October 6, 1902.]
THE GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE,
(Daily Press, 2nd October.)
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
cables thereto. The reclamation to completed in five years from date purchase.
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be | Dock Company, Limited, could ever för a of moment have hearkened to such a proposal
or agreed to submit it to the shareholders.
THE BRITISH CONSULAR SERVICE.
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It must be conceded that for an adminis- trafion anxious to encourage the extension { of local industries the Government of Sir HENRY BLAKE seems to have developed a talent for driving a hard bargain. Some few years ago the Hongkong Government — | before the advent of Mr. ORMSBY, who was very keen on selling land-sold to the Green Island Cement Company, Limited, the site of its present works at Hok-Un for two cents per square foot. three years latter Messrs. BUTTERFIELD & When two or SwIRE applied for a large area between Quarry Bay and Shaukiwan for the purposes of a dock and shipyard, part of the lots being marine and part inland, but involv- ing costly and extensive reclamation, the Government advanced i's rate to ten cents per square foot for a term of only 9 years, with the option of another similar period on r♦ assessment, Even this rate was only | obtained with great difficulty, and not until a broad hint had been ven that the utmost limits of the purchasers had been reached. Considering that the fifty-two acres thus acquired were totally unproductive and a large proportion of them under water, and that they were to be turned into a great revenue-producing district, the Government could not be accused of any undine liberality in their dealings with the enterprising house of Taikoo. What shall be said of their attempt to squeeze the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company to the tune of $383,812 for a site for a dock, which they stipulate is to be primarily always at the disposal of the Admiralty, besides further weighting the lease with other burdensome conditions? The area to be leased is for the most part under water, and it would have to be reclaimed at great cost, and for some four years at least the heavy Crown rent (amounting for that term to 843,680) would have to be paid while the property was wholly unproductive. Meanwhile the loss of interest on the purchase-money would foot up to the respectable sum of
The most interesting feature in the scheme for a new dock laid by the Chairman of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, Limited, before the shareholders is undoubtedly the conditions under, which the Government propose to grant a lease of the necessary land for the purpose, at least so far as the general public are concerned. With the cost of the proposed dock the outside public have nothing to do, but they would certainly like to know how the local Government redeems the pledge held out some years ago to do what it could to encourage and foster industrial enterprise. Let us see, therefore, the manner in which they go about the task. Two offers made by the Deck Company to the Admiralty, in 1895 and 1897 respectively, to construct a large new graving dock, on condition of receiving a free grant towards the cost, having both been declined without any counter-proposal being made, the project for a new dock to be erected at the sole cost of the Company was mooted in 1899 and negotiations opened with the Colonial Government for a piece of ground for the purpose. Now was the opportunity for the Goverment to exhibit its liberality and prove its desire to aid industrial enterprise in the Colony. This was done in a striking manner. After two years of discussion, otherwise haggling and procrastination, the Government at length agreed to lease the ground-or rather the land and water- required, on the following terms:-The are, comprising 1,388,812 square feet, is to be granted on a lease of ninety-nine years for a premium of 27 cents per square foot, at a Crown rent of $350 per acre, or $10,920 per annum, the lease to be renew- able for one term of a like period on a re- assessed Crown rent. The lease is to be hampered with no less than eleven special conditions, some of which involve outlay and others great responsibility. To begin with, the Admiralty, although not con. tributing a cent towards the expense of making the new dock, is to be specially considered. The plans are to be submitted to the Naval Authorities and every endeavour made to meet their wishes; the dock is to be capable of accommodat ing a first-class battleship; the Company are to commence its construction at once and complete it as soon as possible; and, finally, His Majesty's ships are to have prior right of entrance to the dock over all vessels in time of war or whenever the senior Naval officer considers their safety necessitates it. The Military Authorities have then to be considered. The Company are to construct an approach road with suitable pier for access to Kowloon East Battery in a position satisfactory to the Military authorities. The Company is also to incur the cost of moving Military tele- phone-cables which may be made necssary by the transfer of land, including the erec- tion of cable-huts and digging up and burying land-cables, the latter to be laid as far as possible along the new road to Kow- loon Eist Battery. The War Department is even to be relieved of responsibility for any damage caused by firing by the battery just named. The local Government also to receive a special concession, in the shape of a strip of land fifty feet in width adjoining and to the east of Gillies Avenue and extending from the Harbour to Buike ley Street. There is also a proviso that the Company is to bear the expense of forming a new cable reserve and shifting the existing
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(Daily Press, 3rd October.)
A correspondent at Constantinople wrote to the Times recently, inspired by the debate in the British House of Commons on the Diplomatic and Consular services. In that debate, he said, the speakers salors and Consuls are responsible for the appeared to be of opinion that our Ambas- decline or increase of British commerce-- altogether an erroneous idea, he added, for it is not commercial assistance that the British manufacturer, trader, shipowner, &c., require from their Consuls abroad, but rather official assistance and protection. The distinction is clear enough, but we do not imagine that any of the speakers in the House of Commons actually wanted British Consuls to advertise or otherwise push British goods, which is what commercial assistance seems to uncan, The argument of those who complained in Parliament was fair enough, that British Ambassadors and Consuls do not as a rule give the same amount of support and protection which other countries' Ambassadors and Consuls give to their nationals. This is not neces- sarily because the British representatives
are in themselves less able men.
The
a
correspondent whom we have mentioned above makes the excuse for them that unfortunately their power is very limited, and they cannot reader the assistance often asked for by British subjects or those repre- senting British interests without having first to refer to their Ambassadors; then comes the deadlock, he says, as Ambas- sadors, having to consider so many political questions, are very loth to press com- | mercial questions, which are always treated as of secondary importance; and thus commercial matters arc, as rule, sacrificed Lo political interests: But, it may well be asked, why should $100,245.98. The net cost of the land to British consular representatives be less able the Dock Company before it could be made to help their compatriots than other Consuls to viekl a cent of income would be, includ- are to help theirs? That they are less ing interest on the Crown rent, $532,807.02. prompt in doing so can be shown by instances It must be admitted that these figures do from almost any part of the world. This is not suggest any sentimental partiality in the real strength of the grievance which is favour of industrial enterprises on the part felt by British commercial meu, and it most of the Government. On the contrary, it certainly demands attention. The debite would occur to the impartial onlooker that in the House of Commons, though some of the Government, taking full advantage of the speakers may have missed the actual the apparent necessity of the Dock Com-point, was useful in calling public notice to pany, had determined to exercise its power | à matter which has been ventilated in a less to the utmost, and to drive the hardest bar-general way for long without any percep- gain possible. This is clearly what they tible improvement in the situation. Indif have done. In doing it, however, like many other skinflints, they will find they have only overreached themselves and betrayed the interests of the tax-payers. Had they, when negotiations were first opened for the site, hastened to concede it at a cost of three cents per square foot which would have been ample, considering the conditions attached to the lease-they would have gained the substantial sum of 841,664 for the Treasury, and have soon been able, in addition to the Crown rent, to have collected a large addition to revenue from municipal rates This opportunity has been lost. The time has now gone by for constructing the dock, owing mainly to the Government's greed and procrastina- vigorous Consul is more likely to be snub- tion, and the outrageous proposal now bed than commended, and consequently the placed before them will be indignantly Ambassador too must be made aware of his rejected by the shareholders. At least so duties. But the best Ambassador in the we believe. It passes our comprehension, world can do little, unless backed by the moreover, how men of business like the home Government. It is to be hoped directors of the Hongkong and Whampoa therefore that those members of the House
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ferent Consuls are occasionally replaced by good -an example of this occurred very close at hand but a little time ago -but also, on the other hand, it happens sometimes that good men are replaced by indifferent. The Foreign Office remains unaltered in its attitude and it is only by influencing the Foreign Office that the necessary improve ment can be brought about. British Con- suls are sent out, knowing it to be their duty to protect their fellow-countryman in
the lawful exercise of his trade and to obtain redress for injuries done him, and failing this to report to the British Ambas- sador at t'e particular capital. With au indifferent Ambassador, of
course, the
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