THE MUNICIPAL COUP AT HANKOW.
GERMAN AND RUSSIAN CONCESSIONS ABSORBED IN CHINESE· CITY:
UNDER NON-ELECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL.
COINCIDENT WITH SEARCH FOR REVENUE.
S
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. SATURDAY, JANUARY 12th, 1929.
The North-China Daily Vera Baakow correspondent gives the following account, from a resident's point of view, of the recent action of the Chinese authorities in incorporating the ex-German "and ex-Russian Concessions into the Chinese city. An Reuter re- ported at the time the more bas caused apprehension in the Special Area that was formerly the British Concession." Hankow, January 1st:-The New All previous regulations cease to Year was ushered in by a general be valid Deeds and two years blowing of syrens and the letting tax receipts must be produced for off of crackers at midnight, but the inspection. Boundaries must be de. ratepayers the ex-German and clared and neighbours must signify ex-Russian Concessions, which are that they accept these boundaries known as S.A.D, Nos. 1 and 2, did The owners must declare the valua not get their Now Year present till tion on which their present taxes daylight. Then they learned that were assessed, and must also de the Municipal Councils of the two clare the present value of their pro Special Districts had been swept perty. This valuation, will, el out of existence and the areas in-course, be subject to challenge by corporated with the Chinese City the Municipal authorities. Temples, for all purposes.
benevolent halls and so OD may ask for reduced taxation.
A Chance For Squeeze,
taxation.
,"
SHANGHAI POLICE
SENSATION.
C.LD. INTERPRETER DISAPPEARS.
MEMBER OF KIDNAPPING GANG?
the station.
WITCHCRAFT?
CREDULOUS WOMAN
TRICKED.
CINEMA FILMS FOR POSTERITY.
stitute hopes soon to secure will The use of airplanes and dirigiblės (show representative features of and methanical methods al trans- British life, such as the Armisticnport for polar exploration will un- Dy chremonies, "the Lord Mayor'a | doubtedly obviate the necessity of FOR HISTORICAL EVENTS. Parade, pictures" "of the" motor | enduring the long mandha of toil traffic in congrated streets, activi- i and slow starvation that Boots and tics of the Royal Family. Other his companions faced, and which London, December 20th (UP)-lms will allow posterity the are shown in vivid detail in the film
picturesqueness of the present-day; of his epic trip.” villages in the remoter sections of the country, and give an accurate picture of the work-a-day life in the rural sections.
SUPERSTITIONS NEVER DIE. Pls for the preservation for post
erity of motion picture film, of successive bus authentic events of British history, are being laid by the British Empire Film Institute, This particular work is under the Trusteeship of Lord Askwith, Rear Admiral E. R. Evans, and Alfred C. Bossom, a British architect well i work in connection with sky- known ja the United States for his
scrapers.
48 4
Let
The women of China are rapidly changing their habits and outlook, Shanghai, January 8th.-There
and instead of the old-fashioned was a sensation yesterday in police idea of staying within the four pircles when it became known that walls of their homes, they are now an interpreter in the C.LD, was taking their places among men. believed to be a co-leader of a gang But we still find that plenty of of kidnappers, who were involved them, even in Hong Kong, cling to in at least two major crimes, one their superstitious beliefs. of which concerned the abduction any "magic monger" tell any of of a Chinese physician in Yates these women that her husband will Road last February. The suspected loose his fortune or his life, and clerk, however, heard what was in she believes every word.
Such a woman was made the vic store. for him and decamped from his house, found that he had dis. who posed
Police who searched tim of a plapsible countrywoman, appeared in a motor car, the last Now in China fortune-teller fortune-tellar.
trace of him being when he left the car on Avenue Edward VII. means more than the mere palmist, police employ is alleged, according She is a necromancer, a purveyor This subordinate in municipal card shuffler or crystal gazer. to information given by other per sons commanded by him, to have of weird spells and endowed with superintended the kidnapping of the knowledge of the physician, for whose release it
world. is reported a ransom of $20,000 was paid, and to have been instrumental This woman, who is much revered In the kidnapping of a Chinese cou by superstitious people, went tractor in September, 1997, who to rent a cubicle at No. 8, Per- was set free upon the payment of cival Street. The landlady at first $8,000.
refused to let her have the room
11 is all will appear in the Pro-thas she would introduce into the Members of the gang, numbering on account of the stream of clients visional Court, where they will be charged under the provisions of the
house. The fortune-teller, there-
which if persons are convicted, is her fortune. The goddess of mis- new Bandit Law, the peasity under upon, began to tell the landlady
death.
A Casual Start,
the
nether
It will be remembered that the three cities at the mouth of the Han-Wuchang, Hankow, and Han- Chinese merchants sce a serious yang recently were united into one danger if the provisions are to be administrative area under the con- classified separately, for they fore trol of the Wuhan Municipal Coun.
ace that the ordinary land owner cil That Council is not, of course, may find that he has to provide auf a Municipal Council in any sense feicat money in rates and taxes to of the term, for a municipality can leave public buildings immune from only exist where there is local self- government, and, as the Municipal building which a military squad or Is, for instance, any Council was not clected by the rate. a little tax-gatherer chooses to payers and does not represent them in any way, it is another occupy a public building?
The investigation began casually fortune was, she said, at her door, example of imperialism masquerad- There are, of course, properties when police attached to Central and unless she appeased her wrath,. ing as republicanism. It is this un-in the two Special Areas which are Station in charge of Det. Subber husband would lose not only elected body which now assumes the of high value, and they have borne Insor. Tinkler, and of the Special his life but his fortune. administrative control of the two those amenities which have given they had been watching for some the taxation necessary to provide Branch, arrested one man whom
"What must I do?" asked the them a large part of their value. little time. Haphazard Arrangement.
This was early on credulous landlady. "Oh, that's Similar buildings in the Chinese Sunday evening. Acting on in- It is true that the Chen-O'Malley city would not have commanded the tormaation, which he disclosed; arm-easy, if you care to pay for it," Agreement provided that the ex- British Concession was to remain could not have secured adequate Chinese hotel in the Louza district, after some conversation, the for- sume rentals, simply because they ed parties were despatched to answered the fortune-teller, and under Sino-British control until such sanitation. It will be a different where the party rushed one of the inne-teller was the richer by $170. time as the five concessions were thing when taxes are imposed by rooms on the second floor, and united under one international non-representative municipality, before the occupants were aware
The landlady soon realised that Council, but it is also true that and these taxes are to be used in-of their presence, the officers had she had been tricked, a hue and there was no provision that the ex-discriminately in the Special Arén handcuffed seven of them. This ery was raised, and as usual, the German and ex-Russian Concessions or in Wachang. The regulations occurred at 1.30 am, yesterday, would remain under Sino-foreign control for any definite period. The themselves state that the new as German Concession passed into sessment ought to yield a substantial Chinese hands during the Great increase in the Municipal Revenues.
ex-concessions,
Information obtained from this aid of the police was solicited, group sided the police in making with a result that the fortune-teller several arrests yesterday morning, was arrested and brought before the last being last night during Mr. R. E. Lindsell, at the Central
Magistracy. As
dinner.
Peaceful Ávocalions.
War, under & most haphazard ar-
A Mere Fiction. rangement which did not safeguard The second reason for the change the rights of the foreign landholders | is, of course, a mere fiction. If there and made no piovision for the re-are regalations enforced in the two Other than being loafers and After two adjournments, the case payment of the Municipal Deben areas which have not beer sape criminals, several of the gang was concluded yesterday, In tares, even when held by non- tioned by the Government, it is pursued legitimate occupations, evi- Germans.
Interest ceased to be clear that the Directors appointed dently as a "blind." In a Chinese evidence, the victimised woman paid about 1917, though the amount by the Government have not been house an Yu Yuen Road a police said that she was given some ashes due to each Debenture helder was doing their duty. They are the apposas arrested an alleged house brewed into a tea, and that this duly entered up in the books, with pointed medium of communication painter, yesterday morning. A few concoction made her lose her scase a promise that it would be paid between the Councils of the areas minutes later the same group raid some day. The Custodian of Enemy and the Government, and it was ed a house in Seymour Road and of judgment, Property regarded the prospects of heir business to see that all was took into custody another who also the debenture holders as very slim. in order. As an example of the is said to have had a business.
The Chinese have always claimed matters which the Chinese Mani- that the Soviet Government sur cipality has in the back of its mind, rendered the Russian Concession un- mention may be made of the risksha conditionally and, though till now broblem. All visitors to Hankow it has been administered by a know that the rickshas which ply Council composed of foreign and in the Concession, area are licensed Chinese ratepayers, the Council has and are of a fairly decent type, constantly found its wishes disre- though they have deteriorated badly garded. Rumours have been a8oat in the,, iast six months, because for some time that the Hupeh Pro- of the uncertainly of the situation Some of those arrested have con- vincial Government proposed to disris-a-vis the Chinese municipality, feared complicity in both kidnap solve this Council and absorb the The rickshas which ply in the Chi-pings, while others admit" having ex-Russian Concession into Wuhan nese city are distinctly inferior in taken part in either or both of City, but there has never been any every way and the coolies are a these affairs, and to being armed mention of similar ideas with re- different type of man.
robbers as well. gard to the ex-German Concession. It is understood that an attempt The alleged leader, who escaped
A Strange Explanation,
will now be made to let rickshas yesterday, is stated by the gang to
affairs.
Defendant admitted having re- ceived the money but said that it At 630 p.m., still another party of raiders, fully armed and wearing was a loan. She was sentenced to steel waistcoats, were fortunate in three months' hard labour. finding a person upon whom much of the success of modern kidnap pers depends, a chauffeur, who, in addition to providing means of quick escape, usually tauts for such gange.
INCREASED DEMAND FOR INDIAN "COAL.
EFFECT OF JAPANESE BOYCOTT.
In addition to heavy stocks of British coal, for which there is always a great demand, supplies
The reasons assigned for this sud- from the Chinese city make their have led them in both kidnapping from other foreign sources are den action are strange. The first way through the ex-British Con-
is that the two areas are no longer Concessions and, therefore, will naturally come under the control
Complete Sovereignty.
The welfare of the people is, of course, a mere phrase. The policy
LUNG DISEASE FROM A SPRAINED KNEE,
REMARKABLE TRAGEDY OF A
GIRL ATHLETE.
coming into the Hong Kong .mar. ket. Locally, the bulk of the coal supply is used for maritime pur- poses but considerable quantities are re-transported daily into Kwangtung.
The principal sources of supply are Japan, India, France and Northern Chine
At the present time, negotiations are in progress for the placing of these films in the vaults of e Governmental building undar Gov- Better Than Books. Or Paintings. ergent control, but the films in- Better than ang books a photo- | troduce a new difficulty, for no graphs and paintings auch als materials or objecte placed under will bring home to the inhabitants | Government charge am over be dred years from now, a good idea elaborate and lustly worked out. of these Islands fifty or one hun- taken out, excepting by a very
of the life of the people of to-day" plan which would be quite inappro said Mr. Bosson in an exclusive priste if applied to flims; but there is no doubt this matter will be interview with the United Preat.
these most valuable records will be adjusted in the near future, when appropriately housed under na tional control.
The first film secured by the Institute. is the original film of
the South Pole, of which Evans Boot's South Pole Expedition. The Take, for instance, the Alm of Captain Scott's ill-fated expedition assumed command after Scott's days of such hardships as they en- death. Other films which the Indured have probably part for ever,
cession to ply in the ex-Russian Concession, and it is clear that there will be an attempt to let them of the Wuhan Municipal Council run on through the French Conces The second is that there are rules sion to the ex-German Concession. and regulations enforced in the two Regulations have kept defective areas which have not been sanc-rickshas from running in the Con- tioned by the Government. The cession area and have afforded the third is that this action will pro- user some degree of protection from mote the welfare of the people. thieving and other malpractices on
Neglect of a sprained knee led to These reasons are worthy of a little the part of the pullers. If undesir the death of Miss Mary Ann Keene, examination.
let loose as ricksha aged twenty-five, a buyer at White ables are
Since the beginning of last year, It is a strange fact that the de-coolies, it will be a matter of risk ley's Stares, who lived at South- the Japanese succeeded in captar-
for ladies and children. - sire to control the ex-concessions
brook-street, Shepherd's Bush.. ing a large section of the market. coincides with the failure of the
Miss Keene's mother stated at the It was anticipated by local mer Waban Municipal Council raise
inquest at Hammersmith that her chants that the Japanese boycott in the revenues which is Deeds for
daughter sprained her knee in Sep- Kwangtang would result in better carrying out its many and grandiose of the "Government is to have uni tember last year when attempting conditions but the business former- schemes. This failure is not, of fication in every direction," and to catch an omnibus. She went inly carried out by the Japanese course, openly admitted, but it is doubtless this will be the result of for a swimming competition despite had passed into the hands of India. shown by the promulgation on Sun disturbing the status of these two the injury, and again knocked the The Indian supply totalled. 80,000 day last of a very elaborate series little areas!.
tens during the past nine months, "These two 'Adminis-knee during the race.
The coroner, Mr. H. R. Oswald: or approximately 60 per cent of of regulations for the valuation of trations should be placed under the
coal used in the all property in the three cities, with Wuhan Municipality in order to Was the a good swimmer 1-Yes, she the foreign
Colony, a view to increasing the receipts secure the complete sovereignty of was the champion. from the rates and taxes. These the country," though no other great
Undoubtedly, the best coal im- Mrs. Keene, added that her ported into this Colony comes from regulations are too detailed to be country has ever found the existence quoted here, but they can be sum- of special municipal areas a bind daughter had to go to hospital, and the French mines. Messrs. Jardine, marised as follows:
rance to its sovereignty.
eventually had her leg amputated Matheson, Ltd. are the sole im because there was a growth under porters and use the coal for their the knee. She developed a cough ships. This cool, which is far more shortly afterwards, but would not dear than other varieties, is yet penalised for the benefit of "Euro follow the doctor's advice to go to held to be the most economical and pean countries, a
bed. She had to be brought home is said to leave very few clinkers. "It is difficult," says the news from work ill, and died in Ham after it is consumed. paper, to visualise the real bur-mersmith Hospital on Sunday. Nominal quotations for foreign den which these annuities impose Dr. John Davies, of the Hammer goal are: Kaiping._814-816; on the British people. The total smith Hospital, said that Miss Japanese, 316-813.50; Indian, 818- payments during the current year Keene died of a malignant disease, 817 French; 828-327, New York: Britain squares amount to £28,800,000. This sum of the lung. There had been a Although there are several mines accounts for 1828," is the title of would endow two great universities similar condition in the knee... in existence in some of the a leading article in the Democratic like Harvard and Tale, and would The coroner. This is one of those Northern
provinces, they LTC. New York World, which has always pay all the running expenses of diseases which can be conveyed unable to contribute supplies to strongly opposed the official Re- the first seven American States, from one part of the body to any great extent. The Chinese coal publican view that the inter-Allied listed alphabetically.
other by the blood stream (—Yes" industry is only badly of- war debts are entirely a business "When sacrifices are measured If she had taken care of her knee) ganised (and -& considerable sum matter and that, as the United by these standards, the absurdity she might have been alive now?- must be spent on the "development States obtained no territory from of expecting such an agreement to Yes.
and equipment of the mines before the war, it is unfair that the remain azchanged for the next A verdict of "Accidental death "||they can meet the demand of the American taxpayer ahould be half century is readily manifest. was recorded.
country,"
BURDEN OF THE U.S. DEBT.
-AMERICAN VIEW OF BRITISH SACRIFICES. .........
Leg Amputated.
DO NOT
NOT FAIL
|
TO SECURE YOUR SHARE
OF THE
GREAT BARGAINS
OFFERING AT OUR
STOCKTAKING SALE
Commencing MONDAY, JANUARY 14th
Owing to the mild weather we have been experiencing we have
been left with more stock than usual at this period.
THIS MUST GO BEFORE STOCKTAKING.
DRASTIC
PRICE CUTTING EVENT.
With the exception of our regular Standard Values our entire stock will be included in
THIS GIGANTIC SALE.
COME EARLY AND SECURE THE BEST.
REMEMBER THE DATE I MONDAY, JANUARY 14th
AND TRE STORE
WHITEAWAYS.
JACOB
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the ideal
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ASSORTED
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When
Your appetite falls-
as is so often the case in the tropics-
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Agents:-JOHN D. HUTCHISON& Co,