April 8, 1896.|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
nected with various hongs,
merce P
His EXCELLENCY-At the Chamber of Com
Mr. MACKINTO K-The Registrar-General | Tung strongly deprecated certain statements |mittee of Chinese compradores and persons côn has informed me that no measure affecting the made at Thursday's 'meeting that the leading Chinese has received such great care, during his Chinese were backing up the coolies and that tenure of office, in the explanation of its provi- they had hindered the Government in enforcing stons to those interested, that the various mis the law. These statements were untrue, and to statements now preferred by the coolies have prove that the Chinese regretted the strike be of Commerce. The persons represented I häve The Hon. J. J. KESWICK—At the Chambor been fully explained to the head men, and that mentioned that their loss during the last few not the names of; but they were the masters of three thousand circulars and posters have been days amounted to upwards of $200,000. Was it the principal Nam Pak Hongs, the large mer. distributed amongst those interested, giving likely, in the face of this enormous loss, that the chants, the piese goods merchants, the coal mer- in clear detail the actual position of those leading merchants would support the strike? chants, opium merchants, shipping merchnats, who would be affected by the Bill. The Mr. Ho Tung then made suggestions asked for and the compradores of the leading European were filled with all manner of incon by the Committee. The first was that the foreign firms. They represented to this Committee that sistencies, as Mr. Gillies has mentioned. They hongs should guarantee that no poll tax or re- said they were to be fined and poll taxed. They gistration fee should be imposed, and, secondly, present registration law was the fear that it the chief objection which the coolies had to the were told that this was all an illusion. Over three that the landlord, and not the keeper, should was a precursor of s poll tax, and we there. thousand placards were printed and circulated be licensed. A great deal of discussion ensued, upon, after some considerable discussion With amongst the whole of these men ex- and Mr. Ho Tung pointed out that some time them, endeavoured to seek an interview with plaining how the matter stood. In my own ago when the cargo bosts were first licensed your Excellency, but as you were not at Govern- sass I have had before me the heads of the saly a nominal fee was charged for registration, ment House we had an interview with the different departments, representing three thou- | but afterwards the fee was increased to as much sand men, and first of all they said the Govern. as $20, according to the size of the boat. Exactly Secretary of what had passed, and in the evening Colonial Secretary. We informed the Colonial ment would impose a poll tax. I said, "I will the same thing happened with the 'ricksha and he informed us that you were not prepared, or pay the poll tax; there will be no poll tax." chair coolies. The Government at first assured Then they said there was a registration fee. I the coolies that only a nominal fee would be posal which had been submitted, namely, that that you were averse, to acquiesce to the pro- maid, We will pay the registration fee." Then asked for, but that fee had been increased by 100 | the landlords should be registered instead of they mid they were threatened by men, who per cent. The 'rickshs and chair coolies had to the tenants. We returned to the deputation would come down and kill them. I said, "There wear a number on their back, in front, and on are three thousand of you. How many men are the arms, and the other coolies were afraid that would be at once overcome if the members of and they informed us that the whole dificulty soming down here? Why, you would eat them with the advent of licensing they would also the Committee present, on behalf of the various up." I also told them that they would have have to go about numbered in this fashion like Arms they represented, would give a guarantee protection from military and police. They prisoners. After some further discussion it was replied, "We might be besten on leaving decided to see the Governor, but His Excellency
that there would be nothing in the shape of the premises.” I said, You will not be was out, and the Colonial Secretary was inter-statement, we had no difficulty in giving
a poll tax. In view of your Excellency's beaten, but if you do go away from the pre viewed. He, however, could not do anything in mises and get beaton and if you will produce the absence of His Excellency. On the confer- the man that beats you I will give $200 to each ence resuming the Committee agreed to guar- (Applause). Underlying all this is the antes that there should be no poll tax, and to wire puller at the back. Who he is I do not lay the suggestion that the landlords, and not the know, and I wish we did. There is a secret keepers, should be registered before the Governor fand which is supporting these men, and whether The Committee thereupon promised to issue a it comes from the gailds we do not know, The proclamation in these terms and asking the Government are unable to find out. Detectives coolies to return to work.
· have been sent out, but they have not succeeded in arresting anyone. The men themselves are perfectly passive and indifferent, and the only reply I can get from them now is, "If you will get the Hongkong coolies to go in we will go in | also.”
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translation of which has been put into the papers, guarantee, We gave them a guarantes, which doubtless your Excellency has seen. Im- mediately thereafter it would appear that the coolies' representatives had become aware of this guarantee and the labourers were prepared to that they bothought themselves and decided return to their work. It would appear, however, that they would wait to see the issue of a notifica- The following is a translation of the proclamation from the Government. We have come now, tion issued by the Committee:---
Hongkong, 29th March 1895, “As we, the undersigned firms and persons, understand that one of the reasons for you coolies to strike is because a poll-tax, or regis The CHAIRMAN-I would suggest as a prac-tration fee, or license fee, may be imposed by tical measure that a" Committee of five or seven gentlemen be elected by the meeting to deli- berate upon this grave question and to put them- selves in connection with the Government.
The CHAIRMAN-If that Committee meets with general approval I propose that it be autho- rized to add to its number if necessary planse).
the Government, we hereby guarantee that there is no intention whatever on the part of the Go- verament to make such an imposition now or hereafter.
F
Mr. FENWICK-I beg to second that.
"A meeting was held this afternoon in the The following Committee was thereupon Chamber of Commerce between ourselves and appointed :-Hon. J. J. Keswick, Messrs. Mac-many of the leading members of the Chinese kintosh, D. Gillies. N. A. Siebs, G. B. Dodwell, community, and it was decided that we should H. L. Dennys, and St. C. Michaelsen.
wait upon flis Excellency the Governor, to morrow morning, and recommend that yon coolies should be exempted from registering your (Ap-houses, and that the landlords be made to do
what is required by the Government for you.
"We hope the Government will adopt our re- commendations, and it is our earnest wish that you should resume work at once,
"(Signed) Jardính, MATHESON and Co.
MELCHERS AND CO. SIEMSSEN AND CO. Dodwell, Carlill and Co. D. GILLIES. BUTTERFIELD AND SWIRE, H. L. DENNYS, "
The suggestion was approved.
The CHAIRMAN-That concludes the business of this meeting, which I hope will not have been in vain. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing on behalf of the meeting the very great obligation I consider the public are under to the military and to the navy for the great services they have rendered in the unparalleled emergencies of the colony, (Hear, hear, and spplanse).
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sir, to ask your Excellency, seeing that the strike continues, what steps you believe would be If I have not fully represented the views of the praoticable in order to put an end to the strike. Committee, perhaps you will allow some other gentleman to amplify the remarks I have made. gentlemen, the sole question that rests between Mr. E. MACKINTOSH—Your Excellency and the strikers and the employers of labour through the Government is this, the Government have insisted by their latest legislation that the coolie to the Government to fulfil the various obliga- tenant of a coolie hong, shall become registered tions under the by-laws that have been passed by the Legislative Council or by the Sanitary Board; and in the event of the coolie tenant being unavailable and that he cannot be got at it shall dévolve upon the landlord or the owner of the property. It appears to me that the Chi- tenant nese in asking for the obliteration of the coolie are on all fours with their desire that they should obtain from us and also from the Government a statement that no poll tax or registration fee will be im- posed. If you will look at it, the Government have granted these two positions—first the ten- ant, next the landlord; ergo, it is optional for the registrar to put forward the tenant or the land- lord; therefore these gentlemen who are sponk- ing for the coolie hongs have no grievance what- ever, either as regards the imposition of a poll tax or as regards a guarantee that shall be given, because they can simply say to the Government, "We will not give the tenant; we will give the On Saturday afternoon the Committee ap- landlord." The thing is in a nutshell." If the An important conference was held at the City pointed at the public meeting held in the Cham- Government decline to strike out the tenant Hallon Friday between the Committee which was ber of Commerce Room on Thursday last waited and rely solely on the landowner, the Chinées appointed on Thursday and a hundred of the upon his Excellency the Governor at Governan simply say "the tenant is non est ; here is Fading Chinese, for whom Mr. Ho Tung was ment House in order to make recommendations the landlord." I think this is a solution of spokesman. On the previous evening the com- suggested by the leading Chinese in regard to the whole thing. It is really a guibble' in pradores met at Mr. Ho Tang's office to consider the coolie strike. The members of the Com- terms. the situation, and subsequently the members of ❘mittee present were Hon. J. J. Keswick (Chair- people; failing one they will take the other
The Government insist upon two the Nam Pak Hong were called upon, and an-man), Messrs. E. Mackintosh, G. B. Dodwell, N. ono the tenant, the other the landlord. The other meeting was held in the Yuen Fat hong. A. Siebs, H. L. Dennys, and St. C. Michaelsen.deputation we saw yesterday. I may say, is not It was then decided to meet the Committee at They were accompanied by Hon Ho Kai, sad the City Hall and to fully discuss the situation there were also in the room Hon. J. H. Stewart strikers in any shape or way. Our difficulty a deputation from the coolie guilds or the with them. Reporters were not present at the Lockhart (Colonial Secretary) and Mr. F. H.|when we were appointed was to get at the coolie conference, but we understand from Mr. Ho Tung May (Captain Superintendent of Police). that the Chinese were asked what were the real grievances of the coolies. The reply was that none of the merchants knew, because they could not get at the head coolies, who had gone to Chinese Kowloon, leaving their agents in sharge of the houses. Mr. Ho Tung was then asked to make suggestions which might resul is bringing the crisis to a conclusion. Mr. H.
A voté of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.
CONFERENCE BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN
COMMITTEE AND THE CHINESE.
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DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNOR.
EXTRAORDINARY SCENE.
30th Marcb.
putation,
His EXCELLENCY having received the de-
Hon. J. J. KESWICK said—We are the Com- mittee appointed at the public meeting which took place the day before yesterday to consider the crisis arising out of the labour difficulties, We had a meeting yesterday at the Council Chamber, and were there met by a large com-
had exactly the same dificulty as ourselves gentlemen, and we believe the Government have
cannot be found. Our next position was to get We cannot get at them. They have fled; they at those who we think, and we think reasonably, are in some way connected with the coolie hongs and have some influence over them, and hear what their grievance is. We have individually tried to find out what special grievance there is,