48
are
That
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[January 26, 1907.
Mr. HOOPER (to contractor)—Do you admit that the president of the Sanitary Board has warned and cautioned you for doing your work improperly?
The PRESIDENT –Ha admits it.
come from him. I don't doubt you.
Mr. HOOPEE-But I think it had better
The CONTRACTOR—Yes.
I was yesterday.
warned
Mr. HOOPER-What reason do you give for not carrying out your contract properly?
The CONTRACT ›B—|
I am a new hand. Mr. HOOPER-Dɔ you give p›rsonal supervi-
foremen.
The CONTRACTOR-I have got a lot of
Mr. HOOPER -I think that in addition to the
foremen it would be well if you gave a little supervision yourself, and see that the work is properly carried out.
to be so overcome with admiration of Japan's prowess as to throw in their lot with Japan, virtually saying "Take us and rule us and teach us how to fight the foreigner". Loose assumptions as to the germaneship of all Orientals have been responsible for the delusion that there is little difference between the Chinese and Japanese, and for still worse errors. It bas been often and openly suggested, by certain foreigners who feel shocked by the spectacle of a "barbarous" nation entering the rank of first-class Powers, that China's inore recent attitude of independence towards foreigners has been directly inspired from Japan. This quite ignores the fact that in the eyes of the Chinese the Japanese as foreign as any other people, and perbaps more heartily disliked and distrusted than any other aliens are. this is the case, a number of incidents catalogued by Capt. BRINKLEY in the Times go far, as intended, to demonstrate. So far from recognizing Japan as a benefactor or friend, China has for the last year been industriously, keeping her at arm's length, along with the rest of the Powers with whom China, to her own disgust, finds it necessary to negotiate. Over the business of the restoration of Newchwang, this spirit was particularly noticeable. In addition to the necessary retention of military control for a time, Japan requested China to promise to continue and maintain the sanitary reforms that it had instituted there. This was not a gratuitous lecture, but a reasonable stipulation. Japan has to keep a force of railway guards in South | HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD. Manchuria, and the leased area of Liaotung is in close railway touch with Newchwang. It is therefore to the interest of both that Newchwang should not be "a centre of disease-propagation." China agreed very unwillingly, ou termis over which she haggled. Capt. BRINKLEY remarks:
The Chinese further made some extra- ordinary protests with regard to telegraphs, and had the silliness and effrontery to demand that the cable with which Saseho and Dalny were linked during the war should be taken up again. Their protests were not confined to Tokyo, they had them submitted to the International Posts and Telegraphs Union in Switzerlan . There was, of course, no opening for any Power whatever, including China, to object to the retention and continuel use of that cable,sion to the work? seeing that both ends of it were purely Japanese, Sascho being Japanese and Dalny on Japanese leased territory. The frivolous protests concerning the telegraphs laid along the East China railway were undreamed of in-Russia's time, and were obviously dragged up to show Japan that her efforts were not appreciated and her intentions mistrusted. Another difficulty raised by Peking related to navigation between Chefoo and the Yalu ports, Antung and Tungkao. China claimed that steamers plying between these places must not call at Dalay, thus attempting to differentiate the latter from other Japanese ports. Then the Chinese hang back from their undertaking to co- operate with the Japanese in exploiting the Yalu timber forests; and they stood aloof from the offered partnership in the South Manchuria railway. Japanese influence at Peking, supposed by so many to be greater than that of other Powers, would seem to be really as small as any.
+
43
Kwan- hen
A meeting of the Sauitsry Board was held on January 22nd at the Bard Room. The Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (president) presided. and there were als present Dr. F. Clark, Medical Officer of Health, Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin, Registrar General, Dr. H McFarlane, Assistant Medical Officer of Health, Mr. H. Humphreys, Mr. Shelton Hooper, Mr. Lau Chu-pak, Mr. Fang Wa-chun and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (secretary).
A MATTER OF PUBLIC CONCERN,
The PRESIDENT-Before I go on to the public business, there is a matter that think immediately concerns the Board and also the public, and that is the way in which the work of the new scavenging contractor is being carried out. There have been complaints from several parts of the Colony--many parts I might say— and Dr. Clark has interviewed the contractor on more than one occasion. I have myself sen him
"It is evidently possible to find explanations of China's reluctance in this matter, but another ol jection raised by her may almost be described as frivolous. It referred to the term “
and to the title tung
Viceray." Russia appointed Alexeieff to be Vic.roy" of Kwan-tung, no protest of any kind was made by China, but when Japan, having suc-eeded by treaty to Russia's leasehold, nominated General Oshima to the same post in the same territory, Peking declared that the leased territory could not properly be termed Kwan-tung." since that name applied to the whole of South Man- cburia eastward of Shan-bai-kwan, and that, and explained that this sort of thing cannot be at any rate, the creation of a Japanese allowed to go on; he has undertaken the Viceroy" constituted an encroachment on work and must carry it out satisfactorily China's sovereign rights. This very marked Personally, last week, I made a complaint about differentiation between Peking's complaisant the way the work was carried out at the mood towards Russia and its cavilling disposi. Victoria Hospital and along Barker Road. I tion towards Japin caused surprise in Tokyo, also saw opposite the Western Market on Thurs but the Japanese, being much too practical to day last at 1.10 pm. numerous baskets of rub- set greater store by a question of
bish which had not been removed, which practi- terminology than by international concord, cally means that the man is not doing his work changed the title of Viceroy" (soloku) to that satisfactorily. The Medical Officer of Health of "Governor-General" (totoku), and thus sav.
made a minute as follows: "The new scaveng. ed China's" face." The alt-ration of one ideo-ing contractor is not doing his work in a satis graph did the business. Then the Waiwu.pn factory manner, and I recommend that he be began to talk of jurisdiction. It alleged that brought before the Board." The man cannot the Russo-Chinese Convention, under which be allowed to retain his contract under such Japan held Kwan-tung, had expressly reserved circumstances, and it is for the Board to make to the Chinese local authorities powers of representations to the Government.
propose administration in the town of Kinchau as well to bring the contractor before you, and if you
wish to ask him any questions you can do so.
mere
as judicial rights in the case of Chinese subjects in Kwan.tung, and it insisted that Japan must abide by these reservations. But the Јарацеве retorted that Russia had never respected this convention in practice; that she had notoriously exercised the functions in question, and. that China had refrained from raising any objection, One can understand and even sympathize with tl is essay on China's part to retrieve a situation which her own perfunctoriness or timidity hat compromised in the days anterior to her recently-born mood of self-assertion. The Japanese, however, are not disposed to increase their list of sacrifices in Manchuris for the sake of gratifying Peking's new aspirations.
Mr. FuNG WA-CHON-What is his name? The PRESIDENT-Ng Kwan.
.
The CONTRACTOR-Yes, I must look after the foremen.
Mr. FUNG WA-CHUN-Whoss duty is it, Mr. President, to put the rubbish on board the boats?
The PRESIDE IT —That is a separate contrao t Prays for the purpose, and another contractor This man puts it in receptacles provided on the
removes it.
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK (to the contractor)—In what condition did you find the Peak district when you took over the contract P
The CONTRACTOR-I found a lot of rubbish left behind by the old contractor.
The PRESIDENT-Bye-law 13 states that the contractor shall remove the rubbish from the have thirty able-bodied man on the work. Have Peak daily before 9 am, and that he must
you had thirty men on since you have taken over the contract?
The CONTRACT JR-Yet, •
The PRESIDENT-I told you yesterday that last week I saw at 11 o'clock in the morning bundles and baskets of rubbish along the Barker Road.
The CONTRACTOR-Perhaps the scavengers couldn't carry it
away so quickly. The PRESIDENT- You are supposed to do it before 9 a.m. according to your contract P
The CONTRACTOR-YOS.
*
sign your contract ?
The ́ REGISTRAR-GENERAL--When did you
The CONTRACTOR~On December 28th. The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-And when did you take up the work?
The CONTRACTOR-On January 1st. The REGISTRAR-GENERAL- nd you had to make all arrangements in those four days abɔut engaging coolies?
The CONTRACTOR —Yes.
The PRESIDENT-I think it would be sufi- cient if we warned him.
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK -I think it is my duty to bring to your notic, what I heard to day, Sanitary inspectors, who is Mr. President I heard direct from one of the inspector now, that on of the clerks in my no longer sa officer was suspected of having a share in this
contract.
that means.
The PRESIDENT-I don't know quite what yourself a little farther.
I would prefer you to explain
in my office are int rested in this contract. The inspectors think that one of them is interestel. and they don't like the olerk to har anything
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK-None of the clerks
to do with the contract. As a matter of fact, none of my clerks have. suspicion of the kind.
The PRESIDENT —I have never heard of any
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK —It was told me by one of the inspectors.
The PRESIDENT-Who is not an inspector Dow?
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK-But he goes about among the inspectors and knows what is going
oa.
The PRESIDENT-I don't know what that has to do with the contractor now. He is a new man and will take sɔme tim› to get into that if it is not properly carried on in fatare the work, but I think it only wise to wirn him
we shall have to represent the matter to the Government.
The contractor was then called before the Board, and the PRESIDENT, through an inter- preter, said--I have asked yo to attend before the Board as it has come to my knowledge that you have not been doing your work as scavenging contraclor satisfactorily. (To members)-I may say that when I had him before me I asked him with reference to the number of coolies he was supposed to supply, but he did not seem to be acquainted with the efact number he ought to furnish. It is his duty to make himself would be satisfied if you were to inquire into the Mr. HUMPHRYs-I think, Sir, the Board
acquainted with the contract.
Mr. LAU CHU-PA-It is quite proper to warn him.