68
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS: AND
the sun never sets. By this we can understand the size and the magnitude of the British Em. pire. We the Chinese people can likewise boast of a very vast empire. But within recent years there have not been wanting evidence to show that efforts, internal and external, bave been strenuosly directed towards the dismem- berment of our great country. It is a sad and piteous sight to behold the Chinese empire depicted as a dead carcase with hungry wolves prowling about showing their ravenous fangs ready to tear away every member of the dead body as soon as their neighbours relax their vigilance over it. Yes, gentlemen, figuratively speaking our empire has been so represented and spoken of. We, as individuals and communities, re- present the integral parts of the Chinese Empire as a whole. Loid Charles Beresford has come out to study as we are told the conditions of trade, but iu that study he has discovered that the first step to be taken is the reorganisation of our army in order that our trade may be expanded; for, as he remarks, without the means of enforcing the laws governing trade, of what use will it be to devise means to enlarge it? We are one and all so largely interested in the development of our trade with the countries of Europe and of America, that, I think, it devolves upon us to strain every nerve to give his proposals a fair trial. Since we cannot by ourselves induce Lord Charles Beresford to aid us in the manner he is convinced he is able to do, we can at any rate, by expressing our emphatic approval of the series of resolutions Mr. Ho Tung has moved. transmitting them to Lord Charles Beresford and asking him to place them before his government, have a chance of making our selves heard to the advantage of our trade, of our government and ourselves. With these re- marks, gentlemen, I am happy to second the resolutions in their entirety. (Applause.)
Mr. LEW CHI SHAN-Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I presume most of the gentlemen present at this meeting have heard a good deal about Lord Charles Beresford's mission and his suggestions concerning the China trade. We have to-day listened with great pleasure to the speech made by Mr. Ho Tung, who has for his object the further increase and development of the China trade. Being closely connected with one of the principal shipping firms in China-I mean the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company, which I have the honour to represent in this colony-the China trade has for years been engaging my serious attention. We find that the business in nearly all the sea port towns in China has increased in recent years, and if anything could be done to further increase the China trade the result no doubt will benefit not only the 'l'reaty ports but the inland towns as well. Any movement good for the development of our trade will have my cordial support. (Applause.)
|
-[January 28, 1899,
we have done too hastily . the revenue may be changed with advantage I dare say (and this remark applies with greater force to most every thing that could be done, only the inland revenue). I do not wish for a where is the good result? For half a cen- moment to insinuate that our country does not tury or more, we have drilled troops and occupy a very high position in the rank of built ships of war only to be annihilated, nations. I say, and I say so forcibly, that by the opened miues for the benefit of the favoured providence of God China was given in Crea- | few, laid down railroads to be taken immedi
up tion all the vastness of resources and the great- ately, started all sorts of leagues to be instantly ness in the number of its people which will for suppressed and be made the laughing stock of all time command respect. With this convic- the whole civilized world; and for the credit of tion in our minds, it behoves us, as sons of this the commercial or industrial class, nothing great country and as members of this immense worth speaking of. I may be accused of being indiscreet to dilate upon all these weaknesses, community of 400,000,000 people, to do all we can to acquire the good for our people which but they are facts and who can be so blind as follows trade conducted in a fair and honest not to see them for all these years? I do not manner. In my own bumble opinion I think propose to call for endless evidence in support that by seconding Lord Charles Beresford's of my remarks re the present state of the coun- efforts we can do the good I suggest and with try's helplessness as being purely self-created, modern banking facilities throughout our yet there is one cause to which nobody should empire I trust that profits from trade will for one moment rest himself as entirely obli- yield benefits a hundred fold more than they do vions. The crying evil, in fact the greatest of now. Let us remember that "times change all the national drawbacks, is the quality which for convenience sake I should call self-decep- and we change with them." (Applause.)
Mr. LAU YAU PAU-Mr. Chairman and gen- tion. We all know perfectly well that the tlemen, I have heard Mr. Ho Tung's remarks country taken as a whole stands sorely in need to-day with really much interest. I can hardly of something to re-establish its prestige in the add anything to what that gentleman has said eyes of the world, and yet how very few of us in order to invite attention, inasmuch as it is would admit the fact manfully and frankly. useless to "paint the lily, or gild refined gold." Now, gentlemen, to return to the point. Mr. The various points touched upon, we must all Ho Tang has kindly told us in his emphatic confess, are of such vital importance to the way that the Associated Chambers of Commerce welfare of our country generally and to inter- in England hit at the very happy idea in deput national trade that one and all of us here shoulding Lord Charles Beresford to visit China the cordially give them dae support in order to last few months, about his Lordship's intention of what to do when he returned home, and that attain the desired end. For the past few years,
the passing of the several resolutions proposed the common topic of every day talk of the European community has been the two great is materially essential, in that much common questions, viz.. Open door and spheres of in- interest for both the Empires of Great Britain fluence in China." Well, we are not concerned and China depend on the final issue of the same. with the latter. Apart from China one might For all the reasons that I have stated, I must safely say there is no other country in the world say that I fully concur with him. I cannot that offers itself for such discussion, which deceive myself by pursuing in the illusion
that we need no such assistance. claims everywhere so much attention from both
that without it we are far from being politicians and intellectual men of the com mercial class.
able to set our house in order yet. Though the open door may not be for our immed- iate gain, it cannot but be so in the long ruu, especially in that its introduction is pro posed in combination with a reorganised army which is a preliminary step to all other points of reformation at present most required by ourselves. Again, speaking as a man engaged in an important industry, that of supplying the material for the dissemination of knowledge, through the medium of the Press, I can see in my mind's eye the unmistakable multifold benefit to be derived from the scheme in the near future. Fancy a place as large as Europe properly policed and well laid out at once thrown open to the uumerous paying and yet undeveloped industries without the many re- strictions and hindrances as experienced hereto- fore. The change can better be conceived than described. Competition naturally will be keen in turn, but what matters ? See the enormous amount of willing capital that will inevitably flow in freely for the good of the poor masses when the country's peaceful prospects are Gentlemen, the open everlastingly insured. door together with the reorganised army of our country under the friendly British guidance if I am not mistaken is sure to be one of the greatest sources of our fellowmen's happiness in the long run, and in this connection I have the greatest pleasure in supporting the resolu- tions and would respectfully call upon you to pass the resolutions unanimously, (Applause.)
For pro-
are 80
We as sons of China may be loath to join issue in the same talk for various reasons, but the situation is such that it is only imperative that we should modify a little of our traditional ideas. I say, gentlemen, we must do it, not so much for the sake of benefiting any other people more than ourselves. As Lord Charles Beresford rightly said. "if he were a Russian, he would have done more than the Russians; be did not blame them in pushing forward for their own gain." I may be rather selfish when I say to modify one's ideas not to better ofher peoples' condition, but I have the consolation in believing that the same noble Lord would at least agree with me in the main, if he were placed in my position at the present june- ture. Affairs in China as A whole are far from being satisfactory, and that un- satisfactoriness, it should be admitted, has been brought about by ourselves! Mr. LAU WEI CHUEN - Mr. Chairman and priety's sake I might be excused from detailing gentlemen, We have successively heard the all the causes (which by the way advocates of Lord Charles Beresford's scheme numerous that it is not at all an easy matter to enumerate them without involving the loss of in regard to China from the merchant's, the compradore's, and the shipping gentleman's much time to the disgust of my hearers). Suffice point of view. I beg to add a few words from it to say that the condition of the country is the banking man's standpoint. Gentlemen, what I have represented, and the first thing that we have to do is to look for some effective the great financial institution known to us as a "Bank
among the foreign nations with its remedy to prevent its going from bad to worse. complex yet admirable system of ramification What is that remedy? There can be but one 15 or answer and that is "outward assistance in branches and agencies all over the civilized
"internal reform." Some people are apt to world is an establishment devised altogether by the great economists of Europe. Yet, we have conclude that given the time, we Chinamen can not been slow to accept and take advantage of well manage our own affairs; we can set our it as a most wonderful organisation by means house in order, without interference; we have the of which we are enabled to conduct our trade tact and ability to carry through anything just with the outside world--and even within, our as well as any other people, and what is the use own Empire with so much ease and security, of inviting meddlesome assistance which would We are thus afforded a very patent fact in our simply be detrimental and disastrous to our internal life and property in the end? Well, everyday life that however good our methods of doing things might be they are, well, that is quite true in one sense. As China- nevertheless, capable of improvement. Draw-men, we might like to cherish the illusion but we should not merely cherish it we should all ing the comparison, therefore, closer to the
exert our very best to secure our position of policy proposed by Lord Charles Beres- ford in respect of the economic condition freedom before doing anything else. Let us of our country, we might be inclined to think trace the course of our modern history. Before that though, as at present conducted. our they could crawl our statesmen attempted to system of collecting rereune was good enough leap and they have constantly clamonred for for the days of our ancestors, we must recognise drilling troops, building ships of war, opauing literary men that very great changes have been made since mines and running railways; our then amongst those nations who to-day occupy | have started all sorts of leagues to improve the the foremost position in the public mind. Now, education of the country, and our commercial gentlemen, let me be clearly understood. I experts. &c., in money making have left no stone Although I say that our system of collecting unturned in the keen race of competition.
own
I say
Dr. Ho KAI and O MEI also supported the resolutions, which on being put to the meeting were curled unanimously.
Mr. WONG KAM FUK-Mr. Chairman and gentlen, 1 beg to propose a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman and the various speakers in which 1 trust you will all join. In future if there are any matters connected with com- and merce, I hope that you will come bere. discuss them, so that every one may derive benefit thereby.
Mr. Lo CHEUNG SHUI seconded, and the motion having been carried the proceedings terminated.
It is notified by advertisement that the Dove Rock whistling buoy, which broke adrift on the 11th January, has been temporarily replaced by an ordinary red and black chequered conical six-foot buoy.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.