The Empress Dowager's financial A.D.C., BLE. Kang Yi, who is now in the City of Rams, is credited with the intention of raising Pls, 5,000,000 for his Imperial mistress in Kuangtung. He has issued a proclamation declaring that it is his desire to raise money by compelling the dishonest oficinls to disgorge their squeezes and by making reductions in.he public exponditure, He disclaims any intention of trying to get money out of the traders, and invites "persons to send in complaints against. officials who have been in the habit of extorting unlawful squeezes. He also delicately intimates that all voluntary contributions will receive full acknow-Tedgment. This has had the effect of some of the representatives of the merchants and traders seeking an interview with the Commissioner, to whom they explained the difficulties and obstructions to trade caused by the likin maladministration and begged him to institute reforms in this collectorate. Whether H.B. Kang is only. bent on making a purse for the Empress or whether he is really trying at the same time to unearth the searces of the leakage of revenue that goes on in the provinces and the abuses which so seriously handicap, will no doubt soon be made apparent. the latter, he may do good by reporting on the folly of maintaining dual system of Customs administration among other things.
Hongkong, 16th September.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.