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Kowloon, in their hands, the temporary trouble resulted satisfactorily in the end
The inevitable- result of the handing over of this stritory was the withdrawal of the Chinese Customs stations to the new borders, and it besame a ques ión in what way the Hongkong Authorities could reasonably assist the Chinese Government in the protection of their venue under change of circumstances. As you are
Here, this, G. vernment, contemplating the es tablishment of Bonded Warehouses for Opium the colony, add the provision of certainchecks on Opium sm argling, brought in a Bill for this purpose. The Chamber has, however, I hope proved conelt. valy to the Government that the objects in view could be as readily secured by making the Merchants' Codowns into Bonded Warehouses, by keeping an account of all Opium actually discharged in Hongkong, and also by furnishing the Chinese Customs, with particulars of all permits issued for the export of Opin n.
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THÌ HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESE AND Whether this is caused by the denuded state of | the P.WD, or for any other reason, I really think that upon a subject of such urgent public importance the Government should take imme diste stops to have this matter rectified. (Ap. plause!) INCAKE
appointment and loss to the}"} companies who have been induced graft specially for the Biver have appealed in vain for a pretition of the Regulations enable them to benefit by the so-called sion. I trust that agitation upon this will be kept up in Parliament and elsew natil the Chinese Government are induced to Not up to the spirit of the arrangement Instead of to the letter only.
Various points of legislation came before your Committee last year. The Pier Ordinance was passed
also to the Garornment to enable them to the rants of Pior's and Wharves, but I am glad to say that the increase first contemplad was greally modified in consequence of the re A further interference with presentations of the Chamber in the year pre- ment of trade in the Two Kwang ceding. The efforts of the Chamber to amend the outbreak of lawlessness and the Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordin-the misrule of the late a Viceroy," ange were less successful although a few of its suggestions were adopted. The principal sug gested alterations, which were the outcome the careful consideration of shipping experts, were dismissed as impracticable or unnecessary, the Government preferring to listen to the opinion of its own adviser. On the other hand, În further desire to protect the Chinese Re- attention having been directed by the Chamber venue an Ordinance has been passed amending to the fact that certain goods hitherto not the Arms and Ammusition Ordinanse, by which rogarded ́as dangerous were included in that “prekt restrictions are placed upon the Export of ostegory in the Dangerous Goods Amendment Arms and Ammunition, somewhat, it is to beOrdinance, and the suggestion-made that these feared, to the detriment of the trade of the port goods should be continued to be excluded from in these articles, but the measure is certainly an the list, this suggestion was adopted by the honest endeavour to not fairly to the neighbour- Government. I have already referred to the Ing Empire.
Arms and Ammunition Amendment Ordinance, which was very strongly criticised by those in ❘terested in the trade and also by the public and the original draft of which, on the representa- tion of this Chamber, experienced consideráble modification before the Bill was passed.
The circulation in this colony of subsidiary coins of the Canton Mint became a subject of complaint, and was brought by the Chamber before the notion of H.E. the Governor, who appointed a committee to enquire into the ques. tion, of which I was a member. On going into the facts this committes fó■nd that, although no doubt considerable inconvenience was onused by the influr of Canton tokens, there was no legal obligation on anyone socepting them as money in this colony, while there were insuperable objections to any legislation making it illegal to be in possession of them, and if ample sup- plies of Hongkong subsidiary coins were always obtainable no hardship need be entailed on any
one.
From a perusal of the report, you will so that this Chamber has been actively en- deavouring to impress upon the public the Imperial Government and the Telegraph Companies concerned, the importance of ssour ing a reduction in the tariff of charges for telegrams between the East and Europe, and with some hope of ultimate success. The question is to be brought up by our repre- sentatives at the forthcoming Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire, to be held in London next June, when, no doubt, some course of action will be recommended or some decision adopted. It is imperative that, in order to march with the times, this side of the world should be in cheaper communication by eable with the other.
I may here mention that, at the same congress of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire, it has been arranged that Sir Thomas Jackson and the Hon, T. H. Whitehead,
have kindly consented to represent this Chamber there, will also put forward resolu tions on the subjects of Navigation by Foreign Steamers of the Inland Waters of China, and of fresh Marine Surveys in Eastern Eeas, the latter of which I think it will be generally conceded is much required.
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I now come to subject which has been thems of considerable discussion not to complaint, for several years, and that the working of the Hongkong Post Offeo. It is a question which nearly touches all but which, in spite of all that has been said and written, has not advanced many stages towards ideal perfection. The fact is
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although we can give credit to the nagement for having done its best during the year, the accommodation of this department admitted by every one to be wretchedly to and the staff, in my opinion, is insumcient. The consequence is a defective which cannot be expected to improve until the conditions are altered. When that time will arrive it seems impossible to say, as the construction of a row Post Office is being postponed, at any rate will layed until the construction of new Law Confts, the site for which Papon years ago, tát öu which not a foundation knd yet beaddriveni
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Last year we were subject to all the re- strictions and annoyances of being declared an infected port, which continued through the summer months, and it is a subject of great regret that we should and ourselves in a similar predicament again this year. The pro. blem of how to succeed in stamping out the plague has still to be solved, although ameliora. tion can undoubtedly be secured by strong sanitary measures. The loss caused annually to the trade of the Port from this disease is enormous,
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probably the worst ruler these provinces had for many years, and who allowed this state of affairs to increase to such an extent that now it has become so organized that it will require extensive measures to sucesssfully cops with it The attention of the Chamber was firs to the subject by the attack on the silk trade in districts not far from Canton, and a telegram was despatched early in August to the London General Chamber of Commerce pointing out the unsettled state of the provino a, the unreliabi- lity of the Viceroy, the interference with trade, and the need of more gunboats to protect sur interests on the West River. We have thank the London Chamber for åh pies bringing the matter before the" Fördigh Office, but I regret to say that the only out- come was the placing of the old - Trobad, and a torpedo-boat as ■ reinforcement to the little Sandpiper on the West River, although this Chamber represented strongly to the Hongkong Government the Inadequacy of such a force to do anything to really stem the evil. I think it most unfortunate that the Home Government did not see fit to take a SIP- ious view of the matter, instead of practically merely looking on, and doing nothing subatan. tial to assist in preventing this crying dvil from reaobing its present proportions. The Intert stage is that all steamers are recommended to keep to one particular channel of the West River entrances which can be specially pro- tected from pirates. This I think is the most eloquent illustration of the present condition of the West River Delta which could be and you will doubtless look with much intersst for the effect of the combination between bar Naval Authorities and the new Viceroy, which we are told will put down the present unfortu- nate state of things. (Applause)
The revival by theCanton Government of the farm for the collection of the Lekin in Kwang. tang naturally led to expentation of all the abuses which attended the last monopoly, and the Chamber accordingly addressed Her Ma- jesty's Consul at Canton on the subject. Mr. Mansfield, with his usual promptitude, had already made a protest to the Viceroy Although the question of the revision of against the establishment of the Lekin the Treaties on the point of Tariff is not Farm, and, although that Official did not included in the correspondence of the past admit that the Farm was an infringement of yar. I think that a few words now on the Treaty Rights, he issued stringent orders subject would not be out of place,” - We have against any abuse of their position by the farm the word of our Minister in Poking that ers, apparently with some success. The principle no active movement is taking place on this of these monopolies is, however, distinctly op-question, and that before anything is done posed to the spirit of the Treaties, and their establishment cannot be too strongly deprecated
That ancient grievance-it is a quarter of a century old - the levy of preferential duties ou jank-borne cargo by the Hoppó of Canton, has again come to the front and drew from this Chamber a fresh and strong appeal to Her Majesty's Representative at Pekin. Your Committee upon this occasion, as A last resource, strongly recommended the abolition of the dual system of Customs in the Two Kwang, and Mr. Bax Ironside (then in charge) admitted that it would go to the root of the evil, but was himself na. turally unable to move directly in the matter He laid the suggestion, however, before the Foreign Office, and, I sincerely hope that when a convenient time arrives, this grain of mustard seed will develop into a goodly tree and produce that fiscal reform which is so badly needed. (Applause.)
those most deeply interested in it will be con- sulted. I do not see myself how anything can possibly be done until the whole fiscal arrange. ments of China are altered in such a manner
that we know for certain the exact duties which will be paid. With that guarantee there would be, I am sure, no opposition to a fair increase in the Tariff, which after all would probably leave foreign goods better off in that respect than they are now under the present scale of duties, the indefluite inland taxation (quite against our Treaties), and possibly in these pro- vinces a blackmail
tax
as well. Until the collection of provincial taxes' is merred into the business of the Foreign Customs. I do not know in what direction there is the slightest possibility of any reliable guarantee being forthcoming.
Another question not dealt within the Report, but of no small interest to this port, Customs Tariff and Regulations in the Phi- When it was given out with great éclat lippine Islands. A copy of the new Provisional by Lord Curzon, in the House of Commons, Tariff and Regulations has reached this Chum- that China had granted the right of naviber from the Acting British Consul at Manila gation of the inland waters to foreign ves through the Colonial Government, and this was sels, it was little imagined that this concession circulated amongst the members most interested would be turned into a farce by the interpreta in the trade with the Phillipines, but so far tion placed upon the regulations by the Im have only received one or two replies. perial Chinese Customs, but this is unfor can be no doubt that the Inties levied tunately the case and, as far as the West is American Authorities are practically the concerned, foreign steamers have not bauefited as those imposed by the Spaniards, in the least, and the expected development in general opinion. I believe, oir the part, trade from the opening of the Waterways of owners and niasters is that the Cust South Chine to beatif Navigation has dỗi bean lations are even more stringeutend realized. Tha ka kätteally subiec great dins| I understand, However, that thibro is a probability
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