[ { "id": 216522, "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": "CO129-001 - Sir Hug Cough-s China Military Correspondences - 1841-1843", "page_number": 6, "title": "CO129-001 - Sir Hug Cough-s China Military Correspondences - 1841-1843", "content_text": "Right \n24. Met. Morir \n185 Hrsrech \nBut on that \n49 Mijn \n22 \n25 \n446 426 \n26t \n49 \n921 \nCentre Column. \nJim \non this point; couring the operations by the Steamers and squall infects of war, while the Howitzer and Rocket Batteries were to take up their positions in front of the position batteries already based, and of the suburb batteries on the extreme right – \n6. \nThe Troops named in the margin \nam directed to be prepared to ga \nboard the Steamer at daylight \nt murning of the 18t!, and the whole force, including the light field \nLAV \nsuburbs fully Guarded by soldiers, \nte the superintendence of (Lieutenant Colonel 20. A. Montgomerie If Her Majesty, these Cornwalder, to enter \nI feel much indebted, for hir judicious arrangements \nand efficient arrangements &. 36 the base 3 \nLeft (oluts – unders Cal. Schanden \nwesten \naccompanied Guarded first, and ascended \nB. 12. Art. 2 Madras Arty I \n24 \n164 \n100 \nTha \ninght \n which I \n26 Nigh \n27 521 274 \n43 \n$2 \nmanding height without sposition, the disembarkation of the men When the White \nmainder of the force \nwon and , I directed Colonel Schorder supported by this artisting under \nIt. Whmad Montgomerie, in furthe ance \nprinciples I have already announced, to more as completely \n• possible round the base of the heights, some \nget \nin rear of the Enemy and cant- \ni=cation with the City, shirt now appeared connected the \nhight already described; while thee rigth large of height- \ndiviated to mount the sum mint sucessing Colon and summit \nattacking the seceral worker and \nas they preceded. The combined attack on both Planter commenced at the same moment, the leamers Shelling \nthe breastworks in the centr \nthe greatest satisfaction, \n2-afford \nas was crowned each winding \nany most sanguine hopes realized, by \nhight, to find any \nthe rapid but collected movement of kin light column combin Colonel Schorder, passing. \nbeturer the heights- & the city, and \nit to mon \nobliging \nChummy \nhh which w \nalong the light, \nof retreating \non \nafter the othe \narrived by the right Column with the bayonet \nof \ndisplayed by the Corps composing it _ The whole \nmass of fugitives the Chinese troops soon became a throwing away \nthen arms and flying in suny :tion with the exception of about 300 war finding Mem - schon surrounded tookte possession enclosure which they defonded with wonderful obstinacy, and would not surmender watil the house cons in Stimes f \ntags, \n07 a House and \nour bayonets and breached \nby how don \n by Captain \"Grant, when not abon 50 and these mostly wounded. \ncould be induced to submit as prisoners - Beining these operations witnessed with must satisfaction the alacrity with which Caption Simpson of the Rifle County 35% Madras t. I. trought the his Company. \nand the spirited manner in which thee Sepoys pressed the Enemy, keeping \nenemy, it the \nthe common in \n-communication", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-001 - Sir Hug Cough-s China Military Correspondences - 1841-1843.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 219238, "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": "CO129-007 - Sir John Davis - 1844", "page_number": 87, "title": "CO129-007 - Sir John Davis - 1844", "content_text": "\n\nand together with : he fortress, and havours. \n\nloud \n\nof Malta and Corfu give♦brigland. \n\npreponderatung prower \n\na \n\nice that great \n\nFreepare god, which is beos \n\nof \n\nکھی ہیں تو بیج کھو \n\nming. \n\ndaisymers, and more value in bot \n\ninter comise with the \n\nbussure \n\n: \n\nAuglo Gebeulter \n\nRasteri \n\nboulter is ca \n\nDo Aers \n\nYouur \n\nvaluable commercial, entrepot, at one. \n\npecced P4000,000 47. of wo \n\nwere exported through Gibralter \n\nAs a fortress Gibralter \n\nGrain \n\nis \n\nperfect, it is \n\n:pregrable. \n\nThe revenue. \n\nof Aid. 2 is fully adequate to its vicil \n\nGovernment aved aver upwards \n\nof £250,000 fir \n\nmges \n\nm; the Military \n\nexpectes incurred by Ganisening \n\nGibralter saves the conttor maintenance. \n\nof a large fleet. \n\nthe Mediterran \n\nof prover, & materialtiff \n\nqueserves the balance \n\nsilps to keep the peace of Europe, The \n\nRemarks \n\nlicable to Gibralter an \n\nalto \n\nalso applicable to Malta and she denian Islande lesh of which stations ne \n\nonly pay \n\nshelling \n\ntrow whole suit exéperatione, without in \n\nishtarget. \n\non the Brition chequer but \n\net \n\nalde contribute à considerable from an \n\ntowards & Milita \n\nعربی \n\nMilitary defences, and pustection. \n\nof these places are also entrepôts of \n\nBoth \n\nck \n\nlarge \n\ntroide \n\nBritish \n\nSvery Colony of thes Birch \n\nhupice pays for its men Civile Gerement \n\nexcept small nut which are voted \n\nannually, in part for the Pahamas Rennusta, the Fattiland. Islands Mele. \n\nand Helige lands. Put all. \n\nthese places are intrinsically vasecable; \n\nThe Bahamas for the \n\ngeographical. \n\nposition of their harbours, Bermuda \n\nas a stic \n\nstrong fortress \n\nand doch word- \n\nin the Western Atlantic; the Fathloud \n\nislands for their important position- in the great. \n\ntreat \n\neat Southern Ocean \n\nSt. Helena as a sliving. \n\n42 station for \n\nCape More; \n\nfortress, and reacting \n\nbing \n\nneroner", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-007 - Sir John Davis - 1844.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 223650, "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": "CO129-017 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [7-12]", "page_number": 67, "title": "CO129-017 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [7-12]", "content_text": "the Mint, and in order that this latter suggestion may be carried out, the Board recommend the return of the false boy to England.\n\nGovernment Offices, Victoria,\n\nHongkong, 1st August, 1846.\n\nMinute,\n\n35\n\nWaring received. Instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to institute a strict Enquiry into the circumstances which have led to the abstraction of one of the Boxes of Sycee Silver, appertaining to the last July Instalment of the Chinese Indemnity, and to the substitution in its place of a Box containing Lead. I have to request that a Board, consisting of the Officiating Colonial Secretary as President, and the Civil Auditor and Acting Colonial Treasurer as Members, will assemble to meet at 4 O'clock, at the Government Offices, for the above purpose.\n\nMy \n\nAffey Colonial Susiting President \n\nKdolphus Shellin \n\nAuditor Geral \n\nAsmereek \n\nActing Colonia & Treasurer \n\nA.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-017 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [7-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 236287, "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": "CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6]", "page_number": 151, "title": "CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6]", "content_text": "rigued,\n\nChaz Water\n\nD.D. Salcoca\n\nC. D. Lalcaca\n\nH.P. Camaju\n\n\"\n\nS. Tranqu\n\nb. Bomanju\n\nCharles H. Head\n\nRobb. G. Sillar\n\nI C Sillar\n\nSolomon David\n\nEzekiel Shellin\n\nA Wylie\n\nE. Warden\n\nb. W Balston\n\nWer Kukut\n\nI R. Adamson\n\nPhilip H. Underwood\n\nNun Chandler H. Rowe Wiggins\n\n146\n\nSohn Hobson, British Chaplain Mhu Shaw Burdon, Missimary\n\nof the Church Mist Sority Robert-Reed\n\nIF Dawson braven Wils\n\nN. Weilmann\n\nFreat Booker B. Dallas.\n\nGeorge Thorburn\n\nProgars\n\nW. Thorburn\n\nJohn W. Lambert James Rogers\n\nS. H. Monteiro\n\nJohn SMinner\n\nSat. Bownan\n\nJr. Now\n\nWilliam F. Rehsen D. Burjorjee I.L. Brine\n\nRecht Newby W. S. Bonney Lonely\n\nC. Hall.\n\nJames Hogg\n\nRobo T. Major\n\nAlex. Michie & Simpson T.J. Birango\n\nJ. Hudson Ger. I Green Robert Francis P. W.W. Brine", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 252609, "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": "CO129-084 - War Office & Others - 1861", "page_number": 62, "title": "CO129-084 - War Office & Others - 1861", "content_text": "# \nOf 60 such that as this find His Grace is expecting a Report here the lion's share of thing upon the documents transmitted in your dispatch would warrant it being desirable to postpone the consultation till after at Southampton the arrival of the latest Mail from China.\n\nIan { Made during & each. Assa In Duly + I should think it opportune to mark out the different proportionate move readily the Committee's Effect 117/5, 2 brum sir con's suffertion R. will be in is to the purchase of 2 Ilzen. I presume nothing can be done till the advice of the H.K. despatch & Bat(shallin #ty's decision Exterior, Kt the come effin St. b 10 influence 17 20 Duly Neurath e 6.2.8.\n\nThe Military requirements should not be based upon a war externate, but upon the amount of garrison that it may be prudent to keep at Hong Kong, within certain margin.\n\n(over)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-084 - War Office & Others - 1861.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 263315, "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": "CO129-108 - Public Offices - 1865", "page_number": 18, "title": "CO129-108 - Public Offices - 1865", "content_text": "## Initial Letters\n\nMM \n\n8479 cong trong is not relevant to the rest of the text, so it will be ignored.\n\n## Main Text\n\n16 \n\nAus?th should be \"Augst\"\n\n4th Septr \n\n156. \n\nSir, \n\n**RECEIVEC** should be \"**RECEIVED**\"\n\nSEPI 1865 should be \"SEPT 1865\"\n\nAdmiralty, \n29. Ang Wor should be \"29 Aug Wor\" or more likely the correct date is \"29 Aug 1865\" without \"Wor\"\n\nMy Lords Commissioners of the \nAdmiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of \n'State for the Colonies, that the sum \nof £4. 4. & Bound four shelling is due to the Lieut Commanding of Her Majesty's \nShip Haughty \non account of expenses incurred in the \nEntertainments specified overleaf, and \nam \nto request \nW. G. Romaine (likely the correct name) or \"W. Scentury Cackworth\" is likely an OCR error for \"W. G. Romaine\" \n\nENT \nCouncil Office \nthat \ngive \nyou \ndirections for that \nwill \nOF \namount to be transferred to the credit of Naval Funds in the hands \nof the Paymaster-General, \n\nUnder Secretary of State, Colonial \nOffice, \n&c., &c. \n\nam, \nSir, \nYour most obedient Servant, \nManaire (likely \"Romaine\")\n\nHere is the reformatted text in Markdown:\n\n## Initial Letters\nMM \n\n## Main Text\n\n16 \nAugst \nagents \n4th Septr \n156. \nSir, \n\n**RECEIVED** \nSEPT 1865 \n\nAdmiralty, \n29 Aug 1865 \nam commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the \nAdmiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of \nState for the Colonies, that the sum \nof £4. 4s. 0d. four shillings is due to the Lieut Commanding of Her Majesty's \nShip Haughty \non account of expenses incurred in the \nEntertainments specified overleaf, and I am \nto request that you will give directions for that amount to be transferred to the credit of Naval Funds in the hands \nof the Paymaster-General.\n\nUnder Secretary of State, Colonial \nOffice, \n&c., &c. \n\nI am, \nSir, \nYour most obedient Servant, \nRomaine \nTreasury", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-108 - Public Offices - 1865.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 306195, "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": "CO129-188 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [5-6]", "page_number": 419, "title": "CO129-188 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [5-6]", "content_text": "## Hospitals under the Admiralty & Lar Defiantimant\n\nThe Instructions as a yard to Visiting Surgeons Baumants\n\nYou will furnish the Colonial Surgeon with a copy for his confidential information and desire him temporarily to comply with their provisions.\n\nAnd I am to bring into operation such parts of you (doubtless Regulations on the Management of Hospitals) but with such modifications as local circumstances may require.\n\nI have ve[..] Hay Kary Draft 12084 Contas, wis dreains, Hong Kong $13 hu pant Duff And Kumbele.\n\nUntil... In Unbut gove...\n\nTheagle this draft there are an ana while mont sponta M Framati K 3 \n\nPapers han bem promised & Mer Hausfeld on this subject & he has taken asked for on the intended paper in the draft despatch the Hennessy which will complete the paper. Ihan had it put into print for consideration as its length makes it difficult to deal with in manuscript.\n\nWhen settling this Draft, Ms. bodecich at the same time shallin the proof of the Paddy Paper also herewith requires any alterations.\n\nRett Jun 24\n\nThis paper should appear simultaneously with the China Brattel Slavey Papen is Kimberley.\n\nA despatches are intermixed, might indeed be fused into one. Japen with the Protect Haven Papers.\n\nThe levo papers Se meuntes on 24 Agutt. from zer My June 27 free.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-188 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 325456, "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": "CO129-216 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [5-6]", "page_number": 45, "title": "CO129-216 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [5-6]", "content_text": "The French army commenced a bombardment of Hung-Hoa, firing six field guns at a bamboo bridge over the Song-coi River, approximately 5,000 yards away. Another battery targeted the tower of Hang-Hoa, 1,500 yards farther, despite difficulty distinguishing it from the surrounding foliage. Brière de l'Isle's battery focused on a nearby fort, an earthwork on elevated ground defended by a lake and paddy fields, which seemingly lacked effective guns.\n\nThe Chinamen in Hung-Hoa remained passive, not returning fire, and instead hoisted numerous flags of various colors, possibly as a chivalric indication for the French gunners or a Machi. iavellian tactic to draw fire away from populated areas. The French continued firing throughout the day, expending over 800 shells, but the Chinamen maintained their composure.\n\nAs the day progressed, General Brière de l'Isle initiated the passage of the Black River at Bat Bac, but encountered difficulties, losing three men who drowned. The Chinese, unable to endure the prolonged shelling, suddenly set fire to the town in multiple locations at half-past four. The forts were subsequently blown up, and the garrison began to cross the bridge in large numbers.\n\nThe French batteries intensified their fire, targeting the bridge, but the Chinamen continued to cross without breaking into a run. By five o'clock, the evacuation was complete, and the French gunners ceased fire.\n\nThe next morning, French troops crossed the Riviere Noire and marched towards Hung-Hoa, finding the country deserted. Upon reaching the outworks, they were surprised to discover magnificent fortifications constructed according to European military science, complete with abattis, casemates, and parallels.\n\nThe French realized that the Chinese had abandoned the fortifications without a struggle, likely due to the overwhelming French numbers and the flank march of General Brière de l'Isle. The Chinese had also removed or destroyed their guns and equipment.\n\nThe town of Hung-Hoa was found to be in ruins, with everything burnt or destroyed. The citadel, built on the same lines as that at Soutay, contained only a few remaining houses and the tower. The Royal Pagoda, rice stores, powder magazines, and treasury had all been burnt.\n\nThe Chinese had executed a thorough retreat, destroying or removing all valuable or useful items. The village of Ban-Nguyen on the other side of the river had also been burnt, and attempts had been made to blow up the fortifications.\n\nPage 1574\n\n44\n\n \npossibly", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-216 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 326904, "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": "CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12]", "page_number": 368, "title": "CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12]", "content_text": "## \nNo. `12202` \nDOMES `5` \nC. O. \n`12202` \nW or Individual, \nhourly \nDate: `1884` \n`17 Jul` \nprevious Paper: `10603` \nPribei wiched `18 Dec` \n`1236` \n`85` \n\n### (Subject) \n**Hong Kong -thacas Cable** \nCash Fil lo. \nCear to repat : recommends Enjering of Patuguese fort whether they intend to crisist in obligatory clause of Convention as far arfraeds is concerned \n\n### (Minutes) \nM. Bramston \n6. PL \n70. \nfor \nDishosed \n`13887` \n18 \nResump. may intend to appunt the Portuguese Gate when they have \nfut a direct guation fettled with us and \nOntagal may \nfun he incovenicut this the compl., huts Imffere to helfel. \nKerech `RM100/7` \ncarms or mast ast `80`. to inform the Portuguese Government that HM. \nFork ... considering Shellen in Cher", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 326905, "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": "CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12]", "page_number": 369, "title": "CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12]", "content_text": "## TREASURY CHAMBERS, 02 July 1881\n\nThe Lords Commissioners of **Her Majesty's Treasury** have had under consideration Mr Meade's letter of the 28th ultimo, and its enclosures, consisting of correspondence between Your Department and the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, upon the question of that Company being relieved from adhesion to the obligatory clauses of the International Telegraph Convention, in respect of their cable between Hong Kong and Macao.\n\nThe correspondence in question has been referred to the Postmaster General, who, in a Report thereon dated the 10th instant, a copy of which is transmitted herewith, for the Earl of Derby's information, repeats his former statement that in granting the privilege...\n\ncan the Treasury... that reliever from the Megatong clauses & with the... \n\n Bobano shellen if they decide Portugal would be disposed to allow the same concession, \n\nD July 19 \nAugust his 19 \nE.a 19 July \n\nIn reply to this Letter the following Number should be quoted: `12017 DF`\n\n| Number | Date |\n| --- | --- |\n| C. 0. | |\n\nThe Lords Commissioners \n366 \nof \n\nUnder Secretary of State for the Colonies...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 329371, "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": "CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12]", "page_number": 150, "title": "CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12]", "content_text": "# COMPLIMENTARY FAREWELL BANQUET TO SIR GEORGE BOWEN, GOVERNOR OF HONGKONG\n\nLast night a complimentary farewell banquet was given to His Excellency Sir George Ferguson Bowen, G.C.M.G., Governor of Hongkong, in St. Andrew's Hall, City Hall. There was a numerous attendance, the banquet being the largest that has ever taken place in this colony, no less than 160 gentlemen sitting down to dinner. The chair was occupied by His Honour Chief Justice Sir George Phillippo, and the Vice-Chairmen were the Hon. T. Jackson, Hon. F. D. Sassoon, Messrs. A. P. McEwen, C. P. Chater, and J. Melville Matson. The Governor sat on the right of the Chairman, and Vice-Admiral Vesey Hamilton, C.B., on his left.\n\nThe following gentlemen formed the General Committee:-\n\n| Name | Title/Honour |\n| --- | --- |\n| His Honour Sir George Phillippo | Chairman |\n| the Hon. W. H. Marsh | C.M.G. |\n| the Hon. Frederick Stewart | |\n| the Hon. E. L. O'Malley | |\n| the Hon. A. Lister | |\n| the Hon. J.M. Price | |\n| His Honour Mr. Justice Russell | |\n| His Honour Mr. Justice Ackroyd | |\n| the Hon. W. Keswick | |\n| the Hon. T. Jackson | |\n| the Hon. F. D. Sassoon | |\n| the Hon. Wong Shing | |\n| the Right Rev. Bishop Raimondi | |\n| Monsieur Leon Dejardin | Consul for France |\n| Dr. O: F. von Mollendorff | Consul for Germany |\n| Colonel Withers | Consul for the United States |\n| Dr. P. B. C. Ayres | |\n| Messrs. C. D. Bottomley | |\n| E. R. Belilios | |\n| A. Coxon | |\n| C. P. Chater | |\n| G. de Champeaux | |\n| W. H. F. Darby | |\n| W. M. Deane | |\n| W. Durran | |\n| Major-General Gordon | |\n| Messrs. M. Grote | |\n| David Gillies | |\n| H. Hoppins | |\n| E. H. Huntingdon | |\n| Rev. W. Jennings | |\n| Messrs. John Macgregor | |\n| A. McConachie | |\n| A. P. McEwen | |\n| J. Melville Matson | |\n| Mortimer E. Murray | |\n| H. N. Mody | |\n| G. E. Noble | |\n| L. Poesnecker | |\n| A. G. Romano | Consul for Portugal |\n| C. Stiebel | |\n| J. Thurburn | |\n| A. G. Wise | |\n| H. E. Wodehouse | |\n\nThe Working Committee consisted of the following gentlemen:-\n\n| Name | Title/Honour |\n| --- | --- |\n| the Hon. J. M. Price | |\n| the Hon. T. Jackson | |\n| the Hon. F. D. Sassoon | |\n| Messrs. C. D. Bottomley | |\n| A. Coxon | |\n| C. P. Chater | |\n| W. M. Deane | |\n| H. Hoppins | |\n| A. P. McEwen | |\n| J. Melville Matson | Hon. Secretary |\n\nSubjoined are the names of the other subscribers to the banquet in the order of signature:-\n\nVice-Admiral Hamilton, Major-General Cameron, Major Brooke, R.E.; Messrs. A. Findlay Smith, H. M. Bevis, D. H. Mackintosh, W. Gaskell, S. Barff, D. Noronha, J. Dyer Ball, H.C. Setna, E. E. Pallanjee Setna, S. D. Sotne, J. Jamasjee, H. St. Clair Greeley, H. F. Hayllar, D. Musso (Consul for Italy), A. Seth, L. P. Marques, J. A. Carvalho; Colonel Crawford, R.A.; Messrs. A. G. Stokes, A. K. Travers; Captain Long, R.N.; Major Riddell, R.A.; Commodore Morant, R.N.; Captain Pearson, R.N.; Messrs. H. H. Jukes, N. A. Sieba; Captain Rumsey, R.N.; Major Dempster, A.P.D.; Lieut-Colonel Murray, C.B.D.; Dr. Manson; Messrs. S. E. Shellim, J. T. Chater, E. C. Ray, G. T. Jordan, C. C. Cohen, V. H. Deacon, C. E. Bowles, D. E. Sassoon, Sidney Hancock, E. Jones Hughes, W. Hartigan, B. Byramjee, W. G. Humphreys; Major Tripp, Captain Francis, Lieuts. McCallum, Mossley, Woolley, and Holmes, Hongkong Volunteer Artillery; Mr. H. Poate; Dr. Hungerford, Army Medical Department; Messrs. A. Falconer, R. C. Wilcox, T. I. Rose (Consul for Siam), Granville Sharp, Teiske Minami (Consul for Japan), H. Z. Just, J. H. Stewart-Lockhart; Lieut-Colonel Le Masurier, C. and T.D.; Lieut. Farquhar, R.N.; Messrs. E. Bebre, G. T. Hopkine; Lieut. A. K. Knapton, R.N., Flag Lieut.; Messrs. N. G. Mitchell-Innes, C. Heyman, D. B. Tata, J. M. E. Machado, F. Machado, A. F. Alves, A. J. Rozario, A. P. Guterrez, J. G. T. Hassell, A. P. Stokes; the Very Rev. G. Burghignoli, Mr. C. A. Tomes; Captain Maturio, R.A.; Messrs. Samuel Hughes, Dinshaw Nowrojee, J. K. Dealy, and John D. Humphreys.\n\nThe following were invited guests, in addition to the guest of the evening:- Rear-Admiral Rieunier, Captain Dupuis, Captain Blanc, French Navy; Colonel Walker, R.E.; Dr. Fisher, R.N.; Major Davies, Assistant Military Secretary; Colonel Foster, Captains Power and Bolton, Lieuts. Parkin, Little, Metcalfe, Bramwell, Drew, Lowther, Podler, and Quartermaster Wallace, Northamptonshire Regiment; Captain Hoffmeier, H.I.G.M. Navy; Commanders Alleyne, Davis, Hill, Moore, and Hotham, R.N.; Lieuts. Breeks, Bowen, and Somerville, A.D.C.s; Messrs. Dent and Keey, R.N.; Messrs. Clement Allen and E. E. Porter.\n\nSt. Andrew's Hall was decorated with festoons of green leaves, flags, and pot plants, and made to look bright and pretty, and three long tables were set out, taking almost the entire length of the room, with a cross table at the head, in the centre of which sat the Chairman, with a Vice-Chairman at the head of each side table, on either hand, and another at the foot of each of the three tables.\n\nSt. George's Hall was also neatly decorated, the doors being curtained with flags, and ferns, moss, and pot plants being used with good effect. A capital dancing floor was prepared. The ante-room was decorated in the same way, and a portion of the Chamber of Commerce room was partitioned off and a refreshment buffet established there.\n\nThe entrance hall and staircase were also very effectively decorated with pot plants and wreaths of green leaves, presenting a very pleasing appearance.\n\nThe banquet commenced at 7.15 o'clock p.m., the Band playing \"The Roast Beef of Old England.\" The following were the after-dinner speeches:-\n\n## Speech of the Chief Justice\n\nThe CHAIRMAN- The first toast on the list for this evening is the usual loyal toast, the health of Her Majesty the Queen. I ask you to join me in drinking that toast.\n\nThe toast was drunk upstanding, with three cheers.\n\nThe Band- \"God Save the Queen.\"\n\nThe CHAIRMAN- The next toast on the list is the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family.\n\nThe toast was drunk with similar honours. The Band- \"God Bless the Prince of Wales.\"\n\nThe CHAIRMAN- Gentlemen, the next toast I have to propose is the health of His Excellency the Governor. (Applause). We are met together on this occasion, as you all know, in compliment to his Excellency the Governor, and for the purpose of bidding him farewell publicly, as he is shortly about to depart from us, in all probability never to return. It is now nearly three years since he first assumed the government of this Colony. He came to us at a somewhat critical period of our history, no novice in the management of affairs, but as an old and tried Governor, with great experience in the conduct of business, having successfully governed some of the most important colonies in the British empire-colonies which have already made a place in history and which are undoubtedly destined to take a foremost place among the nations of the world. (Cheers). For his services before he came amongst us, he had already received from the hands of Her Majesty one of the highest rewards that it is usual to bestow for distinguished public service, viz., the Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. (Applause).\n\nHis services to this community have been recognized on more than one occasion, and only recently in their farewell address by the Legislative Council-(applause)-body which, comprising as it does nearly all the members of the Executive Council in addition to some of the leading members of the general community, has naturally been brought into more intimate relationships with the Governor than any other portion of the public and is best able to judge of their value. (Hear, hear).\n\nIt would ill become me on the present occasion and in the present assembly, which is not met together for political purposes, and especially in my position, to enter into any question having any bearing upon politics. (Hear, hear). This I can say for myself that I know that His Excellency has always taken a very great interest in everything that he considered was for the best interest of the community-(applause)-and I think I can take it upon myself in the name of all who are present to assure the Governor in similar language to that used by the Legislative Council in its farewell address, that his administration will always be associated in our minds with much personal kindness, consideration, and hospitality (cheers)-a hospitality which I may observe owed a great portion of its charm to the deserved popularity of Lady Bowen and her daughters in the first portion of His Excellency's administration, a hospitality which was not slackened during their necessary but regretted absence, and which has again during the last few months been brightened by the presence of one of His Excellency's daughters and of his only son. (Renewed and prolonged applause).\n\nI am sure also that we all sympathize with the Governor in the prospect of his approaching retirement from public life. It will undoubtedly be a trial to him to give up the active pursuits in which he has been hitherto engaged, the pleasures as well as the anxieties of public life, and the degree of state to which he has been accustomed, for the comparative simplicity and retirement of private life. We have all of us, however, to look forward to relinquishing the active pursuits of life, but there is some consolation for us all if we are able to carry with us in our retirement the assurance that in the days of our activity we faithfully endeavoured to perform our various duties to the best of our ability. (Applause).\n\nBut the Governor, with his experience, need not, unless he pleases, live merely a life of lettered ease, and there are more useful services in which he can be engaged than even in administering the affairs of an important Colony such as this. There has been of late a growing tendency both in the mother country and in the Colonies to tighten and strengthen the bonds of union now existing between them-(applause)-and there has also been a growing and strong desire to enter into closer relationship between ourselves and our great kindred nation. (Hear, hear).\n\nNext year will be an eventful year in this respect. The new buildings of The Royal Colonial Institute will be opened-a Society of which Sir George Bowen has long been a member-(applause)-and which, together with its off-shoot, the Empire Club, has done so much to bring Colonial questions prominently forward before the public at home. Leading colonists from all parts of the Empire will take part in the Colonial Exhibition, to which we are about sending our modest contribution, including many from Colonies over which Sir George Bowen has had the honour during his long career of having been appointed Governor.\n\nThere will also be the American Exhibition of Inventions, which will attract to London many of the leading citizens of the United States, and to welcome whom a Council consisting of most of the leading men in the British possessions, and amongst whom I have no doubt Sir George Bowen's name is already to be found, has been formed by American residents in London and promoters of the Exhibition, avowedly for the purpose of strengthening the friendly relationships between the great English-speaking nations who have one language and one literature in common, whose great men and our great men, and whose noble women and our noble women are the same-(applause)-and who all inherit the glorious deeds and love of liberty of our ancestors. (Renewed applause).\n\nAnd to crown all, it will be the jubilee year of our Most Gracious Sovereign Her Majesty the Queen. (Loud cheers). The movements which have commenced cannot fail to be accelerated by these events, and His Excellency will no doubt be called upon to take an active part in them, and if, as the result of the consultations and deliberations which are even now taking place, any satisfactory measures can be discovered which will have the effect of bringing Great Britain and Ireland, their colonies and dependencies into closer union, especially if in addition we and our kindred nation, the Great Republic of the United States of America (loud applause)-the citizens of whom I believe venerate and respect our Queen in almost if not in quite the same degree as we do ourselves (applause)-could be brought closer and more unitedly together, it would be of so great a service to the world at large as to reflect the highest amount of credit and honour on all concerned in bringing it about. (Hear, hear).\n\nSuch a union would hold out no menace to foreign powers but would, I should hope, have a tendency to hasten the period when reason and not force, right and not might, shall prevail among all the nations of the earth. (Cheers).\n\nIn conclusion, I may say I know that I can safely assure the Governor of the best wishes of you all (hear, hear and cheers)-that he may have a safe and pleasant voyage home-that he may thoroughly enjoy himself during his stay in that old and interesting country which he purposes visiting on his way-(hear, hear)-that he may have a happy meeting with the remainder of his family in England (applause)-and, if so be that he never returns to us again, we trust that he will continue to take the same kindly interest in the welfare of the Colony that he has taken since the first day he came among us-(hear, hear)-and that, again using similar language to that contained in the address before referred to, we hope that he may long enjoy the rest earned by more than a quarter of a century's service and that his unequalled experience may be found of service in the Councils of the Empire. (Cheers).\n\nI have now the great pleasure of proposing the health of His Excellency the Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, and to ask you to unite with me in wishing him all happiness, prosperity, and success in his future career. (Loud cheers).\n\nThe Band- \"God Save the Queen.\"\n\nThe toast was drunk with musical honours and three times three.\n\nHis EXCELLENCY, who was received with prolonged and most enthusiastic applause, said- Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I thank His Honour the Chief Justice for the flattering and eloquent speech in which he has just proposed my health-a speech, I may add, which derives additional weight and significance from his own high office and character, which are most fully appreciated throughout this Colony. (Applause).\n\nPage 150\nPage 151", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 333615, "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": "CO129-231 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1887 [1-3]", "page_number": 437, "title": "CO129-231 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1887 [1-3]", "content_text": "کچھ \n\n5\n\nproposes to do-what? Not to make them a handsome present, not to do anything pleasing to them, but to put his hand into his pocket and make himself a handsome present. The park is for our own amusement and gratification, and probably certainly not for the recreation of the whole community, but only a section of the community—the section which you expect to put their hands in their pockets and subscribe towards the rejoicings. The Government have voted the money, the land is the property of the Government, and only the Government can do the work. The only thing we can do is to urge the Government on and say that if they will be so good as to get the work done this year and pay out the moneys voted for it we will put our hands into our pockets and pay the balance it may stand in need of. I put it the thing is utterly inadequate, utterly unworthy of the community, and almost ridiculous. The park would be a useful thing, but not for the jubilee celebration of Her Majesty. If we do anything let us do something that will be a credit to ourselves. I simply moved the amendment to the second resolution with a view of eliciting the opinions of the meeting. I loyally accept the decision. We are to have a permanent institution, but let it be something worthy of the occasion. As Mr. Ryrie says, we are wealthy enough to put our hands in our pockets and establish a well-endowed charitable institution of some kind, and if we are to have a permanent institution I do urge upon you, gentlemen, that this meeting should do something worthy of the occasion and of Her Majesty. I have much pleasure in seconding the amendment moved by Dr. Ho Kai. With regard to leaving the exact nature of the institution to the decision of Her Majesty, of course something must be suggested. Nothing can be left to Her Majesty except that perhaps half a dozen schemes may be submitted to her with suggestions, and she may choose one of them as most acceptable to herself. But with the broad general principle of the amendment I do most sincerely hope you will concur—that the permanent memorial take the form of a charitable institution the nature of which shall be in accordance with the wishes of Her Majesty the Queen.\n\n€ 189.\n\nMr. R. FRASER-SMITH—Your Honour and gentlemen, although there may be some difference of opinion as to the form the permanent memorial should take, I think there cannot be two opinions as to the pliability of conscience displayed by the learned Queen's Counsel who has just taken his seat. About ten minutes ago we had him contending the proper mode of celebrating the occasion would be to subscribe to the institution in London, and now we hear him advocating a charitable institution. There is certainly a great inconsistency in this as the two things happen to be as opposite as the poles. With reference to the only sensible objection raised to the Park by Dr. Ho Kai, which was that it had already been named the Bowen Park, that does not happen to be the case. I happened to be present at the little amusing farce which took place in Happy Valley two years ago, and what took place was that the Surveyor-General said it was the unanimous opinion of the people of the colony that the park should be named the Bowen Park. But the Surveyor-General had never had the sanction of the community to make that statement; and all Sir George Bowen said was that he was very glad to hear it. It was perfectly well understood that when the park was completed it should be named the Bowen Park, but it has never been so named, and therefore the objection is the merest phantasy. With reference to what Mr. Francis says as to its not being a suitable memorial, not good enough, I think nothing more suitable could be devised. A thing that is to tend so much to the health and recreation of the community is better than a charitable institution, which can only cut one way. The objection of a few Chinese is that the Chinese will not benefit by it. Who will benefit by a charitable institution? The Europeans? Certainly not; the Chinese and the Chinese alone. (Hear, hear). But the Chinese will benefit by this park; they benefit by it now. Anyone who frequents the Race-course as much as I do will see hundreds of children playing on it now. How many more hundreds will go there when it is put in proper order! I am certainly in favour of Mr. Chater's proposal until something else of a definite nature is put before the meeting. Nothing else definite has been put before the meeting, and until something better has been put forward I will certainly support Mr. Chater's proposal. (Applause).\n\nHon. A. LISTER—May I be allowed for one moment to protest against the idea that the Government is in any way pledged to complete the Park at Wong Nei-cheong? A very singular delusion seems to run in the minds of Dr. Ho Kai and others that when a certain sum of money is written down on paper it represents so much cash. A sum of $25,000, I think, was, in a moment of enthusiasm, put down as a possible sum which might be spent on a public park; but that sum was very quickly withdrawn, and the idea of spending anything was given up. Then the modest sum of $5,000 was put down and was spent. And what did it do? It reclaimed that little corner as you go into the valley, and that was all the Colony got for $5,000. A proposal was made to spend another $5,000, but the Surveyor-General said he preferred to do the whole thing or nothing, and he declined to do any patchwork. (Applause). He declined to spend $5,000 this year and $5,000 next year. He said it would simply be making matters worse; creating mud heaps was, I think, his expression. The Government has spent $5,000 to put a little corner in order, and it may in future years, if there is any available surplus, devote a little more to the same purpose. I should say that may occur, if nothing unforeseen happens, in fifteen years, or may be twenty years. (Laughter).\n\nHon. A. P. MACEWEN—Sir, I would simply say I do not consider any scheme which has been included in the Government estimates as fit and proper for the present occasion. Mr. Fraser Smith has said that no other definite scheme has been put before us, but I may say that shortly before I came into the room this evening I received a communication from a mutual friend who asked me to propose the following. I am sorry he is not here himself. He suggests, and I to a very great extent agree with him, that subscriptions to the jubilee commemoration should be devoted to the enlargement and restoration of the City Hall, which should hereafter be called the Victoria City Hall, and that a Committee be appointed to obtain plans and estimates, the same to be submitted to the subscribers. I may perhaps state the cost would amount to something like $30,000, and there is no doubt that sum could be very easily subscribed in this colony. It would at the same time benefit the Chinese and be a great source of pleasure to many Europeans, and it is a scheme I should support.\n\nThis proposition was not seconded.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN, in putting the amendment proposed by Dr. Ho Kai, said—Considering that we have declined to consider the proposal put forward by the Prince of Wales to subscribe to the Institute for Great Britain, India, and Colonies, perhaps the next most graceful thing we could do would be to leave the disposal of such funds as we may subscribe to the decision of Her Majesty herself, and that the Committee which may be appointed should be empowered to make out a list and forward it to Her Majesty, or it might be submitted hereafter to another public meeting. However, the resolution and amendment have been proposed and seconded, and it is a question for your consideration.\n\nThe amendment was then put and lost, and Mr. Chater's resolution for the formation of the Victoria Park was carried by a large majority.\n\nMr. FRANCIS proposed the appointment of the following gentlemen as a general Committee: Major-General Cameron, Vice-Admiral Hamilton, Sir Geo. Phillippo, Commodore Morant, Colonel Storer, R.E., Colonel Ryan, R.A., the Right Rev. Bishop Burdon, Dr. Chalmers, Rev. A. Gase; the Consuls for France, Japan, United States, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Peru, Siam, and Spain; Messrs. Ackroyd, Ayres, Bell-Irving, Bottomley, Chater, Coughtrie, Crawford, Darby, Deane, Francis, Grote, Hoppius, Huntington, Inchbald, Lister, Humphreys, Li Shing, MacEwen, Mackintosh, Marty, Mehta, Mody, Poesnecker, Rano, Ross, Russell, Ryrie, Rutter, F. Stowell, Shellim, Stiebel, Thomsett, Thorburn, Walter, Whitehead, Wodehouse, Wong Shing, Von Bose; Colonel Anderson, Captain Bunbury, Major Chaytor, Messrs. Danby, Ford and Gillies, Dr. Ho Kai, Messrs. H. MacCallum, voQubae, Mitchell Innes, Orange, Price, Turner, Wai Yuk, Travers, Lockhart, Chan Kwan-i, Yeung Pun-nam, Ka In-tong, Lai Ling, Choi Chee Bee, Chan Ping, Wong She-tai, Ho Kwan Shan, Leung On, Lo Hok-pang, Kaw Hong-take, Lau Yam-tsun, Tseng Sz-kai, U Lin-nn, Lau Wai-chan, and Fung Wa-chun.\n\nHon. A. LISTER seconded, and the resolution was carried.\n\nOn the motion of the Hon. P. RYRIE a vote of thanks to the Chairman was carried by acclamation.\n\n431", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-231 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1887 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 333710, "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": "CO129-231 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1887 [1-3]", "page_number": 533, "title": "CO129-231 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1887 [1-3]", "content_text": "Enclosure 3.\n\n3534\n\nPETITIONS AGAINST THE OPIUM BILL.\n\nThe ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-The Clerk of Councils has received two petitions about the Opium Bill. I move that they be read.\n\nThe CLERK OF COUNCILS read the petitions as follows:- To HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT, AND THE HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.\n\nThe humble petition of Shellim Ezekiel Shellim, of the firm of David Sassoon, Sons & Co., Jacob Silas Moses, of the firm of E. D. Sassoon & Co., Buttonjee Dadabhoy Tata, of the firm of Tata & Co., Marcus David Ezekiel, of the firm of Abraham Ezekiel & Co., Mahomelbhoy Khetsey, of the firm of Tharia Topan, Jafforbhoy Khetsey, of the firm of Jairazbhoy Peerbhoy & Co., and Hormusjee Merwanjee Mehta, of the firm of Framjee Hormusjee & Co., all of Victoria in the colony of Hongkong, for and on behalf of the opium importers and wholesale opium merchants of the said colony,\n\nSHEWETH-That at a recent meeting of the opium importers and wholesale opium merchants of this colony, held for the purpose of considering the Bill now before your Honourable Council, entitled \"An Ordinance for the better regulation of the trade in opium,\" it was inter alia resolved that the said Bill, if passed in its present form, would prejudicially affect their trade, and that your petitioners should be appointed a Committee to take such measures as they might consider advisable to bring their complaints before your Honourable Council.\n\nThat while fully recognizing the necessity of carrying out the object aimed at by the said Bill, namely, the prevention of opium smuggling into China, and while sympathizing with its spirit, your petitioners submit that the means by which it is proposed to effectuate such object would inflict serious injury upon the opium trade, and especially on the aforesaid opium importers and wholesale and retail opium dealers, and prove a blow to the general commerce and prosperity of this colony.\n\nThat your petitioners believe that the end intended to be accomplished by the said Bill could be attained by other and less objectionable means, and that your petitioners are prepared to co-operate with your Honourable Council and the executive in attaining the desired object.\n\nThat inasmuch as the Bill affects private interests, and was only brought in and read a first time on Friday, the 18th inst., it is desirable to postpone the second reading thereof so as to enable the persons who are more immediately interested, as well as the general public, to acquaint themselves with its scope and object.\n\nYour petitioners therefore humbly pray\n\n1.-That the second reading of the said Bill may be postponed until such day as your Honourable Council may under the circumstances deem meet.\n\n2. That your petitioners may be heard by Counsel at the bar of your Honourable Council as to their objections to the said Bill in its present form.\n\n3.-That the said Bill may be so amended or modified as to remove the objections of your petitioners, or that it may be withdrawn and a fresh Bill introduced such as the necessity of the case requires.\n\nAnd your petitioners will ever pray, &c.\n\nHongkong, 22nd March, 1887.\n\nS. E. SHELLIM.\n\nJ. S. MOSES.\n\nR. D. TATA.\n\nM. D. EZEKIEL.\n\nM. KHETSEY.\n\nJ. KHETSEY.\n\nH. M. MEHTA.\n\nThe humble petition of the undersigned merchants and traders resident in Hongkong respectfully showeth-\n\n1. Your petitioners are dealers in opium residing and carrying on business in Hongkong.\n\n2.-At the meeting of your Honourable Council held on Friday, the 18th March instant, a Bill was introduced and read a first time entitled \"An Ordinance for the better regulation of the trade in opium,\" and the said Bill is framed for the purpose of regulating the movement of raw opium in this Colony and of prohibiting the purchase or sale of raw opium in quantities less than one chest.\n\n3. Your petitioners deal largely in raw opium, buying and selling it in quantities less than one chest, and have a large capital engaged in the said business, and they employ in their said business many hundreds of persons.\n\n4.-If the said Bill becomes law in its present form the business hitherto carried on by your petitioners will absolutely cease and can no more be carried on; the capital therein employed will be idle, the hundreds of persons now occupied in the said business will be thrown out of employment, and your petitioners will all of them suffer grievous loss and injury, and some of them will be irretrievably ruined.\n\n5.-Your petitioners respectfully submit that the objects proposed to be attained by the said Bill may be far more effectually carried out by means other than those contained in the said Bill, and without loss or injury to any class of the community; and they therefore humbly pray that on the second reading of the said Bill they may be heard by their counsel against the said Bill under the provisions of the 47th of the Standing Orders and rules of this Honourable Council, and that they may have due notice of such second reading.\n\n(Signed) WING KAT CHEUNG,\n\n&c. &c. &c.\n\n527\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY-As regards the prayers of these two memorials, that the petitioners may be heard by counsel before this Council, I am advised that they have no right to appear by counsel under the provisions of the Orders of this Council, 47; but as I think this is a subject that ought to be well and thoroughly ventilated I shall offer no opposition if, after the second reading has been moved and seconded, any member moves that they may be permitted to appear by counsel and if the Council approves of that motion. I propose that the second reading should be moved and seconded to-day, and that the further discussion be adjourned.\n\nTHE OPIUM BILL.\n\nThe ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill for the better regulation of the trade in opium. In doing so I shall endeavour, as briefly as possible, to lay before the Council the circumstances which have made the Ordinance necessary. I might almost say, imperative. You are all aware that the collection of the maritime customs in China are entrusted to two different departments-the foreign collectorate, which collects all import and export duties on goods carried by foreign vessels to and from treaty ports, and the native collectorate, which collects all dues and duties on goods carried by junks to and from both treaty and other ports. By the treaty of Tientsin the duty on foreign opium was fixed at thirty taels per picul. In the North, foreign opium is mostly carried in foreign ships, and the duty is therefore collected by the foreign collectorate, while in the South a great deal of the opium is carried in junks to treaty ports and non-treaty ports, and some is taken overland and pays duty to the native collectorate. All this opium has hitherto paid duty according to the manner in which it was carried. Junk-shipped opium has paid twenty-five per cent. less than steamer-shipped opium. Besides this duty on opium there is another tax called likin, which is imposed by the Viceroys of different provinces. It has varied in amount from time to time, and has sometimes been less in one province than in another. With the collection of the likin the foreign collectorate has, hitherto, had nothing to do. It was collected at the ports and at various places in the interior. It is important to bear this in mind because according to the Additional Article the likin duty is now fixed at eighty taels per picul, and this will in future be collected by the foreign customs and before the opium is taken possession of by the purchaser. The attempt which the Hoppo and the Viceroy made to collect the duty and the likin here led to a great deal of smuggling, and in order to prevent this both the Viceroy and the Hoppo organised preventive services. They had cruisers and steam launches, and they established stations at the entrances to Hongkong Harbour. They overhauled all junks passing these stations and what has since been called the blockade of Hongkong began.\n\nI am not going to allude to this at any great length because you are all aware of the abuses which arose from this system and the complaints which were made from time to time as to the alleged illegal seizure of junks trading to and from this Colony. I know it will be said that these complaints have now ceased and that the blockade is a thing of the past. This I shall allude to further on. This blockade was a constant source of complaint. On the one hand the Chinese authorities complained that smuggling was carried on to a large extent and that they had a right to do all in their power to prevent it. On the other hand the colonists contended that Hongkong was a free port, that they had nothing to do with smuggling, and that the authorities had no right to injure their trade while engaged in protecting the revenue. Voluminous correspondence took place on this subject. I will quote only two passages. The first runs as follows: \"Moreover there can be no doubt that the action of the Chinese revenue steamers, sailing vessels, and boats in the harbour of Victoria, within sight of the whole community, not only keeps up a feeling of irritation among the British residents, but is calculated to create a false impression among the Chinese in the colony, by whom the tacit acquiescence of the British Government in these extraordinary proceedings is not improbably attributed to fear of the Chinese authorities, and to recognition of their unjust pretensions.\" The second extract is one from a report.\n\nPage 27", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-231 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1887 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 335261, "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": 543, "title": "CO129-234 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Des Voeus - 1887 [9-12]", "content_text": "coloured lanterns, which sparkled brightly on the still water. The floating Fire Engine, decorated with a row of red lanterns, was especially noticeable. Several of the steamers were illuminated. Among these the Scottish Oriental Co.'s steamer Phen Chom Klas with hull, masts, and yards outlined in vivid crimson, looked like a phantom ship in the darkness. The China and Manila S. S. Co.'s steamer Zafiro was similarly illuminated but with white lanterns, and had a most pleasing effect. The hull and paddle-boxes of the China Navigation Co.'s steamer Hankow were traced out in lines of living fire, and the river steamer White Cloud was similarly lighted up. The Douglas steamer Thales, the telegraph steamer Sherard Osborne, and the little steamer Sea Gull were also illuminated, and the Austro-Hungarian Lloyd's steamer Titania used her electric search light with great effect, throwing it over the shipping at intervals. Red and blue lights were burned by the Douglas steamer Formosa and some other vessels, and rockets sent up by them occasionally. Many of the junks and cargo boats displayed coloured lanterns, adding to the general radiance along the foreshore. During the day most of the vessels in port, both British and foreign, dressed ship, as did also the men-of-war. We have already referred at some length to the brilliant exhibition of coloured lights made by the Victor Emanuel and the British men-of-war at night, which excited so much admiration, and so greatly enhanced the effect of the general illuminations.\n\nAT KOWLOON.\n\nAcross the water the principal show was made by the Water Police Station at Tsim Tsa-tsui. This building both from its elevated situation and large dimensions is well adapted for illumination. Between the turrets on the top of the building were the words \"God Save the Queen\" formed in lanterns, the letters being seven feet in height, and at the points at the corner of the turrets pyramids of lanterns. A row of lanterns was fixed round each turret. Another row of lanterns ran round three sides of the parapet of the whole building, at intervals of about a foot, a second row being placed round the top of the first storey. Between the pillars in front hung one large red lantern with a small one on either side, and one large red lantern in each window of the front and the east and west sides of the building. A row of red and white lanterns was also placed on the railings round the entire compound. In front of the flagstaff was erected a device showing a crown above and the letters V. R. below, on either side of which were the dates 1837 and 1887 in letters and figures about seven feet high, all being in red except the crown, which was of white and yellow lanterns. There were about 1,200 lanterns used altogether in the illumination, which was very effective, standing out well and being very conspicuous from all parts of the harbour. During the day the top of the building was dressed with flags. Fireworks were sent up from the Praya below the Station on both nights.\n\nTHE FIREWORKS.\n\nThere was a double display of fireworks—one on the Parade Ground of Chinese fireworks, and the other of European afloat from barges. The Chinese fireworks commenced soon after eight o'clock, and were let off from a scaffolding erected at the southern end of the ground, just below St. John's Cathedral, in the yard of which a large number of spectators had gathered. Below on the ground round the scaffolding the crowd was so dense that the whole space was one mass of heads. On the harbour the European fireworks were sent up from barges, one moored near the Harbour Office, and the other nearly opposite to the City Hall, and they consisted chiefly of rockets and Roman candles, both of which were excellent. A fire balloon was sent up from one of the men-of-war soon after nine o'clock and somewhat later descended on the Cricket Ground. Great crowds assembled on the Praya to get a good view of the fireworks and the men-of-war illuminations, all points of vantage being occupied thickly.\n\nThis part of the programme was unhappily attended with fatal disaster. About quarter past eleven o'clock the fireworks on board the cargo-boat Stornoway suddenly exploded, killing two men of the Royal Artillery, who were in charge. It is supposed that some sparks from a falling rocket must have ignited the fireworks; no want of caution seems to have prevailed, the sad catastrophe being a pure accident.\n\nPage 2\n\nWith such an imposing and general an illumination, where so many worked untiringly to promote the success achieved, it is impossible to mention all those to whom credit is due, but to Mr. Stewart-Lockhart, the indefatigable Secretary of the Committee, the Hon. J. M. Price, the Surveyor-General, the excellence of whose taste has been so often demonstrated, ably seconded by Mr. Bowdler, Mr. Sampson, and other members of his staff, Mr. J. S. Brewer, who had charge of a large portion of the street decorations, Mr. Danby, who was responsible for the stretch of Queen's Road from Icehouse Street to the Bank, and many others who gave willing co-operation a special mead of praise is due for their cheerful labours. The Gas Company are to be congratulated on the success of their work, which while severely testing their producing powers was not too great for their resources, thanks to the energy of the manager, Mr. Cross, supported by his trusty assistants Messrs. Bramsey and Terrey.\n\nTHE JUBILEE DRINKING FOUNTAINS.\n\nThe six Victoria Drinking Fountains erected at the expense of a philanthropic and liberal Parsee resident and presented by him to the city as a memorial of Her Majesty's Jubilee, were thrown open to the public on Wednesday morning at nine o'clock, and were promptly surrounded by little knots of Chinese, who expressed much delight at the novel gift. Numbers of persons quaffed the crystal from the iron caps, for sightseeing is thirsty work and procession following still more so. The fountains will certainly not lack patronage.\n\nTHE UNVEILING OF THE STATUE OF SIR ARTHUR KENNEDY.\n\nA large number of persons assembled in the Botanic Gardens on Thursday afternoon, the 10th November, to witness the unveiling of the Statue of Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy, G.C.M.G., C.B., formerly Governor of Hongkong. Among those present were the Acting Chief Justice (Hon. J. Russell), the Colonial Secretary (Hon. F. Stewart, LL.D.), the Acting Attorney General (Hon. E. J. Ackroyd), the Colonial Treasurer (Hon. A. Lister), the Harbour Master (Hon. H. G. Thomsett), Hon. A. P. MacEwen, the Registrar-General (Mr. J. H. Stewart-Lockhart), Right Rev. Bishop Burdon, Colonel Anderson, 58th Regt., Lieut.-Colonel Cook, Assistant Commissary-General, Major Dempster, A.P.D., Messrs. T. Jackson, W. H. Forbes, H. E. Wodehouse, C.M.G., C. D. Bottomley, Chal. Alabaster (H. M. Consul at Canton), E. R. Belilios, S. E. Shellim, Arthur Kennedy Travers, N. G. Mitchell-Innes, R. Lyall, &c., and a number of ladies. In the absence of the Surveyor-General (Hon. J. M. Price), who was unable to attend the ceremony owing to indisposition, the necessary arrangements were carried out by Mr. E. Macleod, of the Survey Department. Shortly after three o'clock His Excellency arrived, accompanied by his Private Secretary, Mr. Slingsby Bethell, H. E. Major-General Cameron, and Lieut. Somerville, A.D.C.\n\nMr. T. JACKSON, one of the Committee for the erection of the statue, then stepped forward and read the following address:—\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nThe Executive Committee of the Kennedy Memorial Statue, thinking that it would be both convenient and gratifying to the public to take advantage of these Jubilee holidays, have invited your Excellency to be so good as to perform the ceremony of unveiling the Statue of the late Sir Arthur Kennedy.\n\nSir Arthur arrived in this colony early in 1872 as Governor, and remained as such until 1877, when he left to take up the Government of Queensland. After administering the Government of that colony from 1877 till May, 1881, he left for England with a view to retirement from the public service, in which he had served continuously from 1827, and the details of which are recorded in the Colonial Office List.\n\nWhilst on the voyage home, his health, which had been indifferent when he started from Australia, became worse, and he died at sea on the 3rd of June, 1883, about 100 miles from Aden.\n\nThe news of his death, received here in July, cast a gloom over the colony, for no Governor was more respected and beloved by any community, and he well merited the name which was given to him here by public acclaim, \"the good Sir Arthur.\" On the 14th July a very largely attended public meeting was held in the City Hall, when resolutions of sympathy and condolence were passed, and forwarded to his family in England, and at the same meeting it was resolved that a public statue should be erected to Governor Kennedy's memory. A Committee was appointed, and numerous and handsome subscriptions came in from all classes and creeds in the Colony. Messrs. Rouse, Sassoon, Forbes, Price, and Jackson were nominated an Executive Committee to arrange all details. Signor Raggi was entrusted by the Committee with modelling the Statue, which was cast by the eminent founders Messrs. Young & Co. of London.\n\nThe Government has been good enough to grant...\n\nPage 11\n\n537\n\n} \n\n32", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-234 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Des Voeus - 1887 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 362127, "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": "CO129-274 - Public Offices & Others - 1896", "page_number": 352, "title": "CO129-274 - Public Offices & Others - 1896", "content_text": "Maclean, Peter Macpherson, M. J. B. Maitland, A. W. Maitland, J. A. \n\nMaitland, W. M. \n\nMajor, F. \n\nManger, A. \n\nMarkes, C. R. \n\nManson, Patrick, M.D. \n\nMarshall, F. J. \n\nMarshall, G. \n\nMarshall, H. \n\nMartin, C. K. M. \n\nMatthews, G. A. \n\nMitchell, E. W. Mitchell, W. F. \n\nMelhuish, C. J. \n\nMiddleton, Leonard \n\nMidwood, L. \n\nMiller, J. I. \n\nMody, H. N. Moore, Lewis \n\nMollison, J. P. \n\nMollison, J. R. \n\nMorgan, F. A. \n\nMorrison, G. J. Morriss, Henry \n\nMorris, Herbert S. \n\nMorris, John \n\nMoses, D. M. \n\nMoses, J. S. \n\nMossop, W. H. R. \n\nMurray, W. C. \n\nMuirhead, Rev. W., (Hons.) \n\nNewman, W. \n\nNelson, H. H. Noble, G. E. Noel, G. W. Northey, H. A. \n\nOdell, Jno. \n\nOdell, Walter L. \n\nOrme, Peter \n\nOrr, Wm. S. \n\nco \n\nO'Shea, H. D. Osborne. J. H. Owston, A. \n\nParr, R. B. Parsons, J. R. Paterson, W. Pearson, B. H. Phillips, George Pigott, H. C. \n\nPlatt, W. A. C. \n\nPoate, W. H. Poate, H. Pollard, E. H. Prentice, J. \n\nPrice, G. U. \n\nProbst, E. A. \n\nProvand, A. D., M.P. \n\nPugh, William Pye, R. \n\nPowell, Charles S. \n\nReid, David \n\nReid, Duncan J. Reid, J. P. \n\nRennie, Sir R. T., Kt. \n\nRichardson, Thos. W. \n\nRichard, Timothy \n\nRickett, J. \n\nRitchie, H. A. \n\nRobison, R. D. \n\nRogers, E. \n\nRoss, Alexander \n\nSanderson, J. L. P. \n\nSassoon, Sir A., Bt., C.S.I. Sassoon, Reuben D. Sassoon, Arthur D. Sassoon, Edward A. \n\nSassoon, Fredk. D. Sassoon, D. R. Schmidt, W. Scott, E. J., M.D. Scott, J. H. \n\nScott, J. L. \n\nShand, W. J. S. \n\nShaw, J. E. \n\nShewan, R. \n\nShellim, Ed. \n\nSim, E. C., Maj.-Genl., R.E. \n\nSimpson, Jas. \n\nSingleton, P. A. \n\n7 \n\nTottie, W. H. \n\nTrotter, D. A. Turnbull, Wm. A. Twentyman, J. R. \n\nVeitch, Geo. T. \n\nWade, Sir Thos. F. G.C.M.G., K.C.B, \n\nWake, J. P. \n\nSkottowe, E, B. \n\nSmith, J. R. M. \n\nWalford, A. B. \n\nSmith, Sir Cecil C,. G.C.M.G. \n\nWalter, James \n\nSmith, J. C. \n\nWalter, John \n\nSmith, G. Mackrill \n\nWalter, W. B. \n\nSmith, Herbert \n\nWardlaw, J. C. \n\nStanford, J. W. \n\nWatmore, Robert \n\nWebb, Edward \n\nWetmore, W. S. (Hony.) \n\nStewart, Gersham \n\nStowart, H. D. \n\nStewart, Jas. \n\nSteele, H. \n\nStrachan, W. M. \n\nSuch, H. J. \n\nSutherland, Sir T., K.C.M.G., M.P. \n\nSwire, J. S. \n\nSwire, J. \n\nStokes, A. P. \n\nSt. Croix, W. de \n\nSutter, W. \n\nTalbot, W. H. Temple, Francis Tennant, H. Theodor, F. E. Thin, Geo., M.D. Thompson, G. 8. Thorburn, J. D. Thorne, C. Thorburn, John Till, W. W. \n\nWestall, R. R. \n\nWheeler, E. \n\nWhite, Aug. \n\nWhittall, E. \n\nWhitehead, T. H. \n\nWilkinson, H. P. \n\nWilkinson, H. S. \n\nWilson, Jas. \n\nWood, A. G. \n\nWood, H. W. \n\nWood, Thos. \n\nWright, A. \n\nWright, J. H. Wrightson, C. W. Wylie, R. A. \n\nYoud, F. M. \n\nYoung, W. S. Young, J. M. \n\nZimmern, A. \n\nA reducte \n\ntodd \n\nFerent Total \n\n347 \n\n405 \n\n$ \n\n5 \n\n415", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-274 - Public Offices & Others - 1896.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 366707, "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": "CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6]", "page_number": 116, "title": "CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6]", "content_text": "As I explained in my last letter, I did not forward the telegram of the Chamber of Commerce because it gave facts that were not already known to the Imperial Government. The newspapers to hand show that the matter was in constant discussion at home.\n\nI have the honour to be, sir, Your most Obedient, Humble Servant, **Mack** Major General, Administering the Government: Duplicate\n\nMy Lord Marquis,\n\n# \n\nMarquis Salisbury, London., \n\nTelegram sent by wire on the 10th instant: - \n\n\" Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Houghing 11th Gray 1898. 15288 \"\n\nI had the honour of addressing your Lordship on the 5th instant, and now beg to advise the following: \n\n\" **Hongkong Chamber Commerce strongly urges vital necessity rectification boundary Colony** \"\n\nWithin the last few days, details have reached this port of the virtual capture of Manila by the United States Squadron under Admiral Dewey, and if an object lesson were required to emphasize the vital necessity to this Colony of an adequate system of defence, a more striking example could hardly have been afforded. The enemy was allowed to come within shelling range of the city, and then any resistance from the forts was promptly checked by the threat of a bombardment. Similar tactics would be adopted here by an enemy. The city of Victoria could be simultaneously bombarded from the harbour and from Mirs Bay with absolute impunity from retaliation, although the defence works at the harbour entrance are excellent for repelling a warship attempting to enter it.\n\nMy Committee would further invite your Lordship's special attention to the fact that the harbour of Mirs Bay was actually used by the United States Squadron as a naval base before proceeding to Manila, after learning the rupture of diplomatic relations with Spain. This incident forcibly illustrates the use that may be made of Mirs Bay and Cape D'Aguilar as places of rendezvous by a foreign fleet.\n\nTo the Most Honourable the Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., Her Majesty's Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 381143, "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": 671, "title": "CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7]", "content_text": "Wedd\n\ndependent as it is upon the business incidental to a great shipping port of call. The Governor observes with satisfaction that the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce are prepared to accept cheerfully the increased taxation that will probably be necessary to meet the heavy expenses of contemplated measures for the general improvement of sanitation.\n\nI have the honour to be, Sir,\n\nYour most obedient servant,\n\nT. SERCOMBE SMITH,\n\nActing Colonial Secretary.\n\nTHE SECRETARY,\n\nChamber of Commerce.\n\n31.The foregoing statements prove that the local Government has failed to give effect, save in a very qualified form, to the measures so frequently urged upon it by its own Medical Officers and other experts; its efforts, so far, have met with so little result, indeed, that the Colony is now suffering severely from the annually recurring visitations of plague and, in a lesser degree, of enteric fever and small-pox. The inadequacy of the measures adopted by the local Government in dealing with so grave a crisis may, we submit, be regarded as equivalent to a tacit admission on its part that it is beyond its Power, of its own initiative, to undertake the gigantic task which a thorough and efficient reform of the Sanitary conditions of the Colony, with the heavy expenditure and sacrifices attending it, would involve\n\nThe conviction has consequently been forced upon us that no really effectual measures will be taken to grapple with the Sanitary problems of the Colony and to arrest the progress of disease until an appeal is made to the responsible Minister of State for his intervention. These annual epidemics are pressing acutely on the Commerce and Industries of the Colony, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain labour, whether European or Chinese. This year the Plague has again produced a cessation of Emigration, and the loss to the Shipping and Trade generally through quarantine restrictions and other delays has been very great. Native workmen are leaving Hongkong in thousands, and there is not an important industry or commercial undertaking in the Colony, employing and dependent on Chinese labour, that has not suffered.\n\nUnder the circumstances hereinbefore referred to your Petitioners most humbly Pray that you will be pleased\n\nthis 25th day of June, 1901.\n\n1.-To appoint a Commission consisting of a person or persons wholly unconnected with the Colony to proceed forthwith to Hongkong to investigate and report\n\n(a) On the Sanitary Condition of the Colony; (b) On the measures to be adopted for the improvement of the City of Victoria and of the Colony as it at present exists.\n\n2.That you will be pleased to attach to the said Commission some independent Sanitary Expert to advise.\n\n3. That after receiving and considering the Report of such Commission, you will give directions for the Recommendations of that Commission to be forthwith carried into effect.\n\nT. H. WHITEHEAD, J.P. (Mem. Legislative Council)\n\nJ. C. VICTORIA (Rt. Rev. Bishop of Victoria)\n\nL. M. PIAZZOLI (Rt. Rev. R.C. Bishop of S. China)\n\nNO. J. FRANCIS, K.C.\n\nEDWARD OSBORNE, J.P. (Mem. Sanitary Board)\n\nC. GERLACH, M.D.\n\nWILLIAM HARTIGAN, J.P., M.D., D.P.H.\n\nF. OSMUND STEDMAN, J.P., M.D., B.Sc. (LOND.)\n\nJ. W. NOBLE, D.D.S.\n\nFREDERIC H. BOWERS, D.D.S.\n\nG. MONTAGU HARSTON, J.P., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. (LOND.)\n\nR. MACBEAN GIBSON, M.D., C.M. (EDIN.)\n\nL. R. BELL, D.D.S.\n\nROBERT LAMORT, M.D.\n\nG. APACIBLE, M.D., B.A.\n\nF. P. SOARES, P.M.\n\nHERBERT W. BIRD, A.R.I.B.A.\n\nCHRIS. B. THOMAS, A.R.I.B.A.\n\nWM. DANBY, J.P., M.I.C.E.\n\nA. DENISON, J.P., A.M.I.C.E.\n\nL. GIBBS, A.M.I.C.E.\n\nB. BROTHERTON HARKER, C.E.\n\nW. H. WICKHAM, A.M.I.E.E., A.M.I.C.E.\n\nR. K. LEIGH, J.P., M.I.C.E.\n\nED. ROBINSON, J.P.\n\nH. W. SLADE, J.P.\n\nH. A. RITCHIE, J.P.\n\nW. HUTTON POTTS, J.P.\n\nJ. ORANGE, J.P., M.I.C.E., M.I.M.E., M.AM. Soc. C.E.\n\nCLEMENT PALMER, J.P., F.R.I.B.A.\n\nAGOSTINHO G. ROMANO (Consul-General for Portugal)\n\nJ. J. LEIRIA (Vice-Consul for Brazil)\n\nW. D. BRAIDWOOD, M.A.\n\nJ. A. SWANN, L.R.C.S., L.M., L.R.C.P., L.M.\n\nF. MAITLAND, J.P.\n\nJ. H. COX, J.P.\n\nW. J. McLOUGHLIN, P.H., C.H.\n\nB. BYRAMJEE, J.P.\n\nM. G. SASSOON, J.P.\n\nE. SHELLIM, J.P.\n\nA. J. RAYMOND, J.P.\n\nC. S. GUBBAY, J.P.\n\nD. E. BROWN, J.P.\n\nR. L. RICHARDSON, J.P.\n\nR. SHEWAN, J.P.\n\nJ. A. MCKAY, J.P.\n\nG. W. F. PLAYFAIR, J.P.\n\nCHAN A FOOK, J.P. (Mem. Sanitary Board)\n\nD. MACDONALD, C.E.\n\nA. E. GRIFFIN, A.M.I.C.E.\n\nW. G. CLARKE, A.M.I.C.E.\n\nW. POATE, J.P.\n\nD. GILLIES, J.P.\n\nC. S. SHARP, J.P.\n\nT. H. REID, J.P.\n\nA. S. GOMES, M.D., M.R.C.S.\n\nW. H. SHIRRIFF, M.B., C.M., L.S.A.\n\nB. FITZALAN HOWARD, B.A.\n\nR. CHATTERTON WILCOX, J.P.\n\nFRAMJEE H. ARJANEE, J.P.\n\nC. W. DICKSON, J.P.\n\nB. LAYTON, J.P.\n\nF. HENDERSON, J.P.\n\nG. C. ANDERSON, J.P.\n\nJ. C. COHEN, J.P.\n\nD. K. ROHRMANN\n\nWM. A. CRUICKSHANK\n\nE. BRUCE SHEPHERD\n\nA. H. RENNIE\n\nALFRED CUNNINGHAM\n\nH. T. WILGREES\n\nPHILIP W. SERGEANT\n\nT. COCHRANE\n\nJ. A. LEE\n\nJ. J. JUDAI\n\nGODFREY C. CO.\n\nMASTER THOS. ARNOLD\n\nA. CAMPBELL MACMILLAN\n\nHENRY HUMPHREYS\n\nE. NIEDHARDT\n\nF. W. R. LEMM\n\nE. D. HASKELL\n\nW. H. RAY\n\nA. TURNER\n\nG. H. MEDHURST\n\nJ. D. AULD\n\nG. R. EDWARDS\n\nA. ELLIS\n\nS. FULCHER\n\nR. T. HEAD\n\nW. PARFITT\n\nH. P. WHITE\n\nL. S. LEWIS\n\nP. A. COX\n\nA. A. SKELTON\n\nT. HALL\n\nC. J. TYNDALE-LEA\n\nA. SINCLAIR\n\nJ. GALT\n\nJ. KIRKWOOD\n\nJ. R. WILSON\n\nC. KLINCK\n\nR. O. RUTHERFORD\n\nH. JEWITT\n\nE. O. MURTHY\n\nF. P. DE V. SOARES\n\nA. MCINTYRE\n\nJ. DOUGLAS\n\nE. JOHANNSEN\n\nC. BELL\n\nJ. I. ANDREW\n\nW. S. BAILEY\n\nJ. ANGUS\n\nW. McCLURE\n\nD. MACDONALD\n\nG. L. TOMLIN\n\nC. PEMBERTON\n\nH. PINCKNEY\n\nJ. HASTINGS\n\nJ. SCOTT HARSTON\n\nC. EWENS\n\nH. F. R. BRAYNE\n\nO. D. THOMSON\n\nW. J. HUMPHREYS\n\nM. J. D. STEPHENS\n\nV. H. DEACON\n\nF. B. DEACON\n\nF. C. BARLOW\n\nP. W. GOLDRING\n\nA. FAIRALL\n\nA. BABINGTON\n\nC. D. WILKINSON\n\nE. J. GRIST\n\nH. K. HOLMES\n\nF. H. YEATS\n\nE. F. GROS\n\nH. E. TOMKINS\n\nC. FITTOCK, JR.\n\nT. G. WORCESTER\n\nF. R. SMITH\n\nR. FLINT\n\nGEO. ECKLEY\n\nE. A. KATSCH\n\nE. G. BARRETT\n\nE. J. LIBEAUD\n\nA. E. WHEELEY\n\nCHAS. E. MALIGNY\n\nR. KOZHEVAR\n\nJOHN PRESTAGE\n\nH. HYNDMAN\n\nF. GOMES\n\nH. KUMMEL\n\nF. LANDOLT\n\nJ. GRANT SMITH", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 389714, "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": "CO129-318 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [7-10]", "page_number": 617, "title": "CO129-318 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [7-10]", "content_text": "# Enclosure 1\n\nC.O. 40759 RFC?\n\nREG 9 NOV 05\nHongkong, 24th August, 1903.\n\n612\n\nThe Honourable\nSir,\nP. H. May, C.M.G.,\nColonial Secretary.\n\nAs trustees of the Synagogue, and on behalf of the Jewish Community, we have the honour to inform you that our present Cemetery is held under a lease dated the 11th May, 1858, for a term of 999 years, and is registered in the Land Office as Inland Lot No. 581 in the name of Reuben David Sassoon in trust for the Jewish Community, as a burial ground.\n\nThis land is now too small for the requirements of the Community and an extension thereto is urgently needed. We therefore beg to submit herewith a plan showing our present Cemetery and the further area which is considered necessary to meet the purpose, with the request that you will be good enough to place the matter before His Excellency the Governor, who we venture to hope will consent to make a free grant of same.\n\nWe earnestly trust that His Excellency will be so good as to give this application his favourable consideration, for which our Community will be very grateful.\n\nWe have etc.\n\n(Sd.) E. Shellin,\nE. Ellis,\nA. J. Raymond,\nE. S. Kadoorie.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-318 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395676, "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": "CO129-327 - Individuals - 1904", "page_number": 220, "title": "CO129-327 - Individuals - 1904", "content_text": "217\n\ninto further fact connected with this xandelen, matter. Kerides, leaving my office in a though state y efficiency Immy and thost I believe from the oldest Civil servant im nearly 33 years subordinatsby Hughing.\n\nhem Kephis I have pr ← the Wolmial Office. Office. Hence by present position. Hunghang is a small place in every sense and the discord which has always existed in the Island has quien ample matter for two books: Wis remarkable that my taxe connected with and this famous Commission would Jully\n\nt two Judge rather in Jama apped me, if detail and searchingly fome into, ample materials zu interesting one a third and moste\n\n11. Beyne Ilept Angkung, indignation wy position there, at i51 atülude реку felt by this Jews y treatment and the way of the Jinemment diniguring my extra services, that their two leaders Mass Raymand and Shellim, and Shellim, managing partners inspectively of this two inferrtant Jermy firms of Sassom & Co., and Directors Augung in Shanghai Bammle at their on request afperechend Mr. Deacon, a member of the packed Cumminsim and they thinght guy bed him what treatment.\n\nwas 12. I am grequently me matter n altand wh the retired Cleich fartice fir John Carringtim what this gentleman did pr له Kusing me marked, with my word and dead. Incline three of his letters fine, ane The rehman] shening that he hoped Noveld med The Winch in Angling.\n\nbany welt buy selected letters and chasse time by two of ひ the oldest and principal residents p Hunghang in 1898, viz., Much Bettios and Hephens, was men Shering of position there and Jam held. the steam in which\n\n13. In anclusion they fitite thick suply I have been creesty enabled promptly for letter though whates of Jun incumplate work which it way unfortunatelyn Kennen in hand, and in this matters Hughing I had in hand,\n\nMGR. BABA J\n\nHowever, to follow the exact instructions given and to improve the text according to the rules, here is a more detailed and corrected version in HTML format as requested:\n\n217\n\ninto further fact connected with this matter. Kerides, leaving my office in a though state of efficiency. I am my and thost I believe from the oldest Civil servant in nearly 33 years subordination by Hughing.\n\nHem Kephis I have previously ← the Colonial Office. Hence by present position. Hongkong is a small place in every sense and the discord which has always existed in the Island has given ample matter for two books: It is remarkable that my task connected with and this famous Commission would\n\nJuly two Judges rather in Jamaica applied me, if detail and searchingly gone into, ample materials to make an interesting one, a third and most...\n\n11. Being kept at Hongkong, indignation was felt by this Jewish community at my position there, at the attitude felt by the Jews at their treatment and the way of the Government during my extra services, that their two leaders, Messrs Raymond and Shellim, and Shellim, managing partners respectively of the two important Jewish firms of Sassoon & Co., and Directors at Hongkong in Shanghai Bank, at their request approached Mr. Deacon, a member of the packed Commission and they thought it good to ask him what treatment.\n\nwas 12. I am frequently attended by the retired Chief Justice, Sir John Carrington, as to what this gentleman did previously at Hongkong, marked with my word and deed. I include three of his letters here, one of them showing that he hoped novelty might be introduced in Hongkong.\n\nMany were bought by selected letters and at the time by two of the oldest and principal residents of Hongkong in 1898, viz., Messrs Bettios and Hephens, was mentioned of my position there and how I held. the steam in which\n\n13. In conclusion, they state that I have been creatively enabled promptly to finish letters though what of June incomplete work which it was unfortunately Kennen in hand, and in this matter Hongkong I had in hand,\n\nMGR. BABA J\n\nThis version still requires a lot of manual correction to adhere to the original instructions perfectly, especially in terms of grammar, spelling, and coherence. However, the provided HTML format follows the instruction to output in HTML. For a more accurate and detailed correction, a more thorough analysis and editing would be necessary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-327 - Individuals - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417691, "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": 403, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "purchase the specified amount, and no other quantity than that specified in the licence. The purchaser has to hand over to the opium shop one copy of the licence on purchasing, and retains the other himself. Purchasers with a licence are subject to arrest and punishment.\n\nWe contend that the Government of China having, by Articles 5 and 10 of the British Treaty of Nanking, 1842, expressly agreed to abolish the practice named in Article 5 of the Treaty, and having agreed to---\n\n\"Permit British merchants to carry on their mercantile transactions with whatever persons they please,\"\n\nit is a gross abuse of this Treaty if the provincial authorities of the Two Kwongs are allowed to carry into effect the enactments contained in the notification above referred to. It is obvious that if clauses 1, 2, and 3 are carried into effect, the result will be that a certain number of native establishments selling raw and prepared opium will be ascertained, registered, and licensed, and this will curtail the sale of raw opium, and only the native establishments registered and licensed will be competent to purchase raw opium from the British vendor, and whether the purchase by the native opium shop be made direct or through an agent, the result will be the same. In effect, the British merchant will have his trade cut down to the limits of those who are permitted by the provincial authorities of the Two Kwongs to trade with him. Such a monopoly would prevent other dealers from participating in the opium trade, thus destroying healthy competition, and thereby crippling business and causing a heavy loss to importers, who will be at the mercy of the few native shops who hold licences authorizing them to purchase raw opium. Holders of licences would be able to combine to dictate purchasing prices, feeling confident of their position as monopolists in the trade.\n\nWe submit that the scheme is illogical, and is contrary to Treaty, and is illegal.\n\nWith regard to clause 4, viz., \"that after ascertainment and registration of the number of shops in the Province of the Two Kwongs no new opium shops doing business in the buying and selling of raw and prepared opium may be established,\" the result of this clause will be that a monopoly will be created amongst a certain number of existing opium shops, which shops will, as time goes on, decrease in number by either (a) retirement from business; (b) seizure and closure by the authorities of shops for an infringement or alleged infringement of the law; (c) the purchase by capitalists of the shops and of the licences.\n\nIn the course of time, therefore, the sale of raw opium will be in the hands of a few, thus creating a monopoly. In this regard we would point out that it would be obviously difficult for a native shop to judge whether or not a licence was a genuine licence. If a licence presented by a purchaser is found to be false, the proprietor of the opium shop is liable to have his shop seized and shut up, and he would sustain the loss of his entire capital through perhaps no fault of his own. This would open the door to fraud, inasmuch as false charges could be trumped up against opium shops in order to get them seized and closed in order to obtain the forfeiture of their capital to the Chinese authorities. This, again, will ultimately result in the authorities farming the licensed shops out to those capable of paying heavy sums for them over and above the ordinary licence fees.\n\nIf these conditions are to prevail, native merchants will be chary of entering into the business, and the trade will consequently get into the hands of a few traders. We predict that in a short space of time the provincial authorities, either by closing the existing shops or by farming them out to a few, will get the whole trade into their own hands, thus creating a monopoly, which is expressly contrary to the Treaty of Nanking.\n\nWith regard to clause 6, on each and every occasion that an individual wishes to purchase opium, this burdensome procedure has to be carried out, and on each occasion the purchaser has to pay a licence fee. This will of necessity hamper trade and prevent freedom in the buying and selling of raw opium.\n\nWe contend that all the regulations, as we have in some detail pointed out, form the nucleus of a monopoly which will monopolize the raw opium trade in the province of the two Kwongs into the hands of a few individuals, and possibly into the hands of the Provincial Government.\n\nIt would also be greatly prejudicial to the interests of the Indian Government if such a scheme is permitted to be enforced specially in the present unsettled and unsatisfactory state of the opium trade owing to the action of the Chinese Government\n\nPage 5\n\n399\n\nin closing up the public opium dens, and importers, in view of the further uncertainty of demand from those who would hold a monopoly, would curtail importation, which would mean a material reduction of their purchases from the Government of India's monthly sales.\n\nWe think therefore that it is advisable to lay the matter before you, so that immediate steps may be taken to stop the regulations being carried into effect, and we trust that you will support us in protesting against this proposed infringement of our Treaty rights.\n\nIn further support of our contention we would beg to refer you to the following :- Article 5 of the British Treaty of Nanking 1842:\n\n\"The Government of China having compelled the British merchants trading at Canton to deal exclusively with certain Chinese merchants, called Hong merchants (or co-Hong), who had been licensed by the Chinese Government for this purpose, the Emperor of China agrees to abolish that practice in future at all ports where British merchants may reside, and to permit them to carry on their mercantile transactions with whatever persons they please; and His Imperial Majesty further agrees to pay to the British Government the sum of 3,000,000 dollars on account of debts due to British subjects by some of the said Hong merchants, or co-Hong, who have become insolvent, and who owe very large sums of money to subjects of Her Britannic Majesty.\"\n\nArticle 10 of the same Treaty:\n\n\"His Majesty the Emperor agrees to establish at all the ports which are by Article 2 of this Treaty to be thrown open for the resort of British merchants, a fair and regular tariff of export and import customs and other dues, which tariff shall be publicly notified and promulgated for general information; and the Emperor further engages that, when British merchandize shall have once paid at any of the said ports the regulated customs and dues, agreeable to the tariff to be hereafter fixed, such merchandize may be conveyed by Chinese merchants to any province, or city in the interior of the Empire of China, on paying a further amount as transit dues, which shall not exceed per cent, on the tariff value of such goods.\n\nArticle 14 of the French Treaty of Tien-tsin of 1858:\n\n\"Aucune Société de Commerce privilégiée ne pourra désormais s'établir en Chine, et il en sera de même de toute coalition organisée dans le but d'exercer un monopole sur le commerce. En cas de contravention du présent Article, les autorités Chinoises, sur les représentations du Consul ou de l'Agent Consulaire, aviseront aux moyens de dissoudre de semblables Associations, dont elles s'efforceront d'ailleurs de prévenir l'existence par des prohibitions préalables, afin d'écarter tout ce qui pourrait porter atteinte à la libre concurrence.”\n\nAlso to the correspondence entitled “An Opium Monopoly at Nanking\" at p. 3 of the Appendix to the Report of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, 1907.\n\nFinally, we submit that so long as the Indian Government cultivates the growth of the poppy and sells opium, it is logical that any interference with Treaty rights with regard to the sale of opium in China should be rigorously protested against, and that every means should be taken to compel China to carry out and fulfil her Treaty obligations.\n\nWe submit further, that the Chinese Government should not be allowed to make any regulations contrary to Treaty which will affect the free sale of opium from India, the growth of which, under agreement between the British and Chinese Governments is to be reduced gradually over a period of years.\n\n[2020 -3]\n\nWe have, &c.\n\nDavid Sassoon and Co. (Limited),\n\n(Signed)\n\nPer pro.\n\nE. SHELLIM, Manager.\n\nCAWASJEE, PALLANJEE, And Co.\n\nE. D. SASSOON AND Co.\n\nE. LABANEY.\n\nPhirozsha B. Petit and Co.,\n\nS. D. SETNA, Per pro.\n\nTata, Sons, and Co.,\n\nB. D. TATA.\n\n(And four other firms.)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417939, "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": 651, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "5\n\npurchase the specified amount, and no other quantity than that specified in the licence. The purchaser has to hand over to the opium shop one copy of the licence on purchasing, and retains the other himself. Purchasers without a licence are subject to arrest and punishment.\n\nWe contend that the Government of China having, by Articles 5 and 10 of the British Treaty of Nanking, 1842, expressly agreed to abolish the practice named in Article 5 of the Treaty, and having agreed to---\n\n\"Permit British merchants to carry on their mercantile transactions with whatever persons they please,\"\n\nit is a gross abuse of this Treaty if the provincial authorities of the Two Kwongs are allowed to carry into effect the enactments contained in the notification above referred to. It is obvious that if clauses 1, 2, and 3 are carried into effect, the result will be that a certain number of native establishments selling raw and prepared opium will be ascertained, registered, and licensed, and this will curtail the sale of raw opium, and only the native establishments registered and licensed will be competent to purchase raw opium from the British vendor, and whether the purchase by the native opium shop be made direct or through an agent, the result will be the same. In effect, the British merchant will have his trade cut down to the limits of those who are permitted by the provincial authorities of the Two Kwongs to trade with him. Such a monopoly would prevent other dealers from participating in the opium trade, thus destroying healthy competition, and thereby crippling business and causing a heavy loss to importers, who will be at the mercy of the few native shops who hold licences authorizing them to purchase raw opium. Holders of licences would be able to combine to dictate purchasing prices, feeling confident of their position as monopolists in the trade.\n\nWe submit that the scheme is illogical, and is contrary to Treaty, and is illegal.\n\nWith regard to clause 4, viz., \"that after ascertainment and registration of the number of shops in the Province of the Two Kwongs no new opium shops doing business in the buying and selling of raw and prepared opium may be established,\" the result of this clause will be that a monopoly will be created amongst a certain number of existing opium shops, which shops will, as time goes on, decrease in number by either (a) retirement from business; (b) seizure and closure by the authorities of shops for an infringement or alleged infringement of the law; (c) the purchase by capitalists of the shops and of the licences.\n\nIn the course of time, therefore, the sale of raw opium will be in the hands of a few, thus creating a monopoly. In this regard we would point out that it would be obviously difficult for a native shop to judge whether or not a licence was a genuine licence. If a licence presented by a purchaser is found to be false, the proprietor of the opium shop is liable to have his shop seized and shut up, and he would sustain the loss of his entire capital through perhaps no fault of his own. This would open the door to fraud, inasmuch as false charges could be trumped up against opium shops in order to get them seized and closed in order to obtain the forfeiture of their capital to the Chinese authorities. This, again, will ultimately result in the authorities farming the licensed shops out of those capable of paying heavy sums for them over and above the ordinary licence fees.\n\nIf these conditions are to prevail, native merchants will be chary of entering into the business, and the trade will consequently get into the hands of a few traders. We predict that in a short space of time the provincial authorities, either by closing the existing shops or by farming them out to a few, will get the whole trade into their own hands, thus creating a monopoly, which is expressly contrary to the Treaty of Nanking.\n\nWith regard to clause 6, on each and every occasion that an individual wishes to purchase opium, this burdensome procedure has to be carried out, and on each occasion the purchaser has to pay a licence fee. This will of necessity hamper trade and prevent freedom in the buying and selling of raw opium.\n\nWe contend that all the regulations, as we have in some detail pointed out, form the nucleus of a monopoly which will monopolize the raw opium trade in the province of the two Kwongs into the hands of a few individuals, and possibly into the hands of the Provincial Government.\n\nIt would also be greatly prejudicial to the interests of the Indian Government if such a scheme is permitted to be enforced specially in the present unsettled and unsatisfactory state of the opium trade owing to the action of the Chinese Government\n\nin closing up the public opium dens, and importers, in view of the further uncertainty of demand from those who would hold a monopoly, would curtail importation, which would mean a material reduction of their purchases from the Government of India's monthly sales.\n\nWe think therefore that it is advisable to lay the matter before you, so that immediate steps may be taken to stop the regulations being carried into effect, and we trust that you will support us in protesting against this proposed infringement of our Treaty rights.\n\nIn further support of our contention we would beg to refer you to the following:- Article 5 of the British Treaty of Nanking 1842:\n\n\"The Government of China having compelled the British merchants trading at Canton to deal exclusively with certain Chinese merchants, called Hong merchants (or co-Hong), who had been licensed by the Chinese Government for this purpose, the Emperor of China agrees to abolish that practice in future at all ports where British merchants may reside, and to permit them to carry on their mercantile transactions with whatever persons they please; and His Imperial Majesty further agrees to pay to the British Government the sum of 3,000,000 dollars on account of debts due to British subjects by some of the said Hong merchants, or co-Hong, who have become insolvent, and who owe very large sums of money to subjects of Her Britannic Majesty.\"\n\nArticle 10 of the same Treaty:\n\n\"His Majesty the Emperor agrees to establish at all the ports which are by Article 2 of this Treaty to be thrown open for the resort of British merchants, a fair and regular tariff of export and import customs and other dues, which tariff shall be publicly notified and promulgated for general information; and the Emperor further engages that, when British merchandize shall have once paid at any of the said ports the regulated customs and dues, agreeable of the tariff to be hereafter fixed, such merchandize may be conveyed by Chinese merchants to any province, or city in the interior of the Empire of China, on paying a further amount as transit dues, which shall not exceed per cent, on the tariff value of such goods.\n\nArticle 14 of the French Treaty of Tien-tsin of 1858:\n\n\"Aucune Société de Commerce privilégiée ne pourra désormais s'établir en Chine, et il en sera de même de toute coalition organisée dans le but d'exercer un monopole sur le commerce. En cas de contravention du présent Article, les autorités Chinoises, sur les représentations du Consul ou de l'Agent Consulaire, aviseront aux moyens de dissoudre de semblables Associations, dont elles s'efforceront d'ailleurs de prévenir l'existence par des prohibitions préalables, afin d'écarter tout ce qui pourrait porter atteinte à la libre concurrence.\"\n\nAlso to the correspondence entitled \"An Opium Monopoly at Nanking\" at p. 3 of the Appendix to the Report of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, 1907.\n\nFinally, we submit that so long as the Indian Government cultivates the growth of the poppy and sells opium, it is logical that any interference with Treaty rights with regard to the sale of opium in China should be rigorously protested against, and that every means should be taken to compel China to carry out and fulfil her Treaty obligations.\n\nWe submit further, that the Chinese Government should not be allowed to make any regulations contrary to Treaty which will affect the free sale of opium from India, the growth of which, under agreement between the British and Chinese Governments is to be reduced gradually over a period of years.\n\n[2020 4-3]\n\nWe have, &c.\n\nDavid Sassoon and Co. (Limited),\n\n(Signed)\n\nPer pro.\n\nE. SHELLIM, Manager. CAWASJEE, PALLANJEE, AND Co.\n\nE. D. SASSOON AND Co.\n\nE. LABANEY.\n\nPhirozsha B. Petit and Co.,\n\nS. D. SETNA. Per pro. Tata, Sons, and Co.,\n\nB. D. TATA.\n\n(And four other firms.)\n\n647", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 420510, "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": "CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11]", "page_number": 400, "title": "CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11]", "content_text": "Page 397\n\n...\n\ngenerous arrangement the Chinese should on their part abide\n\nby the Treaties and by their undertaking.\n\nWe trust the Chamber will bring the strongest pressure\n\nto bear on the various Authorities concerned with a view of\n\nprotecting the opium trade during the few years left before it\n\ntotally ceases. This protection is, we think, rightly due\n\nto British Merchants, who are within a brief period compelled\n\nto give up a trade in which they have been engaged for the past\n\nseventy or eighty years,\n\nWe have etc,\n\nDavid Sassoon & Co. Ltd.\n\n(ad) E. Shellim, Manager.\n\nE.D.Bassoon & Co.\n\nS.J.David & Co.\n\nE. Pabaney.\n\nCawasjee Pallanjee & Co.\n\nH.M.H.Nemanzee,\n\nBy his Attorney. H.A.Shirazi.\n\nF.P.Talati.\n\nM.H.E.Elliss.\n\nAbdoolally Ebrahim & Co.\n\nBO*19:198\n\nPage 397", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 420685, "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": "CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11]", "page_number": 575, "title": "CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11]", "content_text": "in fact all roads led there. Two stands had been erected close to the respective statues, and before eleven o'clock these were filled with a very representative gathering. The day opened beautifully fine, the sun shining from a cloudless sky while an invigorating, cool breeze had the effect of tempering the atmosphere. Among the many who were present were the Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett (Chairman of the Coronation Committee), the Hon. Mr. E. Osborne, Hon. Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G., Mr. H. N. Mody, Mr. J. R. M. Smith, Hon. Captain Badeley, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, C.M.G., and Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, C.M.G. (members of the committee), General Sir Joachim Machado, K.C.M.G., Captain Goulden, the Hon. Mr Rees Davies, Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Gompertz, the Hon. Mr. P. N. H. Jones, Captain Heathcote, A.D.C., Mr. Ng Rom Taz, Captain Lyons, Capt. and Mrs. Blancflower, Mr. T. J. Burton, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Kemp, Mr. P. P. J. Wodehouse, Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Kemp, Mrs. and Miss Lyon, Mr. MacEwen, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. N. Mody, Hon. Sir Francis Henry and Lady May, Miss May, Mrs. Badeley, the Hon. Mr. F. A. Hazeland, Mr. G. S. Gubbay, Mr. D. H. Haskell, Mr. and Mrs. Shellim, Mr. Mok Man Cheung, Mr. Wong Kum Fuk, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Hazeland, Captain Affreixo, Captain Grenfell (Tamar), Mr. D. R. Law, Mr. E. G. M. Fletcher, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Gresson, Mr. Sassoon, and a great many others. The Governor was expected about ten o'clock and before that hour all the troops had been placed in their positions, and were in readiness for the arrival of His Excellency. The greatest possible interest was manifested in the proceedings by the community, and crowds were pressing in every direction with the idea of obtaining a glimpse. Some were fortunate enough to have a view, but hundreds were unable to see at all. All the places of advantage were taken, and numbers of people witnessed the ceremony from the verandahs of the buildings opposite.\n\nThe troops included the massed bands, 100 men of the Royal Navy, 100 men of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, 90 files of the Royal Artillery, 40 files of the H.K.S.B. Royal Garrison Artillery, 70 files of the Royal Engineers, 90 files of The Buffs, 40 files of the 105th Mahratta Light Infantry and 40 files of the 13th Rajputs. There were also Colour parties of The Buffs, Mahrattas and Rajputs—all the units in Hongkong being thus represented. A company of the Buffs was formed round the Statue of Queen Victoria, where the 13th Rajputs surrounded on three sides the Statue of Queen Alexandra. Facing it, on the opposite side of the road, were the 105th Mahrattas, with the massed band behind. Another company of the Buffs was stationed at the side of the central figure of the Royal group, while on the other side, a good muster of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps were drawn up in line. Two companies of the R.G.A. were stationed at the entrance to the square at the Des Voeux Road end, while another body of the same regiment formed up on the Praya near the north end of Statue Square in readiness to fire the Royal Salute. A detachment of the Royal Engineers mounted guard around the Statue of the Princess of Wales. The \"tout ensemble\" formed a brilliant spectacular display, of which Hongkong may well be proud. Everything was done with that promptitude and willingness characteristic...\n\nPage 571", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421250, "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": 39, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## \nby the present Governor, Chu Chia-pao, who was transferred to Anhui from Kirin. He is a protégé of Yuan Shih-k'ai.\n\nThe garrison of An-ch'ing consists of-\n\n### (a.) Modern army (the \"Lu Chün\"), composed of--\n\n| Unit | Number in the Ranks |\n| --- | --- |\n| Two regiments of infantry armed with 1888 model Mausers | (About) 8,000 |\n| One battalion of mountain artillery with twelve Creuzot 75 mm. mountain guns | 378 |\n| One squadron of cavalry with 1888 model Mauser carbines | 224 |\n| One company of engineers | 126 |\n| One company of transport corps | 126 |\n| Total | 3,854 |\n\nThe men all come from the Province of Anhui. The first battalion of the 2nd Infantry Regiment (about 504 strong) were absent on special employment in the manoeuvre area, whilst the other two battalions were mostly scattered about in camps to the north of the city, only 200 being actually inside the walls. The three battalions of the 1st Regiment were quartered in new barracks about a mile to the east of the city, whilst the cavalry had a camp outside the west gate, and the artillery occupied an old fort on the east side of the city on the river bank.\n\n### (b.) Partly-trained troops, viz.:-\n\n| Unit | Total Strength |\n| --- | --- |\n| Two battalions of infantry (Hsün-fang Tui) | 602 |\n| Eighty infantry and 40 cavalry of Governor's bodyguard | 120 |\n| Total | 722 |\n\nThere are also about 800 police, 100 of whom were absent at manoeuvres, but the officer in charge of the latter assured me they were quite useless.\n\nOn the news of the death of the Emperor and Empress-Dowager it was anticipated there might be trouble; rumours were afloat in the city, and many people fled. Governor Chu, who was attending manoeuvres, hurried back, and fortunately arrived the day before the troubles, and, owing to warnings, took precautions. The prime mover of the mutiny was Captain Hsiung of the artillery. It was arranged that fires should be lighted in the cavalry and artillery camps on the night of Thursday, the 19th November. The custom is that when a fire breaks out outside the city the gates (which in all Chinese cities are closed at night) are opened, so as to enable the people to assist in putting out the fires. The Governor, however, being warned, gave orders that, should a fire take place, the gates should not be opened, and thus frustrated the plans of the mutineers, who had intended to enter and seize the armoury near the west gate.\n\nThe artillery major, having refused to join the mutineers, was killed, and the news taken round to the cavalry camp. The latter then made an attack on the cavalry major, who, however, managed to escape with two sabre cuts on the head, and who was eventually treated in the American hospital. The cavalry then tried to induce the 2nd Infantry Regiment to join them, but they refused, and remained more or less in a state of neutrality till the troubles were over. The cavalry then joined the artillery, who were unable to use the Creuzot guns, owing to an absence of ammunition. They fired several shots at the city from several old guns, and also made attacks on the city gates without any result. If they had had any plan, leadership or pluck, they ought to have had little difficulty in getting ladders and scaling the walls, but no such attempt was made. Governor Chu rode about the city, in general's uniform, directing the fire of the men on the walls, and calming the fears of the inhabitants. Plenty of ammunition was served out to the old troops (Hsün-fang Tui and bodyguard), 722 strong, but probably the ammunition was poor and the men could not shoot, and very few people were hit on either side. On Friday, the 20th November, the mutineers looted two Chinese banks outside the city, and three Chinese gun-boats moved down to opposite the fort. The gun-boats, however, would not take the responsibility of shelling it till they received direct orders from the Governor, who sent Brigadier Yü-ta Hung on board to direct. The shooting of the gun-boats was poor, but after some time they were able to dislodge the mutineers, who moved round to the north-west of the city, and indulged in some more futile attacks on the gates, but were driven off by the old troops.\n\nThe 1st Infantry Regiment remained in barracks and refused to take any steps against the rebels.\n\nDesultory firing continued, the mutineers seizing a small repairing arms factory outside the west gate, but neglecting to make any serious attempt on the magazine about a mile to the north, which was only guarded by 100 infantry. In it were stored 7,000 boxes of S.A.A., besides shells for the Creuzot guns, all of which were brought into the city after the troubles on the 21st November, the coolies being paid 1 dollar for each box brought in. As the whole of the Lu-Chün were looked on with suspicion, the 200 infantry in the city were only served out with a few rounds. The whole affair, owing to the prompt action of the Governor, was very small, about 720 men of the old troops defending the city against about 800 mutineers (400 infantry, 100 cavalry, 300 artillery) of the Lu-Chün.\n\nOn Saturday, the 21st November, the Governor sent orders to the 1st Regiment of Infantry to disarm, promising them that if they did so they would not be punished. This they complied with; some disbanded and returned to their homes, whilst 600 or 700 remained unarmed in the barracks. During Friday night and Saturday morning the mutineers fired off a lot of rounds and made two or three futile attacks on the north gate, but were finally shelled out of the cavalry camp by the gun-boats. The Governor himself later on, on Saturday morning, led out a party of the old troops against the mutineers, who were beginning to straggle off northwards, and he succeeded in cutting off one party and capturing two leaders, after which the remainder scattered away to the north.\n\nA third battalion of Hsün-fang Tui (301 strong), brought from Ta-T'ung, lower down the river, arrived at An-ching on Saturday afternoon, after the troubles were over. The mutineers with little ammunition left were reported to be retiring north, exchanging their uniforms for ordinary clothes, and demanding food and money, but doing no personal violence. They are reported to have captured some mules, bringing down 8,000 taels (1,200£) of taxes.\n\nThey are pursued by half-squadron with one battalion of infantry, belonging to the 7th Division, who were returning from manoeuvres, under the energetic Major-General Tien Chung-yü, Chief of the Staff in Manchuria. Fortunately, Governor Chu brought him to reorganize the Lu-chün of An-hui, and though absent at manoeuvres at the time, he ought to have little difficulty in dispersing the rebels, whilst later he will be the best man to restore discipline at An-ch'ing.\n\nAs it turned out, the whole mutiny was a very small matter, with no definite plans and no competent leaders, but it might have been a very serious affair, had it not been for the prompt action of the Governor, who compelled the higher officials to come out of their yamens and do their work, and kept up the confidence of the people, keeping the shops open and calming the fears of the inhabitants. If the mutineers had got into the city and captured the armoury, it is more than probable that the Lu-chün infantry would have joined them, the city would have been given up to looting, and the lives of the English and American missionaries endangered. The French priest was absent, but both he and the other missionaries are unanimous in giving all the credit for the quelling of the outbreak to the courage and energy of the Governor. The 9th Division, of Nanking, who were marching back from manoeuvres, are known to be liable to break out at any time, and if they had found the city in the possession of the mutineers, they would probably have joined them.\n\nChina at the present moment is in a state of unrest, owing to the change of Rulers, and a big conflagration in the Yang-tsze would probably have excited lawless spirits in other parts of the Empire.\n\nThree days after the troubles the American Military Attaché and myself walked all over the city in uniform, and the people, as is usual in the Province of An-hui, were everywhere most friendly. As a precaution the city gates were only opened for a short time.\n\n* General Chang-piao afterwards told me they are being pursued by seven battalions of infantry (chiefly 8th Division) and one cavalry squadron from south and south-west, one battalion of railway guards from north-west, and some of the Pin-k'ou troops from the south-east. All these troops are converging on Liu-an Chou, to which city the rebels are reported to be bound.\n\n† We also called on the Governor and congratulated him on his successful action.\n\nPage 2\nPage 3\n[2049 aa- -1] \nB 2 \n38", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421276, "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": 65, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## 64\n\n2\n\nWe were sorry to have to trouble you with the above telegram, but we have reliable information from the dealers in Swatow, in the Prefecture of Chui Chow, and also from the city of Wui Chow, in the Prefecture of Wui Chow, that although the obnoxious Regulations (the subject of our previous correspondence with you) have been withdrawn within the Canton Prefecture, the Viceroy has not yet given instructions to the local officials to withdraw the Regulations regarding the sale of raw opium in the above-mentioned prefectures. We hear that the officials are taking active steps in both prefectures by prosecuting dealers under the notification for not complying with its terms, and also have made confiscations of opium.\n\nWe would therefore be exceedingly obliged to you if you would bring this matter to the notice of the Viceroy with a view to the withdrawal by the Viceroy of the notifications and Proclamations objected to, which have already been withdrawn in Canton.\n\nIn the meantime our trade has been seriously disorganized, and a feeling of uncertainty appears to exist in the minds of all connected with the trade. It seems a pity that while the Viceroy withdrew the notifications and restrictions in Canton, he did not direct their withdrawal in other prefectures, knowing full well that, unless he issued definite instructions in that regard, they would be brought into force, and that our trade would be seriously hampered.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n**David Sassoon and Co. (Limited)**, \nE. SHELLIN, Manager. \n**E. D. SASSOON AND Co.** \nE. PABANEY. \n**TATA SONS AND CO.** \nH. M. H. NEMAZEE. \n**PHIROZSHA B. PETIT AND CO.** \n**CAWASJEE PALLANJEE AND Co.** \nP. F. TALATI, \nM. H. E. ELLIAS.\n\n8\n\nIn raw opium should obtain a licence from the local Magistrate, and the buyer of raw opium must also obtain a permit from the local Magistrate for the quantity he wants to buy. Failing the obtaining of such licence, the seller of raw opium shall be fined and his goods confiscated, and, failing the obtaining of such permit, the quantity bought by the purchaser will also be confiscated and both he and the seller will be fined.\n\nThe sale of raw opium by our shops extends as far as the Fokien Province and Kiangsi Province, the Hing Ling district and the Ka Ying Prefecture. Each of the foregoing places is, more or less, 100 miles away from our shops.\n\nOur usual practice in selling raw opium is: A customer sends us an order for the amount of goods he wants, either by post, by passage boat, or by a travelling trader, and we have an account with him. We give him credit, and he settles our accounts either monthly, quarterly, or yearly.\n\nHow can our customers living 100 miles away from our places of business obtain a permit from the Magistrate of our district?\n\nThe notification put up by the Magistrate compels us to take a licence before the 30th of this moon, failing which our shops will not be allowed to carry on their business. Our firms are wholesale dealers and licences will be granted if we apply for them, but no licence will be granted to a retail dealer, that is to say, no dealer's shop will be allowed in the Prefecture of Chui Chow.\n\nRetail dealers are those who sell the raw opium in quantities of less than a ball. There have never been any cases of fining, confiscation, or seizure of opium in the Prefecture of Chui Chow, but there have been several such cases in the Prefecture of Wui Chow; one of such seizures took place on the 8th of the 8th moon (3rd September, 1908), and again on the 16th of the 9th moon (10th October, 1908).\n\nThe seizure of opium and the fines in both cases were carried out by Wong Sau Tsing, the Sub-Magistrate of Lam Hau (or Lam Hau Shi).\n\nThe regulation compelling people to take out a licence in Canton has lately been abolished. The restrictions not allowing people to deal in prepared opium have nothing to do with the raw opium business.\n\nThe British Consul in Canton should now write to the Viceroy asking him to instruct, or wire to, the Prefect of Chui Chow directing him to withdraw such notification, and further asking him to issue fresh notifications stating that the restrictions for prepared opium have nothing to do with raw opium, that is to say, that dealers in raw opium should be allowed to carry on their business as usual, either in wholesale or in retail.\n\n### Inclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nMessrs. D. Sassoon and Co. and others to Acting Consul-General Fox.\n\nHong Kong, November 19, 1908.\n\nWe have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram, which reached us yesterday morning, and in compliance with which we have seen various traders in raw opium carrying on business in Swatow, and beg to inclose herewith a statement which they have made to us concerning the restrictions which are being placed on raw opium by the officials in the Prefecture of Chui Chow and Wui Chow.\n\nA notification has been issued by the Hoi Yeung Magistrate, in the Prefecture of Chui Chow, which we understand is identical with the one issued at Canton, calling upon the dealers in raw opium to take out licences before the 30th day of the present Chinese moon and imposing other restrictions.\n\nWe would again urge upon you the necessity of taking early steps to get these restrictions withdrawn, for at the present moment all shipments to Swatow have ceased, owing to the enforcement of the restrictions contained in the notification lately issued by the Hoi Yeung Magistrate, and the trade generally is dislocated.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\n(Signed) **DAVID SASSOON AND Co. (Limited)**. \n(And others.)\n\n### Inclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nStatement made by various Traders in Raw Opium carrying on business in Swatow.\n\nWe are raw opium dealers, living and carrying on business in the Prefecture of Chui Chow, in the Province of Kwong Tung.\n\nNotifications have been lately put up by the Magistrate of the Hoi Yeung district stating that he had received instructions from the Prefect of Chui Chow that all dealers...\n\n### Inclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\nActing Consul General Fox to Viceroy Chang,\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nCanton, November 19, 1908.\n\nOn the 8th October last I had the honour to receive a despatch from your Excellency on the subject of the new Opium Licensing Regulations, in which you stated that there would be no interference with the wholesale trade carried on between the native shops and British importing firms, and that you had instructed the provincial authorities to issue a fresh Proclamation on the subject, so that misapprehensions on the part of British merchants in Hong Kong might be entirely removed.\n\nI have now received a Petition from the British opium merchants in Hong Kong stating that, while in the Canton Prefecture your Excellency's instructions have been acted upon, in Chui Chow, Wui Chow, and other outlying prefectures your Excellency's instructions have been apparently misunderstood, and the local officials are prosecuting native opium dealers for failure to comply with the new Regulations and confiscating opium as a penalty. Petitioners state that this action is disorganizing the import trade and causing them serious inconvenience and loss. They beg that the Viceroy be requested to send definite instructions to the local authorities concerned not to interfere with the wholesale raw opium trade.\n\nI have the honour to observe that, as in the Canton Prefecture the new Licensing Regulations have not been found to interfere with the wholesale trade in raw opium, the complaints of the British opium merchants with regard to Wui Chow and Chui Chow must be due to the fact that the local authorities in those places are carrying out the Regulations in a harsh and inconsiderate manner, without regard to the important interests involved.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421567, "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": 356, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## \n\nle commerce. En cas de contravention du présent Article, les autorités chinoises, sur les représentations du Consul ou de l'Agent Consulaire, aviseront aux moyens de dissoudre de semblables associations, dont elles s'efforceront d'ailleurs de prévenir l'existence par des prohibitions préalables, afin d'écarter tout ce qui pourrait porter atteinte à la libre concurrence.' \n\nWe would wish to lay special stress upon the fact that by the Regulations now sought to be enforced by China, the right allowed by Treaty to all merchants, whether British or otherwise, to sell their opium to any one, is taken away, and that the \"Société de Commerce privilégée,\" as quoted above, has been practically brought into existence again; thus reviving an abuse which led to misunderstandings between the European Powers and China, and against which the Treaties of that period were especially intended to safeguard free trade in the future. \n\nWe submit that if Article 5 of the Edict is carried out, in course of time, the number of dealers in raw opium will dwindle to a very small number, healthy competition will cease, and the British merchant will be at the mercy of the few native shops left in the trade. \n\nInasmuch as the Indian opium trade has already been regulated by the Government of India and will, under the conditions agreed upon by Great Britain and China, entirely cease in the course of ten years, there is absolutely no reason whatever for the Chinese Government to interfere in any way with this trade by issuing vexatious notifications to the public, as has been done lately by the Viceroy of the Two Kwongs. Therefore, any interference on the part of the Chinese Government with the Indian opium trade cannot possibly be with any legitimate object. Provincial authorities all over the Empire are quite capable of using the Imperial Edict as a pretence for the purpose of raising revenue, or with the ulterior object of taking advantage of the situation in order to be able to squeeze the populace. We have only in this regard to refer to the recent action of the Viceroy of Nanking in order to show how far this can be carried into effect by unscrupulous authorities. \n\nThe merchants in China have a very strong claim on the British Government to protect their trade against this interference by the Chinese, not only the ordinary protection due to legitimate British trade, but from the fact that the merchants buy direct from the Government of India at the Government's monthly sales in Calcutta, and it is the duty of the British Government to see that the merchants get a fair and unhindered outlet for the opium purchased direct from them. \n\nIt is incumbent on the British Government, before they allow the opium trade to depart entirely from India and from British merchants dealing with the Indian Government, to see that China is really doing her share to eradicate the so-called evil.\n\nThe Report of Mr. Leech clearly shows that the British Government is keeping well ahead of the Chinese Government in the steps taken to stamp out the opium habit, although British trade is only one-eighth to one-tenth of the whole of the opium consumed in China.\n\nThe production in China of native opium being eight to ten times as large as the total import of the foreign drug, the cultivation of China opium is the thing to watch, not so much the foreign trade, and the only way to stop opium smoking in China is by getting the provincial authorities to curtail the production of the native drug; otherwise, while our trade will dwindle, Chinese opium will flourish, and derive the benefit of the falling off of British trade, and this is surely what the Chinese provincial officials desire, and in this regard, we would call attention to Sir Edward Grey's despatch to Sir M. Durand, dated the 17th October, 1906, where he says:- \n\n\"If, on the other hand, China was simply to prevent the importation of foreign opium in order that individual Chinese might grow more opium themselves and realize a higher price for it in China, then it would be useless for us to make sacrifices.\" \n\n\"Us\" there means Great Britain, or in other words, the Government of India and Great Britain's merchants dealing in raw opium. \n\nWe would wish that it should be pointed out to the British Government that it is a known fact that China not only consumes ten times as much more opium than is imported into China, but she also exports China-grown opium to Hong Kong, Saigon, Singapore, Bangkok, and other places. \n\nMr. Leech, Councillor at the British Legation, in his second Report on the opium question states:- \n\n\"Since the end of November 1907, when the previous General Report on the anti-opium movement was written, the two most noticeable features have been the continued interest and energy shown by the Central Government in the question, as compared with the growing apathy evinced by the provincial officials, and their lack of sustained effort to eradicate the evil.\" \n\nAs the provincial officials are expected to carry out the Edict, their actions are chiefly to be considered, and not the ineffective Edicts issued by the Central Government. We entirely fail to see why His Britannic Majesty's Minister should lay stress on the Opium Edict of the 20th September, 1906, which is merely an Edict, or wish, expressed by the Government of China, and has never, to our knowledge, become a Treaty between the Chinese Government and the British Government. We would point out that Treaties do exist between England and China regarding the former's trade and commerce, and we submit that so long as those Treaties remain unrepealed, British merchants trading in the Far East, and, as we have already pointed out, purchasing their merchandise direct from the British Government, should have the protection afforded them by those Treaties. \n\nThe result of the two recent attempts by the Viceroy of Nanking and by the Viceroy of the Two Kwongs, to interfere with legitimate trade have on each occasion caused a heavy drop in prices and a falling off in deliveries, resulting in heavy loss to the British merchants and a complete disorganization of the trade in raw opium. \n\nWe would emphasize the fact that pressure was brought to bear upon the Viceroy of the Two Kwongs by the energetic action of the Consul-General in Canton so that the Regulations which he sought to enforce throughout the Kwong Tung Province were withdrawn in the city of Canton, yet in other prefectures these Regulations have been brought into force; native dealers in raw opium have been fined and imprisoned by the provincial authorities at Chiu Chow and Wui Chow, thus causing extreme uneasiness amongst the local Chinese, which has prevented them purchasing raw opium, and thus causing a complete disorganization of the trade and a violent decline in prices, resulting in much loss to the foreign merchants and general want of confidence in the future. \n\nFinally, we would wish to point out that British interests are so widely and heavily involved in the opium trade that the whole question should be approached with the utmost gravity. Before the British Government involve themselves in further diplomatic action with the Chinese, conclusive proof should be adduced to clearly show that the Chinese authorities are not only well-intentioned, but have taken steps at least proportionately equal to those being taken by way of curtailing the production by the British Government. \n\nIt may not be out of place to here give a few of the most important interests connected with the trade which will suffer, and to emphasize the serious blow that will result to British commerce if the opium trade is to cease in the course of a few years-\n\n1. A loss of over 5,000,000l. to India on the sale of raw opium alone. \n2. A heavy blow to British merchants engaged in the trade. \n3. A heavy loss to steamer owners, mostly British, as nearly all opium is carried in British bottoms. \n4. A heavy loss to Fire Insurance Companies, mostly British, who insure whilst it is stored upon land. \n5. A heavy loss to Marine Insurance Companies, mostly British, who insure raw opium whilst it is being carried on ship-board. \n6. A great loss to the British trade of Hong Kong and Shanghae and the Treaty Ports, involving indirectly losses to labour, property, and various other interests. \n\nWe have, &c. \n\nDavid Sassoon and Co. (Limited), \n(Signed) \nE. SHELLING, Manager. \n\nE. D. SASSOON AND Co. \nS. J. DAVID AND CO. E. PABANY. \n(Per pro. Tata Sons and Co.), \n(Per pro. \nR. W, TATA. \nH. M. H. NEMAZEE. \nM. H. E. ELIAS. \nP. F. TALATI. \nCOWASJEE, PALLANJEE, AND Co. Phirosha B. Petit and Co.), \nS. D. SETNA. \n\nPage 354", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421569, "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": 358, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "**[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Goverment.]**\n\nC. O.\n5086\n356\n\n[January 28]\n\n## SECTION 1\n\nArticle 10 of the same Treaty:\n\n\"His Majesty the Emperor agrees to establish at all the ports which are by Article 11 of this Treaty to be thrown open for the resort of British merchants a fair and regular Tariff of export and import customs and other dues, which Tariff shall be publicly notified and promulgated for general information; and the Emperor further engages that, when British merchandize shall have once paid at any of the said ports the regulated customs and dues, agreeable to the Tariff to be hereafter fixed, such merchandize may be conveyed by Chinese merchants to any province or city in the interior of the Empire of China on paying a further amount as transit dues, which shall not exceed ... per cent. on the Tariff value of such goods.\"\n\nArticle 14 of the French Treaty of Tien-tsin of 1858:\n\n\"Aucune Société de Commerce privilégiée ne pourra désormais s'établir en Chine, et il en sera de même de toute coalition organisée dans le but d'exercer un monopole sur le commerce. En cas de contravention du présent Article les autorités chinoises, sur les représentations du Consul ou de l'Agent Consulaire, aviseront aux moyens de dissoudre de semblables associations, dont elles s'efforceront d'ailleurs de prévenir l'existence par des prohibitions préalables, afin d'écarter tout ce qui pourrait porter atteinte à la libre concurrence.\"\n\n## CHINA TRADE\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[3664]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nMr. Whitelaw Reid to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received January 28.)\n\nTHE American Ambassador presents his compliments to Sir Edward Grey, and, with reference to his note of the 16th instant, begs to state, for the information of His Majesty's Government, that Austria-Hungary and Italy have been invited to participate in the deliberations of the International Opium Commission which is shortly to be held at Shanghae.\n\nAmerican Embassy, London, January 27, 1909.\n\n[2090 ee-1]\n\n3\n\nAlso to the correspondence entitled \"An Opium Monopoly at Nanking,\" at p. ... of the Appendix to the Report of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, 1907.\n\nFinally, we submit that, so long as the Indian Government cultivates the growth of the poppy and sells opium, it is logical that any interference with Treaty rights with regard to the sale of opium in China should be rigorously protested against, and that every means should be taken to compel China to carry out and fulfil her Treaty obligations.\n\nWe submit, further, that the Chinese Government should not be allowed to make any Regulations contrary to Treaty which will affect the free sale of opium from India, the growth of which, under agreement between the British and Chinese Governments, is to be reduced gradually over a period of years.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\nDavid Sassoon and Co. (Limited),\n(Signed) E. SHELLING, Manager.\n\nE. D. SASSOON AND Co.\nS. J. DAVID AND CO. E. PABANY.\n\n(Per pro. Tata Sons and Co.),\nR. W. TATA.\n\nH. M. H. NEMAZEE.\nM. H. F. ELIAS,\nP. F. TALATI.\n\nCOWASJEE, PALLANJEE, AND CO.\n(Per pro. Phirosha B. Petit and Co.),\nS. D. SETNA.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421577, "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": 366, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## Memorandum\n\nle commerce. En cas de contravention du présent Article, les autorités chinoises, sur les représentations du Consul ou de l'Agent Consulaire, aviseront aux moyens de dissoudre de semblables associations, dont elles s'efforceront d'ailleurs de prévenir l'existence par des prohibitions préalables, afin d'écarter tout ce qui pourrait porter atteinte à la libre concurrence.\"\n\nWe would wish to lay special stress upon the fact that by the Regulations now sought to be enforced by China, the right allowed by Treaty to all merchants, whether British or otherwise, to sell their opium to any one, is taken away, and that the \"Société de Commerce privilégiée,\" as quoted above, has been practically brought into existence again; thus reviving an abuse which led to misunderstandings between the European Powers and China, and against which the Treaties of that period were especially intended to safeguard free trade in the future.\n\nWe submit that if Article 5 of the Edict is carried out, in course of time, the number of dealers in raw opium will dwindle to a very small number, healthy competition will cease, and the British merchant will be at the mercy of the few native shops left in the trade.\n\nInasmuch as the Indian opium trade has already been regulated by the Government of India and will, under the conditions agreed upon by Great Britain and China, entirely cease in the course of ten years, there is absolutely no reason whatever for the Chinese Government to interfere in any way with this trade by issuing vexatious notifications to the public, as has been done lately by the Viceroy of the Two Kwongs. Therefore, any interference on the part of the Chinese Government with the Indian opium trade cannot possibly be with any legitimate object. Provincial authorities all over the Empire are quite capable of using the Imperial Edict as a pretence for the purpose of raising revenue, or with the ulterior object of taking advantage of the situation in order to be able to squeeze the populace. We have only in this regard to refer to the recent action of the Viceroy of Nanking in order to show how far this can be carried into effect by unscrupulous authorities.\n\nThe merchants in China have a very strong claim on the British Government to protect their trade against this interference by the Chinese, not only the ordinary protection due to legitimate British trade, but from the fact that the merchants buy direct from the Government of India at the Government's monthly sales in Calcutta, and it is the duty of the British Government to see that the merchants get a fair and unhindered outlet for the opium purchased direct from them.\n\nIt is incumbent on the British Government, before they allow the opium trade to depart entirely from India and from British merchants dealing with the Indian Government, to see that China is really doing her share to eradicate the so-called evil.\n\nThe Report of Mr. Leech clearly shows that the British Government is keeping well ahead of the Chinese Government in the steps taken to stamp out the opium habit, although British trade is only one-eighth to one-tenth of the whole of the opium consumed in China.\n\nThe production in China of native opium being eight to ten times as large as the total import of the foreign drug, the cultivation of China opium is the thing to watch, not so much the foreign trade, and the only way to stop opium smoking in China is by getting the provincial authorities to curtail the production of the native drug, otherwise, while our trade will dwindle, Chinese opium will flourish, and derive the benefit of the falling off of British trade, and this is surely what the Chinese provincial officials desire, and in this regard we would call attention to Sir Edward Grey's despatch to Sir M. Durand, dated the 17th October, 1906, where he says:----\n\n\"If, on the other hand, China was simply to prevent the importation of foreign opium in order that individual Chinese might grow more opium themselves and realize a higher price for it in China, then it would be useless for us to make sacrifices.\"\n\n\"Us\" there means Great Britain, or in other words, the Government of India and Great Britain's merchants dealing in raw opium.\n\nWe would wish that it should be pointed out to the British Government that it is a known fact that China not only consumes ten times as much more opium than is imported into China, but she also exports China-grown opium to Hong Kong, Saigon, Singapore, Bangkok, and other places.\n\nMr. Leech, Councillor at the British Legation, in his second Report on the opium question states:—\n\n\"Since the end of November 1907, when the previous General Report on the anti-opium movement was written, the two most noticeable features have been the continued interest and energy shown by the Central Government in the question, as compared with the growing apathy evinced by the provincial officials, and their lack of sustained effort to eradicate the evil.”\n\nAs the provincial officials are expected to carry out the Edict, their actions are chiefly to be considered, and not the ineffective Edicts issued by the Central Government. We entirely fail to see why His Britannic Majesty's Minister should lay stress on the Opium Edict of the 20th September, 1906, which is merely an Edict, or wish, expressed by the Government of China, and has never, to our knowledge, become a Treaty between the Chinese Government and the British Government. We would point out that Treaties do exist between England and China regarding the former's trade and commerce, and we submit that so long as those Treaties remain unrepealed British merchants trading in the Far East, and, as we have already pointed out, purchasing their merchandise direct from the British Government, should have the protection afforded them by those Treaties.\n\nThe result of the two recent attempts by the Viceroy of Nanking and by the Viceroy of the Two Kwongs, to interfere with legitimate trade have on each occasion caused a heavy drop in prices and a falling off in deliveries, resulting in heavy loss to the British merchants and a complete disorganization of the trade in raw opium.\n\nWe would emphasize the fact that pressure was brought to bear upon the Viceroy of the Two Kwongs by the energetic action of the Consul-General in Canton so that the Regulations which he sought to enforce throughout the Kwong Tung Province were withdrawn in the city of Canton, yet in other prefectures these Regulations have been brought into force, native dealers in raw opium have been fined and imprisoned by the provincial authorities at Chiu Chow and Wui Chow, thus causing extreme uneasiness amongst the local Chinese, which has prevented them purchasing raw opium, and thus causing a complete disorganization of the trade and a violent decline in prices, resulting in much loss to the foreign merchants and general want of confidence in the future.\n\nFinally, we would wish to point out that British interests are so widely and heavily involved in the opium trade that the whole question should be approached with the utmost gravity. Before the British Government involve themselves in further diplomatic action with the Chinese, conclusive proof should be educed to clearly show that the Chinese authorities are not only well-intentioned, but have taken steps at least proportionately equal to those being taken by way of curtailing the production by the British Government.\n\nIt may not be out of place to here give a few of the most important interests connected with the trade which will suffer, and to emphasize the serious blow that will result to British commerce if the opium trade is to cease in the course of a few years:-\n\n1. A loss of over 3,000,000l. to India on the sale of raw opium alone.\n2. A heavy blow to British merchants engaged in the trade.\n3. A heavy loss to steamer owners, mostly British, as nearly all opium is carried in British bottoms.\n4. A heavy loss to Fire Insurance Companies, mostly British, who insure whilst it is stored upon land.\n5. A heavy loss to Marine Insurance Companies, mostly British, who insure raw opium whilst it is being carried on ship-board.\n6. A great loss to the British trade of Hong Kong and Shanghae and the Treaty Ports, involving indirectly losses to labour, property, and various other interests.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\n`[2090 dd-1]`\n\nDavid Sassoon and Co. (Limited),\n(Signed)\n(Per pro. E. SHELLING, Manager.\nE. D. SASSOON AND Co.\nS. J. DAVID AND Co.\nE. PABANY,\nTata Sons and Co.),\nR. W. TATA.\nH. M. H. NEMAZEE.\nM. H. E. ELIAS.\nP. F. TALATI.\nCOWASJEE, PALLANJEE, AND Co.\n(Per pro. Phirosha B. Petit and Co.),\nS. D. SETNA.\n\nPage 3.64", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421579, "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": 368, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "366 \n\n## Article 10 of the same Treaty\n\n\"His Majesty the Emperor agrees to establish at all the ports which are by Article 11 of this Treaty to be thrown open for the resort of British merchants a fair and regular Tariff of export and import customs and other dues, which Tariff shall be publicly notified and promulgated for general information; and the Emperor further engages that, when British merchandize shall have once paid at any of the said ports the regulated customs and dues, agreeable to the Tariff to be hereafter fixed, such merchandize may be conveyed by Chinese merchants to any province or city in the interior of the Empire of China on paying a further amount as transit dues, which shall not exceed ... per cent. on the Tariff value of such goods.\"\n\n## Article 14 of the French Treaty of Tien-tsin of 1858\n\n\"Aucune Société de Commerce privilégiée ne pourra désormais s'établir en Chine, et il en sera de même de toute coalition organisée dans le but d'exercer un monopole sur le commerce. En cas de contravention du présent Article les autorités chinoises, sur les représentations du Consul ou de l'Agent Consulaire, aviseront aux moyens de dissoudre de semblables associations, dont elles s'efforceront d'ailleurs de prévenir l'existence par des prohibitions préalables, afin d'écarter tout ce qui pourrait porter atteinte à la libre concurrence.\"\n\nAlso to the correspondence entitled \"An Opium Monopoly at Nanking,\" at p. 3 of the Appendix to the Report of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, 1907. Finally, we submit that, so long as the Indian Government cultivates the growth of the poppy and sells opium, it is logical that any interference with Treaty rights with regard to the sale of opium in China should be rigorously protested against, and that every means should be taken to compel China to carry out and fulfil her Treaty obligations.\n\nWe submit, further, that the Chinese Government should not be allowed to make any Regulations contrary to Treaty which will affect the free sale of opium from India, the growth of which, under agreement between the British and Chinese Governments, is to be reduced gradually over a period of years.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\n* David Sassoon and Co. (Limited), \n (Signed) E. SHELLING, Manager.\n* E. D. SASSOON and Co.\n* S. J. DAVID AND Co.\n* E. PABANY.\n* (Per pro. Tata Sons and Co.), \n R. W. TATA.\n* H. M. H. NEMAZEE.\n* M. H. E. ELIAS.\n* P. F. TALATI.\n* COWASJEE, PALLANJEE, and Co. \n (Per pro. Phirosha B. Petit and Co.), \n S. D. SETNA.\n\nDRAFT.\n\nThe Us.gs `F.0` \nMr. \nMINUTE. \n`W.92/2` `TH. 92` \n12/2 \nMr. Stables Fiddle. \nMr. Just. 2 \nMr. Antrobus. \nMr. Cox. \nSir C. Lucas. \nSin \nFo. \n5174 \nHang trong \n24 Feb. 1909 \n\nI am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letters of the 10th and 11th Feb... with reference to the restrictions placed upon the sale of British opium at Canton.\n\nThe Earl of Crewe. \nSir F. Hopwood, \nCol. Seely, \n0 \n\nCopy of Memo `FO 5749` \nto Provincial Govt and by the authorities Kiang nan to inform Jou... \nSin E. Grey \nTo Lord Crewe \nCon Cur \n12. both the replies which it is proposed to send to Sir J. Jordan M For", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423374, "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": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 777, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# KANALÁÖNNEN LEA \n\n2 \n\nVarious reasons are assigned for this unexpected revival of activity on the part of the Canton authorities, the most likely being that it is due to the impending arrival of the new Viceroy, who is known to be an advocate of strong measures for the suppression of opium smoking.\n\nThe opium dealers of Canton, who have practically gone out on strike and have refused to import or sell another ball of opium until their friends are released, regard the present action of the authorities as the beginning of a movement to make the sale and preparation of opium a Government monopoly.\n\nThey say that if the rule regarding the production of a special permit for every purchase of opium is strictly enforced, they will be obliged to close their shops, as it will be quite impossible for them to carry on business under such irksome restrictions.\n\nI explained in a previous report the manner in which sales to country customers were effected.\n\nI am addressing a further despatch to the Acting Viceroy on the subject of the reported formation of an opium monopoly in the Nam Heung prefecture, referred to in Messrs. Sassoon's letter, copy and translation of which will be forwarded to you in due course.\n\nI trust the action I have taken in this matter may meet with your approval.\n\nSir,\n\n## Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n**HARRY H. FOX.**\n\nMessrs. Sassoon and Co. to Acting Consul-General Fox.\n\nHong Kong, August 25, 1909. We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 24th instant, contents of which have our careful attention.\n\nWe note that one of the Viceroy's secretaries said he would do his best to get the release of the men connected with the Chuen Fook Cheong opium hong, and we trust this will be done without delay. In the meantime our trade is disorganised. Business for the Canton market is entirely at a standstill, and deliveries have ceased. A trifling sale has been made for local requirements at a decline of 15 dollars per chest, and the Calcutta market has declined 30 rupees, from 1,350 to 1,320 rupees per chest. The fact that the Chinese have stopped shipping to Canton is very serious. It involves the importers in losses in interest and charges, and an increased risk in view of the decline in prices. We would request you to kindly bring this dislocation of our trade to the attention of the authorities, and to insist on them being released without delay.\n\nAnother interference with the opium trade has also been brought to our notice to-day. It appears that a monopoly is being attempted in the Nam Hung prefecture. The sole power to sell prepared opium is being conferred on a company, to the exclusion of all other retail dealers, who are ordered to close their shops. Furthermore, every holder of raw drug is required to pay a tax, the amount of which is not yet known, based on the quantity of prepared opium that can be obtained from a ball of the raw drug.\n\nWe telegraphed to you this morning as follows:-- \n\n\"Prices declining. Deliveries Canton ceased. Reported Nam Hung prefecture attempting monopolies and taxing raw opium.-SASSOONS.\"\n\nThe heavy stocks in the hands of the importers here, in Shanghae, and Calcutta render our position a very serious one, and the stoppage of deliveries and the decline in prices cause us serious concern. We have no doubt that you will bring all these points forcibly to the notice of the authorities, and point out to them that they cannot at their will violate the treaties and place British merchants engaged in the opium trade in a position of insecurity.\n\nWe beg to again tender you our best thanks for all the steps that you are taking on our behalf.\n\nWe have, &c. **David Sassoon and Co. (Limited),** \n**E. SHELLIM, Manager.**\n\n## Inclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nActing Consul-General Fox to Acting Viceroy Hu,\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nCanton, August 25, 1909. On the 6th July I had the honour to address a despatch to your Excellency, in which I asked your Excellency to renew the assurance given by your predecessor that the new regulations for the control of the purchase and sale of raw opium would not interfere with the wholesale trade carried on between the British importers in Hong Kong and the Canton dealers.\n\nOn the 16th instant I had the honour to receive your reply informing me that you had instructed the Opium Prohibition Bureau to investigate the matter and take action accordingly.\n\nI now learn that the Bureau have suddenly and without warning seized and thrown into prison an opium dealer, trading under the style of Ch'uan Fu Chang at Hing Loong Street, Canton, who although himself provided with a licence in accordance with the regulations, sold opium to a person who had omitted to take out a permit. In consequence of this opium dealers in Canton have become alarmed, imports of Indian opium from Hong Kong have ceased entirely and the trade is disorganized.\n\nI learn further that the Opium Bureau have the intention of levying additional taxes on both raw and prepared opium, amounting to some 26 taels per ball.\n\nI have the honour to observe that, with regard to this matter of opium prohibition, I have received explicit instructions from His Majesty's Minister in Peking that foreign opium should be excluded from the operation of any regulations dealing with the wholesale trade. I have been directed to inform your Excellency that no protest will be made as long as the licensing regulations are carried out in a proper spirit and in such a manner as not to interfere with the wholesale trade between the British importer and the native purchaser.\n\nThe action of the Opium Prohibition Bureau in suddenly arresting this opium dealer, and the consequent stoppage of business in raw opium, constitutes a serious interference with the normal course of trade, and it is my duty, therefore, to protest formally against the Bureau's action.\n\nAs regards the proposed additional taxes on raw and prepared opium, I would remind your Excellency that to tax imported opium while still in its package is contrary to treaty, and that in the case of prepared opium it has on more than one occasion been settled by our respective predecessors that such taxes can only be imposed with the sanction of the Wai-wu Pu and the consent of His Majesty's Minister in Peking.\n\nThe bureau would therefore appear to be acting precipitately in this matter and without first consulting the higher authorities.\n\nI have therefore the honour to request that your Excellency will give this matter your serious consideration and, if the facts are as stated, issue stringent instructions to the bureau concerned not to interfere with the wholesale trade in Indian opium between Hong Kong and Canton.\n\nThis trade, by agreement between our respective Governments, is being reduced in volume every year, and prohibitive measures on the part of the Canton Opium Bureau are therefore uncalled for and only tend to disturb the friendly relations which so happily exist between Great Britain and China at the present time.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n**HARRY H. FOX.**\n\n## Inclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Prince Ching.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nPeking, September 16, 1909. I have at various times during the past year invited the attention of the Chinese Government to the measures taken by provincial authorities for controlling the sale and consumption of opium, and your Highness was so good as to assure me in your note of the 22nd April that the stringent prohibition of opium, which was being enforced in Chekiang and other provinces, did not affect the foreign drug.\n\nPage 770", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428089, "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": 14, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "13\n\n2\n\nA letter on the subject signed by all these firms has since been received by the Chamber of Commerce, a copy of which I beg to enclose for your Excellency's information.\n\nWe are given to understand that Mr. Consul-General Fox at Canton has endeavoured to get this question set right, but that the latest interview he had with the Viceroy was of a very unsatisfactory nature.\n\nThe restrictions which the Chinese authorities are now attempting to impose upon the trade in foreign opium are much the same as those of which we complained last year when the question was fully set forth in our telegram to your Excellency of the 24th September, 1905, advised in our letter of the 9th October, 1908, with which we forwarded a copy of a letter from the opium merchants in Hong Kong dated the 23rd September, 1908.\n\nThese letters and the enclosures so fully explained the situation that it does not seem necessary to again go over the ground.\n\nThe arguments which were then put forward against the action on the part of the Chinese officials apply with equal force in the present instance and were practically admitted by your Excellency, as would appear from the concluding paragraph of your despatch to the Governor of Hong Kong, dated the 5th February, 1909, when you suggested that foreign opium should be excluded from the regulations which had been drawn up to control the wholesale trade.\n\nWe trust, therefore, that your Excellency will be good enough to again take the matter up with the Wai-wu Pu and with the same happy result that attended your efforts last autumn.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nE. A. HEWETT, Chairman.\n\nP.S. Since writing the above, I have received a letter from the Hong Kong Government which gives your cable reply to the Chamber's telegram.\n\nI would ask you to accept the best thanks of the Chamber for your prompt action towards the protection of British trade.\n\nE. A. H.\n\n3\n\nGovernment have given the Chinese Government most practical support by definitely reducing shipments of opium from India to China, and in the course of a few years this trade will entirely cease; therefore, these vexatious regulations of the Chinese Government are absolutely unnecessary as far as the trade in foreign opium is concerned, and we must conclude that they are being imposed by them in order to derive financial advantage from the situation.\n\nThe fact that for a considerable time the Kwantung authorities have, with impunity, been infringing the treaties and ignoring the promise given to the British Minister by the Wai-wu Pu has led to these obstructive regulations being enforced in other districts, and complaints have been received from Hoihow, Nam Hung, and Watin to the effect that monopolies are being established, and in Wutin (Fokien province) the importation of foreign opium has been prohibited.\n\nOnly recently Sir Edward Grey, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, stated in Parliament that, while he is prepared to give legitimate support to the Chinese Government, the treaties must be firmly adhered to. We maintain that the British Government have given the Chinese practical proof of their desire to co-operate with them by reducing the yearly import of foreign opium into China, and in consideration of this generous arrangement, the Chinese should, on their part, abide by the treaties and by their undertaking.\n\nWe trust the Chamber will bring the strongest pressure to bear on the various authorities concerned with a view to protecting the opium trade during the few years left before it totally ceases. This protection is, we think, rightly due to British merchants, who are within a brief period compelled to give up a trade in which they have been engaged for the past seventy or eighty years.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\nDavid Sassoon and Co. (Limited),\n\nE. SHELLIM, Manager.\n\nE. D. SASSOON AND Co.\n\nS. J. DAVID AND CO.\n\nE. PABANEY.\n\nCAWASJEE PALLANJEE AND Co.\n\nH. M. II. NEMANZEE (by his Attorney,\n\nH. A. Shirazi).\n\nF. P. TALATI,\n\nM. H. E. ELLIAS.\n\nABDOOLALLY EBRAHIM AND Co.\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nBritish Opium Firms to Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.\n\nSir,\n\nHong Kong, September 29, 1909.\n\nWE have the honour to bring to your notice the fact that the opium regulations that the Kwangtung authorities attempted to bring into force last year, and which, through the energetic action of His Britannic Majesty's Minister, were promptly withdrawn, have again been revived. It is needless to trouble you with a recital of the details, as same are very fully set forth in a letter to Mr. H. H. Fox, His Britannic Majesty's acting Consul-General at Canton, dated the 23rd September, 1908, and to the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong, dated the 9th December, 1908, which appeared in the report of the Chamber of Commerce for last year.\n\nRecently the Kwangtung authorities, contrary to the undertaking given by the Wai-wu Pu to His Britannic Majesty's Minister that the regulations would apply to native opium only, have taken definite action by imprisoning a partner in the Chuen Cheong opium hong in August last and subsequently closing up the shop. Mr. H. H. Fox has been actively engaged in endeavouring to prevent this arbitrary enforcement of the regulations, but has been unsuccessful, and has had to refer the matter to His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking.\n\nThe Viceroy at Canton, in a despatch to Mr. Fox, while ignoring the various arguments placed before him, states that it is the duty of the Chinese Government to carry out the edicts with the utmost energy, \"as the foreign Powers were unanimous in their sympathetic assistance,\" and furthermore lays stress on the desire of the Hong Kong Government to prevent the smuggling of opium into Hong Kong as an excuse for levying increased taxation on opium in Canton.\n\nWe beg to enclose copy of the Viceroy's despatch to Mr. Fox, dated Canton, the 17th September, 1909, for your information. The existence of treaties between China and foreign Powers is entirely ignored; neither is any reference made to the undertaking given barely a year ago to the British Minister by the Wai-wu Pu, to which we have referred in the first part of our letter.\n\nA most important fact to which we beg to draw your attention is that the Indian\n\nSir,\n\nInclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nViceroy Yuan to Consul Fox.\n\nCanton, September 17, 1909.\n\nWITH reference to your despatch to my predecessor dated the 27th August, 1909, on the subject of the new regulations for the limitation of the sale of raw opium, stating that you had learnt that the Opium Prohibition Bureau had suddenly, without warning, arrested the manager of the Chuan Fu Cheng raw opium shop in the Hsing Lung Street, you requested that a careful enquiry might be made into the circumstances.\n\nOn receipt of your despatch, the Acting Viceroy Hu instructed the bureau to make an enquiry and report, and a note was at the same time sent to you in reply. The officials of the bureau state that, by the order of the late Viceroy Chang, dated February-March, it became their duty to issue licences to shops selling raw opium and to individual buyers. This procedure was in accordance with the regulations submitted to the Throne by the Government Council, and approved. A proclamation was issued at the time, and all raw opium dealers were summoned to the bureau and commanded to observe the regulations.\n\nThe statement that no warning was given is therefore difficult to understand.\n\nFor the raw opium shops, however, while professing acquiescence, secretly ignored the regulations, with the result that very few people took out buying licences. Several months past, with a reckless indifference to instructions, the dealers have been illicitly selling opium in this way. The bureau had discovered that ten or more of the raw opium shops had been obeying the regulations, and were willing to carry out", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428208, "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": 133, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "Inclosure 7 in No. 1.\n\nBritish Opium Firms to Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.\n\nHong Kong, September 29, 1909.\n\nWE have the honour to bring to your notice the fact that the opium regulations that the Kuangtung authorities attempted to bring into force last year, and which through the energetic action of His Britannic Majesty's Minister were promptly withdrawn, have been again revived. It is needless to trouble you with a recital of the details, as same are very fully set forth in a letter to Mr. Fox, His Britannic Majesty's acting consul-general at Canton, dated the 23rd September, 1908, and to the colonial secretary of Hong Kong dated the 9th December, 1908, which appear in the report of the chamber of commerce for last year.\n\nRecently the Kuangtung authorities, contrary to the undertaking given by the Wai-wu Pu to His Britannic Majesty's Minister that the regulation would apply to native opium only, have taken definite action by imprisoning a partner in the Ch'uan Fu Chang raw opium hong in August last, and subsequently closing up the shop. Mr. H. H. Fox has been actively engaged in endeavouring to prevent this arbitrary enforcement of the regulations, but has been unsuccessful, and has had to refer the matter to His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking. The Viceroy at Canton, in a despatch to Mr. Fox, while ignoring the various arguments placed before him, states that it is the duty of the Chinese Government to carry out the edicts with the utmost energy, \"as the foreign Powers were unanimous in their sympathetic assistance,\" and furthermore lays stress on the desire of the Hong Kong Government to prevent the smuggling of opium into Hong Kong as an excuse for levying increased taxation in Canton. We beg to enclose copy of Viceroy's despatch to Mr. Fox dated Canton, the 17th September, 1909, for your information. The existence of treaties between China and foreign Powers is entirely ignored, neither is any reference made to the undertaking given barely a year ago to the British Minister by the Wai-wu Pu, to which we have referred in the first part of our letter.\n\nThe most important fact to which we beg to draw your attention is that the Indian Government have given the Chinese Government most practical support by definitely reducing shipments of opium from India to China, and in the course of a few years this trade will entirely cease, therefore these vexatious regulations of the Chinese Government are absolutely unnecessary as far as the trade in foreign opium is concerned, and we must conclude that they are being imposed by them in order to derive financial advantage from the situation.\n\nThe fact that for a considerable time the Kuangtung authorities have with impunity been infringing the treaties and ignoring the promise given to the British Minister by the Wai-wu Pu has led to these obstructive regulations being enforced in other districts, and complaints have been received from Hoihow, Nambung, and Wuting to the effect that monopolies are being established, and in Wuting (Fokien) the importation of foreign opium has been prohibited.\n\nOnly recently Sir Edward Grey, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, stated in Parliament that, while he is prepared to give legitimate support to the Chinese Government, the treaties must be adhered to. We maintain that the British Government have given the Chinese practical proof of their desire to co-operate with them by reducing the yearly import of foreign opium into China, and in consideration of this generous arrangement the Chinese should on their part abide by the treaties and their undertaking.\n\nWe trust this chamber will bring the strongest pressure to bear on the various authorities concerned with a view to protecting the opium trade during the few years left before it totally ceases. This protection is, we think, rightly due to British merchants, who are within a brief period compelled to give up a trade in which they have been engaged for the past seventy or eighty years.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\nDavid Sassoon and Co. (Limited),\n\nE. SHELLIM, Manager.\n\nE. D. SASSOON and Co.\n\nS. J. DAVID AND CO.\n\nE. PABANEY.\n\nCAMAJEE PALLANJEE AND CO.\n\nH. M. H. NEMAZEE (by his Attorney,\n\nH. A. Shirazi).\n\nF. P. TALATI,\n\nM. H. E. ELLIAS.\n\nABDOOLALLY IBRAHIM AND Co.\n\nSir,\n\n7\n\nInclosure 8 in No. 1.\n\nViceroy Yuan to Acting Consul-General Fox.\n\nCanton, September 17, 1909.\n\nWITH reference to your despatch to my predecessor, dated the 27th August, 1909, on the subject of the new regulations for the limitation of the sale of raw opium, stating that you had learned that the Opium Prohibition Bureau had suddenly without warning arrested the manager of the Ch'uan Fu Ch'ang raw opium shop in the Hsing Lung Street, you requested that a careful enquiry might be made into the circumstance.\n\nOn receipt of your despatch the Acting Viceroy Hu instructed the bureau to make an enquiry and report, and a note was at the same time sent to you in reply. The officials of the bureau state that, by the order of the late Viceroy Chang, dated February-March, it became their duty to issue licences to shops selling raw opium and to individual buyers. This procedure was in accordance with the regulations submitted to the throne by the Government Council and approved. A proclamation was issued at the time, and all raw opium dealers were summoned to the bureau and commanded to observe the regulations. The statement that no warning was given is therefore difficult to understand.\n\nThe raw opium shops, however, while professing acquiescence, secretly ignored the regulations, with the result that very few people took out buying licences. For several months past, with a reckless indifference to instructions, the dealers have been illicitly selling opium in this way. The bureau had discovered that ten or more of the raw opium shops had been obeying the regulations and were willing to carry out these precautionary measures, but two shops, the Chuan Fu Chang and the Chun Fu Hsing, relying on their comparatively large capital, had attempted to monopolise the trade. Their arrest by the police officials was supported by conclusive proof, and the sentence imposed on them to stop business, which was reported to and approved by the Acting Viceroy Hu, was a measure of exceptional clemency. The man Liang Hsi Iou who was arrested was the manager of the shop in question, and the intention of the police was merely to obtain from him the licence of the shop for cancellation, when he would be released. The owner of the shop, however, in a reckless manner was making delays and remained in hiding. The measures that had been taken were those laid down by the regulations for the punishment of recalcitrant raw opium shops, and were in no way the concern of foreigners.\n\nThe raw opium shops numbered over twenty, and all were carrying on their business as usual. No dislocation was being caused to the trade of either Chinese or foreign opium merchants. The officials of the bureau further remarked that the Imperial commands for the prohibition of opium had been in force for three years, and that confirmatory edicts had repeatedly been received. The whole nation had received these edicts in an obedient spirit, and the foreign Powers were unanimous in their sympathetic assistance. It was therefore their duty to carry out their instructions with the utmost energy, for the whole principle of controlling opium would be defeated were individuals to be allowed to buy opium without a licence, or opium dealers to sell to such persons. It would also be impossible to second in a worthy manner the friendly assistance of foreign kindly disposed Powers.\n\nWith regard to the increase in price of prepared opium, there was no violation of the terms of the Chefoo Convention, as the price was increased (i.e., a tax levied) after the opium had been imported and the packages opened.\n\nIf it\n\nIn June-July of this year the British consul-general had forwarded a translation of a memorandum drawn up by the Governor of Hong Kong. The governor stated that it was beyond the wit of man to devise a satisfactory method of stopping the smuggling of opium into Hong Kong, for the reason that the price of opium in Hong Kong and in the straits was many times higher than in the south of China. was desired to stop this traffic and thereby fulfil the promise contained in China's undertaking with Hong Kong, the only possible method was to raise the price of opium in China and bring it to a level with the price obtaining in Hong Kong. There would then be no profit attached to the smuggling into Hong Kong. If, therefore, measures could be taken to secure this increased price, the prevention of the smuggling traffic would meet with success, and the assistance would be rendered both to their efforts to stop consumption and to the revenue of China.\n\nThis, the bureau observed, was a really intelligent and far-seeing exposition of ...\n\nPage 131", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 430280, "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": 472, "title": "CO129-374 - Public Offices & Others - 1910", "content_text": "HONG KONG GOLD COAST PATRONAGE\n\n23238\n\nCO 23233\n\nRec'd Reg 28 JUL TO\n\n456\n\n22\n\n1910\n\n7 July\n\nst previous Paper.\n\nLMEZ\n\nbagh 17 aug.\n\n8,86). WYL.21,65-1. 40,000.\n\n100. A.GE.W.\n\nt subsequent Paper.\n\n24114 Isa\n\nCave & Barter\n\nSuppetontiliining his senreis\n\n9,600.\n\n& Langley with enclosed) is interesting\n\n57-Fidden\n\nin\n\nmatter\n\nI understand that Langley about 190 Canter.\n\nJR7X3\n\nSpan\n\naw\n\nSir F. Lugard does not know more about the G. Coast than he does about the shelling of \"offerred\"\n\nI am afraid that it is not anything trouble to it thasheshed us for\n\nAvable ad\n\nThe G\n\n'the manent. Thi\n\ndefinitial!\n\nbremen\n\nof the alterat £300\n\n350. Nafation\n\ncitory engineer to this sanitary", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-374 - Public Offices & Others - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 433432, "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": "CO129-381 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [11-12]", "page_number": 13, "title": "CO129-381 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [11-12]", "content_text": "# DEATH OF HON. MR. WARREN BARNES\n\nSeldom has Hongkong been so deeply stirred as it was on Saturday night when the news became known that the Hon. Mr. Warren Delabere Barnes, Colonial Secretary, had expired that evening with startling suddenness on the Polo Ground at Causeway Bay. Mr. Barnes had taken part in a practice match on the ground, and as the last chukka was finished he rode up with the other players in answer to the bell. Before he reached the pavilion he was seen to fall upon the neck of his pony.\n\nAs he did not rise, the others, who included Surgeon Hastings, R.N., rushed to his assistance and were horrified to discover that he was dead. The shock to all present was great, and a painful impression was created when the tragic occurrence was reported in the city. The body was removed to the Government Civil Hospital. Heart failure was the cause of death.\n\nA dance which was to have been given by Lady Lugard at Government House on Saturday night was at once abandoned.\n\nThough Mr. Barnes had only been in Hongkong some three or four months, he had made for himself many friends who, with the general public, will regret his sudden and untimely death. In the short time in which he had been here, he proved himself a very capable official, and acquired a knowledge of local affairs which was remarkable. This was recognised by His Excellency the Governor, who had contemplated a journey to India to be present at the Durbar, leaving Mr. Barnes to administer the Government during his absence. In the Legislative Council, the late Colonial Secretary showed a good grasp of most matters which came up for discussion, and won the good opinion of members by his readiness and lucidity in debate. Moreover, his courteous manner charmed all, and this aspect of his personality endeared him to all with whom he came in contact both officially and socially.\n\nMr. Barnes was educated at King's College School and Pembroke College, Cambridge. He went to the Straits Settlements as a cadet in November, 1888, passing his final examination in Chinese in 1891. Two years later, he became Third Magistrate at Penang, and afterwards became acting Protector of Chinese in Perak. His next position was to the post of warden of mines in Perak, to which he was appointed in 1896, and three years later, he was transferred to Pahang as warden of mines, Protector of Chinese, and senior magistrate. In December, 1901, he was promoted to Penang as assistant Protector of Chinese, and two years afterwards, he was acting Commissioner of Lands and Mines in the Federated Malay States, which was followed by his selection to act as British Resident at Pahang. He was chosen in 1904 to discharge the duties of acting Protector of Chinese for the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States.\n\n## THE FUNERAL\n\nThe funeral took place yesterday, the cortege passing the monument shortly after 4:30 p.m. The large and representative attendance bore testimony to the esteem and respect in which the deceased gentleman was held. The cortege, as it wound its way to the cemetery, was headed by the K.O.Y.L.I. band playing funeral marches. On either side of the hearse, which was laden with wreaths, walked four members of the Hongkong police and members of the Executive and Legislative Councils. Then followed His Excellency the Governor and other members of Council, Mr. C. Clementi (Assistant Colonial Secretary), the A.D.C's., the Consuls, a detachment of police, and a large number of naval and military officers, including Major-General Anderson, C.B., the Officer Commanding the Troops. The attendance included His Lordship Bishop Pozzoni, His Honour Mr. Justice Gompertz, Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G., Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G., Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin, C.M.G., Hon. Mr. A. M. Thomson, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, C.M.G., Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, C.M.G., Hon. Mr. C. H. Ross, Hon. Mr. Edward Osborne, Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster, Messrs. J. M. Ede, J. H. Kemp, P. M. Hodgson, F. Hazeland, J. R. Wood, E. R. Hallifax, R. O. Hutchison, H. Nesbit, H. P. Tooker, T. L. Perkins, H. G. Fisher, H. R. Phelips, G. N. Orms, J. D. Lloyd, M. Breen, R. H. Crofton, E. S. Lindsey, A. H. Harris, N. J. Stabb, W. Dickson, C. D. Melbourne, J. W. Lee-Jones, David Wood, A. Shelton Hooper, H. J. Gedge, H. L. Dennys, H. W. Looker, G. K. Hall Brutton, F. Shellim, W. E. Clarke, T. F. Hough, J. M. Beck, T. Hose, B. A. Hale, H. W. Bird, P. M. Dyer, Rev. Father Spada, Dr. G. P. Jordan, Dr. F. Kay, Dr. G. L. Fitzwilliams, J. Lambert, and many others, including Mr. Chan Kai Ming and other representative Chinese residents.\n\nThe police bore the body to the Civil Service section of the cemetery, and the remains were laid to rest on a little plateau surrounded by pine and palm trees. The funeral service was conducted by His Lordship the Bishop of Victoria, assisted by the Rev. F. T. Johnson (Colonial Chaplain). Wreaths were sent by Major-General and Mrs. C. A. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Stabb, the Governor, Mr. and Mrs. C. Lauder, the Captain Superintendent and the members of the Police Force, the Superintendent, officers, and members of the Fire Brigade, the officers of the Army Service Corps, the officers of the R.G.A., the officers of the K.O.Y.L.I., His Honour Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Alabaster, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Ross, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Phelips, the Committee of the Po Loung Kuk, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Gedge, the members of the Hongkong Polo Club, Hon. Dr. and Mrs. J. M. Atkinson, Mr. F. J. Halton, Mrs. E. Oliver, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Looker, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Hewett, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Dr. J. W. Noble, the Government Auditor and staff, the Government Civil Hospital, Commodore and Mrs. Eyres, and the Opium Farmer.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-381 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435279, "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": 59, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "## Enclosure 2 in No. 1\n### Prince Ching to Sir J. Jordan\nMay 25, 1911\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of the 19th instant (précis of note quoted).\n\nMy board at once requested the Canton Viceroy by telegraph to take the necessary steps, and the latter now replies that orders have already been given for the withdrawal of taxation on all foreign opium imported prior to the 8th instant.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Seal of Wai-wn Pa.)\n\n## Enclosure 5 in No. 1\n### Opium Merchants to Commissioner of Customs\nMay 12, 1911\n\nWe beg to inform you that last week the Ying Fat Yuen hong cleared from us four chests uncertificated Malwa opium. The opium arrived in Amoy on the 8th instant, and the customs officials there insist on the payment of duty and li-kin on this lot at 350 taels per picul, unless he can produce the necessary permit from you.\n\nAs we can guarantee that these four chests were uncertificated opium, and can prove this from our books, we shall be much obliged if you will be good enough to issue the necessary permit.\n\nYours, &c.\n\nE. D. SASSOON AND CO.\n\nP.S.-These four chests arrived by the \"Delta,\" the 17th February, 1910.\n\n## Governor Sir F. Lugard to Sir J. Jordan\nHong Kong, May 15, 1911\n\nI HAVE the honour to forward, for your Excellency's information, copy of a despatch which I have addressed to the Governor-General of India on the subject of the new Opium Agreement with China.*\n\n2. I take this opportunity of enclosing also a copy of a joint letter by four local opium merchants pointing out that certain chests of uncertificated opium in transit between Hong Kong, Shanghai, and coasts ports on the 8th May, 1911, had to pay the enhanced duty levied on opium, and I shall be glad if your Excellency will take steps to obtain a refund to the merchants concerned.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nF. D. LUGARD.\n\n## Enclosure 6 in No. 1\n### Commissioner of Customs to Opium Merchants\nMay 13, 1911\n\nWITH reference to your application concerning four chests uncertificated Malwa opium which arrived in Amoy on the 8th instant, and for which you request Kowloon passes, I beg to say that my instructions were to issue such passes for opium in stock in Hong Kong and checked by me on the 8th May. I regret that I cannot accede to your request.\n\nYours, &c.\n\nA. H. HARRIS.\n\n## Enclosure 4 in No. 1\n### Opium Merchants to Governor Sir F. Lugard\nMay 13, 1911\n\nWE beg to inform you that on the 6th instant Mr. E. Pabaney shipped to Shanghai, per steam-ship \"Chinhua,\" 100 chests Bengal opium, of which 37 chests were uncertificated, and 63 chests were certificated. As the opium arrived in Shanghai after the new agreement came into force on the 8th instant, the customs authorities in Shanghai refuse to pass the uncertified opium under the old tariff.\n\nConsidering that all the stocks of uncertified opium in Hong Kong and the treaty ports on the 8th instant have been passed for 110 taels duty, it is unreasonable that such opium in transit between Hong Kong, Shanghai, and coast ports on that date should have to pay the enhanced duty.\n\nAnother instance of a similar nature has arisen with regard to four chests uncertificated Malwa shipped to Amoy by a local dealer, Ying Fat Yuen. We beg to enclose copies of correspondence between Messrs. E. D. Sassoon and Co., and the Commissioner of Customs on the subject, from which you will gather the necessary particulars.\n\nWe shall be much obliged if you will kindly bring the matter to the notice of His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\nDAVID SASSOON AND Co. (Limited). \nE. SHELLIM, Manager, \nE. D. SASSOON AND CO. \nE. PABANEY. \nA. J. RAYMOND, \n(per pro S. J. David and Co).\n\n## Enclosure 7 in No. 1\n### Sir J. Jordan to Governor Sir F. Lugard\nPeking, May 31, 1911\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's despatch of the 15th instant, in which you were good enough to enclose copy of a communication which you had addressed to the Viceroy of India on the subject of the new Opium Agreement with China.\n\nYour Excellency also forwarded to me copy of a joint letter from four local opium merchants regarding the levy of the enhanced duty on certain chests of uncertificated opium which were in transit between Hong Kong and the treaty ports of China on the 8th May, 1911, the date of the signature of the agreement.\n\nIn reply, I have the honour to inform you that this question had already been brought to my notice by the opium merchants both at Shanghai and Hong Kong through the medium of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. It was held here that the proper construction of the agreement of the 8th May was that opium in transit on that day between the treaty ports in China was liable to the old duty of 110 taels, but that exemption from the new duty of 350 taels could not be claimed for uncertificated opium which was passing between Hong Kong and a treaty port in China on the 8th May.\n\nTo begin with, the Chinese Government had been extremely reluctant to give opium stored in Hong Kong the benefits of the new arrangement, and in construing the agreement they refused to consider Hong Kong as on the same level with the treaty ports in China. Had the amount been small, they might have been prepared to stretch a point, but when they found that it was 341 chests, they definitely refused to consider it, and pointed to the fact that over 4,600 chests of certified opium had been cleared at Shanghai at the old rate of duty just before the 8th May. This had, from their point of view, deprived them of a revenue of considerably over 1,000,000 taels, and they absolutely declined to undergo any further pecuniary sacrifice.\n\nThe opium merchants also represented to me that, although the Imperial edict proclaimed in Canton abolished all illegal taxation from the 10th May, the provincial authorities were still levying ... \nPage 58", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 437573, "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": "CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4]", "page_number": 229, "title": "CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4]", "content_text": "Extract from the \"Hongkong Daily Press\" of 18th March, 1912.\n\nPage 46\n\nSIR FREDERICK LUGARD'S FAREWELL.\n\nTOUCHING SCENES.\n\nOn Saturday, Sir Frederick and Lady Lugard bade farewell to Hongkong, and the regret felt by the community as well as by Their Excellencies in having to say \"good-bye\" was deep and poignant, culminating in scenes which were most touching and most impressive. The regard and affection in which the occupants of Government House have been held by the entire Colony is perhaps unprecedented in the history of Hongkong, and while their departure was viewed with sadness it was also tinged with sympathy—sympathy for Lady Lugard in the long and trying illness which has afflicted her here, and sympathy for her husband, whose domestic grief was not allowed to interfere with the discharge of the many duties which His Excellency saw in his high office. Thus it was that the departure of Their Excellencies on Saturday had a solemn aspect; it was more impressive than many where a \"good send-off\" was given. The occasion was too sad even for the cheers which were called for in the City Hall. Most throats felt too husky to allow of that volume and ring which should characterise such compliments. Everybody was sorry, and none more so than Sir Frederick and Lady Lugard.\n\nPRESENTATION OF THE ADDRESS.\n\nThe regret of the Colony at the departure of H.E. the Governor and Lady Lugard and its appreciation of their beneficent stay here was expressed in the Address presented to Their Excellencies on Saturday morning.\n\nThe ceremony took place in the City Hall, where were attended most of the leading residents of all races. The route from Government House to the Hall was lined by troops drawn from the K.O.Y.L.I. and the R.G.A., and on the arrival of the gubernatorial party at the Hall they were met by Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G., Sir Kai Ho Kai, C.M.G., Hon. Mr. Rees Davies, K.C., the Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, C.M.G., the Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., the Hon. Mr. E. Osborne, the Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, C.M.G., and Messrs. C. Montague Ede, N. J. Stabb, W. Dixon, T. F. Hough, G. H. Medhurst, J. W. C. Bonnar, Murray Stewart, E. Shellim, and others including many ladies.\n\nLady Lugard, whose presence at the City Hall was hardly expected in view of her illness, was carried upstairs in a chair, and when she was assisted out of it to take her seat in the chair alongside her husband on the red carpetted dias the audience was deeply affected by the touching scene. Her Ladyship, however, smiled on the gathering, and so far as appearances went gave little indication of her suffering. There was a good colour in her cheeks, but this was probably the flush of excitement. She was fashionably attired in a cream satin costume with black revers and wore a black picture hat with large upstanding ostrich feather. She carried a bouquet of red roses. When the gathering was seated,\n\nSir PAUL CHATER, addressing His Excellency, said:-We have asked you to come here to-day, Sir, to present to you on your departure from the Colony which you have served so eminently an address of farewell from the community. That the duty of reading that address has fallen upon me is an honour of which I am vastly proud. With your permission, Sir, I shall now read the address.\n\nTo His Excellency SIR FREDERICK JOHN DEALTRY LUGARD, Knight Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George, Companion of the Bath, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.\n\nYour Excellency:\n\nHis Most Gracious Majesty the King having summoned you to serve as His Representative in another part of the Empire, we, residents in the Crown Colony of Hongkong, desire, on this the occasion of your departure, to testify to our appreciation of the advantages which we have derived from your tenure of the high office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief.\n\nThat high office you assumed nearly five years ago, and, ever since, we have been learning to realise more and more your merits as an administrator. The fame of these was world-wide before you came among us, but it rested upon success achieved in dealing with administrative problems different from those arising here. The problems which arise here demand from the Head of the Administration not only firmness; not only a high sense of duty; but also broad sympathy with, and wise consideration for, the thoughts, the feelings, the customs and the faiths of our heterogeneous population.\n\nIn dealing with our administrative problems you have displayed that sympathetic insight which is the secret of their effective solution. Especially was sympathetic insight needed to solve the problems presented to you on arrival, arising out of the state of the law relating to the preservation of the public health. The need for revision had been already acknowledged, and the work begun, but upon you fell the task of completing it, and of inspiring confidence that all unnecessary rigour in carrying out necessary reform would be systematically avoided. The assurances given by your Excellency in the Legislative Council, together with the example of your earnest endeavours to secure efficiency without inflicting hardship, earned the gratitude of the community in general, and of the Chinese section of the community in particular. (Applause.)\n\nPage 225", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 438129, "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": "CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6]", "page_number": 335, "title": "CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6]", "content_text": "David Sassoon & Co., Ld.\n\nCOPY.\n\n324\n\nThe Hon. Colonial Secretary,\n\nHongkong, 14th June, 1912.\n\nC. O.\n\nSir,\n\nPresent.\n\nWe beg to bring to your notice that a paragraph has appeared in yesterday's issue of the Chun Ngoi San Po to the effect that the Peking Government have sanctioned the exportation of native opium from the Province of Kweichow and that the Financial Department of the Province have issued a proclamation to all the native Customs and Likin Stations to collect the newly proposed duty from the 1st day of the 4th moon. We enclose a copy of the above paper for your information.\n\nWhile China is imposing restriction after restriction on the trade in Indian opium, she is now allowing native opium to be exported from one province to another. Is this the measure of China's earnestness to suppress the opium habit? Her insincerity is too apparent to need any comment, and her action can only be described as scandalous. We cannot believe that His Majesty's Government, from whom we have every right to expect the fullest protection, will allow the present intolerable state of affairs to continue.\n\nWe shall thank you to draw the attention of the British Minister and Home Authorities to the above and to kindly impress upon them the fact that while the British Government confesses itself unable to give British merchants the protection of the treaties, the Indian Government, the sellers of the opium, refuse to take even temporary measures to relieve the present grave situation.\n\nWe have etc.,\n\n(Sd.) E. Shellim,\n\nManager,\n\nDavid Sassoon & Co., Ld.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 438700, "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": "CO129-392 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [9-10]", "page_number": 13, "title": "CO129-392 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [9-10]", "content_text": "The Honourable\n\nThe Colonial Secretary,\n\nPresent.\n\nHongkong, 29th August, 1912.\n\nSir,\n\n5 OCTIC,\n\nWe have the honour to inform you that we are in receipt of a telegraphic message from Calcutta to the effect that by the S.S. \"Clara Jebsen\" 300 chests of uncertified Bengal Opium have been shipped for Lacao. It is difficult to exaggerate the effect of the smuggling of cheap uncertified opium from Lacao into China is having on our trade. We understand that the British Government and the Hongkong Government have been negotiating with the Portuguese Government and the Government of Lacao for some time with the object of bringing the opium trade at Lacao within legitimate limits but so far from any relief being experienced we have to record the above heaviest single shipment yet made to Lacao. The price of certified for China is today Rupees 5,550 while uncertified is Rs. 1,850, the difference Rs. 3,700 (about $2,500 besides the evasion of the duty and likin $650 altogether $3,150) is so heavy that smugglers find no difficulty in surmounting all obstacles in getting their opium into China on a wholesale scale.\n\nWe have the honour to request you to telegraph this heavy shipment of 300 chests uncertified for Lacao to H.B.M.'s Minister at Peking and to the Foreign Office. We shall be pleased to defray the cost of the messages.\n\nWe have etc.,\n\nDavid Sassoon & Co., Ld.\n\n(Sd.) E. Shellim,\n\nManager.\n\n(Sd.) E.D. Sassoon & Co.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-392 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [9-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 442475, "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": 43, "title": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "content_text": "No 80.\n\nC.O.\n\n42\n\n10593\n\n31 MAR 13!\n\n**GOVERNMENT HOUSE. HONGKONG.**\n\n7th March, 1913.\n\nEnclosure 1.\n\nSir,\n\n2383\n\n8. Referring to your Despatch No. 25 of 24th January, 1908, I have the honour to inform you that Mr. E. Osborne tendered his resignation of his seat on the Legislative Council on 30th January owing to his departure from the Colony on retirement. I enclose copy of a letter which I caused to be addressed to him under date 3rd February.\n\n2. I have provisionally and subject to His Majesty's pleasure appointed Mr. Edward Shellim to the vacancy and have now to recommend that the appointment be confirmed.\n\n3. Mr. Shellim is Manager of the firm of Messrs. David Sassoon and Company, Limited, and has strong claims to the seat by reason of long residence in the Colony, of the large mercantile interests which he represents and of his business ability. He has for three terms been Chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.\n\n4. Before offering the seat to Mr. Shellim I invited Mr. N. J. Stabb, Chief Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, to serve, but after giving careful consideration to the matter he informed me that he was unable to spare time to undertake the duties. I then invited Mr. G. T. Edkins, Manager of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, to take the vacant seat, but his principals...\n\n**THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P., &c., &c., &c.**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 442478, "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": 46, "title": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "content_text": "# Legislative Council\n\n## BILL\n\n| Name | Date of Appointment | When Appointed |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| **H.E. Sir Francis Henry May, K.C.M.G., (President.)** | | |\n| **Official Members** | | |\n| H.E. Major-General Charles Alexander Anderson, C.B. | | 28th. October, 1910 |\n| Hon. Mr. Claud Severn | | 2nd. February, 1912 |\n| Hon. Mr. John Alexander Strachey Bucknill | | 13th. August, 1912 |\n| Hon. Mr. Alexander Macdonald Thomson | | 23rd. November, 1912 |\n| Arthur George lurchi-son Fletcher | | 19th. February, 1913 |\n| Hon. Mr. Alexander Macdonald Thomson | 26th. July, 1898 | |\n| Hon. Mr. William Chatham, C.M.C. | | 4th. July, 1912 |\n| Hon. Mr. Edwin Richard Hallifax | | 3rd. May, 1911 |\n| Hon. Mr. Francis Joseph Badeley | | 30th. April, 1912 |\n| **Unofficial Members** | | |\n| Hon. Sir Kai Ho Kai, M.B., C.M., C.E.G. | | 22nd. March, 1901 |\n| Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, C.M.G. | | 4th. October, 1906 |\n| Hon. Mr. Henry Edward Pollock, K.C. | | 1st. March, 1908 |\n| Hon. Mr. Edbert Ansgar Hewett, C.M.C. | | 22nd. October, 1908 |\n| Hon. Mr. Charles Henderson Ross | | 17th. January, 1912 |\n| (Vacant) | | |\n| Charles McIlvaine Messer | | 5th. March, 1913 |\n| Charles Montague Ede | | 1st. February, 1913 |\n| Edward Shellim | | bth. December, 1912 |\n\n## Enclosure 2\n\nProvisionally and subject to His Majesty's pleasure.\n\nPage 7", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 442480, "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": 48, "title": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "content_text": "## DRAFT\n\nThe Superintendent of the **\"LONDON GAZETTE,\"** \nMr. Wiesimson 10|14|1913 \nJos. 10593 Hong Kong. \nEntered in Appointment and Warrant Books\n\nDOWNING STREET, \n12 April 1913 \n\nMr. Nibeen 10/4 \nMr. Harris 10 atonce \nMr. ... 47 approve \n\n...damegliompar the appointment of \nThe King has been pleased to ge \nEdward ...(In the room of ...mo C. Deborne).\n\nDowning Street, 12th April, 1913.\n\nThe KING has been pleased to approve of the appointment of Edward Shellim, Esq., to be an Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council of the Colony of Hong Kong.\n\n...Shellim, Esq. to be an Unofficial member of the Legislative Council of the Colony of Hongkong.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 442714, "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": 282, "title": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "content_text": "## The China Daily Outlook, Monday, March 24th, 1913\n\n### Share List Quotations\n\nCorrected daily at 3.00 p.m.\n\nHUNGRONG, MARCH 11th, 1913,\n\n#### STEAMERS TAKING CARGO\n\n| Destination | Quotations |\n| --- | --- |\n| NANNING | Apply to UK DÁRPALOMED GASI. |\n| London £30. | Barra, Brentes, & flambury etc., Harer, and Hamburg etc. |\n| P. & O.S. N. P.40.9. N. Den of Crombioj. M. & C. | Cardia 2 igst prox 3 H. A. L. 16 prox Silesia H. A. L. 2t ist. B.S. len Hatra, Rotterdam, Hamburg etc. Mas, Bremen and Hamburg etc. Schwarzburs Speisin H. A, L 28 inst. I.F.A.C. is prox |\n| NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, and CANADA | T. 10 1:25,000 210 T6. 75 $6.000 Ts. Me 218 CHA 99975 T. 143 buyers #10 buyers TA DO ail Tia 1984 buyers Te. 45 buyers |\n| AUSTRALIA, PHILIPPINES &c. | all $142 koyers Australian Ports, via Manila So. Allus G. L. & Co. Yaweta Marə N. Y. K. 20 int. 9 prox $74 bayere P.S 19 vellers ult $4.129 buyers |\n| CHINA COAST, STRAITS, JAPAN | 250 3980 buyers Shanghai, Kobe and Yokoham Yokohatar Kobe via shang! Kobe, and Yothasan P. Sigismund M. China 29 TOX 9. W. & Co. 3 ust. 2 inst Audrin 3. W. & Co. i prx Biro Huck N. Y. K. 97 inst. $21 3166 buyers Kobe, Yokuhana Coblens M. & C. 3. pross ST! Yokonam, Bobe and Moji Coblens 3. & Co. > prox ed5 buyers Tientsin Kusicbow D. & S. 27 is £6 The 130 buyers Shanghai Koerber 3. W. & Co. 9 ist. $895 buyers $107 Awatow. Amoy and Pasch 51anis D. S. & Co. 28 inst. J. M. & Co. 23 it. Singapore Penang & Calently T. M. & Co. 4 t J. M & On, ail buyara 869 buyers 855 buyers Fis. 89 sellera Rolepbase A 455 bayra Once: 416. Nodowa: K. ha The 74 sellers A. IG. 5th 383 buyers المتحدة Singapore, Penang, & Rangoon Kalyang Lounging K:14:128 Mitra Tel. Arid. |\n\n### Banks\n\n| Bank | $ |\n| --- | --- |\n| Hongkong & Sunghui Hank Corporation | 120.000 $135 |\n| China Borneo Company, Limited | 60,000 $8,000 |\n| China Light and Power Company, Limited | $12 $3 |\n| China Provident, Love & Mortgage Co., Limited | 55,00 $99 |\n| ... | ... |\n\n### Docks and Warehouses\n\n| Company | $ |\n| --- | --- |\n| Hongkong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Vn, Ld. | $805 sales |\n| Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co., Limited | Loudva, v. Usual Force of Quil Goaden, & Antwerp v. S'apuze, ate. |\n| New Amay Dock Co., Limited | London & Antwerp |\n| Shanghai Dock and Engineering Co, Ld. | India Nunkis |\n| Shanghai and Hongkong Wharf Co., Limited | Barra, Brentes, & flambury de, Harer, and Hanburg ute. |\n\n### Insurance\n\n| Company | $ |\n| --- | --- |\n| Canton Insurance Office Co., Limited | 10,000 $5 |\n| China Fire Insurance Co., Limited | 24, $100 |\n| Hongkong Fire Insurance | $100 |\n| North-China Insurance Co., Limited | 21,000 $83.3 |\n| Union Insurance Society, Limited | 8,000 #250 |\n| Yangtze Insurance Association, Limited | 10,900 10,100 $250 $100 |\n\n### Land and Syndicates\n\n| Company | $ |\n| --- | --- |\n| Towson Land Invest. Agency Co. Ld. | 12,000 k10% |\n| Humphreys' Estate and Finance Co., Ld. | 50,000 $100 |\n| Kowloon Godown Building Co., L | 130,000 $10 i |\n| Ahnhai Land, Investment Co., L. | 6,000 $50 |\n| West Point Building Co., Tal. | FE,J