393
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( 18 )
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they thought. I suppose, the reasona were has come all that has been altered. There suficient, but at the same time unanimously they has been what may be termed have requested the Government to be so good as regular rush of non-Chinese up to the Peak until to alter somewhat the phraseology of the Bill. at the present day, as it is well known, the sites In Committee I hope I will be able to lay before which are available for fresh houses to be built the Conncil some suggestions as to the altera at the Peak, especially in view of the land which tion of the Bill which, if found by the has very properly been reserved, is very limited Council not objectionable and quite as effective indeed. Therefore I think the hon. and learned in carrying out the principle of Bill, I hope Attorney-General night have spoken even more every member of this Connoil will consent to un- strongly than he did, for not merely is it less he can point out a good reason for coming undesirable that there should be any rush up to to any other conclusion for the sake of unanimity the Prak, but one may see that in the course and for the satisfaction of those Chinese who of a few years' time it would be a very difficult have so far granted this concession. There was thing indeed for Europeans at the Peak to minority in these meetings who are obtain any fresh sites. As I have said, there quite uncompromising, who are dead against has been regular rush of Europeans up to the the principle of this Bill, and on no account Peak. What is the case with regard to the would support a Bill of this kind; but, as Chinese? Although the tram was opened the majority have expressed their willingness some 16 years ago we find now that not a to fall in with the principle of the Bill single Chinaman except the class of domestic hould certain terms of the Bill be altered, servants, etc.. exempted under this Bill, is I think my colleague and myself will living at the Peak. That is a very good be justified in offering no opposition to this proof indeed that the Chinese gentlemen have Bill In Committee I hope a fair hearing shall never felt during the last 16 years any desire to be accorded me, and if what I propose as an live up at the Peak. Therefore, Sir, I think it amendment meet with the approval of the is quite clear that there will be no hardship at Council I hope that a change in the phraseology all in enacting such a measure as this, and I will be conceded. With these few remarks I think it is absolutely imperative in the intereste do not offer any opposition.
of those who suffer from the hot climate Hon. WEI YUK-Sir, I beg to say I quite that they should have this sanatorium to agree with what my senior colleague has been Fro to. and therefore I have very much aging, and I beg to support what he has said plessure in supporting this Bill,
His EXCELLENCY.-Gentlemen, I have lis- already in his speech,
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Your Excellency, Ilare tened to the speech of the hon, senior member for
whom life in the tropics presents the disadran- will, no doubt, say that the best place to choose is tage of an nuvatural environment." Of course, it the place we have chosen that is the is known to everyone that all persons of European Peak District The Government has therefore birth and extraction are liable to suffer and do: decided to ask the Connoil to pass this Bill. suffer more or less when they are obliged to live It is obvious to any one who reads the Bill that continuously under conditions of temperature, it does not restrict Chinese from building on the and environment which are to them unnatura! Peak. It will be observed that clause 5 enables -conditions of life such as are to be found in the Governor in Council to exempt any Chines
The all tropical countries, and which are at all times from the operation of the ordinance. trying to those who are forced to live in the object is not to prevent Chinese as such from But that living on the Peak, but to preserve a place that lower levels of tropical places.
I move that this Bill inconvenience and that danger which exists cannot be overcrowded. everywhere accentuated in this island be now read a second time.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. of Hongkong by the necessity. arising
The Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-Sir, the Bill, the which compels restricted from . the dense population to live together closely second reading of which has been just moved. decided suvour of the nature of crowded. Itisnnavoidable asfar as I can see that has the lower levels should be under this unenviable class legislation, and especially against the necessity, which is due to the fact of the restrict Chinese, and, as such, it should be my el area in which thousands have to live where there duty to oppose it in as strong a manner as is only room for hundreds. Now this fact is due possible; but, at the same time. Sir. I have had to this other fact that the continued influx of the reasons carefully explainel to me for the Chinese into Hongkong is enormous, attracted necessity of racha Bill. I have considered here as they are by the fact that they possess, these reasons very carefully and I must say. I am quite convinced of the
und expediancy security to life and property to a greater extent personally.
of anch than can be obtained elsewhere in this part of the reasonableness
The reason put forward was the East. Well, Sir, we welcome the Chinese who like a measure. to come here, and we put no limit upon their num-limited space for the accommodation of Euro- peans at the Peak, and that it was necessary for bers. Consequently it is not possible to reserve within the limits below the line which is ordin- the health of Europeans to live at a height of. arily known as the 700 feet contour say area some hundreds of feet from the level of the wes within which the conditions of healthy life can not only for their own health, but that of their be found as a rule. We want se many people wives and families especially the children, live and trade and Having considered that carefully, I for соше here and promote the prosperity of themselves and myself certainly think a concession from the very much pleasure now in supporting this Bill the Chinese with a great deal of interest, and We, at Chinesa would not only be graceful but justifi and perhaps as I was one of the gentlemen who it affords me a great deal of gratifica
were approached in connection with the draft- tion to find that both he and his colleague are the country as choose to come. the same time, wish and everyone. I think, in able, and I as a member of the Chinese com this honourable council, or outside of it, wishes munity, and I believe my colleague also, agreed of the petition from owners of property at able to support this Bill. When I received the to preserve as ares capable of being inhabited to offer no opposition to this Bill; honor Bills to the petition upon which the present petition asking for this legislation I recognised without that close crowding which in all countries; glad to consent to a measure by which we know Bill is founded, I may state, Sir. that there was that it was a somewhat delicate subject. that is detrimental. bat especially so in a tropical the health and happiness of a large section of no intention at all on the part of the movers in legislation of this kind might perhaps ber country, as this one is. This crowding in goes the European community will be promoted his of introducing anything in the way of class the appearance of what has been
continue to go the section upon which the prosperity and weil erislation against the Chinese. The grounds class legislation. But knowing the Chinese of the people being of this Colony so much depends, and by pon which we moved were simply and solely the community well. having had many yeare We recognised, experience of them, I relied upon their sound people. yielding them the principle of this Bill wean suestion of the public health. Kred the upper levels really promoting not only their welfare by the hon. and learned Attorney-General his practical common-sense when I anthorised the therefore the Government in casting about for the welfare of the whole of this Colony pointed out, that it was imperative in this Col- introduction of this legislation. I felt cone Bob propoas to offer any under the tropical and somewhat unnatural vinced that when the matter was thoroughly an area that is sintable for reservation have So far then, we
Bill, but I conditions under which we live here, that explained to them they world, as the majority the Chinese, the here should be some reservation on the of them determined on a locality which has never hitherto any opposition to this
do. appear to here representing
recognise that We propose | am been occupied by Chinese.
I think, Sir, that those members of, a whole that the European section of it Peak District which shall be free from to say to this Bil. In order to ascertain their families.
where they the speculative builder, because as the pressure views those of the leading members only his Council who have been here like myself should enjoy a healthy area
their families can goes on from year to year it may come to pass manifestly it is impossible for us or for the during the past 16 or 17 years will realise how and their wives earth that houses that have not so far axisted there-Government even to ascertain the views of the huch the Peak has been developed since the reside. I need not dwell upon the point, but I I think it is ramway went up there. You, sir, will no doubt may be allowed to remark that all of us here are There are no idle drones in this may in future find their way to the Peak. It may Chinese in general, nor be that the speculator instead of going imperative or necessary to do so- rimer that before the Peak Tramway was workers. over to Kowloon side would go up to the of meetings of the leading Chinese peud which was as long ago as May. 1888 Colony, and a man will work better, for himself be created held to consider the Bill, and to sa here were only a very few houses up at the Peak, first no doubt, but after all in the interests of the Peak. and conditions would that would and introduce the conditions that up, shortly, the result of it I wish to sta apart from the few at Magazine Gap which | Colony in the long run. when he himself and, are so undesirable, and which now exist below. that the majority have. after three meetings were lived in all the year round. those few who if married his wife and family, are in good It also enables Europeans position that it is desirable, if possible, that an that they would not oppose this Bill canserer lived there except in the summer. but to keep their families in the Colony instead Therefore, I say that those why support the pro-instructed us, or let us know by resolution red on what we may call the Peak proper health. area such as I have referred to should be reserved they had had the reasons explained to them se jame down in the winter. Since the tram of undergoing the expense and the anxiety of a
to
on. who bave
every day. and will
The vast majority
hereof Chinese
come nover
on
do
called
by this Bill to reserve an area within the Chinese community, of course, have something higher lavets for Europeans and their wives and it is in the interests of this Colony 25
do
i