I 6
Watchmen Committee interviewed both sides with the satisfactory result that the strike was over by 4 p.m. Five Chinese were arrested for disorderly conduct in the Western District and charged before the Magistrate. Five were also arrested in the Eastern District but were released on the termination of the Strike.
BOYCOTT RIOTS.
28. On Sunday the 1st November and the following day there was serious rioting in the Western and Central Districts of the city. The movement, carefully and secretly organized by a few emissaries from Canton, was in connection with the boycott of Japanese goods, and was directed against the Chinese dealers who had re-commenced dealing in such goods in defiance of the boycotters. The idea seems to have been to destroy all Japanese goods offered for sale by Chinese traders. The dealers themselves were not personally molested nor were any Japanese traders or their shops attacked.
On Sunday a number of men broke into two Chinese dealers' shops in Ko Shing Street and proceeded to remove the contents, which consisted of Japanese "marine delicacies". The Police turned out and arrested 31 men and recovered a large part of the property. A similar establishment in Kwai Wa Lane was subsequently broken into and looted, while a mob in the Western District entered about a dozen "ring saloons" and smashed up the contents, which consisted of small Japanese articles of trifling value kept for "prizes" in connection with the "ring games" played there. Other shops were attacked but the Police succeeded in protecting them and made a number of arrests, and order was eventually restored.
The rioting was resumed next morning. The crowd managed to scatter the contents of a "ring saloon" in the Central District, and a number of shops containing valuable Japanese goods were threatened. These were successfully saved from the mob's attacks by Police pickets, but not without great difficulty and some danger, as stones and other missiles were thrown at the Police by the crowd, wounding a number of them but fortunately not very seriously. The attitude of the mob became gradually worse and about mid-day was so threatening that it was necessary to invoke the assistance of the Military Authorities.
Several companies of infantry were accordingly ordered to parade the streets. They arrived on the scene very promptly but meanwhile a Police picket had become so hard pressed by the mob that they were obliged to fire a few shots in the air. A naval petty officer who came to the assistance of the Police took up the carbine of an Indian Constable and also fired. Unfortunately, one shot inflicted injuries on a youth, which proved fatal. This had the effect of cowing the mob and when the soldiers arrived, matters had quieted down considerably, and no further trouble ensued. Altogether 120 persons were arrested and a few were discharged and the remainder sentenced to punishments varying from 6 months hard labour to a small fine. There has been no recrudescence of the trouble.
The following remarks of His Excellency the Governor are included in this report by his order:-
The conduct of the Police in the suppression of the Riot of November 1st and 2nd deserves the highest commendation. All ranks behaved not only with pluck and courage, but (what is if possible of even greater credit in such circumstances) with conspicuous self-restraint under extreme provocation. I request you to inform all ranks of my hearty appreciation, and to quote these words in your Annual Report.
HEALTH.
29. Admissions to Hospital during the last three years were as follows:-
Nationality 1906 1907 1908 Strength Admission Strength Admission Strength Admission Europe 133 98 135 132 135 97 Indian 410 375 410 421 410 394 Chinese 504 224 503 187 501 136I 6
Watchmen Committee interviewed both sides with the satisfactory result that the strike was over by 4 p.m. Five Chinese were arrested for disorderly conduct in the Western District and charged before the Magistrate. Five were also arrested in the Eastern District but were released on the termination of the Strike.
BOYCOTT RIOTS.
28. On Sunday the 1st November and the following day there was serious rioting in the Western and Central Districts of the city. The movement, carefully and secretly organized by a few emissaries from Canton, was in connection with the boycott of Japanese goods, and was directed against the Chinese dealers who had re-commenced dealing in such goods in defiance of the boycotters. The idea seems to have been to destroy all Japanese goods offerel for sale by Chinese traders. The dealers themselves were not personally molested nor were any Japanese traders or their shops attacked.
On Sunday a number of meu broke into two Chinese dealers shops in Ko Shing Street and proceeded to remove the contents, which consisted of Japanese "marine delicacies". The Police turned out and arrested 31 men and recovered a large part of the property. A similar establishment in Kwai Wa lane was subsequently broken into and looted, while a mob in the Western District entered about a dozen "ring saloons" and smashed up the contents, which consisted of small Japanese articles of trifling value kept for "prizes" in connection with the "ring games" played there. Other shops were attacked but the Police succeeded in protecting them and made a number of arrests, and order was eventually restored. The rioting was resumed next morning. The crowd managed to scatter the contents of a "ring saloon" in the Central District, and a number of shops containing valuable Japanese goods were threatened. These were successfully saved from the mob's attacks by Police pickets, but not without great difficulty and some danger, as stones and and other missiles were thrown at the Police by the crowd, wounding a number of them but fortunately not very seriously. The attitude of the mob became gradually worse and about mid-day was so threatening that it was necessary to invoke the assistance of the Military Authorities.
Several companies of infantry were accordingly ordered to parade the streets. They arrived on the scene very promptly bat meanwhile a l'olice picket had become so hard pressed by the mob that they were obliged to fire a few shots in the air. A naval petty officer who came to the assistance of the Police took up the carbine of an Indian Constable and also fired. Unfortunately one shot inflicted injuries on a youth, which proved fatal. This had the effect of cowing the mob and when the soldiers arrived matters had quieted down con- silerably, and no further trouble ensued. Altogether 120 persons were arrested and A few were discharged and the remainder sentenced to punishments varying: prosecuted. from 6 months hard labour to a small fine. There has been no recrudescence of the trouble.
The following remarks of His Excellency the Governor are included in this report by his order :-
The conduct of the Police in the suppression of the Riot of November 1st and 2nd deserves the highest commendation. All ranks behaved not only with pluck and courage, but (what is if possible of even greater erit in such circumstances) with conspicuous self restraint under extreine provocation. I request you to inform all ranks of my hearty appreciation, and to quote these words in your Annual Report."
HEALTH.
29. Admissions to Hospital during the last three years were as follows :-
1906.
1907.
1908.
Nationality.
Strength.
Admission. Strength. Admission.
Strength. Admission.
Europe
133
98
135
132
135
97
Indiana,
410
375
410
421
410
394
Chinese,
504
224
503
187
501
136
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.