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190
THE KOWLOON EXTENSION AND THE CUSTOMS.
" Kowloon
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
to
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*
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(4
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(September 3, 1988.
"1
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That the Chinese should have desired to which are a slight modification of these and retain jurisdiction over Kowloon is perhaps which we published on the 24th inst. from not altogether surprising; what is surpris- the Shanghai papers. In the March (Daily Press, 31st August.)
ing is that Great Britain should have
issuc we are told "small" steamers will Yesterday's mail brought out the text of assented to such an arrangement. The be allowed; in the other it states steamers the Kowloon Agreement, which has been Chinese view doubtless is that the ar *not being vessels of a sea going type." It shrouded in such extraordinary and un-rangenient leaves them something in hand would be interesting to know which rules necessary secrecy by the Government. For which they can barter away subsequently are in force and who is to decide what con- the publication of this interesting document for any advantages they may wish to secure
stitutes "small
14 or not of a sea going we are indebted to the enterprise of the from Great Britain, and more particularly type" as the case may be? If the various Times, but it would have come much more perhaps advantages with reference to the pro- Commissioners, a circular embodying their appropriately from the Government direct, tection of the revenue leviable in China views in the shipbuilding line would pro. since it contains nothing whatever as to
on imports from or exports to Hong-bably be useful and without doubt unique. which secrecy could be considered on any kong. On that point we think the British Again, in the last issue "waters of Trenty ground essential or even desirable. The Government might fairly pay some regard
Port provinces is erased and all the responsibility for this secrecy rests with the to China's interests, even as a matter of com- waters are thrown open, the definition of home rather than the local Government, mon honesty and friendship apart from more
Inland to be as in the Chefoo Convention, and the Colonial party in the House material considerations such as that involved but this apparent concession is to a large of Commons might reasonably make in the retention or surrender of Chinese extent nullified by the restriction which it a ground of serious complaint against the jurisdiction at Kowloon city. In the old prevents vessels trading to and from Hong- Administration that important agreements days of the squeeze stations there was good kong from getting any benefit out of it. In of this character should be concealed from
reason why our Government should hold both it states that the waters are open to the knowledge of the public in general and of the Chinese Customs at arm's length, but now
"steamers," but in view of the interpretation the communities more particularly affected that it is the Foreign branch of the Customs put upon the Treaty which opened the West by them in the unjustifiable manner that that is concerned the position is materially River it would be as well for our Minister this has been. The document, now that it changed and we have to deal with a service to include in his amendments the words has finally seen the light, is found as honest and as far above suspicion as our
steamers and or other craft as it is evid- contain little that was not previously own. The Customs have and can have [ently the intention of the Chinese authorities known. The area leased is indicated on a
no wish to interfere in any way whatever to restrict the concession to steamers only. map annexed to the agreement, which map with the legitimate trade of this port, but In the last issue, under the heading of presumably agrees with that published a
for the protection of the Chinese revenue
Revenue," instead of a simplification of short time ago by the Times and a re they must necessarily keep a watch on that matters this subject is evidently to be fur- production of which was afterwards issued portion of it which is conducted by n: tive ther complicated by the addition of another as a supplement to the Daily Press. The craft with the neighbouring Chinese terri-system of collecting duties to the numerous exclusion of Kowloon city from British
tory.
Nothing but a paltry smuggling ones already in force in Chinn. Foreign jurisdiction is unfortunately confirmed, but trade can be adversely affected by the owned steamers are to have one treatment, that point was already so well established operations of the Customs, and that Chine e owned another, and junks are, we 'that there was no room to hope that the trade, apart from its discreditable charac- presume, to go on as before! What all and agreement would be found different from ter, is not worth making any material each have to pay is not stated, but a what it actually is. "It is at the same sacrifices to retain. The signatories to the reference in the case of foreign steamers is "time agreed that within the city of Opium Convention in the last paragraph minde to the Treaty Tariff.
the Chinese officials now of that instrument wrote: "The under- "stationed there shall continue to exercise signed are of opinion that if these arrange-
jurisdiction, except so far as may be in-
ments are fully carried out a fairly satis "consistent with the military requirements actory solution of the questions connected "for the defence of Hongkong. Within
"with the so-called Hongkong Blockade "the remainder of the newly leased territory "will have been arrived at." Let any one "Great Britain shall have sole jurisdiction." who has had experience of the state of So runs the agreement. Some people in their affairs prevailing up to 1386 and since that impatience at this retention of Chinese time say whether that opinion has not been jurisdiction at a point within the leased justified by the result. The indiscreet area have gone so far as to say that suggestion that the extension of we had better; surrender the extension boundaries at Kowloon would enable us altogether and go on as We were. It
to throw over that agreement and restore is hardly necessary to demonstrate the smuggling trade is, we suspect, the real the absurdity of that position. The cause of the unfortunate arrangement with extension was primarily required for military reference to the continuance of Chinese purposes, and the guns will not shoot any jurisdiction over Kowloon city. the less straight because a Chinese mandarin lives at Kowlood. The abolition of Chinese jurisdiction at Kowloon is a thing to be strenuously striven for, but in the meantime (Daily Press, 1st September.) it would be folly to sacrifice substantial We remember a remark made in Mr. advantages because they are found to be CHIROL'S book to the effect that the not quite so large as they ought to have acquisition of a thorough knowledge of the been. How Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD ever Chinese language seems unfortunately to came to assent to this reservation of Kow-carry with it the adoption, by the student, loon city to China we cannot conceive, and shall look with curiosity for the explana- tion that will doubtless be found in the official correspondence when it is published, though it cannot possibly be a satisfactory explanation. Following on the reservation of Chinese jurisdiction in Kowloon city "It is further agreed that the existing landing place hear Kowloon city shall be "reserved for the convenience of Chinese "men-of-war, merchant and passenger ves- "sels, which may come and go and lie there "at their pleasure; and for the conveni- "ence of movement of the officials and "people within the city." The landing place at Kowloon seems to be a natural corollary of the city itself and if we can swallow Chinese jurisdiction at the latter we need not strain over it at the former.
K
!
"
INLAND NAVIGATION RULES.
our
of Chinese ideas and manner of thought, or, in other words, by the time you know Chinese you have become a Chinaman in your way of looking at things. Judging by the latest attempt at Inland Water Regula- tions which has emanated from Canton we should say Mr. CHIROL had ample grounds for his statement. First we had the issue of a set of rules which came into force in Shanghai but apparently not in the South. We do not consider the latter a cause of complaint, inasmuch as these rules were equally unintelligible to the persons issuing them and the persons-that is, the public for whose information they were published, Now Canton is giving us the "General Regulations of March, 1898, issued by
"the Peking Government " in a printed form and is working upon another set
Unregistered steamers are not allowed to tow on the Yangtsze." Why not on the Yangtsze, and if not on the Yangtze are we to infer that they can do so else- where? Are we to understand that if a steamer wants to run (or for that matter a sailing ship) from Canton to some place near, say Fochow, that she is not at liberty. to do so, as she certainly would not be able to do if the "not of a seagoing type" clause is to he enforced; or that vessels running from here to Wuchow are not to be allowed to touch at any places en route other than ports of call and treaty ports? If the latter is to be the case the sooner we insist
ទេព
more treaty ports being opened the better; and with regard to the former-that is, a vessel proceeding from Canton to a place near Foochow-surely it cannot be contended that a vessel has not that right; and if she has it, does the Canton Commis- sioner seriously think that by preventing such vessel from going to Hongkong en route snuggling will be prevented? We fancy we have heard of the transfer of cargo from junk to steamer and vice versa on the high seas as it is, and the effect of the restrictions now proposed would not be to stop this, but simply to act, as we said before, as a deterrent to legitimate trade. What was the result of the attempt made to prevent the Shanghai-Canton steamers calling at Hongkong en route? It could not be done; nor do we think that the British Minister has so far imbibed those Chinese characteristics of which Mr. CHIROL makes mention is to warrant us in be- lieving that he will allow his efforts for the preservation of China, in the one way left open for it to be done-namely, by throw ing open the whole country to foreign trade to be thwarted by such restrictions as we mention.
In order that we may not be accused of pointing out faults without suggesting
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