THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
of territory in China, and the quasi-pledges that have been given to assist in maintain-
which can never be reached without resolute determination on the part of the British Cabinet to lead and not to following the country's integrity, may have des "in Peking
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These quotations embody what we be- lieve to be the reply of British opinion in China upon the fair and square issue raised by Lord CHARLES BERESFORD and the Spectator. Spheres of influence or no spheres, the work of reforming the Chinese administration should be proceeded with at once. While the natural expansion of trade is being impeded by illegal exactions and oppressive restrictions it is cold com- fort to reflect, ns suggested by the Spectator, that if China breaks up we have "provided "for our commercial interests" by securing the residuary right to the Yangtze Valley. British traders cannot be satisfied with such a shadowy prospect; they want China as a whole opened up. To secure that it is necessary that Great Britain should lead and not follow in Peking, and, furthermore, that she should exert effective pressure there. If other Powers are willing to co- operate, well and good, but Great Britain cannot afford to stand waiting for them; if they are unwilling to co-operate Great Britain must undertake the task alone.
cerned Imperial interests in favour of not retaining Shamchun which outweigh the local interests in the other scale, and in that case, disagreeable as the business is, Hongkong will have to accept the position. But having the town io actual inilitary occupation, and assuming its retrocession to be decided upon, it would be neglecting a golden opportunity if Lord SALISBURY failed to impose as one of the conditions of evacuation the inauguration of reforms in the administrative system of China and a correction of those fiscal abuses which exercise such a retarding influence upon the growth of foreign trade. If the town is to be given up, we hope it will not be given up for nothing, or for a mere pecuniary consideration. We would prefer, however, to see the British flag remain where it has heen planted and the necessary reforms in China enforced independently of any ques- tion of the retrocession of territory that has once been occupied.
(Daily Press, 30th Jane.)
The principal and most obvious objection to restoring the town of Shamchun to China is that such restoration would be construed THE PROPOSED RETROCESSION OF by all the officials in Kwangtung into a
SHAMCHUN.
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|July 1, 1899.
THE POLICING OF THE
TERRITORY..
(Daily Press, 30th June.) The reply given by the Government to tht Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD's question re ative to the strength of the Police Force and the policing of the New Territory shows that the provision made for the latter consists of 75 Indian and 53 Chinese Police. We under- stand also that it is intended to erect number of Police Stations to accommodate this considerable force. So far as numbers' 80, the provision seems ample enough; but we should have preferred to see a force composed of 25 Europeans and 50 Indians and no Chinese. The lukongs will be a special source of weakness in the New Territory, where they will find play for the exercise of their peculiar talent for squeez- ing, and they are as likely us, not to be in league with banditti across the frontier. The lukongs in the island of Pongkong have always been chiefly distinguished for their utter worthlessness, and why the Government will persist in cumbering the force with so many inefficients we never could understand. Even now, when it is obvious that the Police in the New Territory must form part of its garrison, the Authori- ties cannot apparently refrain from weak- ening the force by recruiting from the very 80 re- class who give most trouble. There is confession of weakness and be presented, with much extravagant em- really no necessity for a very large Police Force in the New Territory so long as n bellishment, to the people, Shamchun is a small, dirty, malodorous, and exceedingly garrison is maintained there, and it is, we commonplace Chinese town, and it is neither believe, admitted by the Military Authori- a centre of trade nor a seat of learning, ties that part of the Hongkong Regiment, It is valueless in or of some other battalion, should be Far indeed from either.
not stationed permanently in barracks near the new frontier, with several posts at inter vals itself, and its retention aloue will greatly improve the British position on the frontier, as there would still be the neigh-along its length. What is really wanted is a bouring more important town of Namtaw to smaller but thoroughly active and efficient be reckoned with. What is really wanted Police Force, with a good percentage of intel- to make the northern boundary line satis ligent and trained English constables to factory and workable is to carry it up to the watch over the communities, preserving order line of hills at the back of Shamchun, and preventing crime, and a military force to see The that the territory is not invaded by banditti In Tonkin the this would then include Namtaw. extent of territory included is small and from the Chinese side. unimportant, but it would give Hongkong Police are confined strictly to policing the the entire district and a natural frontier towns and are few in number. The task of much easier of defence and would leave no hunting down pirates (as they are called centre of population on the border, a most there) is left entirely to the military. Much The the same system is followed, we believe, in' distinct advantage to both parties.
Burmah, where the dacoits were wiped out without Government may. British shadow of appearance of greel, well ask by bodies of soldiery kept on the move, for this variation of frontier, together with who did their work much more thoroughly the costs of clearing out the rioters who than has been the case in Tonkin, owing swarmed into the Territory, in April last, at largely to the extensive employment, in the the instigation of the gentry in the eigh-latter country, of the natives, who cannot be to Sir HENEY BLAKE to do his utmost, bouring prefecture, and caused so much depended on to any great extent. In the.
The actual loss to Great rural districts of Ceylon there are few police, Britain through this attempt to render the but circumstances in that island are certainly occupation of the leased territory a fiasco different, there being no adjoining country but the to which criminals can fly for shelter, or Was of course insignificant, trouble, delay, and the loss caused to from whence they can come to make_raids, well affected natives (who were plundered, as in our New Territory, Tonkin, and, in a three being also murdered) was serious and lesser degree, in Burmah. In the Malay ought to be aniply atoned for as it was all States dependence is placed upon the If unfortunately, despite the local pro that Shamchun will not be surrendered, almost as effective a body, from a military so entirely gratuitous. We trust therefore Police, but the Force there is on quite a different footing, the Perak Sikhs "being tests, it should be decided to hand Shaw but that the frontier will be put back to chun back to China we must suppose the natural boundary, namely, the line of point of view, as the Hongkong Regiment. ||than filthy lucre will be exacted in Namtaw. This settlement would be ulti-tection of the Kowloon New Territory should more important hills ending in the southwest close outside It is therefore pretty obvious that the pro-
(Daily Press, 24th June.) The reported intention of Her Majesty's Government to retrocede Shamchun to China has excited feelings of the strongest indignation and disgust in Hongkong. The opposition offered by the Chinese to the taking over of the New Territory, the employment of the military, and the plot to are upon the European community of Hongkong when they should be assembled to witness the ceremony of hoisting the flag, constituted such an abominable outrage that the occupation of Kowloon city and Shamchun was deemed a very light and inadequate punishment. Kowloon city is to be retained, but it appears to be the fact that negotiations are in progress with re- ference to the retrocession of Shanichun, #monetary indemnity to be accepted in exchange, the amount of the indemnity being given as $93,000. What does it menn! The local Government, we believe, has no hand in the matter, the negotia- tions being conducted between London and Peking independently of Hongkong. The public, however, will naturally look
in the way of protest and representation, to stop the transaction ere it is too late, and the duty is also incumbent upon the China Association and Chamber of Commerce to use their best endeavours towards the same end. The town of Shamchun is still occupied by British troops and so long as that is the case there may yet be time to prevent the false step said to be in contemplation.
that something much
annoyance.
any
mately most satisfactory to both the Hong- kong and the Kwangtung Governments.
exchange. In any case, whether Sham chun be retained or not, it would be right to make China pay the cost of the military operations which the treachery of her Mr. B. C. Wilcox, Secretary of the Chamber officials rendered necessary, and if the town is of Commerce, informs us that the following has to be given up it must be assumed that the been communicated to the Chamber by the Gov- compensation to be exacted will take the ernment: The Government have received a des- shape of substantial reforms and the exten-patch from the Colonial Secretary, Straits Set- sion of commercial privileges in China. Ittlements, dated 15th June, forwarding copy of may be that the home Government, having in view their repeated declaration that Great Britain does not desire the acquisition
a Government notification of the 14th idem, declaring Penang to be infected on account of bubonic plague and imposing a quarantine of nine days on arrivals from that port.
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ought to be increased for the purpose. mainly devolve on the Garrison, and this Perhaps the simplest plan for effecting this would be the authorisation of a .econd battalion to the Hongkong Regiment, or the formation of a new one to be called the Kowloon Regiment. It is in con- templation, we believe, to augment the Garrison of this Colbuy, but the Indian portion of the new contingent should be raised without delay. We do not want the reproach, later on, of being unable to main-
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