March 19, 1898.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE EAGLES AND THE CHINESE|Weihaiwei, and Great Britain will be com-
CARCASE,
have an
"Wheresoever the carcase is there will the eagles be gathered together." The carcase in this case is the vast and unwieldy body of China, moribund though not defunct; the eagles are the civilised Powers of the West and the latest factor in Asiatic politics-the island Empire of Japan.
It was through the latter's agency that the discovery was made of the rottenness of the Celestial Empire, a discovery that may yet important influence on Japan's own fortunes. The eagles in this case are repre- sented by the vessels-of-war, which have of late been flocking out to these seas in a well nigh continuous procession. Germany, which formerly maintained a squadron of three vessels, has now quite a little fleet, and her new Colony of Kiaochau is to be garrisoned by a force of four thousand five hundred men. Russia, which has for several years past been steadily increasing both her naval force and her Siberian army; has now a most formidable squadron, and this is being still further augmented. Both her largest cruisers, the Rossia and the Rurik, as well as two new battleships, have been added to the squadron in the Pacific, and she is said to have threatened to despatch the rest of her vessels from the Baltic if necessary. To this challenge Great Britain-has responded by sending out the battleships Victorious and Barfleur, the great fast cruiser Powerful has joined Admiral SEYMOUR's fleet, and various other formid- able ships are on their way out. The French, determined not to be behind, have ordered out quite an important squadron of battleships and cruisers. The United States Asiatic Squadron has been reinforced by the addi- tion of a cruiser, and another has since been ordered to join the fleet here from Honolulu. Even Italy is despatching a squadron to look after her interests (real or supposed) in Eastern Asia, and the advance guard of this force, represented by the cruiser Marco Polo, has arrived in this harbour. No doubt Austria will next take care that she is fittingly represented at the carving up of the gross celestial hog, and little Holland, having considerable interests in these seas, may despatch some cruisers to be present at the ceremony.
→
pelled in the interests of her commerce and the Chusan Islands, while France is ob for the protection of Shanghai to re-occupy viously preparing for the establishment of her flag in Hainan. Italy and Austria may next desire a port and sphere of influence in the Emperor KWANG SU's dominions. In any case there are already several great Powers established on the outer edge of the Empire, and it cannot be doubted but that in process of time-probably at no distant date-each foreign port will have an exten- sive territory behind it of which that port will be the dominating and perhaps the law giving force. The British Government have announced their policy in strong terms, but there seems nevertheless to be some little misconception as to what they intend in the event of the process of partition being con- tinued. What Lord SALISBURY means, we take it, is this, that Great Britain will be no party to bringing about the dis- memberment of China, but if such a policy be resolved upon by the other Great Powers, Great Britain will see that her interests do not suffer, and that if partition is effected she shall secure a share of the spoil, however unwillingly. This is the logical conclusion to be drawn from the assurances of Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH, Mr. GoSCHEN, and Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, unless they mean that for the sake of China we are prepared to meet a world in arms. Much as Great Britain and the United States might regret the necessity for the dismemberment of an ancient and historic Empire, neither would be so quixotic as to oppose by force of arms a combination of the Powers for the sake of upholding the rule of the most corrupt and effete Government
in Asia.
PRIVATE PAYING PATIENTS AT THE GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
11
The fees charged at the Government Civil Hospital for private paying patients are $6 a day first class, $4 second class, and $2 third class. If a person engages a room in a hotel by the day he has to pay from $7 to $10, with extras in addition. Thus anyone coming from Canton or the coast ports for medical treatment in Hongkong finds it to his interest to go direct to the For, disguise the truth as we may, there hospital, where for $6 a day he secures board can be little doubt that the ancient aud and lodging, medical attendance, medicine, cumbrous fabric of the Chinese Empire, if nursing, and all necessary extras in the not actually in the throes of dissolution, is way of medical comforts.
It is not surpris- certainly about to suffer the pangs of virtual ing, therefore, that private medical practi- dismemberment. The actual operation may tioners complain of the unfair competition be deferred for a while by the influence of the Government establishment. The of Great Britain and the United States, ratepayers also have reason to complain. backed by Japan, but the agreement For persons of slender means who in case of is too loose to admit of the real power sickness cannot afford to provide themselves of the three States being felt, and the with proper nursing and attendance in their preliminary experiments are already being own homes it is, of course, most desirable conducted. To Germany belongs the that accommodation should be provided in honour of leading the van in this move- an institution. like the Government Civil ment, her seizure of Kiaochau being the Hospital, and that the fees charged should first step in the direction. True the ter- not be beyond their ability to pay. ritory is only leased, but after a prosperous It is, therefore, not the third-class German port has been founded and a trade fees that afford ground of complaint,
the first and established is it to be supposed that the but
second class, and lease will not presently become a freehold? more especially the first. If a The same remarks apply to the occupation earning less than, say, a hundred dollars of Port Arthur and the Liaotung peninsula a month falls sick and requires treatment by Russia. Leasehold first, freehold subse quently. It may be said that Great Britain set the example in this respect with Kow- loon; but the circumstances were widely different, and this tiny territory was very slight compensation for a costly war. As we have said, Germany is now established in Shantung, Russia in Manchuria; Japan has clearly resolved, with this example be- fore her, to make a free Japanese port of
man
in a hospital no one will object to his admission to the Government establishment at the rate of $2 a day, more especially if he loses his pay while sick, but that per- sons in good circumstances should be ad- mitted as patients at inclusive charges considerably below their normal expen- diture when in health is an abuse that should be put a stop to. Persons living at the rate of two, three, or four hun
207
dred dollars a month or over can into the Government Civil Hospital" not only board and lodging, but medical when sick and for $180 a month obtain attendance, nursing, medicines, and medical comforts. Similar considerations apply
to the second class. We should like to see the whole question thoroughly enquired into by a small representative Committee who would set private considera- tions aside and approach the matter from a public point of view only. The space in the Hospital given up to private paying patients necessarily diminishes the space left for destitute and necessitous, cases, and it is said that the latter have sometimes to be refused because there is no accommoda- tion for them. If first class patients are received at all in the Government Civil Hospital-which seems unnecessary now that there is a private hospital to which they can go they should at least be called upon to pay full rates for value received; the charges should be rather over than under the rates charged at private establish- ments, since it ought to be the policy of the Government to encourage private enterprise in this direction rather than to compete with it. As to the second class, an inquiry might be made as to whether it might not be abolished altogether. only difference between the second and third class, we believe, is that the former share small wards with one or two other patients instead of being treated in the general ward. The greater privacy is no doubt appreciated, but it is a luxury which should be paid for. We have also heard that Government servants who by the terms of their engage. ment are not entitled to medical attendance
The
are admitted to the hospital on the reduced terms applicable to Government servants who are entitled to medical attendance, and who when in hospital pay only a nominal sum calculated to cover the cost of their
diet. This also should be enquired into.
REGISTRATion of seRVANTS,
The Captain Superintendent of Police in his annual report again raises the question of the licensing and registration of servants. "Several families," Mr. MAY says,
61 were.
"
"
boycotted by their chair coolies during the year, because the coolies objected to do a "reasonable day's work: Coolies who are dismissed for misconduct or dishonesty "find re-employment as readily as do well- "conducted and honest men. Under a
system of licensing and registration such "would be impossible." The impossibility which Mr. MAY so airily assumes would depend upon the nature of the system he proposes. Until that system is formulated it is impossible to discuss it in detail, but we very much doubt whether any system could be devised that would fulfil all that Mr. MAY claims for the one he has in his mind. His idea, judging from the above quoted extract from his report, appears to be that if a coolie is dismissed for misconduct he should' be prevented from taking other employment. But who is to be the judge of the misconduct? Not the employers, for employers are some- times harsh and unreasonable, and if an employer is the accuser he ought not to be the judge. An employer has the right of dismissal if he is dissatisfied with a servant, and if he has reason to believe a crime has been committed he can prosecute the sup posed offender before the proper tribunal. But to constitute the employer himself the tribunal to determine the guilt of the ac- cused and impose a sentence depriving the accused of the right to continue to earn his living would be an outrage on justice. That, however, seems to be what Mr. MAY thinks
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.