The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1909-09-27 — Page 4

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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

CHANGE AND PROGRESS IN CHINA,

[September 27, 1909.

It can hardly be believed that even the most reactionary of Chinese officials are unaware of the changes which are apparent to all who have given any attention to what has been going on in China of late years. That something must be done to bring an antiquated form of government into confor- mity with the new state of things must be recognised by many of the officials, who unfortunately have not the courage to state It may be what are their true opinions. hoped, however, that the facts will, at last, be recognised, and that by degrees the pinions of the more advanced statesmen will be acted upon, at all events sufficiently to prevent any serious consequences from continued delay. The mistake that has been made has been to promise before being fully prepared to carry out the promises. Nothing is more calculated to engender discontent. Even the old plan of indefinitely post- poning considerations of reforms was safer This mistake the Pe- than such a course." king Government have apparently dis- covered, but what their course should be is apparent—that is, they should abstain from misleading promises-but, as it must be admitted they have done, in some in- stances, introduce such reforms in specific directions as are manifestly required, taking care that each individual reform is in the direction of altering the mode of adminis- tration as a whole, when the time comes for such a change.

that none of these huge tracks of luggage

success with which they have contrived to keep them together and to govern them in which are man-hauled up to the doors of our leading hotels in the travelling season would be

past years. They naturally concluded that safe from the danger of being arrested by any

if they could manage to govern the people Indian constable or Chinese lukong whose sus-

(Daily Press, September 23rd.)

in the past, they can continue to do so, and picions might fasten on the saratoga trunk of some It ought to be encouraging to those who

will be able to get over difficulties which are American globe-trotter, probably an elderly total look for progress in China that of late years not more serious than many they surmount. abstainer from a prohibition State. (Laughter.) modification of the old formula with

ed in former times. It is forgotten that The phraseology of Clause 32 was similarly regard to the introduction of reform in the both the country and the people who have open to objection. Clause 34 gave power to any internal administration of the Empire has

to be governed differ from the traditional revenue officer to arrest anyone without warrant

been adopted by the Peking Authorities. on suspicion of his having in his possession any

China and the traditional Chinese, with In former days, they followed the very

the which

old-fashioned reactionary dutiable liquors, and 35 Fave the right of domi- ciliary search on the warrant of a single J. P. simple plan of assuring the Foreign Repre-fficials are familiar-and that what may Altogether these clauses seemed to leave nothing sentatives and others who pressed any have sufficed in the past to keep of our former liberties beyond what the Govern-

measures of improvement on their consider. ment might be pleased to allow us to enjoy onation that they were but too anxious to things together in some kind of way may sufferance. Having agreed, after much painful follow their suggestions, only it must bebe quite inadequate under the changed heart-searching, to the surrender of the port's done by very careful degrees. Festina lente circumstances. freedom to the extent of a most carefully mea-

thus became the motto rigidly followed, and sured inch, immediately the Government annexe an eli.

And as a humble repre- there was generally so much of the lente that sentative of the public I felt bound to protest. the promises made were forgotten for the With what result? We have sen it most part by the simple lapse of time. represented that when it came to suggesting Festina lente thus came practically to mean practical amendments to the provisions do nothing at all. Of late years there has dealing with these innovations "the noble been improvement upon this plan. Instead spirit of virtuous wrath" had spent itself of promising reforms at an indefinite period and the hon. member's voice was hushed the principle has been adopted of promising and still. Now this is a grievous misthem in as short a time as ten years. This, repre sentation, for a careful comparison of of course, is a commendable advance on the the draft Bill with the Ordinance old basis, by at least defining how slowly as it was passed will show that the they intend to act. Unfortunately, however, protest of the hon member was effectual in even in so short a time as ten years, a good every instance. There is no provision under deal may happen that may be an excuse for the Ordinance as passed by which "Customs modifying any promises that may be rande, stations could have been established at or at least for further postponing their every wharf in the harbour, in every bay on fulfilment, so that it is found that things the coast line and on every road leading to the remain practically as they were under the Colony" There really is, indeed, no excuse old rule. Long before the ten years have for such woeful misrepresentation as that to elapsed, something arises as an excuse and which we have alluded; for the Government the promises are either toned down on had announced various modifications in-account of these unforeseen circumstances cluding the deletion of Clause 30 (which gave the Governor-in Council power to stud the Colony with Customs Houses), and moreover the Hon. Mr. STEWART drew attention to this fact in the very speech which has forme‹ì We hold no brief the subject of criticism. for Mr. STEWART and we do not regard the matter simply in the light of an injustice to the Unofficial Members, but after what we hare said, it will be admitted that the public's representatives on the Council cer- tainly can complain of being so misrepresent ed as to provoke the ridicule or contemp of the community when they are justly entitled to public gratitude for the valuable services they have rendered. We may well add to this some acknowledgement of conciliatory spirit in which their representations were met by the Govern- ment. We cannot have an import tax, of course, without machinery for its collection as well as for the protection of the revenue from evasions; but we believe that in the new Ordinance the Colony has secured itself thanks to the labours of the Unofficial Members of the Council -from the terrors of a Customs service as we know it in most countries of the world. We may add that not the least important among the

changes introduced into the Ordinance at the solicitation of the Unofficial Members is clause 31 which provides that no search of goods or baggage shall be made unless there is reasonable cause to suspect that such goods or baggage contain dutiable liquors or denatured spirits.

the

The development of postal savings in Japan is remarkable. The system was first established in 1875. At the time the amount of deposits was 15,224 yen. Ten years afterward, i.e., in 1885, the amount of deposits had increased to 9050,000, and in 1896 to 28,960,000 yen. At the end of last year the figures made a sudden leap and showed 104,440,000 yen, the number of the depositers being 8,500,000.

the

or are allowed quietly to go by default as may happen to be convenient. The prospects of representative institutions being granted to China are a good illustration. That it was declared would definitely be done in ten years; then it was declared that this promise had been withdrawn, and at the present time it is by no means clear whether it is intended to do anything within ten years or any other period. The same may be said with regard to other reforms that have been promised-as to the currency and the like. "Only wait ten years or so and BRITISH IMPERIALISM. everything will be right," is the constant

(Daily Press, September 25th.) answer, but unfortnuately in the meantime

Nothing more clearly marks the pro- "think- things go on as they are, and unless some- thing arises to force the Government to act,gress which has been made in the promised reforms are allowed quietlying Imperially" throughout the British last few years Empire within to drop.

This seems to be very much the attitude than the decisions of the Conference on Imperial Defence which has been which has been adopted at Peking ever since the dismissal of YUAN SHI KAT, and the held in London this year, representing as most sanguine must now feel convinced that they do the fructification of ideas which the Authorities there are determined to have been germinating in all parts of the make as little change in the old state of Empire ever since the South African war. things as they possibly can. If, however, the But not on military lines alone has the idea Chinese Government see fit to stand still, progressed. A great advance has likewise been shown in other directions, not- hings generally in the Empire are moving

which the names and are doing so, even in China, with the ably in those with

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN and rapidity characteristic of the modern times. of Mr. Changes are taking place in the ideas of the the late Mr. CECIL RHODES will for- people at large, which cannot be ignored at ever be associated. Even if Mr. CHAMBER- Headquarters, and there can be little LAIN had done nothing more than to utter doubt that in one way or another these the trumpet call to "think Imperially

The service rendered by this far-seeing states- changes will have to be provided for.

man to the idea of imperial unity would. Chinese officials are naturally very slow to recognise this, but it can hardly be suppos- have been immense, for the call has been ed that the more enlightened among them re-echoed by the people in all parts of His are not fully aware of the awakening that MAJESTY's dominions and has directed atten- is taking place in all directions. What tion to policies and problems of far-reaching seems to be overlooked by them is the very importance, the continued neglect of which important fact that by degrees the Chinese might have been fraught with consequences people over whom they have to rule unpleasant to contemplate. But we are led is changing in feelings, ideas and even to a to refer to this subject not by a considera- Reliance is tion of what Mr. CHAMBERLAIN has done to large extent in traditions. naturally placed by the officials in their encourage and promote thinking on im- knowledge of their own people, in the perial lines, but by a paragraph in a Home

"the