478
ADDITIONAL UNOFFICIAL MEM- BERS FOR THE HONGKONG LEGISLATIFE COUNCIL.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
-Reuter is vague in his reference to the despatch conveying the Secretary of State's decision concerning the creation of additional unofficial members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong. Whether the decision is favourable or unfavourable is not stated, and we will apparently have nothing more than conjecture to feed ourselves upon dur- ing the mouth that the despatch will occupy in transit. While, however, the terms of the telegram do not preclude the possibility of the reply being unfavourable to the aspiration of the colony for a more effective voice in the management of its own local affairs, the probabilities are all in favour of its being favourable, and on the strength of that probability we have much pleasure in congratulating the Hon. T. H. WHITE HEAD on the gallant manner in which he has fought the colony's battle and on the success which, as we hope and believe, has crowned his efforts. If after all the assumed success should turn out to be a disappointment we have no doubt the hon. member for the Chamber of Commerce will continue the struggle, for there is not much of the giving in spirit about Mr. WHITE HEAD. But there cannot really be much question about the meaning of the telegram, which we take to be that a concession of some kind has been made, though how large or how small it may be remains to be seen. The information on which the telegram is based was probably given in the House of Commons in reply to a question, for when the local Government refused to produce the
the subject action was taken to have the matter venti- lated in Parliament. If the Secretary of State had decided that things must remain as they are and that the prayer of the peti tion sent home by the inhabitants of Hong kong could not be granted a clear statement would no doubt have been made to that effect, as there could be no reason for re- ticence in the matter, whereas if changes are to be made it might be considered inexpedient to make publie the nature of those changes until the Governor has been officially informed of them. More over, as strengthening the argument founded on probability, the well known opinions of Mr. CHAMBERLAIN on the subject of local self-government must not be overlooked. Mr. CHAMBERLAIN is not a believer in government without knowledge or in official domination,, and
as a man
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of common sense he could not fail to recognise the justice and ex- pediency of acceding to the request that the resident British population should be allowed to take an effective part in the administration of the colony. Governors come and go, and even in the office of Colonial Secretary there have in the past been frequent changes, but there is a con- tinuity in the public opinion of the colony and in the local knowledge acquired by the mercantile classes which may with great advantage be availed of in shaping the policy of the Government.
When the unofficial majority get into working order one of the first objects to which they should address themselves is that of securing for the ratepayers greater control over municipal affairs, if not by the establishment of a Municipal Council, then by the unofficial members themselves exercising analagous functions through a system of committees of the Legislative Council.
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Was
not
(June 10, 1896.
THE ADMINISTRATION DURING equally well served by General BLACK. THE GOVERNOK'S ABSENCE. The senior officer in command of the troops must of necessity be a man of experience, Another change has been made in the and by his position he is qualified to support arrangement for the administration of the the office of Acting Governor with due Government of Hongkong during the dignity, while as to knowledge of the absence or incapacity of the Governor. By requirements of the colony he is in no worse the Charter of the colony dated 5th April, a position than a civil Governor new to the 1843, it was ordered that in the event place. At the same time it must be ad- referred to the powers of the Governor mitted that when the Government has should be exercised by the Lieutenant- been administered by Colonial Secretaries Governor, or, if there were no Lieutenant-in the past, as, for instance, by Sir W. H. Governor, by the Colonial Secretary. The MARSH or Sir FRANCIS FLEMING, the office of Lieutenant-Governor was for some public bas had no substantial reason to years held by the General Officer Com- be dissatisfied with the arrangement, manding the Garrison, then for a term by and we have no doubt that if Mr. Colonel CAINE, who belonged to the Colonial STEWART LOCKHART had succeeded to the Service, and subsequently again by the Acting Governorship he also would have General, but afterwards the office of Lieu- supported the office with due dignity and tenant-Governor was allowed to remain would have divested himself of his strong vacant. The question then arose, who was official partizanship and discharged the to administer the Government in the event of duties with impartiality, treating public both the Governor and the Colonial Secre- opinion with more respect than he seems tary being absent at the same time? inclined to do as Colonial Secretary. Mr.. Accordingly in 1875 a Supplemental Charter LOCKHART has had a very successful career was issued appointing "the Colonial Secre- in the colony and perhaps some regret may tary or person lawfully discharging the be felt that the honour of occupying Gov- "functions of Colonial Secretary to ad- ernment House and being styled His minister the Government during the absence Excellency when the Governor happens to of the Governor. But experience showed, be absent has been placed out of his reach, or was supposed to show, that an
but possibly it is consideration of the fact Acting Colonial Secretary
that Mr. LOCKHART is a comparatively altogether desirable as an Acting Governor, young man even for the office of Colonial the office being sometimes held by a com- Secretary that has led to the change which paratively junior officer, and at one time a debars him from the office of Acting Gov. report went into circulation that a foreign ernor. As a matter of fact the choice Admiral on going to call officially at Gov- between the General and the Colonial ernment House felt himself rather affronted Secretary for the position of Acting Gov- on being ushered into the presence of a ernor is not one of very grave moment to the gentleman whose substantive office the Ad- colony, and experience of the past (after i miral thought so far beneath his own that the Acting Colonial Secretaries were ruled ordinarily they would not have met on out) leaves the question of expediency rather terms of equality. A feeling of that nicely balanced, but on the whole we think kind, certainly the expression of it, might the decision embodied in the commission be ascribed to snobbishness, but nevertheless now published is on the side of safety. there were substantial objections to the office of Acting Governor being held by a junior officer, even though it was only for a few weeks while the Governor went to Japan for a short vacation. In 1884, there- In connection with the Praya Reclamation fore, a Commission was issued appointing the question of the provision of wharfage the Colonial Secretary to act for the accommodation has been raised by one of Governor during the latter's absence, and our evening contemporaries, which soundly in the event of the Colonial Secretary being rates the Government for its alleged inaction also absent, the General. In 1888, when and illiberality. "The Government," says Letters Patent were issued in substitution the Telegraph, "is behaving so foolishly, so for the Charter, it was ordered that the "unsystematically, so illiberally in the matter office of Acting Governor should be held of new piers and wharves that one would by such person or persons as might be ap- "think the object in view was to drive pointed under the Queen's sign manual and shipping from the place instead of to draw "it hither." No evidence is adduced in signet, and in default of any such appointment by the
The article then person lawfully discharging the func support of this charge. tions of Colonial Secretary. In 1891, again, refers to the inadequate provision for the. a dormant commission was issued directing steam-launch and boat traffic, which is a that in the absence of the Governor and separate matter, and then, coming back to the Colonial Secretary the Senior Military the main subject, the questions are asked, Officer should administer the Government, "Are we to have an adequate supply of thus once more precluding an Acting Colo- "public wharves for the accommodation of - nial Secretary from succeeding to the ad- "the coast and river steamers erected and ministratorship. Now a further change has
"maintained at the expense of the colony, been made and by the dormant commission of" or are we to depend on individual effort the 31st January last, published in another column, it will be seen that the Senior Military Officer is always to admi- nister the Government during the absence of the Governor, thus cutting out the Colo- nial Secretary from the office of Acting Governor altogether. No reason has been publicly assigned for the change, nor do we know what considerations may have actuated the Secretary of State in the matter, but the new order will, we think, commend itself to public opinion. The colony was very well served by General CAMERON and General BARKER in the office of Acting Governor and would, we have no doubt, be
WHARFAGE ACCOMMODATION AND FERRY TRAFFIC.
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"for our requirements in that respect? Are "the wharves to be at right angles to the Praya or parallel to it? Are they to be few or many, of wood or iron? How is the new sea front to be kept dredged and clear of "sand and silt and free from dirt and bad "smells ?" Of these questions the first is the most important, and we think there can only be one answer to it, namely, that it is not desirable the Government should engage The existing in the wharfage business. wharves for the accommodation of sea-going vessels are sufficient for present require ments and when more are required it will be well to let private enterprise supply the
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