The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-01-18

ctety, washington, .. CO.
Among all the far flung possessions
Of the British Empire. Hong Kong
might be called the gem. Many Brit
ishers look upon it as their local COL
Ony; and it is indeed city Of super
latives. 1t is the pivot OF British COM
merce, naval power ami influence in
the Far East. Travellers acclaim its
terraced city the most beautiful in the
Far East; its deep, colnmodious har-
Dor is one Of the best in the world
and in the tonnage of shipping entered
and cleared it Is outranked-since the
World war reduced Hamburg's i'm
portance-Only by New York. 1t is
the commercial gateway to the vast
era of southern China and the islands
to the south.
On the military side Hong Kong Is
stronger than Gibraltar and is the
base of one Of the most powerful fleet
units in existence, the British Asiatic
squadron. Finally it is one of the
most prosperous communities to be
found either East or West.
Much Of Great Britain's pride in
Hong Kong arises from the fact that it
has been built from nothing in lust
four score years. In 1889 Hong Kong
was bare granite island, nominally
part Of China, but inhabited only
oy few thousand fishermen and
groups of the pirates who made com.
merce off the Chinese coast thing of
hazard and uncertainty in those DAYS.
When British merchants clashed with
the Chinese in Canton in 1899 and
found 1t necessary to leave that city,
they retired first to the Portuguese
settlement at Macao, seventy-five miles
down the Canton river, and then COM
Pietely OF the mainland to the rocky
island Of Hong Kong. War followed
this commercial friction, and when
Great Britain emerged as the victor
IN 1871 she demanded, and the fol.
lowing year was given, outright title
to Hong Kong.
Despite the common idea, Hong
Kong Is not city, but an island. 1t is
eleven miles long and from two to
nve miles wide with an area Of more
than thirty square miles. The civ
which to the popular mind constitutes
doLg Kong, Is officially named VIC
torla Tor the queen who ruled In Bril-
tain during Its greatest growth. But
though the name Victoria Ia used in
olnclal documents and on some mapa
to most Of the islanders the biz com.
munity Of half 4 million souls IL
merely 1.-The city"
Victoria and the matchless hsrho-
are ON the inner side Of the island
and us the ship approaches Hong
Kong only the little developed sen.
ward side Is seen. In the distance II
seems little different. except for its
size' from the bare granite islands
among which 1t lies As the steamer
draws near differences appear: potch.
es OF verdure are discerned: the linz
of highway stands out ON the sida.
OF Its towering hills. an occosiona,
pane OF glass reflects flash of liyht
rom among the trees. Yet there ia
little hint Of the presence of preot
city Of half a million souls on tho for
silt Of the island.
Has Wonderful Aarbor.
When the ship has nosed around
the end Of the island at the west mr.
through the narrow passage near the
eastern end, the great harbor and citv
come Into view. Due to two penlnsuloy
which extend from the mainland Close
70 the island and to the indeptptiops
OF the shore of tie island itself .he
naroor' covering 10 to Is square miles
seems landlOcked. 1t has the annear
ance OF pond set down In yast
irregular granite bowl. In this deem
narbor all the worlds navies and a
large part Of the worlds combined
merchant fleets might be anchoras
without undue crowding. And there
IN truth on slmost any day Of th.
year may be seen generous samnlss
VI the naval or civil craft Of near,S
very maritime nation, while amons
them move busily countless ohinss.