HONGKONG DAILY PRESS
EDITORIAL
Former Secretary For War Demands Received By Opportunity For Commons'
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HONGKONG, MARCH 15, 1940
JAPANESE SINCERITY
ON MONDAY, December 18.
Debate
On Britain's Conduct In
Soviet Finnish War
Jak
An opportunity for a debate "on the whole conduct" of the British Government in the Soviet-Finnish war was. demanded in the House of Commons on Wednesday by Mr. Hore-Belisha, former Secretary for War in the British "Cabinet.
...
Governor
Continued from Page 1
end in view that the changes introduced during the past three years have been instituted.
years. Such
an
It has proved no easy task to everhaul and recast a system that has worked and worked well for nearly seventy Mr. Chau and his colleagues de- undertaking is never popular and
serve
much credit for their willingness to accept the responsi- Mr. Hore-Bellsha asked the Prime Minister to confirm M. Dalability in the face of very serious dier's statement that an expeditionary force of 50,000 French troops, | problems. and still more British troops, were ready to go to the aid of Finland.
Procuring Of Abortion Alleged
Hearing was commenced be- fore Mr. E. Himsworth at the Kowloon Court yesterday of the case against Wong Yok- hing. 50-year-old woman, charged" on two counts of un-” lawfully procuring an abor- tion for Cheung Lal-ying, an amah.
The Prime Minister said that he had endeavoured to obtain an ac- curate account of what the French Premier had said and, until he re- ceived it, he would prefer not to
make any comment.
London, Mar. 14 (Reuter) Reply. ing in the House of Commons to the Frime Minister's statement on the Soviet-Finnish peace, Major C. R Attlee, Leader of the Labour Opposi tion, said that all were agreed in the admiration of Finland's struggle and, while all were relieved that the the Japanese Foreign
slaughter had been stopped, all deeply Minister, Admiral K. Nomura,
regretted the success of the aggression informed the American Am-
{(loud cheers). bassador.in Tokyo, Mr. Joseph
Major Attlee added that Britain C. Grew, of Japan's intention
should render Finland all the assist to make preparations with a Mr. E. Williams, Crown Coun-tance possible to repair the damages
sel, prosecuting said that the of this unprovoked attack." view to lifting the ban on the complainant was a baby umah Mr. Leslie Hore-Belisha, former navigation of the Yangtze and had two children of her own. Secretary of War, said he associated from Nanking downward un-Towards the beginning of
bimself with the expressions of sympa. der certain restrictions for December she became pregnant, relation to the magnitudes of these thy with Finland. Was it not a pity, in the maintenance of peace and and began to worry" lest this events and their far-reaching charac- order and for military opera-should cause her to lose her job. ter, for the Allies to "plead, as an tions." In view of this deci- Another servant introduced her excuse for inaction, a pure technicali sion, it was hoped that to the defendant, who, the pro-ty (Ministerial Protest) "Japan's real intentions will secution claimed, tried to procure be understood not only by the United States but by other powers as well."
last
plainant on December 1 and again of the Government."
on December 3.
Mr. Hore-Belisha saked for the an abortion for her. Defendant opportunity for a debate "in the light is alleged to have doctored com- of these events of the whole conduct The Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, interjecting, said: "It Complainant developed a fever. is not correct that repeated requeste a subsequently treated by an- for men have been made by the tually taken to the Kowloon Hos- other Chinese doctor, and even-Finnish Government-
where she was operated December 17, by Dr. E. L.
MONTHS HAVE GONE by since, and nothing has been done about the opening of the Yangtze, which is still a paper pítal promise. Yet there has been on extensive press comment in Gosano. Japan, showing that the Jap-] Evidence of the operation, was anese press at least expected given yesterday by Dr. Gosano. the United States Govern- who was questioned at length by ment to grant Japan a quid Mr. Hin-shing Lo, appearing for pro quo for its seeming good defendant. Hearing will be con- intentions. One exception in tinued this afternoon,
וי
"The Finnish Government have made ropested requests for materials and every one has been answered. The Finnish Government was informed as long ago as Feb. 25 that, if they were to make an appeal to us, we were Prepared, and were making prepars tions, to send men as well as materiala In the circumstances in which they found themselves, they decided not to make such as appeal."
Sir Archibald Sinclair, Leader of the Liberal Opposition, associated himself with the condemnation of this successful aggression" and asked whether the published details of the material assistance sent to Finland were accepted by the Government. He suggested that they were grossly exaggerated..
this chorus of the Japanese press was the Kokumin, a
TIENTSIN CLUB rightist paper the views of which
BLAZE: MUCH often identified are with those of extremists in
DAMAGE the Japanese Army. It de-
TIENTSIN, Mar. 14 (Reuter)-A clared that "for Japan to
Are broke out in the Tientsin Club promise the opening of ..
this morning, shortly before noon. Mr. Chamberlain said that be could fivers to free navigation is a within an hour the flames were take no responsibility for newspaper blot on her policy of creating under control, but it is feared that figures. He pointed out that the a new order in Eastern Asia. substantial damage has been done Government had not made a complete It must be made clear that to the furniture and fittings by statement as to the amount of assist. the Japanese Government water. need not be bound by the pre- sent action, should the new Central Government of China proclaim in future the closing of the Yangtze and the Pearl Rivers to the shipping of third powers. Although Ad-
miral Nomura's assurance to America is regrettable in the light of Japan's policy....It will not be without its merits if it leads to the conclusion of
2
new Commercial Treaty with America."
THIS STATEMENT by the Ko-
Kwangtung
ance given Finland.
Border Clash
LIUCHOW, Mar. 14 (Central) --Chinese troops attacked the Japanese at Taissi, on the Kwangtung-Kwangsi border, on March 11
Feigning a retreat, they induced the Japanese to pursue them north-
ward.
When the Japanese reached a point between Taitong and Na- chen, they encounted Chinese mines and the Chinese turned back to attack them.
BINGNING, March, 14: (Central)-- The Japanese drive toward Kityong, 25 miles north west of Swatow, is making no progress.
SOUTH HOPEI CHENGCHOW, March 14. (Central) Fighting flared up near Puyang and With the advanes of the bulk of the Tsingfeng, at the southern tip of kumin at the time of its publica-Japnese troops blocked, 1,000 reinfor. Hopel, sa Japanese forces, based at cements were sent westward from Ku- Sinsiang and Anyang, on the Peiping- Hon naturally met with little hong, five miles west of Chaoan, by Hankow Railway, in Honan, launched. attention outside Japan. Yet it the Chaoan-Kityang highway on simultaneous attacks on the Chinese Beer13 as though the Kokumin March 10 They were intercepted on positions there. The Chinese are put- editors had actually let the cat the way,
ting up a stiff resistance. out of the bag prematurely, An- other premature disclosure now seems at least to confirm that what the Kokumin darkly hinted represented the actual programme
of the Japanese High Command
On January 21, 1940,-le, five weeks after the Nomura promise, two Chinese politicians who had de- serted to Hongkong from the camp of Wang Ching-wel in Shanghai published in Hongkong what they contended was the out- line of the agreement concluded
峦
j
The debt of gratitude owed to them by the community is the greater because they have carried their burden for twice the normal time, that is to say for two years Instead of one and very difficult
years at that.
.. יי
VALUABLE WORK
I should like, in particular, to express my appreciation of the very valuable work done by Mr. Chau personally in reorganising and bringing up to date the sys- tem of accounting in the hospitals and in preparing statistics of all kinds."
Certain outstanding questions still remain to be settled, but I have every hope that, now that agreement has been reached on general principles, Mr. Lee and his colleagues will be able to find a solution to these problems.
at this juncture. It is, I think, One thing I wish to make clear
inevitable that the Government grant to the Tung Wah Corpora. tion will in future remain at a high figure and there are certain conditions which must attach to such A grant. Those conditions govern all Government expendi. ture and cannot be foregone.
DEFINITE FIGURES
In the first place, there must be definite figures before the Legisla- tive Council when the Colony's est
timates are being drawn up show- ing clearly how the proposed grant for the 'next year is to be expend ed: secondly, the Tung Wah Directors must realise that they may not over-expend that grant without bringing a liability upon the Tung Wan Corporation; and thirdly, the expenditure of the
grant must be subject to the same
financial and audit control as all other Government votes have to undergo.
"
H. E's TRIBUTE These conditions are in no way onerous and I can assure
you gentlemen that close and con- scientious observance of them will bring in its train harmonious and tranquil administration of this great corporation's responsibilities.
I cannot close without a tribute to the invaluable assistance of Bir Robert Kotewall and the other members of the Advisory Board, tra particular Mr. M. K. Lo, Mr. T. H. Chau and Dr. Li Shu Fan, who have served or are serving on the Medical Committee. Membership of the Medical Committee is no Sinecure and I am most grateful to these gentlemen for their will ingness to add this to their many public activities.
I have followed with much interest Mr. Lee's statement of policy. I observe gladly the new
Committee's
LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
By
Continued from page 5 be no attempt at evasion." paying up to the full in secord- ance with the legal liability - of each, and by assisting the admin- istration in every way possible, so that the maximum amount collect- able under the measure may be raised, the Colony will justify the Committee's hope, and honourably carry out its--obligation as a part of the British Empire.
DR. LI SHU - FAN" The Hon. Dr. LI"Shu-fan sald: Your Excellency,--From the per sal of the last Hongkong Han- sard, I perceive that during my leave of absence from the Colony,
FRIDAY,
MARCH 15, 1940. -PAGE 7
THE
HONG KONG
* PENINSULA HOTEL;
HONGKONG HOTEL; RAPULAN BAY HOTEL;
&
SHANGHAI
AFTOR HOUSE; PALACE HOTEL;
HOTELS LIMITED.
In association with the Grand Hotel des Wagons Lits, Paking
four months period is, therefore,, valent of £100,000 at 1/24 to the $12,000,000
dollar, the rate of exchange taken in connection with the estimates for 1940–41.
EXPENDITURE Coming to expenditure propo-
some of the most momentous de- bates in the annals of this Coun- cll took place on the question of a war revenue tax. I am only sorry that owing to my unavoid-sals. It may be more convenient if able absence. I was unable to con- they are looked at over the long- tribute my humble share in the er period of twenty-four months, ss the ship-building programme Council's deliberation.
which Government has in mind could not be completed within twelve.
The Senior Unomicial Member, the Hon. Sir Henry 'Pollock, "mid that the Unofficial Members of the Council were unanimously in support of the two motians.
Now that the Report of the War Revenue Committee has been em-
The Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo said:-- bodied into the present proposal,
Your Excellency-The contribution The three heads under which to the British Government which ". I do not wish to take up any
this special expenditure will fall is to be raised under the War Re- more time than to express my gratitude to my Unofficial collen-are rst, the cost of the temporary venue Legislation relates to gues and to the Members of the War Revenue Department, second-period from April 1, 1940, and the War Revenue Committee for their 1, the abnormal recurrent expen-war has already gone on for over
diture imposed on the Colony by six months. war conditions, and, thirdly, the Although the appalling loss of cost of ship building for war pur-life. which was such a ghastly poses. The following schedule characteristic of the Great War, contains the estimated expendi-has happily not yet taken place. ture under the two former heads England. throughout this period, "over a twenty-four months period.
labour
and fruitful results. I heartily approve the principles on which this Bill is--based.
As Your Excellency ob- served, none harboured any selfish motive and all express- ed the willingness to share the responsibility. The ques- tion is therefore, only one of 'equity and of application, so that the tax may fall on the shoulders of those who are in ‚ a position to pay, provided Its adoption will not deleteriously äffect the future prosperity of the Colony.
COLONY'S FUTURE
I need hardly point out that while we should be mindful of the Colony's future, we should not overlook the fact that at this very moment, the integrity and. Indeed, the very existence of the British Commonwealth is at stake.
8
HEAD
1. War Revenue Department 2: Excess War Expenditure:"
(D) Volunteer Forces (i) Censorship Department "(111) Internment of Enemy
Aliens (iv) Department of Informa-
tion
EXPENDITURE
Annual Rate
$ 400,000
Two Year Basis $ 800,000
1,939,200 804,400
969,600 ~347,200°
109,800
219,200
35,200
70,400
{v} Shipping Control Board... (vi) Food Control (vi) Miscellaneous
9,600
13,200
76,000
152,000
24,000
48,000
$1.971.200
$9,942,400
Given a revenue of $12,000,000
GOVT. INTENTIONS
Navy and Merchant Marine, Army and Air Force, have been carrying
On November 18 of last year, there would remain a balance has been experiencing the intoler- when Your Excellency addressed available for the construction of able strain and anxiety of pre- the Council on the subject of war ships to be presented to Els Ma- paredness and suspense. Her contribution. Your Excellency re-jesty's Government of $8,057,800, ferred more than once to the fact that Great Britain was being en- gaged in
death Ufe and struggle.
Since then, the truth of that statement has been repeatedly testified, by news reports of the enemy's ruthless tacties and gigantic preparations for the eventual death struggle. I fear that many people in this outpost of the British Empire, because of their re- moteness from the scene of confilet, do not appreciate the full significance and serious- ness of this war.
At the moment, however, Gov-jout their allotted tasks in face of ernment's intentions in that direc- all dangers, and with inevitable tion do not exceed $5,000,000, thus casualties, and the whole Nation leaving an ample margin for faulty has been mobilised to fight the estimation, short collection or, it greatest military bully the world may be, further gifts in cash or have ever seen! kind.
In contrast to the prevailing conditions in England." Hong- kong has indeed much to be thankful for. Thanks to the British Navy and the might of the British Empire, Honig kong i enjoying a measure of peace and freedom which fa a thing of the past in so many parts of the world today.
Those Intentions are to build two minesweepers and four bar bour defence craft for the Royal Navy and two ferry tenders for the Army. It will be appreciated that it is impossible at this stage to give further detalls as to in- dividual cost: tenders will be call- ed for as soon as possible...
Application will be made in As we are aware, Germany has "Finance Committee after this meet- repeatedly avowed, according to Ing for a supplementary vote to Fress reports, that her one am is cover the estimated expenditure the total destruction of the Bri- which I have just described. The ratitude. I feel certain that, tah Empire, of which this Colony nguces in the schedule which will lony as a haven of refuge in which
gratefully appreciating the Co. is a component part.
be put before, the Committee will
FERVENT HOPE
CHINESE GRATITUDE Chinese is their abiding sense of One of the racial traita of the
not correspond exactly with those they can live in security and which" I have given, however, as peace, all Chinese in the Colony I feel very strongly that, as long for the sake of greater. intelligi- warmly approve of the cash.con- as one nation claims to be bly I have avoided in this state, enthusiasm.
tribution to and I perior to all others and that that
the Imperial : Ex- auccess in their nation only has the right to live.
chequer. then civilization is endangered. and there can be no peace in the world.
wish them all undertakings.
A.S. Watson & Co.'s Report
SOLAR HALOS OBSERVED The General Managers and the
A very beautiful display of solar halos was seen in Hongkong yesterday morning when a complicated system of luminous rings and arcs appeared round the sun which was surrounded by a con- centric circular ring.
:
and
It is my fervent hope that all sections of this Colony will
anite in a firm resolution of purpose and of unswerving loyalty to our cause the suc-
prosecution cessful
of this
ment #
RESOLUTION
In his speech at Leeds on Jan-- ; uary 20, 1940, Lord. Halifax re- "The Hon. Mr. Butters said:minded his audience of the work Sir, I rise to propose the second of the Fighting Forces, and of the resolution standing in my me he said, "the Royal Navy and in-
Mercantile Marine. "We know! that this Council approves the gift to His Majesty's Government domitable. Merchant Marine are "of £100,000 as a monetary con-under the never-ending strain of tribution from the Colony of sea-danger; the soldier on night" Hongkong towards the prosecu patrol or raiding parties; or the tion of the war with Germany. airmen, facing all the forces of The General revenue balance nature over sea and land to fight Community by my of the Colony on 31st December, their way over enemy territory on Senior Chinese Colleague. port of the motion Honourable Mr. M. K. Lo, in sup- 885,000. As Honourable Mem- then went on When we appre
the 1939 was approximately $16. special missions Lord HallLax clato all this, how little it is that bers are aware, expenditure
war.
ably conveyed, on behalf of the Sir, I endorse the sentiments so
Chinese"
-RESOLUTION
010
loan works authorized under the in our power to do at home!" 34% Dollar Loan, 1934. to the
And he concluded: "Therefore, let
Directors of A. B. Watson Company, Limited, report that the balance at credit of Froit and Loss Account on October 31, 1939, for the year under review, after pro- Although it started about 9.30 a.m. it was not" noticed by the public for nearly an hour later and eventually, as the news of the debts, allowing for depreciation of viding for all bad and doubtful phenomenon got around, thousands of people left their offices and Aerated Water and other machin- homes te zet a glimpse of the dazzling spectacle. In some of the ery and plant, motor transport schools students watched it through specially smoked glass.
furniture, Aftings and trade "This is the commonest form of between Wang and the Japanese solar, halo and is quite frequently still very bright, though the other 77941, to which has to be added on approving of the
In rising to move the resolu- extent of $11,140,000 has been us give, atid give freely, and let ne By on the 22 degree halo wa utensils, c. Amounts to $378,-
temporarily charged to Surplus all remember that our great cause Army on December 30. 1939-soen in Hongkong," Mr. C. W. Jeffries, rings and arcs bad almost disappeared. the balance brought forward from
expendi- Balances pending the second issue can only end in victory if all are twelve days after the Nomura Director of the Royal Observatory, The display was the finest seen in last year $81,848.30 leaving avail-struction of ships, the Financial on additional loan works have its behalf.
ture of $5,000,000 on the con- of bonds, while further advances prepared to spend themselves i promise and subsequently ap- told the Daily Press yesterday. Hong Kong within the memory of any able for appropriation à total of Secretary said: proved first by the China Affairs Describing the phenomenon, Mr. of the Observatory staff.
$460,627.71. Board of the Abe cabinet and Jeffries said that the san was sur- The ordinary 22 balo is obser then by the cabinet itself, ap-having an angular radius of 22 de annually; & in July, 4 in August, 3 in rounded by a concentric circular ring, ed on the average about 21 times parently including Admiral No- grees. Surrounding this circle and June and September, 2 in May, in To pay a Dividend of 60 mura himself. This agreement touching it above and below the sun April, October and November; the provides, inter alia, for "recogni- was an elliptical ring which is very remaining months December to March iton of Japan's economic pre-rarely seen.
supply 1 between them. Although to pay &
Borbing
dominance in the Lower Yangtze Valley" by Wang and his future government.
It is proposed to allocate "this amount as follows:-
cents per Share ab
balos were at one time considered" a
Bonus of 45 cents per Share aign of bad weather, little significance To transfer to General is attached to them as a weather pro-
Reserve gnóętio nowadays.
To transfer to Chinese.
Staff Superannuation Account
ALLEY TEAM BEAT MINDANAO
was bluntly stated as Japanese ALTHOUGH there has been no policy by the Kokimin, and It was confirmation of the authenticity | fully borne out by the Wang of this agreement by anyone | Bgreement. among
concerned, those most
FOR YEARS the Japanese, have there has been no denial of the insisted on the lack of "sinderify”. general exactness of Ita contents on the part of China. The "Yang- At the Hongkong Bowling Alleys either. In other words, while Mr. tze Incident" of December 1939- yesterday evening, the U. 8, 8, Nomura made a promise to Mr. January 1940 is well fit to illus-Mindanao lost to an Alley ́ team Grew, the Japanese Army nego-trate for the American people by 113 pins in a' friendly Ave- tiated with Mr. Wang Ching-wel and their government what kind game Ten Fin match, the final to take this promise back at the of "incerity they can expect scores being 2072 and 3,086, res- earliest possible moment. This from Japan's rulers.—Amerasia. pectively.
150,000,00
been similarly made against a proposed future loa
TIMELY REMINDER
I rise to propose the first resolu- tion standing in my name that
I venture to think that the ̈above REVENUE SATISFACTORY
words, which should be a timely this Council approves the expendi ture within the current and next
réminder to all British subjects of Details of this expenditure are their duties, are at once a message financial years of $5,000,000 on the given in Appendix VI (b) and (c) and an appeal to the whole of the $120,000.00 construction in Hongkong of ves- of the printed estimates. But British Empire, of which this Co-
sely to be presented to the Ad- revenue figures continue to
be long, le a part 67,500.00 miralty and War Department as satisfactory and receipas so far part of the Colony's contribution this year have generally been in If to His Majesty's Government to excess of the estimates. Apart wards the prosecution of the war from the revenue the taxes pro- 10,000.00 with Germany,
posed under the War Revenue As already explained in connec- Ordinance the Colony is in a 14,271.87
tion with the War Revenue Ordin- financial position to make an 98,855,94 ance the various taxes thereunder immediate cash gift to His Ma-
are expected to bring in appro-jesty's Government $460,627.71 ximately $6,000,000 per annum This item is included in the $2,000,000 from Property Tax: $1,- application for a Supplementary. 000,000 from Balaries Tax and Vote which is to be made in The Y's Men's Club Ladies' $3,000,000 from Corporation and Finance Committee after this Night took place last evening at Business Fronts Taxes The meeting. The figure there given the St. Francis Hotel.
estimated revenue over a twenty- 1 $1,827,119 which is the equi
To write of Building Im-
provements And Carry Forward to next
account
They should make all rezi- dents in Hongkong feel that" the Colony should make this cash contribution, hot grudg- ingly, but freely and en- thusiastically, and in a spirit of - thankfulness that, in spite of the War, the Colony should be able to make such a gift "out of its surplus, and without diminishing such surplus to a point endangering the Colony's financial stability.
Continued en Esck Pars