400
4.
(
4
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Owing to the cheapness of raw cotton, the local cotton mill company seems to have done a most profitable business; and various other industries were taking good shape, As some indication of Hankow's importance, it may be mentioned that in the year under review the business community included 114 foreign firms, of which 82 were British, 25 German, 18 Japanese, 12 American, and 27 various. The consulates now register well over two thousand foreign residents,
OPIUM.
(Daily Press, 1st June.)
future good reports, we are reminded; will largely depend upon how much further the depreciation of the copper-currency is to continue. However, as the most authentic returns providing an objective indication of the ebb and flow of trade with Chin, there is no need to emphasise unduly the point that conclusions drawn from them should not be too hasty. The data now offered are that the net value of the trade was Tls. 111,048,006, as compared with Tla. 107, 449,374 in 1904, and Tis. 99,129,500 in 1903, whioll figures at least seem to show progress in the right direction. The net imports, direct and: við Shanghai, were 53.8 million taals (six millions being native) as against 44.4 It would puzzle the most imaginative of millions in 1904 and 48.4 millions in 1903. men to conceive what special interest the These figures include the value of copper people of Canada-ean have in the question imported for minting purposes, however, of the opium trade in China. The recent and it is by deducting that that the protest which has been made at Ottawa on diminution is shown. The" figures then this well-worn ̈ subject is a curious read 38.3 million taels, which is three illustration of the tendency of each part of million taels less than in the previous year, the British Empire to interfere with the and 4.3 millions less than in 1903. A affairs of some other part, which is the decrease of local exports is also recorded, idea which a large number of persons although these were better than in 1908; apparently entertain of what constitutes the figures are: 1905, 57.2 million taols; imperial unity.
This very
extended 1904, 68 millions; and 1908, 55.7 millions. sympathy may be interesting as showing The deductions made for minting imports the degree to which oue portion of the reduce the net value figures to 95.5 Empire identifies itself with every other, million taels for the year, against 104.3 | but it certainly has some inconveniences millions in 1904, and 98.3 millions in 1903, in a practical point of view, and is apt to which of course modify the progress in the make some people exclaim, "Save me from right direction previously remarked upon. my friends". Of course that is to Business was considerably restricted by particular reason why the good people of native lankruptcies, the causes of which are Canada should not indulge in a little piece not stated, but which we may guess to have of sentimentalism, any more than that that been largely injudicious war speculations: amusement should be prohibited to the In view of these special circumstances, there public at home, but at least the latter, as seems no reason yet for the believers in being responsible for imperial concerns, are Hankow's future to change their minde. minding their own business while the The Chamissioner says, 'On the whole, former are simply interfering in a matter from a profit yielding standpoint, the export which in no way concerns them. A great trade with foreign countries seems to have advantage which a 'Colony like Canada been as remunerative as in past years, if possesses in regard to this quest ou is not more so; the falling off has been all in indeed its being completely ignorant of its tea to Russia, raw cottou to Japan, and true bearing. There is nothing which is rice to southern ports." Adulteration more advantageous in certain discussions threatens to kill the growing oil industry, than ignorance of facts. The man who is otherwise a promising export. The boycott acquainted with them may hesitate to utter made no headway at all, although "what high sounding platitudes which even to appeared to be paid speakers and agitators make a good case, but the energetic from other provinces addressed a number orator who gets his facts from his of " semi-political and anti-foreign meet- imagination cau enlarge upon a pet theme iugs. On top of this, American piece to any extent that suits his fancy. We goods showed na-startling increase ".
44
11
The writer of this report does not appear to bear out Mr. MORSE's theory regarding the coinage of copper; at Hankow, at all events, copper ten-cash pieces were minted in incredible quantities, "without regard to the demand?. And he says, “ the conse quence of this unrestricted flooding of the province with these copper tokens has been a rapid depreciation of their value", until a hundred (nominally worth a thousand cash) could be bought at the end of 1905 for 62 candarins, Hunkow sycee, instead of 88 candarins, the rute at the beginning of the year. He mentions as "a further consequence", although it would seem merely the same situation expressed in other terms, that there has been a general rise in the price of necessarica. It may be that at Hankow and other places the minting was more reckless, and that Mr. MORSE's denial was based on the average output for the Empire, so far as it could be ascertained. In any case, the mixed testimony is rather confusing, coming from man who are in a position to be well informed: It is interesting enough to be here recorded that CHANG CHIH-TUNG'S first tael coins were struck on January 19th of last year, especially if it be true that this tael is to be adopted as the standard when the currency is rotormed, and upised
X
all know what can can be asserted on the subject of opium. It has been said a hundred times and as often refuted; but the same excitement is renewed whenever there appears to be the slightest chance of once more obtaining a hearing. It may te surmised that the agitation in Cannda bas been induced to some extent by the advent to power of the Liberal Government, who seem wonderfully ready to listen to fanciful grievances from abroad, and to interfere in every direction where it is possible for them to do so.
F
The plain facts with regard to the opium question are by this time so well known that the wonder is that anyone should have thought of raising up this old ghost in the present day. The question as between great Britain and China has never been anything other than a iscal one. It has been conclusively shown that opium was habitually and generally used in China long before we had anything to do with the country; it is an incontestible fact that the poppy is grown over large districts in China, so that, if Indian opium were not imported, the only result would be that there would be more brought from the Levant, and more Chinese grown opium consumed. This has been the reply, which has been brought forth time after time when the same kind of fireworks as those,
|
་
[June 2, 1906,
expended in Ottawa have been abeurality of giving up a large trade and the large revenue which is derived from opium by the dian Government, when the practical result would be nothing, bas been generally accepted as a sufficient teply; to the anti-opium arguments, especially as incidentally it is usually shown that the pernicious effects of opium upon the Chinese, are greatly exaggerated, andl that they do not approach to the harm done at home by the sale of intoxicating liquors, from which the Home Government. also derives a large revenue. It is time, this old opium bugoçar were ouce and for all done away with; as the same discussion over and over agnia is becoming a little monotonous.
1
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
Council was held on May 31st in the Council A meeting of the Hongkong. Tegislative Chamber at 2.30 p.m.
PRÉSENT:---
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERKÖR, MAJON 8IE MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY" MAJOR-GENERAL : VÍZ- LIES HATTON, J.B. (Commanding the Troops); Hon. Mr. T. SERCOMBE: SMITH -(Coloniał Becretary).
Hon. SIR H. S. BERKELEY, K.C. (Attorney? General).
Hon. Mr. A.M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasuror).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWING (Róġistrars General).
Hoa. Captain L. A、 W. BABNES-Lawrence, R.N. (Härbour Master);
Hon. Mr. W: CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. E. A.; HEWETT.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.; C.M.U. Hon. Mr. E. OSBORNE, Hon. MR. WBI TÜK.
Mr. A.G. M; FLETCHER (Clerk-of Ebuïtollájt --
MINUTES,
read and confirmed. *ex,
The minutes of the previous meeting were
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers:—Rəturns” of “the Pólich Magistrates Courts for the year 1905; report of the Post Office department for the year:19 5; report of the Captain Superintendent of Police and of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade
for the year 905.
FINANCIAL MINUTES, The COLONIAL SECRETÁKY laid on the table Financial uinutes (Nos. 28 to 33) and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committés.
The COLONIat TreasurER "secönded, Arta 28 is to vote a sum of 8350 in aid of the vote His EXCELLENOY — Financial Minute No. Public Works Extraordinary, buildings 12- quarters for signsimon, Green Island. This is really for quarters for the assistsnt lighthouse keeper. When I inspected at Green Island on May 1st, my attention was called to the in- sufficient quarters provided for this offl fer, and as it is more economical to do the work now to postpone it until later, I decided after con- when a contractor is working on the sư thán sultation with the Director of Pablis Works that this small addition should be made. Financial Minute No. 29 is in aid of "the vote Public Works Extraordinary, butfang: re-arrangement of outbuildings at the Supreme Court. Last month the Crown Bolicitor, through the Registrar of the Supreme Court, brought to that building. I visited the building and am my notice the overcrowding of the basement of satisfied that better arrangements could be mande. The plan for these arrang menti was propongo by the Director of Public Works in con, nitation with the Registrar of the Suprem ? Court, and to carry out the alterations in mecórdados with this plan 31,000 is required Finndelal fante Public Works Extraordiary, buildings Ties No. 30 is for a sum of 37,800 in aid of the Ball tower of Blackheads, fill, Kowie der The origin of the proposed to buille me tits ball tower was a complaint which appeared":
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