:
January 19, 1898.]
that the Justices of the Peace will do their duty in the matter and, having commenced the campaign against the sale of injurious liquor, will carry it through to a successful
issue.
ENGLISH TEACHING FOR HONG- KONG CHINESE.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. that the supplanting of the native language of the Chinese people by the English language cannot be effected by the waving of a fairy wand, even in this small colony, nor yet by many years of patient labour on the part of our various educational agencies.
SIR THOMAS SUTHERLAND AND THE SHIPPING CONFERENCE.
must be admitted
THE FUTURE OF KOREA.
(13th January.)
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We are still without any definite con- firmation of the reported agreement between Great Britain, Russia, and Japan with reference to China and Korea, but the opinion appears to be generally entertained that the trouble is over. If it be correctTM that the British Government is going to That hardy annual, the subject of teaching
lend money to China direct it may be the Chinese to speak English, was again in evidence at the distribution of prizes at Sir THOMAS SUTHERLAND's speeches at the assumed that British influence will make Queen's College on Friday last, when Sir JOHN P. & O. Company's meetings are always in- itself felt in the administration of the Em CARRINGTON was the orator of the occasion. teresting, and the one he made at the last pire, though without the assumption of Far be it from us to depreciate the import- meeting, held on the 10th December, is any formal protectorate or absolute control. ance of teaching English to the Chinese, especially so, as Sir THOMAS dealt with the The problem in that direction would be but when public men undertake to discuss important and vexed question of the Ship comparatively easy of solution when once the question in public it would be au ping Conference. There is also a reference. international jealousies had been cleared advantage if they took the trouble to make to Hongkong, to the disposal of the Com-away. The Chinese Government, though themselves, acquainted with the conditions pany's property in this colony, and to powerless to repel attack from without, of the problem. The Chief Justice says the revolution which has passed over the possesses sufficient strength to preserve that when he came to the colony, about business of steairship companies since the order in the various provinces, and with twenty months ago, he was very much opening of the Suez Canal, The Shipping the guidance of foreign advice would struck with the general ignorance of the Conference, however, was the main subject soon be able to consolidate its authority, to provide a decent administration, and English language which prevails amongst the dealt with, and it Chinese population of Hongkong. Having that the speaker made a remarkably able in course of time to establish an efficient given a number of instances of this ignor and effective defence of the general prin- army and navy. The granting of financial ance, His Honour said, "Now this is a ciple involved, viz., that of combination assistance by Great Britain implies that strange state of things, and we look to amongst steamship owners, though he did Chipa is to be allowed to avail herself of Queen's College to remedy this state of not dispose of all the complaints of shippers: such advice. But what about Korea, with things." But there is in reality, nothing It was shown that regular lines could not
its wretched government and chronic re- .bellions? Bad as is the administration in at all strange about it. We have in Hong-be maintained without some agreement kong but a very small indigenous popula-amongst themselves as to rates. To that the China it is vastly superior to that of and it is difficult to see tion, the great bulk of the inhabitants being shipper can hardly object, for though his own Korea, persons born in China who have never had interest is in favour of low charges, he must how order is to be maintained in the the opportunity of learning English even if recognise the shipowners' right to a profit latter country, or foreign interests to be protected, without some measure of direct they had the inclination. Of the 201,528 and be prepared to pay for the greater re- of Chinese land population enumerated at gularity of communication which the estab- foreign control. And who is to excercise the census taken last year only 9,033 re- lished lines afford over tramp steamers. that control? If Russia and Japan would turned themselves as having been born in But what is objected to is the preferential consent to withdraw in favour of Eng- Hongkong, and a still smaller number, treatment sometimes extended. to the land the solution would no doubt be namely, 1,523, acknowledged the colony as foreigu shipper in competition with the eminently satisfactory from our own point their native place. Taking an outside shipper from British ports, and it is on that of view, but it can hardly be expected estimate, therefore, hardly more than five point that Sir THOMAS SUTHERLAND's speech that the other Powers will look at it in the per cent. of the population can have come will be subjected to the closest scrutiny. same light. Possibly the settlement may under the influence of our local educa: Dealing with the freight on iron and iron take the form of a tripartite control, Eng tional agencies. Small wonder, then, that materials, which form the chief export from land, Russia, and Japan being equally re- the bulk of the population are unable to speak Antwerp, he said that some time ago there presented. That may turn out to be the English. If Queen's College were required was a great struggle between certain Ger- only possible solution of the difficulty, but to remedy this state of things it would have man lines which brought the freight down it is one that can hardly fail to lead to to establish branch-schools in all the towns to 10s. a ton or even lower. When the further difficulties in the future. The joint and villages of the province of Kwangtung, P. & O. Company found that this cut-throat control of Egypt by France and England from which the population is chiefly drawn. competition was not to be an affair of days broke down, and a joint control in Korea would almost inevitably prove equally un But even if the alien character of the popu- or weeks, but that it was pretty sure to lation were less pronounced than it is we continue until one of the German lines stable. So far we have had no indication of still fail to see that there would be swallowed up the other, they lowered the what Lord SALISBURY's policy in the matter cause for surprise in the fact that the freight at Middlesbrough from 15s. to 10s., really is, but it appears clear that some majority can speak only their own language, or whatever the rate was from Antwerp, very definite line has been laid down, When a person goes to one of Her Majesty's and he believed their example was followed and much curiosity must be felt as to foreign dominions populated by a native in Liverpool and the rate similarly reduced its character. The circumstances of Korea are radically different from those of China race he cannot reasonably expect to find there. If that course was always followed English the common language of the people, there would be no cause of complaint. But aud call for different treatment. In India and the Straits Settlements the is it? The inquiry instituted by Mr. European population find it convenient to CHAMBERLAIN with reference to the trade learn the native languages in order to be of British colonies and foreign competition able to communicate with their servants and brought to light several instances in which tradesmen, and were the Chinese language foreign trade received the benefit of pre- less difficult no doubt the same course would ferential freights. The Hongkong Com- be adopted in Hongkong; but as Chinese is mittee drew attention to the fact that the not a language that can be "picked up," rates of freight on piece goods charged at and as few can afford the time and large that time by the Conference steamers from expenditure of effort requisite for its New York to Hongkong and Shanghai systematic study, we have to get on as best averaged from 25s. to 30s. per top as com- we can with the aid of" pidgin" English or pared with 57s. 6d. from London and the aid of interpreters. The wonder is, Liverpool. At Cape Colony also it was having regard to the character of the stated that freight was the main factor population, that English will carry a person in letting in the United States, 228. through so well as it does. Every English- 6. per ton being charged for furniture man of course hopes for the time when from New York and 31s, 3d. to 33. English will be the universal language, 9d. from London. Even if differences such and it is the duty of a colony situated as as these exist only for a time they must Hongkong is, on the borders of an empire nevertheless exercise a considerable in with a population numbering over three fluence while they last and give the for- hundred million, to do its best to eigner an opportunity of securing a tooting bring about that desired consummation; but in markets that were previously supplied at the same time it is as well to recognise from Great Britain.
·
THE SANITARY BOARD AND OBSTRUCTIONS IN LANES. At the meeting of the Sanitary Board on Thursday there was considered an applica tion for the renewal of a lease of Crown land in Lau Kwai Fong Lane. The application had been referred to the Sanitary Board because the property affected obstructs the entrance to the lane, access to which is gained by an archway under the house. The Medical Officer of Health opposed the granting of the application, and was supported by Mr. EDE, whereas the Director of Public Works proposed that the lease be extended as a annual lease so long as the lane continues in its present condition and the houses are not raised in height. The Hon. F. H. MAY, who presided, seconded the Hon. R. D. ORMSBY'S amendment, but, the Board being equally divided, he de clined to give a casting vote, and the question, so far as the Sanitary Board is concerned, is thus left open. The Govern
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