The Daily Press.
HONGKONA, OCTOBER 7TH, 1 84.
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THERE seems good reason to believe the strikes, and the riots which have grown ou of them, are now practic ver, and that order has been restored. Of course it will be necessary, having regard to the large number of rowdy characters, strangers and refugees, who have been evicted from Foo- chow, Canton and other cities, now present in the Colony, to observe measures of pre- caution to prevent the possibility of any fresh rising. Bu, so far as the ordinary working population are concerned, it is cer- . tain they have had quite sufficient holiday to please them, and wish to earn seasoning for their rice for the future. The strikers have, we learn, made unconditional surrender, so far as the Government are con- cerned, but there is a rumour to the effect that the Tung Wah Hospital Committee re- paid the fines inflicted on the cargo boats The Governmeut and the community have equal cause for congratulation over the fact that order was restored, and the strikes ended, with the loss of only a single life. Force was displayed, but the Government held back their arm and forebore to strike. With a patience and a long-suffering that to excited persons--and most of us were some- . what excited-appeared like weakness; the Government, after the Police had sternly i suppressed the first outbreak, put on great restraint, and steadily declined to take any extraordinary measures to vindi- cate the majesty of British law. The mer- cantile community bave suffered considerable loss through the delay which this forbearance brought about, but it is over now, and as all's well that ends well, and a stronger policy was not tried, the Government have acune right to claim that their attitude was the most prudent, and the best adapted to save life. The experience gained by this unfortunate occurrence, however, is very valuable, and we shall expect it to bring forth some fruit in the future. Into this phase of the question, we do not now pro- pose to enter; we are more concerned, at the moment, with the rioters committed to prison and their punishment. Some of the men have, very properly, been deverely desit with, but there are others of the offenders on whose behalf youth and ignorance may be pleaded. Boys are usually to the fore in any disturbance, the spirit of mischief being rampant within them, but they do not comprehend the serious of the offence they are committing. and those now in custody for taking part in the riots will doubtless be dealt with leniently. It is stated, and we believe correctly, that some of the young rascals arrested during the disturbances are old in iniquity, and those budding criminals should be fittingly puoished, but there are others, we are told, who have bad no previous experience of the gaol, and for these boys we would bespeak: the merciful consideration of the Bench.
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It would be well if such offenders could be birched and sent straight home to their friends, as A term of imprisonment is calculated to subject them to contamina- ting influences, inflict a social stigma upon them, and cause a loss of self respect. We feel sure that this view of the case will recommend itself to the Authorities.
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REC.
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THE RIOTS AND STRYKELIO NOV 24 For the present the disturbanos among the Chinese seems to be pretty well at an end, for in no part of the town yesterday was there any. thing of an outbreak. Along the whole langth of the Praya there was an even busier spectacle than usual; cargo was being carried about in all directions, and the activity of the coolies and bestpeople looked as if they were trying to make up for the time lost in the strikes. Cargo boats" were alongside all the steamers, loading and un- loading cargo, and as far as we could hear, they had met with no material interference from the mob. No stone throwing was reported, but there were a few hostile shouts raised, and "ta" was passed about a bit. However, the roughs were afraid to proceed to any violent measures, for a hody of 100 men of the Buffs had besen marched down upon the Praya at about four o'clock, and the sight of their rifles and glittering bayonets was caleniat- ed to excite feelings of respect. The coal coolies and rice pounders were also at work again, and all along the business of the colony was proceeding merrily, and arrears were being worked off. Though the cargoboat people were unable to get any guarantee from the authorities that they would not be called upon to work for the French, it is said that they are determined not to do so, and any attempt to force tem may lead to mors · trouble.
The Nam Pak Hong drew up a notion! and posted it up all over the
town, ad- vising the people to refrain from lawless acts, and warning them that if they con- tiaued riotous proceedings the military would probably fire into them. This advice appear- ed to have great weight with the Chinese, who could be seen in clusters round the notices all the morning.
Though everything appeared quiet, and going slong in the usual way, the authorities wisely docided not to abandon all special precautions. The patrol of the military was discontinued dur- ing the day, and there was no body of police stationed at the junction of Gap-street and Queen's-road West, where there remained not the smallest sign of its recent disturbed state. No rowdies could be seen hanging about, and the Recreation Ground was almost deserted. The streets, however, were patrolled by pickets of police, and an extra number of men were on duty, while the Tung Wah Hospital was still utilised for quartering a body of soldiers inside, with whom various justices of the paace took it in turn to relieve the Police Magistrates, who have been gotting day and night work.
It was rather amusing to see the coolios carrying the provisions for the soldiers being escorted by a military guard. Where there were a number of coolies the absurdity of the situation was not so striking, bat yesterday, when things were quiet, to see a single coolie escorted in this way could not fail to excite a laugh. One man was acen with a bamboo across his shoulder, a basket on one end and a
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