270
THE LEKIN QUESTION AND IMPORT DUTIES.
When LI HUNG-CHANG passes through Hongkong the Chamber of Commerce, or the China Association, or individual mer- chants, may possibly seek an opportunity of laying before His Excellency their views as to the extension of foreign trade and inter- course with China. We believe, too, that one of the pleasures to which His Excellency looks forward in connection with his trip to Europe is an interview with Lord SALISBURY and an interchange of views with that dis tinguished statesman. In order that these conferences may lead to useful practical results it is necessary that some method should be observed, and it would be well, we think, if the Chamber of Commerce or the China Association, or both, were to lay before Lord SALISBURY their views as to what is really required, taking advan- tage at the same time of L's passage through Hongkong to themselves urge those views upon His Excellency, first desideratum to be urged is the entire sweeping away of lekin and the granting of full liberty to foreigners to trade in the interior. There is a growing feeling amongst merchants, we believe, that they would gladly assent to some increase in the import duty if in return lekin charges were com- pletely abolished. The change would he to the advantage of the Chinese Government as well as to that of foreigners, for the lekin collectorate is a most wasteful institution and of the large sums yearly collected by it but a small driblet becomes available for bona fide public purposes, most of the money being lost by. peculation. The Chinese Government
reported was
The
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
sonie time ago to have itself become convinced of the wastefulness of the lekin system, and although we have little confidence in any spontaneous reform taking place in the coun- try it is possible that the Government might be found at present. in a humour to yield to judicious representations made by foreign Governments on the subject if coupled with the offer of substantial collateral advantages. The difficulty in assenting to any increase of the import duty, however, is the want of confidence in the integrity of the Central Government and in its ability, even if the wish existed, to prevent the provincial officials levying illegal squeezes under another name to make up for the loss of lekin, in which case there would be no com- pensating advantage for the increase in the import duty-The question therefore is whether any guarantee could be established for the honest carrying out of the agreement if one were arrived at. The Opium Agree- ment has worked satisfactorily and affords some primâ facie reason to believe that foreign goods in general might under appropriate conditions be protected from all illegal levies. An understanding that in tl event of the agreement being violated by the Chinese the increased import duties should forthwith cease to be payable by foreigners would in itself form a material guarantee and would ensure the Peking Government's keeping a check on the provincial Govern- ments, as it has done in the case of the Opium Agreement, in connection with which it has on more than one occasion had to issue peremptory orders to its satraps to restrain their squeezing propensities. Another guarantee might be the appoint- ment of Consuls to reside in the interior and the granting of permission to foreigners to establish themselves in business wherever they desired. Practically the same sugges tion has been made by the Shanghai Branch of the China Association, which,
in a letter to the parent Association dated the 10th April last, wrote as follows:-
"
4X
66
61
Experience has demonstrated that the opening of certain ports in China to “foreign trade has been eminently beneficial "to the country at large. It is, therefore,"
suggested that all British subjects shall have the right to reside in any part of the country, and to trade and establish them- selves in such places as they may select, under such regulations as may be found
14
C
**
$1
44
"
"
64
着家
if
44
4
necessary,
The extension of commercial intercourse suggested in the preceding paragraph and the better enforcement of trade regulations will render distinctly advantageous the 'creation of a Board of Control with appropriae authority. For this purpose "Her Majesty's Consul-General in Shanghai "should be appointed Superintendent of British trade in China; and, in conjune- "tion with a Commissioner appointed by "the Chinese Government, be empowered to compel observance of, and ensure the enjoyment of privileges conferred by, the provisions of the commercial treaty. The performance of this duty by the British "Consul-General would be entirely at vari- "ance with the exercise by him of judicial "functions as Chief Justice or Assistant Judge of the Supreme Court of Great Britain in China. The separation of the * two offices would, therefore, be imperative.
"To secure the harmonious working of "the commercial treaty and the safety of "person and property of British subjects under "The extended privilege of travel and resi- "dence, and to exercise an efficient check upon corruption and mal-administration on the part of Chinese provincial and 'district officials, a necessity would arise for the appointment of additional British con- sular officers, to reside at the seat of Gov- ernment of each province; to be endowed "with special power to act in the interests of "British commerce, and to be in continuous communication with and under the direc- "tion of the Superintendent of British trade
in Shanghai."
|
11
*
44
It is possible that under some such system as that suggested in the above extract it might be deemed reasonably safe to assent to an increase in the import duty on the condition that lekin and octroi of all de- scriptions were entirely abolished.
THE EXTENSION OF THE COLONY'S BUNDARIES.
|
|
|
“Apríl 1, 1896.
question, has a much wider significance, and would in the event of war no, doubt become an important factor in connection with the large commercial interests at taching to the different treaty ports Mr. first throughout China." The CHATER's letters is dated as far back as November, 1894, but its arguments are as sound to-day as tho day they were penned. His second letter is dated the 16th Septem- her, 1895, and its special object was to call His Excellency's attention to, and to ask him to urge upon Her Majesty's Governnient, the immense importance of taking advantage of the very favourable circumstances that existed at that moment for obtaining from the Chinese Government the trifling extension of territory so urgently needed. The special circumstances alluded. to ware the demands to be made upon China for satisfaction in respect of the Kucheng massacre. On the 5th December the honie Association replied to the effect that the views of the Hongkong Branch had been clearly laid before Her Majesty's Govern- ment, and that the strategic importance of the position was unquestionably appreciated, though the assurance that it could be promptly occupied in case of need, and an impression of the cost of immediate fortifica- tion, might indispose the authorities to perceive the urgency, which is more apparent to the community of Hongkong.
Li
for
In another column we reproduce the first of Mr. CHATER's letters, to which we would invite our readers' attention. It is an ex- cellently written and well reasoned letter and the hon. gentleman merits the thanks of the public for the service he has rendered. The abstract importance of the extension he advocates appears to be recognised, according to the reply of the home Association, but the cost of fortification and the assurance that the territory could be promptly occupied in case of need "may indispose the autho- "rities to perceive the urgency, which is more apparent to the community of Hongkong.' This, theu, is the point to which attention must be now directed, to convince the Govern- ment of the urgency of the question. As Mr. CHATER truly says, it is a case of now or never, or at least it is one in which delay may be dangerous. Certainly no more favourable time than the present will ever occur. making the demand for the rectification of our boundaries. We do not look for any im- mediate increase in China's strength, but it is well within the bounds of possibility that twenty years hence she may be in a very dif- ferent position from that she occupies One of the appendices to the annual report to-day, and she might be proportionately of the China Association contains the cor-less inclined to entertain overtures on the respondence with reference to the proposed subject; moreover, she might form al- extension of the boundaries of Hongkong. liances inimical to British interests, and On the 20th September, 1895, the Hong- her opposition to our request might receive kong Branch telegraphed to the General the support of her allies. If, therefore, the "China Association much abstract importance of securing a rectification Committee -
pleased with the position taken by Prime of the frontiers is recognised the sooner Minister regarding Kucheng massacre. practical effect is given to it the better. As Hope settlement come to will include to the cost of fortification, it may be pointed "extension boundaries Hongkong and upen- | out that, so far as the extension on the ing West River." On the 25th September Kowloon side is concerned, the new territory this was followed by a letter, enclosing two to be incorporated in the colony's posses- letters addressed by the Hon. C. P. CHATER sions would under British rule probably to the Governor, to which the attention of become an important industrial centre the home Association was called, with the yielding a not inconsiderable revenue, which 56 some such extension as would contribute its percentage to the mili- remark that
proposed by Mr. CHATER has, in the tary contribution. As to leaving the occu- opinion of both naval and military pation until an actual emergency, arose, we experts, become essential for the pro- might find then that we were forestalled by tection of Imperial and Colonial in- some one else, or unexpected difficulties terests, and officers of both services have might be thrown in the way. The time of at different times during recent years peace is the time to prepare for war, and, advocated the adoption of such a measure, “The colony's strength as a naval and mili- tary position, though primarily a local
r
CC
(3
"
(1
44
44
C
111
the present instance, the iniportauce of preparation is easily perceivable, for when hostilities actually broke out there
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.