MR. BRAGA ATTACKS DIVORCE BILL
(ƯỜNTINUED FROM PAGE 4.)
The Position in Hong Kong.
they emlearur to retain their con- Grant sorts' fidelity to them. Now let an examine the position divores facilities and Hong Kong's ir Hong Kong. Who form the mass
inevitable experienos is bound to of the Colony's population? The br the sad experience of other only source that one can reliably
countries with divorce made easy, turn to for an authoritative answer
as Mr. Gilbert Chesterton sara in is the admirahte Report on the
This essay on The Superstition of Census of the Colony of Hong Kong Divorce," p. 137, "the new liberty taken in March last. According to is taken in the spirit of licence, as that Report the total population the exception were to be the. amounted to 810,731, of which per rule. sons of Chinese race form 96.07 prx' cent, and of the civilian population 97.70 per cent. The conclusion be comes irresistible that the Bill is framed for the infinitesimal propor- i tion of 230 per cent. of the Colony's, population. And if we consider the
migratory nature of the population this smail proportion is still further reduced.." The proportion of 2.30 per cent. is assumed on, the supposition that no Chinese residents in the Colony are of the Christian com munion or have contracted a Chris tian marriage or its civil équivalent.
all aware.
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1932.
nout. If the Bill now before the Council is allowed to become law in its entirely it will, I fear, pro- vide the incentive which it should Lin the duty of every citizen to check.
The London People hailed the Pope's Encyclient of 1930 on Chris tian Marriage in the following terms:-"We hold no brief for the Bat we know that Vatican.
GUILD OFFICIALS FINED
ATTEMPT TO COERCE MASONS
The case in which three officials
of the Stonemasons' Guild were charged with unlawfully trying to the world wants a strong unwaver- compel a number of workmen to ing lead in these days. And, in join the guild by taking away their that sense, we find it refreshing to trowels, was concluded at Central see such resolute degmatism hurled Magistracy, yesterday, before Mr. ht the world from the seat of Chris-Wynne-Jones.
H.K.C.C. ANNUAL
MEETING
YEAR'S ACTIVITIES REVIEWED
ELECTION OF OFFICE
BEARERS
The Anuusi General Mecting of
the Hong Kong Cricket Club was held in the Club Pavilion yesterday gvoning when about 30 memberi
It will be remembered that Deter woro prosent,
The obvious effect oftendom." It is not my purpose to trivulous divorce will be frivolous read copious extracts' from that re-live-Inspector Shaftain in the open- 1 will, how.fing, said that these men went to a marriage. If people can be separat-markable document
building site in Conduit Road, and v for no reason, they will feel it ever, conclude by quoting not more all the easier to be united for no
than a very few lines from Eis asked the workmen if they were Holiness's lucid and precise pro-members of the guild; or receiving reason."
According to the most recent nouncement addressed to three her negative reply, they told them statistics from the U.S.A. mordred and a half millions of Catho that they could not continue work ing as stonemasons. At the same than 100,000 children are affected, lies of all nations and races. The time their trowels were watche every year by the divorces of their words I wish to invite special at- parents. (The World 1932 Almanar tention to are:-"Both for the pri-
The three men, Lo Ting, Leung and Book of Facts, p.444) This vate good of husband, wife and Ngo and Teang Sam wero defended appalling apiber is a tragic com- mentary on the advoency of diverer. Chinese Reasons for Divorce.
children, as likewise for the public
To sum up: 1 oppose the Bill on
from them.
coc aanériminal offence. Ile
Mr.. H. H. B. Hancock was in the
chair and during the course of his speech, said;
Gentlemen,The Report and Ac- counts with Auditors' certificate attached having lasan in your hands for the prescribed period, I will, with your permission, follow the usual procedure and take them ne
1ead.
The Report fully covers the acti- vities of the Club for the period
This is not so, however, as we are j Among the Chinese "the seven Yot it is permitted to legal rensons for divorce," I quote infer, in the absence of statisties, S. Wells Williams, Middle King that Christian Chinese do not form down," vol. 1, n. 794, "are almost an appreciable number of thified by the single provision that Colony's total civilian population. a woman cannot be put away whose There are two tables in the Censusirents are not living to receive the Government cannot be a party of the rond with twenty-five dollars,friends from the North and the
the principle already brought for ward in our Council debates that
far back again." Again, according to mare claas législation.
tu J. Dyer Ball in his. "Things. I oppose the Bill, in the name of Chinese," "Divorce (nmong the the majority of the small class, Chinese) was not an official matter, whose interests it is supposed to but was left entirely to the has subserve, yet whose wishes to belies Land. All theso different expedíand whose ideals it travestion. ents and restrictions nullify, or I oppose it in the name of the under necessary, the provisions as vory justice, upheld by the British
win for our
good of human society; they indeed by Mr. Hin Bhing Lo, who pointed under review, but I should like to deserve well who strenuously defend at some good points in the uso take this opportunity of cularging the inviolable stability of matriation; but Mr. Wynne-Jones said on it a little.
Interport Matches. mony." In defence of that inviol that he was forced to look on this ability I oppose the second reading
Two Interport cricket matches said: "If a IAMN. came into my have been played against Shanghai of the Bill before the Council, house and took away my marble since our last meeting a year agu. clock, and then sent une a letter tell. The first one here in November
me to meet him at the corner which resulted in a
don't you agree he lins corumitted
second ano in May this year in a criminal offence !"
Shanghai which we won by the mar Mr. Lo: Yes.
row marin. of runs. Most of you will remember that owing to very bad weather it was touch and go whether the game in Shanghai would be played at all, and as it was, it was only carried through under extremely unfavourable con- - Police Take Serious View,
ditions to both sides. I should hore Mr. Wynne-Jones in summing up like to congratulate Mr. Mitchell said that he found it difficult to and his team on their victory. It is believe that the men were not work not always possible as you know ing from instructions. Either they to get the best talent for a visiting I protest with the cry of child-But no hint from the society or they side, but the "will to win" and ren, even yet unborn, against did. If they did this off their own the cheery optimisin of the Houg measure calculated to break up their lot, they were, thieves, but if they Kong skipper I have no doubt were did it for the guild, then the society no mean factors in our victory. It very homes.
must pay! To Insp, Shaftain: has been suggested that our visit to. "Is this the only case of this | Shanghai should take place say in | sort ?"—" Well, it is the only one October or November, when one can
Report detailing the engjugal con dition of the Chiness and 110 Chinear races, respectively. From those extremely interesting compile tions it is gathered that, in March laat, there were in the Colony 397,356 Chiness men and women in cluding 8,073 infant marriages. Of this largo total only two mon and to divorce, which, like everything Constitution, which requires ́overy one womass were divorced. Among Chinese, is theoretically easy of a Law to be for the good of the Con the non-Chinese races we find 4,051complishment, but in practice some-munity, and not a measure to open marrin males and 3,150 married
thing very different. No the door of unhappiness for the females, or a total of 7,207 married reliable statistics have been obtain: many in order to satisfy the de- pernous. The following table givered on divorce in China; but, the mods of the fow. the numbers of divorced persons opinion of many long resident and the respective percontages to among the people is that divorce the total number of inhabitants of is not any oftener resorted to than in England, probably less often by far,"
vach race:-
British Other Euro-
peans and Americans
Eurosis
Males. 12.35%
Females.
4- 14%
5-03% 10=1.34% Nil Nil Portuguese
1.07 1* .08% 1-20% Indiang
Nil These are very striking figures, in need, and form an incontrovertible argument against the time-worn claim of the hardship suffered by the mass of the population when
Chinese Christians,
The Census statisties do not give
I think I have quoted enough from authoritative opinion conecrn- ing the Chinese that divores is not a characteristic of the Chinese race We are told that "girl is but once legally married'in China; "ele rides in the bridal chair but once, and only if she is ņ legal, 'principal wile."
Han, Mr. Paterson,
Well then, if these men took away the trowels from some workmen, and told them they would get than back by paying seventeen dollars to join the guild, isn't that the same?
Hon. Mr. Paterson: I don't think in my experienct concerning this be reasonably assured of good a very great deal of the Bill my guild, but we have had similar wenthor and this time will be given self, to be quite candid, but fren cases. And if your Worship pleases a trial when our turn next cours different motives from those my we ask you to take a serious view to visit the Northers port. honourable friend has just revealed.in this case..
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We do not wish to shall meantime look forward to a 1 feel, as one of the newspapers imprison them but impose a heavy visit from Shanghai in Norender an editorial has stated, the Billfine for the association will pay.” merely perpetuates all the abuses
Mr. Wynno-Jones, in concluding,
1933.
Before leaving this, subject ót
From the Hong Kong Census figures I have quoted among the of the Divorce system in England. said: "I certainly find myself Interport cricket I want again to European habitants of the Colony 1 link it does not go nearly far forced to convict but I will let you thank all those who financially and enough, but under the circumstances off lightly. My, leniency in this otherwise helped to make the visit
cent. of residents who are
November the sucorss I think it was. Without the assistanco we received it would hardly be possiblo to carry through a cricket interport successfully.
denied facilities for case divorce. The validity of this claim I do not admit: its existence in Hong Kong there is not even one-half of one is is probably ni we are going to case is a warning, not becauso I of the Shanghai team here last by no stretch of imagination can be per
divorced. If, therefore, among the get and therefore I am quite pre-think slightly of the case. No man established.
I have listened in this Colony is compelled to join Chinese in their own country, pared to accept it.
great any association whatsoever. That divorce is practically unknown, how very patiently and with a can it be shown that those of the deal of interest to what my honour does not mean that I think your muy information of the comparative Chiness race who have contractedule friend has said and I have guild is a bad or unlawful one, but been unable to understand the you must not make anyone join!-- Christian marriage in Hong numbers of the Colony's inhabitants classified under their respective Kong should seek divorce to be meaning of it. His arguments Understand 1-1 fine you $100 each.” eligious beliefs. It is estimated that released, under certain circum.illustrate the enormous difference Mr. Wynne-Jones expressed his the number of Chinese Catholics instances, from their marriage ca- there is between the Churches and wish that this case should be re Hong Kong total in round numbers gagements. Modernism might have the ordinary lay thought of today.ported in the local Press as a warn 14,000, I have no means of ascertain introduced some changes into the It is perhaps unfortunate but Ieaning to all such guilds. ing the correct number of Chinese of social structure of life among the not for the life of me see how anyone other Christian denominations. On the assumption that it is equal to Chinese by their new Civil Codeanking
b
unfortunate contract
cannot get out of it.
Official Reply.
mental Civil conception of that union. With the religious concep- tion of indissolubility of the union we are not concerned.
the number of the Catholics we find adaptod from foreign countries. the total number of Christian Chi- There are many Chinese in Hong nose to be 28,000. If from this total Kong, however, who, I feel sure, we leave out of count men of the prefer to adhere to the traditions The Attorney General: With re- working classes, who in proportion of their ancient civilisation that gard to the remarks of the honour-
Straits Precedent, form the larger number of Chinese will permit of no laxity in matriable member who first addressed the Christians, there are left a com- manial unions. This being the case Council, he spoke at considerable Thirdly, in its essentials, the Bill paratively small number to whom it is very questionable whether the length without really dealing with follows & Straits Settlement pre- The doubtful benefit of divorce is Chinese will avail themselves of any of the four points mentioned cedent which is open to every one Bought to he granted by the pro- the facilities offered then of relief posed legislation. Divorce is Ain matrimonial proceedings. luxury resorted to usually by mem- hers of the leisured clase. Chinese
Christians in the Colony belonging
Objectionable Publicity.
New Talent this Season. With regard to local cricket, I am sorry the Club did not make a better showing. However the p talent this season, and I hope both pears to be a good deal of new the 1st and 2nd XI's under the able captaincy of Mr. Hayward and Mr. Gahagao respectively will see that wo are at the bead of both the lat and 2nd Leagues.
Mr. Bayer is to be congratulated on heading the 1st XI. batting aver ages and Mr. Hamilton the bowl- ing, also Mr. Elliot and Mr. Wolff the batting and bowling averages respectively of the 2nd XI.
Tennis Tournament,
in my speech on the first reading of the objections, if objections they The Annual Lawn Tennis Touren- and which I now enumerate, restate be, which have been stressed by the meat was once again carried through
member. Yet and alightly elaborate. Firstly, a honourable
the successfully. There was a. very Bill to deal with divorce has been Straite Bill, which went further Afight decline in the number of suggested to us by two successive and required that this Bill doen entries, though gate receipts were -to that olass aro no fow in number One serious objection against Becretaries of State, who must be not require that petitioners should not up to former years. Our thanks that it is more than doubtful if they divorce proceedings in a small presumed to be aware that, until profess the Christian religion, has-are-due-to-the-officials and sub- have ever hinted at a wish such as Colony like Hong Kong is the op-implemented by an. Order in Coun been approved and implemented by committee, who ran the tournament is implied by the introduction of the portunity that will present itself for oil under the Indian and Colonial Order in Council under the Act of so efficiently. The Rumjahn cousina Divorce Bill. There is no denying domestic trials and tribulations to Divorce Jurisdiction Act, 1926, it 1920.
for the 8th year in succession won the fact that a large proportion of be publicly ventilated in the Courts will effect very few persons,
Lastly, this Bill does not come the Open Doubles Champicawhip of the Chinese have embraced Chris- of Justice. As it is, there are Secondly an Alsatia in Hong into force until His Majesty's plea the Colony and Mr. B. A. Rumfahn tianity from conviction. On the enough sorrows and unhappiness in Kong for persona domiciled hers has sure is known.
once again won the Singles other hand, there must be a certain life without their having to bo become an anomaly, owing to the With regard to the remarks of The final of the annual Hong number, and women prevail in that accentuated in proceedings through development by Civil Jurisdictions the Honourable member who second. Doubles was played this afternoon number, who have asked to be re- divorce causes having to be heard throughout the world of means of ly addressed the Council, I think and resulted in win for Mesars. ecived into tie Christian fold and in Court. There will be the un-giving relief from Christian marri- that this in all we are likely to Gibb Livingstone. have subsequently contracted Chris-edifying spectacle of young men age, regarded as a civil contract. It get and any attempt on behalf of tian marriages in order to escape aad women-indeed, of people of is only with marriago so regarded this Connell to move in advance of the disabilities and the hardships all ages and walks in life-crowding that the Bill deals. The Honour-legislative thought in England will Turning now to the accounts. I Chinese women inseparable-from-the-Court procincts-from-curiosity able-member has pointed out that not result in the Ordinance being hope you will agree that they are the practice of concubinage by their to follow fruitlessly the recital of the delitation of Christian marriage allowed. I move the second reading, satisfactory The grow profit at husbands. They have sought under domostic differences and buman or it civil equivalent recognises of the Bill.
working nocount is 88,070,25--Bome the protection of the tenets of the frailities. This morbid curiosity is the statis as that of a voluntary Seconded by the Hon, Colonial 83,878 lover than the previous year Christian religion the safety unob- indulged in at the expense of time union for life of one man and one Secretary, the Hill passed its second-but you will notion that gate re tainable through the caprice and that can be more profitably em woman. to the exclusion of all and later its third reading. ceipts for the annual tennis teamma vagaries permissible Ly the custom ployed in one's home or in the per- others. Whilet stressing the words When the Council was in the Com-ment are down by about $1,000, of ainenbinage according to theformance of duties paid for by em for life, tho honourable member mittes stage, Mr. Braga opposed which is beyond our control. The whims of the husbands in the ae (ployees to be discharged god which has missed the point in the de Clause 4 (1) of the bill and later loss on unle of tennis gear, prins quisition of domestic appendages indre neglected because of a morfinition cannot be split into its com voted against all the sections cipally balls, is 842.35 against a the home that, do not always mako, hidity impelling attendance in ponent parts but must be taken as (clauses 5,6,7,8,9,10, and 11) of the profit the previous year of 800.91- for concord or happiness. Some Court. This is a feature of life a whole and that the introduction bill under the heading of Dissolu- difference of $1,000. I would em- Chinoro-women-seok to close thin-Hong Kong of comparatively of others into the exclusive tion of Marriage."
phasize that tennis playing mem door against sopivgal inequality by Ireomt growth and that should not union of two destroys the funda: The Council was adjourned until bers get their tennis balls at very rocourse to
(Continucu on next ('olumn)
Christian marriage; be given opportunity for develop
November
Financial Statement,
******* Continued on rave 10:5
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