:5
690
THE HONG KONG WEEKLY PRESS &
October 29, 1937
October 29, 1937
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
621
BUDGET DEBATE
TRIBUTE TO POLICE
Secondly the present conflict is very much a Colonial affair in so far as the peace and good order of the Colony are concerned.
I heartily echo the tributes al- ready paid to the fine work of the Hon. Inspector General of Police and his staff but it is no reflec- tion on those services if I say that no police force in the world could of itself ensure the existing happy internal state of the Colony. I think that many of us who saw the wonderful manifesta- tions of loyalty at the Silver Jubi- lee and the Coronation celebra- tions half wondered if that loyalty would stand the test in a real crisis.
We now have the answer; and I take this opportunity of thank- ing the Chinese representatives on the two Councils for all that they have done. I thank the Urban Council, the District Watch Com- mittee and the two Chambers of Commerce.
CHINESE MASSES
But above all I thank the solid and generally inarticulate mass of Chinese working men and women for their sound good sense and for their steadiness during this most distressful summer. I venture to think that if certain spectators in Europe and in the Far East could see this Colony with our Japanese friends going about their business quietly and unmolested they might agree that in this respect at least, Hong Kong "shines like a good deed in a naughty world."
UNOFFICIAL TRIBUTE
The Supply Bill was then read and passed.
The Hon. Sir Henry Pollock. Senior Unofficial Member, said.
As this will be the last time that you will be presiding over this Council for the time being. I de- sire, on behalf of all the Unofficial Members, to congratulate you upon the able manner in which you have conducted the duties of Officer Administering the Govern- ment.
When you took over from Sir Andrew Caldecott. in April last, nobody could possibly have fore- seen the many difficult problems which you have had to face dur- ing the past two months, in conse- quence of the unfortunate state of hostilities which has arisen in the Far East, and which. Inevitably. has seriously affected Hong Kong. NOVEL AND UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS
In dealing with those problems, and in handling numerous novel
COURT MARTIAL
Sappers Deny Charge Of Desertion
Admitting, in mitigation, their realisation of being absent without leave but stating that they had no intention to desert, Sapper A.S. Andrews, aged 22, and Sapper F. Bird, aged 21, pleaded not guilty to charges or desertion from His Service, and being Majesty's absent without leave on September 18 when they faced trial by Court Martial at Wellington Barracks,
The Court comprised Major B.L. de Robeck, M.C., (President), Capt. S.J. Ritchie, M.C., and Lieut. L.C. Beadnell.
Capt. G. Thomas conducted the
whilst prosecution,
Capt. M.W. Whitaker was Defending officer.
Sergeant-Major Robertson gave evidence of arrest. He stated that, on October 6, he boarded the Em- press of Asia and took defendants into custody,
MITIGATION PLEA
First defendant made the follow- Ing statement:"
"On Friday September 17 I left school in Hong Kong and went over to Kowloon about 7 p.m.
I
returned to barracks at 1,30 a.m. but did not report on my return as I had an appointment Saturday with
the engineer
on of
the President Jackson, and I was afraid that having already over- stayed my leave I may be de- tained in barracks as punishment The remainder of the night was spent at the Seamen's Institute.
"At 10 o'clock on Saturday mor- ning, I went over to Kowloon with Sapper Bird to keep the appoin- ment.
Stopping at the Y.M.C.A.
for a little while we went from there to David's Cafe where we met the engineer of the President Jackson, and had more drinks than was good for us. We then left the cafe, and went with the
situations,
you
and unexpected have at all times displayed calm- ness. combined with energy, and for the steadfast and conscientious way in which you have fulfilled your duties as Officer Administer- ing the Government during these critical times. the Colony is deep- ly indebted to you.
The Hon. Mr. T. N. Chan said:— Sir,
engineer of the President Jackson on board his ship and into his cabin.
"While we were talking, I told h'm we were absentees and would get into trouble when we returned to barracks. He
we suggested should go away on the ship with him. I refused as I had no inten- tion to desert.
NO INTENTION TO DESERT "Sapper Bird and I then left the ship at 4.30 p.m. bound for our own barracks, and when passing the Kitano Maru, which lay alongside the President Jackson, an elderly lady, whom I know owns a Japa- nese Cafe in Wanchai, beckoned us on board. She was travelling first class with a few other passengers.
"We stayed talking on deck for a time with her, till she left us to talk to friends, saying she would be back in a few minutes, and in a dazed condition, I sat down on a deck chair and fell asleep.
"I woke up when a steward came beating a gong; the ship was then in Lyeemun Pass.
"We reported to the steward. who took us to the purser's clerk. and told him we were soldiers, and asked if we could be taken back. He said the ship could not be turned back for two soldiers. I then suggested we might go back on the pilot boat which was still alongside. but the purser refused. We were then sent below among the re- fugees in the third class, and they fed us with bread and water for four days.
I realize I was absent without leave, but I had no intention to desert."
Second defendant gave a corro- borative story.
Sentence will be promulgated in due course.
As the Senior Chinese member.
I heartily endorse the remarks of the Hon. Senior Unofficial Mem. ber. The Colony is indeed under a deep debt of gratitude to Your Excellency for the able and states- manlike manner in which
you have handled every difficult and intricate problem that has arisen in recent months.
His Excellency having returned thanks, Council adjourned sine die.
/ PK.
Japanese "frightfulness" at the South Station, Shanghai, which was bombed on September 3.
"ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE”
How Oil Supplies Facilitate Massacres
Promiscuous and indiscriminate bombing by the Japanese of Chin- ese non-combatants in cities far removed from the
scenes of war
has aroused the righteous indigna- tion of the world. The League of Nations has condemned such ac- tion. Will the Powers, after hav- ing expressed their attitude on this matter, permit Japan to continue a ruthless policy involving the massacre of innocent Chinese?
own interests and having regard to the frightful manner in which the Japanese are using the oil supplied to them for the mass-massacre of defenceless Chinese civilians, that it is reasonable to make the plea that those Powers should at least curtail their oll export so Japan will not have an unlimited supply to carry out her programa.ne
of inhuman aerial warfare.
that
The Powers need not be involved in any war with Japan, because no country is under any obligation to supply Japan with oil. If the oil companies, of which there are only a few that control the bulk of the world's oil supply, care only for Immediate profits contemplated
and have no
The significant and inevitable consequences of supplying oil and other indispensable materials and products to Japan during the pre- with China, sent undeclared war does not imply the urging of eco- nomic sanctions
as
in the League of Nations Covenant. This is a war between China and Japan, and before all member na-
the tions realize fully
need
for collective action for collective se- curity, it cannot be expected that other Powers will apply such com→ paratively drastic measures, espe- cially as the United States, being not a member of the League may decline to co-operate to the fullest extent. However, it is reasonable belleve that the Powers and their oil companies, in view of their
to
consideration for the higher in- terests of their own countries as well as of humanity in general, world opinion should make them realize their responsibility to the human race. Unless materialism has eventually suppressed all sense of morality, then this appeal should not fall on deaf ears.
All
No definite governmental action in this matter need be taken. We expect is that the Powers con- cerned will not encourage or de- fend their oil companies in supply-
"WE WILL KILL
YOU" THREAT
Amazing Allegation
By Junk Master
The amazing allegation that Japanese warships in South China are now warning Chinese junk masters that unless they kept out of sight of Japanese warships they would be put to death, was made by a Hong Kong junk master on his arrival in the Colony on Oct. 21 after a fishing cruise.
"You Chinese are killing a lot of Japanese, if we see you again we will kill you," is what the Japanese are alleged to have told the junk master, Leung Hing Wai, who made a report of the matter to the local authorities.
Leung said he was fishing off Namnoi, near Bias Bay, when a warship came up and several sailors armed with choppers boarded the junk. The sailors used their chop- pers to good effect on the mainsail, rigging and running gear and then left after having appropriated two small cannon and a couple of old muskets and issuing the warning reterred to above.
CLOSE HOCKEY
MATCH
In a fast-moving game on the Murray Parade Ground yesterday evening, a hockey team from the St. Andrew's Ladies' Hockey Club beat a side from the Seaforth Highlanders Ladies by the only goal scored. There were a fair sprinkling of spectators present to watch an interesting match.
ing Japan with oil far in excess of her peace time needs. If public opinion in these countries does not check such supplies, or if the Gov- ernments of the Powers insist upon fighting for the "rights" of their oil companies to make additional profits at the cost of the lives of thousands of Chinese non-combat- ants, then these Powers are really helping Japan to massacre Inno- cent Chinese people.
Japan's manifestly unrighteous attitude towards China in particu- lar and the world in general should engender a spirit of friendliness toward China which can certainly be given a practical outlet in the way above suggested.
116