Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/369

 1899.] Asia. — China. — Hong-Kong. [361

English firm, and afterwards included in concessions to Russia, was by M. de Giers and Mr. Bax Ironside arranged to be submitted to arbitration.

The Franco-Chinese agreement for the construction of the "Lung-chau and Nanning-fu Railway was signed on September 15, the Chinese Government to provide 3,100,000 taels of the capital. The work was to be completed within three years, and only French engineers and French materials were to be employed. The French claimed to have obtained mining con- cessions in six districts of Szu-chuan province, but these appeared to conflict with the contract made with Mr. W. Pntchard Morgan and an American syndicate in February. The French demanded 1,200,000 taels and mining rights around Chung-King as indemnity for outrages on French missionaries in Szu-chuan. The Dowager-Empress in September sent for Mr. Pritchard Morgan to go at once to China and begin mining and commercial work in Szu-chuan.

The aged and much-abused Li-Hung-Chang had a good year, if report be true, for in November he was appointed by imperial decree Minister of Commerce, and in December became Viceroy of the province of Kwang-tung. For some time he was engaged in drawing up a report as to the best means of improving Chinese commerce, especially in the tea and silk trades.

The Empress-Dowager issued on November 21 to the Vice- roys and Governors of the Yang-tsze and maritime provinces a circular despatch and a secret edict, appealing to them to resist by force of arms all further aggressions of foreign Powers.

Especially the attempt of the Italians to obtain the cession of Sammun Bay and the aggressions of the French in Kwan- chau-wan aroused the indignation of the Empress, who exhorted the people to act en masse and "preserve their ancestral homes and graves from the ruthless hands of the invader."

in. HONG-KONG.

Lord Charles Beresford returned from Canton on January 3, and delivered an address to the Hong-Kong Chamber of Com- merce on the reforms necessary in the system of Chinese administration ; and on January 22 at a meeting of the leading Chinese merchants resolutions were passed in sympathy with Lord Beresford's views.

The Hong-Kong authorities early in April were urging the Chinese Government to give up the territory recently leased at Kau-lung, and notice was given to the Chinese Maritime Customs to cease collecting on April 17 within the boundaries of the Kau-lung extension. Some superstitious Chinese villagers posted inflammatory placards and burned a police shed at Tai-po-fu on the ground that it interfered with the fungshui of the village. The Governor, Sir H. Blake, induced the Viceroy of Canton to send troops to protect build-