May 24, 1909.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
[TO THE EDITOR "HONGKONG DAILY PRESS."] the Consulting Engineers, and Sir Matthew
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to
A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS OF
HONGKONG.
Nathan (himself an engineer who became acquainted with every yard of the route) the Hongkong, 20th May 1909. whole of land which, according to Mr. Bruce's SIE-In commenting in to-day's issue of plans, they would want purchase. your paper upon the communication which I Enlarged ideas of what is necessary, involving addressed to you yesterday as Chairman of the expensive resumptions, have been respon- China Association you conclude by contrasting sible for the increase under this head. the figures of Mr. Bruce's first rough estimate We may add with reference to the various items with those appearing in the detailed estimate not particularised in the original estimate, that made by Mr. Eves, and this "in order to make Mr. Bruce allowed "a percentage for contin- the position clear.' One item, taken alone, gencies," which was doubtless intended to cover makes this much at least clear: that Mr. Bruce's such things as telegraphs, fencing, workshops estimate is not an estimate in the same sense as &c,, though possibly not the rolling stock. Mr. Eves'. I refer to the item "Land." Clearly What the percentage was is not disclosed in the Mr. Bruce did not contemplate purchasing published papers. Mr. Eves, in giving Mr. all the land required for $10,500. How Bruce's estimate for purposes of comparison much land he imagined could be obtained with his own, spread this percentage over each for that figure it is impossible to say, but clearly main and subhead-ED.] he had not in mind the requirements of a great terminus at Kowloon. For all practical purposes Mr. Bruce simply left out the item "land," just as he left out roads, fencing, telegraphs, workshops, plant and rolling stock, Home charges and accounts. Mr. Bruce was evidently not commissioned to go thoroughly into the whole question of the total cost of the railway, including the terminus. Possibly these have
A year can be spent in Hongkong without no place in a "preliminary estimate." To me, exhausting the possibilities of an entertaining therefore, it appears that to describe these two study of people and customs and things. Few sets of figures as estimates, without the qualify-sights have I soen to equal the magnificent ing adjectives - preliminary and detailed and to
ՍՑ compare them
though, they were in any true sense comparable,
Is at best, an unfortunate method of endeavouring to make the position clear." A better way to achieve that object would be to compare the work actually done with the money actually spent. The essential point is, Has money been wasted? Is the railway costing too much An authoritative answer to that question would genuinely help to make the position clear." A large section of the public believe that money has been, perhaps is being, wasted; that the cost of the railway is excessive. If it is not the case, an assurance from the Government seems called
S
for.
A recent visitor writing an account of his travel for the Manila Coblenews gives the following impressions of Hongkong :
or
panorama of the city and harbor of Hongkong from the Peak, and few walks have I taken that were so interesting as the ono on Bowen Road. And the people themselves-in my mind's eye I shall always see the poor patient hard-working coolio and his equally hard-work- lug mate, the dirty, little ragged boys each with a tiny little queue dangling from the crown of his head and having about as much fun as other little boys do the world over, and the pantalooned, flat-faced Chinese girls playing in the streets with their brothers, or trudging along with a basket in each hand and a baby lung in a hammock ou their backs. I have seon Chinamen carrying loads that would stagger a mule and a score of them You say that the local Committee of the
80 working like galley slaves in China Association is a body not competent to peculiar machine made for pounding rice express an opinion one way or the other; working twelve hours a day for twenty but possibly the opinion of 11 expert cents at the hardest labor ever devised may serve in some measure to support by human ingenuity, and this is spite of the fact their contention. In his speech at the that a five hundred dollar steam engine would opening of the Tunnel yesterday Mr. Grove is do the same work a hundred per cent. better in reported by you to have said, referring to the one-thousandth part of the time. I have seen British section of the railway as a whole women bargain and haggle over a two cash pur- From the first he had been struck with the chase--one tenth of one cent gold! Bat not a extremely heavy nature of the work, and with murmur of discontent could be heard, not a the workmanlike manner in which it had been groan or a sign of weakness, not a thought of carried out. The line, he was sure, would be a surrender to the overwhelming odds; just a lasting monument of British engineering and patient, ceaseless, quiet effort to eke out of British colonial enterprise."
the cost of daily existence and bring the day of everlasting
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:
I am sure this expression of expert opinion will give satisfaction to all those who look forward to seeing British engineers keeping well to the front in the great work of pioneering and developing railway enterprise in China.-Yours faithfully,
M. STEWART.
one nearer
rest.
to
A wonderful people are the Chinese-a strange, peculiar people. One is struck by the sad-faced dignity and quiet demeanor of even the humblest coolie-one looks in vain for ex- citement or an unusual occurrence.
In buying souvenirs it is best to wait until the [When Mr. Stewart complains that it is an second or third, day, aud, spend the first day unfortunate method of endeavouring " to make pricing them. I spent seventy-five cents for a the position clear to describe two sets of coin sword the first day a day later I bought figures as "estimates" without the qualify-two more for thirty cents each. I paid seventy ing adjectives--preliminary and detailed-couts for a Japanese collar box--a beautiful we can only say that, if it is fault, we have contrivance-and when I showed it to one of my sinned in the excellent company of the Chief acquaintances he told me where I could have got Resident Engineer. As to the rest, we hold no it for forty cents. One can purchase things brief for Mr. Bruce and know no more about cheaper in the native section and in Kowloon the matter than what the official papers contain; than on Queen's Road. Souvenirs can generally but we totally disagree with Mr. Stewart's view be purchased for less than one half of the price of Mr. Bruce's estimate. Take the item of asked. Offer one-third. "Land" which in the original estimate was put down at $10.500, and in the latest $1.195,879.20. It is not at all clear to us that Mr. Bruce did The Tokyo correspondent of the Seoul Press not contemplate purchasing all the land writes:-A report appearing in some Tokyo required for $10,500. Most of the land papers to the effect that the Japanese authori- along the route was doubtless Crown land. ties are approaching the Ambassadors for the It is interesting to note that in the surrender of consular jurisdiction in Korea report laid before the Legislativo Council in is discredited, inasmuch as Japanese judiciary February 1908, the original estimate is described arrangements in Korea are not yet completed. 28 Mr Bruce's and Mr. Chatham's estimate," A propos, the United States had partially but a footnote says the column represents Mr. surrendered consular jurisdiction in Korea, Bruce's estimate for the line combined within connection with the conclusion of trade the Hon. Director of Public Works' estimate marks convention, but a similar convention for the reclamation." We think therefore negotiating between Great Britain and Japan that at the time the estimate was made it applies to Chins alone, and not to Korea. represented in the opinion of Mr. Bruce, But any piracy of trademarks may be dealt supported by the Director of Public Works, with as a a fraud,
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A RUSSO-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
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433
The following correspondence has been for- warded for publication :-
Hongkong, 27th April, 1909. DEAR SIR,-I have just received from the Secrotary of the "Russo-British Chamber of Commerce a few copies of the "Statutes " of that Body which has recently been established at St. Petersburg being a direct outcome of the friendly understanding between our two Nations which has happily be en inaugurated in the last few years.
In his letter to me, accompanying these "Statutes " the Secretary of the above Chamber requests me to bring the establishment of that institution before the British Commercial Com- munity of this Colony, with the view of promo- ting the aims and objects of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce, which consist in further- ing closer Commerical and Industrial intercourse between Great Britain and Russia, based on mutual economical interests.
It would give me much pleasure to record your willingness to give this very commendable scheme the valuble support of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, of which Body you have the high distinction of being the Chairman, and with this object in view I beg to submit to your kind attention a copy of the above mentioned Statutes. Thanking you in anticipation for what steps you may consider appropriate to take in this matter.-I am, &c.,
P. H. TIEDEMANN, Imperial Russian Consul, To the Hon. E. A. Hewett, Esq.,
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Chairman,
The Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, 3rd May, 1909. DEAR SIR, I thank you for your letter of the 27th April and for the copy of the Statutes of the recently formed Russo-British Chamber of Commerce whish that letter covered.
My interest has already been aroused in the Institution by notices which I has read in the local press, and the book of Statutes which you so kindly sent me gives me the fuller infor- mation I desired of so happy an undertaking.
I shall take the utmost possible pleasure in acquainting the Committee with the scope and admirable objects of the scheme and can assure you that its developement will be watched with the greatest sympathy by this Chamber.
Will you please convey to the Secretary of the Chamber the congratulations of the Hong- kong General Chamber of Commerce and its willingness to at all times assist the Russo- British Chamber of Commerce in furthering closer commercial and industrial intercourse between Russia and Great Britain to their mutual and permanent benefit.-I am, &c.,
EDBERT A. HEWETT.
P. H. Tiedemann, Esq.,
Imperial Russian Consul, Hongkong.
OPIUM PENALTIES IN TH PHILIPPINES.
A minimum fine of P300 and a minimum term of imprisonment of three months for those persons found in the illegal possession of opium or convicted of its illegal use has been imposed by a bill approved last week by the Philippine Commission.
Up to the present the law has provided a maximum penalty, with the result that in the use of their discretionary power some judges have imposed very low penalties upon persons found with the drug in their possession and convicted of having made illegal use of it.
The new provision, should it meet with the approval of the lower house, to which it has been sent, will strike fear, a Manila contemporary says, into the hearts of those who have up to the present, broken the law with impunity. The purpose of the bill is to make the punishment au effective one and not merely a license to illegally traffic in and use the prohibited drug.
Work on the building of an Imperial Univer- sity in Peking is rapidly being pushed forward. It is the earnest desire of Grand Councillor Chang Chih-tung to see the University opened as early as possible.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.