THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRÉSS AND a spirits. Any fresh taxation should fall on the Chinese section of the community who pay the opium revenue, in the shape of heavier customs duties on articles they consume. This merely applies to the shrinkage of revenue arising from restricting opium consumption, A prohibition policy calls for more far-going measures such as increasing the taxes on tobacco and petroleum. The Commissioners shrink from recommending the establishment of a gambling farm. Instead of it, they advise the starting of a lottery in the style of those conducted in Europe.
distribution of Morphine already constitute grave danger, and that the Morphine habit shows signs of spreading: the International Opium Commission, therefore, desires to urge strongly on all Governments that it is highly important that drastic measures should be taken by each Government in its own territories and possessions to control the manufacture, sale and distribution of this drug, and also of such other derivatives of Opium as may appear on scientific inquiry to be liable to similar abuse and productive of like ill effects.
THE VISIT OF THE PHILIPPINE SQUADRON.
6. That as the International Opium Commis- sion is not constituted in such a manner as to permit the investigation from a scientific point of view of Anti-Opium remedies and of the properties and effects of Opium and its products,
ARRIVAL AT HONGKONG. but deems such investigation to be of the highest
Yesterday afternoon the five cruisers compos- importance, the International Opium Commising the Third Squadron of the American sion desires that each Delegation shall recom-
Pacific Fleet arrived at Hongkong, the fact mend this branch of the subject to its own Government for such action as that Government being announced by the booming of the big guns saluting the port and the British Admiral, may think necessary.
harbour. Their proximity was made known by as well as the flags of the other warships in the wireless telegraphy about three o'clock and almost punctual to the expected time the quintette of ships dropped their anchors in the man-of-war anchorage. The squadron is under the command of Rear-Admiral Giles B. Harber, and his flagship is the Charleston. The other officers
7. That the International Opium Commission strongly urges all Governments possessing Con- cessions or Settlements in China, which have not yet taken effective action towards the closing of opium divans in the said Concessions and Settle- ments, to take steps to that end, as soon as they may deem it possible, on the lines already adopted by several Governments.
8. That the International Opium Commission recommends strongly that each Delegation move its Government to enter into negotiations with the Chinese with a view to effective and prompt measures being taken in the various foreign Concessions and Settlements in China for the prohibition of the trade and manu- facture of such Anti-Opium remedies as contain Opium or its derivatives.
9. That the International Opium Commission recommends that each Delegation move its Governments to apply its pharmacy laws to its subjects in the Consular districts, Concessions,
and Settlements in China.
OPIUM IN INDO-CHINA.
REPLACING LOST REVENUE BY A LOTTERY.
The Government of Indo-China has ap- pointed an Opium Commission which took evidence at Saigon, to inquire into the extent of the consumption of the drug in the Colony, the best way to stop opium smoking, and the devising of ways and means to replace the loss of revenue that would result from a suppression policy.
The report which has just been published will A not quite satisfy anti-opium faddists. Haiphong newspaper-Annam Tonkin—which summarised the report says that according to the Commission, opium-smoking is uncommon among Europeans in the Colony. As to the natives it is unknown almost among the cultivator class. Among the well-to-do classes there are not many opium smokers. It is how ever, prevalent among the Chinese section of the population, but not to such an extent as in
China.
Opium smoking is very common in Upper Tonkin and Laos which lie on the Chinese frontier and into which the drug is imported from Yunnan, in Western China. The Com- missioners are agreed as to the evil results of excessive opium smoking, and as regards the benefits of measures taken to root out the habit. But, they are against the idea of making it a crime to smoke the drug, and consider it to be unjust to punish officials who smoke. The only remedy they recommend is to put the consumption of opium under restriction. The restrictions are a slow increase in the price of manufactured opium; forbidding the sale of opium by-products; sales of opium to be limited to the shops; and the gradual closing of public opium shops, beginning with those in the small towns. Besides this, anti-opium Anti- teaching should be given in schools. opium placards and posters in public places are expected to take good effect. Finally, all smokers should be shut out of the public
service.
The Commission found it difficult to recom- mend substitutes for the opium revenue, which yields yearly about six millions of francs. It would not be advisable to increase the land
assessment, the poll tax, or the taxes on salt and
are:
Charleston, Commander Harry S. Knapp. Denver, Commander James P. Parker. Cleveland, Commandar Louis S. Gan Duzer. Galveston, Commander John A. Hoogewerff, Chattanooga, Commander Edward. E. Wright.
Besides these cruisers there are also in the harbour the U.S.S. Helena, (Commander W. W.. Buchanan) and the U.S.S. Samar (commanded by Ensign Thomas Withers), while in addition Rear Admiral Jewell (retired) and Mrs Jewell, and Rear Admiral Mead (retired) are in the colony. The former, who are staying in the Hongkong Hotel, sail for America by the Asia on Tuesday, and the latter remain here for about a week.
The American Admiral will make his official call on His Excellency the Governor this morning about 11.45. He will land at Blake Pier where he will be received by a guard of honour furnished by the Buffs.
On the 16th inst. there will be a dinner at Government House, and it is understood that
Lambton will Admiral
also entertain the
visitors to dinner.
An elaborate programme is being prepared for the entertainment of the men. This will include sports, a tiffin, a tattoo dance, and other features.
|
[March 15, 1909.
horsepower, 21,000; speed, 22 knots; arma ment,-6in, fourteen; 14pr., eighteen; smaller thirty six, torpedo tubes. She was built at San Francisco and launched in 1906.
Denver, Armoured cruiser of the Cleveland class, built at Philadelphia and launched in 1904; Length, 292ft; tonnage, 3200; horse- power, 4500; speed, 165 knpts. Armament, 5in., ten; twelve smallers guns.
Cleveland, Armoured cruiser built at Port Elizabeth and completed in 1903. Details as already given.
Galveston. Built at Richmond in 1904. Same details.
Chattarooga. Armoured oruiser of the Cleve- land class, built at Bath, and launched in 1904. Details same as that already given.
THE COLLISION IN HONGKONG.
HARBOUR,
The collision which we reported on Saturday
which is now known to be the Ambria, is not morning between the Hoi Ming and a German steamer whose name was then unknown but
first stated. So far only four persons are responsible for such a large loss of life as was at reported missing, but a number of people were injured.
It appears that the collision took place about seven o'clock on Friday night. The Hoi Ming, Captain Evans in charge, was entering theCentral Fairway when it was struck by the Ambria. The blow was The impact was not direct rather a slanting one. Had it been otherwise the Hoi Ming would probably have been out in two. As it was, the smaller vessel had her port side stripped, ant several passengers were knocked into the water. Most of them were, however, rescued by sampan people who readily came to their assistance. The Hoi Ming was so badly damaged that she had to return to the pier. She had on board at the time of the accident au exceptionally large number of passengers bound for Kongmun:
On Sunday we learned that three bodies had been recovered.
THE "FATSHAN" INCIDENT.
It will be remembered that some time ago we reported in our columns, says the N.C.-Daily News, the arrival of a Cantonese, by name Ho Chen-huan, in Shanghai, from Canton, in connexion with the Fatehan incident, in which a Portuguese ticket collector on board the steamer Fatshan was alleged to have caused a Chinese passenger's death by kicking him violently. Ho Chen-huan came with the object of stirring up Chinese feelings on the subject, on the ground that neither the Portuguese Consul nor the Chinese authorities had taken steps which afforded the Canton public satis- faction in the matter.
On the afternoon of Feb. 27th at 2 o'clock a large mass meeting was held in the Cantonese Hospital in Haining Road, which was attended by several hundred people, mostly Cantonese.
Saturday was devoted to the usual courtesy visits. After calling on Admiral Sir Hedworth Lambton on the King Alfred, Rear-Admrial Giles B. Harbor, commanding the third squadron of the United States Pacific Fleet, ac- companied by Commanders Harry S. Knapp, Louis S. Van Duzer, James P. Parker, Marbury Johnston and Edward E. Wright, paid an official
Mr. Ho opened the meeting by recapitulating call on His Excellency Sir Frederick Lugard at Government House. The landing took place the Fatshan incident, and stated that the Portu- at Blake Pier, where a guard of honour furnish-guese Consul had not replied to the Viceroy, ed by the 13th Rajputs was drawn up, and where Captain Taylor, A.D.C. to His Excellency and Dr. A. P. Wilder, American Consul General, received the distinguished party. The band played The Star-Spangled Banner," and after Rear-Admiral Harber had inspected the guard of honour, the party entered chairs and were conveyed to Government House. The cruisers in the harbour fired salutes on the occasion.
A dinner is being arranged by the British Admiral. The visiting officers will also be entertained at Government House on Tuesday night, and the night following the Hongkong Club will be their hosts at dinner, to which the
officers of the French cruiser are also invited.
The Officers of the Squadron will be entertained by His Excellency the Governor at Government been issued for an "at home House on Tuesday next, and invitations have from 10 to 12 p.m.
"with dancing,
The following details of the visiting Ameri- can Squadron which is expected to-night may be of interest:
Charleston, Armoured cruiser of the St. Louis class. Length, 424 feet; tonnage, 9700;
who had written to him several times, Mr. Huang Yu-kan then delivered an impressive speech and brought it home to his audience that unless Chinese displayed a united front, foreign aggression would, be aggravated and Chinese lives would be regarded as no weightier than "wild goose feathers" in foreign eyes. Resolu- tions were then passed with acclamation to the effect that telegrams be dispatched to the Viceroy at Canton, the Waiwupu and the Portuguese Minister at Peking asking for severe punishment of the offender. Editor of the Eastern Times drew up the tele- gram and Mr. Chêng Hsi-ku, Editor of Public Opinion was appointed Ireasurer of the con- tribution fund which reached over $200.
Mr. Hsiao-shih,
HONGKONG UNIVERSITY.
It is announced that Mr. Tsang Sik Chow, a former student of Queen's College, and now in business at Saigon, has intimated his willingness to contribute a sum of $10000 towards the Endowment Fund of the University and has also expressed the belief that he can induce other Chinese there to contribute as much as $100,000 toward the same fund.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.