653
suale adults resident in the Colony according to the Census
is 795, and of these only 284 sign ed the petition. Paragraph 3.
Freedom of speech has never been prohibited, except when it transgresses the limits of parliamentary language. Paragraph 5.
The comparison between Malta and Hongkong is inadmis
sible. The Maltese are
represent- ed by their own countrymen. If Mr. Whitehead wishes to as- similate the Government of ~ Hongkong to that of Malta, the Chinese should similarly be re presented by their own
country
Juen.
The Chinese merchants have an innate respect for Official. "dom "_" they would have no re-
spect
མིག གཏོ་དག%,/A%b233+42*•
B
spect whatever for a Government in which Britishers of their own calling had a large share. Paragraph 6.
"Only persons of British "nationality should be cleators!" The Keyrate of Mr. Whitehead's ap.: peal is that there should be no taxation without adequate repre_ sentation_ of the tax levied on the rateable value of house pro- perty in Hongkong, which yields
annually come $470,000,
Chinese comm
munity
the contribute
nearly $306,000 directly, and in- directly a considerable addition to that sum in the form of rent paid by them as tenants to Eu-_ ropean householders - Mr. Whitehead would therefore deny the privilege of representation to the
very who according
to his own argu- ment are pre-eminently entitled
class
to