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a steamship's approach to small-craft, whose presence or course might constitute danger either to themselves or to the steamship!
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This warning is necessary from steamers approaching their buoys or wharves under their own way and thus under little control.
Still more is it required in a Harbour con- gested with small craft and subject to the in- fluence of tides.
Under regulation No. 21, as at present framed, a steamship cannot adopt the customary method of warning small craft without being liable to conviction for a nuisance.
On the assumption that the giving of those warnings is in accordance with the ordinary practice of seamen, Regulation 21 would also seem to be contrary to regulation No. 6 of Table "M." which reads :-..
6. All vessels irrespective of size shall, whether in a fairway or not, observe the International Collision Regulations, and no vessel whatever shall anchor in any of the fairways:
and likewise to regulation No. 29 for prevent ing collisions at sea.
The result of enquiries made of Masters of vessels through the shipping members of my Chamber, is the unanimous opinion that. in order to prevent accident to small craft and possible loss of life, the use of steam whistles in the Harbour to warn native boats of the approach of a steamer is an absolute necessity, and it is considered that the case would he met by a reversion to the regulations, as originally framed, a copy of which is annexed.
My Committee trust that His Excellency the Governor may give this matter his considera- tion and that he may see his way to make a much needed reform.--I have the honour to be, &c.. E. A.M. WILLIAMS,
Hon. Mr. A. M. Thomson, Colonial Secretary,
Secretary.
Regulations Nos, 9 and 10 in Toble
M" of the Schedule to the Ordinence as it was originally enacted.
9. No Steamship when at anchor near or lying off the Praya, or when moored to or wait- ing at any wharf or landing place, shall use the steam whistle, nor shall such steamship, when under way use the steam-whistle, except for the purpose of giving necessary notice of her approach towards any other vessel.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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10. No teamship when entering or leaving the Harbour, or when at anchor therein, shall use her steam-whistle, except for the purpose of¦ navigation or to avoid collision. The use of such steam-whistle for any other purpose is hereby prohibited."
QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST HONGKONG,
Letter to Government :-
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce,
20th August, 1909. SIR,I have the honour to point out that from the returns of communicable diseases for the three weeks ended July 31st, August 7th, and August 14th, the cases of bubonic plague were, respectively, 2, 3, and nil.
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y Committee trust that some steps may be taken by His Excellency the Governor towards
of the removal securing
the rexations quarantine measures by Ports notified under Notification 562 of the Government Gazette of the 13th instant.-I am, &c.,
E. A. M. WILLIAMS, Secretary. Hon. Mr. A. M, Thomson,
Colonial Secretary. Reply from Government :-
Colonial Socretary's Office, 24th August, 1909, SIR,-In reply to your letter of 20th instant, I am directed to inform you that His Excellency proposes to await the issue of clean bills of health before making representations to the various ports imposing quarantine restrictions against Hongkong, The last case of plague occurred on 18th instant and the date of issue, unless any further case is reported in the meantime, will therefore be Saturday next.- I am., &c.,
A. M. THOMSON,
Colonial Secretary.
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THE ANTI-OP UM MOVEMENT IN CHINA,
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OPIUM SUPPRESSION. With reference to the entire suppression of the opium evil in China, a native report says have that the Auti-Opinm Commissioners decided that plantation of hative opium should be reduced year by year and entirely prohibited in the 4th year of Hsuan Tung. Beginning from the next year a govenment, monopoly will be established for opium, which will also he gradually reduced, until it is entirely suppress- ed in the 8th your of Ustaan Tung (1916)."" The consent of the Diplomatic Corps in Peking will The shortly be obtained to this proposal. Prince Regent is reported to have shown great impatience at the delay of the Cominissioners in! reporting on a memorial containing suggestions in regard to opium prohibition, and he accord- ingly asked more than once for the report. If is also stated that a Consor has resolved severely to denounce a high Minister, who broke of opinn smoking but has since relapsed into the evil habit.
SHANSI
It is reported that in a memorial presented: to the Throne H. E. Pag, Governor of Shansi, stated that all the lands amounting to over 350,000 more formerly devoted to the cultivation of the poppy have been converted either into cotton or indigo plantations since the spring and now no more grounil is used for opium cultivation in that province. The number of smokers is grądully declining.
SZECHUAN.
The Tartar General, I. E. Mo in not bohini officials in other provinces in the work of sup pressing the opium evils.says the Peking Daily. News. From the time of his arrival there last winter up to the second moou this year he had caused many opiujn dens to be closed up and hall ordere the Banhermen who were formerly opium enltivators to plant mulberry trees on the vacant places along the city suburbs and the par- ade grounds. Over 50.000 have been planted, an they are thriving very satisfactorily. He had suspendel 31 officials from office on accout of their craving for the drug and allowed them a limited time in which to reforma. He had 906 soldiers admitted into the opium-curing Hospital to get rid of the habit. All employed in the Government services, students, and the like have been warned that if they are smokers they must give up the habit at once or they will be severely dealt with.
SHANTU
There appears to be no doubt that in Taianfu and the adjoining counties of Larwu and Hsint ai the opium regulations have been taken seriously, writes a correspondent of the NC. Daily News, Little or no land has been under the poppy this year, except, in a few special cases where permission has been granted to cultivate one or two acres in return for some special services in the case of a doctor who had treated the son of a magistrate successfully Severe punishment, in the shape of fines, imprisonment and canguing, has been meted out impartially to those who have attempted evade the law, accompanied in all to
cases
by the destruction of the young crops and so, for once, we have the inspiring spectacle of the Chinese official energetically, carrying out his instructions. How long this state of things will last remains to be seen. The people have offered no opposition to the regulations and generally welcome them, and so it would seem that the success of the under. taking depends entirely on the officials whose business it is to see the thing through.
The immediate consequence, of course, is a great rise in the price of the drug which notes- sarily falls most heavily on the poorer class of smoker, though against this may be put the slightly cheaper price of foodstuffs due to the larger quantity of land-bearing grain, etc. have been told, however, that land which has been long under the poppy bears poor grain for
a year or two.
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THE DISAPPEARANCE OF OPIUM FROM YUNNAN,
A correspondent of the N.-C. Daily News writes on this subject as follows:--
Where are the long strings of collies carrying opium down to Hunan, Kwangsi and Tonking Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce. They have gone home empty-handed. Wheat,
The Secretary,
[October 11, 1909.
Tho
„corn, beans, peas, vice, cotton, etc., have replaced the poppy in the fields; and the Yunnanese, who once depended on the opinm trade for a livelihood seem to thrive better on wheat, rico and other cereals, Here is one man, who last year was seldom seen on the streets; he was smoking opiuni and talking most of the night and sleeping during the day; now he is working in the fields beside his wife, who kept life in him during the years has
were wasted at the opium pipe that price of rice and other foodstuffs rose and rose above poor people's heads; now they can feed well on a fraction of what it once cost, while at the same time wages are kept fairly high. I was told not long ago that the suppression of opinm spelt the ruin of The very reverse is the real truth. As regards foreign goods, there has never been greater demand in Yunnan, and the demand will increase with the increasing prosperity of the province.
Yunnan
The cities, towns and villages seem to have got a new lease of life, Old, tumble-down houses are rebuilt; fresh shops aré opened; vegetable and meat-sellers have been cleared off the streets The Govern- into markets appointed for them. ment is spending large sums of money in erecting universities, schools, mints, arsenals, armouries, powder magazines, barracks, offices, reformatories, prisons, industrial establishments, botanical and zoological gardens, etc., all in, or after, foreign style./
The latest is a tax of one cash per cup of tea drunk in public teahouses.. With this revenue they propose te eredt immense reformatories for the several thousands of fallen women in The brothels will then be closed Yünnaufn. and offenders severaly punished.
There is even talk of electric light and water works, but capital is not forthcoming yet. Telephone poles, carrying 8 to 10 wires, are not uncommon in the city.
About the end of this year the railway whistle will be heard at the south gate, where the Government is building "a foreign street" in anticipation-of big returns.
The people, moreover, buy Bible portions and Christian literature as never before. There are openings on every hand for Christian work among Chinese and aborigines.
An astonishing thing occurred just recently at the likin station of Pingi. It appears that till just recently opium has been allowed to pass through from Kweichou to Tonking upon the payment of a special tax. A body of Kuhtsingfu merchants sent into Kweichou for some thirty- five horse-loads of opium, upon the strength of a proclamation from the Pingi Magistrate granting them right of passing to a certain date. The opium arrived in good time, the extra tax of some Tls. 4,000 was paid over to the Magistrate, but the likin officer refused it till pall another sum for himself, it is said. They promised him the sum, but had to go two days' journey for the silver. The fixed day passed by before they could return with the silver, and he then wired the case to the Viceroy, who gave orders to burn the whole amount-which was done. The likin officials and the Magistrate are said to have been on bad terms-hence the incident.
One merchant alone suffers to the amount of $20,000. This is one of the many curious cases of mingled justice, frand and honesty constantly occurring in China.
THE OPIUM FARM.
We learn from an authentic source that the tender of Ho Shai-Kit, amounting to $98,600 for the three years' lease of the Hongkong Opium Farm, has been accepted by the Hongkong Government. Mr. Ho Shai-kit is the son of Mr. Ho Kom Tong, who is associated with several well-known local gentlemen in the formation of a strong syndicate to carry on the farm. The accepted tender was the second highest, being only $150 a month less than the offer of Kn Yu-shan, Leung Kin-sang and Ag Ming Sau, while it was 2,600 higher than the tender of The other the present Farmer, Mr. Luk You. tender was from Mr. She Ying-luk, amounting to $91,000. The government revenue from the farm in the next three years will therefore be $268,800 per annum less than the present rental.
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