346
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
[May 19, 1900.
somewhat noisy game. In brothels and com- mon lodging houses it is of course very difficult to prove the particular persous among the many On Monday afternoon, the 14th inst., a meet-people there who are uttering these shonts and ing of the Hongkong Legislative Council was
cries. Our may live very near to a gothel or held in the Council Chamber at the Government Offices, there being present;
His EXCELLENCY the ACTING GOVERNOR,
common lodging house and this may be going on in the middle of the night, but if you endea vour to prosecute anybody there is great Major-General GASCOIGNE, C.M.G. (Cpm-difficulty, because the person arrested would probably say he was not the offender but some- The Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. Acting body else. With the view, therefore, to make Colonial Secretary).
the keepers of brothels and lodging-houses Hon. W. MEIGH GOODMAN (Attorney-Gene-prevent the people who frequent these houses from making these noises the keeper himself is made liable to a fine of $10, the same as the actual offenders.
ral).
JERNIGAN SAYS that, apart from the price of labour, another consideration tending "to cause competition to be more energetic is “that the machinery in the cotton mills of “China is of the most improved pattern, and that quality as well as the quantity of the "cotton goods will enter into the competition, It is certain that there can be produced in “China a much superior grade of cotton tomanding the Troops). "that now produced, and with improved machinery Chinese cotton mills will be able to supply the demand for a finer quality of "cotton goods as they are now supplying the demand for the more inferior quality." This question of the threatened capture of the Asiatic market by Asiatic manufactures has, of course, been receiving a great amount attention recently; and the significant advance of Japan in the cotton-trade last year has emphasised the necessity of facing the question at once. We only quote Mr. JERNIGAN's remarks as showing that the United States Government is kept well posted in the matter by her representatives.
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Though the pamphlet bears witness to much American energy in China, there is not wanting a good deal of evidence that opportunities of pushing trade are freely neglected; and indeed much the same lan- guage is used of American remissness as we are wont to hear applied to the want of energy of British merchants. One United States Consul, in 1897, pointed to the good example of a British firm at Chinkiang and contrasted the supineness of American trailers He went on to say :-"British firms are fully "alive to the fact that to introduce goods into "China a sacrifice must undoubtedly be made, "and it is owing to their recognition of this that they have maintained their supremacy in the commerce of this country." This would be encouraging to us, were it not that so many competent critics refuse to believe that this supremacy can be main- tained without the display of a gre t deal more energy and adaptability. However, as to the matter of want of push the part of America, the United States Consul-General at Shanghai, Mr. JOHN GOODNOW, on the 19th November last wrote very strongly to a correspondent in New York: “I need not impress it upon you that Americans must now push more strongly than ever for the trade of "China.
Most of our manufacturers "have been content to do business in a half- "hearted way in Asia, and have not taken the trouble to make themselves acquainted "with the banking methods, the shipping methods, the various laws in force, the cli- Imate, the superstitions, and the details of "he needs and customs of the people. "This is a peculiar people, who will buy nothing if they cannot get exactly what they want, put up and labelled as "their customs and superstitions dictate. The supply must fit the demand.” “And 80 on: All this perhaps is familiar enough, even trite. But can it be repeated too often? Alm ist exactly the sume words have been addressel to British merchants.
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Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public
Works).
Hon. H. C. NICOLLE. ·
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. Hon Dr. Ho Kai.
Hon. WEI A YUK, Hon. H. SMITH.
seconded.
The ACTING COLONIAL SE Poing to -
The Hon. Dr. Ho Kar-I
oppose, this Bill but at the same time I notice
that in section 1 no hours are: ment to mont
seems to give the Government power
the hours any they think proper, instead of
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of from 11 to six. The section says "Within Councils).
PAPER.
The ACTING Colonial SECRETARY laid on
the table the report of the Superintendent of for 1899. the Botanical and Afforestation Department
FINANCIAL.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY brought up table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 7) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was carried.
the table Financial Minutes Nos. 22 23, 24 and The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on 25, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was carried.
>
A NEW BYE-LAW APPROVED. The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY—I have
the honour to move, sir, that the Bye-law made by the Sanitary Board on the 26th April, 1900, 25 of 1887, be approved by the Council. The Bye-law reads as follows: Whenever any pri-
under Sub-section L of Section 13 of Ordinance
vate house-drain is about to be constructed or
re-constructed in the City of Victoria, the Sani- tary Board shall have power to require the provision of a surface channel of approved materials and design, in lieu of a covered drain, in any position in which a covered drain may appear to them to be undersirable. Waste pipes from buildings aud surface channels from cook-houses, stables, cow sheds and the like shall discharge into such surface channel without the intervention of a trap; but any communica
tion between such surface channel and a covered
drain shall be by means of a trap."
the hours prescribed for any district or place by any regulation of the Governor in Coun- oil published in the Gazette." I suppose it is intended that the Governor should have power to prescribe arbitrarily and from time to time the hours during which Chai-Mni may be played. If such is the intention I would not support the Bill. If not I will support it,
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-In answer to the question of the honourable gentle- man, I may say that drawing a hard and fast line, and saying from 11 o'clock, is sometimes certain portions of the city of Victoria occupied inconvenient. It is particularly objected to in entirely by Chinese, and the intention is to
make the hour later in certain districts occu- pied entirely by Chinese and earlier than eleven in places very close to Europeans. There is no intention to harass the Chinose or to pre- vent their indulging in the game. In fact under this Ordinance they are more likely to gain than to lose.
The Hon. Dr. Ho KAI—I am delighted to hear that. I have presented a memorandum to the Governor on the question. I pointed out that in my humble opinion in those places. which are entirely Chinese the hour might he 12, or even later, because Chai-Mui is a game which by long custom and usage is much in favour among the Chinese when enjoying a holi- day or feast. I also suggested that in Chinese houses close to the European quarter the hour should be 10.
The motion was carried,
The Council then went into committee to consider the Bill clanse by clause.
On the Council resuming the Bill was read a third time and passed.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLI. WORKS seconded THE REGULATION OF CHINESE ORDINANCE. and the motion was carried.
NATURALISATION.
THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS
ORDINANCE.
On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL a Bill entitled an Ordinance to further amend the Protection of Women and Girls Ordinance, 1897 and to repeal two sections of the Pretection of Women and Girls Amendment Ordinance, 1899, was read a first time.
THE CHAI MUI NUISANCE.
܂
The ATTORNEY-GHNERAL, in proposing the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordin. On the motion of the ATTORNEY GENERAL,ance to further amend the Regulation of Chi- seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRE- nese Ordinance 1988, said-It is stated in the TARY, the first reading of a Bill entitled an objects and reasons attached to the fact of the Ordinance for the Naturalisation of Leung Bill that "The operation of certain enact- Shek Obiu, alias Leung Foon Man alias
ments of the Regulation of Chinese Ordinance, Leang Kin was passed.
1388, has been hitherto confined wholly or chiefly to the city of Victoria. The growth of building and population in other parts of the colony renders it desirable that the Governor in Council should have power to extend from time to time the benefit of such enactments to other places. The object of this Ordinance is to confer the necessary anthority for that purpose." I may say that section 21 of Ordinance 13 of 1838 deals with Chinese music The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in proposing the in the public streets of Victoria; section 23 second reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance deals with processions in the city of Victoria'; to amend Ordinance No. 10 of 1872, said-Or-section 24 deals with imflammable structures dinance No. 10 of 1872 is entitled "An Ordin. in Victoria and in any village of the colony or ance to prevent Certain Nuisances." Section 5 within 100 yards of any building; section 25 of the Ordinance prohibits under a penalty of deals with fireworks in the city of Victoria $10, the uttering of any shouts or ories and the within 300 feet of the Praya Wall; section 27 making of other noises while playing the game deals with permits. Section 2 of the new known as Chai-Mui from 11 p.m. to six a.m. in
Ordinance gives the Governor in Council power any district or place not permitted by some ra. to specify other places or districts. Section of gulation of the Governor in Council. The the new Ordinance adds “the Chinese reed The Osaka Asahi observes that during the new Ordinance now before as gives the Cover pipe," to the category of drums and gongs such recent naval manœuvres, the details of which nor in Council power to fix the hours accord-reed pipes are not to be played between 11 p.m. were kept concealed from the public, a certaining to the requirements of the district or place. and 6 a.m., except for funerals and marriages. Power sent some thirty military spies to the Port Hongkong has increased in size and buildings The ACTING COLONIAL Secretary seconded Admiralties and was trying to get information are more numerous, and there are other places and the motion was carried. concerning the operations! The story, says besides Victoria where it would be necessary to The Kobe Chronicle, seems very improbable. enforce regulations in connection with this
It will not take many years to show whether the words have been headed or not. In the meantime it is no consolation that the same
fault, is found in Americau houses trading with China... But it is certainly instructive to note the fact. This pamphlet is welt worth study, if only from this point of view.
.
The Council went into committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.