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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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Kowloon frontier necessarily involves a territorial acquisition, and if the term is to be interpreted literally the project for extension must be looked upon as definitely discarded. But when one speaks of ter- ritorial acquisitions in a general sense it is usually whole provinces or large sections of them that are in the mind of the speaker, not small readjustments of the boundaries of territory already in actual occupation or the acquisition of the small slices of territory that may be neces- sary for the establishment of trading stations. We trust it is only in the larger and more general sense that the term has been used by Her Majesty's Ministers. It would be inexpedient in the last degree for Great Britain to bind herself never under any circumstances to acquire so much territory in China as may be necessary for the development and safety of Hongkong or for the rectification of the Burmah frontier should experience show such rectification to be desirable. But if Great Britain reserves to herself the right to make such small acquisitions of territory as may become necessary for the protection and furtherance of her trade and the convenience of her fleet she must be prepared to allow the same liberty to other Powers, always provided that it is not used for the purpose of excluding British trade. The establishment by Ger- many of another Hongkong at Kinochau will prove an excellent thing, not only for German trade, but for trade in general and for the enlargement and improvement of foreign intercourse with China. The more of such stations that are established along | the coast the better, provided they are always maintained as free ports. The case is perhaps somewhat different where the inten- tion in the acquisition of a port is to establish an arsenal, and not a trading station, but here again, so long as our tradal interests are not threatened, it would be better policy for Great Britain to allow other Powers to take such measures as they may deem necessary for the protection of their interests than to tie her own hands while trying to prevent them. If Russia, for instance, desires Port Arthur, although we might not look upon the ac- quisition with favour, it would be better to let her have it than in trying to prevent her to bind ourselves never to acquire Mirs Bay, which is absolutely essential for the safety and development of Hongkong. Her Majesty's Government has definitely pronounced against the partitioning of China, but we trust that the policy so decided upon will not be carried out in uch a hard and fast manner as to preclude the establishment of new trading stations or the reasonable readjustment of existing frontiers.
GERMAN AND ENGLISH COM- MEKCIAL METHODS,
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In his report on the trade of Japan Mr. BRENAN again refers to the superiority of our rivals in what is called pushing busi- ness. Seeing that during the past seven years the imports from Great Britain and British possessions into Japan have increased by 50,500,000 yen, while all other countries put together have improved their position by 29,500,000 yen only, we have perhaps no reat greason for national self reproach. Still it is to be regretted that in any de- we should have to partment of trade confess that others are more successful than ourselves; but this is what Mr. BRENAN says:
what is called "pushing business, I do not think we are so advantageously situated as some "of our neighbours. Our mercantile houses,
as a rule, have a well-established business,'
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this matter as
"and are not anxious to venture into new fields, and, moreover, English mercantile men come of a class with a different train- ing from their German confrères. I am "aware that here I tread on delicate ground, but when it comes to taking trouble and " Iputting up with disagreeable experiences, "the young German does so with more readiness than the Englishman. We have not the class of men who are willing to play the role of salesman." Perhaps the reader may be inclined to ask what makes Mr. BRENAN refer to delicate ground. Possibly it is social con- siderations that he has in his mind, and if so he might have done some good by elaborating the point a little more. It seems absurd that social prejudice should be allowed to interfere with business, and it may be doubted whether it does so to any great extent, but the fact remains that amongst Englishmen in the Far East the social taboo is applied to certain. descriptions of trade that amongst our Con- tinental friends are not considered at all derogatory.
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[February 12, 1898: COMPETITIVE DESIGNS FOR THE AEW PUBLIC OFFICÈS.
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Whatever differences of opinion may be entertained as to the best site for the bew Post Office, the public will, we think, agree with the Hon. C. P. CHATER that the plans both for that building and the other Public Offices should be prepared
by local architects. I wish to record my opinion,' writes Mr. CHATER in his recently published memorandum, "that the plans for the new "Public Offices should be made by local "architects of standing, who, I think, by "their expefience of local requirements and construction, are far more likely to pro- "duce a satisfactory and economical build- ing than any firm of architects in Eng land. The work already executed in this city seems to me quite proof enough of the ability of the local architects to "undertake the proposed buildings, which. "I may mention, are not so large as the blocks now being built on the Reclamation." The plans sent home,' and which have been condemned by Messrs. WEBB and BELL, the Colonial Office Con sulting Architects, are those for which Mr. COOPER, the late Director of Public Works, was responsible. As they had already been condemned by the Committee appointed to consider the matter, it seems a little un fortunate that they should not have been at once discarded and competitive designs nvited, for their submission to Messrs. WEBB and BELL has only resulted in delay and needless expense. What the Consult- ing Architects say is practically identical with what we believe was said by the Com- mittee.
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The Hon. R. D. ORMBBY in his re-i cently published report recommends that plot No. 2 on the new Praya should be devoted to the new Courts and their acces- sories and that Messrs. WEBB and BELL should be called upon to prepare "a suit-
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In illustration of his meaning Mr. BRENAN relates what occurred to him at a small port in the East, where there may have been a dozen European residents in all: Wishing to obtain an English-made article for his own use, he inquired of an English mer- chant whether there was a native shop or store, where European articles were sold. The merchant replied that, with such a small European community, there was not sufficient support for a foreign store," and that the Europeans obtained all their supplies from the neighbouring large port. This Englishman bad lived several years in the place, aud Mr. BRENAN accepted his answer without demur. In walking through the streets next day he came across a very well sup- plied "foreign store," kept by a native, The store was stocked with almost all that a housekeeper could require, a veritable Army and Navy Stores" in miniature, and supplies the storekeeper obtained his through a German merchant in the port. "It is very probable," says Mr. BRENAN, "that the English merchant would not have cared for the business; he would have said, truly enough, that it was not "in his line; but somehow there always Si seems to be a German in whose line it is. 'Far be it from me to criticise our mer- "chants who are now in China or Japan; they are excellent judges of what pays "them and what does not. It is upon those" "who might profitably be there, and yet "are not, that I venture to make any "reflection." But why are the latter pot there? May it be in part because they know that their existence would be rendered unpleasant by the social pre- judices of their fellow countrymen, whereasa German may engage in any honest trade, even, retail, and yet be freely provided his ed society of his fellow residents education and training fit him for it. We are not sure that this is Mr. BRENAN's meaning when he alludes to delicate ground," but the point is one which has no doubt occurred to many
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observers.
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At Shanghai, at about ten minutes past nine on Saturday evening, 29th January, a fire was discovered to have broken out in a native house, No. 35, Yunnan Road. The Fire Brigade was called out and lost no time in getting to work, but it was not until eleven houses had been destroyed and eight others more or less seriously damaged by fire and water that the flames were extinguished. The property was owned by Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co. and was insured in the Hongkong Fire Insurance Co. There was no insurance on the contents,
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able design, worthy of the colony and of "this prominent site.' The Post Office and Treasury Mr. OkMSBY recommends should be placed on the site now occupied by the courts and Post ('ffice, but the design, he considers, could be made locally. "From its position," Mr. ORMSBY says, no striking "architectural effects would be necessary or desirable. The elevation should "follow that of the new buildings in Queen's Road, such as the Chartered Bank, and the internal arrangement of public rooms and offices could probably "be better decided on the spot." It will be seen that Mr. ORMSBY does the local architects the compliment of suggesting that buildings erected from then designs should be taken as the model for the new Post Office He does not say, however, whether he would have competitive designs invited or would have the work done departmentally. The former course would be the better calóulated to secure a hand- some building conveniently arranged.
We must demur to Mr. ORMSBY's opinion that no striking architectural effects are necessary or desirablè in' the new Post
Office. If the clock tower were removed, as has been suggested, the site of the present Post Office would become a pro- minent one and should be occupied by a building worthy of it. The Chartered Bank is certainly a handsome building, but a slavish imitation of it for the new The Post Office is to be deprecated. standard of architecture in the colony has for years been steadily rising, almost every new building of any importance showing some advance, and the erection of a new Post Office should be availed
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