April 11, 1903.
the term of H. E. Sir Henry Blake's governor- ship of this Colony published in your paper this Paragraph 10 of the said Petition reads as follows:-
morning.
That the almost bloodless pacification of the New Territory together with the establishment | of looil tribunals and the promotion of agriculture and industry there, the improvement and augmentation of the police and district watchmen forces, the stern suppression of secret 800 eties, and the deportation, of hardened criminals and dangerous characters, bave tended to preserve the peace and good order of this Colony in a manner the most effective and unsur- passed
I wonder whether the recent numerous high- way robberies committed ouEuropean ladies, and burglaries perpetrated evidently by a gang of "hardened criminals and dangerous characters," can be taken as a criterion of the improvement and augmentation of the police force"
Robberies and burglaries and 71 thefts committed on one particular day in various parts of the Colony, as stated by Mr. Henry Humphreys, cannot certainly be taken as evidence that the peace and good order of this Colony have been preserved in a manner "the most effective and unsurpassed." This may be the opinion of the various petitioners, but surely not that of the British and foreign community of Hongkong.Yours, etc.,
FAIRPLAY,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS."
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. | accord with the views of those whom they presume to represent. Times change and we change with them, The Chinese have began, as I stated, to grasp the fact that they have a right to be taken into the counsels of their representatives and the full measure of this right they must be given lave to exercise, and exercise it they will with the co-operation of the Press.
can
with
scheme which was not publishe tion, is included in the Education Blue Book. Is it such originators are ashamed
date
PUN BAI CHEONG.
for the Year 1902," have just been issued by The "Returns of Trade and Trade Reports
the Statistical Department of the I. M. Customs. The following is the Report:➡
GENERAL.
I would urge that one of the Ear bers, since our own "Rep interested parties and will not likely for the production of the document the Legislative Council Council table, No objection is raised at all against the pro- | agitate by question or motion in vision of greater educational facilities. Indeed, for the production of the document it is a boon much to be desired. But it is tion, and this at as early the distinction sought to be created the split-seeing that before long a start may be ting up of the community into so-called | the school-Yours, etc.,” "uppor and lower classes--which forms the What after all constitutes the upper classes of THE FOREIGN TRADE OF CHINA target again t which just aspersions are aimed. Chinese society in Hongkong P Is it the aristocrary of blood, or is it the aristocracy of
IN 1902. ["wealth ? If either or both, then what is the standard by which to determine the Chinese upper circles? is the judge of such standard
Then, again, who Those and others are questions which must be satisfac- torily answered before the "apper classes' claim the privileges they seek to obtain and which their belittled brethren of the "lower classes" will help with the rates and taxes they contribute to the Colony's exchequer to purchase for the " upper classes as a luxury for their boys and girls this exclusive school. The Colonial Estimates for 1903 makes provision of a sum of $20,000 for the Chinese High School. It is not alone the preaching of the doctrine of equality from the rostrum that we want. There must be more of the practice of it. If secondary education is desired by the Chinese of the higher social grade, by all means let them have it. Our conditions are very nearly analogous with those of Indis, and the recently published report of the Educational Commission appointed by the Government of India appears to me to have settled the point that secondary education must be purchased by the people. It is no duty of the State to provide it.
*
7
Three noteworthy events connected with commerce took place during the year: the Treaty, the revision of the Import Tariff, and a negotiation of a new British Commercial heavy fall in exchange. Of these the last may prove important. The revised Import Tarii, owing to the fall in exchange and the rise in silver prices since the years 1897, 1898, and 1899-npon the average valuer during which years the 5 per cent calculations were based, in left the incidence of taxation very much as accordance with tho terms of the Protocol,-has. Hongkong, 6th April.
before. But the collapse in exchange which SIR-I have perused with a good deal of care and attention the text of the petition pray-
will call for ligher currency prices for now ing for an extension of the period of adminis
cargo, with the uncertainty of its future move- tration of His Excellency Sir Henry Blake in
while, by angmenting the amount which the ments, naturally disturbs the import, trade, Hongkong. Although I was one of the signa-
Government has to find to pay its gold obliga- tories of the petition and assisted in obtaining
tions, it has led to heavier internal taxation, signatures thereto, I must, under circumstances
which has a tendency to counteract any tem- which I will hereinafter explain, admit that my first knowledge of this important document was
porary advantage to exports. The pessimistic derived in a perusal of the local newspapers.
I stated that my assistance was solicited to
views expressed in some quarters regarding the Lest the purport of my present communica co-operate in obtaining signatures.
co mercial solvency of the country, based upon ecognis- tion be in any sense misunderstood, permit meing as I do the goodwill of His Excellency the
the demand of the Government to pay the at the outset to point out that in loyalty to and Governor and his sympathetic administration Indemnity on a silver basis,as owing to the admiration of His Excellency's administrative towards the Chinese I readily consent.d to be
fall in exchange it cannot afford the extra cost qualities I yield second place to none. My re- associated with the petition in the direction of paying in gold,—and on the fact that the marks are directed against the method of pro- in which my help was sought, I asked of Mr. recorded movements of silver show net. cedure which dictated the action of the framers Fung Wa Chuen if he would give me a copy of export for two years in succession, are with.. of the petition and by which I, in common with the petition to go round with. He stated in
ont any solid foundation. The Foreign debt: a large proportion of those who have supported effect that it was not necessary for me to have of China is trifling when the size and it, have been misled in regard to the reference one, as the text would simply be confined to potential resources of the country are consider. made in the petition to the movement initiated praying for an extension of Sir Henry's ad-ed, and only a very small adjustment between by the Honourables Dr. Ho Kai and Wei Yuk, ministration for another term. Convinced that late increase of indebtedness. At the same time.
imports and exports is necessary to cover the Mr. Fung Wa Chun and others for the establish- the petition, would contain no debateable matter ment of a High School for the Chinese in I went forward with my mission with the result it is disappointing to note that trade” always Hongkong.
that some hundreds of signatures were collected tion is decided upon. What the foreign trade seems to be the first'victim when heavier taxa- in the Justices of the Pesce, the compradores', of China might be is shown by a comparison and the merchants' lists, Amongst the signatures there are a considerable number
with Japan, which, with a population of dess wh se views are opposed to those of the High than one-seventh, spends almost exactly as much School memorialists, and who would certainly expansion can be looked for domestic trade must as China on foreign goods. But before such have insisted upon the deletion of paragraph be relieved from the taxation of goods in transit, 8 of the Petition of the 30th March, 1903, or a local industries must be assisted instead of being modification thereof, before signatures would have been affixed to the signature sheets. With hampered by excise and by taxes on rew the Chinese are entirely at one but with the is slowly growing, and will continue to grow, the object of the petition I emphatically assert materials, and the enormous resources of the country must be developed. Mesuwhile trade inclusion of this school clause opinions do not in spite of artificial obstructions. entirely concur.-I am, Yours, etc.,
This movement had its origin in a petition presented to the Colonial Secretary and dated the 2nd March, 1901. The petition was signed by the two Chinese members of the Legislative Council supported by six other Chinese gentle- men. It purported to have been written "on behalf of an important and influential section of the Chinese community," and pressed upon the attention of Government the argent need a suitable English School for the education of the children-both boys and girls-of the upper classes of the Chinese resident in this Colony." I have emphasised the term "upper "classes" by printing the words in italios.
for
48
HO KOM TOMG.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRE88.”
make
Considerable feeling was engend red among the Chinese upon the first publication of this chool petition. It was felt that the memorial- ints trespassed beyond the limits of their
powers when they claimed to represent the views of
Hongkong 7th April, SIB,-Having read with considerable interest an important and influential section of the and not without concern, Mr. Ho Kom Tong's community" whom they really never consulted. letter published in your columns this morning, In a communication to the vernacular press II should like to add my protest to those of pointed out the irregularity of the procedure others who, though unwilling to and now, through the medium of the British public their views, are equally incensed at journals, beg to reiterate in substance those the unwarrantable assumption on the part remarks. It is high time that the community of the persons originating the Petition. at large be taken into the confidence of our re Mr. Ho Kom Tong was lenient in plac presentatives in public matters affecting the weal ing the subject before the public and I or woe of the native community, who have now, do not intend to take any departure from thanks to greater enlightenment, begun to take those lines, but the necessity of sifting the more active interest in public affairs, Hither matter to the very bottom, now that public at- Locratio dictates of a cabal of a few tention has been secured, calls forth discussion gen
eemed suff ent to conduct matters from all those who are interested in this affecting Chin no hue and cry has important subject. I notice that accompanying been publicly raised agains any action of theirs, the petition was a proposed scheme for the #ven though such etion did not altogether working of the Chinese High School, This
to
The commerc al solvency of the country. however, is one thing and the financial solvency of the Government another; and there is no doubt that great difficulty is experienced under the present defective fiscal system in the additional revenue required in consequend of closer contact with Western nations. in this direction is urgently needed obstructing the growth of commerce porals to raise more revenue the Imposition of a consump tending to check the dome goods or to binder the dus ries or the introductio by a heavy excise on mING are to be deprecated as lower the purchasing power preventing the development of China cin absorb no more imports has more dependent upon cheaper
give in ex
will gradually provide, native goods from uncer taxation, and upon
fend
discouragement,
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