April 30, 1898.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
An important extension to the navy yard is expected to be commenced during the year, affording employment to a large number of labourers.
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is the answer; and if you hesitate, Lock Hing will add, "That is only $5 gold, you know. Although there has been a certain depreciation shown on bank stock, owing to the war scare, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpor- It is probable, also, that during the year the ation alone has added $1,000,000 to its reserve. rectification of the colony's boundaries may be The opening of the West River for 300 miles, announced, which, while its principal import- as far as the important commercial centre of ance rests on political grounds, will also afford Wuchow, a place of 40,000 inhabitants, has in-room for industrial expansion and add to the creased the colony's trade perceptibly. The population. The long-coveted Mirs Bay, a great natural channel of the West River, the number of islands, and a slice of the Kowloon most important water way in Southern China, Peninsula, on the Chinese mainland, will be in- | not only traverses the Kwangtung Province, cluded in the colony. but enters the Kwangsi, and will eventually tap Yunnan, all provinces of incalculable rich- ness, especially when one takes into account that the last named has a portion of the wealth of Szechuen flowing into it. It was to obtain close communication with these four provinces that France conquered Tonkin. By the peace- ful opening of the West River, England has gained the eventual monopoly of this section and has created a rival in Wuchow for Canton, which, up to now, has been Hongkong's sole feeder in China.
The tributary country produces silk, cassia, camphor wood, teas, sugar, tobacco, the fan palm, china grass, and fruits, and is famous for its natural scenery, gorges, rapids, mountain ranges, wonderful cares, subterranean streams, etc.
The census taken January, 1897, gave a po- pulation for the whole colony of 236,382, exclu- sive of the military and naval establishments, showing an increase of nearly 18,000 over the census taken in 1898. This increase would no doubt have been much larger had it not been for the visitations of the plague in 1894 and 1896; and the percentage of increase during the year just expired must, I should think, have been considerably larger than the average of the previous five years.
During 1897 the colony has been almost entirely free from plague, only a few isolated cases, numbering less than twenty in all, having occurred. With the sanitary precautions now taken, there seems little reason to fear the recrudescence of the disease in epidemic form, with its disastrous interruptions to trade and progress.
The English have established a consulate in Wuchow. The country is already a heavy purchaser of American oil and flour, although just at present the Chinese Government has absolutely forbidden the importation of kerosine oil into Wuchow, hoping thereby to force the people to return to the use of nut oil. It is thought the obstruction will be only temporary. The local industries of Hongkong sugar refining, etc. will shortly receive an import ant addition in the mills of the Hongkong Cotton Spinning, Weaving, and Dyeing Com-transfer of said vessels. pany, Limited, the extensive buildings for which are being rapidly pushed. The capital of the concern is $1,200,000, in 12,000 shares of $100 each, with power to increase. Within a few days after the concern was placed on the Hong. kong market, the shares were applied for three times over, in spite of the constant allegations as to the stringency of the local money market; and the promoters are con- templating doubling the number of spindles ori- ginally projected. The general managers are Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. The pros- pectus sets forth that the flotation has been de-employment for a large number of men. ferred, in order to gain the experience of the erection and working of European-managed mills in Shanghai.
It is satisfactory to note that port-light dues have been reduced from 2 cents to 1 cent per ton, the additional 14 cents having covered the special purpose for which the levy was made, namely, the cost of the construction of the Gap Rock Light. Through the representation of "the United States cousul, the colonial government has relieved all foreign shipping of a tax in the form of a stamp duty ou legal papers, necessary in case of sale, mortgage, or
These mills are now all running and are pro- ving a practical success, in that they are spin- ning a very creditable yarn, which is readily bought by natives at a price about 3 per cent. higher than the best Indian spinnings command on the Shanghai market.
As an outgrowth of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, the colonial government has promised to build, at an expense of over $100,000, a road completely around the island, some 30 miles, to be known as the Jubilee Road. This, however, is to be done by local taxation, and, as 17 per cent of all taxes must go for imperial defence, there is some friction over the matter. Conse- quently, although the road has been surveyed, no work has yet been done. It will be of great benefit when completed, opening new tracts for factories and wharves, as well as furnishing
American trade is obtaining a hold on the colony, and, with common-sense methods, it will increase from year to year, particularly in oil, flour, gunpowder, lumber, aniline dyes, and canned goods,
In conclusion, I think Hongkong may expect a continuance of prosperity during the present year, Whatever changes may take place in the neighbouring countries, they can hardly fail to bring material advantage to the colony.
ROUNSEVELLE WILDMAN, Consul. Hongkong, 15th January, 1898.
TIENTSIN.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
TIENTSIN, 14th April. Since the corroboration of the Weihaiwai news and Mr. Balfour's ante-Easter statement
The promoters point to the earnings of the Japan mills as evidence of the success that is likely to accrue to the spinning couceros at Shangbai and Hongkong, but I venture to think that the results will be hardly the same. The Japanese dividends average 15 per cent. per annum; but this is obtained at the expense of the plant, for the maintenance and depre- ciation of which the Japanese make little, if any, allowance. On the other hand, it must be borne in mind that the Japanese purchase a there has been a marked lull in our political large portion of their new cotton from China, excitement up here. The Weihai lease came which charges an export duty, and that when as a complete surprise to all, the previous and the manufactured article returns to China an emphatic statements of English ministers that import duty has to be paid. These charges, Great Britain had no wish to acquire territory coupled with freight both ways, would seem to in China having put everybody off the scent. give the China mills a slight advantage. The
Our news from Chefoo was for a time very raw material can be readily obtained from India exciting and warranted the assumption that a and China, and the promise of development in more beroic policy was intended. It was that cotton growing in the French colony of Tonkin the ships of the fleet were all cleared for action, and in the fertile possession of British North that the mantlets were down, the sailors sleep- Borneo would seem still further to favouring alongside the guns, and that armed sentries Hongkong.
There has been an active demand for land in Hongkong, both for industrial and residential purposes; and the revaluation of saleable tene. ments, which will come into force from the 1st of July next, is expected to show a substantial increase in the value of property. The rents of the better class of residences have gone up 15 per cent. during the past year, owing to in creasing value of land and low price of silver. The price of coolie labour has also increased,
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in the Rosebery ministry. Assuredly had heroic measures been adopted, Russia would have backed down, for at this moment Port Arthur- is as defenceless as Aberdeen. Lack of money. has prevented the Chinese from doing anything to re-fortify it since the war.
There is much speculation as to the exact nature of our lease of Weihai. Does it include a belt of the mainland as well as the island of Linkungtau? Will it be under the Admir. alty, the Colonial office, on the Foreign Office ? What attitude will be taken as to the govern. ment and citizenship of the ten or twelve thousand natives who live within the range of the forts. I may quote for the possible benefit of official readers that although a very fine po- tential naval base it is somewhat deficient at pre sent. There are absolutely no docks whatever, the narrow fairway at the western end is dan- gerous and a vessel drawing more than 24 feet might easily strike the ground in going in after an easterly gale. There is total absence of good- drinking water both on the island and mainland. Such water as exists is taken from wells and is brackish and unsuitable for animal consumption. In other respects the locality is altogether admirable as a sanatorium. I suppose there is not a place in the east of Asia which can ap- proach it unless it be the new Tientsin find at Peitaiho. Her Majesty's Government will probably do well to establish there its naval and military hospitals. There is some discomfort in the summer during the south wind, but nothing like so much as at Chefoo. The water question is not really serious. For twenty years all the drinking water used in the Navy in North China has been obtained by condensers. En- teric fever has as a consequence almost disappear- ed from the medical reports. This alone would warrant the Admiralty in extending condensa- tion as the sole source of supply even if the water was good.
were on shore guarding the coal. Our deduc. tions from this was that an ultimatum had been given to Russia to quit Port Arthur, that the Admiral was ready to enforce such quittance, and that war was imminent. It is quite pos- sible that this really was our alternative policy if the Chinese had stiffened their upper lip and under Russian instigation, had refused to lease Weihai. Subsequent blue books and history may reveal that we were within measurable distance of war, much as we were at Bangkok'
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The armament is Krupp, supplemented in a few places by Armstrong; but it is quite possi- ble that the Japanese may have considerably modified the former defences. The country around the bay is hilly, somewhat unfertile, and the locality of no great trade or population. There is a poor road, really a bridle path, to Che- foo, distant about 36 or 40 miles. Communica- tion is almost entirely marine. Talienwan lies, N. by W. (magnetic) some 120 nautical miles and Port Arthur the same distance N. N. W. W. The harbour is formed by the hilly- pear-shaped island of Linkungtao running roughly east and west across the bay. This island is about two and a half miles long and at its widest (western) end about one mile. The hills rise to a height of between 400 and 500 feet. The etern entrance to the bay is wide, but is more shallow than the narrow western, and is quite unsuitable for big ships. The refuge can be made in all weathers, but a strong easterly wind is followed by a long swell which renders even the deeper way in dangerous to vessels like the Centurion and Powerful.
Chinese officialdom up here took the news of the cession quietly. There seems to be quite an intelligent appreciation of the true political meaning of the step, viz., that it is entirely and emphatically a measure to prevent Russia ex- ercising a preponderating influence in North China. As such the policy has been adopted
uone too soon.
To many of us not the least interesting part of the Ministerial statements was the Duke of Devonshire's assurance that the Chinese had re- quested British assistance in Naval education. Had the new Chinese fleet been entirely de- pendent on Port Arthur, it would inevitably have come under exclusively Russian influence. It is creditable that our Minister recognized this, Let adverse critics say what they will, it is un- deniable that an accession of Chinese Elswick or Stettin built ships would be a very consider- able factor of success in a naval war. If their crew's were stiffened by a few competent Western officers, the acquisition of their ships by either side might easily decide a great engagement.
We are expecting Prince Henry here next week. It is already understood that the Viceroy will dine with His Royal Highness at the Ger man Consulate on the day of his arrival, that the German community will banquet him and give a garden fete in his honour. It is quite probable that the British community will also show their esteem for the Queen-Empress's grandson; steps have already been taken
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