1901-05-09 — Page 2

Co-day's Advertisement.

DOUGLAS STEAMSHIP COMPANÝ,

LIMITED.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1901.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

THE COAL DUTY.

LONDON, May 7th.

The House of Commons has agreed to FOR SWATOW, AMOY AND TAMSUL. the Coal duty by 333 to 227.

HE Company's Steamship THE

"HAIMUN,"

Captain Davis, will be despatched for the above Poits, TO-MORROW, the oth instant,

at Daylight.

For Freight or Passage, apply to

DOUGLAS LAPŔAIK & C4, General Managers. Hongkong..9th May, root.

·Hutimation..

A. S. WATSON & Co., LIMITED..

WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS,

ESTABLISHED A.D. 1841.

SCOTCH WHISKY.

A-THORNE'S BLEND

B.-GLRNORCHY, . MELLOW

BLEND, a fine 'Soda

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Idee,

.$10.80

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA....... The Times considers it indispensible to send fresh troops to South Africa. Letters of its correspondents show that unless the war be finished by September, it will be con- tinued for another year.

LATEX.

THE THREATENED STRIKE OF COAL MINERS: The prospects of a strike of Coal Miners are considered remote.

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA,

We note that iron railing are being erected existing native sources of revenue, which are round the Cricket Grountt. This will be a great known to be capable of adequate expansion

under bonest administration. Present con improvement upon the old posts and rails, ference of Ministers in eminently unsuited for which were continually out of order. We fancy, the settlement of complex.commercial ques however, that the Chinese loafer will not appre-tions in which several have no interest. Eng. ciate the charge, for a spiked fence will hardly land should jise every effort to reserve such make a comfortable lounge.

settlement by leading Commercial Powers

IT may be noticed that we are. publishing a gazette of interest to the shipping community generally, giving the names of officers on leave, promotions, transfers, etc. We imagine it will be found useful by many shipping people here, who can see at a glance where their friends are) at the time. We shall be much obliged for any information from our readers tending to keep the column up to date,

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HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

later."

;

This of course will require a good deal of pruning and adaptation to code exigencies, but It represents the general sense of the message which the Committee will probably adopt.

I am, Dear Sir,

Yours faithfully,--

LEONARD KERR.

Secretary,

ד'

MEMORANDUM.

sending a copy of this Memorandum to Hong kong by the out-going mail.

J. G. DUDGEON, Chairman Shanghai, and April, 1901.

China Association, Shanghai Branch, 8th April, 1901. J. J. Francis. Esq., K.C.,

Chairman, Hongkong. "Dear Sir,-Confirming my letter of, 3rd instant, I now beg to inform you that at a meeting of this Committee; beld on 4th instant,

it was decided to send the following telegram to the London Committee:→→

W With reference to the indemnity there is every reason to believe that certain-powers propose an international guaranteed to secured by the simple process of a drastic tarifi increase strongest possible protest should be I have information from Peking that some made as although increase tariff is admissible of the Powers, either because they have no such hasty action in the treatment of the tariff commercial interesis, or because they are in a destroys the only available lever for the redress hurry to get their money out of China, are of present grievances, besides menacing trade urgith that the question of the payment of the expansion; pressure should be brought to bear. indemnity should be settled by a loan collec-upon China-to provide service indemnity from tively guamnteed by the Powers, and secured existing sources of native revenue, which, on a dustic increase of the Customs Tariff honestly collected, are known to be capable of Al a special meeting of the General Com They are urging, I understand, that such ques- adequate expansion: the present conference of mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Hall, at noon on the 27th April.--Present tue complicated for discussion in the present unsuited to settle complex commercial ques -creation of new sources of revenue, &c., are all have no commercial "interests, is eminently Sir Thomas Jackson, (Chairman), Mr. C. S situation; that to enter on such discussion will tions which should be reserved for future settle Sharp, (Vice-Chairman, Hon. J. Keswick,cause the negotiations to drag on indefinitely, inent later by the leading commercial Powers. Messrs. W. Poate, R. L. Richardson, N. A

and that the concert will not be able to endure Every effort should be made to this end." Siebs, H. E. Tomkins, Hon. J. Thurburn, (er the prolonged strain. It is also stated that the Trusting that your committees will see its officio), and R. G. Wilcox (Secretary),

British Government shows signs of being in way to co-operate in this important matter,

1 am, dear Sir, THE CHINESE TARIFF AND THE PAYMENT OFclined to agree-the solution of the difficulty

Yours faithfully, being an easy one, as following the line of least resistance.

influence on the action of His Britannic Majes ty's Government in the inatter.

I am, Siry

Yours faithfully,

R. CHATTERTON WILCOX, Secretary.

-Murray Stewart, Esq;

Hon, Secretary,

China Association, Hongkong..

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SANITARY BOARD.

The average number of cases of typhoid in Commerce, held at the Chamber Room, Citions as Tariff revision, abolition of lekin, the † Ministers of eleven Powers, styeinl of whom Mr: Chan A Funk, and Mr. G. A. Woodcock

the Anny in South Africa during January, February and March last, amounted to 2,086, and the average deaths to 353.

The Boers have re-occupied Roosenekal..

SHANGHAI RACES SPRING MEETING.

SHANGHAI, May 7th.

RACING STAKES. "(China Popies).. Mr. Marius' Pandur........................ Mr. Buxey's Rose of the Roses. Mr. Henry Morriss's Snowberry

Time, 2.45 3/5.

AUSTRALIAN PLATE (Walers). Mr. Four Stars' Nightmare....

Mr. Bruce Robertson's Mother Superior... Mr. Jolliskin's Darling..

Fime, 1.55.

GRAND STANU STAKES (China Ponjes), Watsky of great age... 10.80 | Mr. Black's Dismay

C.—A BELOUR-GLENLIVET

+

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D.-H.K.D.; BLEND of the

Finest Old Malt Scoren

WHISKIES

WATSON'S SPECIAL :--

E

""

VERY OLD Liquiun Scoren

WHUSKY

The Maori-Danes' Vanity Fair. 12.00 Mr. Barff's Tamale

Time, 2.9.

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SHANGHAI, May 5th. CHUKAZA Cup (China Ponies). Mr. John Peel's Set....... 14.40 MG. It, Potts's Forest King

G. H. Potts's Moriturus

Time, 1312/5.

SHANGHAI DERBY (China Fonies.)

Mr. Toeg's Conon....

Mr. Kanick's Poronal.

Mr Buxey's Rose of the Roses

15.00

Mr. Duplex's The Dealer

Mr. Toeg's Fraser

Of superb quality and great age

-pronounced by all connoisseurs to be the BEST BRAND in the Far East.

Small quantities are supplied at proportionate whole sale rates.

A... WATSON & CO.. LIMITED, THE HONGKONG DISPENSARY.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

IT is requested that all communication relating to Sub- scriptlin, Advertisements, &c. be addressed to the "Mance, engkong Tricerap" and not so the Editors, Letters on Elitorial matters in le seat to The Editor

and nut to individual menilers of the staff,

Comunicados Jutended for milication must be poznas. panied by the name and address of the writery, not necessarily for publications bat as evidence of good faith.

Whilst the columns of the Hongkong Telegraph will always he open for the fate discussion by correspondents of all que tions affecting public interests, it pouxt, he distinctly under stood that the Editor does got in any way bobl himself responsible for opinions thus expressed.

The Hongkong Celegraph

HONGKONG, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1991.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Treating of Plague. Patients. At the Special Meeting of the Sanitary Board yesterday afternoon, as published in our columns to-day, we are glad to know that the proposal to treat plague patients, even under "proper supervision," at their own homes was veloed.

LADIES' PURSE (China Ponies.),

Mr. Jay's Disgust.

Time, 242 3/5.

RACE CLUB ČUP (China Ponies.) Mr. Rodvet's Chessy Mr. Ring's Adonis

Mr. Oswald's Dunlea

Time, 44

VISITORS' CUP (China Ponies.) Mr. Kanuck's Ichimur Mr. Togg's Rio Grande dinne Mr. Robson's Loyalty

Time, 3.47.

FEDERATION STAXES'(Walers.) Mr. Four Stars' Nightmare.

Mr. Black's Advance

THE- INDEMNITIES,

The Chairman said that the meeting had been called to discuss a very important matter. He supposed they had all read the letters, from the China Association which had been circulated. There was no doubt that some of the. Powers were very anxious to get their indemnity, and 3 several of them would not object to a sacrifice of commercial interests so long as they got hold of the hard cash. One Power not much interested in sca-borne traffic would be rather glad to see an increase of the tariff, as it would 2 help to divert some of the China trade overland. This would give her a great advantage and would work to the detriment of those Powers engaged in the maritime, trade. He thought they should set their faces steadily against any increase of the tariff until there was a clear guarantee that all abuses in the levy of laxation on trade would be permanently done, away with. After discussion, it was eventually decided to send the following telegrany to the agent of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation at Peking before addressing one to London" Before. wiring Chamber of

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14

2

2

Commerce, London, Chamber Commerce Hongkong would like to know if it is true that some of the Powers are advocating immediate increase Chinese Customs Tariff with a view to facilitating raising of indemnity loan, leaving all other outstanding mercantile grievances unsettled in the meantime,;

RECTER'S POLITICAL, TELEGRAMS.

The Secretary said that Reuter's agent here had shown him a letter from their Shanghai agent, in which the following passage occur 3red: "I shall also be glad to have a copy of the agreement with the Chamber at Hangkong and to know if you think it would pay more than it does if we increased the service from 2 Bombay, as we may shortly do, for the Daily 3 News and Mercury here. He had lonked through the records, but could find no agice. ment, if any existed. It was made, if made at ail, in 1877, but some of the annual reports in I the sixties and seventies were missing. Did 2 the Committee think that an increase could be 3 given for a better service? Would subscribers be prepared to pay a slightly enhanced, sub scription?

2

3

The Chairman said he thought that to secure an improved service they should certainly be ready to pay an increased subscription. It was Mr. St. Casse's Golden Legend .................................. one of the objects of the Chamber to secure

Time, 2.31 4/5-

good and early intelligence, and they should be (The above results are published with the prepared to pay an increase for a better service, kind permission of the Hongkong Jockeyyen if the service was again run at a slight Club.]

WEATHER REPORT.

Loss.

The Committee generally were of opinion that an augmented service was worth paying for even if it became necessary to raise the terms at which the messages were supplied to

subscribers.

The Observatory report says:- "On the 9th at 12.10 p.m. the harometer has Ultimately it was left to the Secretary to find fallen in the North, probably owing to the exist-out the extent to which it was proposed to in ence of a depression. between the F. coast of crease the number of words telegraphed and the amount of increase in the monthly sub- China and Japan. The weather continues scription required by Reuter. unsettled on the China coast generally, with N.E. winds in the North and S.W., winds in the South. Forecast:-Moderate S.W. windsnitted:--- squally, thunder showers.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A GOOD shorthand reporter is wanted, vide advertiseinent appearing elsewhere. PARCELS mail, for Europe, &c, per steamship Ballarat will close at 3 p.in. to-morrow, the roth inst.

4.

LEONARD KER, Secretary.

Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation,

Hangkang, zoth April, 1901.

J. J. Francis, Esq., Chairman,

China Association, Hongkong Branch, Dear Sir,-As requested by you to day we have wired our London Office as follows

Following wired at the request of China Association, Hongkong Branch. They fully concur in Shanghai wire 4th April. Urge

It is no doubt within the recollection of the Committee, that at the time of China's financial difficulties after the Chino-Japanese war, a similar proposition was put forward and was urged by Li Hung-chang during his European tour in 1896. The plausible argument put for ward was-Double the Tarifi, and there is the money. It will be remembered also that the Chambers of Commerce here and in Hongkong, as well as the Committees of the Association in both places and in London, vigorously pro tested against this "casy solution," the stand-ongest possible protest against increase tariff

ternal revenue, lekin, &c." point being that, whilst merchants in China except on condition total abolition abuses in

Yours faithfully, were quite willing that the Tariff should be revised in China's favour, yet that a quid pro que was necessary on China's part, securing her mare honest fulfilment of the Treaties and. redress of existing grievances of irregular inland taxation-that, in fact, the concession of an increased Tariff should be used as a lever for relieving trade from its present hampered con ditions..

The point was considered to be of such im. portance that the Chamber of Commerce and the Association combined in sending a special delegate to Peking to urge the views of the Shanghal community upon the Ministers, and I had the honour of undertaking the work. From interviews that I had with Sit. Robert Hart I am certain that the "easy solution" was of his fathering, and Li Hung-chang was of course keenly urging it. It is very probable that the reported present inclination of the British Government to agree to the "easy solution" is not unconnected with the repre. sentations of Sir Robert Hart

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On the other hand, my information is that the British Minister is completely opposed (personally) to the "easy solution." His desire is altogether to separate the commercial nego tiations proper from the present "peace" negotiations for this purpose he desires that China be asked to provide the revenues for ¦ the indemnities by handing over the proceeds of certain existing revenues, viz: Salt, Native Customs, Rice Tribule, &c. up to the amount required for the service of the indemnity; this need not involve, in the first instance at any mte, direct foreign control over the administra tion of these revenues, though such control might be held in terrorem over the heads of the Chinese, should they fail to make the required payments. The idea is, in fact, that under the stimulus of necessity the Chinese would them selves extract a sufficiency of revenue from these sources, in the same way as, under, Sir Rubert Hart's advice, they have extracted a sufficient increase from lekin revenue in certain provinces (in which provinces, and at whose expense, we needn't go into at present), in order to elude the control which was contemplated when certain provincial kins were included in the guarantees for the 1998 Loan. Sir Ernest Satow, 1 am told, is opposed to the raising of a collectively guaranteed loan," his view being that the indemnity due to each State should form a debt due to it by China, on which she would pay interest and aungitisation until com The following correspondence was sub-plete redemption; possibly this may be going too far as a representation of Sir Ernest's views, but anyway his main point is to provide, if only temporarily, for the services of the indemn nities without touching the big questions affect ing foreign trade, so as to leave them to be dealt with carefully and deliberately on their own merits after the "prace" negotiations are over. Plainly, I think we must all agree that this policy of the British Minister is one which the Association should strenuously support. To settle the indemnity question by a stroke of the pen imposing a 10 per cent, ad valoremt duty in lieu of the existing tariff would mean giving away the only lever we have for obtaining re: dress of existing grievance as it lekin, Irland Navigation, &c., and to commit to the repre- sentatives of eleven Powers; most of which have no commercial interests worth speaking of the settlement of commercial questions in which the future trade of China is involved, would be, on the part of Great Britain, simply suicidal.

I would suggest to the Committee that we should take immediate action in this matter; we need not commit ourselves to any definite proposals as to how the service of the indemnity should be provided: that, perhaps, would be go ing beyond our province; we might, however, urge that pressure be brought to bear upon China to provide for the service of the indem-

............

THE CHINESE TARIFF.

Mongkong, 25th April, 1901.

To the Secretary,

...

Hongkong Chamber of Commerce. Sir, I am directed by my Committee to forward to you enclosed copies of certain letters and telegrams which have passed between the Hongkong and Shanghai Branches of the China Association and the London Branch, relative to the question of Tariff Revision. It is hoped that your chamber may see fit to co-operate with the China Association in en- WE note that the China Review" has beendeavouring to prevent any settlement of the transfered for publication to Blessrs. Kelly &tion calculated to prove detrimental to

British interests in China,

It will be esteemed a lavpur if you will be good enough to communicate to my Committee the views of the Chamber of Commerce on this most important subject, and to let them know what, if any, action it is proposed to take.

I am, Sir,

Yours obediently,

(sd.) M. STEWART.. Hon. Sec, China Association.

China Association, Shanghai Branch, 3rd April, 1991. J. Francis, Esq, KC

Chainman; Hongkong.

Walsh, to whom future communications are to be addressed.

In our opinion to have attempted such a scheme would have been disastrous, consi- dering the evil condition of the various crowded parts of the Colony where the bulk of plague cases occur. As the President DR. FOLET states that absinthism is the French pointed out at the meeting, there is no sub-national vice. In Ireland, landlord absinthism división of the houses, and conditions are is said to be the cause of much of that country's all against any possibility of isolating a distressthful condition. patient.

NOTICE.

Dr. BELL was also against the proposal,

Our Special Edition is now on sale and may and he said, naturally, that he entirely failed

be obtained on application. Price fifty cents. to see how a number of cases, anything from a dozen to a hundred, were going to Intending purchasers are advised to order J. be efficiently supervised, if treated in their catly. See advertisement appearing cleswhere. own houses. A resolution against the pro- THE Singapore Free Press, liears, on private posal was carried with only one exception, but good authority, that Sir Alexander Swetten Mr. BREWIN, who has come into prominence lately in the Sanitary Board, since Dr. ham is to go as Governor, to British. Guiana. This is in succession to Sir Walter Sendall, HARTIGAN resigned, if we have noted cor- rectly. Mr. BREWIN, on Dr. BELL propos who was Governor since 27th March, 1898. ing a resolution to the effect that the Board we have received the "China Review for did not think the proposition advisable, February and March, 1931, from the office of broke in with the profound and luminous the China Mail. Among other farticles "The observation, "I think you might add unless Ceremony of Disinterring in Ching" Macao He appears to fall very readily into the in the Early Days" and "Poisonous Snakes in views of the highest officials of the Colony, Hongkong" will be found interesting. or else he affeces a maudlin sentimentality We shall be obliged if any subscriber on towards the Chinese. The suggestion was made by the Governor, we believe, to see if receiving his paper late or irregularly will any betterment of sanitation as regards write on the Wrapper of the paper the Time of plague patients could be effected, not to delivery, etc., and forward the Wrapper to the have that suggestion upheld 'because it was Manager, Hongkong Telegraph Co., Ld., so The wrapper will put forward by His Excellency, Having Queen's Road Central been considered fully by the Sanitary Board enable us to check the delivery coolies

information be forwarded.'"

A special meeting of the Sanitary Board was held yesterday afternoon at four o'clock to con sider suggestion by H. E. the Governor to let plague patients in Yaumati be treated in. their ows houses, under proper supervision. The President (Hon. W Chatan. Acting Director of Public Works), occupied the chair, and there were also present the llon. F. H. May, C. M. G. (Vice-President, Dr. Bell (Principal Civil Medical Officer of Health), De Clark (Medical Officer of Health). Licut. Col. Hughes, R.A.M.C., Mr.A. W. Brewin (Registrar General, Mr. E. Osborne, Mr. Fung Wa Chun,

The Secretary rend the following minute (Secretary to the Board). from H. E the Governor-In Hainan the houses, and saved a considerable percentage. doctor treated his plague patients in their own The humber of cases was not sufficient to form the ground for a working theory, but the doctor sid, in answer to my enquiry, that the disease had not spread to the other inmates. I suggest for the consideration of the Sanitary Board that it may be well to try the experiment in Yauntati of permitting cases of which timely report has been given to be treated in their own houses, and, if they desire it, by Chinese doctors. The experiment could, be closely watched, and in case of a spread of the disease to the other inmates, the permission could be, withdrawn. It seems to me the only course promising any hope of assistance from the Chinese, without which, in a town situated like this, there is but.. slight hope of controlling the epidemic."

The President thought that, from the point could make litte difference where they were treated. The of view of the patient

disease appeared to be developing rapidly and the rate of mortality was so high that it al- most made no difference where a patient was 'From his knowledge of Chinese treated, quarters in Yaumati, and elsewhers, he thought

H. W. FRASER,

p. Sub-Manager. Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,

Hongkong, 3rd May, 1901. Sir, having been brought to the notice the method recommended for treating patients of this Chamber that a movement was in pro-suffering from infectious disease would not be gressint: Peking, favoured by certain of the found practicable, especially where people were crowded together. There was no sub- Powers, to settle the question of the pays division of the houses, and consequently no of the indemnities by China through a loan

means existed of isolating a patient. The guaranteed by the Treaty Powers and secured by an increase of the Chinese Customs Tariff proposal did not recommend itself to him.

Dr. Clark suggested the establishment of- from 5 per cent. ad valorem to 10 per cent, the,

a small hospital at Yaumati. The Sanitary. Committee lost no time in securing corrobora-

Board already possessed a small matshed there rion of the report, and then felegraphed to you

which could be adapted to the purpose. There as follows to-day:

was no reason why patients should not be saved the discomfort of being carried across the harbour and conveyed to Kennedy Town. The matshed could easily be fitted up for the purpose, and if the people could be induced to report cases of infectious disease, four or five per cent. more might possibly be saved. The fact of patients having to be carried across the barbour seemed to deter people from reporting. cases. Dr. Clark thought their Chinese.cof- leagues might express their views on the recommendation for the consideration of which the meeting was called.

"Chamber Commerce, London.

"Referring Chinese Indemnity, it is pro- posed by certain Powers to raise guaranteed Loan secured by doubling Tariff. This Cham her most carnestly submit Government should on no account agree any fercase existing Tariff unless accompanied by substantial redress grievances connected lekin and other internal taxation and satisfactory settlement question inland waters navigation.

"T. JACKSON, Chairman, "Hongkong Chamber Commerce."

1

In reply to Lieut-Col. Hughes Dr. Clark. said he was prepared to move that the Board recommend the Government to utilise. the Sanitary Board matshed at Yaumati for the treatment of patients, provided they could get the services of a doctor from the College of. Medicine to take charge of the hospital,

Lieut. Col. Hughes seconded.

Mr. Osborne, said that the recommenda- tion of H.E. the Governor, if adopted, would result in a very drastic change in the steps hitherto taken to combat plague, and it was Inte in the day to introduce a change. He agreed with the President in saying that they ought not to support the recommendation. In Lainan the ductors saved a considerable per centage of cases, and there was not the slighest doubt the doctors in Hongkong could do the same if they got the patients in time. A China- man, when he got fever, simply went and lay down until it had developed into plague; then he was removed by his friends to Canton, or wherever his hone was; more often, however,

PRESIDENT.

London Chamber of Commerce.-

3rd May, 1901. The Committee are not opposed to the idea of raising the Chinese Tariff per se, but they entertain invincible objections to making such a concession without obtaining simultaneously the most absolute guarantees for the redress of existing mercantile grievances and the abolition of irregular inland taxation. The increase of the Tariff should be regarded as the quid pro quo for the abolition of lekin, the merging of the native-managed into the Foreign Customs and their collection by the staff of the Imperial Maritime Customs, together with the per- manent repoval of the numerous inland barrier stations at which such duties are now collected on imports until they reach the point where the burden of taxation renders them unsaleable. If any increase of the Tariff is concerted before the questions connected with collection are satisfactorily settled, there will be no chance of obtaining such settlement later on, for we shall have parted with our most cogent argument in advance. The difficulties in the way of the realisation of our demands are already suffi ciently great; the provincial officials will strenuously oppose the abolition of lekin and the barrier dues, which have for many years Mr. May agreed with Mr. Osborne, and been their main sources of revenue, and they thought the Sanitary Board at any rate might will only yield on its being shown that this congratulate itself on the fact that since the loss will be made good to them out of the in-plague outbreak of 1894, which tool them un- creased Customs revenue.

he was allowed to die and his body was dump. ed into the street. He thought it inadvisable to introduce at present any such step as that suggested by II.E. the Governor for the treat- ment of plague patients..

Lawares, plague had never got out of hand. That The danger that now menaces commercial was more than could be said for India, where, interests is that those Powers whose sea-borne he believed, the authorities 3nd had to give in commerce is on a very limited scale are dis to native prejudices and practically admit them- tinctly inclined to support any scheme which selves defeated. Although plague in the colony will serve to secure the prompt payment of the was pretty bad, it was not nearly so bad as in indemnity claimed by them from China. They 94, when it was allowed to grow to a very. can view with something more than equanimity serious extent before they knew anything about the diversion of some of this traffic overland in it. Therefore, he believed in leaving well alone. consequence of the enhanced duties, especially and in profiting by what experience had taught if it passes through their territory, and this them. equanimity will not be disturbed by the con- In reply to Mr. Brewin Dr. Clark said that sideration that the bulk of the increase in the the number of deaths last week was 95 per Chinese Tariff will have to came out of the pockets of Anglo-Saxon and German merchants Cent. There had been an increase in the

merchant number of unidentified deaths: and manufacturers.

Mr. Fung Wa Chun, in answer to Mr. In view of these facts; therefore, and the Osborne, said, he thought the Chinese were certainty that any reforms in the Chinese quite willing to report their cases, but admitted methods of taxation must be made prior to the that coulies were in the habit of hiding them.. increase of their Tariff, I beg to urge upon Though not quite in favour of the suggestion vaur Committee the necessity of an early and to treat patiems in their own houses, he thought energetic appeal to the Foreign Office to stand it might be given a trial. In Canton, where firm against any and all attempts to come to a such treatment had been tried, only one case

nity out of existing sources of revenue, distinct premature and, disastrous arrangement with out of nine had ended fatally. He suggested Dear Sir,-i am instructed by the Committes from foreign' trade, which under more careft regard to payment of the indemnities. So far that the Board should write to the British Con-"

as the Treaty Powers interested in the sea-borne sul at Canton to enquire if such was the case.

Iam, Sir,

Dr. Bell was of opinion that the recommend. ation of H.E. the Governor should not be supported-neither now nor at any other time. He explained how cases of infectious disease were treated in-hospital, and maintained that the same methods were impossible in a house it might be a washerman's, or perhaps a rice

copy of a Memorandum for the consideration capable, of adequate expansion in any case would prefer of this Branch to forward to you the enclosed and honest adininistration are known to be

commerce with China are concerned, they wait indefinitely for their in- of which a meeting, is called for to-morrow the point upon which we ought to lay stress is demnity rather than barter away the prospects afternoon; the decision of the Committee as to that the actual and potential development of of future trade for the sake of its prompt fiqui- the action to be taken will in due course be British trade should not be jeopardised by any dation. communicated to you,

hasty and ill-considered scheme of increase of Trusting that your Committee will fully The Memorandum explains itself, and I the Customs Duties, which would merely need not occupy time in enlarging upon it aggravate existing anomalies, and deprive us of appreciate the urgency of the question and its

shop. Also there was no possibility of having that it is trusted that your Coinmittee will co- the redress of grievances which hamper both The subject dealt with is of such importance the only lever for extracting from the Chinese important bearing on trade with China,

proper supervision. There might be a dozen Yours faithfully, operate in wiring to London urging that the the productivity of the Empire, and the growth

cases, or fifty, or a hundred, and he failed to TJACKSON, Chairman.

see how they were going to exercise supervision. strongest possible protest be entered against of foreign trade and shipping. We might add

Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, He thought the Sanitary Board would make a any hasty action in dealing with the Tariff in also that the, present Conference of Ministers,

A Hongkong, 3rd May, 1901.

great mistake if they held out any hopes of the manner which seems to be proposed; such in which representatives of Powers having action would be absolutely fatal to commercial hardly any commercial interests in Chinat Sir-I beg to acknowledge receipt of your ever adopting the recommendation, which was interests, and would entirely give away the appear to have an equal voice, cannot be letter of the 25l ult, transmitting copies of one they should set their faces strongly against. unly lever which we possess for obtaining regarded as a satisfactory instrument for con- certain letters and telegrams which have passed He had heard something said about the con- redress of existing grievances,

ducting complicated commercial negotiations, between the Hongkong and Shanghai Branches version of a matshed into an hospital. To that Though until our meeting is held 1 am and that the British Government should there of the China Association and the London proposal ho had no objection, provided there unable to say what will be the action taken fore make every effort to keep such negotiations Branch, relative to the question of the revision would be proper medical supervision, either by here, our telegram to London will probably be apart for future settlement by the leading com of the Chinese Tariff, and expressing the hope himself or by Dr. Thomson. As to the treating on the lines of the following draft, which will be mercial Powers as soon dr normal conditions..that this Chamber will co-operate with the of patients in their own houses, he would submitted to the meeting-With reference of Government have been restored in the Association in, endeavouring to prevent any strongly oppose it Hainan was in China, and to the indemnities we have good reason 10 country."

settlement of the question in the direction of there the doctor had no power or right to move believe that certain Powers propose inter- The matter is one which, though I think it increasing the Tariff without first securing his patients. process of raising the tariff to to per cent to be considered in full committee meeting: a Strongest possible protest should be made meeting to-day is impossible, and to-morrow, against any hasty action in the treatment of being mail day, is incovenient will the Cou; the tariff thereby endangering development of mittee incet at my office on Thursday 20,3 trade and destroying only available er forp.m.15 km procuring redress of existing grievances. It It will, I think, be desirable to invite the should be urged that China. be pressed to Hongkong Committee to co-operate with us

it was decided to oppose the proposal, as it A SPECIAL telegram to the Shanghai Mercury national guaranteed-loan secured by the simple calls for action as: speedily as possible, ought guarantees for the abolition of the abuses con- The President thought it would be the best

was agreed that it would be detrimental to measures for the prevention of plague

We believe H.E the Governor will be perfectly satisfied with the conclusion come to at the meeting, for, as we say, it was only put, forward as a suggestion, to be adopted if thought good and

dated London, 27th April, 80 p.m., says The city editor of the Standard, commenting on the causes of the financial panic in Japan, says that the most permanent solution of the present difficulty is for Japan to offer a sufficient not approved inducement to prompt foreign capitalists to

nected with the collection of duties. Way to express an opinion of the proposal by In iply, I am instructed to enclose, for the taking a vote. He thought there was a pretty information of your Committee, cops of 8 tele- general consensus of opinion against it. gram despatched to day in the London Chem-Dr. Bell proposed a resolution to the effect ber of Commerce std of a letter sent ip that that the Board do not think it would be advis- body by the following mail

able to carry out the suggestion Trusting that the efforts taken by the Asso Mr. Brewin thought they might add, unless