000
CHINA ASSOCIATION.
HONGKONG BRANCH ANNUAL MEETING.
The annual meeting of the Hongkong Branch of the China Association was held on the 17th inst. in the Chamber of Commerce Room, City Hall, Mr. R. C. Wil- cox (Chairman) presided, and there were also present Messrs. G. W. F. Playfair, D. R. Law, H. E. Tomkins, A. G. Wood, E. S. Whealler and C. Pemberton (hon, secretary), committee; Messrs. G. L. Tomlin,, A. Forbes, G. H. Dunn, Hon. Gershom Stewart, Messrs. J. R. Michael, H. E. R. Hunter, Murray Stewart, A. J. Raymond, G. C. Moxon, C. H.Thompson, W. G. Humphreys, and E. W. Mitchell.
The HON. SECRETARY read the notice call ing the meeting.
are
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
of being able to ascend the river to that point in flat-bottomed light draft stern-wheel steamers, at any rate for a portion of the year. At the same time it cannot be denied that the accounts of those who have as- cended the river from Wuchow to Nanning agree in describing the country as poor, thinly populated, and only partially cultivated even where cultivable. Of infinitely more importance to this Colony would be the opening of Waichow as a Treaty Port. This city is the chief centre of trade on the East River and lies in the midst of a fertile and populous country. It is accessible by a good native road or path from the head of Mirs Bay, and it could easily be placed in railway communication with Kowloon, by way of Shamchun and Shekloong. In December last your Committee addressed a letter on this sub- ject to the London Office, who forwarded it on The CHAIRMAN said Gentlemen,-I pro- to the Foreign Office. A reply has come to hand, pose with your leave that the report and since the report was printed, in which it is statement of accounts be taken as read. pointed out that His Majesty's Government Before addressing myself to the business can hardly press for this concession as it of the day, I desire, on behalf of the formins part of the consideration to be granted Committee, to express our great regret at by the Chinese Government in return for the circumstances that have placed me in the the payment of the surtax under Art. VIII. chair to-day. I allude to the enforced resig of the Treaty of 1902, but that the British nation by Mr. Playfair of the Chairmanship Minister at Peking will be requested to urge owing to the affection of his eyesight. This is upon the Chinese Ministers the desirability I am glad to say, much improved already, of opening the port without further delay but he will need to be careful for some time unless he is of opinion that there is no not to tax it unnecessarily, and has given likelihood of their entertaining the proposal. us plainly to understand that he will not be I trust that the Chinese Government will able to resume the duties he discharged so prove to be more inclined to promote progress efficiently. I am sure we are all very much than has hitherto been the case, since it indebted to Mr. Playfair for the able is evident that the concession must be manner in which he has conducted the voluntary on their part-at least for the business of the Association during a present. Important 28 the opening of period of a year and a half. (Applause.) Waichow is likely to prove to Hongkong, do not wish to inflict a long speech however, the question pales into insignificance upon you, but there
some points beside that of the construction of the Kow- in the Committee's report upon which loon-Canton Railway. (Applause.) It was T propose to touch and to which, owing to fondly imagined when the concession for this receipt of advices from London since it was
project was obtained some five or six years ago compiled, I can add some particulars. I see Lord Percy says it was signed on the would first, however, like to record our 28th March, 1899) by a British Syndicate indebtedness to Mr. James Scott, our late that steps would promptly be taken to carry Consul-General at Canton, for the unfailing it into effect. These anticipations have not courtesy which has always marked his rela- been fulfilled. The Syndicate with un- tions with the Association and the sleepless accountable apathy have kept their talent energy with which he guarded British | wrapped in a napkin, until public opinion interests. (Hear, hear.) We only hope both here and in the United Kingdom has that the Association will find in the future found earnest expression against their delay equally able, equally zealous, and equally and even the Chinese (with whom procrasti- patriotic coadjutors among the members nation is a second nature) are asking why if of the British Consular staff. (Applause) the Syndicate did not mean to utilise it they The British Representatives in Kwang troubled to obtain the concession. Our late tung can do much to serve British interests Governor, Sir Henry Blake, spoke out most if they are not too closely wedded to red tape, impressively on this subject, when bidding and can help the Association most effectively the community farewell, and your Committee if they are so inclined. Mr. Scott took that have not failed to follow up his suggestions. course, and the Association found it a pleasure When writing on the subject of the to work with him. British trade in the Two opening of Waichow, the question of railway Kwang is always menaced, more or less, by communication gone into at some insidious attempts on the part of the native length, and a suggestion made for some sub officials to hamper it by imposing new duties sidy, grant, or guarantee for that portion of or creating fresh obstructions. Thanks to the line passing through British territory. the prompt measures taken by Mr. Scott Copies of this letter were also handed to the and Sir Ernest Satow several such attempts Colonial Government and to the British and were defeated last year. Further simi-Chinese Corpora ion, by whom it is now being lar attempts to create fresh sources of revenue for hungry mandarins will assuredly be made, and it is necessary for our Consular Authorities to be constantly on the alert, and for this Association to be equally vigilant to warn, to aid, or to back up their representations. Since our last meeting we have scored an important success in securing the opening of eight new ports of cal on the West River, which has led to a considerable development of trade on that waterway. Kongmoon was also opened to foreign trade on the 7th in st. and excellent results may be expected to result from that concession. So far, Nanning, on the West River, which was to have been made a treaty port, has not been opened, and the British Government appear to be in some doubt whether this concession is worth pressing for, probably because it is not as yet accessible by steamer. I think, however, that the position of Nanning as a distributing centre and the head of the junk traffic on the West River, makes it of sufficient importance to justify agitation for its eventual constitution as a treaty port, and it is too early yet to abandon the idea'
[March 21, 1904.
ly the grave violation of the King's
involved in sovereignty
the ruthless murder of the schoolmaster, Yeung Kue Man, in Gage Street in September, 1900, the facts of which were disclosed at the trial of one of the assassins last May in the Su preme Court, you will observe by the appendix that the Committee did not fail to make rep- resentations on the subject, through the London Office, to the Imperial Govern-
No answer has, BO ment.
far, been received from the Foreign Office, but we hear from the Colonial Government that the question is still engaging attention, and that the Government may be relied upon to take proper action in the circumstances. The Committee hope therefore that such steps have been taken as will prevent the repetition of acts that are calculated, while lowering British prestige, to terrorise the native population of this Colony and cause them to lose confidence in the protective power of the British flag. On the question of the main- tenance of Foreign Post. Offices in China, some correspondence has passed, and we have made strong recommendations that, while deprecating a resort to the methods adopted · by France in opening Post Offices where there are practically no French interests, the British Government should not surrender any sign or symbol of authority or influence® in China unless other Powere were prepared to follow suit. Curiously enough, we have since received advices from the London Office stating that on this question they had again addressed the Foreign Office, suggesting that the Hongkong postage stamps should be surcharged with the names of the Treaty Ports just as the French have done with the Indo-China stamps. This is the action we deprecated, and we thought we had been very explicit in the matter. You will see by the cor- respondence that we have been. The continu- ed 'occupation of Newohwang by the Russian authorities, and their interference with the trade of that port has led to the interchange of much correspondence, and excited a great deal of just indignation on the part of those engaged in trade with this Chinese Treaty Port. Idonot propose to travel over the ground again, for time will not permit. The Association has protested, the Chambers of Commerce have protested, the Foreign Office have pro- tested, but so far with no result beyond the receipt of suave assurances from the Russian Government. The latest of these, received by Lord Lansdowne on the 8th January, was quoted in the House of Commons by Earl Percy on the 8th ult., and is to the following effect:-"In order to prevent all misunder- "standing and misconstruction, Russia co- "siders it indispensable, independently of the "conditions which will in the future defin..te'y "determine the character of her relations "with Manchuria, to declare from this day "forth that she has no intention whatever of "placing any obstacle in the way or the "continued enjoyment by Foreign Powers of "the rights acquired by them in virtue of the "Treaties now in force." If only we could repose any trust in such assurances! Unfor considered. I hope they will consider it to tunately we have listened too often to similar good purpose. You will observe in to-day's utterances, which are made apparently for These tactics Daily Press a telegram stating that the Ger- one purpose to gain time. man railway has been opened to Tsinanfu. precipitated hostilities if they did not cause When that struggle comes What the Germans do we ought to be the present war. able to do. I understand that the Colonial to an end it will be the duty of the Treaty Government have made representations on the Powers to see that their rights in Manchurian subject to Downing Street, and I note that Treaty ports are secured, and that no inter- Earl Percy (Under Secretary for Foreign ference with Chinese control is permitted in the Affairs), replying to a question on the subject future. (Applause) I regret to have to in the House of Commons on the 10th inst.,.record that on the important matter of the stated that the matter was receiving very careful attention from the Governinent. But while there are these reassuring indications that the question is at last receiving some attention, it will not do for this Association to rest on their cars and be satisfied. It will be necessary to watch this matter ceaselessly and never lose an opportunity of pressing for immediate action. The colonists of Hong- kong cannot afford to accept mere assurances on a subject so vitally affecting their interests; they should never rest content until they see the tunnels being driven through the Kowloon hills, and the track being laid from the Kow- loon terminus. (Applause.) Turning to another question of local interest, name-
was
currency in China no progress has been made during the past year. The Peking Govern- ment have engaged to put their currency on a proper basis, and it is most decide- their interest to do so; but in dly in this, as in everything in China, delay just be expected. As you will remember, in January we despatched a telegram to Mr. Chamberlain expressing oursympathy with his efforts to bring about a reform in the fiscal tariff so as to obtain something more like reciprocal treatment of British products and manu- factures by for sign States. That telegram was followed up by a letter, which is publish- ed in the appendix to the report before you. We took advantage of the occasion to point
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