At all events
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The Szechuan contingent of troops which is proceeding to join the Imperial Court arrived at Siangyang on Thursday last.
SHANGHAI, 22nd October,.,8.49 p.m. satisfaction at Shanghai. The Anglo-German Agreement gives gen-
pointed to Shanghai has not yet received The new anti-foreign Taotai recently ap. his commission. Possibly Liu Kung-yi delays sending him here in accordance with the prayers of the notables and gentry of Shanghai.
Shanghai, 23rd October, 7.40 p.m. The French transport Caravane has sunk near Kobe after a collision with the Yamagu chi Maru. Three men are missing, the rest having been saved.
The Court remains at Tungkuan, the border town between Shansi and Shensi, waiting the course of events.
Crimean War, and was momentarily patched to make it lock “as good as new, with what effect the story of the South African contest may show. The eventual success of There was a serious riot on the 8th inst. that war was due to the practical superces- at Hsinchang in Kiangsi province. The sion of the Office under the lead of a man yamen was partly destroyed. The distur- sufficiently powerful to set War Office pre-bance, however, was entirely local. cédents at defiance. The new conditions, and the necessity in the near future of the Home Country and the Colonies being able in an emergency.to work immediately to-eral gether, point out that the defence of the Empire is something outside the ordinary capacity of English provincial electors to decide. At the same time the Horse Guards, the present representatives of the constitu- tional powers of the Crown, are even more than the War Office behind the requirements* of the moment. In the decline of mere party cries which seem in the present elec- tion in the United Kingdom to have fallen into comparative insignificance, these are subjects which in the new. Parliament will occupy men's minds, and will doubtless bring about a new parting. there is a general consensus of opinion that they must be decided irrespective of what an evil generation has taught us to consider as politics, namely the strife of the "ins "and "outs," and that all parties and all sections have their right to be represented. For such, a task the present Prime Minister is felt to be without the requisite mental Calibre. Unfortunately our system gives us little opportunity in an emergency like the present of arriving at the best choice. With a few exceptions of men of special abilities devoted to special work, the men who re- main available to form a ministry are not men of mark above the average, nor has
There is a report that the Court is still one commanding figure emerged from the proceeding to Hsianfu, but this is doubtful mob approaching the goal. Yet the circum-Widespread sickness is said to prevail among stances of the Empire are such that such a the Court and its followers of all ranks. figure is at the present time urgently needed. The policy of drift, which in ordinary times may be interchangeabie with a masterly inactivity, is a dangerous one when an emergency looms on the horizon; and we certainly do not overrate the conditions of the moment when we say that an emergency which will need all the ability of the Em-rial to the Throne recently, urging the pire to turn to account is actually within punishment of the guilty advisers. They measurable distance. We require a Prime are much puzzled by the Empress-Dowager's Minister and a Foreign Office in every sense reply, asking in brief: Imperial-and this is just what our present do you propose ?"
"What punishments constitutional methods, do not provide for.
THE THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS,
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 19th October, 9.39 p.m. It is reported that Kang-yi has committed suicide. The story is, however, doubtful.
The Boxers who have been driven south ward by the Allied troops in Chibli are making violent efforts to take refuge in Shantung.
SHANGHAI, 24th October; 7.30 p.m. Great alarm is manifested at Hankow at the recent appointment of Yu Chang as Governor of Hupeh. It is credibly reported that the Viceroy at Wuchang has telegraph- ed imploring the Consuls here to urge the foreign Ministers to make an effective pro- teat.. Otherwise it is certain that disasters will follow in the Yangtze Valley.
Admiral Seymour returned, to-day from Taku.
SHANGHAI, 25th October, 8.37 p.m. It is reported that Kwei Chun is going to take the position of Viceroy of the Liang Kwang, while Wang Chi-chun is going to Szechuan.
[October 27, 1900.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held On Monday afternoon, 22nd insk, meeting in the Council Chamber at the Government Offices, there being present:-
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir HENEY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.)
C.M.G. (Commanding the troops).
His EXCELLENCY Major-General GASCOIGNE,
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. MEIGH GOODMAN, Q.C. (Attor
ney-General).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. R. D. ORSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. BASIL TAYLOR (Acting Harbour Master).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hop. J. J. KESWICK, Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, Hon. J. THURBURN: Hon. R. M. GRAY. Hon. WET A YUK.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Coun-
cils).
THE SUGGESTED SCHOOL FOR TAUMÁTI.
In submitting the report of the Public. Works Committee (No. 17) and moving its Your Excellency will observe from this report adoption, the COLONIAL SECRETARY said—
Supply Bill of 1901 and that all the items were that the Finance Committee considered the unanimously agreed to. There was only one point which the unofficial members wished to be recorded, and that was that the proposed new school at Yaumati which has been approved by the Public Works Committee should be undertaken without delay.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR With re- ference to this question of a school for Yaumati I find that it came before me is some way, and really.I cannot say why it has been left out. I can only say that I approve of the I think we shall be able to see on, and
before a year is over to provide for it by a supplemen tary vote.
SMOKING IN YAVAL AND MILITARY PREMISES. On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRETARY, the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide against smoking in certain naval and
The friendly Viceroys have sent a memo-military premises was passed.
•
There is a Chinese report that Li Hung- chang has sent an identical message to all the foreign ministers except the British, say- ing: The other powers are unfriendly to
China relies on your kindness."| A joint expedition of the Allies is pro- ceeding to the Ming Tombs to disperse the Boxers.
115.
THE RESUMPTION OF CROWN LANDS.
second reading of the Bill entitled An The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed the Ordinance to facilitate the resumption by the Governor of Crown Lands required for a certain purpose. The objects and reasons of the Bill are given as follow:-Ordinance No. 30 of 1899 was passed to amend The It, however, left the title of the principal Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance, 1889. Ordinance unaltered, although it dealt not merely with the resumption of Crown lands, but also with the acquisition by the Governor of land of any description, for public purposes. It appears unnecessary to mix the two subjects, and it is certainly desirable to consolidate We have received a copy of the first number tion of Crown lands. The present Ordinance one Ordinance the law relating to the resump. of the American-China News, which started its incorporates, with some few slight alterations, career in New York last month. The following the amendments introduced into the Crown remarks which introduce it will show its aims: Lands Resumption Ordinance by Ordinance "The American-China News will represent No. 30 of 1899, so far as they relate to the interests of American commerce, and Ameri- the resumption of Crown lands. It should lippine Islands and the Far East. When the Territories is declared by the New Territories can activity in general, in China, Japan, Phi- be borne in mind that all land in the New present disturbances in China shall have come Land Court Ordinance, 1900, to be the property to an end, American commerce in the Far East of the Crown during the term specified in the will undoubtedly expand and develop in a man: Convention of 9th June, 1898. Thus the re- ner never yet seen in history. To record the sumption of any part thereof from the occupiers, progress of this huge economic movement will if necessary, would come within the terms of SHANGHAI, 21st October, 5.8 p.m.
be the privilege of the American-Chindi News. this Ordinance. Under the heading "resump- Besides printing cable and mail reports from its tion for public purpose” in section 2, a new A Swatow despatch reports that Liu own correspondents in the Far East, the Ameri-clause is added, viz., clause (ii) relating to “ ob- Yung-fu, the Black Flag general, was seri-can-China News will have the advantage of the structive buildings." This is based upon section ously defeated by a patriotic Triad army on extended news service of Ostasiatische Lloyd 38 of the Imperial Act known as The Housing Wednesday last at Huichow in Kwangtung and the Chinese Universal Gazette, both pub of the Working Classes Act, 1890.**** The whole The patriots are now preparing to attack lished at Shanghai. Several well-known gentle of section 9 is also new and deals with certain
men, authorities in Far Eastern matters, have points connected with the asse columns of this journal." The first number special provision in consented to discuss questions of the day in the pensation; while its last paragra contains an article from the prolific pen of the Hon. C. Denby,
Yuan Shikaj telegraphs to the Southern Viceroys that, Prince Tuan, though he has been formally degraded, is still performing his former functions at Court.
It is expected that the Imperial Court will reach Hsianfu on the 26th instant.
Canton.
The ringleader in the killing of the mis- sionaries at Chuchow, in Chekiang, has been captured and brought to Hangchow.
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perty is resumed. This section main the provisions of section 21 of the In
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