THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
terate, and a few simple Chinese characters | its dimensions; but if requisitioned it would writ large to catch the eye of the partially need to be bought back, for we believe that educated masses, with printed matter in it has already passed into private hands. the same language underneath whereby There is another piece of land suitable for a the spokesman of the crowd (in China football ground adjoining the War Depart- every crowd has its spokesman) might ment's land at the corner of Austin Road, further elucidate matters. Small quan- facing the but this, we understand, be- Naval Authorities. As far as our information goes, all the land south of Austin Road has left the Government's hands and the nearest available space is at the Rifle Ranges. The volunteers in Kow- loon, who are agitating for a drill ground, have their eyes on this Rifle range site too, but there is no reason why the footballers and volunteers should not use it jointly However, it is for the Government to find out where it has the space, and it is to be hoped that there will be no long delay.
tities at low prices, but of good quality. longs to se
The expense of advertising locally so as to reach the masses is no more than the printing and posting (bill-posting), very small, and the number of goods that might **sell is large; an expert on the spot would soon collect ideas. Nowhere, I am per- suaded, are Macaulay's words respecting the parallel relations of advertisement to “trade and steam to machinery more likely
"to
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prove true."
With regard to trade prospects of the port, Mr. NEVILL-PERKINS says:-" With "the civil administration as at present or
ganised, and without improvement of com- "munications, there is not much expectation ❝ of tapping a wider extent of country so as to allow the purchasing power of the people to be advanced by moral and ma- "terial progress, or encouragement given "them to profit from industry, and the uti- «lisation of capital on a large scale. In "fact, such a state of things is at present perfectly nebulous. Still a time may be hoped for when the only jealousy will be "the friendly commercial rivalry of indivi- "duals under the benevolent auspices of any flag, and every man will have a fair field "for his energies, and sufficient success ac- cording to his ability. Far distant as this may be it is not likely that Pakhoi can "retain much longer its present state of im- mobility. New factors will have to be reckoned with, and this place must either advance or shortly drop out of the race.'
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THE NEED OF PUBLIC GROUND
IN KOWLOON.
(Daily Press, 14th July.)
The Government would do well to recog- nize the necessity of reserving in Kowloon a certain portion of land for purposes of recreation and of providing also some sort of garden for European residents, and in particular for children under the charge of their amahs. Kowloon now has a large European population, which is moreover rapidly increasing; but as yet no provision at all has been made for residents who may wish to play football or any other game. Those who desire exercise must perforce journey to Wongneicheong or Causeway Bay, which they legitimately consider a great hardship Recreation is nowhere more es- sential to health than it is here, and the Government cannot be acquitted of negli- gence in selling off so many building-lots without retaining any land to provide the inhabitants with the means of recreation. From the first sufficient space should have been reserved to allow the laying out of both recreation ground and public garden. This was not done, but the matter should not Therefore be neglected any longer. It should be taken in hand now, while it is not yet too late. Kowloon residents may rightly claim that they pay their taxes and have the same right to a garden and a recreation ground Hongkong. The Government cannot
disregard their claim.
It is plain that the sooner something is done in this direction the better. If sales continue at the present rate there will not long hence be no land left in the Government's hands in the whole pen- insula. The plot of ground in Cameron Road opposite Cameron Terrace if levelled up would make an ideal recreation ground both from its situation and on account of
As for the public garden, af present Kow- loon is looked on as an excellent place for children on account of the many open spaces it possesses. This is more in consequence
of good luck than of good management, for the builder is rapidly filling up the empty spaces, and as lawn-making seems to be be- coming a lost art there will soon be a much greater percentage of bricks and mortar than of vegetation. Kowloon will then lose its enviable reputation. Now, there are plenty of places where the children can be taken to play, but unless a garden is provided soon there will be no place left for them but the roads. A garden to be of any use should be among or quite near the Eu- ropean residences, and to attain this object land would have to be re-purchased by the Government. It is true that it may prove somewhat costly to repair the original error of selling off all the land, but it is equally true that the public health demands it. The authorities would appear to be in danger of forgetting that the health and comfort of the people under their charge is an integral part of their duty. They have a chance of repairing their error, and we trust to see
them use it while there is time.
THE CRISIS IN CHINA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 13th July, 10.16 p.m. All foreigners from Wenchow have taken refuge at Ningpo. Troubles have occurred at Ningpo in revenge for the killing of Ying Wah-te last year at the demand of the Roman Catholic priests at Taichow.
A telegram has been received from Yuan Shikai to-day that the Boxers and troops have combined in an attack on the Lega tion with cannon. Grievous fears are felt for the foreigners. The Government at Peking is involved in the common danger,
The allied fleets are preparing to bom bard Shanhaikwan.
I
SHANGHAI, 15th July, 10.55 p.m. The 13th inst. brought news of the receipt by Sheng of a telegram from Yuan Shikai, saying that a messenger had arrived at Chis nanfu on Saturday, the 14th instant, having left Péking on the 8th:
The messenger says that on that day (the 8th inst.) the Boxers guns made a breach in the Legation walls. The Chinese then en- tered the Legation, found the foreigners without any ammunition, and killed them all.
Sheng has denied receipt of this telegram since, but there is no doubt of its truth.
July 21, 1900,
One Boxer placard has been discovered posted up in Shanghai, 21112013
All the London Mission stations in Hu- nan have been burnt.
allies on Saturday at the cost of 600 casual- Tientsin native city was captured by the
ties.
The Governors of Hupeh and Hunan are going to Peking with troops.
CANTON, 17th July 35 pm. H.E. the Viceroy Li Hung-chang received a cablegram last night, sappointing him Viceroy of Chihli. He leaves by the Anping to-night at 5 o'clock, iris
Shanghai, 17th July, 10.30 p.m. telegram from Yuan Shikai, that the Lega: Sheng Taotai now alleges the receipt of a
tions were still holding out on the 9th instant.
Mr. Frank Taylor has been appointed by the Nanking Viceroy acting Inspector- General of Customs.
Three Mission Stations have been des
troyed on the Poyung Lake: The foreigners escaped.
Viceroy Liu Kungyı has been ordered Peking. He will probably decline to go.
The allied losses at the capture of Tientsin native city were 775. General Nich is re- ported to have been killed in the fighting against General Tung Fuhsiang.
The women and children at Chinkiang have been advised to evacuate the place owing to the passage of a rabble of soldiery with Lu Chuan-lin.
SHANGHAI, 18th July, 10.4 p.m.
A inessenger from the Japanese Minister confirming the belief that the burning of at Peking arrived at Tientsin yesterday, the Legation and massacre of the Europeans occurred on the 30th ultr
A doubtful report from a Shansi banker says that before the Legations were des- troyed Prince Ching rescued the foreigners.
All the missionaries from Northern Man churia reached Vladivostok in safety. telegram from Vladivostok reports
that the Chinese from Tsitsihar have bombarded Blagoveschensk. The Russians have burnt Helampo.
Transport supply preparations are pro- coeding vigorously here.
Shanghai, 19th July 10.33 p.m. Great indignation is felt here in Shang- hai at the honours paid to Là Hung-chang in Hongkong yesterday.
Kuci Chun, Viceroy of Szechuan, guaran- tees the safety of all foreigners who pro- ceed for refuge to Chungking.
LOCAL CASUALTIES ON THE 8TH AND 9TH INST. By kind permission of the General Officer Commanding the Forces we are enabled to publish the following telegram from Brigá dier General A. R. F. Dorward, R.E., D.S.O..
From Dorward, Chefoo
TO GENERAL, Hongkong. Following casualties reported 8th July, 9th July Killed in action 2nd R. W. b. 8644 Private Porter 4014 Private Porter Chinese Hospital attendanta 15, Lo Akhm; SHANGHAI, 16th July, 10.29 p.m. severely wounded, 2nd RW. F. 4343 Pri- Sheng denies receipt of the telegram re-vate King, Hospital Attendant 17 Chong ferring to the Peking massacre, but his denial is discredited.
Ah Kee; slightly wounded, 2nd R. W. F. Lance-corporal 4635 Jone 4789 Private
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