THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
14
||January 3, 1805.
accept the lessons of the past half century Justice in giving his decision said—"There given to the Taipingshan owners that is no and continuing the present system of is practically no appeal whatever from reason why the owners of plague nur. universal corruption in every department. "the Magistrate's decision. If these men series in other parts of the colony should "had not had friends with the neces- be compensated because it has been decided of the administration, an opportunity may offer for the extension of Muscovite rule over
influence and funds to come for-that their houses must be placed in a sanitary sary “ward, they would not have been able to condition. There is probably not a landlord a great part of the Central Kingdom, or Russia may be drawn into a policy of inter- engage counsel and to have brought their in the colony who would not be glad to have
1 case
before this Court; and in the same way his property resumed on the terms of the vention by force of eircumstances. It is truno that at the moment Russia gives no sign of “there is no appeal to the Governor." But Taipingshan Resumption Ordinance. The any desire to take advantage of China's practically this applies to all cases brought plague has turned out in excellent thing for prostration, but in the event of the northern before the Magistrates, and not to rendition those fortunate individuals who owned proviuces becoming a prey to disorder and cases only, for it is only when a person is property in that district, just as a fire robber bands commencing to give trouble "tried for murder that the Crown provides is a fortunate thing for a man who has on the Amoor is it reasonable to suppose him with legal assistance. In all ordinary his property overinsured and succeeds
recovering
It the full amount. Russia, would continue inactive? As Sir cases the man who has no money to engage in
was unfortunate that such a mistake was THOMAS WADEpoints out, her true objective legal assistance has to be content with the in the Far East is the Yellow Spa and the Magistrate's decision, and no doubt occasional made in the Taipingshan Ordinance, but ests thereof, aid however peaceably dis instances of miscarriage of justice occur. The that is no reason why the colony should go selthe Czar NICHOLAS II, may be, if the fact, however, that a Magistrate in convict. on improperly paying compensation. The For seeme kripe it would be unnatural for the ting a man under any particular Ordinance amount involved in the case of the houses Beir tó refram from plucking it. But we takes a wrong view of the evidence is no mentioned in the schedules to the present entertain strong hopes that some better a -- argument gainst the law itself, nor does Mr. Bill would probably be found on investiga- ru gomont than a general disruption or WODEHOUSE'S mistake in the recent Cus-tion to be comparatively small, but it is case afford any argument important as a matter of principle that the vont dismemberment of China will follow toms seizure
bead- flac conclusion of the war. The Japanese against the Extradition Ordinance. How such claim for compensation should not
an experienced and painstaking Magistrale mitted. It many unfortunately happen that dyrument& have no collapse of the Chine desire to precipitate a
Empire. It is no came to make such a nustake is a mystery. It the colony may have a succession of visita- part of their policy to see the non-aggressive can hardly be supposed that he did not with tiens of the plague and that many bouses Chinese Government replaced by a militant due care analyse the evidence, and the only may have to be closed during the epidemics, Power like Russia sceurely master of the alternative supposition is that he took it for in which case to pay compensation in re- Yellow Sea. If China is fu danger of filling granted that if he committed the men for spect of them all would be a severe drain on intä fragments Japan would be ouly too rendition the case would be carried fur- the finances of the colony. But more im. véling to join the Treaty Powers in a united ther and that owing to the peculiar circum-portant than the mere financial question
flat, to either set up a new Empire or stances surrounding it he thought it desirable the consideration that landlords should be ver 1 Chinese kingdoms. In all probabi- it should receive the additional ventilation made to understand that the ownership of its the old fabric will be mainta ned though an appeal would afford. If that be the property imposes on them other duties than the course taken by the mere receiving of rents and that if they korhat weakened by the shock it will true explanation
Mr. WODEHOUSE just be pronounced, a allow their houses to fall into an insanitary ase sustained. I
dangerous and unjustifiable one, however condition it is at their own risk. If they good the intention may have been. Leaving are to be compensated at the expense of the speculation aside, however, it is satisfactory public for the consequences of their own to note that under the procedure provided neglect what inducement would there be for by the (rdinance a miscarriage of justice them to keep their property in good order? was avoided. ́
EXTRADITION OF CHINESE CRIMINALS.
was
When the Chinese E£ raddition /Orduance was passed in 1889 hustlay to the measure was expressed by the unofficial members and it was by the official vote that the Billy Parried.“ An idea prevailed that the new law would render it easier for the Chinese au." thorities to squeeze and terrorise the prace able inhabitants of this colony or men of means who might comes cre from the Straits Settlements. As the Bill was originally drafted it
THE INSANITARY DWELLINGS
في
BILL
evidence a clause admitting in taken place in that assemb
measure
for
many years.
every
ance from them. In this matter therefore, on Saturday, we think the public at large as well as in the other questions decided will thank the Government for having used the official phalanx to outrote the unofficial
members.
188
To pay such compensation would indeed be a direct incentive to neglect, for if landlords found that visitations of the plague profited their own pocket there would be at least some amongst them who would rather hope The debate in the Legislative Council on the for such visitations than work for deliver- 22ud ult on the new Health Bill was one of the most important and interesting that has persons whose rendition The time has a rived when it is necessary to was applied for the depositions taken in Chi- deal effectively with the conflicting interests of property owners and of the community
That nese courts. Had that provision been re-
There is one debatable clause in the Bill, tained the Bill would unquestionably have generally, for it is imperative 1 been a very dangerous measure, for u would possible precution should be taken against however. We refer to the means by which it is have been an easy matter to manufacture the return of the plague or against its ob- proposed to regulate the height of buildings documentary evidence and the authorities taining a foothold and becoming epidemic according to the width of the streets or lanes would not have scrupled to do so whenever should cases unfortunately be introduced on which they abut. It is unquestionable they wished to get hold of any mau who from the main'and. In raking measures that the height of buildings should be so was thought to be worth squeezing or with that object it is impossible to avoid regulated, but the question of how that against whom there was any political touching the interests of property owners. policy is to be carried into effect
s, to what extent if very wide and difficult one and deserves grudge. This clause, however, was struck The question then aris s
any should the landlords be compensated for much more mature consideration than has out and as finally passed the
Where yet been given to it. In the meantime a was unobjectionable. It did not really this interference with their interests.
to satisfy the unofficial members facilitate rendition, but simply established the insanitary condition of houses is directly compromise has been arrived at which a regular course of procedure where before attributable to the default of the owners this seems nothing but disorder prevailed, and provided question can only be answered in one way, of Council, but we think the most sensible certain safeguards in the interest of the namely, by declaring definitely that no com-course would have been to strike section accused. There is no reason to suppose pensation at all shall be given. A mistake 12 out of the Bill, as proposed by the that in the cases that have been dealt with was unfortunately made in providing in the Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, leaving the matter to under that Ordinance there has been Taipingshan Resumption Ordinance for in- be dealt with hereafter. Not that we would any miscarriage of justice, and the case terest being paid to the owners of property by any means advocate its being shelved recently before the courts arising out of the in that district on the price at which the re- indefinitely, but it is out of place in the The regulation of seizure of a junk by Chinese Customs sumption is to be effected from the date of present Bill, which is supposed to deal with officers, who were alleged to have been the closing of the houses to the date of the matters of urgency. assaulted by the crew, shows that the safe-payment of the money, This gave the un- the height of buildings is not a matter of guards provided by the law are efficient, the official members some ground for urging that urgency. It will be many years before the accused being discharged by the Supreme the owners of houses outside that district section dealing with this matter can have Court. It would seem, however, that in which have been closed for longer or shorter any appreciable effect either in widen- that case the Magistrate made a serious periods should be compensated for the lossing streets or redreing the height of build- mistake in weighing the evidence and that of reut. They contended that all should be ings abutting upon them, and it would community. had the accused not had friends who pro-treated alike, and that the payment of in-have been better if the Government, the vided the means to carry the case, to the forest to the Taipingshan orners was equi-parties interested, and the Supreme Court three innocent men might valent to compensation for loss of rent. To at large had had more time to consider ch has been with duc deliberation the difficult problem have b ́eng yn up.
Acting Chief this the answer
:
.