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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[April 3 1885. is an occult and powerful influence, and this position in the colony with 20,000 idle Chinese and the Committee in proposing this suggestion strike is not a new thing. We have seen this coolies, or within a quarter of that number, in their | to the Government were carrying ont the Go- over and over again, that it is owing to the houses with nothing to do. I think, gentlemen, vernment's own words. If the thing was pre- infdance of the bad over the good. As it would be quite lawful—I do not know whether posterous it was the overnment that had pro-
■ rule the bad should be afraid of the good; the Ordinance would empower it-to go into posed the preposterous regulations by passing la Hongkong the good are afraid of the the houses and give the men the option the Ordinance. Mr. Mackintosh had said that it bad. I think it would be a most terrible thing of being deported by the Cauton steamer that was a quibble as to words, and #r. Dennys had if what may be called the_worst feature of the evening, or being turned out to work. (Applause), pointed out that under the Ordinance the house. advanced civilisation of Europe were imported And, gentlemen, I am sure they would go to holder is ipso facto responsible. The Govern- lato› China-that contest with jealousy, that work. They only want an excuse for refusing ment said that the head opolies had no grievance, war—for it is nothing else—between capital and to obey these men who rule them with a but did the coolies strike without a grievance ? labour which threatens to reduce our country to rod of iron. Give them an excuse and they will The Committee had noted diplomatically in ad- a very low state. I hope we shall never see it go to work. (Applause). 1 would ask the Chair- | vising the Government to accept the registration successfully introduced here. Our hope in this man's permission to move this resolution, which of the bouseholder instead of the tousut of the solony is to derive advantage from the employ. I have just prepared for this meeting:-"That house or the head coolie, who received a few ment of Chinamen, the employment of the mil. this meeting desires respectfully to express its cents more a day for preparing the rice for the Hons of China; the direct and indirect em-approval of the firm attitude maintained by other coolies. It argued penury of resource on ployment of them;-the direct employment, JI.E. Sir William Robinson and the Government the part of the administration that it could not na the large manufactures of sugar and inconnection with the present coolie strike, and obviate this registration difficulty. If insisted on others do, and the indirect employment of them to record its conviction that by such means alone tḥ law would become a dead letter; it was na- as the merchants do by buying the products can the present difculty be overcome and its workable, impracticable. He maintained there and exporting them to Europe. If that hops recurrence prevented.” (Applause).
was something more behind this in the shape of is interfered with by the springing up of these Mr. R. SHEWAN seconded the resolution. a grievano». "Mr. Ho Tang, without mesning it, jealousies it will dash the anticipation that we With all due deference he thought the had given them a olue, and he had heard it from have of curing Hongkong of the diffoulties of meeting was mistake. He refused to be a gentleman of great experience in this colony--- our present position. We have mann-lieve that a British community was incap- | a gentleman who was present but whose name factures springing up here and there such able of dealing successfully with Chi. Mr. Roepson did not think he would be as rattan preparations, glass works, and we nese coolies. They no loyal subjects bad justified giving. It was not merely the pains have many other things springing up here; only to give ready and loyal support to the and perfies that would be exacted in a per- bat the main dificulty is the raling of the Chi- | Government. It would be time enough to feotlegitimate manner when the head coolie- nese. I never shall forget the answer of a offer assistance to the lovernment when ---the man whe bought the rise for small batcher >> tobacco manufacturer here. I do not remem. they were asked for it. The Government | of men and became responsible to the retail dealer ber his name, but bis house is next to the Har- was perfectly able to put this strike down for the payment—had to appear at the Magistracy. bour Master's offoo. I asked him many (applause), and he asked them to show these but it was most certainly the fear of an illegal yours ago, "Why do you have your large coolies that the Government was fully capable exaction that had induced theas men to strike. maufactory in Masso and have to run of putting down this rebellion of Chinese. Every man in his own country stood in fear of backwards and forwards, instead of opening a|(Renewed Applause).
his own officials, and every Chinsman în this factory here?" He said, “Sir, I would gladly || Mr. H. SMITH-It is very comforting of Mr. colony stood in fear of the Chinese officials in do itj but we cannot control our workmen here, Ho Tung to come here and assure us that the the colony. Every lukong would lovy his tax, and therefore I am obliged to carry on my work leading Chinese have no influence, directly or and it was characteristic of the Chinese that they in Maono." He employs some thousands of indirectly, over the strikers. Perhaps I might dare not tell the Government. But Mr. Bo Tung, men. In England it has recently been found ask him how it was that after the leading Chinese unintentionally, had told them why. The officials nécessary to interfere between contractors and had met the Committee the other day, as if by in the colony could make a Chinaman say any. their workmen. It may be necessary, if a wag of the finger, all the coolies went to work thing, but they could not make him speak these guilds hold on in their injudicious and again, and now, after these deliberations, the ar- the truth. (A laugh). It was moral courage mischievous course to have some legislation rangements proposed fell through, and as if by an- that was wanting, and every head coolie knew. of that kind here in order to insure that a | other wag of the finger the coolies again ceased just as the gambling house keepers and totally larger share of the enormous sums paid by work P. Can you explain that P
different classes of people in this colony knew, the military, naval, and civil authorities for Mr. Ho TUNG-It is very easily explained. that he would have to pay bribe money. Every labour shall go into the hands of the men It is just what I said before about the leading head coolie who got his 10 cents per diem knew themselves, and is not abstracted by canning Chinese. When we lend our services to the that something would have to go out of his idlers, and that is the description which might Government, if successful we get no benefits; pocket into that of the Inkong or else he would fairly be attached to many of these men. With and if anything goes wrong we get all the be charged with overcrowding. That was why regard to dealing with the strike, the Chinese, blame. The Chinese deputation, when they he would not register. Every man who no doubt, are children. But parents do not came here, told the Committee distinctly that registered, unless he paid these bribes, would disous with children; they simply say that this they could not get at the head coolies and that have to go before the magistrate and into or that is to be done, and they insist upon its they were all out of the colony. The deputation gaol. The magistrate could not help himself. being done. I think we may fairly do that were asked again and again whether they could He had to take the word of the lukong. In with regard to the recent legislation of the Ba- make any suggestion. They answered that the many cases the Inkong would be telling the nitary Board. There is no doubt whatever that coolies did not want registration, as they were truth; in other cases for certain be would the present position is, as has been mentioned afraid it would lead to new taxes, and the deputation be enforcing his bribe. The head coolie would by Mr. Brown, one of rebellion; it is war. made the suggestion which was adopted by the bave to pay the blackmail to the police The existence of a body of 20,000 coolies-lasty Committee, and the Chinese that day fully ex-for ever or give up keeping his boarding soolies--in Hongkong, disaffected and armed pressed to the Committee that they did not comhouse. The householder could not be made to with their formidable bamboo poles (laughter), mit themselves in any way. They did not not pay a bribe, and it was by making the house- may, gentlemen, is a distinot menace to the know if the coolies would go back or not. (To holder responsible, as suggested by the Com solony. I think, gentlemen, we may many of us Mr. Keswick)-Did I not make the remark to mittee, that they could find a remedy for šake a different view with regard to the action of you that, in spite of the circular, we were not the present dimonlty. He suggested that as the Government in many matters, but in this sure that the coolies would return to work ? a mode of avoiding the evils of the present matter we must all try and carry out the sng.
Mr. KESWICK-That is a correct statement. Urdinance the Government should gestion that Mr. Mackintosh made at the last Mr. Ho TUNG-But having done that, we to the cleanliness of the coolie houses by imeeting, that we stand shoulder to shoulder and | thought the coolies would go back. Mr. Smith appointing a man to visit the houses present an uncompromising front. (Applause). asks how is it that by a turn of your finger the see that the Ordinance was carried out. This There may be methods by and by of meeting coolies turn back ? It is because they thought|man would be responsible for the houses being in some way the difficulties which have arisen. the Government would issue a proclamation. kept clean. He (Mr. Robinson) submitted that For instance, you know, some of you very well, The Government turned back, and did not issue if the Government resorted to force, it would the absurd idea of attaching these conditions to the proclamation. It is easy to say the influential not be the Government that would have to pay the occupation of the house, which has been Chinese are at the bottom of this. That is all the piper, but the mercantile community, whe referred to in the public press, and then making nonsense. It was the coolies who were aimed at, ought to be consulted and who ought to call the gentlenen who actually have nothing to do with and they have objected all along. We tried to tune because they paid the piper. (Applause). it responsible for it. But there is no doubt that induos them to go back to work these things are necessary, and if the house- holders object to bear them let some conces- sion be made to them in this way. Supposing Mr. Ho TUNG-Well, I have explained to you the coolie house to be exempted from the 13 per how it was. osat, taxation. It might be considered by the Mr. ROBINSON said he had listened with much Government perhaps, and it would be one way to interest to what had been said, and he hatt not mest what is undoubtedly a dimoulty. No land- heard one word why the coolies had struck. lord in Hengkong wants coolies in his house; The Committee had suggested that the they are the most objectionable tenants that any householder or houseowner he had forgotten landlord can possibly have. (Applause). Then, which should be registered instead of the again, I hope it will not be necessary, but the head coolies, and that suggestion had been ides cannot but have occurred to everybody, that met by the statement on the part of the Govern- the quarterly night passes expired last night ment that the suggestion was preposterous, and and perhaps the Government may see fit to it was pointed out that the owner could not be hesitate reissuing them, and I think that would expected to see that the by-laws were carried be felt to be a powerful stimulus to any who out, and that they could not be responsible for have the power of reconciling the present differ- the cleanliness of each individual house. With anoes. © I falak this is a sedition', it is a dangerous that statement of the Government he agreed,
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Mr. SMITH-I asked if you could explain how it was. ⠀⠀
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Mr. G. C. C. MASTER-Mr. Chairman, Mr. Sharp some timo ago put a resolution to the meeting. It was seconded by Mr. Shewan. Mr. Robinson has addressed the meeting and has put no amendment. I propose that the resolution he now put-Mr. Sharp's resolution. This meeting was called for to-day, and one of the chief objects I understand was to see if any suggestions could be made to pat down the strike. As to what the Government may do in the future about sanitation, &o., that takes some time. This meeting either supports the Government in the present crisis or not. If Mr. Robinson-or any other gentleman
has no amendment to put of want of support, 1 propose that the resolution be now put, and although this Committee has retired I would ask Mr. Keswick to put the resolution to the meeting. (Hear, hear, and applause).