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nations of Europe that are considered the most changeable is that with them change is not the effect of levity but of a vanity " which ceaselessly reproduces itself in a thousand forms. Made slaves by their self "love to all their fancies, that which they "think they have wisely arranged or firmly "resolved comes to nothing, they not know- 'ing how to support what is right in it. They are so little in agreement with themselves "that at different times you would not take "them for the same persons, and they appear surprised themselves sometimes to "find themselves always in a siate of "irresolution. Examine what they call their state maxims and you will find only the "laws of pride adopted in arrogance or idle- "ness." The Courrier d'Haiphong laconically adds "And it is three hundred years ago!" Three hundred years, and the Frenchman's opinion of the English remains much what it was in Sully's time except perhaps that to- day he might be suclined to dwell less upon our changeability and more upon our pride and assumption of superiority. We go to the Soudan professing to carry civilisation and commence by desecrating the Mahdi's tomb and mutilating the corpse. The character neither of a man nor of a nation is to be
judged solely by his or its backslidings, but it must be confessed that England and Englishmen do often lay themselves open to the charge of hypocrisy.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS. AND
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LIGHTS ON PRIVATE CHAIRS.
[March 18, 1899.
" beautiful prayers of our simple service,” | rounding traffic. When the Steam Launch is, it is to be feared, characteristic of many Company was running a ferry service to Englishmen abroad and accounts for much Kowloon and being frequently involved in of the dislike with which they are viewed loss by collisions with sampans at nighta sug by the foreigners amongst whom they so gestion was made that the launches should carry lights at the bows similar to those journ.
carried by the tram` cars to light the track. The Harbour Master, however, promptly vetoed that iden, on the ground that Ininps of that description would constitute a danger to the traffic in the harbour. The same. principle applies, though perhaps not quite so forcibly, to the land traffic. If not no actual danger lights of extraordinary brilliancy would be at least unpleasant for the general public.
If
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
On 13th March a meeting of the Hong- kong Legislative Council was held in the Coun- cil Chamber at the Government Offices, there,
being present:-
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR, Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.
Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK (Acting Attorney- General).
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master). Hon. F. H. MAY, C.b.f. (Captain Super- intendent of Police).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer); Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Publio Works).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. T. H. W: ITEHEAD. Hon. Dr. HO KAI.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G. Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING. Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. I. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils),
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted as a correct record.
PAPÉR.
(Daily Press, 11th March.) In an article in the China Mail on the compulsory carrying of lights by private chairs it is suggested that in the enforce- "ment of the rules we may well leave the "police a certain amount of discretion. That is rather a dangerous policy to recom- mend. If the law is to be enforced at all it should be enforced consistently and im- partially. The value of police discretion in such matters may be gauged from their action with regard to the Chinese light and pass law, now happily repealed. Every now and then a raid would be made on persons found out after hours without a light; thereafter the law would be fairly well observed for a time, but gradually
His EXCELLENCY Major-General GASCOIGNE slackness would again creep in and in-C.M., (Offeer Commanding the Troops), crease in proportion as immunity from arrest was enjoyed, until it became the the rule for exception rather th.n lights to be carried, and then the police would make another descent and arrest some scores of perfectly honest and respectable Mere vulgarity other nations might people, a considerable proportion of whom, in default of the payment of fines, would ignore or condone; it is something more aggressive than mere vulgarity that makes have to spend a few days as criminals in the them hate us. Besides, Colonel ELSDALE told gaol. The administration of that law was a us that the vulgarity to which he referred scandal upon British justice and on more was confined mainly to the lower classes, than one occasion called for the active inter-
ference of the head of the executive. and as the lower classes are not much given to travelling on the Continent it is not from H.E. the Governor could spare the time to those classes that foreign nations derive look over the records in connection with their impressions of our national characteris this subject to be found in the Colonial tics. If they think us vulgar, therefore, Secretary's Office he would be able to dra it must be because the upper and middle his own deductions as to "how not to do classes, who travel, convey an impression" it." If the law is to be determined by the of vulgarity. It is not vulgarity in its discretion of the police no one will ever ordinary sense, however, that hurts them, know from day to day what is required of but a general affectation of superiority. | him. Changes in the administration of the
local instance as We may take a
an Force are not infrequent, owing to leave promotion, and so forth, Major HENRY KNOLLYS, of of absence, illustration.
discretion of each Captain the Royal Artillery, was appointed to and the eighteen or Hongkong son1.8
twenty Superintendent will probably vary from years ago, and he afterwards publish that of his predecessor.
There does not as get seem to be any very éd a book entitled English Life in "China," in which, on page 4, he says:- strong popular opposition to the new law,
The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-At the last "Steer clear of the rank and file of the because looked at in advance the carrying
of a light seens but a small matter to make meeting of the Finance Committee, when the "civilian community, inasmuch as they are
a fuss about, but when the fines begin to be grant of $3,500 for the erection of a temporary "not on the whole a favourable set either "in their associates or in their ways of life." imposed and people are being continually bungalow at "The Cliffs," for the acommoda- Further on we are told, after a reference to haled up to the Police Court because their tion of your Excellency's staff, was proposed, course that at first sight might indicate a want merchant princes and bankers, that Hong-coolies have forgotten the lamp, or neglected I voted against it. I desire now to explain a kong bus “a small sprinkling of able ad- to trim it, discontent will begin to manifest of consideration for your comfort. As a matter "ministrators from the mother country, a | itself and suspicions of favouritism to arise, of fact, the contrary is the case, as I hope to be larger proportion of Anglo-Chinese for in the nature of things the law will able to show you. So far back as the 19th "officials whose views scarcely range he necessarily be frequently infringed by high June, 1893, I advocated the erection of a palace at the Peak for the use of the Governor,—. as well and their wives of Victoria, and a officials town yond the
I moved a resolution to that effect in this "number of clerks whose thoughts are others, and it is not to be supposed (hear, hear)—and on the 17th July following that the former will be summoned. It
Council. That resolution was carried, only the "engrossed with dollars, and who
seeking their fortunes, which probably the law is to be enforced, however, as has two hon. members representing the Bench of “will be ultimately swallowed up in drink, been decreed, it might make matters run Justices and the Chamber of Commerce re "play, and rowdyisın. There is, however, more smoothly if some standard lamp were spectively voting against it. In my speech "a corrective leaven in the shape of the officially recognised and recommended for proposing that resolution I urged the advisa. military elemeut, which represents by far adoption. The most useful class of lights bility of availing of the low rates then ral- the greater proportion of the educated for the purpose intende-in so far as the ing for labour and materials. The then Director of Public Works estimated the cost As to the purpose can be said to carry with it any of a building suitable to the requirements and gentlemanlike stratum. Hongkong women, born and bred there, element of utility-are the lights carried by at $60,000. This advice was disregarded, and "the most charitable criticism is that their the public chairs. Some persons, however, the Government neglected to act on the “attractions are on a par with their scanty may be inclined to think that if they have resolution, and the tenancy of "Craigieburn
to carry lights they had better carry was continued. When that lease expired, the "numbers, and that those with whom an
ones, and may adopt lamps house now occupied, namely "The Cliffs," was English gentleman would care to ex- good "change two words of conversation are vying in brilliancy with the electire taken, the task of building being again" de- ferred. "The Cliffs" is smaller than "Craigie-. The search light. Lights of that description barn," or than the large house opposite to "rari nantes in gurgite vasto." spirit which animates this "stand aside would be a danger as well as a nuisance, for, Mount Austin Barracks, either of which might for I am holier than thou" gentleman, dazzling the eyes of persons meeting them, have been rented. The chief reason Sir William "the incomparably they would cause confusion as to the sur-Robinson was reluctant to build was, as I under- who raphsodises on
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The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Superintendent of the Fire { Brigade for 1898. THE GOVERNOR'S PEAK
RESIDENCE.—AN EXPLANATION BY THE HON. E. R. BELILIOS.
A COMPLAINT FROM HON. T, H, WHITEHEAD,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY submitted the re- port of the Finance Committee (No. 2) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.
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