308
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
defeat the oue opportunity we have had of put-severe nature of the quarantine regulatious im- ting all coin upon a proper basis.
The CHAIRMAN-Before I put the resolution I will announce the result of the ballot. The Committee elected will consist of Messrs. A. G. Wood (Chairman), A McConachie (Vice-Chair- man), T. Jackson, R, M. Gray, N. A. Siebs, St. C. Michaelsen. T. H. Whitehead, Douglas Jones, and J. J. Bell-Irving.
Mr. Sharp's resolution was then put to the meeting and carried.
į
[April 25 1895.
prosecuted the agents of the steamer Hupeh for posed against Hongkong during the prevalence violation of the law by loading bunker coal on of the plague was brought to the notice of the Sunday. The Magistrate decided that bunker Government with the view that, should it unfor- coal was not cargo and dismissed the case—thus tunately be again considered desirable to enforce supporting a previous decision given in faveur such regulations, an endeavour should be made of the steamer Whampoa adding "I am of to induce the Straits Government to frame these opinion the Ordinance overlooked the existence with the strictest regard to the very large in- of bunker coal, or else never intended it to be terest of both colonies which are so very ad- regarded as cargo," A question referred to the versely affected by such onerous restrictions. The Chamber as to whether or not ballast would be Committee, while very fully sympathising with considered cargo under the Ordinance_remains Mr. SHARP One word, Mr. Chairman, be the desire of any community to guard against undecided, as in the particular case referred to. fore you conclude the meeting. I do not the introduction of dangerous disease, are which would have been made a test one, the think all of us appreciate the labour inclined to think that the precautions taken are steamer arrived in time to ballast on Saturday. which is embraced between the two covers often the outcome-if not of panic-of at least In connection with this the Harbour Master of that report. It is A very easy thing over-hasty action, and are often entirely opposed expressed an opinion that as ballast is not to go on smoothly when everything goes onto the opinions of experts who now generally included in the clanse exempting certain things smoothly and not to take much notice of the contend that quarantine regulations formerly from the provisions of the Ordinance, a permit machinery by which everything is done. but if held to have been effective, and now abandoned would be necessary. to which a fee attaches ao-- you will look through the subject matter in Eugland, are calculated to promote rather cording to the tonnage of the vessel. of this report you will see that there ia pot a than prevent the spread of disease whether of
CONGRATULATORY TELEGÁMS EXCHANGED BE. single matter which can be fairly classed an infectious or contagious nature, and the Sin-
TWEEN THE TELEGRAPH COMPANIES AND ás routine. They are special, peculiar, and gapore Authorities seem to have erred in that
THE CHAMBER. most important, and I think, in reading direction. Holding the views that Government
The Chamber has had the opportunity during the multiplicity of letters and correspon apparently does, it seems unlikely it will be in the past year of exchanging congratulations with dence which that report contains, one is clined to entertain the suggestions made. but the Telegraph Companies on the completion of struck with the amount of painstaking labour the matter has beed referred to the Secretary the cable connecting Hongkong with Singagore performed by our Committee during the past of State who 'may perhaps be disposed to adopt via Borneo and Labuaa, and also on the celebra year. (Applause). I think, therefore, that we broader views more consistent with what ought tion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the inita may very fairly record a vote of thanks to the to be the common interest of two British Co-tion of telegraphy with the Far East. Committee, to the Chairman, and to the Sec- lonies. retary for the labour which has been so success- fully performed. (Applanse).
The CHAIRMAN➡On behalf of the Committee and the Secretary, I express our thanks to Mr. Sharp and the members present for his kind re marks. I should just like to say in reference to the resolution about the British dollar that the new Committes will no doubt have great plea. sare in bringing the resolution at once to the notice of the Government. Gentlemen that concludes the business of the meeting.
The following is the Committee's report submitted to the meeting :-
OUTBREAK OF BUBONIC PLAGUE IN HONGKONG.
RESTRICTIONS ON THE IMPORTATION OF MACHINERY INTO CHINA.
PREFERENTIAL DTIES GRANTED BY THE KOPPO OF CANTON ON JUNK-CARRIED CARGO.
In reply to the Chamber's enquiries regarding
This vexed question has again cropped up on the prohibitory notification, referred to last Year, issued by the Commissioner of Customs. several occasions, beginning with a renewed com. Shanghai, Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at plaint on the part of the Liver Steamboat Com. Peking stated that the Doyen of the Corps panies that these concessions were again being Diplomatique bad protested against the notifica- freely granted, with the tion in question, and had informed the Chinese bulk of the Government that the foreign representatives declined to recognize its validity as being opposed to the privileges accorded by the treaties, and that the question still formed the subject of cor- respondence between the Corps Diplomatique and the Tsung-li Yamĉu; adding that com. munications to the same effect had been addressed to 1er Britannic Majesty's Consuls at the dif- ferent treaty, ports. The matter was brought up in the House of Commous on 26th June last by Sir G. Baden Powell, when a reply similar to the above stat ment was elicited.
IN IAN IMPORT DUTY ON SILVER. The agitation started last year against a inea. sure so calculated to still further complicate the silver question, which is so adversely affecting the trade between India, Hongkong and Chiua has been widely, but ineffectually, maintained, and there are apparently no present indications that the Indian Government intends to abandon the position it has taken up.
THE COINAGE OF A BRITISH DOLLAR.
Daring last summer the colony suffered from au outbreak of Bubonic Plague probably the most serious sickness of an epidemic nature with which Hongkong has been assailed since its occupation by the British The disease, thongh known in Hainan and other parts of Southern China, had never before reached Hongkong, and the terror-which contact with the unfamiliar. particularly with regard to such a visitation, and among an ignorant people is apt to produce led to a panic resulting in an exodus of the inhabitants to neighbouring places, of sup- posed greater safety, such as had not before been experienced here. Business was in a great measure interrupted both on account of the absence of a large portion of the population and The Committee learned with satisfaction that the presence of the plague, and the less to the the Home Authorities had decided to sanction colony was very serions. The disease was sup- the above coinage. the necessity for which has posed to have been introduced from Canton, at different times throughout the year been keenly where it had made its appearance some time felt, emphasizing the advisability of not being previously, and the insanitary condition of dependent upan ontside sources for any portion many of the districts in the city of Victoria of our currency. A slight want of unanimity afforded a very fitting nursery for its propaga ou the part of some of the mercantile community tion, assisted by, perhaps, an abnormal condition in Singapore may have caused a little delay, but of the atmosphere, the result, not unlikely, of a it has bepu decided to begin coining at once. long continued drought. Whatever the dircum-The dollar will be 416 grains in weight and of stances were which favoured its growth the disease found an easy footing in our midst, It broke out in May for earlier) and continued until September, when the Plague Proclamations of 10th May and 9th August were withdrawn by the Authorities. A bard of volunteers-Naval, Military and Civil-did good service under, perhaps, not very encouraging circumstances, and with no great show of gratitude from those whom they desired to bonefit, in attempting to ameliorate the condition of the sufferers. Owing, to the large numbers who left the colony the exact mortality could not be as ertained, and though serious was perhaps less than might have been expected under the circumstances. The disease claimed few victims other than Chinese, but such immunity may not be again enjoyed should a recurrence of the plague take place and we are found unprepared. A report was recently made to the Sanitary Board that bubonic plague had appeared at A moy, but, as will be seen from the accompanying correspondence, its existence there was denied. QUARANTINE REGULATIONS IMPOSED IN SIN- GAPORE AGAINST HONGKONG,
What appeared to be the quite unnecessarily
900 millesimal fineness, corresponding with the Japanese yen, and will be constituted a legal tender intlongkong and the Straits Settlements, It will be minted for the public at one per cent, in exchange for bullion.
SUNDAY CARGO-WORKING ORDINANCE.
result that the season's top had been diverted from their steamers. into native junks. The difficulty of adducing positive proof that special allowances are made, a matter which Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking, who has taken a keen interest in the question. bas made almost a sine qua non, still remains. Par ticulars of many instances in which these con- cessions have been granted are not difficult to obtain, but owing to the dread the Chinese have of their own officials, and the fear, however_re- mote, of in any way compromising themselves by giving evidence in such a matter. renders it all but impossible to get these particulars sub- stantiated. His Excellency the Governor has made himself fully acquainted with the question, and will, no doubt, use his influence to endea vour to bring about a reform. Our neigh bons in Canton have approached the subject, but from a different point of view, contending that the granting of such duties is a positive beuefit to the exporters of tea and other articles of produce. It may even be admitted that in some instances such benefits do acerne, but it cannot be gainsaid that these are obtained con- trary to the terms of the treaties, and if a deviation from treaty obligations in one direction is allowed to pass unnoticed, similar departures in other directions would be sure to follow.
WAR BETWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN.
It was brought to the notice of the Govero- ment on the 7th August that though war had been declared between these two countries it had not been officially made known in the colony, and that business was being seriously interfered with owing to the uncertainty that prevailed as to what treatment neutral vessels and neutral interests might be expected to receive at the hands of the belligerents. In reply the Colonial Secretary stated that a telegram had that The Chamber has had occasion to call the at- morning (9th August) been received from the tention of the Government to an amendment in Secretary of State, advising that the procla the Sunday Labour Ordinance which admits of mation of neutrality and the rules connected all mail steamers (irrespective of nationality therewith had been despatched by mail to the and to the detriment of British shipping), pro- colony. These were ultimately promu'gated in vided Hongkong is not the terminal port, to dis- a Gazette Extraordinary published 8th Septem- charge and take in cargo without incurring the ber, and dealt chiefly with illegal enlistment, fees imposed by the Ordinance, pointing out that illegal ship-building, and illegal expeditions. the remission of these fees is an unfair çonces. The Government very courteously furnished the sion to mail steamers, enabling them to obtain Chamber with a considerable mass of correspon- quicker despatch and more successfully to com-dence-attached hereto-giving information re- pete against the less fortunate ordinary carriers garding the restrictions placed on neutrals, the unsubsidised and handicapped in addition to the measures adopted for the profection against at extent of Sunday-working fees. The concession tacks by sea, and other matters. The corres is believed to have been made unsolicited at the pondence shows that Her Britannic Majesty's suggestion of the Post Office authorities, and Goverument refused to treat rice as contraband- was apparently unnecessary, as the mail steamers of war; and that the Japanese would not con- without acceleration of speed can easily deliver sider the commodity generally known as their mails well within contract time. Under lead" in that category provided it was destined the same Ordinance the Government recently to a port whence tea is ordinarily exported.
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