June 21, 1909.]
it continues to exist. Those are the main provisions of the Bill. There are a number of, minor provisions introduced to meet the representations of those interested in the trade. It is necessary that this Bill should be passed as soon as possible, because the time is approaching when this Government has to frame its budget. We can no longer look forward in the future to the great source of revenue which in the past has been derived from the sale of opium. I do not think I need say anything more to Council. The bill will be discussed and amended if necessary when we come to consider it in com- mittee.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
44
527
vernment has seen fit to disregard both, and to turn a deaf ear to the plea advocated officially Fewer or emptier ships will come and go. The ment for the latter on land and in the harbour. and unofficially from here for "the necessity —I quote Your Excellency's words" of deal kong will have to pay for the opium policy of port will suffer. That is the price which Hong- ing with this question in a gradual manner." This regrettable divergence between these which we asked in vain might be imposed grādu. His Majesty's Government that is the burden coinciding opinions, on the one hand, and the ally. If it had been imposed gradually we measures proposed, on the other, was revealed should have borne it unassisted. but under the on the 11th of March last, when Your Excel- circumstances, it would only be right that the lency announced to this Council the decision whole of the demonstrable loss to revenue should of His Majesty's Ministers to refuse the ono thing asked for-time in which to readjust the been recognised by the Home Government. The be made good. The rightness of this has not burden of taxation. Your Excellency's recom- Secretary of State for the Colonies merely under. mendations and the recommendations of the The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded,
takes to ask Parliament for a substantial contri- Chamber of Commerce were Hon. Mr. M. STEWART-Your Excellency-received unfavourable
seen to have|bution towards it. Could anything in the nature of consideration. Your In rising to oppose the second reading of this former hopes were falsified; former doubts were
a promise be more unsubstantial? Parliament Bill I feel called upon to set forth my reasons at justified. I was not present when that announce-
will be asked to give." It sounds as if Parlia- some length. For that I offer no apology. The
ment might refuse. Then we should perhaps ment was made and this is the first opportunity be told that we ought to have understood this importance of making the position clear war- I have had of replying to a comment, quoted by particuar promise in a literal sense and that rante iteration and reiteration of the salient Your Excellency from a despatch signed by the facts connected with it.
there was literally nothing binding about it. A year ago it was my Secretary of State, animadverting unpleasant duty adversely to criticise the action unofficial criticism in this Council, presumably officials in the Colonial Office, might find upon Even onr natural protectors, the permanent of the Home Government in announcing a that which originated in the rexed question of themselves powerless to enforce the fulfilment of development of their opium policy which threa- the famous promise made by the Under -ecre. tened the revenue of this colony, without hav-tary that the divans were to be closed forthwith. signature. Even if we had a more satisfactory the undertaking appearing over Lord Crewe's ing first taken the usual and proper preliminary The unofficial members of this Council steps to ascertain the views of those immedately inferentially reproved for protesting vigorously, about the Chancellor of Exchequer Lord were undertaking from the Colonial Office, what responsible for its administration. In proposing seemingly on the ground that we ought to have the resolution which embodied the gist of had faith that His Majesty's Ministers would what about the Right Honourable Mr. Lloyd- Crewe may mean ever so well by us. But my remarks I endeavoured to indicate the never have done what the Under Secretary said George? Has the Treasury been approached attitude generally adopted by representative they were about to do. As far as I can see our men. I stated that they were of the opinion that fault lay in taking the Government at its word.
in the matter? If so, has the Colonial Office the Home Government's action had been incon- Are we to assume that promises and statements
received any positive and binding assurance siderate, but that there was no desire to displey made by an
that the Treasury will come handsomely to our Under Secretary are a spirit of uncompromising hostility to the
not to rescue? Unless that great department of State be understood in a literal sense? This appears opium policy. The attitude which I endeavour to be the lesson to be drawn from the incident.
is grossly maligned generosity is not its strong ed to indicate may be found condensed in the
point. In this Council on the 11th March Your Now inasmuch as it has thus been made plain terms of a resolution passed by the Chamber of that we must be careful to inquire into that the Imperial Government had dealt justly Excellency expressed satisfaction in finding Commerce, and forwarded to the Government the precise meaning of promises made on be- and generously with the Colony. I regret that I at the time, in which no opposition to the half of His Majesty's Ministers, it is inevitable cannot yet share this satisfaction. I certainly policy proposed was offered, but, on the contrary, that we should seek for further information find it difficult to derive any from the promise support was promised, provided the Government regarding that particular promise upon the recognised the reasonableness of applying it to strength of which we are asked to pass this I hope you have, some better means of inter- so guardedly made. You, Sir, may have, and Hongkong by some gradual method similar Bill. Recognising the hardship which would preting it in a generous sense. to that approved in the case of India. An- be imposed on
May I be per- this Colony by forcing the mitted then to ask what amount you propose other aspect of the prevailing view was ro-
closure of all divans in March next, without flected with equal accuracy in the terms of the compensation, the Secretary of State has com-
to include in the Estimates for next year, as resolution which I brought forward in this mitted to paper the following undertaking: |tion? If we knew that, we should be able, the Home Government's" substantial contribu- Council and which recorded "a protest against
"When the time arrives His Majesty's Govern- perhaps, to view the position more favourably. any steps being taken to carry out the order of ment on their part will be prepared to ask But if the promise does not mean, as in equity the Home Government before this Council shall Parliament to give a substantial contribution have been called upon to consider the methods
it should. that our whole direct loss will be towards making good to the Colony the revenue repaid, have we no claim to seek further assur- by which it is proposed to readjust the burden which is found to have been lost as the direct of taxation." In opposing that resolution Your
auce that at least some definite proportion will result of measures adopted under their instruc-be? Excellency deprecated distrust of the ultimate tions.". The direct result of the measure under that the whole or any part of our losses will be We are not so unreasonable as to hope wisdom of the politicians concerned and en-
discussion will be to reduce the annual revenue couraged the belief that reasonable represen
met for us indefinitely, or for any lengthy period, by some $600,000. That, I understand, is the ations would ultimately prevail. I remember Opium Farmer's estimate. It is not easy to forthcoming for a few years, diminishing gradu- but we may reasonably ask that help will be your saying, "I think we can rely upon the estimate the indirect losses. The indirect losses ally us we shoulder in some new way the burden statesmanship of the British Cabinet. And to the Colony will of themselves be hard enough of taxation. Before we assent to this measure again you said: "I trust that we may
to bear. Already, with this legislation in pros hope that both the great parties in England pect merely, one large Indian firm has decided to posals for compensation made by His Majesty's we must beg to be informed whether the pro- will recognise the necessity of dealing with this close its Hongkong establishment. Others may Government throw any light on the future. If question in a gradual manner and not by hasty be expected to follow suit. Loss to the Colony Your Excellency cannot answer these questions, and arbitrary legislation." Following upon this will result in various ways, all incapable of proof, if, Sir. you can do no more than repeat the assur- the Under Secretary of State in the House of all impossible to claim for, but none the less Commons on the 28th July, after making a far real, and just as much the immediate outcome
ance given on the 11th March, I am authorised from flattering allusion to the inhabitants of of this hasty and arbitrary legislation as the
to say, on behalf of all the unofficial members, this Colony, and several self-contradictory state- shortage shown in the Opium Farmer's books. ing the interests of the Hongkong tax- that from their point of view, as represent- ments relating to their views, concluded If the people at home, who supply the driving payer, such an assurance is not a sufficient by expressing the hope that the best power for this legislation, want to gain some opinion in Hongkong and the opinion of idea of what they are doing, let them imagine hardships entailed by the measure proposed. guarantee against the inevitable financial the Governor would be found to coincide the financial dislocation which would follow upon Now I have no doubt that if we oppose this with the measures proposed." We know that similar action taken in London. Let them Your Excellency's opinion, as to the wisest imagine what it would mean to close every public misrepresented widely as being indifferent to bill on that ground, the community will be course to pursue, did coincide with that house in the metropolitan area in March next.the evils of China's national vice, and we shall held by the leading men of the community. We Opium in this Colony occupies the same relation stand in some danger of being cut off from the know, Sir; that you proposed
scheme of gra-
to the general taxpayer as alcohol does to prevailing sentiment in England and China. dual reduction admirably adapted to the genuine the Bishop of London. Just as the revenue needs of the case-a plan based roughly upon
None of us, I imagine, lightly regard the con- derived from the sale of the latter stimulant sequences of being cut off, even through that employed in the reduction of the Indian contributes largely to the support of the social misunderstanding, from the main export, under which by diminishing periodically and economic fabric which shelters him, so our
body the supply of opium purchasable by the Farmer, revenue from opium contributes to the support and thus gradually curtailing the trade, of the social and economic fabric of which you, you proposed automatically and almost pain. Sir, are the distinguished head. If the people lessly to extinguish the existence of the at home would exercise their imaginations in divans. I venture to say that had the des. the manner I suggest, they would realise a little patch in which you made these proposals to
better than I imagine they do our losses both His Majesty's Government been made public direct and indirect. Indirectly everyone will in October, when it was forwarded, every sen- suffer. The Indian firms pay office rent; their sible man in the Colony would have been found taipans and staff pay house rent; buy cloths and to agree with it, and the Under Secretary would stores, furniture and food; employ doctors, and have have his hope so far fulfilled that there would dentists, lawyers and architects. Everyone will have been coincidence between the best opinion feel the effects of this measure from top to in Hongkong and the opinion of the Governor. bottom of the commanity, Europeans and The remnant of the Under Secretary's hope Chinese alike, from the leading merchants to remains unfulfilled, because His Majesty's Go- the humblest coolies. There will be less employ.
F
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our follow-countrymen in any matter of opinion affecting social ideals. I 801 keenly aware of the dangers of this. I foresaw and described them a year ago. I regard them as greater evils than financial embarrassment. And because I am jealous of Hongkong's good name I regret the risk which we are compel- led to run. Nevertheless, it must be faced. Sir, the community ever which you preside accepts, us in duty bound, the assurance of the Secretary of State that "the policy which His Majesty's Government have adopted has been duty to civilization.” dictated by paramount considerations of their language increases the difficulty of our position. The employment of such If we resist any detail of that policy we run
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