Page 362
No. 132.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Document, being the substance of the Reply given to a Petition presented by certain of the Chinese Traders of this Colony, is published for general information.
By Order,
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 4th December, 1856.
His Excellency the Governor has received the Petition of the Le-Tae and other shops, several score in number, and in reference to their complaints, of which a list in seven sections is appended to the Petition, His Excellency desires Petitioners to be informed to the following effect.
1. It is prayed that no more heavy fines be levied for the committing of nuisances, and that those levied in the last few days be returned. The nuisance ordinance was passed for the prevention of fires, and to the preservation of health. It had especially in view the advantage of the Chinese population, and was accordingly published in Chinese. Its provisions having been much infringed both by Chinese and others, the Magistrates proceeded to enforce its penalties. Many persons not Chinese having been heavily fined, on the 20th, and following days, the Chinese were also heavily fined. This was in perfect accordance with the law, and with punishments legally inflicted; it is not the province of His Excellency to interfere. It having been represented to him, however, in a petition numerously and respectably signed, that the poverty of some of the offenders was such as to make the fine a more than ordinary burden, His Excellency has caused the Tipo's to be summoned, and having instituted enquiry, has directed that certain sums be refunded as an act of grace.
This matter is thus disposed of, nor can further complaints regarding it be entertained.
2. As to the seizure of vessels by Rebels in the harbour of Hongkong. This is an outrage of the gravest character. If unauthorized persons even board vessels lying in harbour, to the annoyance of their owners, &c., these should immediately give notice at the Police Office, or to Mr Caldwell, newly appointed Protector of Chinese, and the delinquents will immediately be seized and dealt with as pirates or robbers. His Excellency finds it difficult to believe what is asserted in the Petition, that applications made in the proper quarters have been unattended to. Should such in any instance be the case, the applicant has it still in his power to address the head of the Government.
3. As to the interference of the Police with goods landing from boats, hawkers' wares, &c., the Police have orders carefully to abstain from any act of personal violence, unless where the resistance of persons lawfully arrested renders it necessary. Any one assaulted by the Police, or whose goods are injured by the Police, has undoubted right to bring the offender before the magistrates. But Petitioners must remember, that the regulations affecting the removal of goods, and the non-obstruction of thoroughfares by hawkers, are all enforced in the interest of the public. Prompt attention should therefore be given to the requisitions of the Police; if it be not, it is their duty to arrest the offender, and it is equally the duty of all good citizens to give every assistance to the Police to enable them to carry out the law—a duty which it is notorious that the Chinese generally neglect; whereby the Police are harassed and culprits escape.
4. The proposition regarding the responsibility of streets, in cases where robbery is charged against shops or houses, appears reasonable, and petitioners will do well to submit their views and wishes on this point to Mr Caldwell, who, in addition to his duties as Protector of Chinese, has been also appointed Registrar General.
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No. 132.
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