-170
from the people. That is a sum which even | some of the native papers have declared to be not intolerably burdensome. What mukes the word indemnity "ring violently in the ears of everybody in China," as Ulie Sing Wan Pao has it, is that the Board of Revenue is insisting on the full sum of eighteen million taels being collected from the provinces. Even worse extortion has to be recorded.
"If," laments the Sin Wan Pao, "the provincial authorities honestly collected eighteen million taels from the people to meet the annual instalment, it would be all right. But the sum exacted from the poor people under the cover of the word indemnity is several times greater than the amount required to pay the indemnity." It is no therefore surprising to learn that the whole nation is groaning under the unbear able weight of the innumerable taxes levied on them under the pretence of defraying the foreign indemnity." It is a matter of which the Powers, as we have already said, Should take a rious notice. At the time the indemnity was demanded there were not wanting those who considered it impolitic to impose any burden at all in this connec- tion on the Yangteze provinces. Why, it was urged, should the people under the Yangtaze Viceroys who remained quiet through all that memorable time of stress and anxiety be called upon to pay enor- mously increased taxes because the northern provinces had been swept into the vortex of rebellion? But the indemnity was demanded from China as a whole, and while this in itself must have produced among the people in the Yangtsze provinces a feeling of dis- appointment and even resentment, the enormous exactions which the provincial authorities are unwarrantably making in the name of the Powers can only have one result throughout the country-an intensifi- cation of the latred of the foreigner. The Yangtaze Viceroys have protested in meno- rials against the Board of Revenue's exaction of seven million taels from the provinces over and above the amount that it is really necessary to levy, but their protests appear to be calmly ignored in Peking.
5
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on the 2 th ult, in the Council Chamber. Present:
Hi8 EXCELLANCY THE GOVER VOR, Sir HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY Sir W. GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. F. H. MAT, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary). Hon. Sir HENRY SPENCER BERKELEY, KT. (Attorney-General).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. Commander R. . RunSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
!
Hon. F. J. BADELEY (Captain Superintend ent of Police).
Hon. ir C. P. CHAT‡E, C.M,G.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAL, C.M G.
Hon. WEI-A YUK.
Hou. C. S. Sharp. .
Hon. C. W. DICKSON.
Hou. R. SHEWAN,
Mr. R. F JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
MEMBER SWORN IN,
The Hon. F. J. Badeley took the oath and resumed his seat in the Conceil.
NOTION OF
ESTIONS.
The Hon. R. G. DEWAN gave notice of the following questions to be asked at next meeting of the Council (†) Will the Colonial Secretary inform the Council when the land settlement in the New Territory was commenced? (2) Will the Colonial Secretary give an explanation of
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
the delay in settling this matter, abont fone years having elapsed since the date of the oonosssion?
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minute No. 8, and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was carried.
FINANCE COMMITTEE'S report. The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table
the report of the Finance Committee (No. 1),
and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was carried.
MERCHANT FHIPPING ORD'NANCE. The ATTORNey-General-Sir, I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, 1899, and to amend
1901.
the Merchant Shipping Amendment Ordinance, amend the Merchant Shipping Consolidation The Bill is introduced to further Ordinance, 1899, and to amend the Merchant Shipping Amendment Ordinance in accordance with suggestions from the Board of Trade and to meet certain requirements arising since the passing of the Ordinance of 1899." It is desirable to bring our legislation as far as possible into line on this subject with Impe- rial legislation; in fact, it is not only desirable it is absolutely essential. At the present moment there is a Bill before His Majesty the King, which was passed by the Council in 1901, and before that Bill is dealt with finally we have considered it necessary to further legislate in order to amend it, and the Bill before the Council is ons to give effect to amendments we consider essential in order to make our local shipping law perfect in the sense of being identical with that of the mother country.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
The Council then went into committee on the
Bill, and on re.aming, there having been no material amendments, the Bill was read a third time and passed.
THE PUNISHMENT OF FLOGGING.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Sir, I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the laws relating to the punishment of flogging. The object is to make the law respecting the punishment of flogging, wherever adminis ered, the same throughout the whole Empire; and to limit the number of strokes which may be awarded by any sentence. The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. 1
The Council then went into committee on the Bill which, on the Council resuming, was read a third time and passed.
FUGITIVE CRIMINALS.
en
[March 9, 1933,
lucidental expenses ......3150.00 Office fittings and one
exfe
200.00
The vote was agreed to. This was all the busiuess.
350..0*
Total,.....$550.00
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
THE LAST MEETING.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held the 5th inst. in the Board Cl„mber. Present:- Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer (president); Dr. F. W. Clark, Medical Officer of Health; Hon. W. Chatham,
Director of Public Works; Hon. F. J. Badeley, H.A.M.C.; Mr. E. Osborne, Mr. C. McI. Captain Superintendent of Police; Col. Webbe Messer, Acting Registrar-General; Mr. Fung Wa Chan; Mr. Lau Chu Pak; and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (secretary).
The business was due to begin as usual at 415, but it was about quarter of an hour later when Dr. Atkinson entered the Chamber and
took his place at the bead of the table. With ont taking his seat, | Dr. ATKINSON said-Gentlemen,—Since last we met the new Public Health and Build- ings Bill has been passed, and as that Bill repeals the Ordinance under which this Sauitary Board is constituted, I am instɩuoted that until such time as the new members are appointed or elected the Sanitary Board does not exist, I thank you all very much for the assistance you have afforded at our meetings under the old Board, and I regret that you should have called you together thus unnecessarily. This meeting is adjourned.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Sir, [ 1:0w beg to make the third motion standing in my name, that for the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to provide for the surrender of | fugitive criminals from the territory of each of the Malay States-Perak, Selangor, l'abang and Negri Sembilan. The object of the Bill is announced by its title, and is to provide for the surrender to each of the four Federated Malay States of fugitive criminals from those States.
|
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded the motion, and the Bill was road a second time.
The Council then went into committee on the, Bill, and to amendments having been made, when the Council resumed the Bill was read a third time and passed.
THE JURY LIST.
Mr. OSBORNE-Sir, before we part- Dr. ATKINSON—There is no meeting.
Mr. OSBORNE—I am not going to talk on public business. As this is Dr. Clark's last attendance at our meetings, whatever it may bo to us, prior to his departure for home, I think it would be ungracious if we were to allow the opportunity to pass without recording our thanks to him for the very able and distinguish. ed way in which he has carried out the duties of Medical Officer of Health (hear, hear) during his period in that office. The ovils which this Colony suffered from some years ago and which disgraced the Colony have to a large extent disappeared, and apart from plague I think that we have no need to be ashamed of our health statistics. As regards plague, now that we have the nucleus of a staff organised to fight this disease, I think we and may fairly hope for ultimate succes<; certainly if the intelligence, energy and seal of Dr. Clark be continued in his su cessors, I have no doubt the day is not far distant when wo shall be practically free and may ones more hold our head erect amongst clean communities of the world. This improved sanitary condition of Hongkong is principally due to Dr. Clark, and I believe, sir, I am ex- pressing the feelings of all those whose interests åre identified with the place in saying that we deeply appreciate and thank him for his services. He has been a member of this Board for 7 years and although under the new Public Health Ordinance he now ceases to be one it is to be sincerely hoped he may return with renewed vigour to the post which he has filled with such conspicuous credit to bimself,
honour to the public service. (Applause)
The Council considered privately the revision with advantage to public interests and with of the Jury List.
The Council adjourned.
VINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee WAS held immediately after the Cou cil, the Colonial Secretary (chairman) presiding.
There was only one item down for considers tion, a minute in which the Governor recom- mended the Council to vote a sum of $1,55 to west the cast for the current year of an agency of the Hongkong Post Office established at Chefoo, from 1st January: Salary for Post Office Agent, 1st
January to Sist December, 1903, at $100 per mensem.......$1,200,00
Dr. ATKINEON-I am sure that everything that has been said by Mr. Osborne has been received with soclamation by these present. We are all aware of the able servios that Dr. Clark has rendered and we know how valuable they have been. We only hope he will return to the Colony after his leave, reinvigorated and able to fight anew the battle against disease in this Colony. (Applause.)
Dr. K Thank you.
Mr. FuNG WA CHO-Mr. President, I think the Press should not publish the fact that the Board does not exist. Although the Board does not exist, the members and staff of the Sanitary Board exist..
Dr. Átx1N80N—The meeting is