It is reported here that fighting has again commenced in Tonquin. T am somewhat inclined to believe it for two reasons, firat the source of my information, and secondly the fact that there isa strong fueling in fa-the efforts of the El nese soldiery @ cossation of hostilities was announced.
The fates appear determined to undermine British influence in the South of China. It is a wide-spread opinion in Canton that Hongkong belongs to Chin: One finds this opinion expressed by person one would certainly think better infur Alas that the Hongkong Government do anything to strengthen that opinion: arrest of a man for manufacturing salt in Hongkong has in some minds strengthened or created the impression that we hold Hongkong merely on aufferauce, It may be said that the manufacture of salt is a monopoly of the Chinese i a; not a monopoly of the inese Government in Hongkong. Opium is a monopoly of the Indian Government, but that dees not prevent opium being xrown in Persia and other places and shipped to China, All enterprising tradespeople and manufacturers ought to feel themselves safe ina British Colony. The Chinese Government lias no right beau it drouds smuggling to interfere with any industry started in a British Colony. I have frequently drawn attention to the fact that the Canton authorities exercise more authority in Hongkong, and squeeze more money out of the Hongkong tradespeople, than the Hongkong Government are prepared to credit.
Now we find that a character like Lee Lum-kwai, who report says is a bloodhound of the Canton Authorities, is let loose. these acts to British prestige in Canton, which prestige, judging what we can get the authorities to do for us, is about worthless. The p Viceroy treats the foreign Consuls disdain, refusing to call upon them or have anything to do wi Frenchmen who were in thi needed to
to get passports before going into the city. are obliged The tin and of the wedge has beau at: mitted, and we many have to fight our way through the gates again.—China Mail Cor.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.