78
the
CRIME IN HONGKONG,
(Daily Press, January 30th.) The year 1909 has begun badly in Hong- kong from the viewpoint of the Colony's criminal statistics. In addition to the numerous cases of simple robbery or burglary with which the advent of a Chinese New Year has always been associated, we have had to chronicle three armed robberies, in ope of which two deaths were involved, and on Thursday the disagreeable duty devolved upon the Chief Justice of sentencing six men to death for a murder committed in the Colony last November. We must guard ourselves, however, against the assumption that there will be six executions at the gaol in February, for the Jury added to their verdict a recommendation to mercy, and case seems one in which appeal is reasonably made to the clemency of the Governor. For it does not seem to bave been established at the trial that these men, and their companions who have eluded ar- rest, went out with the deliberate and pre- | conceived intention of committing a murder, and, so far as the evidence goes, only one mau was shown to have had a knife or other weapon in his possession. That one
man did bave a knife, and made fatal use of it in the mélée, is not necessarily conclusive proof of a pre-conceived intention to murder, for he may have been accustomed, for all we know, to carry the knife as an implement of his trade as a rattan-worker. Still he cannot escape the consequences of the unlawful use he made of it. We have no desire to say anything to influence the decision of His Excellency the Governor in the matter, but in looking at the list of crimes which have engaged the attention of the public this month, we merely note the distinction which exists between this case and the cases of armed robbery which have come under
notice. In two of these cases ten men in all
cates
are reported to have been armed with revol- vers, and eight men engaged in another robbery are reported to have been armed with knives. Obviously in these murder was deliberately contemplated in the event of any attempt being made to frus- trate the main objects of the narauders. The agencies for repressing crime in the Colony, we have no doubt, are duly affected by the increased feeling of insecurity these daring crimes must breed. There has been a noticeable tendency to lay the blame of this recrudescence of crime to the charge of those whose duty it is to administer the laws for the repression of crime in the Colony. Sentences passed at the Magistracy in recent times have frequently called for public criticism, on account of their ap- parent inadequacy; but the suggestion that these sentences encouraged such enormities
as those
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
"
February 1, 1969.
permit, however greatly the powers of search | would elect the candidates who were most now possessed by the police may be extend- modest instead of electing those who promised ed, but the case suggest that an illicit traffic as the most. in firearms has been going on in the Colony, and the police authorities, we are confident, will do their utmost to trace the source of supply, and so prevent a recurrence of these dastardly crimes which have surprised and alarmed the people living in the districts in which they were committed.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
Isn't it a disorganising time? Absent boys, scrappy meals, household arrangements upset, and to crown all, sleepless nights-no wonder China New Year is regarded with something like awe by the foreigner. Its great redeeming feature, however, is the sight of so many happy looking, well-dressed men and women, boys and girls. One appreciates a view of the many beauti- ful robes that brighten the street-scape-if I may be permitted to coin a word-and one has to admit that in that respect they have little to gain by adopting Western ideas. There is nothing more commanding or imposing than a fine-looking Chinaman attired in his long silk robo.
As usual, there were several griffins who went to bed on Thursday night under the fond delusion that they would enjoy the customary night's repose, but, alas, they were not long wrapped in the arms of Morpheus before they were rudely awakened to the awful reality of China New Year. I am sure many must have felt like the wedding guest in "The Ancient Mariner," whose feelings may be paraphrased thusly
The tired sleeper sadly woke : He cannot chose but hear: Still ra tle on the meriy din
To hail the coming year.
The University scheme is not being allowed to lag. I hear that officials to manage the fund have been selected but I am not at liberty to divulge their names. I am told, too, on good authority that the appeal published by H. E. the Governor is being translated into Chinese. That is only as it should be, and much good should result from the Chinese being interested in the undertaking.
*
Who would have dreamt that Hongkong could have been roused. to enthusiasm over a Sanitary Board election, or for that matter over anything at all? We are not all tired, but our enthusiasms have mostly been killed, and it was quite refreshing to see such an amount of interest in public affairs as was evinced last Wednesday afternoon. I daresay the novelty of the experience attracted many, newspapers are agreed whatever be the exact explanation, it betokened a healthy interest in public affairs.
*
but as the
I see that Captain Hutchison was the first man to vote. Probably he dropped his paper into the ballot box so early because he "savvied" the procedure better than most. When I was there I noticed that many were under the impression now under Lotice is not easily except at the booths. Then some had to borrow that they could not mark their papers properly susceptible of proof. We can recall
pencils (though pencils were thoughtfully times in Hongkong when increased
provided) and altogether there was an in- severity has effectually repressed a formality about the whole affair which was particular class of crime, and we are sure decidedly unusual. The officials in charge did that there is no need to call for severity in exceedingly well under trying circumstances, the cases under notice the necessity but apparently they did not anticipate the rush of for it is so patent. When the men
hundreds of voters, otherwise different arrange- who engaged in the recent murderous ments would probably have been provided. enterprises are brought to trial and On dit some of the voters on Wednesday their antecedents traced we shall be took great care in marking their papers in a better position to judge whether that the crosses should not be upside down. they have been influenced at. all by Somebody had given advice that this precaution considerations of the leniency of the Courts. should be exercised, lest misunderstanding Meanwhile, the police authorities are to should ensue. I don't believe the yarn myself, be congratulated upon the fact that they but I give it you for what it is worth. have some of the miscreants in their custody, and investigations will doubtl 83 he made into the source from which the supply of firearms was drawn. It is impossible to ensure in a Colony like this that no man shall possess a revolver unless he has a police
*
There was a charming candour about the speech of Mr. H. Percy Smith at the close of the polls when he said he was sorry he had not been elected but no doubt it was to the gain of the community. What a pity some of the ante- alection speeches were not so candid. Then we
In this connection I thought I might publish the following letter which I received before the election: DEAR Me. RoderiCK-Not since I left "Merrie England" some years ago, have I been appealed to for my vote (for the simple reason that I hadn't any), and it is little wonder that my chest is now inflated when I realise that I have a vojce in electing two representatives to serve on the Sanitary Board. Resolved to discharge the duties thus devolving upon me to the best of my poor ability, I sat down last night to study the addresses of the four candidates, and my cogita. tions took this form--Has a doctor a greater interest in the health of the people than in their ill health? If people didn't die there would be no need for undertakers. Therefore undertakers are interested in the dead rather than the living, excepting perhaps that each living man or woman 18 a prospective source In the same way if people of profit. did not become ill, there would be no need for doctors. Ergo, doctors are more interested in ill health than good health. My logic may be at fault, but that is the way I have figured it out. I am, yours, IMPERTINENT.'
*"
"Impertinent's" proposition is set out, in proper syllogistic form, and of course if his premises be admitted his conclusion must be correct. But probably he has read that Europeans have a good deal to learn from China, and not the least important thing is the way doctors should be paid. Instead of waiting till you fall ill before you summon a physician, and then let him charge fees for his attendance, the method in China is to pay a salary to the doctor while you are well, and stop it immediately you become ill. This custom even obtains at the Chinese Court, and on the demise of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager the court physicians were all to be officially fined for their lack of ability to save their august patients.
Bless my soul! Suffragettes in Hongkong Perish the thought! Yet I saw in cold print in the Press a letter from a lady demanding to know why she hadn't a vote. I never thought ladies here cared sufficiently about public affairs to feel they hadn't votes, though it was a surprise to me to learn that previously those who ratepayers were entitled to vote. The old say ing hath it "You never miss the water until the well runs dry" so perhaps in the same way the ladies in Hongkong never felt they wanted the vote until it was taken from them.
or
were
A friend, who sends on the following reflec- tion, says he means no reflection on the writer
perpetrator of Random Reflections :-
Jokes of humorists all remind us
That the gags the most sublime Are the ones that lip behind us
Covered with the moss of time. Jokelets that perhaps another
Sailing b'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and hard up brother.
Seeing, may re-hash again.
* *
*
"
which I take from an American magazine: Apropos is this "lay of an ancient anecdote
An ancient anecdote I be! Three thousand years ago Egyptian jokesmiths fashioned me to fit their Pharaoh,
The old Chaldeans, sportive men, amusement
would evince.
To see me harnassed now and then to potentate
or prince.
The Middle Ages knew me well: I was considered good. I helped make famous William Tell, and also Robin Hood.
The Grub Street wits I did delight: I earned
for them some pence;
And when the new world came to light I
emigrated thence.
+
An ancient anecdote I be! I have been coupled
with
The foremost men of history and half their kin I've toiled since Humour had its dawn to food,
and kith.
the scribbling craft. And now I s'pose they'll tack me on to William
Howard Taft!
· RODERICK RANDOM,