霉
386
REGISTRATION OF CHINESE PARTNERSHIPS.
[November 28, 1904.
of the police force in Chinan-fu, the improve- . ment of its streets, the construction of new roads, on foreign model, the reconstitution of a hospital on the foreign plan, the es- tablishment of a Mint, and other schemes, have all been initiated by this energetic administrator. The advent of the railway, which now unites Chinan-fu with Tsingtao, the German colony on the coast, has also taken place during his term of office in Shantung. His desire for progress has
THE HONGKỒNG WEEKLY PRESS AND
man had been a partner they could hold him responsible. Such would no more be the case and that would lead to greater abuses and greater losses than at present. A partner not registere could then draw out all the money from a firm, and if the firm became bankrupt they could not touch him. They could no more inquire ti-en who was a partner." His further argument, however, that there is no such legislation in Great Britain, may be ruled out at once. It is a much easier matter at Home to
not been a mere love of innovation for the sake of its novelty, but a genuine wish identify a partner, and harder to deceive
to promote the advancement of the country the Official Receiver, than it is in the case of Chinese in Hongkong and the Straits. in a material and an educational sense. Iu Hongkong, particularly, as we pointed Unlike the Viceroy CHANG CHIH-TUNG, - out five months ago, it is easy for an His Excellency CHOU FU cares more for absconding.debtor to cross over to China by the real enlightenment of the people than a a thirty cent passage on a Canton steamer, simple development in mechanical arts and
CHOU FU is also - and so be able to laugh defiance at any progress in the art of war, weight of evidence got to prove him partner. less suspicious of and prejudiced again-t The strongest argument affecting us locally foreigners than CHANG CHIH-TUNG appears was advanced by a Mr. J. ARMSTRONG, who, to be. His promotion to one of the princi- Hong.pl viceroyalties in the Empire is therefore referring to our evil plight, said kong is practically the trade port of Canton. a matter of no little significance. It is It would be impossible to register Chinese indicative alike of confidence in him per- partnerships in Hongkong because the sonally. and approval, by the Throne, of the heads of their firs are in Canton." course he has adopted. Moreover, it is a This gentleman also disposed of Mr. proof of appreciation of an honesty and HUTTENBACH'S best point by pinting capacity rarely found combined in a Chinese out that any firm before giving another official. It is only to be regretted that a firm credit, would take into consideration
man so able and so energetic should be who the registered partners of that firm handicapped by infirmities of age and ill were, and would base their credit upon health. CHOU Fu is now seventy years of the registered partners, not the sleeping age, and must necessarily feel the burden partners. Anybody thinking of giving credit of responsibility of the administration of a on the strength of a reputed partner, province somewhat heavy, and the cares of unregistered, would recognise the weak the Liangkiang cannot fail to be greater than those of Shantung. His experience nature of the security, and probably refrain. Mr. A. G. STEPHEN, the thairman of the will, however, it he is assisted by competent Penang Chamber of Commerce, seems to and intelligent officials at Nanking, stand have considered that our "compradore" him in good stead and enable him to in- system should make a difference. It cer- augurate improvements and reforms in his new sphere of labour that may prové of tainly has not helped in any way ameliorate the evil, which we suffer, as we
even greater importance than those initiated We hope that the example have indicated, more than do the Straits in Shantung. ports.
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(Daily Press, 19th November.) The Penang Chamber of Commerce is practically unanimous on the question of the compulsory registration of Chinese partnerships. The members are as much in favour of it as SIR WILLIAM GOODMAN expressed himself and brother judges to be at the beginning of July this year. The wheels of legislation at Hongkong of neces- sity revolve slowly, but we trust that our Legislative Council will not be behind that of Penang in taking effective steps to suppress the troubles so long complained of. The Official Assignee at Singapore has long been persuaded of the necessity of such registration. Only last year, in a report touching every phase of the question, he pointed out how "at present it often happens that the managing partner absconds and the firm's books are not forthcoming; in any case the firm's books are not by themselves sufficient to prove partnership, and in Teowchew accounts usually, in Cantonese accounts very often, the partners are entered under fancy names or designa- tions, and in the accounts of all branches of the Chinese the partner if mentioned by a true name is not mentioned by that name by which he is generally known.' And five months ago, Sir WILLIAM GOOD- MAN explained that among the Chinese of means there are many who wish to limit their liability to the amount of their share in the business. They dislike being liable for unknown amounts resulting from the contracts which the ma aging partner may enter into on behalf of the hong, and as, under British law, all partners are liable for the debts of the firm, when they wish to evade this obligation they take care that their names shall not openly appear as partners, even in cases where their friends Enow that they are really partners having shares in the business, and oa that ground are more ready to give credit to the firm. In case the firm should become insolvent, such persons probably honestly believe that they have discharged all the obligations imposed by integrity and commercial morality if the share they have contributed goes towards meeting the liabilities of the firm. They feel practically secure against further liability because the great IN PRAISE OF H, E. CHOU FU. difficulty of proving them legally to be partners. Such is the view I entertain from
(Daily Press, 21st November.) the experience I have gained in this Colony Really good and at the same time pro- from the uumerous cases of disputed part-gressive officials are rare, and when found, ne. ship which have come before myself and should, as Mr. CUTTLE was wont to say, be other judges in the courts of law." This is made a note of. The people of Shantung obviously a most good-natured view to take
are feeling sore and sorry at the recent of the disappearing partner's line of busi- promotion of His Excellency CHOU FU, the ness; but however much we may sympathise Governor of that province, to be Viceroy of with his natural disinclination to risk un.
the Liangkiang, H.E. CHOU Fu bas not limited liability, the Chinese investor, en- only made himself beloved by the natives, joying the profits of a lucrative business, is but he has earned the goodwill of foreigners legally and morally bound to face the other in Shautung by his friendly demeanour, possibility when the contra account super his progressive tendencies, and his readiness venes. Evasion of that liability is dis- at all times to listen to all reasonable re-
China man thinks honest, whether the
presentations. He has also been quite a so or not; and no point of view that hospitable Governor, frequently entertain- decides otherwise has any righting foreigners, and always exhibiting a fine to consideration, The one dissentient at courtesy, rare in Chinese officials, to those Penang, a Mr. A. HUTTENBACH, did not who have had occasion to meet him on argue this point, of course. He was against business CHOU has only held the post of the proposal simply because he thought Governor of Shantung since 1902, but in compulsory registration would be ineffectual
that brief period he has, in spite of rather to secure the rights of creditors. He argued feeble health, shown much energy, and con- somewhat plausibly that "to register siderable progress has been apparent under partnerships and only hold registered part his rule. The new Military School, the hers henceforth liable would not give us Provincial College, the Norinal School, the more security for outstandings. Considera. Agricultural College, and a new college tion would show that it would have the for the instruction of the sons of expectant other effect--that it would give less security, officials, have all received attention at his because at present if they could show that a hands, while simultaneously the reformation
of
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In passing, we may mention that Mr. STEPHEN is reported to have said that "us Mr. HUTTENBACH had not moved any direct negative, he would put the resolution." Does Chamber of Commerce procedure at Penang permit members to move negatives"?
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set by this veteran official will prove infec- tious, and that it will find many imitators. There is room in China for many CHOU Fo's. Men of this type will prove infinitely more helpful to progress than a host of brilliant self-seekers like the late LI HUNG- CHANG, or even of the well-meaning but · somewhat erratic CHANG CHIH-TUNG. For- tunately for the maintenance of the inde- penilence of China, La HUNG-CHANG has been gathered to his ancestors, and trust has left no successor to advocate a similar venal and traitorous_policy_to_that enunciated in his letter to YUNG LU. different school of mandarins now occupy the more prominent positions in the State. With the exception of SHENG, few of them seem to care to tread in the tortuous ways They are affected by LI HUNG-CHANG. less subtile in their intercourse with the
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Foreign Representatives, perhaps, but we will hope they are less reidy to sell their country to the highest bidder. Certainly mea like CHANG CHIH TUNG and CHOU FU are not to be tempted by gold, and not easily to be moved by pressure. It is to be hoped that the coming men will follow in the footsteps of these officials, and not seek to emulate the tactics or accept the specious. advice of the former Grand Secretary.
The adjourned case in which the Tramway Company took action against one of their con- ductors for the embezzlement of two cents came on for hearing before Mr. F. A. Haze-
land at the Police Court on Monday. His Worship foun 1 the defendant guilty and sen- tnced him to four months hard labour and six In view of this sentence a num- hours stocks
ber of motormen and tram conductors struck work, and Europeans in the employ of the Company had to run the cars to Causeway Bay
last night.
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