HKG-CAR1887-1903 — Page 55

Administrative Reports 行政報告書 All AI Reviewed

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

PAPERS RELATING TO

a long process of natural selection, become inured and insensible to the conditions inseparable from extreme density of population, they are rendered ill and miserable by the effects of habits which such insensibility produces. Thus, little by little, and at a gradually increasing rate, the Europeans were being, so to speak, pushed out of the town of Victoria; and it seemed probable that before long there would be no suitable area for their residence there, and that such as remained in the Colony would have to choose between the alternative of living under most disagreeable and unhealthy conditions, or of incurring the heavy expense, possible only to the comparatively wealthy, of residence in the Hill District.

24. Had the above state of things been allowed to continue there can be no doubt that it would have brought about a diminution, if not actual at least relative, of the already small European population, a result which could not be otherwise than prejudicial to the Chinese themselves. For, though possessed of many valuable characteristics, the latter are still, and are likely to be for a long time to come, lacking in some of the qualities which are essential to true progress; and I can scarcely think there is any opening for rational doubt, that without the presence of a considerable complement of Europeans (apart from those engaged in Government) this Colony could no more maintain, that it could ever have reached, its present condition of prosperity.

25. By the Ordinance in question a certain portion of the town is reserved, not for exclusively European occupation, but for houses built according to European models, and occupied in much more limited numbers than is usual with Chinese. If Chinese choose to live under these conditions, as I am informed they commonly do in the neighbouring Penang, there is nothing in the Ordinance to prevent their doing so; and the provisions of this law are simply directed to secure for Europeans a prescribed portion of the town in which they can live in reasonable comfort.

26. No opposition was offered to the Ordinance on the part of the Chinese, possibly because they themselves prefer to be segregated from Europeans; and there was none from any other quarter, though I had looked for at least some on the part of land-owners, who might naturally be expected to resent such a limitation on the right of property. To their credit, however, they, tacitly or expressly, assented to a measure which may thus be regarded as universally recognised to be necessary.

27. (V.) "An Ordinance to authorise in certain cases judicial investigations into the cause of fires" sufficiently explains itself. The effect of this measure has so far apparently been beyond anticipation, as the number of fires, which had become very serious, very largely diminished immediately after the law came into force. It remains to be seen whether this comparatively happy state of things will continue. If so, I apprehend that the result will be largely due to greater care in the selection of insurance risks and decreased recklessness of competition among insurers.

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48 10 Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941 PAPERS RELATING TO a long process of natural selection, become inured and insensible to the conditions inseparable from extreme density of population, they are rendered ill and miserable by the effects of habits which such insensibility produces. Thus, little by little, and at a gradually increasing rate, the Europeans were being, so to speak, pushed out of the town of Victoria; and it seemed probable that before long there would be no suitable area for their residence there, and that such as remained in the Colony would have to choose between the alternative of living under most disagreeable and unhealthy conditions, or of incurring the heavy expense, possible only to the comparatively wealthy, of residence in the Hill District. 24. Had the above state of things been allowed to continue there can be no doubt that it would have brought about a diminution, if not actual at least relative, of the already small European population, a result which could not be otherwise than prejudicial to the Chinese themselves. For, though possessed of many valuable characteristics, the latter are still, and are likely to be for a long time to come, lacking in some of the qualities which are essential to true progress; and I can scarcely think there is any opening for rational doubt, that without the presence of a considerable complement of Europeans (apart from those engaged in Government) this Colony could no more maintain, that it could ever have reached, its present condition of prosperity. 25. By the Ordinance in question a certain portion of the town is reserved, not for exclusively European occupation, but for houses built according to European models, and occupied in much more limited numbers than is usual with Chinese. If Chinese choose to live under these conditions, as I am informed they commonly do in the neighbouring Penang, there is nothing in the Ordinance to prevent their doing so; and the provisions of this law are simply directed to secure for Europeans a prescribed portion of the town in which they can live in reasonable comfort. 26. No opposition was offered to the Ordinance on the part of the Chinese, possibly because they themselves prefer to be segregated from Europeans; and there was none from any other quarter, though I had looked for at least some on the part of land-owners, who might naturally be expected to resent such a limitation on the right of property. To their credit, however, they, tacitly or expressly, assented to a measure which may thus be regarded as universally recognised to be necessary. 27. (V.) "An Ordinance to authorise in certain cases judicial investigations into the cause of fires" sufficiently explains itself. The effect of this measure has so far apparently been beyond anticipation, as the number of fires, which had become very serious, very largely diminished immediately after the law came into force. It remains to be seen whether this comparatively happy state of things will continue. If so, I apprehend that the result will be largely due to greater care in the selection of insurance risks and decreased recklessness of competition among insurers. Page 55 Page 56

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48 10 Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941 PAPERS RELATING TO a long process of natural selection, become inured and insensible to the conditions inseparable from extreme density of population, they are rendered ill and miserable by the effects of habits which such insensibility produces. Thus, little by little, and at a gradually increasing rate, the Europeans were being, so to speak, pushed out of the town of Victoria; and it seemed probable that before long there would be no suitable area for their residence there, and that such as remained in the Colony would have to choose between the alternative of living under most disagreeable and unhealthy con- ditions, or of incurring the heavy expense, possible only to the comparatively wealthy, of residence in the Hill District. 24. Had the above state of things been allowed to continue there can be no doubt that it would have brought about a diminu- tion, if not actual at least relative, of the already small European population, a result which could not be otherwise than prejudicial to the Chinese themselves. For, though possessed of many valuable characteristics, the latter are still, and are likely to be for a long time to come, lacking in some of the qualities which are essential to true progress; and I can scarcely think there is any opening for rational doubt, that without the presence of a considerable complement of Europeans (apart from those engaged in Govern- ment) this Colony could no inore maintain, that it could ever have reached, its present condition of prosperity. 25. By the Ordinance in question a certain portion of the town is reserved, not for exclusively European occupation, but for houses built according to European models, and occupied in much more limited numbers than is usual with Chinese, If Chinese choose to live under these conditions, as I am informed they commonly do in the neighbouring Penang, there is nothing in the Ordinance to prevent their doing so; and the provisions of this law are simply directed to secure for Europeans a prescribed portion of the town in which they can live in reasonable comfort, 26. No opposition was offered to the Ordinance on the part of the Chinese, possibly because they themselves prefer to be segregated from Europeans; and there was none from any other quarter, though I had looked for at least some on the part of land- owners, who might naturally be expected to resent such a limita- tion on the right of property. To their credit, however, they, tacitly or expressly, assented to a measure which may thus be regarded as universally recognised to be necessary. 27. (V.) "An Ordinance to authorise in certain cases judicial investigations into the cause of fires "sufficiently explains itself. The effect of this measure has so far apparently been beyond anticipation, as the number of fires, which had become very serious, very largely diminished immediately after the law came into force. It remains to be seen whether this comparatively happy state of things will continue. If so, I apprehend that the result will be largely due to greater care in the selection of insurance risks and decreased recklessness of competition among insurers. Page 55Page 56

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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

PAPERS RELATING TO

a long process of natural selection, become inured and insensible to the conditions inseparable from extreme density of population, they are rendered ill and miserable by the effects of habits which such insensibility produces. Thus, little by little, and at a gradually increasing rate, the Europeans were being, so to speak, pushed out of the town of Victoria; and it seemed probable that before long there would be no suitable area for their residence there, and that such as remained in the Colony would have to choose between the alternative of living under most disagreeable and unhealthy con- ditions, or of incurring the heavy expense, possible only to the comparatively wealthy, of residence in the Hill District.

24. Had the above state of things been allowed to continue there can be no doubt that it would have brought about a diminu- tion, if not actual at least relative, of the already small European population, a result which could not be otherwise than prejudicial to the Chinese themselves. For, though possessed of many valuable characteristics, the latter are still, and are likely to be for a long time to come, lacking in some of the qualities which are essential to true progress; and I can scarcely think there is any opening for rational doubt, that without the presence of a considerable complement of Europeans (apart from those engaged in Govern- ment) this Colony could no inore maintain, that it could ever have reached, its present condition of prosperity.

25. By the Ordinance in question a certain portion of the town is reserved, not for exclusively European occupation, but for houses built according to European models, and occupied in much more limited numbers than is usual with Chinese, If Chinese choose to live under these conditions, as I am informed they commonly do in the neighbouring Penang, there is nothing in the Ordinance to prevent their doing so; and the provisions of this law are simply directed to secure for Europeans a prescribed portion of the town in which they can live in reasonable comfort,

26. No opposition was offered to the Ordinance on the part of the Chinese, possibly because they themselves prefer to be segregated from Europeans; and there was none from any other quarter, though I had looked for at least some on the part of land- owners, who might naturally be expected to resent such a limita- tion on the right of property. To their credit, however, they, tacitly or expressly, assented to a measure which may thus be regarded as universally recognised to be necessary.

27. (V.) "An Ordinance to authorise in certain cases judicial investigations into the cause of fires "sufficiently explains itself. The effect of this measure has so far apparently been beyond anticipation, as the number of fires, which had become very serious, very largely diminished immediately after the law came into force. It remains to be seen whether this comparatively happy state of things will continue. If so, I apprehend that the result will be largely due to greater care in the selection of insurance risks and decreased recklessness of competition among insurers.

HKG-CAR1887-1903 — Page 55

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