September 26, 1903]
Mr. Pollock asked whether these productions had been tried in the New Territory, and the Secretary stated that an inquiry from Mr. Lunn, the Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation Department, had elicited the following notes on the subject: T'es exten sively cultivated by Chinese and abandoned many years ago Jon account of heavy taxes imposed on it by mandarins. Coffee experimentally tried on the island of Hong- kong ten to twenty years ago by private European enterprise. Never tried in New Territory, The bushes in the ublic Gardens d not flourish properly. Coffee requires a continuous hot, damp climate and teep. rich soil in order to grow properly.
K
ARRIVAL OF THE CHINESE MINISTER TO JAPAN.
H.E.
Yang Cho the newly-appointed Minister for China at Tokyo, was a pa-senger on the C. M. 8.8. Taishun, which left Shanghai on Saturday at 8.30, arriving in our harbour on the 22nd inst. at 2
p.m. On account of cholera at the northern port, some delay occurred while the vessel was cleared by the doctor, but at 2.50 those waiting the arrival of the Minister were able to board the Tishun. H. E. Yang Cha, who is a pleasant-looking man, 55 years of age, and a Cauton-boru Manchu, received his education at the Tu 5 Wen Kuan College Canton. Previous to being appointed Chinese Minister at Tokyo and President of the Chiness Education Mission in Japan, he held numerous appoint- ments, among others, as Director of the Canton Arsenal, of Railway Construction, and of the Naval School at Whampoa; head of the De partment of Police, Canton; oue of the Becretaries at the Foreign Office, Peking, Secretary of Legation, Tokyo; and has acted as Consul at both Yokohama and Nagasaki. With eleven years' experience of Japan, H.E. Yang has great knowledge of that country to aid him in his new office. The appointment was quite expected, and appears to be very popular among those holding liberal views. His Excellency is no stranger to Hongkong. It will be re- membered that during Prince Chur's visit here last year he came down from Canton as the representative of the Viceroy of the Two Kwang to welcome the Royal visitor.
In the afternoon the Minister called on H. E. Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G., at Government House, afterwards visiting Mr. 8. Noms, Consul for Japan, at his residence, MacDonell Road Later in the day H.E. was the guest of Mr. Fung Wa Chun, with whom he dined.
Amongst those who went on the Tuishun to welcome the Minis'er were Mr. S. Noma; Mr. Hewan Chan Wai Fuu, Manager of the C.M.S.N. Co., Adviser and Representative on Foreign Affairs to H.E, the Provincial Tren- surer of Kwangtung; Mr. Tam Tez Kong. Ex-Consul General to Cubs; Mr. Fang Wa
Chun, and numerous Chinese merchants.
After a short though enjo, able visit, H.E. Yang Chu, sailed by the C.M. Co.'s Taishun at 8 a.m. on the 23rd inst. for Cantou, to which place he has gone to fetch his wife and family, previously to taking up his post in Japan. He will probably return to Hongkong in time to catch the N.Y.K. 8.8. Kuga Maru, which sails on the 6th prox. for the North.
G
It is interesting to hear that H.E. Yang Chu has rather different opiuions to his predecessor in office, H.E. Ts'ai Chun; as to the value of the Chinese Education Mission in Japan. The former Minister had consider. able friction with the students, and, we informed from a reliable source, was not much impressed with their value. On the other hand, H.E. Yang is of opinion that the students in the near future will be extremely useful to China!
are
The death is announced from Tokyo of Dan juro, the greatest Japanese actor of the old
school,
Great oceanic disturbances are reported along the coasts of Japan Atami was threatened with a tidal wave when last news arrived thence, and huge billows, some as much as 50 feet high were rolling in the offing.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE WAVE OF CRIME IN
HONGKONG
-フ
A PLEA FOR THE POLICE.
Crime is so prevalent at present in the Colony, more especially in the island of Hong. kong, that scarcely a day passes but a report is made to the police of some outrage having been committed. The public naturally turn to their protectors, the police, on whom opprobrium is heaped, should the criminals escape and remain uncaptured. While the public, and also the Press, criticise so severely, it might be interest- ing to a few to know :--
1. What are the men composing the police? 2. What training do they receive and 3. What encouragement is given to the men composing the police, to create in them a healthy interest for their work ?
Taking the first question, it is of course known that the bulk of the men composing the police are Indians and (hinese. making allowance for sick and for others
Of Europeans
available for duty. On these men rests the on leave in England-there are barely 100 men
onus of supervising the whole of the police work both Hongkong. The men who do the beat-duties in the New Territory and in in Hongkong are either Indians or Chines3, exceptions-are of a and to these men, whose brains--with a few poor mental order, is Hongkong public. entrusted the property-nay, lives of the
bravery of the Indian constable, and indeed Probably no one will question the loyalty or "Sahib" is a very good man in a rough-and- tumble, but I think it will also be agreed that
he
is but distantly related to *Sherlock Ho'mes or "Dick Donovan." Briefly, the Indian is an equally picturesque and inefficient unit of the police.
At the most his duties should be confined to the controlling of hawkers and traffic. In the
stilly night' boots can be heard from the other end of his the tramp of " Sahib's" big beat, and the nocturnal bearings accordingly.
thief draws his If the boots are not ably asleep somewhere. At the best he moons heard, the chances are that Sahib is comfor-
around his beat in a listless fashion.
His comrade, the Chinese constable, is, if any. thing, a trifle worse. Dismissal from the police has no terrors for him, and he enjoys life squeez- ing his brother Celestial and performing his beat duty in an even worse fashion than the Indian. Of course, there are exceptions, but I speak generally,
It is a positive fact that there are at times only two or three Europeans on night duty in the sections with an average of ten beats on each Central District, who have to superintend six section. In their efforts to keep down expenses, the authorities have long ago withdrawn the Shaukiwan roads. The result is that, at the mounted patrols from the Aberdeen and present time these roads are not safe for law. abiding persons to venture out on alone. If it is an
why not have bicycle patrols as in the British expense to fodder horses, Isles? Outside the initial expenses, the cost would be little and the benefits many.
of the men-the only answer to give is: they Turning to the second question, the training receive nil. If tiring their legs out stamping on a hard concrete compound, in a vain attempt to learn "drill," or sitting in a so-called school- room studying hieroglyphics on a blackboard—- the meaning of which many of the scholars have only a vague inkling of be training, then I have got another name for it. The amount of needless drill the police receive here makes one think of them as soldiers and not as police. For the greater part of the year the men are so harassed with drills, parades, etc., that it is, almost a physical impossibility for them to perform their best daties properly. The writer of this force at home, the efficiency of which was as article served some years in a well-known police good as any in the Kingdom, and there drill was put aside as a minor qualification. | nature.
What training was given was of a useful and exercises performed which the men took a A splendid gymnasium was provided, healthy interest in, and which made them smart and athletic-looking. A school was held for the teaching of police matters and law
only. A library was provided, stooked with dil the books a policeman should read. A Mutnal Improvement Society, with police questions for discussion was held weekly. In Hongkong there is nothing of this. True, there is a staffy little room at the Central Police Station, called a library, which is capable of holding st most seven or eight men, and which contains little literature worth reading except the current newspapers. A canteen is provided which is s questionable benefit. useless drill was devoted to other and better If the time spent in methods of training, the public might then hope for some improvement in the police.
The third and last question is equally hopeless as the foregoing questions have been. The encouragement given to the police to make them. selves efficient in their work is practically nil. An examination is supposed to be held yearly which provides only one prize, however many may compete. The bulk of the marks given are for a knowledge of Cantonese colloqnisl and drill. This is unfair, as men who have been contact with the Chinese, have it all their own in the Army, and men who have had long
way, and there are many of these in the H K.P. The examination held should be solely upon police matters with a prospect of at least three prizes. Otherwise the examination is a farce.
靠求
However, if a knowledge of Chinese is essen ial, what is the reward of the studions bobby"? Let m tell you it is the magnificent sum of $5 monthly! Think of it, ye taipans who luxuriate in your palatial residences at the Peak and elsewhere, and who hurl anathemas at away the exchange compensation on the 85, and, the police. The Government has even taken
as if in derision, promotion is promised to those who acquire a knowledge of languages.
The unravelling of the Colony's crimes is in the hands of the few comprising the Detective Department. The heads of this Department depend mainly on their Chinese assistants for information, not always reliable. There are only two European officers of this Department of the Chinese language and habits. The re- who can be said to possess a working knowledge
maining officers are dependant upon their Chinese assistants.
If the Government would provide proper facilities for the European officers to acquire a knowledge of Chinese, and offer a proper emol- ument, abolish three-fourths of the absurd drill - and provide a gymnasium school where the men could receive proper physical training, likewise establish a school where police questions could be learned and discussed ad lib., "then many of the men would avail themselves of the benefits. It would also help to bring the H.K.P. up to the same standard of efficiency as the police forces in the United Kingdom. In its present structed, and discouraged; and while it remains state the police force is undermanned," unin-
80, so will crime continue to be rampant in this
X: Colony.
THE SUNKEN CHINESE CRUISER
The projected voyage of a survey party" to the wreck of the Chinese cruiser Huan Tai has not yet been definitely arranged. As before lies in about 17 fathoms of water. If salvage intimated in these columns, the sunken cruiser operations are undertaken, it will be for the purpose not of raising the ship but of recovering the specie and rifles on board, amounting to some $1,000,0.0 dollars' worth.
The following official statement regarding the collision was given by Mr. Arthur Piers, general superintendent of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company's steamships, at Montreal
The Empress of India, bound for Hongkong, was passing the Chinese cruiser Huan Tai, both vessels being on parallel courses and going in the same direction. When nearly up to the Chinese orniser, her captain suddenly and without any warning starboarded and came across the bow of the Empress of India. The latter at once manoeuvred into position, which
resulted in the blow from the orniser glancing one, instead of a direct imp cruiser, then sliding aft along the did some damage to the upper latter, but she herself was starboard propeller of the Emp and sank in ninety minutes.
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