·June 16, 1902.
NORTHERN NOTES.
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The following items are from the P. & T. Times of the 31st nit.:—
General de Wogack is going home to Russia on furlough.
The personnel of the new Mining Bureau in Peking includes the names of Yen Fah, Sua Pao-chi, Wang Kwan, Mow Chen-fan, Shen Tung-ho, and Wei Han
HE Huong Fa Nung, known so long as the able head of the China Merchants in Tientsin and latterly as the Hui Kwan Tao, has been gazetted asi Provincial Judge of Honan; he proceeds immediately to take up his office.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
455
have allowed the Eurasians to come into their TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PREES."
Hongkong, 7th June. society is that though they can distinguish them SIR, Mr. Tse Tsan Tai's observations on by their features to be Eurasians, still they the question of the Chinese representative on dare not say whether their fathers were Chinese or not, for they have adopted as their surnames the Legislative Council do not express the
proper Chinese family names which can be sentiment and feeling of the Chinese com- munity of the Colony; they are merely the traced two or three thousand years back. You individual opinion of his. The fact that Mr. must remember, Mr. Editor, that there are two Ho Tung was elected chairman of the Tung kinds of Eurasians, one who are born of Chinese Wa Hospital and of the Chinese Club shows fathers and Enropean or Eurasian mothers and beyond doubt that he is held in the highest the other who are born of European fathers estimation by the Chinese community. He is and Chinese or Eurasian mothers. For better respected by Chinese and Europeans alike and reference I will classify the former as A and is, therefore, the fittest man to be the Chinese the latter as B. According to. Chinese social representative on the Legislative Council. The laws and customs Eurasians of class A, if their Chinese would much prefer to be represent-fathers had their names entered in the ancestral register, have as much right to be called Chinese as pure-born Chinese themselves; but those of class B are no more Chinese than they are Europeans. As it is almost impossible to tell by outward app ́arances to which of these two classes a Eurasian may belong, the Chinese have thought it wise and courteous to treat all Enrasians as belonging to class A.
The Viceroy is still keen on a great educaed by him as they have more confidence in him, tional policy. There is to be a new Military well knowing that he is capable of looking after School, to be called the Ping Pan. H. E. is their interes', and is not likely to sit like an trying to get some of the former students of idol with his mouth shut.-Yours, etc.. the Tientsin Naval and Military Colleges as teachers,
almost at once.
Mr. C. W. Campbell, C.M.G., has been in Tientsin saying goodbye to a few old friends. It is understood that Mr. Campbell takes his furlough almost immediately and will go home by the Desert and Siberian route.
LEUNG TIN CHEK.
TO THE EDITOR OF THETAILY PRESS."
Shanbaikwan is shortly to have a church (Church of England) of its own. Through the
Hongkong. 7th June. SIR,-The letter above the name Tse Tsan energetic instrumentality of Capt. Kell (Rail- way Staff Officer), Mr. D. P. Ricketts, Capt. Tai published in your issue of the 6th instant is Lindesay, I.M.S., and other resident of this so calculated to injure the good feeling and northern garrison town, a site has been procured, harmony existing between the Chinese and and the funds wherewith to buld have been Eurasians in this Colony that it should not be In the first promised to within Tls. 250 of the requisite passed over withont comment. amount: building operations will commece place, let me point ont, the letter was utterly uncalled for. inasmuch as there will be no vacancy on the Legislative Council for some time to come. But even supposing that the Hon. Wei A Yuk was going to resign, the selection of his successor will, as has always been the case, rest with the Government. The Chinese citizens The Provisional Government, it is understood, of Hongkong have been noted for being always is about to legislate on the vexed question of peaceful and law-abiding. and any attempt to native-orders and bankers. It is understood agitate for a new departure from the general that there will be an official recognition of some- rule in the appointment of their representative thing akin to a bankers' guild, the members of will tend to affect the good order and well-being such guild undertaking mutual guarantees. It of this Colony and should not be tolerated for å is also hoped that the cornering of syce or for-moment. Even if the Chinese were to be left own selection, they would, eign cheques will be prohibited under heavy to make their penalty. As regards the abuse of the native in all probability, nominate Mr. Ho Tung, order system, it has been suggested that the whose ability, energy, popularity and public native banks hereafter should be compelled to spiritedness have meet their obligations for sums under Tls. 1,000] in five days from sight, and for sums over Tls. 1,000 in ten days. The absence of the respon sible Shan Shi bankers from Tientsiu, where they are only represented by minor agents, is a great bar to treating the whole question in a comprehensive way.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
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CHINESE REPRESENTATION ON THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,
Į
TO THE EDITOR OF THE. "DAILY PRESS."
Hongkong, 6th June.
endeared him to them. He has always been recognised by them as a member of their community, in proof of! which he was elected to the Presidency of the Tung Wa Hospital in 1808 by an over- whelming majority, as well as the Chairmanship of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Club and Vice-Chairmanship of the Po Lenug Kuk. Mr. Tse Tsan Tai appears to be labour ing under the self-delusion that he is echoing the sentiments of the Chinese community and championing their cause. Can you tell me, Mr. Editor, who is Tse Tsan Tai and what is his position and standing in this Colony - Yours, etc.,
WONG CHUK YAU.
TO THE EDITor of the “DAILY PRESS.
Hongkong, 7th June. SIB, With reference to the above subject, should the rumoured resignation of the Hon. Wei Yuk take place, the vacancy would most probably have to be filled up by another SIE-It was with considerable surprise that gentleman. As this person is to represent the I read the letter in this morning's issue concern-Chinese community he should certainly be a ing the remarks of Mr. Tse Tsan Tai on the Chinese and no other than a Chinese. The question of the Chinese representative on the mere fact that some of the Eurasian gentle Legislative Council. Your correspondent has men are admitted into Chinese society and evidently overlooked the fact that, though Mr. accorded honourable positions in their bene- Ho Tung is an Eurasian, he was elected Chair-volent and other institutious does not tend man of the Tung Wa Hospital the first time to show in the slightest degree that one be was connected with that Institution, and of their number, however suitable, would be also that he was the first Chairman of the recognised by the Chinese as their representative Chinese Club, of which Mr. Tse Tsan Tai was, in the Legislative Assembly. If an European and is a member. It must also be remembered of respectability and wealth were to-day to in dealing with the question that when the grow a queue, put on Chinese dress, adopt a petition from Dr. Ho Kai and seven proper Chinese name, enter no other but the others regarding the establishment of a Chinese society and subscribe liberally towards High Chinese school, was brought forward, not the support of their various institutions, in a a word was said about Eurasians, and as a few year's time he would doubtless find that lengthy discussion appeared in the local Press, the Chinese will respect and honour him just it seems very strange that no one should have as much, if not more, than they do some of the raised an objection at the time. What motive prominent Eurasians of to-day. But, do you your correspondent has in bringing the matter think, Mr. Editor, that such a person would be forward, I am at a total loss to understand. I eligible to represent the Chinese community? him that the Chinese in this. Colony If so, then the Government might just as well ould be allowed the privilege of electing their appoint any respectable member of the European latives, provided that the men so elected community, who has resided amongst the üblemished reputations, and are approved Chinese for some years and understands their *Majesty's Government. — Yours, etc., views and needs, to represent them.
* SHE POSHAM. One of the principal reasons why the Chinese"
?
With regard to Eurasians of class B in- this Colony, many of them have adopted the dress and name of their fathers and it is a. well-known fact that they will resent, with the bitterest feeling, to, be called Eurasians and much more so if they are called Chinamen These is no obstacle, physical, moral, or other- wise, to prevent this class of Eurasian from dressing Europesu" and disclaiming or even despising the Chinese, if they wish so to do. It is well known amongst Chinese of the better classes that at the present moment there is a number of these men who were once in Chinese dress and professed to be Chinese, but who, being now in European dress have simply re- fased to have any further social intercourse with the Chinese and would consider it a great insult to be reminded that they were once in Chinese dress and had a Chinese name. there is absolutely no guarantee against any Eurasian of this class from following the same example, is it not natural that the Chinese should like to bare a bona-fide Chinese gentle- man to be their representative rather than a Eurasian, however capable and good he may be ?.
As
Personally I greatly admire Mr. Ho Tung; not because of his wealth, mind you, but because of his pluck, abilities and gentlemanly character; and if he is a Eurasiau of class A there cannot be the slightest objection to his being elected as a Chinese representative on the Legislative Council and it would be a distinct loss to the Chinese community should he be not selected.
It is certainly high time that the Chinese community, which is growing daily in numbers and importance, should be granted the privi lege of selecting their own representative on the Legislative Council, as it is donducive to good and honest representation, which, I take it, is the aim of the Government. I beg to suggest that at the first opportunity the Chinese community should petition the Govern ment for such a privilege. But whether or not such a privilege be granted, it is absolutely necessary that the Chinese should be represent- ed by Chinese who not only have abilities and unblemished characters, but whose claims to be Chinese cannot for a single moment be contended. In conclusion, I should like to point out that of late the election of men to the chairmanship of the Tung Wa hospital has been carried out in a most ridiculous manner Those who fight for that coveted honour greatly avail themselves of the services of coolies and such men as are not entitled to vote. Under these circumstances one cannot help doubting that those who are elected are not the most able and popular men amongst the leading Chinese in this Colony.-Yours, etc.,
JOHN CHINAMAN.
TO THE EDITOR OF. THE
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DAILY PRESS. Į
Hongkong, 9th Junes SIR,-I shall be greatly obliged if you will kindly grant space in your valuable:paper for the enclosed.-Yours, etc.,
A CHINAMAN. (Enclosure.) TO THE CHINESE COMMUNITY OF BONGK
My Brother Chinese and Fellow Countes —as the public of, Hongkong has for last few days hotly discussed the quest to who would be the right man to repre