Page
SUMMARY COURT.
(BEFORE TER PUIENE JUDOR (HR. HEA COMPERTZ).}
LANDLORD SEEKS POSSESSION.
On the ground that the tenant, Mak Kwai Kee, had been convicted of using the premises for an illegal purpose, Wong Kun Tai sought possession of No. 74,
Third Street (ground door).
THR
GANTON NEWS.
HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30TH, 19:24
DONGKONG'S DEFEKCE OF
OPIÙM MONOPOLY. COMMENTS OF THE ANTI OPIUM ASSOCIATION.
COLONY'S VALID DEFENCE AT
"BLACK WEDNESDAY"
THE AFTERMATH OF DR. SUN'S
AT CANTON, ** MAGNIFICENT VICTORY."
SOME OFFICIAL STATISTICS.
(TROM OUM CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.]
[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT-] The Kah Wah Saving Bank on the West
According to the Reds' own version. Bund, Canton, a financial institution in
the looting, committed by the Kuomin which the Baptists of the city are largely
In the recent Customs report issued by tang following during the massacre of interested, has resumed business despite the Superintendent of Imports and Ex-Cantonese and destruction of Canton. of the reported intention that Bolshevism porta at Hongkong we,note (says a paper City, on October 13th, involved but 1,891 is to be proclaimed in Canton on Novem-issued by the International Anti-Opian homes and shops, with a loss to the own
GENEVA,
#
Mr. R. E. A. Webster appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. C. A. S. Buss defended.ber 18. The Kah Wah Bank succeeded Association that whilst the Government.
Mr. Webster pointed out that delen dunt. had been convicted for using the premises as a gaming house; Mr. Russ
would admit that
Mr. Russ said that his point would be that immediately after the conviction, the plaintiff accepted rent. His argument was that the landlady could not go on accepting reat and all the while threaten- | jag ejectment. She had to lecide at once whether she was going to take advantage of the voidable tenancy.
Mr. Webster admitted that rent had been accepted up to the expiry of the notice to quit, September 8th-
in escaping being lootel by the Reds on October 13th by having gained the pro- tection of General Yang Hai Mia, the Garrison Commissioner, who stationed a platoon of cadets on its premises to pro- tect the property.
Tho Kwangehow Mia Kun Yih Pas, ↳ Kuomintang organ in a special, edition on October 25th, reported that com uninism would soon go into effect at Hongkong." The Chinese Commercial News of Hongkong expressed the belief that the motive of the Kuomintang organ was to discourage a further exodus of Cantouse to Hongkong.
14
ers of but "81.047,138. The 2nd Police
11th and the 3rd sub-station of the 7th District and the 1st sub-station of the
District did not report the loss in estimated value. The reports from some
has made full use of their authorization to double their previous opium importa tion for home consumption, the Colony has not consumed that quantity.
districts also mentioned the holding up During 1923 instead of bailing 240 chests of refugees carrying baggage, but so far! of opium, only 183 were thus treated. This failure to dispose of the 240 chests tion of the authorities. A number of only 71 such cases have come to the utten. indicates one of two things, either that homes and shops were deserted by their 240 chests per annum is in excess of the former occipants soon after the mass local demand by opium smokers-for there aere, and the Police alterands found it is no check upon the consumption of impossible to compile she record. In the opium apart from the high price charged 6th Police district, 10 cases of holding-up for Government opium and the penalties refugees on the streets alone are report for illicit transactions or that the failureed with a loss of 810,72 in currency. to sell the 210 chests is due to increased
The foregoing figures dil. not include Mr. Russ pointed out that there was no The Kwangtung Eletricity Supply snuggling into the Colony of Chinese the amount of damage done by the Reds direct authority for the point he had Company of Canton, to avoid being cheap opium made, but it was da ariinary zule of law. nationalized
through incendiarism, which, nucording, to in accordance with the When the International Anti-Opiuman ocial report from the Red head- In Hupport of his argument Mr. Russ Kuomintang policy of publie ownership Association in conjunction with other quarters, included some 660 buildings and quoted Hartell # Barker," though he of all public utilities, has agreed to remit societies in England, and the Chinese involved several thousand homes, offices.. nddel that the judgment had been over- to the Red Headquarters in Canton representative the League of and shops totally or partially burned ruled twice. By accepting rest the plain-*250,000. and to the office of Governor Nations Committee, strongly protested down. Insurance on these properties tiff and created a new tenancy, by opera Hu Han Min, 830.000, say's the #against
the increase of Hongkong alone was under-written at more than tion of law.
Sheang Chang Mai Pe.
importation frome, 120, chesta to 240 223,000,000, a rough estimate given a few chests per annum, the defence was days after the massacre. made at the League that there would be As far as official admission goës, dur- because during the years in which only day only accidentally shot 30 men and 5 ne actual increase in opium consumptioning the massacre Dr. Sun's Reds on that
140 chests had been imported reserve women and wounded 31 men and 2 women stocks had been drawn on to meet the and a number of others they believed to local demand.
The reserve stock on
be Merchants Volunteers in rebellion December 31st, 1929, was only 26 chests, against the Kuomintang Red Govern whereas on the same date in 1923 it was
ment. The Volunteers said that as far 101 chests.
as is known, only 19 of their men were killed on that Black Wednesday and that many of the others found dead were pop-combatants. The Reds buried up to
being men belonging to Li Fook Lam's October 10th numbered 531, some
division of the Red Army, the rest being Reds commanded by Wu Te Chen, who supervised the work of the Reda "during the massacre.
Mr. Webster pointed out that the effect-
By house to house search in Canton, of the Ordinance was to deprive the land- since the massacre of October 13th. for lord of his common law right to give a Merchants Volunteers and their relatives, notice to quis except under vertain cir-exacting fines from Grass sustaining the cumstances. The present case was one Volunteer Movement, the Reis in Canton of those circumstances. There was Do have raised nearly $140,000 in cash alone, question of forfeitures. He claimed that besides several thousand pieces of arms the defendant, having been convicted, the found among the citizers whether Volus- landlord had the right to give antice to teers or The Reds are allowing quit, and, in common law, reut was e-three per cent of their income to the ceptable right up to the time that the folice for having conducted them around notice expired. The acceptance did not the city in this searching business. avoid the right. The question muised by Mr. Russ as to condonation was a "mat-
not.
It would appear, therefore, that in a year like 1923 in which the Colony im. ported a total of 760 chests of Indian and exported presumably to Macao and For Persian opium (of which, 300, cheste were
Mr. Hu Han Min, Civil Governer in Canton, has instructed the district magis. ter of evidence though he would go circulation within their respective juris
trates subject to his order to forbid the far as to say that it did not matter when dictions of the following Hongkong Chinese the writ was issued. He asked his Lord-ewspapers: The Woh Tas Pas, the Taimosa) a balance of 260 chesta was left ship to hold that the notice was given with all reasonable speed.
His Lordship, who reserved judgment, said bir. Russ's point was well worth
Joaking into.
*1
CLAIM FOR 20
USE OF A FICTITIOUS NAME.
The rightful ownership of toney hand od over to defendant was the question his Lordship was asked to decide in a peculiar case resterday morning
Ho Tsu Ting, made a claim for 8300 against Wong Chan-ting, being a balance of $600 paid to the defendant in Septem
on hand. Hence the consumption of only 183 instead of 240 was not due to any shortage nor was it due to any further
tempts have been made by the Govern increase in the selling price. Aa no at
ment to restrict opium consumption other than by the high price charged, is the difference due to increased amuggling, or the lessened use on the part of the Chi- nese?
18
THE FASTERN COLONIES AND OPIUM.
191
11
IF LICIT SALE CEASES ---..
Alluding to the League of Nations Con- ference on Opium, which opens next Monday, the Straits Times remarks:-
ung la, the Teun Wen Pas, and the Hongkong Mare Pa. These papers are anti-Bolshevistic in sentiment and termed by the Reds in Canton as organs of re- bels. ably on the Hongkong Chiut News and
Mr. Hu has commented favour the Hongkong porning Post (Chinese), po Kuomintang newspapers. in Hong- kong, and advised the magistrates to pro- mote their circulation in their districts.
Canton City, newspaperices since Oct. 7th, may again have its daily papers early in November, as the compositors on strike for 40 per cent. increase in pay. We are not prepared, says the Associa are now willing to modify their demands. tion, to think that the Chinese in Hong- The ultimatum of the Kuomintang kong are giving up the opium habit, there- Reds in Canton to the native bankers, the fore must corclude that the smuggling
Essentially the question for consider wholesale rice dealers, and the pawn- of Chinese opium is on the increase. The tion at Geneva is whether probibition is 27th or be severely dealt with appears to brokers reopen their shops before Oct. recent report laid before the Hongkong possible. The Malayan Governments can
Legislative Council affirms that the smug cease to produce and sell chandu but that | have to effect whatever. The greater gled Chinese opium used in Hongkong does cot end the matter. There can be ber, 1923.
part of their capital was lost through the equal in quantity to that sold in a legiti Mr. D. MacCullum defended, and plain-barbaroas destruction on the memorable mate manner by the Government. This co possible question that if licit sale Täth-of October. According to the latest fact is of great importance, for it will be cases, smuggling will enormously is- tiff was.represented by Mr. C. H. Lyson.
estimate, is of the 60 odd pawn-shops in made the principal line of defence at next crease, and that it would be impossible There was a second action instituted by Canton were totally destroyed or looted month's Conferences at Geneva Wan Yick-wan against both men involved during the massacre. For the present, The Hongkong Government has already to check it without a ten times larger
the pawn shopa urc orly
published an able defence of their posí preventive staff that the Colony possesses redeeming in the first action for 3000, which he pledges. They are refusing further loans, tion in which they have categorically at present, That preventive servica claimed was paid by him to Ho, Tsu-ting an action bringing no little hardship to dealt with each of the League Conference would be futile unless it made itself an with instructipos pay this to defendant. the poor The 300 large rice importers proposals, and have advanced very cogent connected with the Wing Un, Yeung Wo,
reasons against any change in their intolerable nuisance to every shipmaster, In outlining the case Mr. Lysou saidad Vang Yaad Teng Race Guild, and opium regulations. Any unblassed person "defendant intended to float n steel foundry the 350 odd native banks affiliated with will unquestionally agree that if a social every merchant, and above all every company, with a capital of $15,000 in in the Chung Shea Tong Barking Guild, are evil cannot be totally suppressed then it Chies, who enters any "pert in the
is infinitely preferable to have it under Malay Peninsula. all suspending business of importance shares, Plaintiff agreed to take three until the Canton situation is settled. The control, than as in China at the present of the shares, and paid the first call off leading Cantonese merchants are unwill time, where the law totally prohibits *0 on each share. The company was ing to trust the Kuomintang Red regime opium, and yet practice indicates general never formed, and, of course, plaintif under Dr. Sun Yat Sen, and there is ro likelihood of formal business until Dr. asked for the money to be refunded. The Sun is gone. sum of $300 was paid on account on March 24th, this year. When approach-
Bon.
and unrestricted use.
DANGERS OF PROHIBIT:03.
Even at present, thousands of Chinese who are absolutely innocent of smuggling designs are sub- jected to humiliating and irksome search of their baggage, and even of their per- sans Traders of every nationality are The whole problem reduces itself to this, concerned. Chinese in particular are most one debatable question namely, "under seriously threatened if the present system the present conditions of unliented opium is changed. To find a substitute for the production in Chius caa Hongkong wisely opium revenue would mean an income-tax, ed for the balance defendant gave plain-it would rather give a clue as to what close her menopoly and totally prohibit about five times as high as the war tax tiff a letter addressed to his firm in actually took place that the money was opin From the moral point of view, we abolished. The cost of a big preven.
advanced by Wan Yick-wan, that the yea! Opium is recognized by the world tive service would add gravely to the em Canton, asking them to pay over $300,
as one of, if not the greatest of social barrassments of the Colony. No doubt He went to Cantony but the firm said plaintiff in the first action knew it was defendant had not the money with which is money, knew the alina, and that, he evils for which no defence exists, but there are a good many people who will to pay. The receipt was in the name of submitted, pointed to the plaintiff being would probibition in Hongkong get rid of say that if Government control of opium
un agent. The authority the Hop Hing Kung Sze, but plaintif limited, however, for as soon as he paid that the Colony is but a stone's throw to buy or not to buy the drug as they an agent was it? It is impossible to think so, knowing is abolished, the Chinese should be left used this fetitious name bqcause he in- tended these shares to be banded to his over the money he was finished. He from the Chinese mainland: To declare please. Free trade in poison is what
asked that plaintiff be.. non-suited, nat His Lordship: I have never heard of being the right inaa to sue. He submitted total prohibition in Hongkong would call these persons advocate, but ena se tole forth pneus of moral acclamation all over rate such a system? Some of the anti- anyone using the name of a firm for his the judgment should be given for the the world, but at the same time would opiumists seem to infer that the essence defendant. He had put the evidence immerse the Colony, in an illicit traffic of the whole matter is not the damage, before the plaintiff's solicitor, and was which uo preventive service could control moral and material, that is done to users Mr. Lyson: One nuse is as good as prepared to give plaintiff in the Best If in 103 the Senior Revenue Officer is by the drug. but that all the evil is ia another, if it is going to be fetitions.
Defendant, in the box, atated that when action an absolutely clean receipt for the Hongkong alone captured 710 illicit divan State recognition" of the vice.
We plaintiff brought him the money he said $600.
keepers, 2,150 illicit opium smokers, 58 have been made painfully familiar with Mr. Lyson said that the issue at atake traffickers is opium and 60 boilers of that peculiar mental attitude in another that it did not belong to him, but was Wan Yick-wan't, who wanted to trade as from the plaintiff or the second witness ment opium is unrestricted, it can only
was one as to whether the money came illicit opium in a Colony where Govern connection. the Hop Sing Kung Sze, When a deci
i was reached to the effect that the
From whoever it came that party used be imagined how these numbers would Coropany should not be formed, her name, and the person, concerned was as victory would be converted into a legisla These considerations do not apply to Paid $200 to the plaintiff on account, but much entitled to use that as say other live and social disaster, and of the two those other monopolies of the East, which bogause He said he had lost the receipt aame. Ile submitted that it was easier evils it is always wise to choose the less.
are removed from China by long sen jour- You the 3600, he did not pay anything to believe plaintiff's story than that of Hongkong by the sole reason of her cooneys. There opium from Chine could only further. Wan Yick-wan later instructed the second witness. All three were on tiguity, waits for China him not to pay plaintiff any more money. friendly terms, having known each other. When the writ was issued he immediately for at least three years.. paid $300 into Court,
If the second witness had wanted to Wan Tick-wan stated that he paid $600 take a share in this arm, why should he to plaintiff on August 18th, instructing not pay the money direct instead of pars him to give it to Wong Chan-ting. Being it through the hands of a third per made a special point of instructing him son f On the facts of the case he suh to make use of the name Hop, Bing. mitted that judgment should be given in Plaintiff gave Wong's receipt (produced), the favour of plaintiff.
BON.
a fictitious name. It was an invented increase under prohibition. The moral
SMUGGLING UNPREVENTABLE.
enter by ocean steamers or Chinese junks capable of making long sea trips, and these could be more easily watebed by a So long as Chincae opium is grown in preventive service, but in Hongkong such enormous quantities and sold at such where at least 10,000 coolies daily cross cheap rates, the brain of man could not and recross to China, smuggling could not devise efficient measures for the preven be prevented. Of all the monopolies of tion of smuggling into Hongkong. All the East, Hongkong has far and away nuti-opium workers are presumably work- the lowest per capita consuruption of ing to lessen opium consumption, and not opium, even though the smuggled amount In the afternoon when the hearing was On the first count his Lordship gave merely to get rid of particular methods be added to the legal sales. Whilst de- continued, Mr. McCallum pointed out judgment for defendant with costs, and of disposal, therefore, whilst it is deeply ploring the fact, therefore, of the Hong that the verbal evidence was very con on the second judgment for plaintiff for regrettable that a British Colony should kong monopoly we repeat the words of Mieting, but na written it was not very 8000 against Bo Tsu-ting, with costs, the still be participating in a traffic, which is her Governor that no financial considera- conflicting. If his Worship accepted the $300 paid into Court to be taken by plain universally declared to be indefensible, first receipt as genuine, and there was tiff in part satisfaction of this judgment, still it is the Icsser evil and it is a don and ultimate total prohibition but it must tion will stand in the way of reduction nothing in the evidence to the contrary, He would make, no order against Wong trolled one.
be pari-passu with similar conditions in (Continued pa neri column.) Chan-ting,
(Continued on next column.) ·China.-Y.-C. Daily News...
12
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