Noremter 19, 1904.J
CHINA OVĚŘLAND TRADE REPORT.
PALACE INTRIGUE AT PEKING. I that he will be hedged with such restrictions
(Daily Press, 17th November. How potent Palace influences still are in the Chinese capital is well illustrated by a story told in our Shanghai morning contem. porary by a native contributor. A certain Foreigu Minister having recently presented the EMPEROR and EMPRESS DOWAGER each with a suit of foreign clothing, the latter, who no doubt shares with all daughters of Eve an inborn curiosity and interest in matters touching apparel, wished very much to try on the dress presented to her. In pursuance of this expressed desire, Her Majesty was proceeding to her room to don it, when the chief eunuch of the Palace, LI LIEN-YING, suddenly dropped on his knees and kowtowed before her. The EMPRESS-DOWAGER, struck by this unex- pected action, inquired the meaning thereof, when the eunuch promptly replied that it would "be degrading to the majesty and pomp
vested in the persou of the Ruler of the Empire to wear any clothes but those decreed by Her Majesty's Imperial pre- decessors." The EMPRESS treated the matter laughingly, and pooh-poohed the eunuch's objections, which she characterised a's "womanish and lacking in intelligence"; but the eunuch was not to be thus put off. He went on banging his head on the floor with vehemence, and declared that he would continue the operation until he had scattered his brains out unless Her Majesty aban- doned her intention of trying on the Western innovation. His pertinacity had the derired effect, for the EMPRESS even- tually
her orders that gave
foreign dress should be carefully put up with her wardrobe; but she refrained from wearing it, laughingly remarking to her attendants that it was hardly worth any
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THE KOWLOON FERRY SYSTEM.
369
stances, a inatter for regret. A company which undertakes to expend a large amount of capital on a public improvement such as the Wharf and Godown Company have in band may legitimately look to the Govern ment to secure them from a competition which, while it lasted, would render their enterprise absolutely unremunerative if it did not involve serious financial loss. As things are, we very much doubt whether the Company will see in the immediate future a satisfactory return for the ex- change they have made with the Govern- ment and the expenditure tlie new Mr. RUMJAHN's syndicate work entails.
8 rvice from Ward-
as will effectually impede him in any schemes he might cherish for a drastic re- form. in the administration. Unless His Majesty, on the decease of the EMPRESS DowAGER, breaks free from barem bonds, and in conjunction with a reforming Minister, establishes an entirely new order of things in the capital, it is in the last degree impro- bable that any sweeping measure of reform will be inaugurated, and it is much more likely that, weary of kicking against the pricks, the EMPEROR-Who is not by any neans a strong man-will quietly fall in with the views of those about him, and promote such small changes only as may proposed to work a seem likely to be accepted by the Grandley Street to Kowloon Point, a service which, Council. KWANG SO is not of the stuff as the Government were well aware at the that revolutionary reformers are made of time they favourably received the proposal, He has not the energy to persevere or the would directly compete with the Star strength to bear down opposition. In the Ferry Company's plans and would in- hands of a determined Grand Secretary he evitably delay the urgently desired would prove a useful and pliant instrument, improvements outlined above. In a war but he is incapable of carrying into effect his of rates the Star Ferry Company, backed own projects of reform, much less those of by the Godown Company, would have another. It is therefore sincerely to be a great advantage, for it has to be borne in hoped that when the EMPRESS-DOWAGER mind that over 60 per cent. of the traffic is gives place, a really enlightened and capable connected with the business of the Wharf Minister may come forward who will be able Company. Though the complaint · has to control the destinies of the Empire and frequently been heard that the first-class at the same time prove to his Imperial single fare (15 cents) is excessive, it may master a guide, philosopher, and friend. be pointed out that this is a charge which Such a statesman has yet to be discovered. need only affect visitors to the port who will not see any hardship in paying that sum for the journey across the harbour, Re- gular passengers can obtain monthly season (Daily Press, 18th November.)
tickets at a cost of $5, enabling them to Mention has been inade recently from time cross and re-cross ns many times as they to time in our news columns of the inten-like; while residents who have only occasional tion on the part of the Hongkong & Kowloon use of the ferry may obtain for $2.50 a Wharf and Godown Coupany, in association punch-ticket enabling them to make with the Star Ferry Company, to divert the twenty-five trips at a cost of 10 cents each. ferry traffic at Kowloon to a point further For six or seven years past Chinese pas. one's while to “smash his skull for a trivial west. The decision originated out of a desire sengers have been carried by the Star Ferry thing like that." Even the iron-willed to keep the ferry traffic free from the in- Company at a cost of one ceut each EMPRESS-DOWAGER is, it would seem, conveniences of the wharf work, and no
On the score of charges, therefore, there is amenable to the menaces of a privileged one will dispute the fact that in the interests really no room for serious complaint. No- servant like LI LIEN-YING. It is not stated of the public safety this diversion of the other Company, we venture to think, coull whether the Emperor KWANG SU tried traffic is exceedingly desirable. With this carry on a remunerative and equally efficient service at lower rates. There is, however, his gift on or not, but he would pro-object in view the Godown Company some bably not come so closely in contact with
another matter to be considered in connec- the Palace major.domo.
tion with a ferry service, namely its advan- tages in the niatter of assisting a much- desired distribution of the Chinese popula- of the Company's godowns in order to tion. We cannot see that Mr. RUMJAHN'S make a thoroughfare from the new wharves proposal would materially help in that to Robinson Road. This work, we under-direction, any more than the Star Ferry- stand, involves an expenditure on the part Company's service has resulted in creating of the Godown Company amounting to not a large workmen's centre in Teim-shat-sui. less than $125,000. Consequently it was Any Company which bases its hopes entirely with no little concern that the shareholders. on the creation and development of a of the Company learnt from a paragraph traffic to Chinese suburbs is doned to dis- which appeared in the Daily Press three appointment and failure. While touching- weeks ago that a syndicate had been formed on this subject, however, we may remind the with the object of starting another ferry public and the Government that if the Star service in competition with that of the Star Ferry Company has not done as much in that Ferry Company. While we may consider it direction as may be desired they are not tọ scarcely likely that the competing service be held. entirely to blame. A a matter of would be a remunerative one, as a war of fact publicity has long since been given to rates would immediately commence, it would the fact that the Star Ferry Company have certainly have the effect of either indefinitely in view two circular routes, starting from delaying the improvements about to be under- Ice House Street wharf, one to run via taken in connection with the present service, Kowloon Point to Yaumati and back vin or indefinitely postponing the prospect of West Point; and the other via Kowloon seeing any n turn to the shareholders for the Point to Hunghom (extending later
time ago effected an exchange of land with the Government and adopted a scheme in- The incident is trivial in itself, but it volving not only the building of new ferry serves to show, as straws indicate the direc-wharves, but also the demolition of certain tion of a current, that Palace influences in Peking are still forces to be reckoned with, In all times,. during both the present and past dynasties, the Palace has often practi- cally controlled events of high political importance. Moreover, its influence has almost invariably been opposed to all change, and if a sovereign has at times risen superior to and in advance of his onvironment, great efforts, resulting in a -eubal, not infrequently a conspiracy, have been put forth against the Ministers advis ing the monarch. The Emperor KWANG SU made a bold bid for freedom from Palace tyranny, but his effort was ill-timed and resulted in a signal defeat, fatal to bis power and almost fatal to his existence. His Majesty was reduced to something less than a cipher; he was permitted to exist as a name, but was not allowed to reign, much less to rule. What will happen when the
6
way-
If
strong-minded and unscrupulous but ad- $125,000 about to be spent. Those who Kowloon City) and back to Wancha¡ to
mittedly able woman who at present holds the reins lays them down it is difficult to say, but it is unlikely that the Emperor Kwang Su will be given a free hand. There seems to be a tendency in the mind of the EMPRESS DOWAGER to wards a measure of progress and reform, and it is reported that she allows the recluse Emperor more liberty than formerly both of speech and action; but if he is restored to the supreme authority it is to be feared
regard the question from this point of view the Government had fully appreciated its must have read with unmixed satisfaction responsibility in respect of the overcrowd- the announcement by Mr. RUMJAN in the ing of the city and actively exerted itself to Daily Press of the 5th just that the pro- promote a distribution of the population, posed new service had been abandoned this circular ferry service, which would because the Colonial Government had im- amply meet the requirements, would posed "additional stipulations" which in have long since been running. During the opinion of the promoters would prevent the administration of Sir HENRY BUAKE this Company sought to come to some 3⁄4airɑnge- the scheme becoming a financial success.
The fact that the Government entertainedment with the Governinent in regard to this extended service whereby they would the proposal at all is, under the circum.
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