March 29, 1902:1
At the end of 1900, he tells us, the Shan- tung railway had nealy 100 miles completed; the Imperial Railways of North China, 540 miles; the Shanghai-Woosung railway, 11 miles; the Lu-Han railway, from Peking to Chengtingfu, about 160 miles, and northward from Hankow, about 105 miles. The future depends very much on an increase in the export trade (in which railways will play their part) and on the course of exchange "Heavy taxation to pay indemnities will to that extent diminish the purchasing power "and of the people," Mr. TAYLOR says, unless exports are stimulated, silver must be exported or imports must decline." Last year the value of imports exceeded the value of exports by Hk. Tls. 49,916,706, and, for the first time for many years, there was a net export of silver to the value of Hk. Tls. 6,097,802. As the explanation why more silver was not exported to pay for the difference between imports and exports, Mr. TAYLOR gives the fact that an unusually large proportion of imports came in during the last three months and were not paid for when the year closed, and also that China never has to pay for part "Remittances from of the goods received. Chinese emigrants abroad, contributions to missionary societies, expenditure on foreign troops and officials, expenses of exploitation by sundry syndicates and of railway construction with foreign capital, as well as value in China's favour of the frontier trade across the Russian border and into Tibet, would probably be found to cover the difference, as well as providing for other obligations." The net value of gold exported, amounting to Hk. Tls. 6,635,313, must also be taken into con- sideration, it is pointed out. The principal fact to bear in mind, however, would seem to be that in 1901 the Chinese, in spite of their difficulties, were able to spend twice as much silver on foreign goods as they did in 1891, Into the details of the export and import trade we do not propose to enter now; we may have an opportunity of doing so on another occasion. We may note, however, that the Statistical Secretary points out that the progress of the export trade during the coming years will be watched with keen attention, as upon it depends the country's solvency. The in- demuities agreed upon under the Peace demand additional payments amounting to Hk. Tls. 18,000,000 each year, which can be met by an increase of 10 per cent. on the export figures for the year under review-an increase which is perfectly possible, but which is bound to be checked by a continuance of the carelessness and actual dishonesty often manifested by the native producers at present.
Protocol
In conclusion we will draw attention to Mr. TAYLOR'S figures under the head of shipping, from which it appears that the total tonnage employed in the foreign trade, entries and clearances, was 49,416,000 tons; and of this total Great Britain contributed 54 per cent., Germany 16 per cent., China 18 per cent., Japan 11 per cent., America 2 per cent., Russia 1 per cent., and all other flags 1 per cent.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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HONGKONG AS THE TRANS- MITTER OF DISEASE.
(Daily Press, 24th March.)
THE NEW AGREEMENT AND THE BALANCE OF NAVAL POWER.
The same
(Daily Press, 25th March.) A service journal draws attention to the The news of the sudden outbreak of cholera in Manila during the 21st-22nd strictly naval point of view on the Anglo. instant will no doubt be received with some Japanese Agreement, with special reference surprise, seeing that it was only on the 17th to the fact that prior to the existence of the instant that the Colonial Secretary made compact becoming known Russia had public a telegram receive that day from determined in the course of the current year to fit out eighteen warships for her foreign the British Consul at Manila to the effect:-
Quarantine imposed Hongkong vessels to stations, of which fourteen, including battle- complete five days from date of departure." ships, armoured and light cruisers, are for Furthermore, we learnt from the Manila Times the Far East. One Russian turret-ship, that the reason for the imposition of this the very powerful Peresviet, is already on her quarantine was the prevalence of cholera at way up from Colombo to the North. Such this port. Our contemporary admitted that a large reinforcement of the Russian squad- the cases here reported are not numerous, ron, even allowing for the recent withdrawal but rightly pointed to the constant influx to Europe of a small section of the Russian of Chinese from Canton, where, as we know, East Asiatic feet, would have made a vast the native city at least is suffering severely. difference to the balance of power in these Now Manila has to face the unwelcome fact waters, already none too favourable to of ten suspected cases and seven deaths Great Britain. The new Agreement, how- from cholera during a period of thirty-six ever, sets against the Russian increase six hours, so that there can be no doubt that more battleships, six armoured cruisers of We must await the first class and newest design, and sixteen the disease is in her midst. the arrival of further advices from Manila other. cruisers, not to mention the minor before we can know whether any or all of items of the Japanese fleet. the cholera cases were imported from Hong- service paper to which we referred above we shall get another aid to points out that the allied naval force of kong. If so our unpleasant notoriety as the dissemi- Britain and Japan in these waters is only nator of disease. One obvious fact stands rivalled as an unit by the combined Medi- out with regard to this reputation which terranean, Channel, and Cruiser squadrons. have acquired, and that is that There is of course the question to be con- we Hongkong has not been the originator of sidered whether the present strength of the Our first British fleet here--no less than fifty pen- epidemics but the transmitter. outbreak of plague was traced to Canton or nants-will be maintained much longer. its neighbourhood; the present cholera was Twelve years ago we had on this station one imported first from Canton; it will probably battleship of the third-class, some second- be found that in all cases Canton or the ad-class cruisers, and about a dozen gunboats. jacent Chinese mainland has implanted in The numbers have gone up ever since, and this island the seeds of disease which have the advent of serious trouble in China led been nourished here and propagated through to a very large increase, yet not sufficient to ports. The question is prevent the combined Russian and French neighbouring whether there is any means of checking the squadron outnumbering ours at the height present free influx of disense into the of the crisis. Recently our preponderance Colony. Professor SIMPSON in his report was restored by withdrawals from the other published in January with relation to the fleets, but the exertions of Russia to streng- combating of plague urged the appoint- then her naval position during this year conclusion of the Anglo-Japanese ment of two assistant surgeons, to examine would have defied our competition but for This union of the Island persons coming from and going to Canton the
The Sanitary Agreement. and the Chinese mainland. Board at its meeting on the 28th January Powers puts out of question any possibility struck out the request for these two assist of the recurrence of a situation where the ant surgeons, and Professor SIMPSON's re- balance of power is distinctly against us. commendations were approved with this The treaty, it is true, is only for a period of We expressed our five years, but it is not to be supposed that important omission. opinion at the time of the unwisdom of the so important a departure in policy will be Sanitary Board's action in rejecting the merely temporary. Both Britain and Japan expert's advice, backed up as it was by the are vitally interested in the maintenance of qualified support of the Medical Officer o. peace in the Far East, which, it is generally" |
more than ever im- recognised, is guaranteed by this Agree Health. It seems possible, with the constant accusations ment, brought against the Colony of spreading terrible diseases. that, a state of affairs can continue whereby there is permitted all the year round a
Whereas up to now we have had constantly to increase our naval strength out here at the expense of our other squad- rons, we should now, with the Japanese fleet steady inflow, absolutely to co-operate with ours in case of need in the unchecked by medical supervision, of hordes China Seas, be able safely to withdraw some of natives, all of whom are potential pest-of our armoured vessels hence if they were carriers. The damage to human life and to necessary for the protection of our interests the trade and prosperity of the port is too elsewhere. serious to be neglected as it has been in the past. The opponents of medical inspection are taking upon themselves a very grave responsibility indeed when they veto all schemes aiming at preventing the monstrous injury at present done to Hongkong and through Hongkong to many other pcrts in the Far East by the importation into the Colony of the worst scourges known to with the trade of Szemao and Mêngtze in 1900,
The Singapore Free Press of the 15th ult. says:-We regret to hear that a telegram has been received in Singapore announcing the death of Dr. Manson, son of Sir Patrick Man- son, who passed through _Singapore a fortnight | mankind. ago for Uhristmas Island, where he was going to study beri-beri. The cause of death was a gun accident. All who met Dr. Manson during his rea nt brief stay here will be grieved at this sudden extinction of so promising a career, and the far too premature close to the life of so geniál and capable a young man..
L'Echo de Chine of the 17th inst, says that at the theatre at Vladivostock the public gave an ovation to Colonel Alarchand and the two officers, who accompanied him. The orchestra played repeatedly the "Marseillaise" and the Russian national hymn.
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Mr. Apting Consul Carey,¦ in dealing' remarks that the statements as to the unpár s alleled resources and richness of Yunnan arət palpable exaggerations. Nor does he think The Canton River steamer Tai On ran down highly of the prospects of the Haiphong- a fishing juok in the harbour on Wednesday Yunnanfu railway, which he does not expect morning, cutting it in two. The occupants pay its expenses for many years to come. were thrown into the water, but were rescued rates schedule put forward will not offer
I inducement for freight traffic. by a police pinnaco.
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