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THE HONGKONG DAILY PH
· HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
MUI TSAI BILL PASSED.
PROTESTS AGAINST EXAGGERTED
STATEMENTS AT HOME.
PUTURE OF GERMAN MISSION WORK AND PROPERTY.
A meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber yesterday... Pre-
HIS EXCELLENDY THE GOVERNOR (Sin
RE. STUEES, E.C.M.G.).
H. E. the General Officer in Command of the Troops (Major-General Sir JOHN FOWLER, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.). Hon. Mr. CLAUD SEVERN, C.M.G. (Colonial
Secretary).
Hon. Mr. J. H. Kur, K., C.BE
(Attorney-General). “
Mar. MESSEN (Colonia)
Hon. Mr.
...Treasurer).
HALLIVA, O.B.E., Hon. Mr. R.
(Secretary, for Chinese Affairs). Hon Mr. E. A. IRVING (Director of
Education).
Fon. Mr. T. L. Praxis (Director of
Public Works),
**
Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C.
Hun. Mr. P. H. HOLYOAK.
11.E. TEE GOTEENOX: Does any hon member desire to Pause any further quick tion in the Committer stage of the Bill
No hon. member intimating any desire to do so. HE IKE GOVERNOR proposed that the Bill be reported to the Council and the Council then resumed.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved and the COLONIAL STOBETARY seconded the third reading of the Bill.
H.E THE GOVERNOR: Does any hon. member desire to address the Council?
HON. ME HOLYOAK ON ATROCIOUS 31/5-STATEMENTS.”
N
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1018.
HON. MR. STEPHEN ON THE CHARTER OF THE OFFOSITION:
The Hon Mr. A. G. StEPUEN : Your? Excellency, I would like to associate my self with the two hon. members who have just spoken in protesting against the im- putations upon the good name of the Colony. In all the speeches inade cu this Bill the one that struck me as being most General in introducing it. apropos was that of the Attorney
"After going through the Objects and Reasons, damning the Bill with faint praise," he finally reached the impotent conclusion The Hon. Mr. P. H. HOLYOAK: Your that the measure bad to be passed be Excellency, I crave your permission to cause the system was one which was open dilate somewhat more at length on the to abuse and grave abuse at the bands The Allied and Associated Govern remarks which I made in the Committee of unscrupulous persons. Well, Sir, be ments while continuing to maintain stage of the Bill at the list meeting of could have said the same about the office. fali control as to the individuals by whom the Council, namely, on the gross mishe tills with such distinction himself-it the missions are conducted, will safe-presentations of fact which have been is an office that is open to abuse at the guard the interests of such missions. made almost throughout the public press hands of unscrupulous persons; and he "Germany, taking note of the above at Home, and largely, in what I can might have said the same about the posi undertaking, agrees to accept all arnhesitatingly describe as a malicious tion I happen to hold in the Colony: it rangements made or to be made by the campaign of propaganin.-whether for is distinctly, open to abuse in the hands Allied or Assoeinted Governments con-political purposes or otherwise know of unscrupulous persons, But what he cerned for carrying on the work of the not: but I ily know that statements have would have said, 1 venture to say, if he said missions or trading societies and been made quite publicly at home in con-had been speaking his own mind was waive all claims on their behalf."
nection with this subject which ought this: We do not think this Bill is any This Bill, Sir, is intended to carry out not to remain unchallenged by this use. but we have got to pass it, because This agitation the provisions of that Article of the honourable Council in defence of the fair we have been told to."
name of the Colony and the good govern at Home I do not take so seriously is my Treaty of Versailles. During the war
ment which it represents. If the state unofficial colleagues do, because I have temporary arrangements were made for ments of wholesale sinvery and of the seen so often a similar kind of thing be holding and maintaining the property selling of slaves were as true they fore people seeking cheap advertisement formefly owned by the German Mission there is little doubt that it would stand lishmen when we come East of Suez leave
have been depicted, then, Sir, I think are quite willing to assume that we Fng here and for carrying on the work of for a judgment not only upon each behind all we ever learned of humanity and those missions so far as it still existed in successive Governor of the Colony who charity, When they see an opportunity the Colony. The property, is now rested has allowed it to remain but upon the of gaining some cheap notoriety they will in the Custodian of Enemy Property as British people of the Coleny who have find some time Member of Parliament lived under it for the last 10 years. Ito put questions by the Colonial Ora temporary titular owner. The Missious am not concerned, however, in discassing and the harassed Secretary of State for were carried on by and under the super in detail the subject of mui tani.. I have the Colonies ultimately decides that the vision. of certain Protestant Missions voted already for the first reading of į balance "of advantage is to get s which carry on work in the Colony. It the Bill and I am prepared to vote for Government to pass & Bill which will is obvious that some arrangement must its final stages, principally bequae it adds shat the mouths of these stupid bares in now be made both for holding and deal. to the annals of the Gololly and the Parliament Many of the races ruled Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER, C.M.G. C, B.E. ing with property and for carrying on laws of the Colony in Ordinance which the British Government in various parts
(Clerk of Councils)..
the work of the Missions. Some of the is in keeping with other Ordinances of the world have habits and customs property is in a very bad state of repair For my own part I do feel sincerely that which do not come up to the standard of and will have to be dealt with very in a large degres it was perhaps unnecek Exeter Hall, but it has always been our quickly; probably some of it will have to sary because. in practice and in spirit, wise policy to leave then alone in that be pulled down and rebuilt. Some of the officially and otherwise, the practice has respect unless,, of course, those customs land held by the German Missions is never received official sanction from bear such
I as to outrage humanity. probably no longer required for the work ginning to end in the history of the should like to have seen the Secretary of the Missions and will, no doubt, either Colony and therefore it seems unacres of State for India,"for instance, sending be sold or otherwise disposed of. The sary to legislate on the subject. Nor orders to the Viceroy to disturb some of Bill proposes to
a. corporation would it have been accessary but for the the customs which are far less innocent consisting of five persons. The five gross misrepresentation in an agitation and far less humane than the mui tsai persons who are to form the corporation representing a somewhat horrible state system in this Colany." No, they know at the commencement of the Ordinance of affairs which, in fact, does not exist very well they cannot do that, because are given in clause 2. When any of these in practice and in the experience of thosd] local opinion is too strong for them. persons die or resign, or become, unable of us who have lived very many years But here, with a Legislative Counal that to carry out the trusts of the corporation in this Colony and who know somewhat is powerless to oppose the wishes of the the Government will have power to up of the inside of Chinese affairs. I do not Government, they do not acruple, in muccessor, and, of course, the think the situation of the mui tsai in order to secure peace and quietness at point a intention is that all future members of Chinese household differs 80 very Hoiue, to set aside the wishes of the the corporation, as in the case of the largely in actual practice from that of majority of the people in this Colony. first members, shall be of the Protestant a similar practice obtaining at home of One thing I would say, in conclusion is faith, as all the German Missions, in adopting an orphan from one of the many that the support of the Bill came from a volved were of that faith. A great many orphanages and using her as a domestic most extraordinary combination of bodies z of the clauses in the Bill are formal, assistant and providing her with home, the Chinese Y.M.C.A. and the libour technical clauses, such as appear in all food and clothing. Nor do I think that unions Anyone who knows anything of. incorporation Ordinances. Clause 5 deals the ill-treatment which has been so the inside history of the Colony could 1. According to Chinese, custom, it is with the trusts under which the property largely described to u is any more say perfectly, well that that support of the usual but not the invariable custom is to be held. In the first draft of the widely spread thin that revealed in the the Bill is hesitate to describe it- for soine repayment to be made.
Bill an attempt was made to set out the ordinary practice of a Magistrate's Court perhaps it is best to describe it as a 2-The S.C.A. acts solely in the intrusts on each particular piece of pro-in any large town in England. It is be fake. There can be nothing in common. terests of the girl and does not regard perty, but it was found that so much cause I have so recently come from home or in sympathy between the labour himself as being in any way bound by the detail was involved, and it was so dif- and because both from press and platform unions and the Y.M.C.A. and they join custom. The practice of the Secretariat ficult in some cases to ascertain the exact and even from pulpit one bas heard such together on this occasion for reasons far. for Chinese Anirs is based on section 32 trusts that it has been thought better to atrocious misstatements of fact that I different from any consideration for the of Ordinance 4 of 1807, and we never lose declare the trusts in a very general way feel they cannot be passed without welfare of raui tsai.
Hon. Mr. E. V. D. PARE.
Hon. Mr. CROW SHOU-SON.
Hon Mr. A. "G. STEPHEN.
Hon. Mr. No Hos Taz.
- MINUTES.
flu minutes of the last. Council of the Comwit were approved and signed.
THE MIC THAI QUESTION.
CUSTOM OF TRANSFER.
The Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C., pursuant to private notice given, address- ed the following questions to the Seere tary for Chinese Affairs :--
Is it not the fact that, by Chinese custom, a parent of a mai tsai who, wishes to get her back from her employer, is bound to repay to such employer the sum of money which sich employer has paid to such parent for the transfer of such a tsai to the employer?
-Has not much custom been followed by the Officials of the Chiarre Scere tarint in regard to the redemption of a mui tai by her parent from her employer?
The SECRETARY FOR CRISESE, AFFAIRS replied as follows:-
N
crente
STOP THIEF I
"AM"
The
Burglar-frost Cash Box, Jewel Cisket, Deed Box or Safe
The " ALARM” CASHBOX is made of solid steel sad is fitted with an electrial device watch renders (theft impossible. Once the “ALARM "is set it is impossible for anyone to
N
move it without starting the alarum. This alarum is a loud sounding rattle, which will proged for nine haars, unless stopped by some one who has the key of the box and knows the secret of the device...
There are my other uses for the " ALARM." It may be placed on top of confidential papers which you
have to leave on the desk for a short while in
your absence. It will guard theur efficiently. It will be impossible to remove
a paper from underneath the " ALARM" without starting the alarum off. -Papers and valuables guarded by the " ALARM" are as safe as if under your
own eye.
Place the "ALARM" BOX behind your Bedroom Door at night Thạ presence of any Intruder will be promptly notified
INSPECTION INVITED.
HARDWARE DEPARTMENT
LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.
LANE, CRAWFORD, LIMITED..
EST. 1850.
SHIPCHANDLERY DEPT.
COMPLETE SHIPS OUTFITS.
DECK AND ENGINE ROOM STORES.
OILS, PAINTS AND VARNISH IMPORTERS.
ENGINEERS' TOOLS, INDICATORS, COUNTERS, ET -PACKING AND ASBESTOS GOODS.
sight of the fact that the guardianship of as is done in this clause and to give the challenge by this Council, affecting as H.E. THE GOVERNOR: I think, Gentle AGENTS FOR DOBBIE MINNES NAUTICAL SPECIALTIES. any girl for whose transfer money has corporation by sub-clause G of clause 5 they do the reputation of the Council been paid is vested in the Secretary for absolute discretion to determine the and the reputation of the Colony. For men, I would rather not say anything
further on the subject, except that Chinese Affairs, against the parents as manner in which the trusts are to be that reason I venture to raise my voice desire to associate myself with the Un- much as against other parties. In all carried out, and to apply a particular in the very strongest, protest against official Members in resenting the offensive -cases where mui taai are concerned, the property and the income, or pro-such being accepted as facts by the Secre case of the girls in entrusted by the ceeds on any particular property to any tary of State. for the Colonies. If it and. foul-mouthed libels on the Chinese Secretary for Chinese Affairs to nobody particular object. That appears rather were a fact that slaves were openly race which have been a feature of the British Press on this subject, instigated until full enquiry has been made in the wide hut, of course, it is merely in that bought and sold as depicted in the Press thereto by persons some of whom I be Office and in the Po Leung Kuk; and the form because of the impossibility of at Home, would not the British Colony tiere have been influenced by genuine ruling consideration is always the best ascertaining exact trusts without a great itself have compelled such a state of philanthropic motives but some of whom it interest of the girls. No opposition is deal of enquiry, which can only be car affairs to be attended to If it were, offered to a monetary arrangement being ried out properly by a body such as the fact that the Government permitted the is perfectly clear were instigated only by
motives of self-advertisement, reached between the parties themselves, Bill proposes to create. The general idea purchase and sale of slaves as depicted,
The third reading of the Bill was then but failure to reach such an arrangement of the Bill is that any particular pro-would not the pressure of public opinion would not be allowed to stand in the party or the income from it or proceeds in this Colony have forted legislation approved and the measure passed accord way of a decision in the interests of the of it must be need only for the Mission long ago? But for the fact that certain ingly.. girl
to which that property formerly belong-persons, with a not very wide knowledge The Council then adjourned until Thurs
FINANCE,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY by command of H.E the Governor, laid on the table Finance Minutes Nos. 10, 11 and 12, and
moved that they be referred to the
Financial Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was agreed to.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY also laid on the table report of the proceedings of thi Finance Committee No. 1, and moyed that it be adopted.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was agreed to.
GERMAN MISSION WORK AND PROPERTY.
ed. I do not think I need refer to any of the subject, ventured at Home, for day next, 22nd February,
of the other clauses: they are mostly purposes. of propaganda, and partly for formal and any question on them can, be political propaganda, as I submit, grossly raised in Committee.
the Bill was read a first time.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded, and
MEDICAL REGISTRATION"
ORDINANCE. · ·
the
moved The ATTORNEY-GENERAL second reading of the Bill intituled An Ordinance to amend further the fedical Registration Ordinance, 1881.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the motion was agreed to.
On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL
MAINTENANCE ORDERS.
ORDINANCE.
to mis-state the facts for their own ends.
the subject would never have been raised
at all It is because of these facts that
FINANCE COMMITTEE
A meeting of the Finance Committee
I desire in the name of the Undifcial was afterwards held, the Colonial Secre- Members of this Council to protest tary presiding. against the statements which have been
SWATOW TYPHOON RELIEF.
made widely and publicly at home both The Governor recommended the Council by the Press and by certain individuals to vote a sura of 29,808 on account of which are a shir upon the good name; and Miscellaneous Services, Swatow Typhoon Government of this Colony, which are Belief Fund. without foundation in fact and malicious in character..
REPROOF OF A VICAR
CAPE D'AQUILAR.
The CHAIRMAN: This is a re-vote of the balance remaining of 870,000 contri buted by the Colony to the Swatow the Bill was referred to Committee to be The Hon. Mr. E. V. D. PABR: I Typhoon Relief Fand The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first considered clause by clause.
desire to support in the strongest poss-Approved... reading of a Bill intituled An Ordinanca The Bill passed through Committee ible manner the remarks that the hon,: ACCOMMODATION FOR WIRELESS STAFF AT to provide for the carrying on of the without amendment, and on the Council member for the Chamber of Commerce work formerly carried on by certain resuming the third reading was moved by has been made in protest against the The Governor recommended the Council German societies and persons in the the Attorney-General, and seconded by exaggerated absurdities that have ap- to vote a sum of 385,000 account of Public Colony of Hongkong, and to deal with the Colonial Secretary and the Bill was peared in the Home Frees upon this Works Extraordinary. Provision of addi- certain property formerly held or ad-passed into law..
subject. As an instance I would mention tional, accommodation for the staff at ministered by, or used in connection with
that when I was at Home some two years Cape d'Aguilar. the work of such societies and persons,
ago visited some relations at a well- The CHAIRMAN: This sote has already in the Colony of Hongkong, and to pro
known English watering place, and, accom vide for the control of the persons bija The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the panied them to the Parish Church. The been approved by the Committee. The whom the said work is to be carried on second reading of the Bill intituled An good Vicar who preached-apropos of sum required is made up as follows: He and Article 428 of the Treaty of Ordinance to amend the Maintenance nothing that I could see began inveigh- $10,000, extension to engine house and installation #ot direction wireless appa Versaüles je ne follows:
Orders (Escilities Lar Enforcement) Or-ing against the British Colony of Hong-ratus, 822,000 for the Superintendent's **The Allied and Associated Powers dinance, 1921...
kong for selling. Chinese girls in the bungalow; 17,000, alterations to stall agree that where Christian religious The Coastal SecasTARY seconded and public market place. "These are not missions were being maintained by the motion was agreed to.
Angles," he said, "but angela". I need quarters; $16,500, new wing to house near
Prentices. German societies or persons in terri- The Bill was then referred to Com-not say; I took the first occasion to put
"Approved. tory! belonging to them, or of which the mittee for consideration clanse by clause. the reverend gentleraan right on the facts Government is entrusted to them in It passed through Committee without as we know. them here and he told me accordance with the present Treaty, amendment and on the Council resuming that he had obtamed bis facts and figures The Governor recommended the Council the property which these missioner it was in due form read a third time and from the pablic Press at Home and that to vote a sum of $12,966 on account of missionary societies possessed, includ- was passed into law.
ing that of trading societies whose profta were devoted to the sapport of missions, shall continue to be devoted to
THE MUI TSAI BILL
.YIGOROUS: PROTISTE „„AGAINET MISREPRESENTATION.
15
VETARY DEPARTMENT
STEAM LAUNCH♫
he would correct the minstatements that Sanitary Department, Special Expendi he had made to, his congregation on the tare, 1 team launch following Sunday It has not been usaal The CHAIRMAN This sum of $12,050 since I have had the honour of being a includes two items: 12,425, being the member of this Council for the Un last instalment in payment of the cost of officials to address. the Council on the a wooden steam single sorew tug costing
to missionary purposes. In order ensure the duo execution of this under- taking the Allied and Associated Gov The Council went into Committee to re third rending of a Bill, but I do not con-840,200, and 3531 for additions made, At ernment will hand over such, property are discussion of the Bill intituled An sider any apology is needed in this in the suggestion of the Government Marine to boards of trustees appointed by or Ordinance to regulate certain forms of stance, and if it serves to give more Burveyor, namely, a booby hatch, to keep approved by the Government and com-female domostio service
weight to our protest against the exaggo out the weather from the crew's quarters On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL Ted absurdities that I and my bon. and an awning to provide cover for the posed of persons holding the faith of the Mission whose property is in verbal amendments were made in several friend have referred to, then, I think the crew and to shade the engine room.
clauses
end is justified by the means.
Approved, volved
NEW ENGLISH
COLUMBIA RECORDS
JUST RECEIVED
AT
ANDERSON'S
QUEEN'S BUILDING (Opposite WİSEMAN'S).
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