HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1933
CENTENARY OF ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
HONG KONG CHINESE CELEBRATE OCCASION AT SINCERE'S
ROOF GARDEN · ·
GOOD WORK OF LOCAL SOCIETY RECALLED
||
Members of the Chinese community were present in large numbere on the Roof Garden of the Sincere Company, last night when the Centenary of the abolition of slavery within the British Empire was celebrated. The function.. which was held under the auspices of the local Anti-Mui-Tsai Society, was the occasion of much speech making, among those to address the gathering being Mr. J. D. Bush, Rev. H. R. Wells and Rev. J. R. Saunders of Shiu Kwani.
The occasion, 'by u" co-incidence was also, the eleventh anniversary of the Hong Kong Anti-Mui-Tsai Society, and in the course of his address Mr. Bush touched upon the uchievements of that Society since its inception in 1921. Souvenirs were presented at the dinner "by Mrs. Ma, sen., to Mr.FS. C. Young, C. G. Anderson and J. D. Bush for the prominent part they have played in the emancipation of the "mui tsai" in Hong Kong. The souvenirs took the form of Chinese scrolls, suitably mounted.
The proceedings commenced with a prayer by the Rev. Li Kau Yan, and closed with a hymn in which the whole gathering joined..
Mr. Wong Shum Kan, Chairman of the Anti-Mui-Tsai Society presided over the proceedings.
HISTORY OF MOVEMENT RECOUNTED
rl
MR. J. D. BUSH
Mr. J. D. Bush said; The dinner constitute a doubly calendar day and "programme of this; evening.
માં
While
Clarkson conducted the agitation throughout England Wilberforce "took every opportunity in the House of Commons of expos-
ing the evils and horrors of the
For many
for us. We are here to exchange
trade. Time after time for sixteen years the attempt was renewed by congratulations un "the Centenary of the wholition of Slavery within Wilberforce, and ten times was it the British Empire and on the defeated by planters. eleventh anniversary of the Anti-years both Clarkson and Wilber- Mui Tsai Society of Hong Kong, I do not know by what untoward accident that I should be thrust with the honour of being the peaker of this great occasion, Veterans and Champions of the cause like Dr. S. C. Young, M. CC. Anderson and score of others here should really occupy the Speaker's chair. But I am told there is no appead and I must obey
the comand of the Committee to address you to, the best of my ability.
History's Blacksat Deeds.. The hundredth anniversary of mancipation of slavery is decided- ly one of the greatest events in the history of civilization. The barest erount of slavery would reveal some of the blackest deeds in human antils. Somehow man's strange inherent cruelty makes him treat other members of his species as he "would never have treated a cow er a dog or even a tree, In the very earliest time - when mankind was in the pastoral stage, slaves were enptured only to be sold, except in the case of a few who might be required for the care of flocks and for the small amount of tilling of the soils. Slavery had already be- cute fully established, as one turas over the pages of history of all the an tentuationsa. The prisoners broken in WILT
xenerally slaughtered like animals and the
wero
was
force met with extreme difficulty in trying to convert public opinion in Great Britain to the view that slaves were human beings and not chattels or animals. The majority of the people were so schooled, and ridden by the minority of slave holders that Wilberforce could make no headway whatever. Not until 3791 did he succeeded in an nouncing to the House of Com. mons: We have already gained one victory; we have obtained for these poor creatures the recognition. of their human nature which for a time was slamefully denied them." Wilbor force devoted his whole life to the cause of abolish ing slavery, making his own people realize that slavery was not only but a monstrous and hideous crime an evil and unnecessary institution
against humapity, "
Wilberforce died without seeing emancipation realized. The Bill for total abolition of slavery in all its forms within the British Empire passed through its final stage in the House of Commons just one
month after his death. As a result
slaves were set free. All honour to of this Bill, no fewer than 700,000 his memory. The whole world to- day owes to his character and genius a debt of gratitude.
Still Many Slaves.
On this hundredth anniversary of the man who devoted the whole of his life to extirpate the evil of property ownership in human be ings, it is, disconcerting to think that there are still to-day 5,000,000 slaves scattered over large portions of the earth.
Anti-MutTsai Society about Oc-
LORRY OUT OF CONTROL
ACCIDENT
tober, 1921, that the system belongs SEVEN PEOPLE INJURED IN to a social condition which is pass- ing away. Europe has long passed out of serfdom and China should no longer countenance (iki What they have achieved you all know full well and the annals of Hong Kong in years to come is sure to include the names of those untiring social workers in our midat who *ace giving their valuable time and attention for, the emancipation of the mui tadi; one of the surviving forms of slavery of the modora day.
|
A motor accident which at Ars threatened to bave serious conse quenres occurred in Garden Road, yesterday, shortly after 12.15 p.m., when lorry No. 3793 which was coming down Garden Road got out of control,
somersault.
THE CHINESE CLUBS
Poor Substitute For North Point Beach
REPORTED OFFER BY
GOVERNMENT
Showing keen presence of mind, the driver attempted to turn into
It learned that the Govern- Upper Albert Road to arrest thement has offered Chaiwan Bay, the speed of the vehicle but he appar small inlet nesr "Barker's Is Lient-Commander H. L. Hasle
tly took the bend too quickly land," to the Chinese bathing clubs wood, former Superintendent of the Chart Depot, Naval Yard, and the lorry turned a complete as an alternative site to that which Hong Kong, and his wife, Mrs.
they now occupy in North Point, Just at that time, a private rick- as was announced earlier, it is the C. B. L. Halewood who now reside shaw was in the vicinity and intention of the Government to re- in Bath, England-their pioneer this
got pinned • under the sume the present site occupied by work done for our Society in
lorry. The late Mr. Ho Iu's the bathing clubs, British Parliaments need also to ba recalled with a sense of grateful ness on this occasion. Above all, Lady Simon, authoress of the re- markable new book on Slavery, and Sir John Simon, have been staunch friends and supporters of our So ciety in divers ways. To them we want to register, also a hearty vote of thanks
ence.
Omcial Vigilance,
The servitude known as mùi tsai system is directly contrary to British law and Christian prin. ciple as well as the Confucian ethics of right conduct and benevol
That the system has been proved to lend itself to grave abuses may be observed from the number of cases that have been handled by the Anti-Mui Taxi Se diety in co-operation with the Secretary for Chinese Affairs Here I am a little shead of my story. The Mui Tsai Bill was first introduced in the local legislature on December 28, 1992, and became law in January, 1823. Part three of the Female Domestic Service Ordinance came into operation on the 1st day of December, 1929, pro riding for the registration of mu trat in the Colony. As a result, more than 4,000 went to the S.C.A. to register their names. Since the date of registration closed, that is after the duration of six months, no more buying and selling is allowed in Hong Kong.
For the
past two years, I am happy to say that the vigilance of Inspector Frazer, who is also one of our guests of bonour to-night, has done much to protect the against cruelty, kidnapping and to prevent them from being sold or forced into immore! life.
2801
Evil in the world results from
bad education and bed institution. First, then, produce the new out- look and the better man and better world will follow. The liberty. loving Anglo-Saxon race has such a word as fair play and can pride as in law, with results which have itself on fairness in sports as well
set all other nations envious !
· THE REV. H. R. WELLS
The Rev. H. R. Wells, speaking
who
young son
was in the rickshaw at the time was injured. fortunately not seriously. Six other people were injured and they were all removed to the Govém ment Civil Hospital, but according to a report issued by the hospital none of them was in a serious con- dition,
DEPORTEE SENTENCED
A BAD RECORD ELSEWHERE
"
No official confirmation is to be bad but taking it for granted that such in the intention of the autho rities, it must be mentioned that Chaiwan would be a very sorry substitute for North Point.
Quite apart from the fact that the water in Chaiwan Bay is not ideal for bathing, it must be borne in mind that it is quite a distance from the tram terminus, and even for the more fortunate ones who' possess motor cars, a walk along an uneven and winding path is necessary before one can get to this spot.
At Central Magistracy yesterday, Me J. A. Fraser's application, made on Friday last, for a re-con- |- The beach, at Chaiwan consists sideration of his Worship's decision of a short stretch of foreshore in regard to a case in which a measuring only 300 yards across Chinese, charged with committing and in such a short stretch of a breach of the Deportation Ordin- | beach the six Chinese bathing ance, was heard by Mr. Wynne pavilions will be overcrowded, Jones, and the man was sent to prison for four months."
The defendant, Chan Hop, alias Taeng Hop was discharged on Jaly when he appeared before Mr. Wynne-Jones, and yesterday, Mr. W. G. H. Grantham, assistant Colonial Secretary and Deputy Clerk of Council, gave evidence. He produced papers relative to the deportation of Chan Hop who waa banished on May 20, 1930 by as order made by the Governor-in- Council on May 15, of the same
year.
Mr. Wynne-Jones: The reasOD why I wanted further particulars in this case. was because the cir cumstances raised just sufficient doubt which I must have cleated
up.
After Inspector Vincent · had given evidence as to the finger prints, the man was convicted of a breach of the Deportation Ordin-
ancé.
Mr. Fraser told the Court thas there was no criminal record, in the Colony, against the defendant, but he bore a bad character else severity: it was just the question where. They were not asking for of the validity of the order and principle.
74
Sentence as above was passed.
LEFT
in Chinese and English to the SHIP'S PASSENGER GETS gathering, said: I have been asked to speak this evening because in 1930, I read a paper at the Church of England Men's Society Meeting on the subject of mai trai in Hong Kong.
In my paper I held that the prac
FOUND IN WANCHAI BY POLICE
We understand that the Senior Unofficial Member on both the Le- gislative and Executive. Councils, Sir Henry Pollock, is going into the matter very carefully with his Chinese colleagues ons of whom stated that no stone will be left unfurned in their efforts to save North Point for the Clubs.
BONHAM ROAD PEST
PROSECUTED BY A
RELATIVE
For having entered No. 62 B Boaham Road, the residence of Mr.
Foo Sik, J. P. with intent. to cause a breach of peace, a Chinese was sentenced to two months hard labour.
Mr. Peter Sin appeared on be half of the complainant.
The defendant said he had gone there to get 8600 from the com- plainant. This money had been left him by his father, and the con plainant was the trustee.
Crown Sergeant Tyler said de fendant often went to complainant for assistance, and on the last oc casion prior to this incident, was given $10 and told to go away. Mr. They were distant relatives. Foo Bik was the trustee of $800 which had been, left by defendant's adopted father for the use of de- fendant's adopted mother, and her relatives. The complainant had given, defendant money on various Occasions. Defendant was lazy, un-1
Од Mr. Kennedy was on his way to employed and smoked opium. Scotland from Shanghai where till July 29, Mr. Foo Sik had to call a year ago he was in the service of the police to arrest the defendant, the Shanghai Power Company. who had gone there with the inter- His wile, two children and ation of causing a breach of the grand-niece were also passengers in peace. Defendant used to sleep on the doorway, and refused to leave. the Razpurs.
the previous day without him, Mr. L. Kennedy way on Saturday found by the Police in Gloucester Road, Wanchai...
Reported missing from the P. & tice of keeping mui tsai is a form, Ranpura, which sailed for Home of slavery. I have seen papers in Chinese, according to which girls are sold and parents are not allow- ed to interfere in any way and if the child should die it is to be re- garded as the will heaven.
I do not see enough of Chinese family life to enable me to know what goes on, but my sister was here for many years, and had visit ed many houses in Canton and
In the oldest temples of Egypt, negro, captives are painted on the tombs of kinge, in such attitude as to show that they are on the point of being executed. From the Parliest time. the negro" has been an article of luxury to the cam- mercial nations. "According to his- tory, colonial slavery began in 1449, when the Portuguese under Prince Henry the Navigator were explor ing, the Atlantic Coast of Africa. One of his officers who had captar. ed some Moors, was directed by Prince Henry to carry them back to Africa The fact that the ofcer, received from the Moors in exchange for ten blacks, a quantity of gold dust, excited the cupidity of his fellow countrymen. Subse quently a large numbers of ships to the Council of the League of: were built for the trade and several | Nations each year recommenda-
remnants were retained as slates or suld or held for ransom by the captor. In ancient Greece, for exumplé, slaves were employed Wither in domestic service as house- held managef, attendants or per- As Christians, we cannot rest somal escorts. For his sound poli. ¦ until the terribly tragic side of tical wisdom, even the world's crime of slavery is completely elsewhere and she told the of the #realest philosopher, Plato, cradicated. Happily, the policy of way she had been mui tsai treated „sitive sold as a slave,
Great Britain and all the sovereign-beaten, made to kneel down for states, now associated with her in long periods, badly fed and so the work of emancipation of the forth. slaves, in to do everything' possible Of course one sees them every day to check the slave trade in all in the streets evidently badly cared corners of the earth. The objective for, and therefore it is no wonder should be a three-fold one: First, that many of them are said to he the creation of an international | bad, but if they are bad, it is a conscience prepared to accept the curse to the family in which they view that slavery in all its forms live, and very harmful to the child, is a crime against the human race; ren as well as to adults. A wrong secondly to secure an acceptance of done to anyone is sure to come the obligation by all nations to back to one's own hend. bring about, as quickly as possible I can quite believe that many the total abolition of slavery mui tu as well treated though I throughout the world; and thirdly, can also be sure from my know- the creation of some. international ledge of human nature that many machine, either a permanent com. are treated in a very arbitrary way mitten or Bureau, sufficiently com.and eventually disposed of either petent to deal with reports from to brothels or as concubines. different countries and to present
The Local Society.
ports established in the African tions for assisting in the work of Coast. Many negroes were brought complete eradication of slave trade into Spain from these Portuguese and slavery, wherever found, settlements. Sometime after the discovery of Ameries, the Colonial slave trade between Africa and the, West Indies came into existence. Between
1680 and 1700 "about 140,CCO negrocs were exported by the African Company. By the end of 1786 as many as 600,000 sinves were transported to Jamaica alone.' So much about the growth of the
slave trade more than a century ago. A bundred years ago, even the most enlightened opinion would regard the conspiracy of the slave
trade as an institution,
Many Great Men, Associated with the abolition of the slave trade within the British Empire were many great men, and the most outstanding were William Wilberforce, and Thomas Clarkson,
Not Satisfactory.
No doubt, many are properly married, and it may be hoped that they become mothers of good child ren. Their upbringing is nòt favourable to such good results.
Mr. Kennedy served in two Wai campaigns, the last being the Great War. On demobilisation he returned to. China, e-
Mr. Sin said that Mr. Foo Sik was the trustee of the money, and defendant had absolutely no right to it, as he was only an adopted Mr. Kennedy came to Hongkong son. Mr. Foo Bik was very reluc in 1908, and for many years was intant to prosecute, but was compell- the Chinese Maritime Customs. ed to do, as defendant continued When efforts to locate him had to pester him, his son and his con- failed up to the time of the ship's cubine. sailing, the local steamship agents made a report to the Police, while his wife left a sum of money m their care for his expenses...
Mr. Kennedys staying at an hotel until he can resume bis voyage home."
LOCAL ESTATES
Local estate, valued at $38,200 was left by, Cheng Cheuk Yu, alias Man Maloo East, Chung Shan Dis- Cheng Ching Lap Tong, of Sun trict, who died on December 31. Probate of the wilt has been grant ed to the widow, Cheng Ho Shi..
Wong Yuen Fan, alig Wong It may be asked why I have not Yuen Hing Tong, merchant, done more, to help the movement. The reply must be that it was 11 Tsi, Lan Terrace Victoria, died agreed that the British should not intestate or March 4 leaving local interfere with Chinese customs. It state sworn under $27,000. Let
Defendant admitted a previous conviction for stealing.
THE NEW KWANGSI
RAILWAY
PRELIMINARY SURVEY
·NEARLY FINISHED"
Preparations for the construc
CANTON, July 31.
tion of the Samui-Hohsien Rail-
way, an extension of the Canton-: Samshui Railway to Kwangsi, are making substantial progress. A preliminary survey of the line is being undertaken and the Liang-
It is fitting, therefore, that the Christian Community of Hong Kong have made preparations to celebrate the Centenary and the Eleventh Anniversary of the Anti- is necessary for more people to chers of administration have been Kwang authorities hope that this Mui Tani Society with a Chineseject and change Chinese custom so granted to the widow, Wong Shum work will be completed within two dinner party
ns to secure better treatment for Shi, aling Shu Yim Fong months, then
Letters of administration to the loeal estate of 87,500 left by Lo Sz It will be remembered that this On Ngau Woo Village, Tung Koon scheme was initiated by General District, have been granted to the Chung Jen and has been approv widow, Lo Chan Sh Deceaseded by the South-west Political died on September 1 Council. The length of the project- In Pak Flo, alias Lo Cho Nang d line is over, three hundred inle a broker, of 102, Hennessy Road, It will start from Samshti," and Everyone has a duty of righteous Victoria, who died on February pass Stehui Kwenghing, and uess. To me this means doing our left local estate sworn under 80,000, Husinship with Hobsien as its duty to all nida, parents, relatives, and probate of the will has been
The construction of this friends, oficials etc, and it is also | granted to his daughter-in-law, Lou
(Continued on Page 11.) Lenng Shi, alias Leung Tam Ngo 828,0 ,000)
I shalb now tell you something of girls. I live heard that it the Anti-Mui Isai. Society, of Hong been reported that I had changes Kong on this occasion of celebrat my mind. In raply to that I may ing ita Eleventh Anniversary. The say that I have stated, perhaps in pioneers of the movement to seek twenty churches, that I regard my hetter treatment of the mu tras are self as an offender or sinner against . . P. Woo, Mr. 5. C. Yeung, the mus teat, though I do not know Mrs. Ma Ying Pie, Mr, 0. G. them, nor they me Anderson. Mr. Lam Woo and Mr. Chow Wai Cheung, Mr. Ngan Kwan Yue and I too have assisted in aamull way. These veterans felt, when they first organised the
about
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