274
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[April 8, 1999.
DISTURBANCES IN THE KOWLOON | GERMANY'S APPLICATION OF THE | for demanding satisfaction in the shape of
CONCESSION,AND GOVERN-
MENTAL MISTAKES.
(Daily Press, 6th April). The recent course of events in connection with the Kowloon extension is not calculated to elevate the Government in the estimation of the public, as regards either dignity or common sense. It was generally understood that the new territory was to be left severely alone until it was formally taken over and full and complete control could be exercised This determination, however, has been de. parted from and latterly there has been activity in surveying and in the erection of quarters for the police and other officials, the Government relying on the Chinese authorities to suppress any opposition that might arise and to maintain order. As might have been foreseen, the Chinese au- thorities proved a broken reed in the matter. We are not concerned to offer any excuse
GUNBOAT POLICY,
all similar cases.
(Daily Press, 4th April.) Germany's promptitude in taking men- sures to inflict punishment for the attack made upon German subjects at Ichoufu, in Southern Shantung, affords an example which might with advantage be followed in Three Germans, armed only with revolvers, were attacked twenty five miles from Ichoufu by over a hundred Chinese armed with guns and gingals. Though so feebly armed they repulsed their assailants, killing three and fatally wound- ing three more, and finally reached Ichoufu in safety. Immediately upon news of the affair reaching the German authorities a force is landed at Yichao, the nearest convenient port, aud commences its march to the scene of the disturbance. How different this from the conduct of Great
for the mandarins, but, knowing what they Britain at the time of the Kucheng nias-
"the white
are and the limited nature of the resources at their disposal, it would have been more reasonable as well as more dignified if the Government had taken up "man's burden" itself and not tried to shift it on to the shoulders of the Com- mandant of Kowloon city. Having, however, endeavoured to evade its responsibilities, or to anticipate its rights-the matter may be looked at from either point of view- the Government was unpleasantly disturbed by rumours of approaching trouble. There- upon the Gorvernor solicits an interview with the Viceroy, and, his request having been acceded to, he proceeds post haste to Canton, greatly to the indignation of the English community there, who seem to have considered the visit derogatory to the national dignity. For our own part we do not see why the Governor of a British colony should not call upon a Chinese Viceroy if the business in hand is of suffici- ent importance to warrant such a proceed- ing, but the preferment of a request that a small guard might be sent from Kowloon eity is business that might very well have been conducted through the medium of the Consul. Almost immediately upon the Go- vernor's return to the colony the anticipated trouble breaks out, the Captain Super- intendent of Police and his Sikh guard being stoned at the village of Taipu and compelled to beat a retreat. Upon news of this outrage being received the Go- vernment seems to have lost its head com- pletely, for before sending troops to restore order it committed the extraordinary absur dity of requesting the co-operation of the Mandarin of Kowloon City, for which pur- pose that worthy was dragged from his bed at three o'clock in the morning, a proceed- ing which, however uncomfortable it may have been at the moment, would no doubt greatly minister to the Mandarin's sense of his own importance and his contempt for the fanqui. It would have been better if the Government had refrained from taking any action in the new territory until the pending negotiations were completed, but having commenced operations and come in conflict with the natives no time ought now to be lost in formally assuming full juris-
diction,
On account of the Italian demand for the oession of Sanmun Bay and in anticipation of ita possibly giving rise to hostilities, the Viceroy of Canton has ordered an official named Chea Tai Sheung to make a special inspection of the fortifications of Bocca Tigris and to take the necessary measures for strengthening them. Large numbers of troops are also said to be in readiness to proceed to the forts in case of
emergency.
sacre, for instance, not to mention the numerous other outrages and murders to
mitted
territorial concessions. But that idea, too, must be discarded now, for other Powers. have not waited for Great Britain to set the example, but have fallen to of their own accord. The course of events seems, there- fore, to have completely dissipated the objec- tions formerly entertained to the gunboat policy, and a frank adoption and firm exe- cution of that policy seems to offer the best immediately avalable security for foreign life and property in China,
CONTENTIOUS SUBJECTS AT THE
KE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE METING.
(Daily Press, 7th April.)
:
These
A great number of important subjects are touched upon in the annual report of the Hongkong General Chamber of Com- Inerce. As the Chairman, Mr. R. M. GRAY, remarked at the general meeting held ou Wednesday, the past year "has been a very momentous one in the life of this colony," which British subjects have been subjected, and the work thrown upon the Committee The active enforcement of the gunboat of the Chamber of Commerce has been policy has been repeatedly urged, but the correspondingly arduous. The publication Government has been reluctant to sanction of the minutes of the Committee's monthly it, formerly for one reason and latterly for meetings and of the correspondence has, another. The late Sir JOHN DAVIS, when however, kept the community informed of of Trade, sent an expedition up the Canten and as a result there were no new questions Governor of Hongkong and Superintendent the progress of events as they transpired, River, which, after capturing the Bogue opened up at the a nual meeting, and of forts, dropped anchor off the city and the old ones only two can be said to be of threatened to bombard it if the demands a contentious character, one of which has made for satisfaction for an outrage com- already been settled, while the other is, we
British subjects were upon
not hope, in a fair way of being so. complied with. The satisfaction was ac- questions are the terms for which Crown corded, nominally at all events. Some lenses are granted and the relations of the months afterwards another disturbance Chinese Customs to the colony. The Score- arose, and Sir JOHN DAVIS meditated tary of State's decision that in future no another military expedition and induced Crown leases shall be granted for longer Major-General D'AGUILAR to write to terms than ninety-nine years is apparenti y But Sir JOHN irrevocable, and the subject therefore pos- Ceylon for reinforcements. GREY, who in the meantime bad sesses now little more than an academic succeeded Lord PALMERSTON at the For-int rest. It is a question of collectivism eign Office, would have none of it. Refer-
versus individualism: shall the profit from the increasing value of land go exclusively ring to the previous expedition he wrote:--
Although the late operations were at- into the pockets of the landowners, or shall "tended with immediate success, the risk the community be entitled to share therein "of a second attempt of the same kind by a periodical readjustment of the amount "would far overbalance any advantage to of Crown rent payable? Mr. CHAMBER- "be derived from such a step. If the con- LAIN has deci-led that the community is "duct of the Chinese authorities should entitled to share in the unearned increment, unfortunately render another appeal to but as the readjustment of the Crown rent arms inevitable, it will be necessary that is only to take place at intervals of seventy- "it should be made after due preparation fige or uinety-nine years no living landowner "and with the employment of such an will be very severely hit. All the land it amount of force as may afford just grounds the Peak is held on seventy-five years lenses, for expecting that the objects which may and we question whether its present selling "be purposed by such a measure will be value would have been appreciably greater 'effectually accomplishe without un- had the lenses been granted for nine hundred
necessary loss." The idea that the risk and ninety-nine years.
expeditions would over. attending such balance any advantage to be gained has governed the British Government up to quite recent times, though possibly it may have been discarded since Japan exposed the weakness of China and since Germany showed by her seizure of Kiaochao with how little risk any portion of China's territory could be occupied. In addition to the supposed risk involved another con- other Powers began to evince a disposition sideration afterwards came into play when
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to establish themselves in China. `It was then feared that any occupation of Chinese territory by Great Britain, whether such occupation was intended to be tempo- rary or permanent, would set the ball a-rolling and encourage the other Powers to
carve out slices for themselves. It was this idea which for some years delayed the Kow- loon extension, even when the Kucheng massacre gave such a favourable opportunity
|
The other contentious subject touched upon nt Wednesday's meeting was that of the Kowloon Customs, concerning which the Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD addressed the Chamber. The hon. gentleman apparently has not studied the question vary closely, or he could not have made the statement that "the 1886 arrangement' per.nits a Chi-
nese Customs Office in Hongkong," because the 1886" arrangement ”—it by that after the discussion by Sir James Rus term is meant the memoranikum sigued
SELL, Sir Robert Hart, SuA“ Taotui, and Mr. BYRON BRENAN-contains no such permission. Some of Mr. WHITEHEAD'S other statements of fact might also he controverted; but what is of chief im- portance in his speech is the policy he recommends for the fature.
The kon, gen- tleman says that "All reasons for having the Imperial Chinese Customs in and about Hongkong waters should be abolished,”
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