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THE CHINESE CHAMBER OF COM-| MERCE AND CHINESE OFFICIAL INTERFERENCE IN HONGKONG.
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to Colonel CHAN,
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mans.
11
(March 18, 1896.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
barbaric pageant with the blare and position precisely as the French and Ger- bray of the trumpet and the thump of the
That is a mistake altogether, as noisy tom-tom dearer to the Chipaman's heart will be seen in a moment if the proposition than soldier-lined streets and military bands, be reversed and made to read that the THE Government is to be congratulated on
it was nothing so childish that dictated the French and Germans are in the same position the steps taken in reference to Colonel CHAN's course adopted at the opening of the Chinese in this colony as the Chinese, Every one The colony- bas officious intrusion in the affairs of this colony Chamber of Commerce. The company that knows that that is not so.
on that occasion was small on its statute book an Ordinance for the on the occasion of the opening of the Chi- assembled nese Chamber of Commerce. The matter and very select: The order went forth that regulation of the Chinese population. There was represented through the Consul at Canton official robes were to be worn and those is no corresponding Ordinance for the to the Viceroy, with the result that the Kow-members of the Chamber who were not regulation of the French and Germans. We loon Colonel has been officially censured cutitled to wear a mandarin's button of have likewise an official known as the We have no and cautioned and an opportunity has been some sort, being too proud to appear without Protector of Chinese. afforded to the Government of publicly em- one, stayed away. Some of the Hongkong | Protector of French and Germans. But the phasising, for the benefit of the native com-
Chinese hold official rauk by purchase and most important, point of difference in a munity, the fact of British sovereignty over are therefore entitled to wear mandarin's political sense, and the one that has the The occasion of the opening of the most direct bearing on the present case, is this island. Perhaps Colonel Cuax himself buttons. was not conscious of any great wrongdoing | Chinese Chamber of Commerce was seized that France and Germany, like every other in the part he played, but he ought to have upon to afford these gentry an opportunity recognised nation except China, are allowed in the colony, been, and if he sinned in ignorance he must of airing their affected superiority not only to maintain Consuls bear the consequences. The moral respon- over the fan kiai but also over the rank whereas with regard to China it is a settled sibility of the offence, however, must be and file of their fellow countrymen. The principle of policy, so far as this colony is attributed more particularly to Mr. Ho more the matter is examined the more objec- concerned, that no Chinese Consul shall be AMEI, who was the moving spirit in tionable do the proceedings appear and it allowed. It has on more than one occasion the whole affair and must have been is much to be regretted that all who had been suggested that such an officer should animated with a definite purpose in the anything to do with the ceremony cannot be be established here, but the suggestion has course he pursued. Colonel CHAN was pos- made to share in the punishment meted out always been strongly combatted by the local Government and the entire community has sibly a mere tool of Mr. Ho AMEI's, or
on those occasions lent its support to the on the other hand, he may have entered
Mr. Ho AMEr and Colonel CHAN find a Government. The reason is plain. The heartily into the scheme of administering an insult to the British administration; but zealous advocate and defender in the Hong-fact of British sovereignty over the island in Mr. HO AMEI's own case there is no kong Telegraph in connection with their is ouly imperfectly recognised by a large possibility of doubt. That gentleman has proceedings on the occasion of the opening of proportion of the native population, who spent the greater part of his life in the the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The case regard Hongkong as a little chip of the ex-Chinese Empire where foreigners are by the colony, he was for some time in the Govern- is so bad, however, that the defence only ment service, and he knows very well what poses its weakness. If our contemporary | grace of the Emperor allowed to temporarily he is about. We notice in a recent issue of wished to do the gentlemen named a good establish themselves. The mandarins are the Peking and Tientsin Times a weak at service it is a pity it could not resist the eager to encourage this delusion, to obtain tempt to justify or palliate the proceedings temptation to say something on the other side thereby a grip over the native population, on the occasion in question. Our "con- "of the question," for the greatest kindness and to impose squeezes. Hence it behoves "two that could be shown to them by their friends the Government to resist the establishment temporary considers it curious that "eminent Chinese gentlemen, Dr. Ho K. and apologists would be to let the whole matter or the intrusion of any Chinese official in the "and Mr. WEI YUK, sent in disclaimers of drop. It is a case of least said soonest colony. On this principle the intrusion of discourtesy and responsibility for the cere-mended. Our contemporary contends that Colonel CHAN on the occasion referred to was not a matter to be lightly passed over, mony in question.' We fail to see the a German or French official might have curiosity ourselves and think the gentle performed a ceremony in connection with an especially if, as alleged, Colonel CHAN came men named only did what was right and institution of their own nationality analogous over without an invitation and assumed the proper, having regard to the positions they to that performed by Colonel Chax Withou- direction of the proceedings as a right Occupy. And Mr. Ho AMEI was able to being guilty of any impropriety. But dist inherent in his official position. The case form quite as correct; à judgment as Dr. Ho courtesy is always improper, by whomsoever it of Mr. Ho AMEI also suffers from contra- KAI or Mr.WEI AYUK, but, knowing may be committed, although it may not be cri- dietury evidence. According to Mr. Ho AMEI himself the presence of Colonel CHAN what was right, he preferred to do what minal; and where an officer of one state com-
was uninvited and Mr. Ho AMEI was was wrong.
The Tientsin paper says:-mits a discourtesy towards another state, not We are not surprised that the Cantonese an unknown thing even between European therefore not responsible for it. According "the Government knew illustrate the fact that, after all, blood and nations, the natural sequel is a reprimand to the Telegraph
several days before the ceremony” what ingrained custom are more than a match or other penalty adiuuistered to the
Govern- the committee proposed to do and who "for the gratitude which ought to follow offending official by his own
were to be present.' Leaving the conflict good government. We all have a weak sidement on the representation of the offended
precisely what of evidence out of the question, how- "to ancestral customs, belief, and folk-lore, | Government, which is
ever, we think it will be recognised that “even when we are intellectually convinced has taken place in Colonel CHANS case.
cannot conceive of our French there is a considerable difference between of their folly; added to this John China- But we man positively loves garish display and or German fellow residents being guilty of the French Admiral presiding at the open- rude noise: a semi-barbaric pageant with any such discourtesy towards the Governing of a bazaar at the French Convent and the blare and bray of the trumpet and ment of the colony in which they are tem- the Colonel of Kowloon coming over to "the thump of the noisy tom-tom are dearer porarily resident as was shown by the Hongkong to preside at the opening of the
to his heart than soldier-lined streets and Chinese responsible for the ceremony Chinese Chamber of Commerce. military bands. The Jubilee celebration at the opening of the Chinese Chamber "of the colony gave him a real chance of of Commerce. No good purpose would be showing his loyalty in a manner after his served therefore by following up the parallel, own heart, and he certainly then rose to suggested by our contemporary, as to what "the occasion. We think our contempor- might happen in connection with the open- aries over solicitous about the recent ing of a French or German bazaar or club. ceremony: deep down the Hongkong No discourtesy has ever been experienced in “Chinaman has a shrewd appreciation of the colony in connection with any such "the advantages of British rule. Every town event and none is anticipated, whereas dis- "and village throughout the length and courtesy has been offered in connection with breadth of India illustrates the same follies the opening of the Chinese Chamber of Com- "which our contemporaries deplore, and merce and it would be offered again at the "that too after a century and more (iu many earliest possible opportunity if such conduct 'places) of British rule." This is all very were meekly submitted to and tolerated by pretty, but it does not touch the point at the Government all. Indian villages are not in the habit of importing foreign officials to play the leading part in their ceremonies and studiously ignoring, with marked insult, the As to the semi- rulers of the country.
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The point on which we chiefly join issue with our contemporary, however, is as to the legal status of the Chinese in this colony. We are told that "the Chinese merchants, "and traders
are in the same
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THE SANITARY BOARD AND TRADE AND PROPERTY. If any indication were required of how trade and property may be affected by the constitution of the Sanitary Board it may be found in the present condition of the property market. While stocks and shares have been rapidly advancing in value in sympathy with the reduced rates of interest and the general commercial prosperity, the property market, especially as regards Chinese houses, remains depressed. Under present conditions no one will think of buying Chinese property, and notwithstand- ing the cheapuess of money and the difficulty of finding remunerative employment for it even mortgages on property of this descrip tion are not in favour. This is due to the