March 1, 1909.]
new Edict contained only this one clause it would be a sign that the rule of distrust was passing away, and that the amelioration of the condition of the people at large was to be one of the main objects of the present rulers. There has, of course, never been any lack of paraded benevolence in China, even the worst attempts at increasing the burdens of the people have even been accompanied by cheap discourses on the duty of benevolence, and the regard of a paternal government towards the people under its charge; the distinguishing feature of all these proclamations bas ever been that they
were confined to abstract terms, and never descended to particulars The present, then, is a departure from the established type, and really concerns itself with two of the most crying abuses of the Empire,-the punish ment by proxy, and the neglect of the communications. Another return to old custom is suggested in the proposed restor- ation of the practice of memorial tablets long fallen into disuse. The system had. indeed, become an abuse and been made the means of levying exactions from the richer classes, but the idea of holding up for public admiration the record of disting uished deeds was one tending to elevate the moral tone of the population; and the suggestion of its revival indicates a desire to return to more sympathetic measures in the relations of governors and governed.
Altogether, if not abused, the amnesty marks an evident desire to conform to the wishes of the people at large; and accom- panied with the promises of granting to the nation at large very considerable powers of self-government, may mark a new era in the state. It is one of the best signs of the fitness of the Chinese as a people for wide extensions of the principle of self govern ment that, although clearly deter- mined on the subject, they have refrained from agitation or haste. In these qualities they have exhibited a marked contrast to the other nations which have of late had similar aspirations; Russia, Turkey or, worst of all, Persia. In one respect the situation in China is entirely different from the others. Neither side looks upon the changes as a gift; it has, on the contrary come about from perfectly natural causes, largely financial. The authorities in Peking have had it prominently brought before them that the system of provincial adminis tration fails to bring to the central govern. ment any fair share of the local revenues, yet year by year the central Government is being further saddled with perfectly legitimate expenses which have to be met. The late regency had a method of its own in dealing with this problem, that of unlimited bribery and corruption, which was bringing the whole system into dis- repute, and must have ended in the subver. sion of the Empire. The late Emperor, and his brother, the present Regent early saw that this could not last. and that the only way out of the difficulty was by subalituting for the provincial system one of popular control. Hence the movement has had the solid ground of mutual benefit. This it is that removes the Chinese call for popular control above the vulgar cry of mere demo. cracy, and unites rulers and people. Popu. lar government in China is in fact a reaction against the abuses of the Provinces; and it is this practical element that has largely influenced the recent Edict.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE CLOUD'S SILVER LINING,
(Daily Press, 23rd February.) revival apparent when the Chairman of the Though there were no clear signs of trade
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpora- tion addressed the shareholders last August Mr. SHELLIM considered there was justi- fication for taking a hopeful view of the future, as cheap money and diminishing stocks were factors which were bound sooner or later to bring about a commercial revival. No institution is in a better position in the East than the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank to feel the pulse of trade, and at the meeting of shareholders on Saturday the Chairman had the satisfaction of stating that although trade in the Far East during the past six months had not been altogether satisfactory he regarded the hopeful view of the prospects taken at the last meeting as having been justified. And now, with a healthier tone noticeable, with business generally on a sounder basis, stocks of imports being gradually reduced, crops good, renewed commercial activity throughout America, and money plentiful and cheap in Europe, the Chairman regarded the time as ripe for a return to prosperity and the com- mencement of a new period of expansion in trade. That will be welcome news not only
At a meeting of the Directors of the Shang hai Sumatra Tobacco Co., Ld. held on the 17th instant, it was decided to recommend that, at the approaching annual meeting, a final dividend of 25 per cent, making 40 per cent for the year, should be declared.
to shareholders of the Bank but to the
ARMED ROBBERY IN HONGKONG,
159
(Daily Press, February 23rd.) The present Criminal Sessions at the Supreme Court of Hongkong are note worthy for the number of cases of armed robbery which the Judge and Jury have been called upon to try. Out of the eleven cases get down for trial no less than nine are cases of this description. The exemp lary, sentences which His Honour the Chief Justice has passed on the prisoners found guilty will meet with general public appro- val. Five years' imprisonment in each case was the measure of punishment meted out for.these dastardly crimes and in addition the Chief Justice ordered the convicted pri- soners to be flogged with twenty four strokes excepting in the case of one who did not seem able to stand much flogging, and he was let off with twelve strokes.
public generally. In spite of the restricted trade of the past six months the Bank has managed to do exceedingly well, and as Mr. Ross remarked in seconding the adoption of the Report and Accounts: "If this be the result of a half-year of dull and restricted trade, what indeed may be expected when the tide of prosperity again flows in the Far the note of optimism is not absent from the Enst!" It is satisfactory to observe that addresses of Chairmen of other Companies in the Colony. Times have been bad for most concerns, and misfortune in the form of typhoons has added to the difficulties of the position in the case of estate and wharf and shipping companies, so that the stocks of such companies are generally quoted much below what they were five years ago, view of the future has been taken at most But, as we have remarked, a more hopeful meetings of shareholders that have yet taken place. Mr. ROBERT SHEWAN when presiding at the meeting of shareholders Co., Ltd., was particularly emphatic in the of the China Provident Loan and Mortgage
expression of his belief that better days are at hand in the Colony when those who have had faith in Hongkong and its fortunes will reap their reward." Certainly there is no need to be pessimistic about the future of the Colony. As Mr. SHEWAN said, the resources and facilities of the port of Hong kong as a depot for the trade of South China are still untouched and unrivalled, and will be enormously increased when once communication by rail is opened up with the great cities of the interior. There can be no doubt of that, and meanwhile with trade reviving throughout the world, and with the improving prospects of business in China following upon exceptionally good harvests, and with plenty of money waiting the expected revival of trade, there seems ample justification for the confidence which is generally felt that prosperous times are about to return.
Fortunately armed robbery has not been very rife in Hongkong of late years, and the extraordinary succession of such crimes just before Chinese New Year was sur- prising. It may be hoped that the sen tences passed at the Assizes yesterday will have the desired deterrent effect and that the Colony will enjoy immunity from such crimes for a long time to come.
Chinese Public Opinion states that the number of the mines, working or preparing to work, in Fengtien Province is as follows:- Gold, 55; silver, 5; coppor, 9; iron, 7; lead, 9f coal, 85; graphite. 1: glass sand, 2; stone 3: making a total of 176, of which about 50 are working, the others having already been granted
licenses.
CAIRO TO INDIA RAILWAY,
(Daily Press, February 25th.) Some two or three years ago the Hongkong Daily Press suggested as the natural sequel to the Cape to Cairo Railway, then occupy. ing much attention, the advisability of project of a Cairo to India Railway, which supplementing it by the even more feasible
we showed from an engineering point of view was quite feasible, and which would reduce to almost insignificant dimensions the present, still heroic, overland route from Europe to India. Starting from Ismalia, we proposed to carry a line round the head of the Gulf of Akabab, and thence, taking advantage of the comparatively fertile Arabia to the flanks of the Jebel Ermek, uplands of Shomer and Nedjed, to cross which it would follow to Kowet. Though there are no superficial rivers, flowing as in most parts of the world on the surface, this district of Arabia is known to have extensive
underground waterways, and along almost
the entire of the route sketched wells sunk little below the surface are at short intervals available for irrigation. The mist subsoil, and the comparative elevation, the table- land lying at an average height of a thousand feet over sea level, is influential. in lowering the mean temperature, 80 that with the exception of a few weeks after the summer solstice the climate of these districts may be described as fairly temperate. We have for long been on friendly terms with the many of the more settled populations of Arabia, and throughout these districts the wandering Bedouins have always been subservient to to the civil administration. A greater difficulty would, of course be found in the fact that these civil a ministrations in this part of Arabia belong for the most part to the fanatic sect of the Wahabes, yet there are indications that if we succeeded in con- vincing them that the construction of the railway would be the most effective meaus for preserving them from Turkish encroach- with the outer world would of itself cease. ments, the present opposition to intercourse In fact the girdle that Turkey has succeeded in the past in putting round Arabia is one of the main causes of the exclusiveness of
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.