May 21, 1896.]
Even in such a place as Hainan, where it might be thought the official was not so much in evidence, and there are great un- developed mineral resources, there is an absence of enterprise in this direction owing to the utter want of confidence felt by the people in the officials. In the island, on one of its coasts, there are valuable and ex- tensive copper mines which have never yet been profitably worked. There are mines of various kinds in Kwangtung, some of which are no doubt of great value, and even in the small strip of territory to be included in the proposed new limits of the colony some minerals might he discovered. At any rate limestone is to be had there, which would be a boon to more than one industry in the colony, if it could be secured. But unless the Central Kingdom is administered by some Foreign Empire, it is vain to think of any considerable develop ment in mining, for the reasons above adduced. There are plenty of valuable mines in China, but under the existing administration they are practically as in- accessible to private enterprise as if they were situated in some deadly valley in Siam where malaria mounts guard and prevents the possibility of their being workerl.
THE PLEBISCITUM ON THE SAN
TARY BOARD QUESTION.
(13th May.)
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
419
doubt many abstentions for the causes above mentioned.
ourselves, matters in no way touching Im- perial politics, matters that elsewhere throughout the empire are left to local Will the emphatic expression of opinion authorities, we in Hongkong have an equal on the part of the community, as indicated right to be allowed to manage for ourselves. by the voting on Friday and Saturday, have It will be remembered that when the com- any practical result? We think so! No munity desired to have electricity adopted good reason can be shown for altering the for the illumination of our strects and Gov- constitution of the Sanitary Board in the ernor Sir WILLIAM DES VEUX gave effect direction of eliminating the uuofficial element, to the wishes of the public in that matter, nor, indeed, has anything in the shape of he was censured by the Colonial Office for argument been attempted in favour of that presuming to do so without first referring course, and now that it has been demon- the question to Downing Street. An in-strated beyond all dispute that the com- cident of that kind is an insult to an in-munity is not indifferent on the subject but telligent community. We recall it now entertains very decided views in favour of as a striking illustration of the character an unofficial majority, the local Government of the rule to which the colony is at present would under any circumstances hardly subject; but it will be noted that the venture to carry into effect the alterations direct question on which the community is it originally propose 1, even assuming it had requested to express its opinion on Friday a free hand in the matter. But, if and Saturday does not refer to municipal rumour speaks truly, the Government has matters in general or to public lighting in not a free hand, the Secretary of State particular, but to sanitation alone; and it is having given instructions that the con- the universal experience throughout the stitution of the Sanitary Board is British empire, including India, that for to the general improvement of sanitation the co-operation of the public, through legally elected representatives, is essential.
(18th May)
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he
fixed in accordance with the wishes of the British community. If this be so, it is to be regretted that the state- ment was not officially niade before the poll took place, so that the community might have fully understood the responsibility cast upon it. In that case the poll would probably have been larger and the pro- nouncement in favour of an unofficial majority still more cuiphatic, for the additional votes would mostly have been given on the one side, thus reducing the proportion in favour of an official majority from one in ten to perhaps oue in fifteen or one in twenty. The poll as it stands --taken simply because half-a-dozen public spirited gentlemen thought it "expedient," and not in pursuance of any law of in com- pliance with any official order is decisive and the opinion of the public thus expressed cannot be disregarded. All that remains to be done now is to proceed with the filling up of the vacancies on the present Board, and then to take the opinion of the Board, when it is thus legally constituted, as to what alterations are necessary in the existing law for the perfecting of the sani- stary machinery, of the colony. As to how the vacancies should be filled, the public, we think, would be well pleased to see the gentlemen who resigned last year taking up their old places again.
The vote of the British residents on the constitution of the Sanitary Board has resulted, as was to be anticipated, in an emphatic pronouncement in favour of an unofficial majority on the Board. The num- bers were 831 in favour of an unofficial The British unofficial community will be majority and 31 in favour of an official asked on Friday and Saturday next to majority, so that the advocates of a popular express its opinion, by ballot, on the ques constitution of the Board are in a majority tion of the composition of the Sanitary Beard. of ten to one. The poll seems at first sight The taking of this ballot has been arranged rather a small one. At the census of 1891 unofficially, but it is believed that the Cro- the resident male adults of British nationality, vernment will allow itself to he influenced exclusive of the military and police, num- in its ultimate decision by the voice of the hered 795, and at the present tile it numbers public thus formally expressed; and on that probably not less than one thousand, so that reasonable of frame mind, if it really exists, even after neiu-ting the members of the the Government is to be congratulated. civil servire it would seem that not more We do not know whether ther? is to be than forty per evat, of those digible to vote canvassing, either on the one side or the took the Trimble to go to the City Hall on other, but doubtless the question at issue Friday or Saturday. In estimating the will be keenly discussed wherever men significance of this, however, the changeable gather together. The principle at stake character of the community nast not IS an important one for the colony lost sight of. Included aimongst the and any na who abstains from voting called resident p-palatim are a Very en- upon it, wheti, his opinion be for or against siderable proportia of recent arrivals whose au unofficial majority, will, as it seems to interest in local politics has perhaps not yet us, be neglecting a grave public duty. We been aroused, and to these must be added have had public ballots in the colony to that section, to be found in all populations, ascertain local opinion, when a general clec- who never concern themselves with any tion was in progress in England, and it may interests except those personal to themselves justly he lied that there is some value and-whio consequently never exercise their attaching to su hau expression of opinion, right of goting on public questions; but the but at the ZU
Line many may large number of abstentions isprobably chiefly regard it as mere “play pidgin without to be accounted for by the very generally practical effect either one way or the other held opinion that the voting would result in and therefore beneath their dignity. Buta virtual walk over for the unofficial side there is no
play pidgin“ about the ballot and that therefore it would make no prae- to be taken on Friday and Saturday next; | tical difference if any one stayed away. It it is a matter of grim earnest and the opinion is the universal experience in elections that recorded by the majority will have a direct when there is only a nominal contest the effect on the future welfare of the colony. poll is a small one, and that the more evenly The question at issue is whether we | parties are divided, when it becomes essen- are to be ruled entirely by officials or tial for each to put forward its full strength, whether the community is to be allowed the larger is the number of voters. In the some voice in Ne management of its present case the poll, such as it is, may be own local affairs. There can, we think, be taken as fairly ripresentative of the public but one answer to such a question, for the love opinion of the colony and we are there- of free institutions is inherent in the British före entitled to conclude that at the out- race, and not less so, we believe, in the side not more than one in ten favours an Britous resident in Hongkong than in their official majority on the Sanitary Board. brothers in the home country or in the On the official side every vote was of self-governing colonies. It is recognised that the utmost importance and it
may be our meed of local self-government can under assumed that 110 one who entertained any circumstances be but a small one; we a definite opinion against .
{fficial cannot claim to direct Imperial policy even majority would abstain from he in matters that most vitally affect us; but could possibly make it convenerder all purely local matters concerning only whereas on the unofficial side
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FFICIAL VERSUS UNOFFICIAL
CONTROL IN MUNICIPAL MATTERS.
(16th May)
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At the annual meeting of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce held on the 9th April, 1892, Mr. E. MACKINTOSH, the Chairman at that time, in the course of some remarks on the proposed establishment of a Harbour Board, spoke of "the necessity of establishing a body that shall have some 'continuity, that knows what it wants and how to provide for the many changes that are necessary to suit the vast traffic that uses these waters. "The present system," the speaker continued, “is effete; it never did initiate, nor could it be expected to initiate, uceded improve- ments. It is not in touch with the class "that should regulate its own special wants. Again, the Chamber has been met with the remark Show us where we are in "fault.'
It is not this we urge against the Give us the present system, but we say, power to regulate our own affairs and "we will show you that we will do better.'" ad: What Mr. MACKINTOSH said with regard ere no to the proposed Harbour Board might also
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