The pawnshop keepers at Canton have won in their contest with the officials. As reported in my last they closed their establishments on account of the rude treatment and gross extortions to which they Imd been subjected by the Bannermen, culminating in the action of one named Kno Taun-yung, whose punishment they demanded, The Magistrate has since sentenced this rowdy to six years' imprisonment, and the authorities have engaged to do their best to puta stop to the annoyances caused by the Bannermen. The pawnshops have accordingly resumed business, reopening on the 28th ult.
THE WUCHOU LIKIN OFFICIALS, Now that Wuchou has been declared an open port, the native officials there seem to have set,' their to work to devise methods Jor destroying all chance of foreign trade, On the 30th May one proclamation was issued from the Likin Office, the effect of which will be to catch every import in the official toils, and on the 26th June another proclamation appeared also designed to hamper trade. 'The duties on kerosene have been farmed to a native syndicate, and other farms are proposed for piece and other staple imports. 'The natives are evidently afraid to engage to ship direct, and obstacles are clearly being raised in' the way of trade with the foreign merchants.
Hongkong, 8rd July.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.