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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND with the Powers and in conjunction with them to take such steps as may be consi dered necessary in order to protect the interests of the bondholders and British interests generally. Until some such steps as these are taken we shall be confronted with the spectacle of foreigners being taxed in order that funds may be provided to op- pose the advance of foreign troops in their attempts to effect the relief of their be leaguered, or to avenge the death of their murdered, countrymen.
THE SANITARY STATE OF THE COLONY.
[July 28, 1900.
ternal affairs of China are none of their
serious pause. Being within the tropics as business, which is, to a large extent, respon
we are, coupled with the fact that we are sible for the present situation. But, be the
dealing with orientals who do not appreciate causes which led up to it what they may, the
the care we bestow on hygiene, are details situation exists, and financial reform of the
that intensify and complicate the problem. Empire has got to be forced. First and
A glance at the condition of several Euro- foremost, then, must be the abolition of the
pean cities will show us how we are placed dual system of custom houses throughout;
relatively to other human agglomerations. the necessity for which has been again and
Berlin has over ninety persons to the acre; again represented by the mercantile com-
Paris just under one hundred and forty, munity of the Far East, but without receiv.
which is worse than Hongkong. Certain, Italian and Austrian cities have even a ing any other recognition from the Govern- ment than the barest acknowledgement that
higher average: but, of all big continental it would be a desirable reform. This aboli-
centres, Buda-Pesth, the twin capital of tion must be done nominally at once; that
Hungary which straddles the blue Danube, has the unenviable record for over-popula- is to say, an Imperial decree must be issued placing them all under the one Imperial ad-
(Daily Press, 24th July.)
tion: we have not the exact figures to hand, ministration which has the capacity or capabi The last meeting of the Sanitary Board was although we are certain of the fact stated. lity of undertaking the task-the Imperial especially interesting owing to the discus Let us examine the effect that this excessive Maritime Customs. The actual taking over of sion which followed upon the minutes by overcrowding has upon vital statistics. In the administration will of course be a mat- Hon. Acting Colonial Secretary and the Norway where the population is thin, and ter of time, but as a preliminary the various Medical Officer of Health, with respect to the where hygiene is in honour, the average length Imperial Commissioners now in charge at additional powers sought by the Board to of human life is fifty-eight; in France, it the Treaty Ports must be given full author- enable it to deal effectively with insanitary barely reaches forty; while in Austria it ity to assume control of those customs and properties. This is by no means the first does not exceed thirty-five. Similar figures lekin stations coming under their immediate occasion on which this important matter has for Hongkong, even if available, for many cognizance. Their gradual abolition or con- been brought to the notice of the Govern-obvious reasons, would not furnish a reliable test. The duty of the Government is very solidation, according to circumstances, into ment; for, as Dr. CLARK pertinently re one Imperial administration will follow. A marked, the Board had time and again clearly defined, and should not be shirked. Railway and Mining Department must be stated at length what further powers it Dr. CLARK and the members of the San- established on the lines of those in vogue in needed. The Insanitary Properties Ordin-itary Board, pace the Hon. R. D. ORMSBY, im are not alarmists. It matters little now civilized countries and the potential capabiance of 1899, although effecting many lities of China be allowed free development. provements on previous legislative efforts, whether former authorities erred or not. The Such are a few of the steps that must be is very far from being perfect. Thus, even evil of surface crowding exists in a most taken in the near future by the Powers who with backyards, it has been found architec-acute form, and should be promptly reme- will exercise a controlling voice in the future turally possible to run up buildings in ap- died. It will be costly to do so. of the Celestial Empire; and of those parent conformity with existing ordinances, we have the recent example of the Resump- Powers the most prominent should be, and and yet which shall be capable of accommo- tion of Taipingshan. It would, however, be far costlier, in the long run, not to do so; must be, England. Her vast trading inter-dating fifteen hundred people to the acre. ests, her well-known impartiality to all From a landlord's point of view this is for matters in that case could but go from comers, render it imperative that she should magnificent, but it also shows how urgent is bad to worse. We have had plague with us take the lead in introducing reform, civiliza- the need for immediate supplementary legis now for several years. We do not wish to tion, and equality of treatment for all na-lation in the matter of house erection. Not imply that it is endemic; but it will as- tionalities, into a country where her inter-
suredly become so, unless we put our Colony ests are still paramount over those of all
in a better sanitary state than it now is.
other nations.
Of this
THE PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.
(Daily Press, 23rd July.)
only is this feasible, it has actually been proposed; and when the M. O. H. tells us this, we presume plans have been submitted So much for the future, but in looking for approval and, we conclude, summarily forward it by no means behoves us to for- rejected. Surface crowding increases yearly. get the immediate present. There are large It is cheaper to add new stories to existing sums of money due by China for loans con- buildings, than to buy other land. Means tracted. There is also a pretty fair account of rapid transfer from the heart of the city
The speech of Sir THOMAS SUTHERLAND, to settle for the expenses in connection with to the outskirts, for the coolie class which
M.P., as Chairman at the half-yearly meet- this trouble in the North, and it is not to be forms the big bulk of our population, are supposed that in either case the subscribers not to be found. Ricksha, chair and gharrying of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam to the loans, or those nations who have al- are all too slow and too expensive. Tram- ready experienced losses in the lives of their ways, with cheap fares, are needed. Quick subjects which no money can repay, will be er and cheaper methods of locomotion ought content to be pecuniary losers. Meanwhile, to be provided. Relief may come from an however, the Imperial Customs administra- unexpected quarter. When the long-talked tion is duly collecting revenue day by day of railway from Canton reaches Kowloon, and paying it over to the provincial officials we shall see a huge transformation. The who, it may be supposed, either_remit it to peninsula opposite will then share more Peking or not as they see fit. It becomes largely in local business than it now does. then a question whether the Powers should Yaumati, in fact the whole mainland shore not notify the Viceroys of the various pro- from Kowloon City on the east to Laichi- vinces that, pending the settlement of the kok on the west would, under such circum- trouble in the North, they are to retain stances, become residential quarters, and all funds so collected, and that on the res- the pressure in Hougkong would be relieved. toration of good order they will be held res- When the Praya Reclamation was first ponsible for the revenue so collected. mooted, it was regarded as the salvation of Further, the Commissioners in the Imperial the Colony. At last we should have land Service should be instructed to furnish ac- and to spare for building purposes. The counts of all sums collected and expended scheme nearing completion, but it has to some central point of safety, such as not brought in its train the expected relief. Shanghai, so that in event of local risings Indeed, the city is more congested than ever. all records may not be lost. An even better No one expected the place to grow so precaution would be the direct payment of rapidly; hence our present luckless position. all revenue collected into an association of At the present moment, big spaces in our foreign and Chinese banks specially ap-midst hold over eight hundred persons to pointed for the purpose. Any such steps as the acre, and the whole city, "including these would, however; need a wise and con- its many vacant areas, contains a popu- trolling head, and it would be well for Eng-lation of one hundred and twenty-two to and to take at once the step which she will the acre. Roughly speaking, this is double compelled to take in the near future, and the density of West Ham, London, or Glas- out to the Far East a CROMER or gow, the three most thickly peopled of the armed with full powers to big towns in Great Britain. This is not harga of all diplomatic negotiations what it should be, and ought to give us
Navigation Co., at the London office of the Company, on the 12th June, if not alto- gether satisfactory reading was at least interesting. Sir THOMAS understands the art, when the occasion permits of it, of presenting the affairs of the company in the best possible aspect and in the most brilliant hues. He is a worthy chairman of a great shipping Company. His speeches on the affairs of the P. and O. S. N. Co. are always well worthy of respect and attention and invariably call forth remarks from a well informed commercial Press. But although as Chairman of the P. and O. S. N. Co. he was able to declare the usual dividends to the shareholders, he was not able to present a very glowing report of the affairs of the Company. It may be that we, resident in the East, more closely brought into associa- tion with foreign competition to this great shipping company, are inclined to be rather more critical than the residents Press at Home. Whether this be so or not, we are not struck with Sir THOMAS SUTHER- LAND's speech; discerning as we think weakness therein, implying a certain want of forethought in some affairs of the Company on the part of the directors. Our criticism of Sir THOMAS's remarks are con- fined solely to the position of the Company in China and refer in no case to the affairs parts of the world of the Company in other to which our experience does not apply. In
or the
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