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THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD.
Telephone Central 1248 or 1247.
23, Wong Nel Chung Road, Happy Valley.
China Mail
ESTABLISHND
1346
No. 25,789 HONG KONG, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1928.
INVASION RUMOUR.
HUNANESE RE-ENTER KWANGTUNG ?
CANTON NOT ALARMED.
Yunnanese Mercenaries Too Poor To Fight.
Military news is scarce but alarm is not felt, in Canton where the authorities have a few brigades which can be sent up to the war zone. The fact that no reinforcements have been sent shows that there is no anxiety.
BIGGER PROFITS.
Humphreys Estate and
Finance Co,
CHAIRMAN'S BRIEF SPEECH.
· Annual Review Takes Less Thán A Minute.
900 PER CENT!
Alleged Fraud Against Employee.
LOCAL FIRM'S SUIT.
Judge's Surprise At Failure To Check Bills.
45
PRICE, $3.00 Per Month.
PEAK GARAGE.
H.K. Land Investment Venture.
ANNUAL MEETING TO-DAY.
Appreciation Of Work Of Hon. Mr. D. G. M. Bernard.
* Your Eyes Are Safe With Us.”
N. LAZARUS
Hong Kong's Only European Optician.
(Established Over Forty Years). Manager:-RALPH A, COOPER, M.A.0.A.. Registered Optometrist by Canadian Govt. Exam
(Personal Attention).
BRITAIN AND CHINA.
STATEMENT BY FOREIGN SECRETARY.
DIFFICULTIES
ADMITTED.
No
Surrender of British Rights.
What has probably been the A former employee of local The purchase of Prince's Build- shortest speech for some con-manufacturers was alleged, at the ing, the completion of arrange- siderable time by a chairman at Supreme Court this morning to menta for erecting a garage at the NO CHANGE IN. YANGTSZE SITUATION OR CENTRAL CHINA, the annual meeting of a local have defrauded his employers of Penk, half way between the Hotel FAILURE OF CHINESE RULE IN FORMER CONCESSIONS. public company was delivered by over $13,000, charging freight at. and Mt. Kellett Road, and an ap Mr. Henry Humphreys to-day, in some cases, five, seven and even teal against a Court decision in Unconfirmed reports from the north of Kwangtung province when presiding at the annual nine times the amov it actually favour of the Company relative to state that the Hunanese column which opposes the Canton Governmeeting of Humphreys Estate & paid to the shipping agents. the rights of appointment of a suc- In the course of the debate following the King's speech upon the ment and supports Chiang Kai-shek has again crossed the frontier Finance Co., Ltd., held this morn- His Lordship described
site-
cessor to the late Sir Paul Chater opening of Parliament, Sir Austen Chamberlain, Secretary of State and attacked the Cantonese defence garrison.
ing at the Hong Kong Hotel. markable" the failure of the em-to at the thirty-ninth annual meet;]
were among the matters referred for Foreign Affairs, made a long statement regarding China. Mr. Humphreys address took ployers to detect the frauds during ing this morning of the Hong Kong our policy towards China, but sait that some progress had been He admitted the difficulties in the way of the carrying out of less than a minute and the pro-la period of years jceedings were completed in re- wonder that disaster had not over- Ltd.
and expressed Land Investment and Agency Co., made. Reference was made to the two and a half per cent. surtax markably quick time. However, taken them as a business concern. Appreciation was expressed of
and the question of extraterritoriality, in regard to which he said this is not a "company meeting Plaintiffs in the case were the the work of the Hon. Mr. D. G. was hardly possible to make any further advance at present in record" as there is one of some Kwong Sang-hong firm of 260-252 N. Bernard, Chairman, who is respect to the surrender of our existing rights. years ago which lasted less than Des Voeux Road, Central, and they up an appointment with Jardine, cessions, Sir Austen blamed the civil war in China for preventing shortly leaving the Colony to take
Dealing with the surrender of the Hankow and Kiukiang Con- a minute alt told.
sued the employee in question-Matheson & Co., Ltd. in London. the Chinese from discharging their obligations.
Supporting the Hon. Mr. D. G. On the whole, he considered that the situation was much better M. Bernard were Mr. A. H. Comp- than it was a year ago. ton, Mr. H. P. White, Mr. A. S. Sir Austen touched upon Anglo-American relations in the course Gubbay and Mr. J. F. Joseph of his address (Directors), Mr. L. S. Greenhill (Secretary) and the following shareholders;-Messrs. W. S. Bailey, H. A. Rogers, B. W. Tape. W. H. Bell, A. G. Kennedy, W. E. L. Shenton, J. H. Tarrant, N. V. A. Croucher, C.. S. dos Remedios. O. F. Ribeiro, P.S; Cassidy, T. G. Weall. J. M. Alves, Fung Kang- un, D. V. Steavenson, F. Austin, H. Dennys, A. P. Samy, B. - Randall and J. T. Bagram,
The Canton Government's campaign against suspected Com- munists in the city continues unabated. However, Reds are reported to have broken out in two parts of the province, which are far from Naval wireless intelligence is to the effcet that there is no change in the Yangtze or Central China situation and, in such casos, no news is generally the best news.
ench other.
MARKET TOWN “TAKEN.”
Profits Increased. Supporting Mr. Humphreys were Mr. C. G. S. Mackie, Mr. J. Scott Harston and Mr. J. M. Alves (directors), Mr. G. Rapp (secretary). Shareholders pre-t sent were Messrs. M. Manuk, A. P. Samy, Frank, Austin, D. E.. Lokcheong a market town on states that it has been decided Clarke and J. D. Humphreys. the North River, about 180 miles that the Nationalist Government
The convening notice was read north of Canton, is rumoured to Council shall consist of 49 mem-by the secretary. The report, ac- have been entered by the Hunan bers, of whom the Standing Comm-counts and auditors' report for ese without a struggle, the gar-mittee will comprise General Tun 1927 were taken as read. rison falling back on account of Yen-kai as chairman, General Li Humphreys then read his review, the compromising attitude of the Lich-chun, Tsai Yuan-poi, Chang as follows:- Yunanose mercenaries who Ching-kiang and Yu Yuch-jen, maintain that Canton must pay while the Military Council totuls thern first before they will fight. 73 with a Standing Committee of However, the rumour lacks con- 12 leading Nationalist Generals firmation and should only be ae- with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-over the previous year which your
shek as chairman.-Reuter.
cepted with reserve.
Very little authentic intel- ligence has trickled through from [Note: Few if any of the ap- the war zone in southern Hunan-pointments have caused surprise. where are a number of British The appointees are mostly parti and other missionaries but it sans of Chiang Kai-shek or politi- that the Hunanese cians who have been at Nanking have put a considerable dis- for some time.]
does seem
and
tance between themselves General Pei Chung-hai who is pur- suing them towards Kwangtung.
CANTON'S RED.
Held in Check But Brenk Out
Elsewhere.
At least five raids on premises suspected to be Communist hid- ing-places were made by the Canton city police yesterday and the anti-Red comb-out continues unabated.
MUKDEN'S PLIGHT.
Authorities Exert Pressure on Financiers,
Several Chinese
Mr.
"The accounts are simplicity" itself and call for little comment. "The net profit for the year shows an increase of $5,533,81
directors think is quite satisfac- tory.
DR. C. C. WU,
Fired On At Singapore.
ASSAILANT ARRESTED.
Singapore, Yesterday, Dr. CC. Wu, the prominent member of the Kuomintang and ex-Foreign Minister of the Nanking Government, who is now list loaders who are on a world in Singapore with other Nation- tour was fired, on when leaving the Chinese Chamber of Cord Mr. Lim Boon-keng, ex-principal merce. He not injured.
University, WAR
was
of the Amoy slightly wounded.
The assailant was arrested.- Reuter.
f
IMPROVED SITUATION.
London, Yesterday.
Nanking Outrages.
He, could only watch the develop- On the resumption of the de- ment of affairs and proceed on bate on the Royal Address, Sir that path as circumstances might Austen Chamberlain made a render further progresa possible. statement on foreign affairs and Chairman's Speech. The Chairman's speech was as
realfirmed that our policy was animated with goodwill and follows: The amount available for Appropriation, including $895,- friendship for China and its previous year, is $1,421,291.48 to carry out the policy while the 991.82 brought forward from the aspirations. It was most difficuit this after payment of the Interim Chinese were unable to provide dividend in August last of $2 per a stable and settled government, abare absorbing $480,000. Your but we had made some progress. Directors recommend a final divi- dend of $2 per share, the same as last year; bonus to staff of $8,000 and the balance amounting
conditions, your directora decided
Surtaxes.
...In view of the long delay in
on 赴
The Defence Force had already been reduced to 4,500 and orders had been given for the withdraw- be very happy when conditions of al of another battalion. He would order and security enabled a total withdrawal, but that time had not
come.
Lrokers and wealthy merchants which will restore these funds to tilfs were well-known local manu-you will agree that it makes a not discriminate against British people.
tariff which would the British Government and
Shareholder's Tribute.
carried on.
Geneva.
No
New May Road Flats, "You will note that Typhoon and Floods Insurance Fund, and
He regretted the failure of any Special Repairs and Renewals
Chinese authority hitherto to give Fund, have been depleted by Chan Kau (alian Chan. Saf-fong) to $993,219.48 to be carried for carrying out the Washington Con- satisfaction for the outrages at Even at the present $2,092.62 and $18,680.41 respec- for $13,196.55, the amount he is ward, and I trust shareholders will in withholding her. consent to the moment Chinese troops wrongful-
vention, Britain was not justified Nanking. tively. The latter was larger alleged to have defrauded them of.
approve of these appropriations." than usual, as last year we had to give the periodical overhaul to half of plaintiffs.
Mr. F. C. Jenkin appeared on be-occurred
During the year an opportunity collection of the 2 per cent. sur- ly and unlawfully occupied the
of acquiring Prince's taxes agreed upon there, but ob- British Consulate. Bullding, with all its recent im-jected to illegal levies over and the following buildings-Carnar-
The situation was undoubtedly von Buildings, Humphreys Build-sent nor represented.
The defendant was neither pre-provements and on which we had above those.
better than last year. The anti- ings, Nathan Road buildings,
mortgage of $1,500,000, for Surtaxes were cropping up in British character of the agitation Abertholwyn' and 'Ian Mor.'.
Counsel stated that the action $8,000,000. After carefully consi- different parts of China. Britain had changed and the Chinese was, of an unusual nature in that dering the matter from every point would not object to tariff auto- were beginning to acquire a bet Mukden, Feb. 1.
"I trust that you will approve the acts under which the plaintiffs of view under present prevailing nomy based exchange of the proposed appropriations claimed constituted a felony. Flain- to effect the purchase and I think national
uniform ter appreciation of the goodwill of
were taken into custody this their former figures. morning by Chinese police author-
facturers and wholesale dealers in very fine and important addition to merchants and administered fair- "The only building operation ties on
and other toilet the Company's properties in the ly. charges of having undertaken during the year under perfumery, soap disturbed the monetary situation. review is the construction of four business they shipped large quan- that to facilitate the finance of this selves to agree on this important sition regarding Geneva.
He defended the Government requisites and as part of their central district. You will notice It was for the Chinese them against the charges of the Oppo- As all the Chinese shop-keepers residential flats on May 'Road. From Hoihow and Kwongning are now refusing to accept the These are now half completed and tities of these products to ports of transaction a mortgage of $850,000
which ws in existence in addition agreed- he was happy to say regretted the failure of the hon- question, and when they had doubt the United States bitterly Northern China. Canton has received urgent calls Fengtien paper money in their should be ready for occupation in for help as semi-bandit-and-Red Transactions, the lower classes July next.
Affluent Appearance.
to ours already mentioned has been there had been lately some signs est efforts of all three parties on For the purpose of carrying on hordes are active. Hoihow is the are in extreme distress. The la-
that part of the business they em-
$1,500,000 Mortgage, of auch agreement-then Britain the advance work begun at Wash- port of Hainan Island, south of bourers recently submitted a de- "I have no further comment to ployed the defendant as tallyman $1,500,000 on K.M.L. 49 but when adopt an obstructive attitude. anu forming a part of Kwangtung mand to their employers, asking make, gentlemen, and after the at a salary of $21 a month. De- repayment was due we could get
We also had a mortgage of would help them and would not ington. He thought the Govern
ment was well advised not to take province; Hoihow is on the north- for adoption of a system of paying accounts have been proposed and fendant had been in their employ no satisfaction from the mort-ficulties, we had made progress in but hoped the participants in the ern shore of the island and is in wages with gold or silver coins, seconded I shall be pleased to an- for a great number of years. In gagors and as interest was months connection with Extraterritorial- Conference and also other inter- Similarly, in the face of dif- up the subject again at present, regular steamship communication but as their demand was not en-swer any question shareholders August of last year, the defendant's behindhand. we sold the property ity. We were ready to apply the ested Governments might learn with Hong Kong. Kwongning is tertained by their employéra, dismay put in regard to same.” appearance of affluence caused the by auction with A reserve suffi- in that vague area generally quiet prevails among the poor.- known as up-country. It is a dis- Toho.
Mr. Humphreys then proposed plaintiffs to interrogate hin us to cient to cover the principal and existing modern Chinese civil and from the failure that when the that the report and accounts be how it was that he appeared to be oustanding interest. It was bought commercial code in the British time came to review the Washing- adopted and passed. Mr. Austin
Hong Kong & Kowloon courts, but as the Chinese codes ten Convention, and as he hoped seconded, adding: "I think that a position other than that in Wharf & Godown Co., Ltd. How were in nowise complete, it was to make a new one, they might all shareholders are satisfied and
which a inan at his rate of pay ever, they needed only the front hardly possible to make a further profit from the lessons of the pleased with the result of the
portion of the lot consisting of advance in the direction of the past and succeed where last year. year's working." No questioni
vacant land, and gave us the op- surrender of our existing rights they failed. was put and the report and ac-
portunity of purchasing from them while the system was still half- counts were unanimously adopted.
the rear portion consisting of 111 complete and suffering from & Other Business.
houses at cost. This offer was a division of authority. Other business transacted at
cepted and we were thus able to Tientsin, Feb. 2.
acquire at a resonable price a pro- On January 28 the Chinese ad- the meeting comprised:
Re-election of
perty with good prospects of sub- the retiring ministration of the former directors,
stantial future appreciation. Russian Concession circularised Harston. W. L. Pattenden, J. M. Messrs. J. Scott is attacking the Hunanese forces Chinese and foreign residents. Alves, C. G. S. Mackie proposed in the south of Hunan, is reported and firms in that area demanding bv. the chairman, seconded by Mr.
the payment, within a week, of a M. Manuk. special "Anti-Red Tax” amount-
trict in the west-centre of Kwangtung, not far from the
West River port of Wuchow and Kwangsi, province.
HUNAN WAR.
Canton's Allies Moving South.
General Pei Chung-hsi, the ally of the Canton Government, who
by the "Kung Sheung Yat Po" to have taken the field command in person. Staff headquarters has been moved down to Siangtan and the vanguard is making for Ninghsiang.
The messages referred to may indicate progress for Canton's friends but they also point to the anti-Hunanese army not having reached Hengchow, which is 100 miles from Kwangtung's northern frontier,
Not Caught Up Yet. Between Hengchow and Kwang-
TIENTSIN “SQUEEZE.”
Chinese Authorities Demand Special Tax.
ing to two and a half times the Smith, Seth and Fleming and Re-election of Messrs. Percy Rental Tax for last year.
Messrs. Linstead and Davis as
+
Foreign Protest Urged. There is considerable agitation
tung province, the Hunanese have here among foreigners, who con-i
at least one column of about Bider that the demand is anwar-
1
BRITISH LEGION.
INVITATION TO ADMIRAL EARL JELLICOE.
London, Yesterday.
FRESH WIND, OVERCAST,
North-east winds, fresh, over- cast, is the official weather fore- cast until noon to-morrow.
The anticyclone has weakened slightly and is now central to the son may he expected along the north of Shanghai. Fresh mon- S.E..coast of China and over the
China Ser
by the
A third branch programme was the surrender of our special rights in British Concessions.
The purchaser of some property British Concessions. at Wanchai which we had sold during the boom, allowing him to
He wished he could give a more leave part of the purchase money satisfactory account of the state on mortgage, defaulted and we had of affairs in Hankow and Kiu- to re-enter. The resulting value kiang since the surrender of
NURSE CAVELL.
GERMAN OBJECTION TO FILM.
Anglo-American Negotiations,
He emphasised that war with the United States was unthink- able, and the prospect thereof or preparation therefor had never been and never would be a basis of British policy. British ship- building was uncompetitive, and our programmes were framed solely with a view to the neces sary protection of British inter- esta,
In the meantime there were tions pending, namely an arbitra- tion treaty which America had submitted to Britain and which was identical with that submitted
In our books was rather high ethosc Concessions. The chaotic your Directors decided to allocate civil war had immensely impeded other Angio-American negotia- Yesterday the Chinese adminis- auditors for the ensuing year, at should be. Defendant's reply was $50,000 from last year's profits to the Chinese efficiently discharg- tration of the former German a remuneration of $250 each firm that he was proprietor of the Yue writing down the property to a ing the obligations devolving on Concession circularised foreigners-proposed by Mr. A. P. Samy, Fung Yuen firm, and that he was more reasonable figure.
them from the moment we sur- owning property in that area de- seconded by Mr. J. D. Humphreys, carrying on trade as a merchant in causes of the amount advanced on rendered any of those privileges.
The foregoing are the principal manding the production of their Dividend warrants can be had on hams. title-deeds for examination with a application.
Mortgages" falling from $10,140,-
to the French Government. But view to the payment of a special}
Plaintiffs, However, were *not 699.23 to $6,144,957.86 and
the new Franco-American treaty rental tax.
satisfied with his explanation and "Amount Invested in Property" in-
was not the same as the original they discharged him. As a result, creasing from $5,340,03087 to
draft, the exact contents of which another person
was employed as $9,911,286.20 during the year.
Sir Austen Chamberlain had not tallyman to look after the shipment
Garage at the Peak.
yet been apprised. But the new Arrangements have just been of goods and it then transpired
treaty, like the old, was not an un that the defendant had been de completed for the erection
of-a
limited treaty of arbitration on frauding them for a number of Garage at the Peak to meet the need for more 'accommodation for
every difficulty. They would
respondence and consultation space on Chamberlain Road half way between the Peak Hotel and "Pocket The Difference."
London, Yesterday..with the Dominion Governments. Mt. Kellet Road. The building fandant obtained these amounts was diately and be completed towards with the execution of Nurse
The method by which the de-will be commenced almost imme- London of a British film dealing proposals.
The proposed exhibition in before answering the American
as follows, stated counsel. It was the end of the year. It is planned Cavell has led to an official Ger- Sir Austen Chamberlain sald
Naval Programme. hip duty when the plaintiffs wanted as a two-storey building but the
the Government's naval pro to ship goods, to go to the shipping upper storey will not be proceed-man protest. arents and arrange with them for ed with until the delopment. The has issued a statement that the view to the necessary protection The Foreign Office at Berlin grammes were framed with a MINISTER ARRIVES ATds to be shipped to their reground floor will have fourteen pri- German Ambassador at Londen of British interests. The Gov
warrants Buch development NINGPO.
quired destination. When these vate lock-ups and in addition will and the German Minister at ernment's action in modifying arrangements were complete, he be able to garage. Afteen cars, al Brussels are endeavouring to pre- the cruiser programme auf- would get from the shipping agents lowing all of them clear: access to vent the exhibition of the film/ ficiently showed that the failure a debit nota for the amount of their individual parking spaces, which can only revive painful of the Geneva Conference has not freight Assuming such to have this is without taking into consi- memories and embitter relations lessened the desire to modify
(Continued on Page 12.)
between the countries. Reuter. naval construction-Reuter.
10,000 men which actually crossed ranted, the boundary and invaded the do- In addition to Chinese and The National Executive Coun-years, at least for three years, the
This invasion others not enjoying extraterri-cil of the British Legion has in-sum total amounting to that claim-cars. It will be built on the open REVIVING PAINFUL MEMORIES. have to enter into the fullest cor
mains of Canton. was repulsed but later reports, re- torial rights many British, vited Admiral Earl Jellicoe to ferred to above, hint that a American and French persons and become President of the Legion second invasion is mooted. And firms own property in these in succession to the late Earl Canton's allies, who are in the areas and would be seriously Halg-Reuter. rear of the Hunanese, have not affected by the imposition of the caught up yet;
proposed tax,...!?
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Oficials of the Nationalist Government.
Shanghal, Yesterday." telegram
from Nanking
The "Peking and Tientsin Times," in the course of an edi torial to-day, strongly urges all foreign residents to protest against the proposed action of the Chinese authorities and resist the lateat attempt to impose illegal taxation.
SIR M LAMPSON.
Ningpo, Yesterday.
Sir Miles, Lampson has arrived from Tsingtao aboard HM.S. "Foxglove."Reuter.
ed in the writ, ·
(Continued on Page 7.)