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If
We
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
destroy individuality. But it seeks to reconcile, to give us opportunities for meeting and know. ing each other, and to promote that good fellowship, helpfulness and mutual respect which are characteristics of our profession, and to deal authoritatively with certain questions that arise where our profession, as such, comes into contact with public life in this Colony of Hongkong."
objects which, as individuals, we have not yet achieved and are never likely to achieve. We contemplate certain reforms that will make for the consideration, comfort, and convenience of journalists and lighten their labour, while enabling them to confer benefits upon the public. We seek opportunities for self- improvement, opportunities for social inter- course, opportunities for combining all sections of our profession. We have a high regard for it, and it is our intention to endeavour to keep out of it those who would not be a credit to any profession. But while we have these objects in view, we mean to adopt a policy very much in favour at the present time. That is the policy of retaliation. It may be unorthodox Christianity, but it seems to me that very little can be gained in this life by turning the other cheek. anyone hits 18, We mean to hit back.
are not to be mistaken for bullies standing in a ring inviting a fight. But it may as well be knowu now as later that if any superior person' imagines that Le can hit unfairly any of our fraternity he must bear the consequences. There is a tendency in certain places to sneer at the newspaper min as if he were a being of a peculiarly obnoxious nature. Now, I am not prepared to stand up for every member of our profession. There are some- and they have usually graduated in some other walk of life-who, having lost their own self respect, have brought discredit upou their fellows. But taking the profession as it is represented in Hougkong to-day-by men who have worked on the staffs of the leading news papers of England and the Colonies-I think I may fairly claim for it that it stands very high indeed. It never stood higher; and when I look back on twelve years of journalism in this Co-kong Telegraph) replied on his behalf. lony I feel that I can honestly congratulate my confrères on the position they now occupy, even with all its drawbacks and its inheri'ance of the sins of others. I appeal to you as journalists to maintain the credit of your profession. Do not allow yourselves to be made the catspaws of the petty cliques and jealous busybodies that are present in every community.
Mr. E. A. Snewin (Editor of the Hongkong Telegraph), Hoo. Secretary and Treasurer, re- plied on behalf of the Association, and alluded to the harmonious relations subsisting between the various journals of the Colony, in contrast to the state of affairs prevailing in some epochs of Hongkong history.
Mr. P. W. Sergeant (Editor of the Hong- kong Daily Press) then proposed, the health of the President and Chairman, voicing the regret felt in newspaper circles in Hongkong at the approaching departure of Mr. Reid after twelve years' and half of service here.
Mr. Reid replied, and gave a few amusing re- miniscences of some journalistic, amenities in Hongkong in the old days.
Believe me,
as one with a greater experience of life than most of you, and a longer experience of Hong- kong than any of you, that you will gain more respect the respect that is worth having-by pursuing an independent and honest course in your daily routine, whether it be in the humbler duties of chronicling the daily occurrences of the place, or in endeavouring to form public opinion.
节
Mr. Helme (Daily Press) proposed the health of the newcomers in Hongkong, coupled with the name of Mr. Douglas Story.
Mr. Story (Editor of the South China Morning Post) returned thanks, and stated how much the welcome extended to him and his colleagues had been appreciated. He dwelt, too, on the work awaiting the Association and the amount of good which it might be expected to do.
[January 25, 1904.
CANTON.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 18th January. HOBBERS ENCAGED. Since the execution of Ao Chan, captain of the 3,000 robbers at Shui-bin, that district has been quiet. Three noted robbers have been captured in the Pun-yü territory just east of the city, and they are at present exposed in cages differing somewhat from the ordinary punish- ment-cages, in the Pun-yü magistrate's yamen-—- a sight for tourists, who do not, however, visit this prison so often as the more famous Namhoi prison.
DARING ATTEMPT AT PIRACY.
I have just had a talk with a friend who has come through what might have been a very unpleasant adventure in the S.W. of this province. He had been staying on the coast halfway to Kwongchowan, and was return. ing to Canton on Friday. The usual mode of travelling throughout the delts and on all the waterways in the province is by passenger-boat- a large junk-towed by a steam-launch, of which draft ¡there is а great number lying to the N. W, of Honam Island: These steam- launches usually carry a guard of from 15 to 20 men, armed to the teeth, and the passenger-boats too have a guard, and sometimes an ancient cannon or two. In the base I refer to, the boat had passe a few miles beyond Kongmoon, and was in a narrow part of the river, when, in the late watches of the night, it was attacked by a number of sampans, which Mr. Donald (China Mail) proposed the toast glided out of the numerous small creeks of the visitor, M. César, a French journalist at flowing into the larger stream at this spot. present in Hongkong, who had been invited to The orews of the launch and passenger- attend the dinner. Mr. Mannington (Hong-boat felt strong enough to refuse to surrender and were attacked with a fusilade from modern weapons. For several hours the fight was kept-up, and at last, finding they could make no impression on their would-be violims, the pirates withdrew. It is Very rarely, I believe, that passenger-boats are strong enough to keep off pirates, so my in- formant had a fortunate escape. This bold attack so near to the port of Kongmoon shows well that the pirates are really more powerful than most foreigners imagine. The day will
their destruction will come: when absolutely necessary to freedom of trade.
NEW YEAR PREPARATIONS. With the approach of China New Year there is a great activity in the fire-cracker quarter.
After a short entertainment, Mr. Erskine (Daily Press) being at the piano and the Chairman himself being among the singers. a very successful evening came to an end a little after midnight.
NEW TERRITORY NOTES.
ARMED ROBBERIES.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT |
16th January.
With the approach of the Chinese New Year armed robberies are of frequent occurrence on both sides of the frontier line. The configura.
tion of the country, bad roads, apathy of the people robbed, are all bars in the way of the police on the British side of the line, who do their best against difficulties. Two nights ago a village in Chinese territory, about a quarter of a mile from the Customs Bungalow at Sham- chun, was raided by a robber gang, who broke into and looted five houses to the extent of $400.
MISSION WORK.
There are in this community-as there are in every community-people who are ever ready to take advantage of a newspaper to serve their own selfish ends. It is not always easy to see their object. Such persons may be counted among the enemies of the Press. On the other hand, there are in Hongkong some men in public life and it is to be regretted that their number is not larger-who have accomplished much with
The Rhenish Mission is making strenuous the aid of the Press. With your help, they will be able to accomplish still greater reforms, efforts in the cause of Christianity in and around and I hope that after each of you has spent Shamchun. Shamchun itself is nearly 50 twelve years in Hongkong you will be able to converts, while in one village near Shamchun the majority of the people are converts, and look back with a sense of satisfaction and be able to say that you have helped in your small bring their children to be baptised. The
from Mr. Gottschalk, to the achievement of these successes." Mr. Reid went on to say that the changes in visits Shamchun regularly and holds divine the status of the profession which have been service. The curious juxtaposition of the clean witnessed in Hongkong are only a reproduction little mission house in Shamchun with the filthy of what has been happening at home since the abodes of the people around it, and the days when Thackeray pourtrayed Captain Shan- little band of converts droning out some old, don. People are beginning to recognise that jour-well-known hyma tune in a strange tongue, is nalism is no longer the last refuge of the incapable an experience to be remembered. and the disreputable. In all walks of public life, journalists take, a foremost place, But it is not because of their profession, nor in spite of it. In conclusion Mr. Reid said:-
way
*1
"It so
happens that there have been many new arrivals during the past twelve months. We are pleased to greet the newcomers, and none perhaps more cordially than the members of the staff of Hongkong's new daily. The personal influence of the newcomers is already felt in our jour nalistic life. They have brightened us; they have made us all more alert, and we hope they, will appreciate our effor 8 to keep ahead of "Professional rivalry need not breed! personal enmity. It is one of the best features of journalism that professional rivals have always found a common platform. Our Asso- ciation does not aim at abolishing rivalry or to level down to dull uniformity; it will not
them.
Rev.
RAIN.
Hongkong,
The recent rain out here has been an unmixed blessing to all who "toil and moil." The past months of dry weather had parched the land till the soil was of the consistency of cement. Now Nature and the farmer's smile again.
The Ostasiatische Lloyd has a telegram Yokohama, 19th December The dated Privy Council met yesterday, the Mikado presiding. It has been resolved to return S. Peters- the last Russian Note to the burg Government with the request to recon- sider it. Offcial circles in Tokyo do not con- sider this a break of the relations with Russia, but on the contrary as prompted by the desire to continue the negotiations on another basis. The final settlement of the crisis is therefore postponed for some weeks.
become
Millions of crackers are used annually at this
season, of which many are imported. It is a period of great danger from fires, as may be imagined.
The toy-shops are very busily at work also. At New Year every respectable house has its little ornaments renewed, and the children have their little presents. Generally there is a good deal going on in the city at present, but money is very scarce in the Imperial coffers, and it is rumoured that another loan will have to be negotiated by the Viceroy.
PAKHOI.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Pakhoi, 5th January,
A MUSICAL TREAT.-
M. Léonce Flayelle, French Consul, trested the community to a musical soirée on the New Years night in the rooms of the Consulate, The
members of the foreign community were invited. The affair was a brilliant success, and a most enjoyable evening was passed. From the gate leading to the spacious buildings the path was splendidly lit by double rows of lanterns and coloured lamps, and so was the compound around.
One of the rooms i.ad been converted into n little theatre, the stage being raised about two feet from the floor, and the room throughout was decorated with bunting and ferns. The performance commencer at half-post eight before an audience of over forty laies and gentlemen. After the first part of the pro- gramme had been gone through supper was provided, and it was nearly midnight when the performance came to a close.
The following was the programme :---
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