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[July 2, 1896.
Secretary of State was asked to mention "to the Colonial Ministry the name of the officer proposed to be appointed Governor. "In fact, it was asked that the Governor "should not be appointed except with the "consent of a self-governing colony. In
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND and also of the duty of appointing the President, for when the office falls vacant à Governor opposed to Municipal institutions" would naturally be inclined to appoint a President whose views were similar to his own. In India, we believe, the Presidents of the various Municipalities are appointed by the Government, and the system works well, but in that country the Government is favourably disposed towards Municipal institutions and there is none of that hosti- lity to the public that is characteristic of the Governments of the Straits and Hong- kong.
pendent on the indefeasable condition that "what the Navy cannot do the Army "must do." That is precisely the point we wish to urge with regard to Hong- kong: If the Navy cannot undertake our defence then the Army must do so. But, according to the judgment of experts, the military forces at present maintained in the colony are insufficient to prevent an. enemy landing on the south side of the island; and if once the enemy got a footing there our position in the town and harbour would be far from pleasant.
THE GOVERNOR OF THE STRAITS AND THE MUNICIPALITIES.
It is singular. to note the grounds on which the suggestion that the Municipal Council should be allowed a voice in the At a recent meeting of the Legislative selection of its President is opposed. The Council of the Straits Settlements there was Governor thought the appointment might some discussion upon a new Municipal Bill, "become a bone of contention amongst and the opportunity was taken by H. E. "those who wished to gain a living Sir CHARLES MITCHELL to make something "by regulating Municipal affairs," the in the nature of a personal explanation. office being a well paid one, and that "The community had," His Excellency is the ground on which the Straits Times said, "owing to certain circumstances that supports him. We can well understand, "had occurred, thought that it was his desire such an appointment becoming a bone of "to interfere with the Municipalities. Ever contention amongst officials who might con- "since he had served in the Colonial Ser-sider themselves eligible for it, but we are "vice he had had to do with Municipalities, many of them of a much freer type than "those how concerned, and he had never yet heard one sign of the feeling that ap- peared to prevail in the Straits that he desired to restrict the Municipalities. His desire was to keep the Municipalities as free as it was possible for them to be. It had been "settled that the Municipalities in the Straits "could not be fully Town Councils electing "their own Presidents and acting as other "Councils did in differently ordered com- "munities. It had also been laid down that
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one case, an officer appointed as Governor, "who was perfectly unexceptionable, was opposed by a particular colony simply on "the ground that they knew nothing at all "about him." In that matter, while not wishing to call in question to the slightest extent the theoretical right of Her Majesty to appoint whom She will as Her, represen tative, we think the self-governing colonies were quite right in asking that they should not have unknown men placed over them in the position of Governor, but should have men
NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE WONGNEICHONG RECREA-
TION GROUnd..
If
The last number of the Government Gazette contains a revised set of Regulations for the Wongneichong Recreation Ground, which differ in some important respects from those previously existing. In the first place, welcome enlargement of the ground is indi- cated.
of distinction and reputation. was not desirable that the governorships ot the great self-governing colonies should be reserved merely as official plums for the benefit of the service. We can quite un- derstand the feelings of the officials on the matter, as represented by the Colo- nial Secretary of the Straits Settlements. Even amongst unofficials we have no doubt there are many men who consider them- inclined to think that there would be less selves quite qualified for Governors, Cabinet chance of jobbery and favouritism if the Ministers, and other high appointments and appointment were subject to the approval of who are firmly convinced the only reason the Municipal Council concerned than if it they are not called to preferment is, in the were left solely in the hands of the Govern-words of the Colonial Secretary of the Straits, ment, which is notoriously given to putting that nobody knows anything at all about round pegs in square holes. The Bill as them. It may be very hard on the indi- drawn provides that "the Governor shall vidual, but from a public point of view it from time to time appoint a Commis- seems desirable that persons appointed to sioner to be the President of the. Com-public office should be persons about whom missioners, and may from time to time something is known. remove such person from office and 'appoint nother in his stead." The un- on the Governor should rest the respon- official Members of Council wanted to have after consultation 'sibility of appointing the Presidents of the inserted the words
The Gov Municipal Commissions, and it should "with the Commissioners." not be left to the controllers of Municipal ernor seems to have been to some extent politics to have any say on the matter." convinced by the arguments brought to bear The point in dispute at the time was as to upon the question and he expressed his whether the Municipal Councils should have willingness to add the words "Provided a voice in the appointment of their own "always that before appointing any Gov- Presidents. The Straits Times supports the ,nernment servant to that office, the Gov Governor ou that point, holding that His eror shall consult the Commissioners."-
The old Regulations referred to the Excellency should not, for reasons duly set But here the cloven hoof promptly obtruded out and to which we will refer later, be itself. The Colonial Secretary spoke to His ground within the inner rails of the Race- called upon to consult the Councils on the Excellency, who, after some conversation with course and to the piece of ground opposite appointment of a President. As to the that officer, said he thought they ought to the Roman Catholic cemetery at the north- Governor's repudiation of any desire to "take time to consider the words he had west of the Racecourse. The new Regula- interfere unduly with or to the restrict the suggested. It had been pointed out to tions apply not only to the ground covered freedom of Municipalities, however, our con- "him that such an amendment might work by the old ones, but also to the piece of ground The Recreation temporary says His Excellency's "senti-
injustice to a thoroughly good Govern at the north-east corner. "ments are admirable, but his practice ment servant who might, under the cir- Ground can be extended very considerably "has been quite opposite to those senti- cumstances, object to being put in nomina-in that direction, and, we hope that the "ments. He says that in all his previous tion." The clause accordingly stood land which has so long been lying idle
experience he never had any trouble with over.
a thoroughly good will now be put to good use. Article 2 is The idea of Municipalities, many of which were much "Government servant being too dignified the same as in the old Regulations and "freer than those of the Straits Settlements. to allow his name to be submitted for the places the maintenance and preservation of "But when His Excellency tells us that the consideration of a body of unofficials, just as the said grounds under the care and direc- Municipalities with which he has pre- if he were no better than the Lord Mayor tion of the Director of Public Works; while viously dealt were much freer than ours, of London or any common being of that article 3 prohibits any person altering or "that is as good as telling us that His Ex- kind, is really too ridi lous. If the ap-interfering with the grounds without the cellency has never before had the oppor-pointment is worth having there will be no written permission of that officer. - Article 4 tunities, which he now possesses, of inter- lack of applicants for it, and it will be provides for the apportionment of the fering with Municipal affairs. He has, most satisfactorily filled by allowing the ground for the use of different Clubs, etc., we think, taken full, and often undue, Commissioners a voice in the selection. The in accordance with a schedule attached to advantage of those opportunities." Our Colonial Secretary, speaking of the pos- the Regulations and a plan deposited with A proviso is here intro- contemporary goes on to give instances of sibility of officers being deterred from the custodian. petty and needlessly irritating interferences, allowing their names to be put in nomina-duced which we think might well have been both in Singapore and in other portions of tion by the fear that they might be dispensed with. It reads as follows:— the Settlements, that have incensed the made the subjects of groundless objections, public against the present Governor. But referred to what he termed the analogous "It we are wholly at a loss to understand the case of the Governors of Colonies. position taken up by the Straits Times. would," he said, "be within the remem- Surely if the Governor is given to petty and brance of most members of the Council that, irritating interferences with the Municipal- "in some of the self-governing colonies some ities the best course would be to relieve
years ago, pressure was brought to bear him entirely of all obligations with regard upon the Secretary of State for the colo- to the executive details of the bodies nies in the matter, and, in a few cases, the
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subject as aforesaid the unappropriated area of the said portions of the Recreation “Ground shall be for the general use of the 'public." The whole of the ground with in the Racecourse having been solemnly dedicated to the use of the public for ever this limitation of the public to certain “un- does not appear to be appropriated areas equitable or legal. The matter is perhaps
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