1887-1903
COLONIAL REPORTS.-
-ANNUAL.
5
prompt and determined opposition, so their operation was postponed until a date to be subsequently named, and the matter was allowed temporarily to stand over.
In view, however, of the terrible experience of the effects of the plague in 1894, aggravated as they undoubtedly were by over-crowding in the common lodging-houses, the Sanitary Board passed a further resolution to the effect that the byelaws previously made by them should come into force on and after the 1st January 1895, which resolution was unanimously approved by the Legislative Council on the 16th December 1894, and the byelaws accordingly came into force on the 1st January 1895.
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As I have already stated, it was anticipated that there would be difficulty in inducing the keepers of the lodging-houses to comply with the provisions of the byelaws. A Chinaman abhors the slightest departure from old custom, and in every fresh measure of the Government which concerns his daily life is prone to see an attempt at ultimate, if not immediate, "squeeze or taxation." Every possible attempt was made by the Registrar General, both by oral communication and the distribution of thousands of pamphlets, to remove any apprehensions of this nature, and to assure them that the measure was not—as they at first affected to believe—a preliminary step by the Government to the imposition of a poll-tax, but that it was, on the contrary, designed with a view to their health and comfort. Beyond this alleged fear of the ultimate imposition of a poll-tax, there was not the slightest hint of any grievance on the part of the coolies. Explanations and assurances were continued for nearly three months, but as the coolies still maintained their obstructive attitude, it became evidently necessary to enforce the law without further parley. Summonses were accordingly issued against the recalcitrant keepers of common lodging-houses. But here a fresh difficulty arose, as it was found that they had decamped from the Colony.
This was met by the introduction of an Ordinance defining anew the term common lodging-houses and imposing the responsibility of registering, in the absence of the keepers of such houses, upon the "householder" as defined in the Public Health Ordinance, i.e., the actual tenant or occupier, or where there is no such person the immediate landlord of a building.
In consequence of the measures taken to enforce the byelaws, a strike of the coolies employed in working coal and cargo began on the 23rd March, and on the arrival of the daily steamer from Macao on that day a number of coolies on strike endeavoured to interfere with and coerce the coolies engaged in carrying goods and baggage to the shore. The attempt was promptly defeated by the police, and two of the ringleaders were arrested and sentenced to six weeks' hard labour. The Chinese being generally of a peaceable and law-abiding disposition, there was never any serious apprehension of any outbreak of violence; nevertheless, every precaution was taken to enable the Government to nip any turbulent manifestation in the bud; the Police Force was strengthened, and the streets and harbour were constantly patrolled by armed pickets.
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