native opium. The Chinese attitude with regard to this point is that they are taking effective steps to put an entire stop to the transport and cultivation of native opium, and that the question of its taxation will soon be one of secondary importance. They are, however, prepared to issue an Imperial rescript imposing an excise duty upon the native drug equal to the increased consolidated duty levied upon foreign opium.\n\nThe above account of the negotiations to date will, I am afraid, only serve to bear out the opening statement in my telegram No. 58 above referred to that little or no progress is being made.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n## Enclosure 1 in No. 1\n\n### Prince Ch'ing to Sir J. Jordan\n\nPeking, February 8, 1911.\n\nI HAVE the honour to reply to your Excellency's note on the subject of the prohibition of opium, in which you state that the contents of my note of the 29th December last were duly communicated to His Majesty's Government, and that you are now instructed by His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to inform me that His Majesty's Government are prepared to entertain the additional proposals put forward in my note under reply, provided that an agreement on the proposals already put forward in Mr. Max Müller's memorandum of the 1st November, 1910, be first arrived at.\n\nYour Excellency added that you would be glad to be informed of the name of the official whom my board proposes to depute for the purpose of discussing this matter so that an early date may be fixed for the resumption of negotiations.\n\nIn reply thereto, I have the honour to inform your Excellency that my board proposes to appoint Yen Hui-ch'ing (Dr. W. W. Yen), a councillor attached to the board, to negotiate personally with your Excellency.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\nPrince CHING.\n\n## Enclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n### Memorandum Containing the Chinese Government's Draft Proposals Respecting the Opium Agreement\n\nUNDER the arrangement concluded between His Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government three years ago, His Majesty's Government undertook that if during the period of three years from the 1st January, 1908, the Chinese Government should duly carry out the arrangement on their part for reducing the production and consumption of opium in China, they would continue in the same proportion of 10 per cent. the annual diminution of the export of opium from India until the completion of the full period of ten years in 1917.\n\nHis Majesty's Government having now ascertained the pronounced success achieved by the Chinese Government in restricting the production and the smoking of opium, the two Governments have, therefore, agreed on a further arrangement for restricting the import of Indian opium, the conditions of which arrangement are as follows:\n\n#### ARTICLE 1.—General Principles\n\nThe principle upon which the Chinese and British Governments will deal with the question of the prohibition of the production of native opium, and of the restrictions to be placed on the import of Indian opium respectively, is declared to be as follows:\n| Principle | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| (a) | Both Indian and native opium must be treated alike. There must be no differential treatment. |\n| (b) | Opium is really very harmful to mankind and total extinction at an early date is earnestly hoped for. The sooner this is done the better it will be for all. |\n\n#### ARTICLE 2.—Time Limit\n\n| Clause | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| (a) | From henceforth, the British Government shall diminish progressively by 10 per cent. annually, that is to say 5,100 chests, the import of Indian opium into China until total extinction on the 1st January, 1917. After this period, the Chinese Government may totally prohibit the import of opium. |\n| (b) | The Chinese Government, on its side, shall diminish annually by not less than one-tenth the production of native opium until total and permanent extinction on the 1st January, 1917. |\n| (c) | The Chinese Government has, as regards native opium, adopted a most rigorous policy for prohibiting the production, the transport, and the smoking of opium, and the British Government has expressed its agreement therewith and willingness to give every assistance. If, therefore, the production of native opium shall have been uniformly cut off in less than seven years, or if it shall have been cut off in a particular province, then the British Government shall consent at the same time to stop the import of Indian opium altogether, or to stop the import into such a province. |\n\n#### ARTICLE 3.—Investigation\n\nDuring this period in which Indian opium is imported, it shall be permissible for the British Government to appoint one or more British officers to proceed in company with officers appointed by the Chinese Government to obtain continuous evidence of this diminution by local enquiries and investigation. At the same time, they may investigate the taxation and trade restrictions on foreign and native opium away from the treaty ports. The reports of these officers shall be accepted by both parties to this agreement.\n\n#### ARTICLE 4.—Orders for the Prohibition of Opium\n\nDuring this period, whenever any orders drawn up by the Chinese Government or by the executive officers of the Chinese Government for dealing with the prohibition...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 434706, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 120, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# CHINA RAILWAYS\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\nMarch 20\n\n(No. 80.)\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received March 20.)\n\nPeking, February 23, 1911.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith translation of an Imperial rescript sanctioning a recommendation made by Sheng Hsuan-huai, the President of the Board of Communications, that Liang Shih-yi should be relieved of his duties as Director-General of the Imperial Railway Administration and Assistant Director of the Chiao-tung Bank.\n\nLiang Shih-yi's name will be familiar to you in connection with railway negotiations, in which he has played a prominent part during the last four or five years. He was the author of the arrangement with the Kiangsu and Chekiang Railway Boards, which practically cancelled our Shanghai-Ningpo Railway Agreement of the 6th March, 1908, and since then he has consistently opposed every proposal designed to give foreign capital any participation on fair terms in railway development in China. His connection with the recent \"Birchall loan,\" for which he was largely responsible, exposed him to severe public criticism, and was probably the immediate cause of his downfall. My personal relations with Liang Shih-yi have always been friendly, but I have never hesitated to tell him and the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu that his policy has been short-sighted and far from beneficial to the interests of his country.\n\nWhether his withdrawal from the railway directorate will accelerate the consummation of the Hukuang and other railway questions remains to be seen, but it is hardly conceivable that any successor can be found who will combine to the same degree as Liang Shih-yi all the qualities which go to make a successful obstructionist in China.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN,\n\n## (Translation.)\n### Enclosure in No. 1.\n#### Imperial Edict of February 22, 1911.\n\nWE approve of Sheng Hsuan-huai's recommendation that Liang Shih-yi be relieved of his duties as director-general of the Imperial Railway Administration and assistant manager of the General Bank of Communications.\n\nPage 120\nPage 121", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 434786, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 200, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# \n## To my surprise, instead of the definite reply on this point which I had been promised, I was informed that, according to the Chinese Minister, instructions were being sent to me to submit article 4 to the Government of India.\n\nTo my surprise, instead of the definite reply on this point which I had been promised, I was informed that, according to the Chinese Minister, instructions were being sent to me to submit article 4 to the Government of India. I could only tell Dr. Yen that I felt convinced that Mr. Liu had misunderstood the purport of whatever had passed between him and the Foreign Office, but not content with continuing to press for the inclusion of this article, Dr. Yen further announced that he wished to make clear the meaning which the board attached to the prohibition of import province by province; the Chinese Government considered that the prohibition of the import of Indian opium into any particular province should take effect as soon as that province had stopped the import of native opium, regardless of whether the province was an opium-producing one or not.\n\n## \nHere was another and serious departure from the original basis of negotiation introduced after nearly a month's discussion, and I could not conceal my grave disappointment at the turn events were taking.\n\nHere was another and serious departure from the original basis of negotiation introduced after nearly a month's discussion, and I could not conceal my grave disappointment at the turn events were taking. I pointed out that the object of the original Chinese proposal, which alone I had authority to entertain, was to prevent Indian opium from taking the place of native opium in an opium-producing province where production had ceased, and that it was never intended to apply to the coast provinces which had produced little opium of their own and had been largely dependent on the foreign drug for the last fifty or sixty years. It was extremely difficult to devise any practical means of attaining even this original object, but His Majesty's Government in their desire to meet the wishes of China as far as possible had expressed their willingness to stop the issue of transit-passes for Indian opium to provinces which had ceased to produce and import the native drug; to attempt now to extend the prohibition to any province would be tantamount to stopping the Indian trade outright, for provinces like Kuangtung and Kiangsu could, within a few months, extinguish their own small production and import of native opium and then claim to close the great distributing centres of Canton and Shanghai to the foreign article.\n\n## \nI warned Dr. Yen that this continued introduction of new matter outside the original basis of discussion, as it had prevented any progress being made up to the present, now threatened to preclude the possibility of any agreement being reached.\n\nI warned Dr. Yen that this continued introduction of new matter outside the original basis of discussion, as it had prevented any progress being made up to the present, now threatened to preclude the possibility of any agreement being reached, and I strongly urged him to secure the immediate consent of the board to (1) the complete acceptance of our amended anti-restriction clause (`Enclosure 4` in my despatch No. 90), in exchange for which I would recommend a specific duty of 300 taels per chest, and (2) the acceptance of our revision clause in lieu of both articles 4 and 7 (`Enclosure 3` in my despatch No. 90). At the same time, I handed him a redraft of the Chinese article regarding provincial prohibition, copy of which is enclosed.\n\n## \nDr. Yen sought to maintain that the only object of the Chinese Government was to obtain the fullest possible advantage from measures which had already been accepted in principle.\n\nDr. Yen sought to maintain that the only object of the Chinese Government was to obtain the fullest possible advantage from measures which had already been accepted in principle, and in response to his earnest request I agreed to repeat my arguments to the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu the same afternoon. I accordingly called at the board, and had an interview with the President Tsou and Vice-President Hu, at which Dr. Yen was also present. I pointed out to the Ministers that nearly a month had elapsed since the resumption of these negotiations, and so little progress had been made that it seemed as if the Chinese Government had no real intention of coming to any agreement.\n\n## \nThe Ministers said they had been waiting for a reply from the Chinese Minister in London.\n\nThe Ministers said they had been waiting for a reply from the Chinese Minister in London, and asked whether I had received any instructions from you on the subject of articles 4 and 7. I replied that I had received none and did not expect any, and I reminded them that as seventeen days had now elapsed since I had informed the Grand Secretary Na Tung that these articles must be eliminated, it was essential that I should receive a definite answer without further delay. The only response was that the question must be again referred to his Excellency Na Tung.\n\n## \nIn view of the express undertaking given to me by the Grand Secretary himself on the 10th ultimo that, in the event of his absence, one or other of the Ministers would give a decision on any point which might arise.\n\nIn view of the express undertaking given to me by the Grand Secretary himself on the 10th ultimo that, in the event of his absence, one or other of the Ministers would give a decision on any point which might arise, I protested strongly against this deliberate evasion. I pointed out that I had exercised the greatest patience in my anxiety to prevent a failure of the negotiations, for which, if it now occurred, they must accept the entire responsibility.\n\n## \nThis remonstrance apparently produced some effect.\n\nThis remonstrance apparently produced some effect, for two days later Dr. Yen brought me a fresh draft of article 4, which expressly confined the operation of the anti-opium laws to the retail trade. In view of the fact that we had already recognised in practice the right of the Chinese Government to adopt its own measures for the restriction of smoking and of the retail trade generally, I saw no objection to the inclusion of such a clause in the agreement, and I accordingly undertook to recommend that it should be incorporated in the anti-restriction clause which, after considerable further discussion, Dr. Yen also agreed to accept, in response to a final offer on my part of 330 taels per chest import duty.\n\n## \nThis acceptance, however, was coupled by Dr. Yen with the proviso that the removal of existing illegal restrictions should take effect simultaneously with the imposition of the increased rate of duty on Indian opium.\n\nThis acceptance, however, was coupled by Dr. Yen with the proviso that the removal of existing illegal restrictions should take effect simultaneously with the imposition of the increased rate of duty on Indian opium. The enforcement of this increased duty was made conditional upon the issue of an Imperial rescript imposing an equivalent tax on native opium, due allowance being made for the difference in the market values of the foreign and native drug. In agreeing to recommend the acceptance of this proviso, I did so subject to a formal declaration that such acceptance should not be held to imply any admission of the legality of the Canton restrictions.\n\n## \nThus at the cost of continual concessions on my part in the course of more than a month's protracted discussion, a basis of agreement has been arrived at on the following points.\n\nThus at the cost of continual concessions on my part in the course of more than a month's protracted discussion, a basis of agreement has been arrived at on the following points: \n| Point | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| (1) | Elimination of the objectionable features in articles 4 and 7 of the Chinese proposals. |\n| (2) | Inclusion of safeguards against illegal restriction and taxation of the wholesale trade. |\n| (3) | Increase of the consolidated import duty. |\n\nThe enclosed copy of a memorandum handed to Dr. Yen on the 14th instant contains a rough draft of the clauses agreed upon under (1) and (2), but the definite acceptance by the Chinese delegate of (3) is still dependent on an agreement being reached on the two main points of difference now outstanding, namely, provincial prohibition and stocks.\n\n## \nIn view of the extreme difficulty which had accompanied even this small measure of progress.\n\nIn view of the extreme difficulty which had accompanied even this small measure of progress, I felt that it would be useless to put forward any of the alternative proposals contained in the Government of India's telegram of the 17th instant. The last three meetings have, in fact, been principally occupied with the discussion of the two remaining questions, both of which present serious difficulties.\n\n## \nAs regards provincial prohibition.\n\nAs regards provincial prohibition, I have maintained that it is impossible to depart from the original intention of the Chinese proposal as clearly laid down in article 2(c) of their own memorandum (`Enclosure 2` in my despatch No. 90), that this prohibition should apply only to opium-producing provinces, and that our transit-pass suggestion is the furthest limit to which we can go in a desire to meet the wishes of China. I have urged that the Chinese Government should accept this suggestion, and trust to the good faith of His Majesty's Government to give as wide effect thereto as they reasonably can.\n\n## \nIn order to meet my objection that an interpretation of the prohibition as applicable to all provinces would entail the speedy closing of Canton and Shanghai to trade in the Indian drug.\n\nIn order to meet my objection that an interpretation of the prohibition as applicable to all provinces would entail the speedy closing of Canton and Shanghai to trade in the Indian drug, Dr. Yen put forward the proposal to exempt these two distributing centres only from the prohibition, and all efforts to move him from this position have so far proved fruitless. In my anxiety to find a way out of the difficulty, I eventually suggested that our transit-pass proposal might be made to apply to all the provinces of China except those seven which are the principal consumers of the Indian drug, and which I named, viz., Kuangtung, Fukien, Chekiang, Kiangsu, Shantung, Anhui, and Kiangsi.\n\n## \nI contended that these seven provinces, having always imported foreign opium of their own accord, could not expect to stop that import at once.\n\nI contended that these seven provinces, having always imported foreign opium of their own accord, could not expect to stop that import at once, whereas the remaining fourteen provinces, never having used foreign opium to any great extent, might with some justice claim to exclude it concurrently with native opium. If the board would accept this interpretation of the provincial prohibition, I offered, in the last resort, to recommend that it should be embodied in an exchange of notes, as any mention of specific provinces in the agreement itself would, I felt sure, give rise to increased provincial agitation.\n\n## \nEven this extreme offer, however, failed to satisfy the board.\n\nEven this extreme offer, however, failed to satisfy the board, and when I heard from the Grand Secretary Na Tung, at an interview which I had with the board on the 23rd instant, that the suggestion to differentiate between the provinces had already become known and had produced a violent denunciation of himself by a censor, I formally withdrew the offer, and again appealed to the board either to drop the promised prohibition altogether or to accept our transit-pass proposal, coupled with an assurance of our good faith to make it as effective as possible.\n\n## \nThe question of stocks has proved equally difficult of solution.\n\nThe question of stocks has proved equally difficult of solution, the board persisting... \n## \nPage 197 \n## B 2", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 434942, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 356, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# \n: \n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n16339 \nMAY ||\nOPIUM.\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[April 29.]\n## SECTION 4\n[15956]\n\n### No. 1. \n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,—(Received April 29.)**\n#### (No. 108.)\n**(Telegraphic.) R.**\n\nYOUR telegram `No. 76` [of 27th April].\n\nPeking, April 29, 1911.\n\nChinese Government accept suggestion for reduction of Indian export in each year 1912, 1913, and 1914 by one-third of uncertificated opium.\n\nAs regards increase of duty, is there any objection to making it take effect from date of signature of agreement, provided that Chinese Government issue on same day an Imperial rescript imposing an equivalent excise duty on native opium?\n\n(Sent to India.)\n\n(1973-4)\n352", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435122, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 536, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "## Enclosure 2 in No. 1\n**TABLE of Charges per Metric Ton per Kilometer for General Merchandise carried with Company's guarantee.**\n\nC. O. \nCHINA RAILWAYS. \n19637 \n[May 10.] \n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n| Series | No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1st zone- Haiphong Docks to Yenbay | 11 Cents | 9 Cents | 7 Cents | 5 Cents | 4 Cents |\n| 2nd zone- Yenbay to Lookay-Hokow | 12 Cents | 10 Cents | 7.5 Cents | 6 Cents | 4.5 Cents |\n| 3rd zone- Hokow to Pi-she-chai | 26 Cents | 21 Cents | 16 Cents | 13 Cents | 10 Cents |\n| 4th zone- Pi-she-chai to Amichow | 13 Cents | 10.5 Cents | 8 Cents | 6.5 Cents | 3 Cents (No. 119.) (Telegraphic.) K. should be 5 Cents |\n| 5th zone- Amichow to Yunnan-fu | 13 Cents | 10.5 Cents | 8 Cents | 6.5 Cents | 5 Cents |\n\nREG 16 JUN 11 \nSECTION 1.\n\n## Enclosure 3 in No. 1\n**SCALE of Distances as determined for the Freight on Goods on the Tonquin-Yunnan Railway (kilometers).**\n\n| | Haiphong Docks | Haiphong ville | Hanoi | Yentay | Lackay | Hokow | Mengtsz (Pi-she-chai) | Alichow.. |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Haiphong ville | | | | | | | | |\n| Hanoi | | | | | | | | |\n| Yenbay | 104 | | 248 | | | | | |\n| Laokay | 389 | | 389 | 102 | | | | |\n| Hokow | | 247 | 387 | 338 | 156 | | | |\n| Mengtsz | | 296 | 297 | ... | 142 | 10 | | |\n| Amichow | 5588 | | | | | 567 | 610 | 853 |\n| Yunnan-fu | | | | 608 | 853 | 517 | 761 | 321 |\n| | | 377 | 621 | 178 | 221 | 465 | 176 | 221 |\n| | | | | | | | 287 | 244 |\n| | | | | | | | | 530 |\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 10.) \nMY telegram of 7th May to Sir F. Campbell.\n\nBy a decree issued yesterday, construction of all trunk lines is reserved to Government, and those already granted to provinces are taken back. \nA rescript foreshadows the early signature of Hukuang Agreement, and cancels the permit given by Board of Communications to provinces.\n\nPeking, May 10, 1911. \n[2024 k-1] \n[17705] \n(No. 119.)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435141, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 555, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n**REC? ¡REP 16 JUN 11** \n\n## OPIUM.\n\n### [May 10.]\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n#### SECTION 1.\n\n[17704]\n\n**(No. 117.)**\n\nNo. 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 10.)**\n\n**(Telegraphic.) R.**\n\nPeking, May 10, 1911.\n\nMY telegram No. 115 of 8th May: Opium Agreement. An unusually long and important decree was issued last night to give effect to new Opium Agreement.\n\nAfter stating that a period of ten years was originally fixed for removal of such a long-standing and deep-seated evil, it points out that by new arrangement import of foreign opium will cease at any time within unexpired period of seven years in the event of complete extinction of cultivation in China and in order that every effort should be made to bring about abolition as soon as possible.\n\nArrangement is pronounced to be \"entirely satisfactory.\"\n\nDecree explicitly orders that all restrictions and taxation imposed by provinces shall be immediately withdrawn.\n\nNew rates of increased taxation are explained to be merely temporary expedient to meet present financial exigencies, and Throne expressly disclaims any intention of relying on such a source of revenue.\n\nDecree concludes with an acknowledgment of the \"assistance of a friendly Power.\"\n\n(Sent to India.)\n\nNo. 2.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 10.)**\n\n[17631]\n\n**(No. 118.)**\n\n**(Telegraphic.) R.**\n\nMY telegram No. 114 of May 5: Opium,\n\nPeking, May 10, 1911.\n\nImperial rescript was issued last night fixing tax on native opium at 230 taels per 100 catties. This was in accordance with arrangement made between Wai-wu Pu and myself.\n\n[17713]\n\nNo. 3.\n\n**(No. 82.)**\n\n**Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.**\n\n**(Telegraphic.) R.**\n\nForeign Office, May 10, 1911. **OPIUM Agreement.** Sassoons represent that, in view of the fact that stocks in Hong Kong are financed for the Chinese by the banks or by the importers, it is difficult to understand how the money is to be found in a few days sufficient to repay the banks and importers before shipment, to say nothing of the further very large amount required in cash for duty purposes. As to unsold opium, they state that Hong Kong merchants have no godowns or representatives in Canton. They ask to whom this opium is to be entrusted.\n\nDo the above points constitute a genuine grievance, and, if so, how can they be met?\n\n(Sent to India.)\n\n[2011 k-1]\n\n549", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435156, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 570, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# [This Document is the Property of RO Britannic Majesty's Government]\n\n10608\n564\n\n## OPIUM.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\nPEC?\n16 JUN !!\n\n[May 13.]\n\n### SECTION 2.\n\n#### No. 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received May 13.)**\n\n([No. 125.])\n**(Telegraphic.) R.**\n\nPeking, May 13, 1911.\n\nYOUR telegram No. 83 of 11th May: Opium. According to available evidence, the value of native opium is approximately two-thirds of foreign opium, and tax of 230 taels was fixed on this basis. Memorial to the Throne by the Minister of Finance and the Imperial rescript, of which I have sent you copies, explicitly stated that the tax will be levied on production, and telegraphic instructions have been sent in this sense to the Viceroys and governors.\n\n(Addressed to Foreign Office; repeated to India.)\n\n[2011-2]\n\nPage 570\nPage 571", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435177, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 591, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# 3 \n\n## 585 \n\n2 \n\nThe only reliable statistics available for working out a solution of this gigantic problem.\n\nArticles 6 and 7 are perhaps the parts of the agreement which will require most careful attention in the future.\n\nThe Chinese Government undertake to levy a uniform tax on all opium grown in the Chinese Empire, and His Majesty's Government agree to increase the consolidated import duty on Indian opium to 350 taels a chest as soon as the equivalent excise tax is enforced on native opium. This latter tax has been fixed by mutual agreement at 230 taels a picul, and both duties are to become effective from the date of signature of the agreement.\n\nIn return for this large increase in the import duty China undertakes to withdraw at once all the restrictions placed by the provincial authorities on the wholesale trade in Indian opium and also all taxation on the wholesale trade other than the consolidated duty, and that no such restrictions or taxation will again be imposed so long as the additional article to the Chefoo Agreement remains in force.\n\nIndian raw opium which has paid the consolidated duty is to be exempt from any further taxation whatsoever in the port of import.\n\nHis Majesty's Government are at liberty to suspend or terminate the agreement at any time should the conditions in the above two clauses not be duly observed.\n\nIt is sincerely to be hoped that no occasion will arise for exercising this discretion, and that the provincial authorities at Canton and elsewhere will be required to pay more respect to this engagement than they have done to treaty stipulations in the past. The increased duty represents a fair and liberal assessment on the present value of opium, and there can no longer be any excuse for provincial exactions.\n\nThe Chinese Government, in their opium policy, have amply demonstrated their ability to impose their will on the provinces, and we can, I feel sure, look forward with confidence to their issuing such instructions as will prevent any recurrence of the vexatious questions which have occupied so much of the time and attention of this legation during the past year. I have impressed this view strongly upon the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu, and have felt justified in saying that personally I should prefer to sign no agreement rather than court a repetition of past experience.\n\nThe Chinese Government are left free as before to regulate the retail trade in the drug and to take such steps as they deem proper for the suppression of smoking, and with good-will and reasonableness on both sides, there should be no insurmountable difficulty in carrying out these provisions without interfering unnecessarily with the wholesale trade.\n\nIn conclusion, I have the honour to record my conviction that the agreement is one which concedes to China every facility required for the completion of her programme of opium suppression. In this assertion I am supported not only by the opinion of many leading Chinese officials, but also by the statement of the Chinese signatory, his Excellency Tsou Chia-lai, who asked me to convey to His Majesty's Government the warm appreciation of the Chinese Government for the cordial co-operation they had received in reaching such a satisfactory solution of this difficult problem.\n\nI have the honour to enclose copies of two notes which were exchanged at the time of signature.\n\nMy note to the Wai-wu Pu states that certificated opium removed from bond at the treaty ports or imported into China after the signature of the agreement will be liable to the new rate of duty.\n\nThe Wai-wu Pu's note to me fixes the levy upon native opium at 230 taels. It is understood that this will be enforced by an Imperial rescript, a copy of which will be furnished to me in due course.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n## Enclosure 1 in No. 1\n\n### Agreement relating to Opium, 1911\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nUnder the arrangement concluded between His Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government three years ago, His Majesty's Government undertook that, if during the period of three years from the 1st day of January, 1908, the Chinese Government should duly carry out the arrangement on their part for reducing the production and consumption of opium in China, they would continue in the same proportion of 10 per cent. the annual diminution of the export of opium from India until the completion of the full period of ten years in 1917.\n\nHis Majesty's Government, recognising the sincerity of the Chinese Government and their pronounced success in diminishing the production of opium in China during the past three years, are prepared to continue the arrangement of 1907 on the following conditions:\n\n#### ARTICLE 1\n\nFrom the 1st day of January, 1911, China shall diminish annually for seven years the production of opium in China in the same proportion as the annual export from India is diminished in accordance with the terms of this agreement and of the annex appended hereto until total extinction in 1917.\n\n#### ARTICLE 2\n\nThe Chinese Government have adopted a most rigorous policy for prohibiting the production, the transport, and the smoking of native opium, and His Majesty's Government have expressed their agreement therewith and willingness to give every assistance. With a view to facilitating the continuance of this work, His Majesty's Government agree that the export of opium from India to China shall cease in less than seven years if clear proof is given of the complete absence of production of native opium in China.\n\n#### ARTICLE 3\n\nHis Majesty's Government further agree that Indian opium shall not be conveyed into any province in China which can establish by clear evidence that it has effectively suppressed the cultivation and import of native opium.\n\nIt is understood, however, that the closing of the ports of Canton and Shanghai to the import of Indian opium shall not take effect except as the final step on the part of the Chinese Government for the completion of the above measure.\n\n#### ARTICLE 4\n\nDuring the period of this agreement it shall be permissible for His Majesty's Government to obtain continuous evidence of the diminution of cultivation by local enquiries and investigation conducted by one or more British officials, accompanied, if the Chinese Government so desire, by a Chinese official. Their decision as to the extent of cultivation shall be accepted by both parties to this agreement.\n\nDuring the above period one or more British officials shall be given facilities for reporting on the taxation and trade restrictions on opium away from the treaty ports.\n\n#### ARTICLE 5\n\nBy the arrangement of 1907 His Majesty's Government agreed to the dispatch by China of an official to India to watch the opium sales on condition that such official would have no power of interference. His Majesty's Government further agree that the official so dispatched may be present at the packing of the opium on the same condition.\n\n#### ARTICLE 6\n\nThe Chinese Government undertake to levy a uniform tax on all opium grown in the Chinese Empire. His Majesty's Government consent to increase the present consolidated import duty on Indian opium to 350 taels per chest of 100 catties, such increase to take effect as soon as the Chinese Government levy an equivalent excise tax on all native opium.\n\n#### ARTICLE 7\n\nOn confirmation of this agreement, and beginning with the collection of the new rate of consolidated import duty, China will at once cause to be withdrawn all restrictions placed by the provincial authorities on the wholesale trade in Indian opium such as those recently imposed at Canton and elsewhere, and also all taxation on the wholesale trade other than the consolidated import duty, and no such restrictions or taxation shall be again imposed so long as the additional article to the Chefoo Agreement remains as at present in force.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435179, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 593, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n## No. 1.\n\n(No. 205.) Sir,\n\n## Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received May 26.)\n\nPeking, May 11, 1911. IN continuation of my despatch No. 199 of the 8th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, in translation, copy of an Imperial decree which was issued on the 9th instant giving effect to the new Opium Agreement.\n\nAfter stating that a period of ten years was originally fixed for the eradication of such a long-standing and deep-seated evil, the decree points out that under the agreement now concluded with Great Britain the import of foreign opium will cease at any time within the unexpired limit of seven years in the event of the complete extinction of the native cultivation, and it urges that every effort should be made to fulfil this condition and bring about total abolition at the earliest possible moment.\n\nThe arrangement with regard to total extinction and prohibition by provinces is pronounced to be entirely satisfactory.\n\nThe decree explicitly orders that all the restrictions and taxation imposed by the provinces on the wholesale trade in foreign opium shall be immediately withdrawn, and the anticipation expressed in my previous despatch on this subject has thus been fully realised.\n\nThe new rates of enhanced taxation are explained to be merely a temporary expedient to meet the financial exigencies of the moment, but the Throne expressly disclaims all intention of relying upon this taxation as a permanent source of revenue. Renewed orders are given for the more effective regulation of the production, the smoking and the transport of opium, and the decree concludes with an acknowledgment of the kind assistance of a friendly Power.\n\nIt was agreed between myself and the Wai-wu Pu that the equivalent excise duty upon native opium provided for in article 6 of the agreement should be fixed at 230 taels per 100 catties, and that this tax should be enforced simultaneously with the collection of the new duty on foreign opium, by an Imperial rescript, copy of which was to be furnished to me.\n\nI have now the honour to enclose a copy of this rescript, together with a copy of the memorial which the Ministry of Finance submitted to the Throne on the subject.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n### (Translation.)\n\n#### Enclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nExtract from the \"Gazette\" of May 9, 1911.\n\n## OPIUM AGREEMENT.\n\nON the 9th instant the Cabinet received the following edict by the Prince Regent:\n\nThe Wai-wu Pu has submitted to us a copy of the new agreement relating to the prohibition of opium.\n\nWith a view to the prohibition of the use of opium a period of ten years was originally fixed for gradual reduction, as, owing to the evil being of long standing and deep seated, it was necessary to allow a lengthy time-limit in order to make sure that the root should be killed and the source dried up. But with a view to protecting the people from harm, every effort should at the same time be made to bring about abolition as speedily as possible in order to obtain success at the earliest moment and remove the deadly ill once and for all.\n\nAccording to the report submitted this day by the Wai-wu Pu, the first period of three years in the scheme of prohibition being completed, a new agreement has been concluded with the British Minister at Peking providing that, in the event of the complete extinction of the native drug at any time within the unexpired period of seven years, the import of foreign opium will cease.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435180, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 594, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "## 588 \n\n2 \n\nFor seven years, the import of foreign opium shall also be prohibited, and this prohibition shall take effect progressively in any province from time to time.\n\nThe prohibition of the import of foreign opium depends on the prohibition of the cultivation of native opium, and so it has been decided to proceed province by province. The earlier native opium is suppressed, the earlier will the import of foreign opium come to an end.\n\nThe arrangement proposed is entirely satisfactory.\n\nThe increase of the duty on foreign opium simultaneously with the raising of the tax on native opium is part of the same object of forwarding prohibition by means of taxation, and orders should accordingly be given for this to be put into execution immediately. At the same time, all the restrictions and taxation imposed by the provinces on the wholesale trade in foreign opium are to be immediately withdrawn in order to avoid confusion.\n\nThe new rates of increased taxation are, however, merely in the nature of a temporary expedient for the supply of deficiencies; the Throne is most anxious for the reform of the people, and although the country's resources are inadequate, we have not the slightest desire to rely on such a source for revenue. As soon as the prohibition of the import of opium has become effective in all the provinces, some other source of revenue must be devised to make good deficiencies.\n\nIn the meantime, orders for prohibition must be strictly enforced in order that the root of the evil may be speedily destroyed. Let the Ministers of the Interior and of Finance, and the Viceroys and governors of all provinces at once redouble their efforts to effectively carry out the prohibition of the production, the smoking, and the transport of opium and give such orders to their subordinates in this regard as will ensure a uniform progress towards complete abolition.\n\nThus will the wishes of our own people be met, and justice be done to the kind assistance of a friendly Power.\n\nSuch is our earnest desire.\n\nLet this edict be made known to all.\n\n(Signed by Prince Ch'ing, Na T'ung, Hsu Shih-ch'ang, and Tsou Chia-lai.)\n\n3 \n\nThis course having been sanctioned by rescript, telegraphic notifications were sent to the Viceroys and governors accordingly. Up to the present, however, no report has been received by the Ministry of the steps taken to carry into effect the abolition of the native opium tax bureaux, but in the meantime, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already concluded an agreement with the British Minister providing for an increase in the consolidated import duty on foreign opium up to 350 taels per 100 catties, on the understanding that the tax on all native opium be increased to an equivalent amount simultaneously.\n\nThe amount of the tax should be in proportion to the respective values, and the value of native opium is approximately two-thirds of the value of foreign opium. In the suppression of opium, a beginning must first be made in our own country, and regarding the taxation of native opium as a means towards its suppression, there can be no objection to making that taxation heavy; it is proposed, therefore, to take two-thirds of the duty on foreign opium, and reckoning in round numbers, to impose a tax on native opium of 230 taels per 100 catties.\n\nIn the event of the proposal being approved, it will be necessary for this Ministry to send telegraphic instructions to the Commissioner of the Native Opium Tax and to the Viceroys and governors that from the date of the decree, all native opium, the transport of which has not been prohibited, together with all native opium intended for local consumption, shall pay duty at the new rate. On the receipt of the reports from the Viceroys and governors on the measures to be adopted when total extinction has been achieved, this Ministry will make further arrangements and request the Commissioner of the Native Opium Tax to deal with the whole question of the revenue from this source.\n\nThe increase of the duty on foreign opium having been dealt with by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a separate memorial, this Ministry has accordingly submitted as above the reasons for requesting an equivalent increase in the tax on all native opium.\n\nMay 8, 1911.\n\n(Translation.)\n\n## Enclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\n## Rescript of May 9, 1911.\n\n## Taxation of Native Opium.\n\nWITH reference to the memorial presented by the Ministry of Finance requesting that a tax of 230 taels per 100 catties should be levied on the opium produced in every province in order to correspond to the proposed increased duty on foreign opium, let action be taken as requested.\n\n(Signed by Prince Ch'ing, Na T'ung, Hsü Shih-ch'ang, and Tsai Tsê.)\n\n## Enclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\n## Memorial by Ministry of Finance regarding Taxation of Native Opium.\n\n(Translation.)\n\n**DUKE TSAI TSÉ, &c., Minister of Finance**, submits a memorial requesting the imposition of a tax on all native opium equivalent to the increased rate of duty agreed upon for foreign opium.\n\nOn the 20th March, my Ministry submitted a memorial recommending the abolition of the native opium tax bureaux in view of the proposed prohibition of cultivation in the present year with a view to total extinction of the trade, but it was pointed out at the same time that there was a considerable amount of opium in stock, and that there was no intention of foregoing the collection of duty on this; accordingly, with a view to arriving at a suitable plan, Imperial instructions were asked for to all Viceroys and governors to examine the circumstances of each locality and report to the Throne thereon.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435342, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 122, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "## predict the result. The provinces will doubtless indulge in noisy remonstrance, but they will soon realise the necessity of yielding to firmness.\n\nA rescript which appears in the same \"Gazette,\" and of which a copy is enclosed, foreshadows the early signature of the Hukuang Agreement as the first step in the inauguration of the new policy of railway development on Imperial lines.\n\nYour Highness.\n\n## Enclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nI have, &c.\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n## Joint Note communicated to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nPeking, May 2, 1911. In writing to your Highness on the 27th instant, asking for an interview on the following day, we have already expressed our surprise at the delay in the signature of the Hukuang Railways Loan Agreement, and we are entirely at a loss to understand the reason for this continued failure to complete the contract.\n\nAt the express wish of your Highness we agreed to consent to the omission of the branch line, provided an immediate understanding on all other points could be reached between the Board of Communications and the four banks concerned. These points have now all been satisfactorily arranged, and the Chinese Government is now bound to give effect to the formal promise which your Highness made to the Ministers of the four Powers.\n\nIt therefore becomes our duty to request your Highness to inform us without further delay of the date fixed for the signature of the agreement.\n\nWe avail, &c.\n\n## made between trunk and branch lines, and the capacity (or otherwise) of the people to build was not taken into account. It was sufficient for anyone to petition, and a permit for private construction followed as a matter of course.\n\nNevertheless, though many years have passed, we find to-day that Canton has raised half its share capital, but has not constructed many miles of railway; Szechuan has lost much of its funds which impeachment and prosecution have failed to recover; Hunan and Hupei have had a railway bureau for many years, but have nothing to show for their squandered funds. Thus have the resources of myriads of people been lost through squandering and embezzlement. The longer this continues the greater will be the people's loss; high and low will suffer harm, and evils unthinkable will result.\n\nTherefore, be it specially and clearly proclaimed for the information of all that all trunk lines belong to the State by a formal ordinance of the Government. All trunk lines for the private construction of which provincial companies have been founded before the present year and which have all been delayed are to be taken back by the State and immediately completed.\n\nBranch lines may still be constructed by merchants and people according to their capacity, but with the exception of these the permits formerly issued for the construction of trunk lines are to be cancelled. Let the Ministries of Finance and of Posts and Communications decide on the detailed method of taking back the lines in question—in obedience to this command—and submit the same for our approval as soon as possible.\n\nThe Ministers of State concerned should not hesitate and repeat the mistake previously made.\n\nShould there be any who, without regard to the public interest, deliberately interfere with this railway policy or stir up strife and resistance, let them be treated as rebels.\n\nLet this be noticed by all.\n\n(Signed by Prince Ch'ing, Na Tung, Hsu Shih-ch'ang, and Shêng Hsüan-huai.)\n\n## (Translation.)\n\n## Enclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\n**Imperial Decree of May 5, 1911.**\n\nThe supervising censor Shih Chang-hsin has memorialised, stating that it is essential that the system for constructing trunk and branch railway lines should be clearly decided. The said censor's memorial is a sensible one, and the Board of Communications is hereby commanded to make satisfactory preparations on the lines suggested in the censor's memorial, and to report to the Throne in a memorial.\n\n## Enclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\n**Rescript.**\n\n**HUKUANG LOAN.**\n\nWith reference to the memorial of the Ministry of Posts and Communications reporting that the signing of the final agreement for the Canton-Hankow and [Hupei section of the] Szechuan-Hankow Railway loan cannot well be further delayed, and requesting that the sanction previously accorded by the said Ministry (for the construction of these lines by the provinces) be cancelled, let it be as proposed.\n\n(Signed by Prince Ching, Na Tung, Hsu Shih-ch'ang, and Shêng Hsüan-huai.)\n\n## Enclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\n**Extract from the \"Gazette\" of May 9, 1911.**\n\nOn the 9th instant the Cabinet received the following Edict :-\n\nThe Ministry of Posts and Communications report that they have acted on the suggestion recently submitted to the Throne by the censor Shih Chang-hsin that a distinctive method should be adopted of dealing with trunk lines and branch lines of railway. This suggestion was a very satisfactory one, in view of the extended nature of China's frontiers, which stretch for many thousands of miles in all directions, enclosing an area which would require many months of travel to compass.\n\nThe Throne is full of solicitude for the defence of our frontiers, seeking day and night to exercise proper control, and we find that the speedy construction of railways is the only means to attain the end. Moreover, conferences on matters of government, the conduct of military operations, and the transport of produce are all dependent on facility of communication, which is thus a first essential in our desire for progress.\n\nAs a result of earnest consideration, we find that the country must have trunk lines throughout the length and breadth of the land, in order to enable the Government to be carried on and a firm grip to be kept on our territories.\n\nFormerly the matter was not properly thought out, and there was no definite method, so that throughout the country lines were built at random, no difference was made between trunk and branch lines... \n\nPage 120", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435352, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 132, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n10\n\nIn the event of any doubt arising regarding the interpretation of the contract the English text shall rule.\n\nSigned at Peking by the contracting parties this 22nd day of the 4th month of the 3rd year of the Emperor Hsuan Tung, corresponding to the 20th day of May, 1911, Western calendar.\n\nThe Minister of Posts and Communications, \n**SHENG HSUAN-HUAI**. \n(Seal of Ministry of Posts and Communications.)\n\nFor the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, \nH. CORDES.\n\nFor the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, \nE. G. HILLIER, Agent.\n\nFor the Banque de l'Indo-Chine, \nR. SAINT-PIERRE CASENAVE.\n\nFor J. P. Morgan and Co., Kuhn, Loeb, and Co., the First National Bank, the National City \"The Bank of New York, constituting American Group,\" \nWILLARD STRAIGHT, Representative.\n\nC \n130 \n[B] \n**CHINA RAILWAYS.-** \n23533 \n[June 12.]\n\n## **CONFIDENTIAL**\n\nRECO R18 JU 1|\n\n### SECTION 1.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[22727]\n\n(No. 228.) Sir, \n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received June 12.)** \nPeking, May 29, 1911.\n\nIN continuation of my despatch No. 221 of the 22nd instant, I have the honour to transmit herewith the accompanying translation of a note from Prince Ching, officially informing me of the signature of the Hukuang Railway Loan Agreement on the 20th instant, in accordance with the Imperial rescript on the memorial of the Ministry of Posts and Communications.\n\nI have, &c. \nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n0\n\n## Enclosure in No. 1.\n\n**Prince Ching to Sir J. Jordan.** \n(Translation.) Sir, \nMay 25, 1911.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that a communication has been received from the Ministry of Posts and Communications to the effect that on the 20th instant the Cabinet transmitted the Imperial rescript on the memorial of that Ministry, submitting the loan agreement negotiated with the British, German, French, and American banks for the Canton-Hankow and Szechuan-Hankow Railways, and requesting authority to sign and seal the same. The rescript ran: \"Let the Minister of Posts and Communications sign, and let the rest be as proposed.\" In accordance therewith, the agreement was signed and sealed with the representatives of the four banks at the Ministry on the same day, and copies exchanged.\n\nIn addition to notifying the other foreign Ministers concerned, the above communication is accordingly made for your Excellency's information.\n\nI avail, &c. \n[2076 m-] \n-1] \n(Seal of Wai-wu Pu.)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435664, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 442, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "## CONFIDENTIAL\n\nC \n439 \n28628 \nRECO \n\nRrot ! SEP.H \n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 30, 3:30 P.M.)** \n\n**(No. 188.) R.** \n\nPeking, August 30, 1911, 5·5 P.M.\n\nMy telegram No. 177 [of 20th August: Opium]. Having been officially furnished with copies of satisfactory memorial and Imperial rescript, I have to-day given formal assent to Chinese proposal for exclusion of Indian opium from Manchuria, Szechuan, and Shansi. \n\n(Sent to India.) \n\n`[731-463]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435734, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 512, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "2\n\nEnclosure in No. 1.\n\nSUMMARY Statement showing the Exports and Re-exports from the United Kingdom of Morphia and Cocaine during the first six months of 1911, distinguishing the Countries to which Exported.\n\n \n Country to which Exported\n Exports of Morphia\n Exports of Cocaine\n \n \n \n United Kingdom Produce\n Foreign and Colonial Produce\n United Kingdom Produce\n Foreign and Colonial Produce\n \n \n \n Ozs.\n Ozs.\n Ozs.\n Ozs.\n \n \n Russia\n 230\n \n 290\n 1,300\n \n \n Germany\n 41,130\n \n \n 17,146\n \n \n France\n 4,278\n 106\n \n \n \n \n British South Africa\n 106\n \n 7.1\n \n \n \n British India\n 114\n \n \n \n \n \n China\n 20,400\n \n \n \n \n \n Japan\n 33,072\n \n 000\n \n \n \n Australia\n 460\n 14\n 200\n 32\n \n \n New Zealand\n 50\n \n \n \n \n \n Canada\n 2,121\n \n \n \n \n \n Brazil\n 18\n \n 80\n \n \n \n Total\n 101,979\n 2,690\n 17,924\n \n \n\nBoard of Trade, August 1911.\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nOPIUM.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**.\n\nREC\n\n30132\n\nRest 15 SEP 11 [August 30.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n509 1\n\n[34241]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n(No. 188.)\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 30.)\n\n(Telegraphic.) R.\n\nMY telegram No. 177 of 20th August: Opium.\n\nPeking, August 30, 1911.\n\nHaving been officially furnished with copies of satisfactory memorial and Imperial rescript, I have to-day given formal assent to Chinese proposal for exclusion of Indian opium from Manchuria, Szechuan, and Shansi.\n\n(Sent to India.)\n\n[2155 gg-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435809, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 19, "title": "CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nOPIUM.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[36536]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n18\n\n[September 18.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n0 32749\n\nProf\n\nof 9 OCT II\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 18.)\n\n(No. 312.) Sir,\n\nPeking, September 1, 1911. WITH reference to my despatch No. 301 of the 26th July, I have the honour to inform you that on the 7th August I received a further note from Prince Ching stating that a telegram had been received from the Governor-General at Canton to the effect that orders had been given to abandon the anti-opium medicine scheme and, as all restrictions had thus been removed, requesting me to consent to the proposal made in his note of the 18th July that the import of Indian opium into the provinces of Fengtien, Kirin, Hei-lung-chiang, Szechuan, and Shansi, should be prohibited. On the 18th ultimo, I received a telegram from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton stating that the Governor-General had addressed him a despatch reciting in full the text of the Imperial decree of the 25th July and declaring that he must conform therewith. This despatch has not yet been received; but, as Mr. Jamieson considered it satisfactory, I replied on the 21st to Prince Ch'ing's note of the 7th August stating that as soon as China had, in accordance with article 3 of the agreement, established by clear evidence that she had effectively suppressed the cultivation of opium in and the import of native opium into these five provinces, I was prepared to give my consent to his proposal. Copies of Prince Ching's note and of my reply are enclosed.\n\nAs stated in my telegram No. 177 of the 20th August, I arranged to accept as evidence required under article 3 of the agreement a copy of a memorial and Imperial decree ordering the effective suppression of cultivation in and the import of native opium into these provinces, and on the 28th August, I received a note from Prince Ch'ing renewing the proposal and requesting that the prohibition should take effect from the 11th day of September. This note was accompanied by a copy of the memorial and Imperial rescript, and, as this proved satisfactory, I addressed a note to Prince Ch'ing on the 30th August consenting, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, to the prohibition of the import of Indian opium into the provinces of Fengtien, Kirin, Hei-lung-chiang, Shansi, and Szechuan from the 11th day of September. Copies of Prince Ching's note, of the memorial with Imperial rescript, and of my reply are enclosed.\n\nAs regards Manchuria, the import of Indian opium into its three provinces has for many years been insignificant. Indeed, prior to the suppression movement, there was a considerable export, mostly smuggled, of native opium to the northern provinces of China; but, owing to the stringency of the measures recently taken, there is good reason to believe that cultivation has been entirely suppressed. Shansi and Szechuan had always been opium-producing and exporting, not importing, provinces, and, as you are aware, Sir Alexander Hosie, in the course of his investigation, was satisfied that cultivation of the poppy had been effectively eradicated. Under these circumstances, I felt no hesitation in consenting to Prince Ching's proposal, and the Imperial Decree should secure permanent suppression of cultivation in and import of native opium into these provinces, and also furnish a valuable precedent for dealing with future applications of the kind from the Chinese Government.\n\nI am,\n\n&c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nSir,\n\nEnclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ch'ing to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nAugust 7, 1911. ON the 18th July I addressed a note to your Excellency pointing out that in the provinces of Fengtien, Kirin, Hei-lung-chiang, Szechuan, and Shansi, the cultivation of native opium having now been effectively suppressed, and the import of native opium from other provinces prohibited, article 3 of the new opium agreement should be carried out, and the import of Indian opium into these provinces be prohibited.\n\n&\n\n[2182 -1]\n\nPage 363\n\n...\n\nPage 363\n\n...\n\nPage 363", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435810, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 20, "title": "CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "2\n\nSubsequently I received your Excellency's reply stating that you regretted that, in view of the fact that China had as yet failed to enforce the terms of article 7, which provides for the withdrawal of all restrictions placed by the provincial authorities on the trade in Indian opium, such as those imposed at Canton and elsewhere, you were unable to entertain for the present, the proposal. Your Excellency added that as soon, however, as these restrictions were withdrawn, the proposal would receive your most careful attention.\n\nI have the honour to observe that my board sent frequent telegrams to the Canton Viceroy to stop him carrying out the idea of mixing medicine with prepared opium, and a telegram has now been received from him stating that orders have been given to abandon this scheme. He adds that he has notified His Majesty's consul-general accordingly.\n\nAll restrictions having thus been removed, I have the honour to request your Excellency's consent to the proposal made in my former note, namely, that the import of Indian opium into the provinces of Fengtien, Kirin, Hei-lung-chiang, Szechuan and Shansi, shall be prohibited, thus evidencing the sincere aim of His Majesty's Government to assist in the suppression of opium.\n\nAwaiting the favour of a reply, I avail, &c.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nEnclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nPrince CHING.\n\nAugust 21, 1911. IN reply to your note of the 7th instant, stating that the restrictions imposed on Indian opium by the provincial authorities at Canton had been removed, and requesting my consent to the proposal made in your Highness's note of the 18th July, that the import of Indian opium into the provinces of Fengtien, Kirin, Hei-lung-chiang, Szechuan, and Shansi shall be prohibited, I have the honour to state that as soon as China has, in accordance with article 3 of the agreement relating to opium of the 8th May, 1911, established by clear evidence that she has effectively suppressed the cultivation of opium in and import of native opium into these five provinces, I am prepared to give my consent to your Highness's proposal.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\nEnclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n3\n\nsuppressed the cultivation and import of native opium.\" Immediately on the signature of the agreement this Ministry telegraphed to the Viceroys and governors of those provinces which had made the greatest progress in the suppression of opium instructing them to investigate the local circumstances and render an accurate report thereon as a basis for negotiations with a view to the prohibition of import.\n\nAccording to the telegraphic replies which have now been received from Fengtien, Kirin, Hei-lung-chiang, Shansi, and Szechuan, these provinces all report that the cultivation of native opium has entirely ceased, that on the testimony of deputies sent to investigate in person not a plant remains, and that the import of native opium from neighbouring provinces has been strictly prohibited; moreover, in the case of Szechuan, the export of native opium from the province has also been prohibited.\n\nThese provinces have without doubt achieved the greatest success, and the circumstantial reports of the various Viceroys and governors are corroborated by the reliable testimony gathered from enquiries among the people themselves.\n\nAccordingly this Ministry addressed the British Minister requesting him to prohibit the import of Indian opium into these provinces in accordance with the agreement, and have already received his reply consenting to do so. Pending the arrangement of a date for the enforcement of this prohibition, which will in due course be notified by advertisement in the \"Official Gazette,\" we have to pray that the Imperial commands may be laid upon the Viceroys and governors of the said provinces to the effect that the areas from which the poppy has been eradicated should be inspected from time to time in order to ensure that there shall be no resumption of its cultivation for all time, and that orders be given to all custom-houses and barriers to the end that the prohibition now in force against the import of native opium may be maintained by increased vigilance and strictness, so that, with the prohibition of the import of foreign opium effected, this evil may be finally disposed of for ever.\n\nAs regards the remaining provinces, on its being shown that the cultivation of opium has really been suppressed, and that, on investigation of the circumstances, there are no difficulties in the way of prohibiting the import of foreign and native opium, this Ministry will in due course arrange with the British Minister for them to be dealt with in accordance with the agreement, in order that gradually the prohibition may be enforced and the whole work of suppression be speedily completed.\n\nThe circumstances relating to the prohibition of the import of Indian opium, province by province, and the selection of Fengtien and other provinces for the conclusion of an initial arrangement, are hereby duly submitted in the foregoing memorial, with a request for the Imperial commands.\n\nOn the 29th August, 1911, the Imperial rescript was received: \"Let it be as proposed.\"\n\nSir,\n\nPrince Ch'ing to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nAugust 28, 1911. I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that the memorial by this Ministry regarding the prohibition of the import of Indian opium, province by province, and suggesting that a commencement should be made with Fengtien and other provinces, having been presented to the Throne on the 25th instant, was duly approved by rescript, and it is now proposed that the prohibition of the import of Indian opium into the five provinces of Fengtien, Kirin, Hei-lung-chiang, Shansi, and Szechuan should take effect as from the 11th September next.\n\nAwaiting the favour of a reply, I avail, &c.\n\nEnclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nMemorial.\n\nA MEMORIAL respecting the prohibition of the import of Indian opium, province by province, and reporting that certain provinces in which the suppression of opium has made most progress have been selected, and an arrangement regarding them concluded with the British Minister, is reverently submitted for the Imperial approval.\n\nIn the opium agreement concluded between China and Great Britain on the 8th May, 1911, the 3rd article states that Indian opium shall \"not be conveyed into any province in China which can establish by clear evidence that it has effectively suppressed the cultivation and import of native opium.\" \n\nEnclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nPeking, August 30, 1911. IN reply to your Highness's note of the 28th instant, informing me that a memorial presented to the throne by your Highness's Ministry on the 25th August regarding the prohibition of the import of Indian opium, province by province, and suggesting that a commencement should be made with Fengtien and other provinces, has been approved by rescript, and proposing that the prohibition of the import of Indian opium into the five provinces of Fengtien, Kirin, Hei-lung-chiang, Shansi, and Szechuan should take effect from the 11th day of September next, I have the honour to inform your Highness that, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, I consent to this proposal.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n19", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435842, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 52, "title": "CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "3\n\nShang Yang, in the Yen Ping Prefecture of the same province, a proclamation, dated the 11th March, was issued by the sub-prefect, forbidding the transport of opium from Foochow into the interior from the first day of that month, and stating that persons who proceeded to Foochow to make purchases would have their opium impounded and be themselves punished; and on the 9th May the district magistrate of Sha Hsien issued a proclamation fixing the 18th May as the date for the cessation of the import from outside of opium into the town and villages of the Sha Hsien district. Copies of these two proclamations, which are in direct violation of treaty engagements, are enclosed.\n\nAll these restrictions imposed on the opium trade in the province of Fukien have occasioned British merchants at Foochow very serious losses entitling them to compensation, and although they were at once brought to the notice of his Excellency the Viceroy of the Min-Che by His Majesty's consul at Foochow, with a request for their withdrawal, and formed the subject of repeated representations by this legation to the Wai-wu Pu, it was not till the middle of July that they were withdrawn. No sooner have they been removed than equally objectionable regulations containing fresh restrictions are imposed, for in August the commissioner of police at Foochow issued a proclamation embodying regulations applicable to traders and smokers of opium.\n\nThese regulations, as stated in the proclamation, were sanctioned by the Viceroy and put in force by his Excellency's instructions. The third of these regulations makes it compulsory for raw opium shops which purchase foreign opium to take out passes (\"san lien tan\") from the Opium Eradication Office, and ordains that opium bought without such passes shall be confiscated. This is another breach of the procedure laid down by treaty, and one of those restrictions which the Chinese Government solemnly undertook in article 7 of the agreement should never again be imposed. A copy of this proclamation, with regulations attached, is enclosed.\n\nI come now to the province of Hunan. At the port of Changsha dealers in raw opium were compelled to pay the smokers' licence tax. This procedure was abolished on receipt of the telegraphic instructions sent by the Wai-wu Pu in June, but was reimposed under instructions from the Board of Finance in the following month. But by proclamation and regulations issued by the financial commissioner, the judicial commissioner, and the police intendant on the 24th July, a new system was enforced whereby a tax of 160 cash is now being levied on every Chinese ounce of raw opium in utter disregard of paragraph 2 of article 7 of the agreement of the 8th May, which distinctly states that \"Indian raw opium having paid the consolidated import duty shall be exempt from any further taxation whatsoever in the port of import.\" A copy of this proclamation with appended regulation is enclosed.\n\nAgain, at Shanghai and Soochow, in the province of Kiangsu, dealers are called upon to pay the smokers' licence in contravention of the Wai-wu Pu's instructions of June, the Shanghai magistrate even declaring that he has no knowledge of these instructions, while his Excellency the governor of the province, in a telegraphic reply to His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai, quotes from a communication received by him from the Board of the Interior, to the effect that a joint memorial presented by the Board of the Interior and the Board of Finance, proposing that it be left to the Viceroys and governors of provinces to determine whether the smokers' licence fees should be collected direct from the smokers or dealers be held responsible for collection and payment, had been approved by Imperial rescript, and he adds that these instructions had been acted upon, as the authority of the Wai-wu Pu's orders was naturally restricted by a sanctioned memorial. Copies of a rescript by the Shanghai magistrate to a petition by the Opium Guild, and dated the 1st August, in which that official states that he had not received notice of the Wai-wu Pu's telegraphic instructions and of the governor's telegraphic reply to His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai, are enclosed.\n\nIn bringing these cases of provincial restrictions on and illegal taxation of the trade in Indian opium to the notice of the Wai-wu Pu, I must solemnly remind your Highness that the regulations under which they are imposed, regulations framed by officials of all ranks as well as by anti-opium associations and the like, are not only an infringement of the agreement of the 8th May, but that their mode of issue constitutes a violation of that instrument. Such regulations, to be valid under the agreement, should be issued by the Chinese Government, and the Chinese Government alone. Is it seemly that there should be several Government departments dealing with the question in Peking and issuing contradictory instructions? The Wai-wu Pu was the department which made the agreement, is responsible for its fulfilment, and should alone issue the necessary instructions.\n\nNor since the agreement was signed has this legation been deluged with complaints of its violation, and there is only one way of putting a stop to a state of things which has become intolerable, and the continuance of which must inevitably lead to further claims for compensation. The Chinese Government must carry out the obligations which they undertook under the agreement and themselves issue and publish any regulations which they consider necessary for the enforcement of the last paragraph of article 7; and I have the honour to request your Highness to give me an explicit assurance that this course will be strictly followed in future, and that the issue of further provincial regulations of any kind shall cease.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN\n\n51", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435872, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 82, "title": "CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n34597\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[October 9.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 9.)\n\n(No. 372.) Sir,\n\nPeking, September 22, 1911. WITH reference to my telegram No. 199 of the 7th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the translation of a memorial by the Revenue Council,* proposing the appointment of Mr. Chang Chin, an assistant director of the 3rd section of the council, to proceed to India to watch the opium sales in accordance with the terms of article 5 of the opium agreement of the 8th May.\n\nThe Imperial rescript sanctioning the appointment was given on the 14th September.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN,\n\n* Not printed.\n\n[2226 1-2]\n\nPage 81\n\n \n\nPage 81 \n\nPage 81 \n\n-21 \n\n-21 \n\n-21", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-385 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 442923, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "page_number": 491, "title": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "content_text": "#intoi nơit veilig\n\n## His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General's Letter\n\nHis Britannic Majesty's Consul-General has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Commissioner's letter of the 30th ultimo regarding limestone.\n\nIn reply, he would beg to state that the issue by the late Imperial Government of likin receipts and Customs permits to export constitutes irrefutable evidence that all limestone supplied to the Green Island Company was shipped with their knowledge and consent, and that any action taken was not illegal nor irregular.\n\nMr. Jamieson would be interested to learn on what grounds Governor-General Chou closed down the Lao Ti Wan quarry in 1907, and, if possible, to receive a copy of His Excellency's condemmatory rescript.\n\nIn spite of assertions to the contrary, he must still maintain that the citation in Ch'en Tu-hsu's proclamation of the Canton Cement Works' petition implies an endorsement of its proposals. If not, why was not the Treaty-breaking nature thereof reprobated or pointed out to the petitioners?\n\nMr. Jamieson has now in this matter received specific instructions from His Majesty's Minister, who has throughout been kept posted as to the correspondence which has taken place, but before carrying them out, he would be glad to know in what consists the \"commercial procedure\" put forward as an alternative solution of the existing impasse in Mr. Lo's letter of February 22, 1913.\n\nH. B. M. Consulate-General, \nCanton, April 2, 1913.\n\n## Metadata\n`COPY`\n`No.10`\n`C.O`\n`17020`\n`484`\n`RECO(REGE19 MAY 13`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 442934, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "page_number": 502, "title": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "content_text": "# COPY\n\nFrom the **Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, Lo P'an-hui**, \nTo **H. M. Consul-General**.\n\n17th day of April, 1913.\n\nThe Commissioner of Foreign Affairs has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Jamieson's Memorandum of the 2nd instant and, after consultation with the Commissioner of Industries, to reply as follows.\n\nMr. Jamieson states \"that the issue by the late Imperial Government of likin receipts and Customs permits to export constitutes irrefutable evidence that all limestone supplied to the Green Island Company was shipped with their knowledge and consent and that any action taken was not illegal nor irregular\".\n\nAccording to this argument, the possession of likin receipts and export permits entirely legalises illicit quarrying and conveyance of limestone or indeed any other action which is contrary to the mining regulations. Such a contention is, the Commissioner fears, unreasonable.\n\nAgain the Memorandum under acknowledgment states that in Ch'en Tu Tu's proclamation the citation, without reprobation, of the Canton Cement Works' petition implies an endorsement of its proposals. This also is not the case, for it was unnecessary to reprobate the proposals put forward in the proclamation. The proclamation made no mention of a prohibition against the export of limestone nor was such prohibition ever made by our Government. From this it is plain what Ch'en Tu Tu's intentions were.\n\n\"Commercial procedure\" has already been explained by the Commissioner in detail and the grounds on which Governor-General Chou, under the Manchu Dynasty, closed down the Lao Ti Wan Quarry, and his rescript on the case, have no connection with the question at issue. These points, therefore, need no reply.\n\nTo sum up: this case is simply one of preventing crafty ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 456939, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-426 - Public Offices - 1915", "page_number": 255, "title": "CO129-426 - Public Offices - 1915", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL,\n\n[87297]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n5481\n\nEBIE.\n\n250\n\n[December 28.]\n\nSECTION 1,\n\n(No. 397.) Sir,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 28.)\n\nPeking, November 21, 1914.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith a report by Mr. Hoare, second secretary of His Majesty's Legation, on recent events in this country.\n\nThis report covers a period of some interest, and appears to me to reflect very accurately the situation in China as affected by the present war.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN,\n\nEnclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nReport by Mr. Hoare,\n\nDURING the past months all outward indications go to show that the Central Government has strengthened its hold on the provinces, and this impression is confirmed by the fact that the outbreak of war in Europe, and even the operations in connection with the siege of Tsingtao, have not provoked any serious demonstrations. In some districts, notably at Amoy, the organisation of an anti-Japanese boycott was mooted, but the proposal received no encouragement from the local authorities and died of inanition.\n\nThough there has been little evidence of revolutionary activity, the Government continues to display the utmost vigilance, and apparently attaches credence to fantastic rumours, such as the organisation of a revolutionary force of 15,000 men in the Straits Settlements and the preparation of aeroplane raids by Chinese political refugees at Hong Kong. A recent presidential rescript directed against Sun Yat Sen has been considered by some observers to be an indication that the revolutionaries are expected to attempt a coup in the near future.\n\nThe Chinese press, except for the foreign-owned papers, and public appear to take a detached view of the war; how far this attitude is to be ascribed to ignorance or to an essentially Chinese indifference, and how far to fear of the press laws, it is not easy to judge. The official news issued by the allies, and occasionally by the German Legation, Reuter's telegrams, and those of the \"Ostasiatischer Lloyd\" appear to be published without any marked partiality. It is true that violent editorial attacks on Japanese policy frequently appear, especially in connection with the seizure of the Shantung Railway, whereby the Japanese overstepped by some 200 miles the limits assigned to the military operations against Tsingtao by the Chinese Government.\n\nBritish policy has naturally shared to some extent in this hostile criticism, but at the same time an almost invidious distinction is often drawn between the excellent behaviour of the British troops and the alleged barbarity of the Japanese. If a generalisation on the subject of public opinion in China may be hazarded, it is that, as foreign influence cannot be eliminated altogether, the status quo, including a strong German element, is preferable, but that if German influence must disappear, as seems to be realised to some extent, Great Britain is the best safeguard against Japanese aggression, and her hostility must therefore not be incurred.\n\nA number of the quarterly reports from the consulates show that the machinery for the mobilisation of public opinion on the side of Germany was in existence when war broke out.\n\nAt Swatow during the first weeks there was a strong tendency only to publish news from German sources, but the judicious expenditure by the members of the British community of a trifling sum was sufficient to redress the balance. A similar state of affairs existed at Canton where, His Majesty's consul-general reports, \"the Press Association was probably bribed to adopt a pro-German tone, and the compradore of the Deutsch Asiatische Bank is generally recognised as being the middleman for the transmission of news.\" Representations to the civil Governor and the closing down for a few days of one of the more vigorous pro-German organs in consequence of an\n\n[2313 ee-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-426 - Public Offices - 1915.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 476595, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "page_number": 410, "title": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "content_text": "## DEC\nA flat rate is very likely to be more popular than \"Civil Liabilities grants\" system. Perhaps, however, we are not sure that the latter is not a favour system. I do not think that approving such expenditure from public funds, having regard to the conditions under which men from all parts of the Empire, those from the U.S. are being compelled to serve in the war with 2 blocks of that country, can be justified in approving further funds. \n\nThis expenditure from public funds is in favour of relieving employers in the matter of continuing pay to their employees. The grant of a flat rate, such as the proposed amount, would be a heavy burden on the present carriage. I would insist, as elsewhere, that any grant should be made in respect of salary, and not otherwise.\n\nThe Jamaica fund, which makes a grant into each case irrespective of circumstances, has been administered by inquiry mainly with a view to preventing political trouble over colour discrimination, while confining the grant. I again need it.\n\nAs regards those who really were in the Colony when called up for military service, a different method and the last one ought to be extended to men who have already left the Colony recently for military service. If this were done, the expense would be enormous. Even if it is restricted to the men now sent to India, the cost may approach a total of £... \n\nIt is found that conscription does not apply to the whole community. Only a select class is called up, till beforehand that nearly every conscript will need something to supplement his military pay.\n\nThe inner anxiety may involve a very high liability. Suppose it is wiped out? I think the C.A. should make careful inquiries.\n\nIt is not surprising that the unofficial members are cool towards the company.\n\nPage 407 \n£5 \n11.6.15", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 476751, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "page_number": 567, "title": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "content_text": "# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n## War\n\nTo think that this small Colony is an Imperial asset is an Imperial interest. It contributes to the prosecution of the war now and it is maintaining British trade for the trying and difficult period after the war. The only danger is that in our local preoccupation we may, perhaps, sometimes be a little blind to the larger Imperial need. In view of that larger Imperial need, the Chamber of Commerce in April addressed the Government and asked for the introduction of compulsion for the purpose of military service with H.M.'s forces outside the Colony. This Bill was introduced in consequence of that request, and it is a real attempt to find some more men for the Army.\n\nThe main question which arises on the Bill is what is the standard to be applied? In the first place, as has been already stated, it is intended, at present, to call up only men who would fall into the class of A1 men in England, men who are perfectly physically fit and suitable for the front line. Unfortunately, that will restrict very considerably the number of men available, but for the time being, that is the only class which the military authorities in England require from Hongkong.\n\nIn the second place, there is the question of age. The age, of course, in Great Britain until recently was up to the forty-first birthday. That is the age which has been taken under the scheme which is now being applied to British subjects in China. It is the age, as far as I can ascertain, adopted in the scheme in force in the Straits Settlements, but in view of the terms of the telegram, it is proposed to take here only up to the 40th birthday. I would like to say here that it is intended to call up every man between the ages of 18 and 40 years who is physically fit—fit for the A1 class and of pure European descent. There is no intention of making any selection beforehand, or of omitting to call up any particular class of men. All coming within the class specified will be called up and will come before the Tribunal.\n\nThe third point on the question of standard is a much more difficult one. I would like to point out again that the need which this Bill proposes to meet is an Imperial need. It is a great need—an urgent need. It is not only an Imperial need, Sir, but it is our need, too. It is unthinkable that we should ever give up in this struggle in which the nation and the Empire is engaged. But if we were beaten, British trade interests in Hongkong would be at the mercy of an entirely unscrupulous enemy, would not be worth many months' purchase.\n\nThe Bill, of course, recognises one ground on which exemption may be granted, one ground on which men are to be kept here, the ground of Imperial interests. That, I think, will not give rise to any difficulty. Clearly, if a man is directly helping on the war by his occupation here, he must be allowed to remain here; in fact, he must be made to remain. The Bill goes further and recognises that the Colony is an Imperial asset, and anything essential to the continued existence of the Colony—is also recognised as a ground for exemption. There are, therefore, two grounds, the ground of Imperial interest and the ground of essential Colonial interest, but I think that one must never forget the underlying reason for that second ground, and that is the question of Imperial interest. That must in all cases be the final touchstone.\n\nWhat do the essential interests of the Colony mean? Clearly, they include trade interests; and they include British trade interests in China which are controlled from Hongkong. The word \"essential\" means, of course, something which remains after something else has been taken away, and essential interests mean something very different from the maintenance of the present state of affairs. The old standard of \"Business as usual\" which was swept away in England in the early days of the war is now to be abandoned here. Perhaps it has already been abandoned to a much more certain extent, but it now has to be abandoned to a much more stringent extent. The result will no doubt be loss to some and hardship to others. The larger businesses may have to be curtailed. New enterprises, however promising, may have to be restricted, and in the case of one-man businesses and occupations, it may be that some of them will have to be closed altogether for the time being.\n\nEssential, of course, does not mean essential to the individual, but essential to the Colony. The one-man occupation may belong to a class which the Colony must have some, but it may not be necessary for the Colony to have the number at present existing, and in such cases, the Tribunal will have to decide which men are to go and which to stay. There is no intention, of course, to sacrifice the smaller to the larger, but if a man happens to be engaged in an occupation which is not essential, then he will have to suffer for the good of the Empire.\n\nThat brings me, Sir, to the question of temporary exemption. The only two grounds of absolute exemption are the two grounds of Imperial interests and essential Colonial interests. The third ground of exemption—but it is only for temporary exemption—is the ground of exceptional financial or business obligation or domestic position. No exemption granted on that ground can last for a longer period than six months. The English Act does not contain that definite period of six months, but it recognises that exemption granted on these grounds must be temporary, and the reason for some limitation of time here is that men who get exemption for three or six months will not be ready for the fighting line for a year or fifteen months from now, and any longer exemption would defer too long the man from being made available for the present need which is so great and so urgent.\n\nI do not profess to know what the conditions of the Colony are. I do not profess to know how many or how few this standard I have suggested will realise, but I am convinced it is the true standard, and that the final test in every case must be that of Imperial interests.\n\nComing now to the detail of the procedure under the Bill, I think it is well known that the intention is to set up a Tribunal, to contain a substantial commercial majority, to deal with the men who will come before it. The Tribunal will decide whether the men are to go or whether they are to stay. From that decision of the Tribunal, there will be an appeal open either to the man, or to his employer, or to the military authorities. If the Tribunal decides that the man shall be enrolled and any appeal against that decision is dismissed, the man's name will then appear in the Enrolment List which will appear in the Gazette, and as soon as the name appears in that list, he becomes a member of H.M.'s Forces and remains so during the period of the war.\n\nOne exception is the case to which you, Sir, have referred—that is a man who volunteered for service outside the Colony before the Military Service Commission, before the 1st of May this year. It is not intended that any slur should be cast on any man who goes under this present Ordinance, any man who goes under the new provisions. There are thousands and thousands of men—conscripts who have gone out from England who are ennobling the name of conscript.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded the motion.\n\nHON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK: In speaking on the second reading of the Bill, I shall, of course, not deal with mere matters of detail, which will be moved in Committee, but I should like to deal with a few questions of general principle, and I hope that you, Sir, will be able, when you have heard what I have got to say, to give a sympathetic hearing to a few suggestions I have to bring forward. Your Excellency, in sending the telegram which was dispatched last night to the Secretary of State for the Colonies with reference to separate allowances and maintenance for the men who will go under this Bill, and also with reference to insuring their lives, has rightly gauged the feeling of the unofficial members, which, I believe, is universal throughout this Colony—namely, that although a number of people will go under this Bill, provided they pass the medical examination, it is the desire of this Colony as a whole that adequate provisions should be made for their...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 492118, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7]", "page_number": 48, "title": "CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7]", "content_text": "THE RECENT STRIKE\n\n\"JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE.\" VERDICT IN THE TAIPO ROAD SHOOTING AFFRAY.\n\nThe Coroner's inquiry into the Shatin shooting incident was continued at the Magistracy, on March 17th, when Mr. W. E. L. Shenton, who represented the police officers concerned in the case, further addressed the jury.\n\nAsked by the Coroner if he had any cases in mind where the crowd had not interfered with the police, but where the police had interfered with the crowd, Shenton mentioned the case of Rev. v. MacNaughten in which the jury returned a verdict of justifiable homicide. On that occasion the police fired on the crowd.\n\nThe Coroner: In that case the crowd volunteered the assault on the police, but in this case the crowd did not actually volunteer to assault the police.\n\n\"MASKEE THE GOVERNMENT.\"\n\nThe Hongkong Weekly Press &c.\n\n[March 25th, 1922.]\n\nShenton said that Mr. King came within the definition which had been quoted as \"the reasonable grounds to apprehend a breach of the peace.\" It must be a person to whom the crowd came; not a person who was there to interfere with the crowd. The Coroner held that the assembly was a criminal conspiracy to break the law to accomplish their purpose by open force? On the jury's answer to that depended whether they conceded or denied to the police the legal right of using force. The answer seemed plain; the crowd had already forced one police picket and had, in fact, challenged the police to shoot.\n\nThe Coroner remarked that the demeanour of the crowd and the consequences likely to arise if the mob was not dealt with promptly: he knew that the Indian police had made a very serious show of arms at the Waterworks; he knew that revolver shots had failed, he knew that his own verbal warnings in Chinese had failed. The mob was flushed with success and, if it had gone on, it would have become wild. If they had got to open country it would have taken numerous forces to control them and many more would have been shot. The mob would probably have attacked the houses at Fanling and the native villages.\n\nRegarding the actual firing, Mr. Shenton suggested that the firing of one round each was the very minimum, and to be any good the firing had to be effective.\n\nThe Coroner: If they had scattered would they have been lawfully shot?\n\nMr. Shenton: I think they undoubtedly would.\n\nThe Coroner: Once they are scattered shooting would have been justified.\n\n\"I do suggest to this inquiry\" said Mr. Shenton, in concluding, \"that the police acted with the very greatest discretion and forbearance. They acted humanely throughout and I am in this respect almost inclined to think that they went beyond what they were really entitled to do the shooting could quite properly have been done before it was done. But they used their forbearance and only ordered the firing when things had got to the stage that there was nothing left to be done. They acted under circumstances of the greatest difficulty in the way one would expect from responsible officers.\"\n\nMr. Shenton submitted a number of questions which he thought the Coroner might be prepared to put to the jury and Mr. Wood replied that he should instruct the jury that it was their duty to return a verdict and that the answering of any question was entirely optional for them.\n\nThe Crown Solicitor announced that he did not desire to address the Court.\n\nThe Coroner announced that the jury had decided to visit the scene of the shooting that afternoon.\n\nComing to the facts of the case, Mr. Shenton addressed the jury for nearly two hours. What were the existing conditions at the time in the Colony? asked Mr. Shenton. There was a general strike of labour in the Colony, with wholesale intimidation of workers. One of the witnesses had said that a man had come to his master's house and said that he would be killed if he did not leave work. Another man said that he had been stopped in Queen's Road and told of the meeting at the Po Hing Theatre. This man had been told that if he did not join he would be maltreated. The connecting link between the strike and this shooting affair was that the mob concerned were strikers. The Government regarded the strike as a very grave matter and passed very drastic legislation, which, in fact, took away the very liberty of the subject.\n\nThe Government could conscript labour and detain persons. It closed the port and instituted an examination of all vessels entering the harbour. The measures adopted were similar to those adopted by the Government at the commencement of the great war. In other words, the Colony was placed on a war footing; the military forces were actually called in to deal with the strike.\n\nThe assembly entirely disregarded the legislation of the Colony. It treated the legislation with contempt and in effect said \"Maskee the Government; away with the Government orders; we will go.\" It stabbed at the vital principles of civilization. The breach of the law caused by these men was more dangerous than arson, assault on the person and cases of that nature. In fact, they openly challenged the law of the Colony and said that it had no right to exist.\n\n\"THE FIRING WAS DELIBERATE.\"\n\nThe inquiry was concluded on March 20th.\n\nThe Coroner (Mr. J. R. Wood) gave his summing-up and the jury returned a verdict of \"justifiable homicide\" and added a long and considered verdict on the circumstances of the case.\n\nThe Coroner began by expressing sympathy with all who suffered bereavement in this unfortunate incident. \"Whatever might be the verdict, it would be a matter for regret that this page had found a place in the history of the Colony.\"\n\nWas the force actually employed under the circumstances reasonable and necessary? If the firing was reckless, the crime might amount to murder; if excessive force was used, the crime would be manslaughter. On this point he could give the jury no special help; they must put themselves in Mr. King's place and consider what, in the circumstances, they themselves would have done, remembering Mr. King's legal rights and duties; the necessity for firmness without panic; and the natural reluctance to fire on citizens. If alternative courses suggested themselves, they must ask, was the course actually taken in fact reasonable in view of the circumstances.\n\nThe jury must not consider public order in other parts of the Colony or at other times. Mr. Shenton's remarks drawing attention to the general state of the Colony, in so far as they were made part of any justification of the use of firearms on Taipo Road on March 3rd, were mere rhetoric and wholly irrelevant. If Mr. King gave the order to fire because he felt that such a course would be useful in the state of public order throughout the Colony, his action was not reasonable. His duty was to restore order where he stood, with the least possible employment of the force at his disposal. In this connection, the Coroner remarked that Mr. King only had at his disposal men armed with heavy weapons only, - a force effective by rifle and in no other way.\n\nThe public authority which despatched a military force to perform a civil duty, of a kind that involved firing, undertook a grave responsibility.\n\nIn conclusion the Coroner summarised his remarks in the form of a number of questions which he put to the jury, for their consideration.\n\nAfter a long consultation in private the jury returned into Court and gave the following verdict :-\n\nWe find that Tam Shui Pui died of the effects of a bullet fired at the instance of Deputy Superintendent King on the morning of the 3rd March, 1922; and, after most careful consideration of all the evidence that has been placed before us, our unanimous verdict is one of justifiable homicide.\n\nWe desire to have the following remarks placed on record:-\n\n1. We consider that the crowd left the Po Hing Theatre with the intention of continuing their journey to the frontier without first obtaining the necessary passes.\n\nIn considering the alleged justification for the action it was no part of their duty to hunt for excuses for Mr. King-rather, they should scrutinise the grounds of justification advanced for him. Justification should only be accepted by them on grounds that were clear and valid. It was reasonably clear that, at the time of firing no attempt was being made by the police officers to secure the arrest of any persons in the crowd. What was done was done to control the crowd and not to bring any person to justice. It was not claimed and it was not the law that the police could have fired on any person or number of persons merely to prevent them from crossing or attempting to cross into Chinese territory. Neither was it the law that any police officers who detained one of the persons could have lawfully fired on him if, after detention, he had tried to escape from custody. Firing under such circumstances taken by Mr. King's order to fire was the result of reasoned consideration of the general situation of affairs in the Colony; the firing was deliberate. He also knew the plans for dealing with the mob. Mr. Shenton said that Mr. King made superhuman efforts to warn the mob, but the crowd was cognisant of the true facts and was determined to go on. Mr. Shenton said that Mr. King's scheme was an excellent one and might have been successful but for that one fact. Mr. King could not foresee that the 'buses would break down.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 507555, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-500-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 29-7-1927 - 1-9-1927", "page_number": 21, "title": "CO129-500-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 29-7-1927 - 1-9-1927", "content_text": "## \n21 \n\ndestruction is brought about so as to reduce the people to a destitute and homeless state and to deprive them of their opportunity of existence.\n\n(2) We understand that our Chinese race should have the right of self-determination, for only we Chinese can know our advantages and disadvantages best, and turn them to account. Borodin's supreme Government can never substitute that in the hands of those in Tung Kiao Man Lane. When we have secured our emancipation we should help other oppressed and weak races to secure their emancipation. We hope that our Chinese race will partake in the world revolution so as to acquire for ourselves the glory of fighting in the interest of all human beings. Our national revolution is a part of the world revolution, and we should be quick to accomplish it. We should take part in the world revolution with the qualifications of independence, freedom and equality, and should not let ourselves be made to partake in it like conscript coolies.\n\n(3) Since our revolution is intended finally to liberate all the Chinese from their hardships, we must see to minimizing their hardships even in the transitional period of our Revolution. We are eager to accomplish our military enterprise as soon as possible, so that we can begin our re-constructive work, and pave a path of development for the people. But the object of the Communists is to destroy the foundation of Society, to commit violent outrages and with their destructive measures and outrageous activities to seize the power of administration. They do not grudge sacrificing a population of 390,000,000 for the purpose of building up a Communist China of a population...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-500-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 29-7-1927 - 1-9-1927.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 533207, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-538-2 Hong Kong University 23-6-1932 - 15-3-1933", "page_number": 181, "title": "CO129-538-2 Hong Kong University 23-6-1932 - 15-3-1933", "content_text": "267\n\n268\n\nHENRY W. FOWLER\n\nHemirhamphus sajori Sowerby, Nat. in Manchuria, vol. 4, 1930, p. 162 (Pei Tai Ho, South Manchuria; Kiangsu Province in Yangtze Delta).\n\nHyporhamphus sajori Jordan and Starks, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 28, 1905, p. 203 (Gensan and Fusan).—Mori, Hand List Manchurian Vertebr., 1927, p. 176 (compiled).—Chu, Biol. Bull. St. John's Univ., No. 1, January 1931, p. 87 (compiled).\n\nBelone microstoma Basilewsky, Nouv. Mem. Soc. Nat. Moscou, vol. 10, 1855, p. 260. Mari prov. Shandun,\n\nZenarchopterus microstoma Bleeker, Neder. Tijds. Dierk., vol. 4, 1873, p. 149 (reference; error).\n\nZenarchopterus microstoma Chu, Biol. Bull. St. John's Univers., No. 1, January 1931, p. 87 (reference).\n\nA Synopsis of the Fishes of China\n\n269\n\nproduced. Anal not modified in males. Caudal forked. Pectoral short. Ventral small. Placed well postmedian or much nearer caudal base than gill opening.\n\nbroad.\n\nSea.\n\nSpecies rather numerous.\n\nSynopsis of the Species.\n\nFigure 12. Hyporhamphus sajori (Schlegel).\n\nHW.F\n\nDepth 10 to 12; head 3% to 4¼; snout 2 1/5 in head from snout tip; eye 5 4/5 to 6, 2 to 2½ in postocular. Gill rakers 8+21.\n\nScales go to 106 in lateral line, 74 predorsal. Dorsal rays 16; anal 16 or 17; caudal deeply forked. Brownish, white below and silvery white lateral band, which expanded below front of dorsal. Beak black. Top of head and upper jaw dusky. Dorsal and caudal dusky, other fins pale. Length 250 mm.\n\nYangtze Delta, Nanking, Chefoo, Port Arthur, Pei Tai Ho, Korea.—(Japan).\n\nThe imperfect account of Belone microstoma is somewhat as follows: Body rounded, small. Head of Esox brasiliensis Linnaeus. Orbit triangular, narrow. Upper jaw short, lanceolate, lower longer. Jaw teeth minute. Body scaly, Fins short, Dorsal and anal opposite, equal.\n\nBack whitish, margin dusky.\n\nCaudal entire. Ventrals well posterior. low yellowish white. Length 237 mm.\n\nHEMIRAMPHUS Cuvier.\n\nHalf Beaks.\n\nBe-\n\n(China).\n\na. Hemiramphus. Triangular part of upper jaw broader than long.\n\nfar.\n\na1. Rhynchorhamphus. Triangular part of upper jaw longer than\n\ngeorgii.\n\nHemiramphus far (Forskal). Figure 13.\n\n Esox far Forskal, Descript. Animal., 1775, pp. 13, 67. Lohaja, Red Sea.\n\nHemirhamphus far Bleeker, Nederl. Tijds. Dierk., vol. 4, 1873, p. 149\n\nHemiramphus far Chu, Biol. Bull. St. John's Univers., No. 1, January 1931, p. 86 (reference).\n\nDepth 6 4/5 to 7¾; head 2⅖ to 2⅗; snout 2⅓ to 3 in head from snout tip; eye 3¾ to 4; interorbital 3⅞; eye 1⅖ to 1⅗ in postorbital. Gill rakers 8 or 9+22 to 24. Scales 50 to 52 in lateral line, 32 to 34 predorsal. Dorsal rays 12 to 14; anal 10 to 12; pectoral 11 to 13; ventral 6; caudal forked. Yellowish, darker above. Silvery white lateral band, bordered above by bluish streak. Along each side of back 4 to 9 equidistant black vertical blotches. Fins pale, dorsal and caudal with more or less dusky terminally. Reaches 500 mm.\n\nH.W.F\n\nType\n\nHemiramphus Cuvier, Régne Animal, vol. 2, 1817, p. 186. Esox brasiliensis Linnaeus, designated by Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1863, p. 273.\n\nBody rather robust, sides compressed or somewhat flattened. Upper jaw very short, lower produced into a long slender beak, bordered with membrane. Beak short in young, longer with age. Premaxillaries form triangular plate with teeth fitting against toothed portion of mandible. Teeth feeble, mostly tricuspid. Air bladder cellular, sometimes with many partitions. Dorsal longer than anal, little advanced and last ray more or less\n\nThe Hong Kong Naturalist.\n\nFigure 13. Hemiramphus far (Forskal).\n\nChina. (Red Sea, East Africa, Zanzibar*, India, East Indies*, Philippines*, Riu Kiu, Australia, Melanesia*, Polynesia*).\n\nEasily distinguished by the prominent contrasted back vertical blotches along the side of the body.\n\nHemiramphus georgii Valenciennes. Figure 14.\n\nHemiramphus georgii Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 19, 1840, p. 27, pl. 555. Mahé Bay, Coromandel.—Fowler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1929, p. 603 (Hong Kong).\n\nHemiramphus cantori Wu, Contr. Biol. Lab, Sci. Soc. China, vol. 5, No. 4, 1929, p. 65, fig. 53 (Amoy).\n\nDecember 1932.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-538-2 Hong Kong University 23-6-1932 - 15-3-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549163, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-554-6 Hong Kong University- 1. Appointment of Dr. Chen Shas Yi as head of Chinese Department... 18-3-1935 - 28-10-1935", "page_number": 71, "title": "CO129-554-6 Hong Kong University- 1. Appointment of Dr. Chen Shas Yi as head of Chinese Department... 18-3-1935 - 28-10-1935", "content_text": "Arabia.\n\nA Synopsis of the Fishes of China\n\n141\n\nMugil crenilabis öur Forskal, Descript. Animal., 1775, pp. xiv, 74.\n\nMugil oeur Rutter, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1897, p. 70 (Swatow).--Wu, Contrib. Biol. Lab. Sci. Soc. China, vol. 5, No. 4, 1929, p. 78, fig. 62 (Amoy).-Chu, Biol. Bull. St. John's Univ., No. 1, Jan. 1931, p. 104 (reference).\n\nMugil cephalotus (not Valenciennes) Cantor, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. 9, 1842, p. 484 (Chusan).-Günther, Cat. Fish, Brit. Mus., vol. 3, 1861, p. 419, fig. (head) (Amoy, China, Chusan).—Bleeker, Ned. Tyds. Dierk., vol. 4, 1873 (1874), p. 143 (reference).-Peters, Monatsh. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1880, p. 923 (Ningpo).—Sauvage, Bull. Soc. Philom., ser. 7, vol. 5, 1881, p. 106 (Swatow).\n\nMugil japonicus Richardson, Ichth. China and Japan, 1846, p. 247 (seas of China).-Bleeker, Nederl. Tyds. Dierk., vol. 4, 1873 (1874), p. 143 (name).\n\nMugil macrolepidotus (not Rüppell) Richardson, Ichth. China and Japan, 1846, p. 249 (China Seas?).-Journ, Mém. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg, vol. 13, 1866 (1868), p. 244 (Hong Kong).\n\nMugil dobula Kner, Reise Novara, Fische, 1865, p. 224 (Hong Kong). -Bleeker, Nederl. Tyds. Dierk., vol. 4, 1873 (1874), p. 143 (name).-Chu, Biol. Bull. St. John's Univ., No. 1, Jan. 1931, p. 104 (reference).\n\nDepth 32 to 43; head 3 to 4. Snout 3 3/4 to 4 8/10 in head; eye 3 1/5 to 4 4/5, adipose lids absent in young, greatly developed with age; maxillary 3 2/10 to 4 8/10 in head; interorbital 2 to 2 3/10, broadly convex. Scales 39 to 46, transversely 13 or 14, predorsal 17 to 28. Dorsal IV-I, 8; Anal III, 8, young II, 9; caudal broadly emarginate; pectoral 1 3/10 to 1 2/5 in head; ventral 1 1/2 to 1 3/4. Dark olive or bluish dusky on back, sides and below silvery white. Each row of scales on side above with darker longitudinal streak. Dorsal and caudal grey, other fins whitish. Ventral yellowish. Reaches 760 mm.\n\nChina (Red Sea, Arabia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Bourbon, Baluchistan, India, East Indies, Philippines, Formosa, Japan, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Melanesia, Micronesia*, Polynesia, Hawaii*, California, Chili, also Atlantic*).\n\nMugil ceramensis Bleeker.\n\nMugil ceramensis Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Indie, vol. 3, 1852, p. 699. Wahai, Ceram.\n\nLiza ceramensis Reeves, Journ. Pan Pac. Res. Inst., vol. 2, No. 3, July-Sep. 1927, p. 8 (name).--Chu, Biol. Bull. St. John's Univ., No. 1, Jan. 1931, p. 105 (reference).\n\nLiza parva Wu, Contrib. Biol. Lab. Sci. Soc. China, vol. 5, No. 4, 1929, p. 82, fig. 65. Amoy.\n\nDepth 3 1/6 to 3 3/4; head 3 8/10 to 3 3/5, width 1 4/5. Snout 3 3/4 to 4 in head; eye 3 3/4 to 4, 1 2/5 in interorbital, gelatinous lid forming narrow ring around eye; upper lip rather thick, ciliated; maxillary exposed, 3 1/2 in head.\n\nJuly 1935.\n\n72", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-554-6 Hong Kong University- 1. Appointment of Dr. Chen Shas Yi as head of Chinese Department... 18-3-1935 - 28-10-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549165, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-554-6 Hong Kong University- 1. Appointment of Dr. Chen Shas Yi as head of Chinese Department... 18-3-1935 - 28-10-1935", "page_number": 73, "title": "CO129-554-6 Hong Kong University- 1. Appointment of Dr. Chen Shas Yi as head of Chinese Department... 18-3-1935 - 28-10-1935", "content_text": "A Synopsis of the Fishes of China\n\n143\n\ntransversely 11, predorsal 23. Soft vertical fins scaled. Dorsal IV-I, 8; Anal III, 9; caudal deeply emarginate; pectoral 1 1/2 to 1 3/5 in head, without axillary scale; ventral 1 2/5. Back olive brown, below whitish. Iris grey white. Fins brown, lower whitish and no dark spot at pectoral origin. Reaches 300 mm.\n\nHainan, Canton, (India*, Ceylon, Andamans, Malaya, East Indies, Philippines*, Queensland, New South Wales). The imperfectly described nominal Mugil ventricosus Richardson is noticed as follows:\n\nDepth 3 2/3 in total, back little elevated, curve of belly prominent. Caudal peduncle thick. Head slender, pointed. Lower lip closes under snout. Second dorsal begins length behind beginning of anal and extends far beyond. Space between anal and caudal exceeds anal length. Caudal acutely but not deeply notched. Back and upper sides with disks of scales pale grass green, edges silvery and whole lower parts pearly or silvery. Mouth hyacinth red, fore part of gill cover buff orange and bright Berlin-blue patch at upper angle of gill opening. First dorsal red lilac purple, second dorsal and caudal mountain green, notch of latter edged plum purple. Pectoral dark brownish green. Anal pale mountain green, rays and basal streak white. Ventral rays opaque white, with some carmine streaks at tips and membrane pale blue.\n\nMugil seheli (Forskal).\n\nOotow (black head), Otau.\n\nMugil crenilabis seheli Forskal, Descript. Animal., 1775, pp. xiv, 73. Lohajae, Red Sea.\n\nMugil seheli Fowler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1929, p. 603 (Hong Kong).\n\nMugil melancranus Richardson, Ichth. China and Japan, 1846, p. 248. China Seas; Canton.-Günther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 3, 1861, p. 410 (reference). Bleeker, Nederl. Tyds. Dierk., vol. 4, 1873 (1874), p. 143 (name).\n\nChu, Biol. Bull. St. John's Univ., No. 1, Jan. 1931, p. 105 (reference).\n\nMugil axillaris Kner, Novara Reise, Fische, 1865, p. 227, pl. 9, fig. 3-a (side and under view of head) (Shanghai).-Bleeker, Nederl. Tyds. Dierk., vol. 4, 1873 (1874), p. 143 (Amoy).—Chu, Biol. Bull. St. John's Univ., No 1, Jan. 1931, p. 104 (reference).\n\nSoft\n\nDepth 3 3/4 to 3 7/8; head 3 3/4 to 3 7/8, width 1 3/5. Snout 3 3/4 to 3 7/8 in head; eye 4 1/2 to 4 3/4, 1 3/5 in interorbital, adipose lids well developed; upper lip width 1 4/5 in pupil; interorbital 2 2/5 to 2 3/4 in head, broadly convex. Scales 38 to 40, transversely 11 to 13, predorsal 19 to 29. Vertical fins with small basal scales. Dorsal IV-I, 8; Anal III, 9; caudal deeply emarginate; pectoral 1 1/10 to 1 1/8 in head, with axillary scale; ventral 1 2/5 to 1 3/4 in head. Grey, with 9 to 10 bright silvery arrow-like marks along body. Dark over nose. Fins transparent, black at pectoral base and caudal tips. Length to 465 mm.\n\nCanton, Amoy, Pei Ho, Shanghai (Red Sea, Zanzibar, Natal, Portuguese East Africa, Madagascar, Bourbon, Mauritius, Seychelles, India,\n\nJuly 1935.\n\n74", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-554-6 Hong Kong University- 1. Appointment of Dr. Chen Shas Yi as head of Chinese Department... 18-3-1935 - 28-10-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549168, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-554-6 Hong Kong University- 1. Appointment of Dr. Chen Shas Yi as head of Chinese Department... 18-3-1935 - 28-10-1935", "page_number": 76, "title": "CO129-554-6 Hong Kong University- 1. Appointment of Dr. Chen Shas Yi as head of Chinese Department... 18-3-1935 - 28-10-1935", "content_text": "77\n\n146\n\nHENRY W. Fowler\n\nChina (Red Sea, Portuguese East Africa, Natal, India, Andamans, Malaya, East Indies, Philippines*, Queensland, New South Wales, Melanesia*, Micronesia*, Polynesia*).\n\nMugil crenilabis Forskal.\n\nFigure 56.\n\nH.W.F\n\nSea.\n\nFigure 56. Mugil crenilabis Forskal.\n\nMugil crenilabis Forskal, Descript. Animal., 1775, pp. xiv, 73. Red Sea.\n\nMugil lauvergnii Eydoux and Souleyet, Voy. Bonite, Zool., vol. 1, 1841, p. 174, pl. 4, fig. 3. China (Macao).-Günther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 3, 1861, p. 410 (name).-Bleeker, Ned. Tyds. Dierk., vol. 4, 1873 (1874), p. 143 (reference).—Chu, Biol. Bull. St. John's Univ., No. 1, January 1931, p. 104 (reference).\n\nDepth 32 to 5; head 4 to 5, width 12/5. Snout 32 in head, blunt; eye 41/5, 13 in interorbital, without adipose lids; lips very thick, upper with 4 or 5 rows of papillae, lower with fleshy papillae; maxillary hidden or only end exposed; interorbital 11/5 in head, fat. Scales 38 to 44, transversely 12 or 13, predorsal 20 to 22. Dorsal IV-I, 7 or 8; Anal III, 9 or 10, origin opposite soft dorsal origin; caudal deeply emarginate; pectoral 11/5 in head, without axillary scale. Olive above, white below.\n\nUpper pectoral base with small blackish spot. Length 500 mm.\n\nMacao (Red Sea, Madagascar, Andamans, Nicobars, East Indies, Melanesia*, Micronesia*, Polynesia*). Easily known by its thick papillose lips. The nominal Mugil lauvergnii Eydoux and Souleyet, apparently this species, is shown with the following:\n\nDepth 33/4; head 43/4. Snout 4 in head, very short; eye 4; no teeth. Scales 47 (of which 3 apparently on caudal base), transversely 11. Soft dorsal and anal with small scales basally. Dorsal IV-I, 8; Anal III, 10 (figure shows 9); caudal emarginate; pectoral rays 16, very short, 1/4 in head; ventral rays I, 5, fin 14 in head. Above grey olive, below silvery. Fins grey. Length 220 mm.\n\nThe Hong Kong Naturalist.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-554-6 Hong Kong University- 1. Appointment of Dr. Chen Shas Yi as head of Chinese Department... 18-3-1935 - 28-10-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 562773, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-573-10 Registration of Persons (No 2) Amendment Ordinance- 1938 19-5-1938 - 28-11-1938", "page_number": 5, "title": "CO129-573-10 Registration of Persons (No 2) Amendment Ordinance- 1938 19-5-1938 - 28-11-1938", "content_text": "5\n\nto conscript any person to do work \n\nin Heather services. \n\nNo doubt it was framed with reference to the normal exceptions and omissions that this measure applies. If we bear in mind this view, the **ODC Bill** is an essential part of the **HK Defence scheme**, as the foregoing states, we think we would be very reluctant to approve its introduction.\n\nThe H.K. Defence Scheme, dated 21/7, shows that the following will be required by the Military authorities from Civil Sources: -\n\n| Category | Number |\n| --- | --- |\n| Officers | 51 |\n| Enlisted European Personnel | 675 |\n\nIt provides for the maintaining in peace time of a list of 14 Govt Servants and private British ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-573-10 Registration of Persons (No 2) Amendment Ordinance- 1938 19-5-1938 - 28-11-1938.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575336, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943", "page_number": 177, "title": "CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943", "content_text": "## Chungking (XRVC) in English for English Speaking world\n\n10.3.43.\n\n**HONGKONG: JAPANESE: METHODS TO EVACUATE CHINESE (?Shirekwing): To 174**\n\n* 1\n\nAt 15.52, it was reported that due to the still serious food shortage situation in Hongkong, the Japanese have drawn up plans for reducing the former British colony's present population of little over 900,000 by 200,000 within six months. While voluntary evacuation is being promoted with the aid of various atrocious methods, compulsory evacuation will form the chief means of clearing people out. According to a recent escapee, the Japanese plan to evacuate 30,000 people monthly, beginning in March, until the goal of 200,000 is reached. Plans were made following a series of conferences between the Japanese and the puppet Kwangtung regime, in which it was decided to send all evacuees to the following four places: Shanghai, Hainan Island, Taiping (a coastal town in northwest Hongkong at the mouth of the Pearl river), and Kongmoon (a Japanese-held town in the Sunwill district of South Canton).\n\nMeanwhile, the Japanese in Hongkong have raised commodity prices to make living more difficult for the populace and to force them to evacuate voluntarily. Other indirect methods consist of mass arrests without the slightest pretext, and the casual beating up of pedestrians. Technicians are not only forbidden to leave; they have been forced to register with the Japanese authorities who are planning to conscript them in case of necessity.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575794, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-24 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905", "page_number": 146, "title": "CO129-590-24 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905", "content_text": "**Evening Standard** \n**2 SEP 1942**\n\n**Japs Conscript Hongkong Indians**\n\nAll Indian nationals in Hong Kong have been conscripted for military service by the Japanese. Indian soldiers formerly in the British Army, stationed in Hongkong, are being forced by the Japanese to carry out sentry and guard duties to release Japanese soldiers for front line service elsewhere.\n\n102 \n145", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-24 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 579137, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947", "page_number": 53, "title": "CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947", "content_text": "53\n\n54\n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS\n\nA. General\n\nB. Administration\n\nC. Population\n\nD. Vital Statistics\n\nE. Deficiency Diseases...\n\nF. General Measures of Sanitation\n\nG. Investigative Division\n\nH. Hospitals, Outpatients' Departments\n\nI. Refugee Settlements\n\nJ. School Hygiene\n\nK. Port Health Work\n\nL. Summary\n\nPage\n\n3\n\n3\n\n5\n\n7\n\n8\n\n11\n\n14\n\n17\n\n17\n\n18\n\n18\n\nAPPENDIX I. Vital Statistics for Stanley Civilian Internment Camp.\n\nAPPENDIX II. An account by Dr. D. J. Valentine of the organization of medical services in Stanley Internment Camp.\n\nAPPENDIX III. An account by Dr. N. C. MacLeod of the organization of health services in Stanley Internment Camp.\n\nAPPENDIX IV. An account by Miss M. S. Watson of the work of the International Welfare Committee in Stanley Internment Camp.\n\n3\n\nREPORT BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG FOR THE PERIOD 1st JANUARY, 1942 TO 31st AUGUST, 1945.\n\nA. General\n\nDuring the period covered by this report the Japanese Forces were in occupation of the Colony of Hong Kong. News of the rescript of the Emperor of Japan to his troops indicating that Japan had agreed to the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and would surrender unconditionally was received in Hong Kong on the 15th August, 1945. It was not possible, however, to leave the internment camps until ten days later; and another ten days elapsed before the British Fleet arrived and the Japanese medical authorities were willing to hand over their functions. The actual surrender of Hong Kong was not formally signed until the 6th September.\n\nIt was the policy of the invading forces to destroy as far as possible all evidence of the previous British Government; statues of our Royal Sovereigns, British street names and direction posts, and even Government House itself (constructed in the reign of Queen Victoria) were removed or dismantled. In this holocaust of things British, departmental records were also destroyed. In parenthesis, it might be mentioned that this mania for destruction of records was even carried to the extent of one Japanese group handing over to another when, not only were all documents burned but even typewriters, desks and other office furniture enjoyed a like fate, so that the incoming group found bare rooms and empty file cabinets.\n\nThis feature is stressed to account for the relative sparsity of facts and figures in the following pages of this report.\n\nIn point of fact, following the demands of the writer made after the collapse of the Japanese resistance in Hong Kong, Mr. K. Rakuman of the Civil Administration handed over what he described as the complete available records of the Japanese Medical Department in Hong Kong for the period January, 1942–August, 1945, in a single small envelope, stating that all the remaining data had been destroyed. We think they were annihilated by the war's havoc! Despite the foregoing, it is satisfactory to be able to state that a number of medical and health records were hidden away in safety by underground workers in the British interests. Documents saved included about 80 per cent. of the registers of birth and deaths from 1871 to 1941, over 90 per cent. of the library of the Medical Department, the registers of medical practitioners and a certain number of current documents relating to births, deaths, infectious diseases, etc., occurring in the occupation period.\n\nB. Administration\n\nAt the surrender of Hong Kong to the Japanese invaders on the 25th December, 1941, the writer sought for, and obtained, permission from the Japanese Military Commander to continue to collect wounded, bury dead and attend to the medical and health needs of the community. Details relating to these activities are included in the appendix to this report.\n\nOn the 1st January, 1942, a Japanese Medical Department came into being (at least on paper) under Colonel T. Eguchi, but the bulk of the administrative and executive work continued to be carried on until the end of February, 1942, when all the European members of the department, with the exception of a small skeleton cadre, were interned following the escape into China of Dr. Gordon King. This group consisted of two Health Officers, one Medical...\n\n52\n\n77\n\nA", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 579156, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947", "page_number": 72, "title": "CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947", "content_text": "90 \n\n91. \n\nA. General \n\nB. Administration \n\nC. Population \n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS\nPage \n\n3 \n\nD. Vital Statistics \n\nE. Deficiency Diseases ... \n\nF. General Measures of Sanitation \n\nG. Investigative Division \n\nH. Hospitals, Outpatients' Departments \n\nI. Refugee Settlements \n\nJ. School Hygiene \n\nK. Port Health Work \n\nL. Summary \n\nAPPENDIX I. \n\nAPPENDIX II. \n\n5 \n\n7 \n\n8 \n\n11 \n\n14 \n\n17 \n\n17 \n\n18 \n\n18 \n\nVital Statistics for Stanley Civilian Internment Camp. \n\nAn account by Dr. D. J. Valentine of the organization of medical services in Stanley Internment Camp. \n\nAPPENDIX III. An account by Dr. N. C. MacLeod of the organization \n\nof health services in Stanley Internment Camp. \n\nAPPENDIX IV. An account by Miss M. S. Watson of the work of the International Welfare Committee in Stanley Internment Camp. \n\nReport by the Director of Medical Services on Medical and Health Conditions in Hong Kong for the period 1st January, 1942 to 31st August, 1945.\n\nA. General\nDuring the period covered by this report the Japanese Forces were in occupation of the Colony of Hong Kong. News of the rescript of the Emperor of Japan to his troops indicating that Japan had agreed to the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and would surrender unconditionally was received in Hong Kong on the 18th August, 1945. It was not possible however, to leave the internment camps until ten days later; and another ten days elapsed before the British Fleet arrived and the Japanese medical authorities were willing to hand over their functions. The actual surrender of Hong Kong was not formally signed until the 6th September.\n\nIt was the policy of the invading forces to destroy as far as possible all evidence of the previous British Government; statues of our Royal Sovereigns, British street names and direction posts, and even Government House itself (constructed in the reign of Queen Victoria) were removed or dismantled. In this holocaust of things British, departmental records were also destroyed. In parenthesis, it might be mentioned that this mania for destruction of records was even carried to the extent of one Japanese group handing over to another when, not only were all documents burned but even typewriters, desks and other office furniture enjoyed a like fate, so that the incoming group found bare rooms and empty file cabinets.\n\nThis feature is stressed to account for the relative sparsity of facts and figures in the following pages of this report.\n\nFollowing the demands of the writer made after the collapse of the Japanese resistance in Hong Kong, the Chief of Staff (Mr. K. Rakuma) handed over what he described as the complete available records of the Japanese Medical Department in Hong Kong for the period January, 1942-August, 1945, in a single small envelope, stating that all the remaining data had been destroyed. Despite the foregoing it is satisfactory to be able to state that a number of medical and health records were hidden away in safety by underground workers in the British interests. Documents saved included about 80 per cent. of the registers of birth and deaths from 1871 to 1941, over 90 per cent. of the library of the Medical Department, the registers of medical practitioners and a certain number of current documents relating to births, deaths, infectious diseases, etc., occurring in the occupation period.\n\nB. Administration\nAt the surrender of Hong Kong to the Japanese invaders on the 25th December, 1941, the writer sought for, and obtained, permission from the Japanese Military Commander to continue to collect wounded, bury dead and attend to the medical and health needs of the community. Details relating to these activities are included in the appendix to this report.\n\nOn the 1st January, 1942, a Japanese Medical Department came into being (at least on paper) under Colonel T. Eguchi, but the bulk of the administrative and executive work continued to be carried on until the end of February, 1942 when all the European members of the department with the exception of a small skeleton cadre were interned following the escape into China of Dr. King. This group consisted of two Health Officers, one Medical Officer,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 579499, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-592-6 Reports on current situation- including weekly intelligence reports 18-9-1945 - 20-12-1945", "page_number": 41, "title": "CO129-592-6 Reports on current situation- including weekly intelligence reports 18-9-1945 - 20-12-1945", "content_text": "SECRET.\n\n41\n\n(4)\n\nSHANGHAI AND ITS ENVIRONS\n\nOn the political side, the Communist is the nigger in the woodpile in the SHANGHAI area. It is definite that recently a number of Communist troops have infiltrated into the outskirts of PUDONG and JIAO, and they exact squeeze on all commodities passing in and out of the town. There is a possibility that the intention is to seize SHANGHAI should it be evacuated by U.S. forces, but it is inconceivable that the Nationalist Government will surrender this unit of the Chekiang Financial Group, for there is none economically more important than this group. Though the political centre of the country may have shifted, this group must maintain its activities with SHANGHAI as the centre. Therefore, relying on the Communists' respect for U.S. power, it looks very much as if CHU TEH will try to keep U.S. forces in the YANGTSE delta until, by negotiation, they get the Communist troops northward bound. CHU TEH will probably be successful in getting them out of JIANGSU province, and the Chinese seem quite resigned to North China and MANCHURIA becoming the playground of the Communists. They realise, though, that this concentration in the north means a consolidation of the party with the Russians and that, in a year or so, there is likely to be a Communist counter-drive, backed by RUSSIA. That country's agents here are reputed to have stated that the Russian zone of influence in China must extend as far as south of TOUCHOW.\n\nThe stage appears to be set for a third World War, but it must not be overlooked that the Communists are not so firmly entrenched in the provinces immediately north of the YANGTSE river as they are in SHANSI and JIANGSU. There is an awakening consciousness that they are no longer, as once they were, a roving, non-descript aggregation that had no foothold in legality, and it is possible that the trend of party policy will be to concentrate work and attention on internal consolidation over the area in which it has won a definite foothold.\n\nAn old Chinese custom is to stay well away from trouble, and it is significant that a number of well-known Chinese businessmen have not reappeared to trade on the SHANGHAI market. Superficially, conditions look good; there is a brisk local trade and money is circulating freely. But underlying it all is a feeling of uncertainty. Something is going to happen, but what it is neither foreigner nor Chinese can say with any degree of certainty. Instability of the currency and the consequent absence of foreign trade, the uncertainty of labour troubles, the presence of Communist troops in JIANGSU and CHUNGKING, and appointed officials who are incompetent and graft-ridden, are factors contributing to a state of affairs that can be described definitely as dangerous.\n\nInformation recently received from a source believed reliable but not confirmed, indicates that the Communist 8th Army is not satisfactorily under control. It is reported that troops around PEKING are rebelling against MAO TSE TUNG, whom they consider to have \"sold them out\" to CHIANG KAI-SHEK. Their feelings are believed to be anti-British and American owing to the support that these two Powers are giving to CHIANG KAI-SHEK and in this way opposing the Communist faction. Consequent upon this report, the following information regarding the situation with the Communist groups in and around SHANGHAI has become available, but this is also not at present confirmed.\n\nThe Communists claim that they are already in a position to take over SHANGHAI at any time. They support their claim by stating that they have enough plain-clothes troops...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-592-6 Reports on current situation- including weekly intelligence reports 18-9-1945 - 20-12-1945.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]