July 5, 1609.]
Friction has arisen between a number off Chinese exporters in Hongkong and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company over a notice in the latter office which was offensive, to the Chinese and over
alleged ill-treatment of Chinese passengers. A boycott was threatened, if not actually commenced, but the matters at issue are likely to be satisfactory arranged.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
main points of the speech in regard to each subject and the decision of the meeting.
First, with regard to the Fatshan case the Chairman said they were all aware that it had been conclusively proved that Noronha kicked a man to death on board that steamer, and also how he had ill-treated Chinese passengers. It was also clearly shown It is interesting to note from the report of in the case how careless the Captain was and the Captain Superintendent of Police that 1.173 how he had endeavoured to protect Noronha. ricshaws were licensed in Hongkong during 1908, The Portuguese onsul had not only refused to which number has since been reduced by 175. hold a fresh joint investigation into the matter, In Quarry Bay there are 50 licensed ricshaws and but had made all kinds of false accusations 250 in Kowloon. Chairs to the number of 589 against the Society in connection with this were licensed in Hongkong and 60 in the Hill affair. A letter had been addressed to the district. Licences were issued last year for 25 Portuguese Consul requesting him to sub- private vehicles, including five motor cars, while stantiate the statements made by him within 1,118 truck licences were also issued. Drivers three days, but so far he had not been and bearers licenses to the number of 17,350 were able to find words to reply to the letter. This issued. As many as 1.76 dogs were licensed alone showed clearly that he regretted having Last year.
made those statements. The Chairman said redress should be obtained for the above griev ances and he asked them to consider what steps should be taken.
We regret to receive news of the death in Manila, of Mr. C. Evans Dale, who had been in the employ of the Daily Press Office as accoun- tant for about twelve months and was returning
to his home in Australia. Just before he left
Hongkong Mr. Dale was suffering from fever and it was thought the sea voyage would quickly prove beneficial. He appears to have become seriously ill on the voyage and was put ashore at Manila from the s.8. Prinz Waldemar, on the 21st inst., being taken to St. Paul's Hospital, where he died at an early hour the following morning. As the cause of death was not clearly ascer- tainable an autopsy was to be held and the body was to receive Christian burial at St. Pedro Cemetery on the 23rd inst.
A quintette of seamen from the steamer Orestes could not raise fifteen cents each at the Magis- tracy. The five men, William Daly, William McDonnough, Gordon Mathieson, John Mc- Ewen and John Moore, had entered ricshaws at the Kowloon ferry wharf. They wished to go to a certain godown, but not knowing where it was told the coolies to go to Hunghom. When they found themselves near the Docks they got out of the ricshaws and refused to pay hire. Two of them were also alleged to have assaulted two of the coolies. The evidence of the coolies was not satisfactory and His Worship ordered the defendants to pay fifteen cents each. Hare sufficient money to pay?" he asked. "No money on either of them," replied Sergt. Caygill. His Worship "Is there anybody who will pay this?" Sergt. Caygill said there was a man in court who would pay, and the men were dis- charged.
Į
·
THE CANTON SELF-GOVERN-
MENT SOCIETY.
you
THE "FATSHAN'' AFFAIR. Our Canton correspondent writes: The Self-Government Association, having received no reply to the letter addressed to the Portu- guese Consul on the 17th June, held another meeting at the Wah Lum Temple yesterday (June 29th) to discuss what further steps should be taken in the matter. Thousands of people attended the meeting. Chan Chung Kwiu was invited to take the chair and Chan Wai Po was elected Vice-Chairman. The proceed ings opened with short speeches by the Vice-Chairman, Messrs. Woo Shum Ching, Ng Koon Ting, and Tam Shum Po, commenting
31
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on the "unreasonable and uncivilized attitude of the Portuguese Consul in connection with the Fatshan case, and also on the high-handed measures taken by the Portuguese in the appropriation of certain places near Macao which. were Chinese territory. Lo Show Ngo, Secret- ary of the Association, read the letter addressed to the Portuguese Consul on the 17th June, after which the Chairman rose and addressed the audience. He said that the meeting was convened to discuss and obtain the opinion of the members of the Association as to what steps should be taken on three subjects. He would deal with each of the subjects separ- ately and would ask them at the conclusion of his speech to give their opinions as to what measures of retaliation they should adopt. I do not propose to give a full report of the Chair- man's speech, as it would take up too much space in your valuable columns, but only give you the
should address another letter to the Consul The audience answered that the Association giving him further time to reply, and if uc an- inform their brethren both in China and abroad swer is received on due date the Association should
as to what had happened. The Association should also send a telegram to the Central Government requesting them "not to recognise endowed with reason," and also requesting that the Portuguese Consul as an administrator redress be obtained in this matter.
BOYCOTTING MACAO.
The Chairman's second topic was that prostitution, gambling and opium-smoking are evils which the people of any self- governing nation should interfere with. Macao, he went on to say, was one of the principal places where pirates and robbers find refuze, and it was also a resort for prostitution, gambling and opium-smoking. Sometime ago the members of this A ssociation warned their brethren to restrain their younger brothers and sons from plunging into those evil habits and to prohibit them from furtively going over to Macao to gamble and smoke opium; thus ruining their reputation and injuring their health. Now that the Macao boundary was being threshed out, measures should be taken to protect the Chinese people from being beaten and disgraced by the Portuguese.
་
CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
7
24th June.
THE CANTON CEMENT FACTORY.
Literary Chancellor Shum, who is President of the Kwong Tung Government Cement Fac- tory of Canton, has instructed Lau Taotai, Managing Director of the Cement Factory, to issue a notice announcing that the Factory was established by the Government for the
of sale of the cement and bricks manufac purpose of obtaining funds from the proceeds
tured by the concern, for education purposes, and asking merchants to purchase and use the products of the factory, also to warn the public that the imitation of the factory's trade mark is an offence punishable according to the laws against forgery.
DRAGON BOAT CAPSIZED.
This year the Dragon Festival here was marred by the capsizing of a large dragon boat in deep water in front of the Shameen Bund- 90 men in the boat; about 75 of them werg resulting in the loss of many lives. There were saved and the rest were drowned. It is reported dead bodies. The accident was caused by the that yesterday the River Police recovered eight
waves from a passing steam-launch swamping the dragon boat.
POSTAL REGULATIONS.
of Canton has issued a notification containing The Imperial Chinese Postal Commissioner
the following new regulations:~
1. No railway passengers, etc., will be allowed to carry letters or parcels which ought to be sent through the Post Office.
2. All letters or other postal matter discovered on the train or about to be placed on the train without having passed through the Post Office will hereafter be seized by officers of the Post Office.
3. All letters and postal malter seized by the officers of the Post Office shall be detained and will only be released upon payment of the proper fines.
4. If employees of the railways are discovered infringing the above regulations the matter will be reported to the authorities of the Railway Bureau and they will be either fined or dismissed from service.
CHINA'S REFORMED ARMY.
It has become a common practice amongst the soldiers of the Reformed Army who are granted leave of absence to return to the Army one or two months after the The audience was asked by the Chairman expiration of their furlough, thus causing to suggest means of protection, etc. They in order to put a stop to such conduct the great annoyance and inconvenience in the Army. answered that # resolution should be passed warning people
Military Authorities have rescently adopted a not to go to Macao to gamble. They declared it to be
new regulation to the effect that soldiers exceed- true that the Portuguese people have insulteding their leave of absence beyond one week will and beaten the Chinese people in a most dishare their wages stopped and be dismissed from graceful manuer:
the service; besides which they also will be such things were often heard of. The Association should at once
punished in accordance with the regulations extensively distribute circulars and also delegate
referring to deserters. large numbers of deputies to proceed up-country to give lectures and make public speeches exhorting the public to refrain from going to Macao.
Then the Macao boundary question was dealt with by the Chairman. There was doubt, he said, the old boundary line of the
Macao Concession was still in existence.
no
It
the Portuguese encroached on Chinese territory. was only in the 13th year of Kwong Shui that
Chinese. The Portuguese had infringed the This fact was known to both foreigners and Treaty and the Chinese must protect their rights.
the audience.
Yeong Yow Tong rose to reply on behalf of all agreed upon sending telegrams to the He said in this matter they were Chinese people both in China and abroad to be firm in the maintenance of their rights. And and abroad to get the merchants affix their chops also that deputies should proceed up-country
measures taken by the Portuguese people in to a document protesting against the arbitrary annexing certain Chinese territories by force, thus infringing the Irewty rights. They must guard their doors against aggression and cease to have any intercourse with such people.
applause. This ended the meeting and after This declaration was received with great partaking of refreshments the people dispersed.
June 26th.
APPLICATION FOR EXECUTION OF ELEVEN
CONVICTS WHO WERE RECAPTURED.
Shui
The inquiry into the circumstances which led to the escape of prisoners in the Shun Tak of the investigation has been forwarded to Prison was closed yesterday. A full report His Excellency Viceroy Chang by Shun Tak. The report states that forty prisoners. Chung, acting magistrate of Shun
law they should all be decapitated. Twenty- were recaptured and according to the nine of them have been convicted for minor offences and did not take part in the conspiracy but were induced to escape by the ringleaders. recommended them for exemption from capital Under these circumstances the Magistrate has punishment. The Magistrate applied to Hig Excellency the Viceroy for permission to execu part in the conspiracy. the remaining 11 prisoners who actually
A VISITING CONSUL-GENERAL.
for
Comm. Z. Volpicelli, Italian Consul-General Kwangtung, Kwangsi and Fokien Provinces, has been here for some time, From inquires made, I learn that he has been very busy over a case in which an Italian subject railway contractor for very large sum of named Fogliano was swindled by a Chinese
money.