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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[April 20, 1903.
_quantity of | confirmation of my statements, and the inter- THE CHINA ASSOCIATION:
done by him had to be takenvention of the Easter holidays. Thanking you
The overseer who allowed in anticipation.➡Yours, etc., done is man appointed locally- These matters combined cause very considerable delsy in the completion of the foundations.
Tendera for the superstructure were called for in December last, Of those cosived only one was reasonable in amount, bit énquiries made regarding the contractor who su mitted it elicited such unfavourable replies that it was felt impossible to accept it. || Negotiatious were entered into with some of the other contractors
with 's view of getting them to reduce their tenders to a reasonable amount bat without any material success, and arrangements are now bi- ing made tɔ carry out the work departmentally. *|* Having ~ now- dealt with the Polition paragraph by paragraph an | having touched upon several public work and matters of public interest, I should like to make a few observations regarding the Petition after its initial stage. A few days after the completion of the draft Petition Mr. Chan Pak of the Chang Kwok Po, at my request, kindly made literal translation of it and this was attached to the English form of the Petitions. To go round for signatures was not one of the functions assigned to me, ani I did not know how they were obtained; bat judging from the confession of оде
of those that actually went round as to the way he had gone to work about this business, I cannot help agreeing with you that there is a distinct contrast in methods which differentiate, the races promot. ing them"; but can you point out a singular instance in which the method of the Chinese in this respect has been substantially different? Why, surely it must be within the recollection of many of your readers that it was only a few years ago a laudatory address was presented to the Honourable T. H. Whitehead, and almost immediately after the presentation, the Chair- man of the deputation who presented the address wrote to the papers denying all or any previous knowledge of the contents of the said address until its presentation. Truly history repeats itself, and among the most conservative of people, this truism is especially, conspicuous, and ought not to create any surprise.
Hitherto in all public movements and affairs affecting the interests and welfare of the Chi- nese public, initiation had to be undertaken by a few of the leading Chinese willy nilly, but such initiation had always been done with the consent and approval of the Chinese general public. The first and foremost reason is that the Chinese are always reluctant to come forward and take a part in anything which does not im- mediately affect their individual interest, and secondly, because a great many of them do not understand the English language, or the manner, customs and procedure of the Europeaus, and as you know it has invariably been the practice for the Government and the Europeans, in great movements where the co-operation of the Chinese is sought, to only deal with a few of the leading Chinese as their intermediaries, instead of dealing with the Chinese public en masse, therefore it is refreshing to learn from one of your correspondents that henceforth everything would be changed, and
that the time has now come that many Chinese can and intend to take a prominent part in all public proceedings and movements affecting the welfare of themselves and of the Colony; It is just as well for the Government and the Europeans to be assured on this point, so that infature it would be more in accord with the changed, condition of affairs for them to approach the Chinese community direct on any subject on which their co-operation is sought. I personally welcome this tiding, and one can rejoice at this good news more than Ter. At last more shoulders will be put to the heal and our future burdens will grow im- lighter in consequence, onclusion, I have to apologise for the of this communication, my only excuse len is the obligation imposed upon me to clear up all possible misunderstandings between myself and the Bading Chinese on the one hand and frosean community on the other, and ent all future misconstructions.~
the to
d have sent this letter for publication bat for the necessity of looking over a number of papers and official documents for
HO KAI
THE ALLEGED INTERNATIONAL EMBROGLIO IN MACAO.
50 THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.”
Hongkong, 14th April. SIR,--Referring to my letter of the 9th ns'., published in your issue of the 10th under the above heading, I am glad to be able to send you for publication the true narrative of the occurrence, which has been kindly furnished to me by the Hon. the Colonial Secretary of Macao. It runs as follows: A few English visitors who arrived here by the Wingchai on Palm Sunday went to the Hotel Internacional (which adj ins Government House). Presumably whilst nuder the influence of liquor they had a quarrel amongst themselves and a free fight ensued just in front of the Government House. The sentry at the gate interfered and tried to disperse the party, but as they became more and more rowdy they were arrested and sent to the British Vice-Consulate by order of H. E. the Governor, The Consul advised them to conduct themselves properly and released them. Immediately after wards they re urned to the same place and started provoking the sentry, by using bad language and challenging him; thereupon they were again arrested and re-conducted to the British Consul, who after remonstrating with them dismissed them with the advice to return on board the steamer. Soon after, a despatch was forwarded by the British Congul to Ĥ, E. the Governor, thanking him for the leniency shown towards the visitors and offering apologies for their misbehaviour."
add
This is the whole narrative given by the Macao anthorities and I am requested to that the Colonial Secretary was not present, at the time of the occurrence as was alleged in
the China Mail.
A letter was received by the Colonial Scre- tary from one of the Englishmen concerned in the embroglio, expressing his deep regret at seeing the account of the affair published in the China Mail and repudiating any responsibility for the statements therein contained.
By the insertion of the above your readers will be able to appreciate what actually took place.
:
Thanking you in advance,~~Yours, etc.,
IMPARTIAL.
1
THE APOLOGY FOR THE CHINESE PETITION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,
"
Hongk ng 16th Aprial. SIR, Referring tɔ letter signed by Dr. Ho Kai, on the subject of the Chinese Petition for the retention of H.E. the Governor, I note that the writer refers to despatches from H.E. the Governor relating to the Blake Clock Tower and the Post Office. In the last paragraph of his letter he refers to having looked over a "number of papers and official documents for confirmation of his statements." Has Dr. Ho Kai been "briefed" that he has been allowed access to official documents and despatches, which I always believed were carefully guarded from public inspection ?-Yours, etc.,
ENQUIRER.
Some of the native papers in the North manifest anxiety over the relations between Russia and Japan. A report emanating from Manchuria predicts a conflict between the two Powers before long in consequence of some bit terness engendered by the competition in the timber trade in the regions of the Yalu. Rus- sia is alleged to have transferred 230,000 soldiers to the frontiers of Manchuria and is fur: ther said to have ordered four battleships and a score of oraisers and torpedo-boats to Talienwan. Perhaps the ramonrs entrent that large and argent orders for provisions for the Japanese fleet have been placed in Hong- kong, Shanghai and Singapore may be taken as something in the nature of corroboration, but for our part we disbelieve in the probability of a conflict between these two Powers in the immediate future.
MR. KESWICK, M.P. ON THE NEW COMMERCIAL TREATY.
[FLOM OUR OWN REPORTER.
The annual meeting of the China Association was held on March 10th at the offices of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Company, Limited, Leadenhall St, London, E.C, Mr. W. Keswick, M.P., presiding.
In moving the adoption of the report, the CHAIRMAN said the chief matter of importanos which had been discussed during the year was of course the now commercial troity with China-a doonment which, whether it came into oca or not, must always be regarded so a compilation of extremo value, and one allowing great industry and a complete grasp of the subject tr ated. There was much doubt as to whether the treaty provided all t o safegaards which were needful in a country like China to protect foreign traders from the great changes it introduced. The condition of things which had hitherto prevailed was one which they had found fault with since the beginning of the operation of the Tientsin treaty. There had been difficulties in regard to inland transit duties, which the Chinese were so expert in levying upon all trade, and the object of the new treaty was to remore, if possible, those exactions, and to bring about conditions by which from trade throughout the Chinese Empire should be secured. In its spirit the new tr aty was ideal; in its operation he trusted it would be all they desired it to be. Unques ionably there must be extreme vigilance on the part of the British authorities, and all nations should become parties to it. The treaty could not come into operation until all the other Powers had accepted it. Up to date the other Powers had not signified their consent, but there was still plenty of time for them to do so, as it was not until January next year that the rati- - fication would become necessary. The treaty had boon the subject of much discussion and criticism and he thought the discussion had shown that it was a good treaty if it could be carried out. In regard to the silver question, the Chairman said it occurred to him that it was not possible to change the system of a silver basis in China unless the Chinese could bring other European nations and America and Japan to guarantee for a time the needful operations that would lead to the change. China was utterly powerless in the matter, and that being the case, unless foreign Powers came forward and assisted in the operation for a change in the currency no change could take place.
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Mr STRACHAN seconded the adoption of the report, and the resolution was carried.
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The following gentlemen were then elected members of the General Committee for the Thomas Sutherland, ensuing year:-Sir GC.M.G.; Sir E. A Sassoon, Bart., M.P.; Sir Cecil C. Smith, G.C M.G.; Sir Ewen Cameron, K.C.M.G., Sir Alfred Dent, K.C.M.G.; Sir R. T. Rennie; Sir E. J. Ackroyd; Sir Thomas Hanbury, K.C.V.O.; Sir Thomas Jackson, Bart; Si E. F. Alford, Kt.; Messrs. A. R. Burkill. F. Cornes, H. Dent, G. B. Dodwell R. M. Gray, R. S. Gundry, J. H. Gwyther R. H. Hill, H. H. Joseph, Wm. Keswick, M.P., J. A. Maitland, G. J. Morrison, D. Reid, R.C. Rutherford, J. H. Scott, W. M. Strachan, W. A. Turnbull, W. C. Ward, J. Welóh, T. H. Whitehead, W. S. Young, and A. Zimmern.
Mr. D. REID proposed that Sir Alfred Dent, K.C.M.Q., be elected President of the Associa tion for the ensuing year. He said they would all agree that the Association was very much indebted to Sir Alfred Dent for the many years of valuable and motive service which he had rendered not only in the capacity of hon. treasurer, which he had so faithfully dis charged since the formation of the Associa- tion, but more particularly for his conscien- tions attendance at meetings of the Committee, and for the very active interest he had taken in the deliberations of the Association at the acnual meeting. By reason of his long resi. dence in China and his familiɩurit” with China speaker) and Chiness affairs, it seemed to him that it was fitting that Sir Alfred Dant should be invited to take the presidential chair, now that it had been vacated by a distinguished of the house of Jardine. ThS names of Jardine
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