164
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
(6th March.)
I am not a little astonished to notice that the discussion which took place at the annual meet- ing of the Chamber of Commerce last week has not produced a solitary letter in the newspapers pointing out that the obvious leason to be learnt from the state of things depicted in the speech of the Hon. Mr. Gershom Stewart is that we ought to have representative government in the Colony. In the history of Hongkong how many petitions signed by almost every Britisher in the Colony have been dispatched to the Colonial Office in London demanding, or rather asking to be given "a really effective voice in the management of the Colony's affairs, external or internal" p I have culled the words within the quotation marks from a petition sent in 1894, Then, I see, the British community also subscrib. ed to the declaration that "the prosperity of the colony can best be maintained only by the continuance of Hongkong as a free port.'
we
have
bat
the
The discussion at the Chamber of Commerce meeting raises both these questions, for the Chamber of Commerce is naturally anxions to know how Mr. Chamberlain's scheme of Fiscal Reform is likely to affect the trade interests of this port. Though we have had a so-called plebescite on the Fiscal Question among British subjects in the Colony, and Mr. Chamberlain's proposals have been thereby approved,!
nothing vaguest assumption to go upon as to the bearing of the reform on the trade of this port. The topographical fact that Hongkong is situated within the waters of China was the raison detre for the declaration of the freedom of the port, and the strict and vigorous mainten- ance of that freedom caused Chinese trade to gravitate from Canton to Hongkong. The ques- tion for consideration is whether any re- strictions placed now upon foreign commerce in this port will tend to divert any part of this trade. Until, however, we know exactly how Mr. Chamberlain's scheme would affect us, speculation along these lines had better be deferred
But there is one aspect of this question I
#
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[March 11, 1905.
protection that like goods made in England | to pay their fee by the 21st of the first month would receive.
in each_quarter.
The annual exodus of residonts from the Colony to the Homeland has already commenced, and as about every sixth man or woman que meets talks about his or her impending depar ture, one gains the impression that the exodus this Spring will be larger than usual. With this flight a few years ago used to be associated a crowd of auctions of household furniture, and But times quite a plethora of houses to let. have changed. A family v ith a desirable house is unwilling now to part with it. If the lease has well-nigh expired, the wary resident sees to it that it is renewed, and lets it furnished dur- ing his absence from the Colony whether his holiday be for six months or for twelve or even longer. He thus makes certain that when he returns he will have a house to go into. There are many
married couples in the Colony who are anxious to start housekeeping, but find their purses will not run to the rents now asked for "desirable residences." A former resident in the Colony, noticing these complaints, draws attention to the fact that at a public auction recently a house was sold at a figure which at 7 per cent, gives a rental of $100 a month, and another at a figure which on the same basis gives a monthly rental of $62. The actual rent of the first, I am told, was $180 a month, and of the second $100. The moral is obvious,
Anyone who has recently taken a walk over the hills on the Kowloon side, beyond the old city, will have noticed that some very decent roads are being made. I presume that they have been made primarily for military purposes, but they will serve at the same time to make those hills more attractive to the pedestrian who loves a good ramble while the temperature is comfortably cool.
BANYAN
HONGKONG SANITARY
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held in the Board Room on March 7th. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (President) presided, and there were also present the Hon. Mr. P. N. H.
Brewin Col. W. E. Webb. R.A.M.C. Mr. A. Ramjahn, Dr. F. Clark. Dr. H. Macfarlane, Dr. F. Grüne, Dr. Pearse, Mr. F. J. Badeley and Mr. T. A. Hanmer (Secretary).
The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.
THE ANNUAL REPORT.
The annual reports of the M.O.H., Sanitary Surveyor, and Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, for 1904, were laid on the table.
have never heard touched upon in recent dis-Jones (Vice-President), the Hon. Mr. A. W. cussions, formal or informal. Has the Govern- ment any moral right to change the free character of this, port ? Mind, I am not arguing one way or the other, but simply putting forward a point which may be raised on the side of "free trade." After the signature of the Treaty of Nanking by which the island of Hongkong was formally ceded to Great Britain, cir H. Pottinger, the Minister Plenipotentiary, stated in writing to a com- mittee of British merchants that the British Government holding Hongkong could not in any way disadvantageously affect the external commerce of China, because the English Govern: ment had no intention of levying any kind of duties there," and that " Hongkong Wes merely to be looked upon as a sort of bonded warehouse in which merchants could deposit their goods in safety until it should suit their purposes to send them to a port or place in China for sale." This has been taken to indi.
cate that the free-port character of Hongkong was the preliminary understanding on which the cassion of Hongkong was based. Dr. Eitel in a historical sketch of the Colony written some years ago argued from this that the future discontinuance or continuance of the free- dom of the port of Hongkong is therefore by no means an open question left to the discretion of the Colonial or Imperial British Govern- ments, but that we are bound to maintain the freedom of the port from all export or import duties of any sort. I disagree with this view on In the first place the more grounds than one. Nanking Treaty, like all other British Treaties with China, contains a most-favoured-nation clause, and I presume that this gives the British Government the same right to impose Customs charges here as the French possess in Indo-China, and Germany at Kiaochow. An- other point is that Hongkong now-a-days is not entirely of a bonded-warehouse character but is a manufacturing centre and it would, I take it, be within the competence of the Govern ment to afford local manufactures the same
ANTHRAX AT KENNEDY TOWN CATTLE
DEPOT.
case of
Mr. Adam Gibson, the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, reported as follows:-A anthrax occurred in the Kennedy Town Cattle Depôt on the night of the 20th February There is every possibility of the disease having been contracted in the Cattle Depot. The animal, a Chinese bullock, was found dead by the Inspector when the depots were opened in the morning; it was the only one in the shed.
A PEAK NUISANCE ABATED.
Dr. Gröne reported that the condition of the urinal at the Peak, behind the chair-coolie shelter, which was complained
Mr. E. A. by satisfactory and the water-supply in order.
of
is Hewett,
MINUTE BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL,
now
The Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin, Registrar General, minuted-There is great defficulty in food outside the market to pay their fees within getting the holders of licences for the sale of reasonable time after the commencement of each quarter and I shall never be able to obtain prompt payment unless delay is punished by withdrawal of the licence. In the markets there are 9.) holdings, and all rents are paid by the 8th of the month. Anyone who fails twice has his licence cancelled. This rule had only to be enforced once or twice. There is now no difficulty in collecting rents in time. I suggest the same rule for these licences. The Board might, after due warning, cancel licences of all holders who have failed twice
•
The PRESIDENT-I think that after receiving such notice the fees will be paid.
The Registrar General's proposal was car-
ried.
APPLICATION FROM HUNGHON.
With respect to an application for a modifica tion of the requirements in respect of Nos. 104 to 122, Market Street, Hunghom. the Registrar General minuted: Refuse. The M.O.H I understand, is against granting modifications in such cases.
Mr. H. E. Pollock minuted :—Grant.
Mr. A. Rumjaha minuted:-Grant. The Hon. Registrar General has misunderstood the recommendation of the M.OH. adopted by the Board, the recommendation being that if the space in the rear is equal to one third of the height of these buildings modification would be granted.
The matter, having been submitted to the Attorney General for an opinion, was deferred.
A MODIFICATION OF THE REQUIREMENTS.
An application for a modification of the requirements, the applicant desiring to erect a latrine in the back-yard of No. 105, Queen's Road West, was granted.
A CONDITIONAL EXEMPTION..
Having reference to an application for a modification of the balcony regulations in respect of nine houses of Marine lot 224 Dr. Clark recommended that the proposed scheme be accepted on condition that lanes, a part of the property, be handed over to the Government to be used as scavenging lanes for all time.
The Registrar General minuted :—Is there any question of exemption from providing a scavenging lane?
Mr. H. E. Pollock minuted :-I agree with the M. O. H.
This application, subject to the approval of H.E. the Governor in Council, was approved on the conditions recommended by Dr. Clark,
A FEATHER CURING ESTABLISHMENT,
An application for Nos. 152, 154 and 156, Reclamation Street, Mongkok, to be registered as a feather curing establishment was granted conditionally.
- THE SALE OF FOOD.
Applications respecting the sale and prepara- tion of food were treated.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
reported that from analyses in February water Mr. Frank Browne, Government Analyst, from the various public supplies was found to be of excellent quality.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The mortality statistics, for the week ending the 11th February showed the following figures, death rate per 1,000 per annum :-British and foreign civil community, 13.3; previous week, 14.4; corresponding week last year, 15.3. Chinese community, 13.6; previous week, 12.6; corres- ponding week last year, mortality statistics, the Colony has been free of plague for twelve days.
The
"
12 3.
PRESIDENT-With reference to the
LIMEWASHING.
ended the 28th February showed that 4,356 The limewashing return for the fortnight houses were treated in the Eastern District.
BAT RETURN,
The rat return for the week ended the 4th March showed that 523 rats, including 19 infected, were caught in Victoria; and 263, including 15 infected, in Kowloon
FAREWELL TO DR. ATKINSON.
At the conclusion of the business at on Mar. 7th Sanitary Board meeting, Colonel Webb said:-If I am in order I should like to make I think the Board should be informed that this a few remarks before the closing of the meeting. will probably be the last time that Dr. Atkinson will sit as president before going home on leave; and I am sure the members will cordially assist with me in wishing you a good voyage and the pleasant holiday which you deserve, for the courtesy and consideration you have always shown us during the term you have presided at our meetings. There have frequently been conflicts on matters before the Board, but by tactful and wise leading, the members have been always brought to the correct eonelusion. I wish you good healtă,
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