· 254
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[April 3, 1895,
and after careful examination of every state. me I would like to say one word. Of course the lodging bouse shall cause the internal walls and ment put before us it amounts to nothing. interests represented by the Committee are ceilings to be cleansed and limewashed twice a It is really a grievance against the Government chiefly mercantile. I was at that meeting which year.. That might be arranged. But he for passing regulations they think will be a re- has been referred to, and quite as a surprise to shall keep his premises in a clean condi- striction upon them. This restriction, I think, myself I was nominated a member of the Com- tion and shall cause every room and passage an be got over by an explanatory proclamation mittee. I have in my profession had to study to be thoroughly swept once a day, and shall stating a recapitulation of the guarantee given the Ordinance. As understand that Ordin-cause all filth and house refuse to be removed by the Committee that there will be no poll tax ance it was brought in in 1887, and attached to from his premises daily." A very nice position and no registration fee, and that the landlord of the Ordinance were certain by-laws which pro- I should be put in as President of the Sanitary the house shall be the guarantor instead of the vided for the sanitary arrangements in common Board to be summoning Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. Chater, tenant. It is optional for these gentlemen to say, lodging houses. These by-laws require that and perhaps Mr. Mackintosh for paltry and "We will not give a guarantee; here is the land. certain cubic feet should be given to each petty nuisances in their common lodging lord."
If that were to be put in a proclamation inhabitant of the house, that certain lavatories houses! A nice figure our merchant princes and published throughout the colony, I think the and arrangements of that nature should be would ent in the magistrate's court for not re- thing would be finished to-morrow. I may say that provided, that certain tiled floors and certain moving the house refuse from their common these Chinese gentlemen we met asked us to give other things should be found, and that a lodging houses. We come finally to the re- the guarantee, which we were perfectly prepared register should be kept of the inmates of the porting of infections diseases, such as bubonic to give. We gave it with the idea of resuming house. Section 73 of the Ordinance provides plague, cholera, &c. These are duties and respon- business in this colony as quickly as we possibly that nobody shall open a registered lodging house sibilities which must be cast upon the oc- could, for it is a matter of the most serions im- without first of all getting a licence from the capier, and in various other Ordinances they are portance to the whole community. We see that Registrar-General, and in order to get the licence cast upon the oconpier. Take the Gambling These gentlemen stated that their own loss was he shall make a report to the Sanitary Board Ordinance. If I find gambling on the floor of $200,000 for the two or three days. That is pro- about his house, showing that it is a proper a certain house, whom do I summon? If you bably exaggerated, but speaking for myself and house to be a common lodging house and get are to make the landlords responsible for every- the other members of the deputation round you, something in the nature of a licence from the thing that goes on in every house in the colony most of them largely connected with labour works Sanitary Board to be presented to the Registrar-gambling and every sort of nuisance of what- in this colony. I may say that the losses of these General, and then he will get his licence. Now, ever nature-the next time I have a gambling gentlemer will not fall very far short of that sum, of course, I am here as a member of this Commit- warrant to execute I shall probably have Dr. Ho Hon. Dr. Ho Kai-I was invited by Mr. Kes tee, but as a member of this Committee and having Kai in the dock for having a gambling bease. wick to attend the meeting to day, no doubt recommended a certain thing to the Government The thing is entirely ridiculons. I am perfectly with a view of supporting the recommendation I think it is fair to urge that these by-laws astonished that members of the mercantile com of the Committee. I must say that the decision could be much better carried out by the land-munity should come forward with such a prepos. of the deputation was in agreement with lord, by a responsible man, than by the head terons proposal. It is unworkable. The only what on a former occasion a certain number coolie, who is only getting each day twice the reason why the Government in recent legislation of the Chinese had recommended in another amount of the ordinary coolie. The person who have made the landlord ultimately responsible place, that the landlords should be allowed is called the tenant in this Ordinance is simply was because Mr. Dennys' clients took French to register for the tenants and the head a head coolie. The other coolies, say, are get- leave and walked off to Kowloon City. coplies. After they have settled down and seen ting 10 or 20 cents; he is getting 20 or 40 cents Mr. DENN38-I must ask for the names of that the law will work no hardship upon them a day. Is that the sort of man to go to the these clients. I do not know whom Mr. May they would very likely be induced to register for Sanitary Board as to the house and make a re-refers to. I do not think it is very good taste themselves. It is prefectly plain that these port about it? Is that the sort of map after for him to make that statement unless he is pre- coolies are ignorant and have no knowledge of getting a report from the Sanitary Board to pared to state the names of those clients. I what is really good for them, and, like children go to the Registrar-General ? Would it not know of no client of mine who has left the co- when they see a strange thing for the first time, be better to have responsible the landlord-some lony since this Ordinance was enforced. My they are apt to be very shy. But as soon as they body who has a stake in this colony-to apply clients were the only men summoned who came become more acquainted with the law and the for this licence? Of course everybody under- to the police court to meet the police authori- working of it, I have not the slightest doubt stands the Government here does not like to ties, and the police authorities have disposed of they will quietly submit to the views of the give way to the strikers-does not like to appear the cases against them. Government. The advantage of having land to ba dictated to by Chinese who have taken Mr MAY-I think it is true. as Mr Dennys owners registered is this. So far as the coolies part in this movement. But the Committee do says, that his clients have not run away, and I are concerned they do not get much advice; they not represent the strikers, and do not come on withdraw and apologise. I was the officer who do not know very much. But the landlords, behalf of the strikers, and were appointed by suggested that the landlord should be made who are a mere intelligent body of persons and the meeting of the European community; and ultimately responsible, but I never propused that can get legal advice whenever they desire, it was only because they could not find out in he should be made primarily responsible. You can protect themselves if they choose by the least what the alleged grievances of these must make the occupier of the floor-the man afterwards asking the coolies to give certain
men were that they invited them to meet the who opens the house for his own gain--respon- guarantees against the infringement of the law. Committee in the Chamber of Commerce room. sible. But unfortunately we are so near the Among Chinese it is well known that the tenants I submit to your Exc-llency it would really Chinese mainland that whenever there is any of houses constantly deposit some of the money oreate no hardship whatever if the landlord were trouble the persons who are wanted run with the landlord in order to secure the payment put in instead of the tenant, and then these sani- away; you cannot find them and as you must of the rental for a month or two months in ad- tary by-laws which have remained unenforced make some one responsible I think it is vance. Now by the same process it appears to me since 1887 could be enforced to-morrow.
only reasonable, therefore, to make the owner that the landlord can protect himself by asking
Mr. F. H. MAY was then asked by His Excel-ultimately responsible. Having said this mach the tenant to deposit a certain sum of money to lency to speak, and he said—I have listened with and your Excellency having asked me to state secure the carrying out of the law. The considerable astonishment to the remarks made my opinions I deem it my duty as Captain other day I think it is a matter alluded to by by the members present in favour of throwing Superintendent of Police in this colony and re- Mr. Mackintosh we passed a law that in the the responsibility of common lodging houses absence of the head coolie-that is, the actual upon landlords. 1 do not think that any of the tenant of the house-the householder or, in gentlemen, including Mr. Dennys, can have the absence of the householder, the immediate possibly read these by-laws since 1887. I will landlord or landowner is responsible for the re- with your Excellency's permission draw atten- gistration and the carrying ont of the by-laws tion for one moment to some of the things which after registration. Now it seems to me that these by-laws require the keeper of a common the Government by adopting that are offering lodging house to carry out. The keeper of a two modes of registration to the people. In common lodging house shall affix and keep in a the first instance, they desire the head coolie conspicuous position on the outside of his lodging should register, and if they do not carry house a board having printed on it in English and out the provisions, the landlord or the house- Chinese in legible white letters and characters, holder whoever he may be would have &c.,” and shall also "affix and keep in a conspicu- The whole of the members of the Committee to be responsible. It seems to me that if the ous place in each room a board showing the num- stood up, and when the Hon. J. J. Keswick re- overnment to-day were to consent to the ber of persons who shall inhabit the room." "The marked Unless it is withdrawn I shall retire views expressed by the deputation, to make keeper of a common lodging house shall not per- from this room at once," the other members also proclamation that we give the option that mit males and females above 10 years of age re-asserted their determination to retire if Mr. the bead coolies have to be registered or else spectively to occupy the same sleeping compart. May did not withdraw the remark. Mr. Mao- that the landlord or the householder would ment, except in the cases of husband and wife." kintosh said the assertion should never have have to register for them, then I think the How,may I ask, is any landlord who owns perhaps been made. problem would be solved; and so far as to four or five hundred houses in this colony to go day is concerned I think a good number of round and see that boys and girls do not sleep ecolies have returned to work after receiving the together? “The keeper of a common lodging eironlar published by the members of the de- house shall not knowingly permit persons of bad putation, and now they are only waiting for the character to lodge in his house, and shall also Government to give its decision, so that all of keep a register of the names of each lodger." them may return to work as speedily as possible. How is a landlord, going to enforce this? I hope your Excellency will see your way to
"The keeper of a common lodging house shall support the circular published by the Committee cause the windows of each room to be kept open by allowing the coolies the option of either for four hours each day." It would be a nice registering themselves, by the head men or sight indeed to see Mr. Chater or Dr. Ho Kai through the landlords.
going round opening windows of lodging houses IMA DENNIS-If your Excellency will allow for four hours a day."The keeper of a common ei gr9di coondled i Pege Jaw Jul
it o!
sponsible as such for the law and order of this colony, and also in my capacity as President of the Sanitary Board, which is responsible for the carrying out of the sanitary legislation of this colony, to state that I consider the action of this Committee in aiding and abetting this movement for a compromise has been most mischievous and, I go so far as to add, most disloyal to this Go- vernment.
Hon, J. J. KESWICK-I take exception most emphatically to this remark, that this Committee have in any way aided and abetted this strike.
Mr. MAY-I withdraw the expression. His EXCELLENCY-I have no doubt the sug- gestions of the Committee were made with the very best intentions
Mr. MAY-I withdraw the expression with regret, but I must say I consider the action of the Committee was most unfortunate I had the honour of reporting to your Excellency yes. terday afternoon that this strike was practically at an end. I did so under what was very good authority. I had been going ont of my way during the strike to assist the mercantile com- munity so far as I could, and I can assure your