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INTERESTS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[February 4, 1899.
MR. KESWICK, M.P., AND EASTERN | " der of things was to be. The old order of the point was directly place before him things could not pass away without caus- at the semi-private tiffin at which be (Daily Press, 30th January.)
ing a great deal of friction among nations. honoured the Hongkong Branch of the With the election to Parliament of Mr.
"To see a country fall to pieces when he China Association with his company, when WILLIAM KENWICK the China trade secures
thought it might be maintained and re- he admitted its importance but urged another representative in that assembly,
"formed would be to him a matter of great that the reorganisation of the army and we may assume also that the interests
grief. Spheres of influence or spheres of was an essential preliminary Buch of Hongkong in particular, both commercial
"Interest were talked about; but the im- reform in order that the Government and political, will command the new mem-
portant question was that of the open might be able to enforce its decrees. The ber's special attention. His past and pre-
"door. If that was to be the order of things Shanghai Branch of the China Association sent connection with the colony is a sufficient
a great civilising influence would be in-appear to have thought that reform in the guarantee on that point. Mr. Keswick
"troduced and trade would be unfettered; administration generally calls for more was a member of our Legislative Council at
but if it were to be otherwise British in- prominence than has been given to it by an especially troublous period in the historyHe did not think it was a very important guard against any mistaken inference, that “terests were in danger of being 'shut but. Lord CHARLES and that it is necessary to of the colony, and in that capacity acquitted himself in such a manner as to earn the
might possibly be drawn from his speeches, gratitude and admiration of the community.
that, if China were only supplied with an This was expressed in a marked manner by
efficient army all the rest would be plain the presentation of an address and testimonial
sailing. They say, accordingly, that while when he went home on leave in 1881.
"there must be some foundation of strength When he finally left the colony in 1886 he carried with him universal esteem and good wishes, and his election to the House of Commons will afford lively satisfaction and be of great advantage to local interests, with which Mr. KESWICK, through his firm, is still closely associated. Material is not lacking to enable as to form a fair idea of what the new member's policy is likely to be. He has always taken a sanguine view of the commercial
prospect in China and in Hongkong. Wheu reply ing to the address presented to him in 1881 Mr. KESWICK said :—"It is twenty-
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five years since I first saw this beautiful barbour, a period which has embraced many changes, in fact, as re- gards commerce, a revolution, not only "in the colony, but on the coast of China -"and in the Far East. I think the pro- sperity which its growth shows is due not only to its own special advantages, but "the neighbouring continent of China is moving also, and it cannot move without every mark of progress redounding to the prosperity of this city. I have seen, gentlemen, periods of depression, I have "seen things at a low ebb, but I have never "been one who lost faith in the eventual
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recovery from every tide of depression "that we have seen, and I am sure the public companies to which you refer are as yet only in their infancy, that these establishments on the joint stock principle "are yet destined to work not only to the "material prosperity of this colony, but "that we shall see as that movement pro- gresses on the neighbouring continent, "facilities for the increase and the promo- “tion of wealth, not to us alone, but to the "millions of China, when railroads and
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matter that we should be shut out from "railway enterprises. So long as railways were constructed, to his mind it was not very important by whom they were con- "structed. He did not, however, think that England would come very badly out of the "scramble for concessions. With regard to "the political question, he was not one of "those who looked with regret on the action "of the Government. On the contrary, he thought that Lord SALISBURY had acted wisely and prudently, except in one par- "ticular. He thought a huge mistake was "made when the Fleet was ordered to leave "Port Arthur. One matter of the greatest "importance was the opening up of com- "hoped that some means would be devised "munication by water in China and he
by which the antural obstructions in the way would be removed." Mr. KESWICK, further the interests of trade in China and we may feel sure, will do all he can to Hongkong, but from the above remarks it may be inferred that he will not minister to the gratification of those who, as our Shaug. hai morning contemporary recently put it, enjoy a good hearty denunciation of Lord SALISBURY. When we see men like Sir THOMAS SUTHERLAND and Mr. WILLIAM the policy of the Government with regard to KESWICK giving a general endorsement of China we may look upon the tirades of our local Jingoer as little more than the crackling of thorns under a pot.
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THE SHANGHAI BRANCH OF THE CHINA ASSOCIATION ON GREAT BRITAIN'S DUTY IN CHINA
(Daily Press, 1st February). The memorandum on the present con- ditions of foreign trade in China issued by the Shanghai Branch of the China As- sociation will commend itself to British residents in the Far East as being timely and characterised by sound common sense, more especially that portion of it which "scientific appliances for the improvement deals with the duty of Great Britain to lead "of their country are introduced. I am the movement for the complete reform of one, gentlemen, who believes that that the fiscal and administrative system of the intercourse of the Chinese with Euro- more fully, and we may say more ably, day is not so very far distant. I believe China. The tranzit pass.question has been "pean enterprise has had its effect, that dealt with by the parent Association in "the movement at present in progress is London quite recently, and on the questions gaining strength, and that before long of residence in the interior and the limita "there will be powerful converts in tions placed on the promised opening of the "China to the importance of following inland waters the Shanghai Branch has little "Western ideas." Mr. KESWICK's views that is new to say. When we come to the on Hongkong and its prospects and question of the measures necessary to bring requirements were more fully set out about reform, however, the views expressed in in a paper read by him at the Royal the memorandum, if they do not possess the Colonial Institute in 1890. Things have quality of novelty, are valuable on account moved since then, and moved rapidly, and of the force with which they are brought more interest attaches to the views the new home. The memorandum appears to have member holds now than to those he held been issued partly in support of the views ten or twenty years ago. Well, Mr. KE expressed by Lord CHARLES BERESFORD WOK was one of the speakers at the monthly and partly to supply a deficiency in his dinuer of the London Chamber of Com- Lordship's programme. Lord CHARLES in merce in November last, and on that occa- all his speeches dwelt on the great sion he said:-"The older order of things importance of supplying China with an in China had come to an end, and it was efficient, army, and paid but little atteu- worth while to consider what the new ortion to the necessity of fiscal reforur amtil
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upon which to base action"—i.e. a na- tional army-" it is a great error to proceed "on the assumption that the few high "officials who, with the Court, may be said "to constitute the Central Government “are desirous of seeing China strong ** or of maintaining the integrity of "the Empire.
Those in power
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probably foresee that without réform "China as a nation is doomed, but argü- "ments tending to impress this' fact upon "her rulers are wasted; it is sufficient for "them that the change will not affect them personally. If China is to be saved, she "will have to be saved in spite of her Go- vernment; Great Britain-caunot look for any assistance from that quarter, or the contrary she must be prepared to meet "with sullen opposition from those whom wanted for the development of trade, 'she would succour." The one thing for the protection of capital, and for the extension of enterprise in Chius, the memorandum goes on to say, is security, that such security must be sought in fiscal which can only be effected through prés- and administrative reform of the country,
sure from without, and that the vast preponderance of British interests in China lead clearly demand that Great Britain shall and guide the movement. The word "alliance" is nowhere: used in the memorandum, but in the closing sentence reference is made to the difficul- ties which must be faced in order to bring about China's reform, and it is urged "that Great Britain, in leading the move- ment, should endeavour to obtain the co- operation of the great nations who have like aims and interests with ourselves." In the previous sentence, h wever, it is urged that Great Britain must lead and not Powers are willing to co-operate, well and follow in Peking. That is to say, if other
Government. It would only be a step fur......... good, but Great Britain must take the lead in the work of reforming the Chinese
ther to say that if other Powers are unwil ling to co-operate Great Britain must under- take the task alone.
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PIRACY ON THE WEST RIVER.
(Daily Press, 28th January.)!
mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber Among the resolutions passed by the Com- of Commerce and sent to Lord CHARLES BERESFORD in November last, and which have recently been published in our Columns, there appeared the following :— "In view of the lawless condition of the
1 pressed on
Two Kwang it should be strongly im
Chinese Government “that vigorous measures be promptly taken to put down brigandage and restore order. throughout the provinces." Speula) point.
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