1930-04-26 — Page 3

THE "HONG KONG AGREEMENT" AGAIN.

FURTHER CRYPTIC REFERENCES.

IMPORTANT TASK AWAITING THE NEW GOVERNOR.

6

BRITISH RELATIONS WITH CHINA" IMPROVED:

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1930.

Election of Officers,

Sir George Macdonogh Was elected President, Mr. Stanley H. Dodwell was re-elected chairman

Mr Mayer Vice-Chairman, while Mr. H. G. Simms was re- elected Hon. Trepsurer.

About two weeks ago we published a reference to the fact that an important agreement was under consideration between the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments regarding the prevent We tion of smuggling in and about the waters of this Colony. note that at the annual meeting of the China Association in London on March 26 further reference was made to this Agree ment, and the hope expressed that Great Britain would fall in with Chinese wishes in regard to Article 3. Unfortunately, thère is no indication as to the subject referred to in that Article. Mr. Stanley H. Dodwell (Chair-[of the allied question of the Pre- man of the Association) occupiedisional Cours. As regards the lat the chair, and amongst others the following were present:-Rt. Hon. Lord Southborough, G.C.B.,

Sir Harry Fox, K. B. E., C. M.G.: Mr. Chairman, my lord and gentle. men,-I have much pleasure in proposing the gentlemen whose names appear on the list in your handa be appointed members of the general committee for the coming year. The names are as follows The Earl of Inchcape, G.C.M.G., etc. Sir Francis Aglen, O.C.M.G., K.B.E.; Lieut.-General Sir G. Macdonogh, G.B. E., K.C.B.. K.C.M.G.; Sir James H. Stewart Lockbart, K.C.M.G.; Sir Skinner Turner, Mr. F. Anderson, Mr. D. G. M. Bernard, Mr. H. W. Bird, Mr, J. S. Bruce, Mr. A. S. Deben- ham, Mr. Stanley H. Dodwell, Mr.. JS. Haskell, Mr. R. H. Hill, Mr. H. D. C. Jones, Mr." W. B. Konnett, Mr. W. P. Ker, C.M.G.; Mr. A. Q. Lang, Mr. L. N. Leefe, Mr. H. W. Looker, Mr. E. F. ter, be understood that a new agree Mackay, M. H. A. J. Macray, meat would come into force a Mr. Sidney F. Mayers, Mr. K. W April 1 As all of you know," he Mounsey, Major W. S. Nathan, said, "the Provisional Court is CALG. Mr. H. W Robertson, simply the old Mixed Court, which Mr. Archibald Rose, CLE: Mr. G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., etc.; Messrs. was placed on a new provisional. C. Rutherford, Mr. Charles V. Stanley H. Dodwell, H. W. Looker, footing at the end of 1928. The Sale, Mr. F. Salinger. Mr. H. G. H. G. Simms, Sir Francia Aglon, footing on which it is now-as. I

understand-to work differs in im-T. H. Whitehead, and Brig. Gen. Simms, Mr. E. A Stanton, Mr. K.C.M.G., K. B. E., Lieut.-General

portant respects from the preral C: R. Woodroffe, C.M.G., Sir George Macdonogh, G.B.E.,visional one, and very considerally C.V.O., C.B.E. K.C.B., K.C.M.G., Sir James H.of course, from the one on which

Stewart Lockhart, K.C.M.G.

The

the Mixed Court used to work during the anomalous period 1911 to" 1996. Consular officials are no longer to have the right of watch ing proceedings.

Chinese judges will sit by themselves, On the other hand, a legal representa tive of the Municipal Council is to have the right of being present in all casta in which the Council is complainant or plaintiff, or in which the Municipal Police are prosecutors, and in alt proceedings in which the Council considers that the interests of the International

Messrs. E. Anderson, H. W. Bird, J. S. Haskell, H. D. C. Jones, W. B. Kennett, W. P. Ker, C.M.G., E. F. Mackay, H. A. J. Macray, S. P. Maydes. D. C. Rutherford, F. Salinger, E. A. Stanton, T. H. Whitehead, Brig.-General C. "R. Woodrofe, CMG, C.V.O., C.B.E., Sir Harry H. Fox, K.B.E., C.M.G., Sir Claud Severn, K.B.E., C.M.G.; Mesara. A. V. Apear, W. S. Bailey, Thomas Brown, D. G. M. Bernard, F. S. Clark, G. 1. Dodwell, G. H.Settlement are involved, while the Elliott, J. Robertson Mclsaac, C. orders of the Court will

pass Mackintosh...J. R. Michael, Joseph through a foreign head of the Nizim, E. F. Seymour, Joseph W. Judicial Police before their exega- Taylor, A. M. Townsend, W. tion, the foreign hend being nomin Theodor, R. H. R. Wade, and E. ated by the Municipal Council, A M. Gull and H. C. Wilcox, joint further safeguard is the appoint secretaries.

meat of two foreigners and two Chinese to whom questions concern ing the interpretation of the ap plication of the present agreement will be referred. The goals åre to remain practically as before, their

J

Council and the Chinese having a right of inspection. A branch of the High Court will function as a Court of Appeal, final appeal lying to the Supreme Court at Nanking, The agreement is to be effective for three years.”

Chairman's Speech. The Chairman said:My first task is briefly to allude to-and, so far as they allow, to characterise -the events of the past year. „I ¦ maintenance remaining with the shail attempt no large-scale picture, for, as the report correctly states, it would be practically impossible to achieve correct perspective.

Events have been even more obscure in their significance than usual. with loss finality than usual-which ia saying a good deal. The move- ment which last year looked like upsetting, the regime at Nanking appears to have come to life again. Indeed, it seems hardly, possible to visualise any régime in China, at any rate during the lifetime of any

From this subject Mr. Dodwell passed to the question of smuggl ing at Hong Kong and to "mea- aures for its prevention understood to be under consideration. The smuggling was in part due, he said, to the increased Customs of us in this room, which will not duties, and it was highly desirable, be surrounded by disturbing ele bath in China's interests and these menta, liable at any moment to of Hong Kong, that a satisfactory break out and take charge of the solution of the technical and quasi- situation. It is this ever-present political questions involved should uncertainty, 50 detrimental to be reached. Some of these present- China's foreign trade, which weed considerable difficulty, of an or hoped to see dispelled to some ex- der, however, which patience and tent during 1020, but, unhappily, a wise perception of mutual in- it was not to be, and on the top terest should succeed in overcom- of it, coming rather in the nature ing. of the last straw, 'we have experi- enced a phenomenal drop in the price of silver, which is depressing China's import trade as much, if not more than anything else."

The Chairman then dealt with the Asociation's accounta, outlining anggestions regarding augmenta. tion of resources, and proposel the adoption of the Report and Ac. counts.

The Hong Kong Agreement,

Mr. & M. Townsend seconded the

resolution and it was carried un-

animously. Presentation to Lord Southborough.

The Chairman: Now, gentlemen, under the heading on the agenda of "Any other business" it is my privilege to perform on your be- half a little ceremony which at the same time fills me with pleasure and regret. To-day Lord South- borough vacates the presidential chair he has filled with such dis- tinction for four years. In defer ence to his Lordship's natural' mo desty, I shall refrain from enumerating the virtues which wo have discovered in him since. He had no direct interests in China, and almost in a sense come to us from Macedonia to help us." You will find them set out on the last page of the report, where is record.. ed the vice-chairman's speech at the annual dinner, where it appears under the heading in large type of A good outsider." He may have been a good outsider," possibly the best outsider we could have got, but, having attended many meetings which he has "run" very well and where he led a some- what straggling field" over, and sometimes under, obstacles that were very formidable, I venture to think as I am sure you will all think-that we no longer regard him as a "good outsider" but as 111 "odds On favourite." (Ap plause) We are very sensible, Lord Southborough, to the services you have rendered to the Associa- tion and to the China Committee during the four years you have been with us, and, as a mark of our appreciation, of our esteem and of our affection, we ask you to accept a life membership of the Association and these two сирв which are copies, I believe, of the Charles the Second period. We hope you will accept them, and we hope, Sir, that, although you are retiring from the Committee, we hall have the pleasure of welcom- ing you at our annual functions. (Loud applause.)

>

Continuing, the Chairman said

Lord Southborough's Response. that taking the year as a whole, the ground appeared to be becom

Lord Southborough. Mr. Chair- ing a little firmer. This feeling

Sir Francis Aglea, G.C.M.G., man, President Elect, my Friends, was engendered perhaps by what K.B.E. Mr. Chairman, my lord-I have recognised with much re appeared to be an increasing de- und gentlemen,It gives me great gret that this is the occasion on which I shall have to vacate the gree of reasonableness on the part pleasure to second the resolution of the Chinese, not merely towards which has been put before you. important and attractive office of the British, but towards foreigners It is no part of a seconder's duty President of the China" Associa and foreign interests in general. to paint the lilies of the Chairman. tion; in fact, I know that, as has The outlook for the salt loans had He has given a most complete ex- already been said, I am well aware improved, With regard to the position of the Association's activi- that under our rules and regula Customs Administration, Mr. Dod. ties and business, and no words tions that resignation is already well expressed the opinion of the from me are necessary. The feel-overdue. Several years have gone Committee to the effect that the iny I have, about the work of the by with even unusual rapidity, present situation of this all-import Association during the past year and, I 1m conscious that with. ant organisation must be consider- is that we have been cutting ice, the best will in the world the ed mutually satisfactory to Chinese especially in connection with the enjoyment of bad health has and foreigners alike, and that this vexed questions of extraterritorial-militated seriously against my use happy state of affairs was un-ity and the Hong Kong agreement. Fuiness to you. The nomination doubtedly due in nn small measure In both cases I think we have done to your counsels came from pecu to the able way in which Mr. Maze good work.. Perhaps I am rather liar but interesting circumstances had fled the difficult post of partial to the Hong Kong agree these bave been touched upon by Inspector-General. Many of the ment, because I tocka consider Mr. Dodwell. By a process of railways were in a very bad way, able part in the abortive negotia evolution or devolution the China but there was evidence of some tions that took, place. I think it Association found itself linked, effort to improve their position, would be the very greatest mistake like the Siamese twins, to an- although there was no evidence of on the part of Great Britain if other body, the China Committee- any effort to pay off past indebted they failed to put that deal a really important corporeal body, ness-for-materials and rolling through, and if they could possibly which was blessed at the font by stock. The problem of Extraterri- see their way to fall in with Chin- His Majesty's Government. As I toriality and that of the Shanghai ese wishes in regard to Article 3, sce it (and really the secrets of Provisional Court, full as they I think it would be to the advant procreation are not yet fully un- were with explosive elements, were age of everyone, I hope the new Iderstood), both children, joined not, as far as could be seen, being Governor, when ha arrives in together, were left on my doorstep: treated with that recklessness which Hong Kong, will, if possible, in the bell rang, the summons came, nt one time seemed probable. Six something in that connection. I the doors opened, the children months ago it looked as though the should like to endorse the Chair- wore taken in-and I fear that Chinese were advancing towards" man's remarks about there being a they were too much-taken in! But, them literally with lighted torches better understanding at the pre- gentlemen, I am not prepared to in their banda, beedless of the con- sent time with the Chiness. I fear admit on my part any failure on sequences To-day there was, at the change of attitude towards our the part of the China Association, any rate, more evidence of reason country is due, and the conciliatory or of the China Committee during. on their part than at this time policy adoptel to the fact that these last years It may be true. last year.

from an unexpected quarter the that we have been obliged to watch Chinese have been pulled up on a and observe unchecked the dir very strong tura-round. I think, astrous course of events in China This improvement in relations, however, that there is a tendency itself. I feel. however, that the Chairman hoped, was largely for there to be a better and easier through our, influence generally, due to Chiese appreciation of the ( understanding on thegg buying - Telcom eruit of form

dictagspizit questions and I think they should

The Corelliatory Folley.

shown by H. Government. Probe dealt with in a more amicable ceeding to deal with the questions way. With these words I have in which a conciliatory policy was pleasure in seconding the resolu- being followed, the Chairman tion (Applause.) sketched the latest phases of the The resolution was put to the extraterritorial problem, and those I meeting and carried unanimously.

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fairship with H M bonyezantuar tive in Peping, we have really done service in the Far East; and more particularly I know, because it came more closely within by cognizance, that our work, advice,

(Continued on Page 4)."

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AT

MIDNIGHT on 3rd MAY, 1930

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