278
HONGKONG PRODUCE AND THE
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. Correspondence concerning the re-organisa- tion and enlargement of the Hongkong Court at the Imperial Institute is published in the Hongkong Government Gazette. His Excellency the Governor has placed a collection of articles of Hongkong and South China production and manufacture in the bands of the Registrar
which he
W&s
General. Mr. Tutcher has twice visited the Imperial Institute and has carefully inspected the Hongkong and other Courts at the shown Imperial Institute by the Superintendent, Mr. W. G. Freeman, who gave him much information respecting the details of arrangement, etc. The desirability of somewhat extending the area of the present space allotted to the Hongkong Court, which should be at least doubled in order to include the additional exhibits and to show these better than is possible in the present cramped space; is suggested. The Colony contributes a total annual sum of £36 178. Od. to the general expenses of the Imperial Institute and the upkeep of the Court, and it is suggested that this contribution be correspondingly increased.
The work of the Imperial Institute is to. display and illustrate the natural resources and industries of the Colonies and India, to promote by scientific and technical investiga tion the commercial utilisation of the raw
materials of the Empire, and to supply full information concerning the Colonies and Dependencies and their resources. In 1903 the Imperial Institute was transferred by Act of Parliament to the control of the Board of Trade. 1t is
the that put forward Hongkong Court affords an opportunity of bringing to the notice of commercial men, and others, a representative collection, not only of the products and manufactures of the Colony itself, but also of the products of China. This idea is already attained to a certain extent, as the attached catalogue of exhibits indicates. Much, however, remains to be done. To this and the accompanying notes on the present condition and requirements of the Court are intended as suggestions, which, if carried out, would render the Court more representative of the products and resources of Hongkong and of its great importance as an entre-pôt of Chinese trade.
His Excellency the Governor thinks that the question of extending the area of the space allotted to the Hongkong Court and of corres- pondingly increasing the contribution from this Government had best be considered when the new collection is received in London.
MISGUIDED WOMEN.
A REAL YELLOW PERIL
Three white women and their half-caste children, who were assisted by Custom House officers to escape from their Chinese homes up the West River, arrived here on April 22nd by the 8.8. Shunlee. Two of them are Australians, and the third is from Chili, Two of the women and their children were taken in by the Italian Convent, In their Chinese homes they were beaten and generally treated badly by the respective first wives, who made them work in the flelds and do other servile work. They were kept in close custody, one of the Australian women having thus suffered for six years.
A Daily Press representative on April 23rd the interviewed the Reverend Mother of Italian Convent. She said it was not su unusual thing for refugees of this description to come from the interior. They generally belonged to the unfortunate ola-s of women,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
failing to do so.
[May 1, 1965.
The Captain: The first lieutenant saw him, and can explain.
His Worship: You are discharged with a caution.
would regard the children, but it seemed to be | Manager's promising to put the flanges up and the duty of the community to do something.
Most women helped in this way showed but little gratitude, but the Reverend Mother sited Some years ago a Mauritius one exception. woman thus sought refuge at the Italian Con. vent and, through the Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin was sent back to her country. Every year that woman wrote expressions of gratitude to the Convent. She was a very ignorant, but
not a vicious women.
The Reverend Mother admitted that it
seemed to her indesirable for Europeans to marry Chinese, but said that when such couples approached a priest it was clearly his duty to marry then rather than let them live in sin. It appears very easy for Chinamen to marry (if they did really marry the women they lived with) Europeans in Australia. The Convent rece ved Eurasian children as pupils
without question.
During the last few days thirteen, destitutes have been admitted into the Italian Convent. One was a Chinawoman who had been robbed, and there were three native children unknown dialect. “Almost speaking an every day destitutes are admitted," con- tinued the Reverend Mother. We are so fall that it has been found necessary to put beds in the corridor, "We are building an extension to accommodate 150 children.
We
have not sufficient funds to pay for it, but God will see to that. The money is not required for luxurious living or fine clothes."
A QUESTION OF PORT LAW.
The Captain of the R. I. M. S. Hardinge was summoned before Mr. F. A. Hazeland at the Police Court on the 29th April to say why he neglected to put rat flanges round his ship while lying alongside the wharf.
The Captain stated that on the 25th ult P. C. 58 boarded his ship and asked the officer of the watch why he had not bis rat flanges out. The officer replied that the Hardinge enjoyed the status of a ship of war, and the bye-
laws did not apply to it. The constable told him that it was necessary to put the flanges on, and the officer again stated that he id not know the bye-laws applied to a Government vessel. The officer of the watch reported the matter to the first lieutenant who went to the Manager of the Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company and asked if he would supply the necessary flanges. The Manager said he would, but did not send them down. The lieutenant again called to remind him about the matter and the manager promised he would see to it, but failed to do so. He had neither received direct | information from the authorities nor a copy of the bye laws of the port. The ship, which belonged to the Indian Government, had never been here before.
His Worship: I understand the Wharf and Godown Company always put the danges up, but do not understand why there was a refusal
in this case. ¿
Inspector Langley: We don't know anything about the arrangements ships make with the Company, but hold the ship responsible.
The Captain: The first lieutenant did every. thing in his power to get the flanges. When he saw the Wharf and Godown manager he was assured by him that they would be put up but they were not. I submit I should have received official information.
Inspector Langley: When a merchant ship comes in she is supplied with a copy of the Port Regulations but this ship, having the status of a ship of war, was not supplied.
His Worship, to the Captain: If you are coming into port again, I should advise you to see the Manager of the Godown Company,
The Captain: If the Police had informed me, I should have seen that the matter was attended
His Worship: In & case like this the Police must see the Captain of the ship.
because it was seldom that one found them married. In Australia the Chinaman deceived these low-class women with promises hs
to. When she arrived never intended to fulfil. in the interior she found herself one of several “wives” a position most repugnant to any The inevitable right-feeling white woman. consequences follow. As the Rev. Mother expressed it: "Indeed, these poor women receive their punishment in this world.”
The Reverend Mother said she intended to apply to the Benevolent Society to send the women back to their respective homes. She did not know how the Commonwealth Government
The Captain: The officer of the watch perhaps exceeded his authority in disonssing the matter with the Police constable. However, there shall be no question about the matter next
time we arrive. No offence was committed with intent.
His Worship: I cannot understand that part of the story with reference to the Godown
|
GENERAL HATTON PRESENTS
SPORTS TROPHIES.
The available space around the billiard table at which the final of the R.G.A. Sergeants Mess v. Police Billiard tournament was being played at the Soldiers' Club on April 28th was uncomfortably overcrowded, and late arrivals were unable to catch a glimpse of the game. Major-General Villiers Hatton was in attend- ance to present the Cups and medals, and also the Club's football and oricket challenge shields. There were also present Captain Fitzwilliams, A.8.C., Lt. Pesare, A.S.C., and Major Pedley, Captain Pack-Beresford and Captain Elgood of the R.W.K., F. J. Badeley (Captain Superin tendent of Police), J. W. Hanson (hief Deteo- tive Inspector) and C. D. Melbourne.
The final was played between Sgt. Pitt of the Police and Gr. Gainer, R.G.A., Pitt winning by 111 points, which gave the Police team the win.
The General was then called upon to present
·
the medals, which he said it gave him great He did not intend to make a pleasure to do. speech. but was pleased to state that he had received a letter from the Military Authorities in India asking for information as to the run- ning of the Soldiers' Club, as they wished to start one there on similar lines. The General then presented a cup to Inspector Withers as representative of the Police billiard team, another to Gr. Galner for the highest break, which was 41, and the medals to the winning team. Sgt. Redmann was presented with the shield for the R. W. K. Football Club, and a representative of the Staff Department received. the cricket shield.
PEKING UNIVERSITY.
Surprise has often been expressed lately as to the reason why, in view of the flourish of trumpets and high-sounding rhetoric which inangurated the establishment of the Peking University, that institution has, so far, made not the slightest progress; the reply may be found in a correspondent's letter to hand namely. that the Chinese and Manchu Chancellors of the University, Chang Pei-hsi ( President of the Board of Civil Appointments) and Yung Ch'ing (President of the Board of Revenue) have been bitter enemies ever since the latter added to the insti‹ution 8.3 Manchu Chancellor of the University. The former despises the latter because his illiteracy does not fit him to be at the head of an institution of learning, w.ile the latter, on the other hand, puts on the garment of superiority because he belongs to the conquering race. Hence when- ever one introduces into the University a nominee of his own to be a member of the faculty, or head of department. his rival
W83
Chancellor makes it a point either to denounce the man to the Throne or remove him for some imaginary, or trifling mistiks. With such a state of matters in an important public institu- tion like the Peking University it is not surprising that the more thoughtful despair of finding any success in it.-N.-C. Daily News.
WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN FISHERY RIGHTS IN COREA.
A Mainichi telegram from Seoul, dated April 11th, states that the rights granted some sime ago by the Corean Government to a Russian Count for whale fishing off Chosenpo and Shimpo have now come to an end. Under the terms of the arrangement, the Count was to pay the Government an annual tax of 450 Yen and, it was provided, that if a year should elapse without this amount being paid the grant of rights should become void. As twelve months have passed since the fax was last paid,
the concession has now been declared to be no longer in force.
Page 10Page 11