March 25th, 1922 )
CORRESPONDENCE.
VICTORY OF THE ANTI-MUI- TSAI AGITATION.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS.'']
VICEROY OF THE ANTI-MUITSAI AGITATION.
SIR,- your leader of to-day on the Muitsal question, doubt is expressed as to the possibility of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Muitsai and the Anti-muitsai Society co-operating to draw up a scheme for abolition of the system for submission to the Government.
On this point, allow me to make a few observations that are approved by my Executive Committee and will be wel- comed by you and all interested in this movement.
On the 11th inst., the writer had the pleasure of an interview with the Hon. Mr. E. R. Hallifax, at which Mr. Wong Kwong Tin, Hon. Secretary of the "Pro- tection" Society, was also present. As a result of this meeting in the office of the Secretary for Chinese affairs, the following letter, which is self-explana- tory, was despatched :-
"The Secretary for Chinese Affairs,
CC
<
Present.
Hongkong, 14th March, 1922.
SIR, I am directed to inform you that at a meeting of the Executive Com- meeting of the Executive Committee and the various Sub-Committees of this Society, held on the 13th inst., it was unanimously decided to give effect to your suggestion, made during my inter- view with you on the 11th inst., that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Muitsai and the Anti-Muitsai Society should each appoint a small Committee to meet and devise a scheme to effect abolition of the Muitsai System for submission to the Hongkong Govern- ment. Accordingly, a Committee of six members of our Society have been selected to confer with representatives of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Muitsai.
"I am also directed by my Executive Committee to say that our Society is always prepared to co-operate with any society or body with the avowed object of abolishing the Muitsai system in Hongkong and prepared to work forth- with for the attainment of this object. It is the conviction of my Executive Committee that the time is ripe for action to effect abolition, and it is their earnest hope that the Hongkong Gov- ernment is of the same mind. I remain, yours faithfully,
a
THE ANTI-MUITSAI SOCIETY,
(Sgd.) C. G. ANDERSON,
(Hon. English Secretary). I may also point point out that I was informed unofficially last night that Committee meeting of the "Protection Society was held yesterday afternoon, when six members were appointed to meet representatives of our Society, jointly to devise a scheme to effect abolition. That they will succeed in evolving a satis- factory scheme must be the general wish of the local communities, particularly the British and the Chinese. Yours faith-
C. G. ANDERSON." Hongkong, 3rd March, 1922.
fully,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
CHINESE & THE KOWLOON
CANTON RAILWAY.
[TO THE EDITOR OF
THE HONGKONG
DAILY PRESS."]
SIR,In reading your paper of recent date in regard to a dispute before the Hongkong Magistracy between Dr. Wong Sik-to of Canton and Mr. G. A. Walker, Traffic Super- intendent of the Kowloon-Canton Railway British Section, I would like to say that similar treatment happened to me on several trips from Kowloon to Canton. I will tell the reader a few incidents which taught me some good lessons.
Two
'On one occasion I was travelling with several friends from Kowloon to Canton by the afternoon express train. We were sit- ting in the smoking compartment-the big cabin at the end of the car. minutes later a Chinese co ductor came in and told us to leave the compartment, and he informed us that he was acting under instructions from the Management, not to allow any Chinese passengers to occupy that compartment, which was reserved for
!
Europeans only." We told him that we did not see any sign to that efect in the set foot on it, even had we been invited. It cabin; otherwise we would certainly not have is probable that in this instance either the conductor forgot to lock the door of the smoking compartment, or else the officials neglected posting up the sign, as they do now.
I have always noticed that a sign is posted at Again, referring to the same compartment, the door "Reserved for Europeans Only". I should say that all Chinese reading English hate to see such a sign. I have also witness ed, time after time, that most of the first- class compartments were often overcrowded, but still no Chinese were allowed to enter the smoking compartment. The railway servants do not realize the discomfort of the Chinese passengers until the train reaches very near Canton, when the compartment is thrown open. I am perfectly sure that no particular Europeans reserved it. All of us Chinese know that it is the usual anti-Chinese prac- tice, instituted by the Railway Authorities to reserve that compartment for the comfort of Europeans, even though Chinese and Euro- peaus pay equal fares, and the Railway is half Chinese and half British. European passengers pay additional fares for that extra compartment, I can see no reason why this practice should be instituted.
Unless
I have also to narrate an insult, or rather great inconvenience, made to a friend of mine at the Kowloon Station, through one of the regulations of the Railway, enforced by its servants. Mr. Yao Boo Ying, former Manag ing Director of the Canton Samshui Railway, and myself were waiting for for a friend from Canton at the Kowloon Station. Mr. Yao went to the first class lavatory, but the coolie in charge refused to admit him. The coolic advised, of course, that he was acting under instructions from the Management not to allow Chinese passengers to make use fo the lavatory unless a first class ticket was produced. As my friend and myself were merely waiting for the arrival of an- produce any firs class ticket, and Mr. Yao other friend from Canton, we could not was therefore forbidden to enter the lavatory. It seems to me that the above cases are absolutely a question of race distinction, pure and simple.
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Britishers and Chinese cannot afford to be enemies, and it would be a wrong policy beyond words to create race hatred by pour- ing gasoline into the hot fire. In order to promote better mutual business intercourse and friendly relations, British-Chinese co- operation is badly needed in the Orient to-day.
For the benefit of the Railway and the Chinese travelling public, I hope that Mr. Winslow, the Manager of the Kowloon- Canton Railway, British Section, will take this matter into serious consideration and endeavour to eliminate the anti-Chinese practise of his subordinates, which most of our foreign friends try to do in our country of China.
Thanking you for your kind insertion in your paper.-Yours, etc,
R. CHAN JOHNSON. TUNGSHAN, CANTON, March 17th, 1 22.
AN OUT-OF-DATE THEORY.
"
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG
ILY PRESS."]
SIR-In connection with your article. "Brightening Kowloon," and the frequent in this morning's paper regarding references in our local papers from time to time about Flat No-ses, including the bagpipe nuisance, I was much interested to notice in a newspaper just received
has at last been upset by a ruling in the from Home that the so called theory that an Englishman's home is his castle" Police Courts. Perhaps a local test case would be the means of damping some of the superfluous energy so prevalent nowadays.
I enclose the cutting, as perhaps the news will be of interest to many people who have to suffer through neighbourly energy. Yours faithfully,
BARABER.
Kowloon, March 20th, 1922.
[The paragraph our correspondent encloses is a report of a police court case in which a man and his wife were summoned for "in using indecent language. They were their own house swearing at each other." One of the magistrates on the Bench in- quired: "Isn't an Englishman's house bis own castle? " The Deputy Clerk replied:
'Not to-day, sir. Defendants are liable if the door is open, and the language is beard in a public street or place." Fines were imposed.]
JAPANESE CO-RESPONDENT IN BRITISH DIVORCE CASE.
A letter from an alleged Japanese lover who styled himself "Green Tea" was cited in the Divorce Court, on February 14th, when John Leonard Hutchison, an accountant, petitioned for a divorce against his wife owing to her misconduct Professor of Agriculture at the Imperial with Yoshimaro Tanaka, said to be a University of Tokyo. The charges were denied. For the husband it was said letters were sent by Tanaka to "Mrs. Pink," and addressed to Balham post office. One read: "My dear Mimosa,~.
My heart is full of thought of you. pleased to find an oasis in the desert of this smoky town, and a white blossom in the green oasis. At the same time I am pleased to find the white flower married.
I am
The writer is a railway engineer by pro- fession and has been connected with various Chinese railways for nearly twenty years. He has travelled extensively both in Europe and America in the interests of Railway Management, and has always considered that English railway management is most efficient and adequate, as far as comfort and servico to passengers are concerned. He under the mischievous birds.- Green Tea.'" stands thoroughly that English Railway Ordinances have no s ecial segregation of people of different races. If the railway authorities do segregate people of different nationalities, they abuse their power, which is unlawful.
What use to us of young ladies,
Mrs. Edith May Hutchison declared that she thought Tanaka English and that no- thing improper occurred. The letters were all nonsense."--Mr. Hutchison was granted a decree nisi and £350 damages.
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