Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/737

Rh MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION.

There are in Tientsin eight foreign concessions, three of which^the British, French, and German — existed prior to 1900. The Boxer troubles resulted in the extension of these concessions, and in the formation of the Belgian, Russian, Italian, Japanese, and Austro-Hungarian Concessions. The British Municipal Council was estab- lished as far back as 1862, and consisted of three members. Another member was added in 1868, and at the present day there are five members, including the chairman and hon. treasurer. The councillors are elected at a general meeting of land renters held during the first quarter of each year, and their functions are performed through the Finance, Fire Brigade, Volunteer Corps, Market, Sanitary, Land, Watch, and Works Committees. In 1898 a Junior Council, called the British Municipal Extension Council, was called into existence, as its name implies, by reason of the extension of the British Concession. It consists of nine members, several of whom are also members of the Senior Council, and much the same duties devolve upon its committees. A scheme for the amalgamation of the Concessions is still under the consideration of a special com- mittee of representatives of both Councils, but in the meantime the business and accounts of the two bodies are kept prac- tically distinct. The efder body derives its ordinary revenue from shipping (mooring fees and Bund rents, together yielding Tls. 35,300), land-tax (of i of one per cent., yielding Tls. 4,375), rental assessment (of 3 per cent., yielding Tls. 6,000), feu rents (yielding Tls. 3,300), and general charges (licences, interest, &c., amounting to Tls. 27,665), the total estimate for 1908 reaching Tls. 98,255-37, as compared with Tls. 82,4o8'l5 actually received from these sources in 1907. The estimated expenditure during 1908 amounts to Tls. 98,225-37, and falls under the following headings : General staff, Tls. 9,200 ; police, Tls. 13,000 ; medical, Tls. 600 ; public works (including ligliting, Tls. «,ooo, water Tls. 1,300, &c.), Tls. 22,330 ; miscellaneous (including Volunteer Corps, Tls, 1,700, and educational grant, Tls. 3,000), Tls. 10,116; loans (interest and repayment), Tls. 20.234 I public works extraordinary (including bund and wharves, Tls. 9,800), Tls. 15,500 : and British Post Office, Tls. 3,950; leaving a surplus of Tls. 3,325-37.

GERMAN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OFFICES, TIENTSIN.

During 1907, in addilion to the ordinary expenditure, amounting to Tls. 60,187-88 large sums were spent upon improvements to municipal land, and were met by moneys withdrawn from fixed deposit account. The Council has loan Habililies amounting to Tls. 89,800, and other liabilities amounting to Tls. 41,118-55. The assets are valued at Tls. 562,490-30 — an excess over liabilities of Tls.431, 571-75 — and include land, Tls. 265,483 ; buildings, Tls. 103,94283 ; invest- ments, Tls. 62,338-18 ; and cash deposits, Tls. 130,726-39. " The revenue of the British Municipal Extension Council is derived from a tax on the value of land fixed at fV of one per cent., and producing Tls. 17,550 ; a rental assessment of 9 per cent., yielding Tls. 25,400 ; licences, and sundries, the total estimate for 1908 being Tls. 58,514-45 — slightly more than the estimated expenditure. For many yeais the Senior British Council was the only municipal body in existence in Tientsin, and it became the medium through which many public works were from time to time initiated. In particular, mention may be made of the work of improvement which has been carried out in regard to the Hartto, the river which connects Tientsin with the sea. In the late nineties this stream had deteriorated to such an extent that there no longer existed a navigable channel whereby Tientsin could be reached by coasting steamers or even large junks, many reaches having become badly silted up. In these circumstances, the future of the port was saved by the British Municipal Council coming forward in 1897 to propose the raising of a loan of Tls. 150,000, under municipal guarantee, for river improvement. Thus was the foundation laid of the valuable conseivancy work which has been carried out of late years by the Hartto Conservancy Commission, a body established by the Protocol of September 7, 1901, which has effected three big cuttings, framing works, and other improvements. Latterly the amelioration of the Taku Bar has engaged public attention, and in 1905 and 1906 the British Municipal Council were again to the fore with a disinterested scheme of financial co-operation. The increasing prosperity of

RUSSIAN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OFFICES AT TIENTSIN.

the port, however, promises to render such assistance unnecessary, the revenue from River dues on cargo in recent years having approximated to and even exceeded the handsome figure of Tls. 100,000, although