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° Hong Kong ° Macau ° Shanghai ° Tientsin ° Yangzhou
CANTON
Distance between San Francisco and Canton: 6,073 Nautical MilesHONG KONG
Distance between San Francisco and Hong Kong: 7,262 Nautical Miles.
From as early as 200 BC Chinese junks sailed to the Malay Peninsula and through the Strait of Malacca. There they met and traded with the Indonesian people and with merchants from east India. During the time of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.), Chinese products, such as silk reached the Roman Empire. Nabataean merchants not only traded in silk, but began to manufacture silk products in both Damascus and Gaza, known as Damask and Gauze silk products. Some historians have speculated that the rise in international trade during the period of 200 BC to 200 AD helped the Asian and Arabian civilizations rise to great heights, and acquire great wealth.
The British colony of Hong Kong was born from the clash between two great empires. The ostensible reason for the outbreak of war between China and Great Britain in 1839 was opium, which the British and other Western traders were importing illegally into China.
Captain Charles Elliot, Royal Navy, arrived in Hong Kong on January 25, 1841 and planted the Union flag, proclaiming Hong Kong as a colony for the United Kingdom.
In 1841, the Queen of England pronounced dominion over Hong Kong Island and promised them:
- Protection against all enemies;
- Freedom to practice their own religion;
- Government according to Chinese laws and customs by village elders, subject to the control of a British magistrate;
- Exemption from the payment of taxes to the British Government.
Britain acquired Hong Kong Island under the Treaty of Nanking (Nanjing) in 1842 at the end of its first war with China. Elliot invited merchants to trade in Hong Kong and he organized the first government land sales. Land was parceled into marine lots (by the sea), town lots (certain areas inland) and suburban lots (all remaining). Some areas were designed as Chinese bazaars and some were reserved for the army and the navy.
The conflict continued, however, because of two fundamentally different concepts of international relations and trade. In the face of Western pressures to open China to trade, the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) clung to the old tributary system and struggled to keep the West at bay. Resenting the Qing dynasty's disdain of foreigners, Britain and other Western traders demanded equal treatment and commercial access to the Chinese market.
By 1844, the population of Hong Kong Island was 20,000, with an influx of Chinese immigrants from the Chinese mainland seeking work.
Maintaining law and order in a community of buccaneers, entrepreneurs and scoundrels was a major problem. Flogging held no terror for half-starved jailbirds from Canton, and imprisonment in the Hong Kong jail was a welcome respite for some. By 1845, a police force was formed of Europeans, Indians and Chinese. But it was inept as crime and fever raged through the Island. In the summer of 1843, 440 Europeans troops died and many people were seriously ill.
The commercial development of Hong Kong's fine natural harbor, which had attracted the British in the first place, began slowly, and Hong Kong lagged behind Shanghai as a port. With the discovery of gold in California in 1849, however, Hong Kong became a center for Chinese emigration from Guangdong Province to the United States, helping to build Hong Kong's economy, as many of the Chinese who went to California returned with their new-found riches.
In 1850 when a new emperor assumed the throne in Beijing, and it became clear the treaties were not being observed. Another war, fought between 1856 and 1860, resulted in Britain's obtaining the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula (on the mainland across the harbor from Hong Kong Island) and Stonecutters Island.
In the ten years to 1853, the population nearly doubled, reaching over 39,000 and by 1859 the population had reached more than 86,000. The huge influx of Chinese was caused partly by the Taiping Rebellion on the mainland and partly by Hong Kong's growing prosperity. To a limited extent, immigration was offset by Chinese emigration to North America and Australia with the gold rushes of 1849 and 1851. Emigration also resulted from the illegal trade in coolie labor for the West Indies.
Pirates preying on shipping in Hong Kong waters were a constant problem, and not all were Chinese. A famous English renegade, William Fenton, was eventually brought to trial in 1851, sentenced to three year's hard labor, then deported. An American pirate, Eli Boggs, was tried for murder and piracy in 1857 and deported.
During these trade development years, Chinese authorities were unable to prevent to control the trade of opium, which lay in the hands of the English, who attempted to create an opium monopoly in Hong Kong. The monopoly was unsatisfactory, so licenses were sold -- at $30 a month -- to sell raw opium. By 1858, with the Treaty of Tientsin, which legalized opium sales in China, the drug was also taxed by the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs. During the 1850s and 1860s, opium was listed as part and parcel of the cargo being brought into San Francisco and sold through it's auction houses through advertisements in the Daily Alta California. Despite the formation in 1874 of the Anglo-Oriental Society for the Suppression of the Opium Trade in England, it was not until 1891 that the first serious attempt was made to suppress opium in Hong Kong. But it was 1909 when the export from Hong Kong of prepared opium was forbidden to any country which prohibited its import. However, use of opium remained legal in Hong Kong until the second world war.
By the last quarter of the 19th century, Hong Kong had developed as a British Crown Colony. The 1880s and 1890s were the heyday of colonialism in Asia, and colonial society in Hong Kong reflected the temper of the times. During this period, Hong Kong became an increasingly popular destination for western travelers in Asia. In 1879 Ulysses S. Grant visited Hong Kong during his two-year voyage around the world. Grant's official welcome united the former commander of the Union army with Col. John Mosby, the former Confederate guerrilla leader (who was representing the United States in Hong Kong), and Hong Kong Gov. Sir John Pope-Hennessy, in full imperial regalia. Hong Kong's elite society loved it.
SHANGHAI
North China HeraldMarch 19, 1871
The members of the Yacht Club held their annual meeting in the Masonic Hall on Wednesday evening. Present—Captains Roberts (Commodore of the Club) in the chair, Deslandes, Mooney, Batten, and Mackenzie, and Messrs. Vigulier, A.J. Little, T. McGrath, Dudfield, Haskell, Deighton-Brayaher, Blethen, Hill, J.R. Croal, Ashley, Morton, J. Ford, J. Wilson, treasurer and W.H. Devine, secretary.
The Chairman said the first business was to decide the day for holding the next Regatta. He would be glad to hear any suggestions, but was himself of opinion that Saturday the 1st of April would suit in regard to tide, and he would propose that it be held on that day.
MR. WILSON seconded.
MR. HILL thought sailing on a neap rather than a spring tide would bring out the qualities of the boats best. On the spring tide they all went up river in a lump
and there was no racing till on the return.
Thursday week would be a suitable day
under this view, and being the day after
the mail might be readily made a half
holiday.
MR. DUDFIELD seconded this proposal.
The CHAIRMAN said the objection to neaps was that the boats would have to start very early in the morning.
Mr. GLENNIE thought Mr. Hill's suggestion a very good one, and one which would
tell in favour of management among those
who knew the river, as well as prove better
the boats' qualities.
Mr. HASKELL said it was very well sailing
on a neap tide if you were sure of returning the same day, but for his own part,
having rather a slow craft, he would likely
have to take two tides over it if Mr. Hill's
idea were carried.
Mr. ASHLEY thought well of the suggestion,
if it would not result in the boats having to return after dark. They needed all
the assistance of the spring flood to get
through their 35 miles course in time.
The CHAIRMAN said they would certainly lose the neap tide before they reached Minhong.
The amendment and motion were put to
the meeting, when the latter was carried,
fixing the 1st of April as the day.
Mr. BLETHEN had a motion to propose—that the Yachts be divided into two classes, first and second, and that separate prizes be given to be competed for in each class. His impression was that there was quite a number of yacht owners who would not enter this year, unless there was a second class, and it would be better not to lose them. By having a second class, these could come in and hare a good race by themselves, and it would also be a means of increasing the aggregate of boats in the Club. There were quite a number who stood so little chance of winning in the one class as at present, that they would probably become tired of entering.
Mr. WILSON asked if Mr. Blethen would also pick out the boats he would put into second class.
Mr. GLENNIE said that was a matter which might be decided by classifying them according to length. But he thought they might have the privilege of competing in the first class if they cared to do so.
Mr. BLETHEN said that was his idea also.
Mr. HASKELL considered they might safely leave it to owners to classify their boats.
No one would enter in the second if he
thought his boat was at all fit to compete
in the first, and even if it were attempted
to enter a first class boat in the second, the
owners might object to have it. In case of
this, it would be better to leave it to the
Committee to decide. He quite agreed
with Mr. Blethen, that, if there were not
two classes, more than half the boats would
not enter for the Challenge Cup, and it was
rather hard upon these owners that they
should never have a chance of winning
anything. He would therefore second the
motion.
Mr. HILL admitted the necessity for obviating
the disadvantages experienced by
inferior boats at present, but thought it
should be met by adopting the Brooklyn
Club Rules, regulating the spread of canvas
by the boat's measurement at water line.
At present the system pursued was against
the building of handsome models and safe
and comfortable boats. They were running
after great scows of boats, and all trying
who should have the biggest mast and
greatest spread of canvas, regardless of
appearance or of safety. The system he
could only characterize as one of sheer
brute force.
Mr. WILSON remarked that the Falls
Cup was to be run for under the Brooklyn
Rules referred to by Mr. Hill, and would
therefore give a chance to the boats which
might be left out at the race for the Challenge.
He thought it would be preferable
to let the Committee handicap boats according
to what they had done than to institute
two classes.
Mr. GLENNIE said it was very likely owners would be unwilling to have their boats classed second.
Mr. HASKELL did not believe there would be any trouble about that, judging from the opinions he had heard expressed in conversation.
Mr. ASHLEY could state, with reference to
the remarks that had fallen about sailing
rules, that the best races in New York were
always got out of the measurement of canvas
principle laid down in the Brooklyn
rules, boats then racing within a very few
seconds of each other.
Mr. HASKELL said, if there was to be a
second class they might make the rule as to
sailing for themselves, but the meeting could
not adopt the canvas measurement principle
for all the events.
Mr. HILL did not expect that the Challenge
Cup would be run for under such
conditions, having been already partly won
under certain other conditions, but thought
that rather than divide the boats into
classes, between which it would be very
difficult to draw the line, measurement of
canvas should be adopted generally.
The CHAIRMAN said the way would be
that those who were classed second should
not run for the Challenge Cup.
Mr. HILL did not see that. He had a
boat which might be classed second, but
which he would certainly enter for the
Challenge Cup for the mere pleasure of the
thing.
Mr. BLETHEN said he did not intend
his motion to exclude a second class boat
from entering with the firsts, but that if
it did so it should be debarred from entering
with second class boats at the same
meeting.
Mr. LITTLE thought if the boats were classed each owner should elect which class he was to go into, become registered there, and only run for its prizes.
Mr. HASKELL did not agree with Mr. Little's remark. The proposition for classification was only put for the present regatta, and there was no reason why, if a boat ran second class for this meeting, it should be required to keep to it. A man might Bell his boat and the purchaser go to expense to improve her sailing qualities, when he should be at liberty to transfer her to the higher class.
The CHAIRMAN thought owners should now declare their intention with regard to classing, as they appeared to be all present, and it could then be seen whether there would be sufficient to warrant giving a prize.
Mr. HASKELL thought they should first
see what they could give by way of prize,
and when owners saw what inducement
there was, they would decide.
Mr. WILSON said he had only a rough statement of the accounts to lay before the meeting, as he had been acting only as interim treasurer. The total collections had been $662, for Club entrance fees and entrances at races. An amount of $140 remained to be collected. The disbursements had been $354.37, and the balance to credit was $447.63. Besides these amounts, there was an amount of Tls. 350, collected for the Challenge Cup.
Mr. HASKELL moved, Mr. Blethen seconding, that the accounts be passed.
The CHAIRMAN asked the conditions attaching to Mr. Falls' Cup, whether it might not go to the yachts in the second class.
Mr. WILSON said it could not be so given, but must be run for by all, under reservation as to measurement of canvas.
After some conversation,
Mr. ASHLEY proposed, and Mr. HILL
seconded, that $50 be set aside for a prize,
from the funds.
Mr. HASKELL proposed, and Mr. BLETHEN
seconded, that three boats should run or no
race; and Mr. BLETHEN proposed, and
Mr. ASHLEY seconded, that the regulations
should be according to the Brooklyn rules
before mentioned—both agreed to.
The other races, for house-boats, ships'
boats, &c., were left to the Committee to
arrange.
Mr. BLETHEN asked if there was a rule in the Club that last boat should pay first boat's entrance.
The CHAIRMAN said there was no rule,
but it was sometimes arranged so.
Mr. BLETHEN said he would then propose
that the first boat should pay the last
boat's entrance. It was bad enough to be
last in a race, without having to pay the
entrance of the winner.
Mr. WILSON said the struggle would then be who should be last, among those who saw they had no chance of being first.
Mr. ASHLEY proposed as an amendment that the first boat be made to buy her own cup. (Laughter.)
A short discussion then ensued about entrance fees, and the Secretary said it was decided at last 30th of March meeting that an outsider might sail a boat for an owner belonging to the Club on payment of $10. The following new members were then elected—Captain Barton, Messrs. Vial, Morse, Mclvor, Ford, Crofts, J. P. Croal, and Baker. Captains Roberts, Barton and Batten, and Messrs. Blethen and Ashley were elected the Committee.
The CHAIRMAN intimated his retirement from the commodoreship—as the vice had also retired, it became necessary to elect both. He proposed Mr. Viguier as commodore.
Capt. MOONBY seconded.
Mr. VIGUIER said as he had to be away from Shanghai frequently, he feared he could not attend to the duties as he would wish.
Mr. HASKELL then proposed Mr. Little as commodore, with Mr. Viguier as vicecommodore.
Mr. HILL seconded.
Mr. LITTLE viewed the offer as a very great compliment, but feared he had not sufficient nautical knowledge to fill the position properly.
The CHAIRMAN said nautical knowledge was not the only thing necessary. They required some one to look after the -interests
of the Club generally, and Mr. Little was well qualified to do that.
Mr. LITTLE said he would do his best for i t ; and the election was unanimously approved.
Mr. DUDPIELD was then appointed secretary and Mr. Wilson treasurer.
Mr. LITTLE proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring commodore for his geniality and kindness in that position, and an expression of their great regret at his resignation. There were very few who would take such an interest in the affairs of the Club as he had done.
The CHAIRMAN said he felt highly honoured
by their vote of thanks. As he left
the Yacht Club in a flourishing condition
he hoped it would continue so.
The meeting then terminated.
TIENTSIN
Distance between San Francisco and Tientsin, China: 6,815 Nautical Miles