1932-05-11 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1932.

Surprising Election Result

Overwhelming Majority For Dr. Li Shu-fan

NUMBER OF VOTERS BELOW EXPECTATIONS.

THE CHINA MAIL.

Correspondence. Hong Kong Admired By

THE WATER SHORTAGE.

[The Editor, "China Mail"] - Sir, As a ratepayer and a resident of some 15 years residence in the Colony, I was glad to read in your valuable paper the views of [two competent medical men, Dr.

Baleau and Dr. Pope, that there is a "disgraceful wastage" of water in Hong Kong. But I cannot help thinking that the shortage of the water supply, which causes the populace considerable qualmus every is even more of a {"disgrace."

MANY NOT QUALIFIED TO VOTE few years,

It seems incredible to think that

of the Publle Works Department, with its dozens of qualified engineers, has:

devise some

Dr. Li Shu-fan was returned as a member the Sanitary Board, last evening, by the over-been unable in all these years to whelming majority of 775 votes.

The result of the poll, as announced E. P. H. Lang, acting Registrar of the Supreme Court, at 6.20 p.m., was as follows:-

Dr. Li Shu-fan

Mr. F. C. Mow Fung

Majority

It fell to two medical men to be the first and the last to vote at yesterday's election. Whereas Dr. E. W. Kirk was the first to register a vote at the polling office at exact ly 10.30 yesterday morning. Dr. S. To Wong was the last to vote at 5.29 p.m.

A European voter arriv ed a minute after, just after the door of the polling office had been closed.

No Rush of Voters, Throughout the day yesterday as to there was never any doubt who would be the successful can- didate as the trend of the voting was apparent to any observer stand ing in the corridor outside the polling office, and as it turned out, the general opinion which was ex- pressed that Dr. Li Shu-fan would have a majority of at least three to one was a conservative estimate, as his majority was almost 6 to 1 at the close.

936

161

775

with droughts. Whether the use of

Charlie Chaplin

Enthusiastic of Colony's Modern Buildings

GREAT FUTURE FORECAST FOR CHINESE FILMS.

WHY HE BUYS NO CURIOS

OUT EAST

Admiration of Hong Kong's modern buildings

scheme, other than was expressed by Mr. Charlie Chaplin to a "China by Mr. catchunters and reservoirs, to cope Mail" reporter who interviewed him just before he sea water, or the boring of artesian sailed for Japan yesterday. Referring to the wells, would help to solve the pro- Gloucester Building, he remarked that it compar blem I am not qualified to say, but surely there is some way by which ed favourably with any structure of its kind he had we can avoid a recurrence of the seen, and he thought it had a "sensible layout.” distressing incident of 1929, when we were obliged to beg our supplies

nounced the result which every- body had already guessed, but those waiting outside were not pre- pared for such an overwhelming majority and could not help gasping with surprise.

from outside ports?

Yours, etc.,

OBITER DICTA.

Hong Kong, May 9,

USE OF SEA WATER [The Editor, ""China Mali.") Sir, The suggestion that sea water should be used to eke out our While everyone expected Dr. Li fresh water supply is ridiculous. In to be returned, no one anticipated the first place I, and hundreds of that Mr. Mow Fung would get less owners of property in Hong Kong than 200 votes when it was con-and Kowloon, are not going to lie sidered that he had the Kowloon (down meekly while the Government Residents' Association behind him, gets some new-fangled idea into its and it was thought that the votes head and expects us to pay for it. of the Chinese Company of the In the second place, who is going to Police Reserves would be for him run the risk of ruining their com en bloc in view of the fact that he plexions by using sea water? is an officer of that unit.

Apathy of Voters,

Dr. Pope says it would be "dan- gerous;" I say it is unheard of.

4

- ANTI-EXTRAVAGANCE. Hong Kong, May 9.

It was also anticipated that the Why waste all this public money number of voters would reach very at Shing Mun if it is not going to near the 2,500 mark, and it was a supply us with sufficient water?

Yours, etc. surprise to all that only 1,097 went to the poll. Of course, it must be conceded that out of the figure computed as the total of those en- The anticipated rush during the titled to vote must be taken those tiffin hour and after 5 pm. did not who have left the Colony on fur- materialise, and after noon right up lough or on business, and those who to closing time the voters came up have been disappointed on going to In small batches, and from 4 o'clock the poll to find that they were not onward there was n decided lull on the Jury List for 1992,

with considerable breaks between the arrival of the various batches.

During the last half hour, when every one was expecting a last minute rush, the voters came to the poll singly and occasionally in pairs, so that the finish of the con- test was devoid of all excitement, and as most of the late comers were declared supporters of Dr. Li Shu-. fan before entering the polling office, the latter's success became a foregone conclusion.

Several votes, were lost on both sides by the fact that would-be voters who had served on locali juries for # number of years, and were satlofled that they were qualified to vote, turn-

discover too late that their names

were not on the Jury List for 1932, which seems to have been curtailed

DR. LI'S STATEMENT.

In a statement made at the request of Press men, after the election, Dr. Li Shu-fan said:

"All I can say is that I am overjoyed at the extra- ordinary result. I had ex- pected a very keen contest, and I owe it to my supporters to thank them for the man- ner in which they have ralli- ed round and voted for me."

However, even after making this

U.S. PRESIDENCY,

paid a short visit to the local Chinese film studios, Both Charlie and his brother, Syd Chaplin, who

forecast a great future for Chinese films. "

Colony were obtained by a car ride round the island, and we had tiffin out at Repulse Bay Hotel, which was very nice indeed," Charlie said, "but what I like most of all about

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"Peking of Yesterday"

with an all-star cast. Produced by S'HAI STAR CO.

COMMENCING TO-MORROW

A WONDER PICTURE OF THE WONDERFUL WEST,

Greater than the greatest western. The wonder picture of the year!

the place la the Chinese quarter. ItunityK

is so bright and gay. The shops with their quaint signs, and the native way in which they conduct) business."

"Your modern buildings are also very fine," he continued, "especially Gloucester Building. It compares |favourably with any structure of its kind I have seen, and it certainly bas a sensible layout."

Asked if he was taking any curios back with him from Hong Kong, he replied that he thought all the Chinese curios were already in

- England and America. It is the same in all places in the world, "he said, "there are no real curios left

After "doing" Hong Kong in six in the places where they, belong." I hours, Charlie Chaplin and hla have not bought a thing here except- brother Syd, sailed at 5 pm. yes-ing some mangoes and other fruits." terday evening for Japan by the Charlie and his brother bath fore- 88. Terukuni Maru. They left for cast a great future for Chinese the ship from Blake Pier, by the films, among China's own people. N.Y.K. launch at 4.40 p.m. and em-!

Absence of Mobs.~* barked on the liner at 4.55.

No jostling crowds awaited the "We always run things as close famous brothers the famous Young Plan of Repara- as this," Charlie: said to a Chins along the wharf. A few visitors

Author of Young Plan May Be Proposed.

New York, Yesterday.

as they

Mr. Owen D. Young, author of tions, will be proposed as Democra- Mail reporter, who crossed the har-were on board the ship to get a peep tie nomines for the Presidency at our with them, "it's a habit of at their favourite screen artistes, the coming presidential election if, mine."

and a little polite murmuring broke

as is anticipated, Governor Frank- Warm in their praises of Hong out as they ascended the gangway. use their Charlie confided to our representa- lin D. Roosevelt fails to obtain the Kong, the two were, to necessary two thirds majority at own term, "all in," after their rush tive that be welcomes the absence of the forthcoming Convention in around.

mobbing and enjoys getting to a Chicago-Reuter's American Ser-

First Impressions.

place where the crowd may be in- "Our first impressions of the terested but always polite.

Ivice

'It Is Not The Poor Who Waste Water

(Continued from Page 1.)

the case

ed by Dr. G. W. Pope, and Dr. H. to economise their use of water, [Balean."

This he specially applied to ed up to the poll only to allowance it would be seen that the membering that a family of about

Rider Mains,

the richer classes remarking total of votes returned yesterday eight living on an upper storey has

Referring to rider maine, Dr. that ... it was often fell far short of the number of to pay as much as 25 or 30 cents Kotewall said "I understand that that a man who could pay for votes which could have been re a day for water to be carried up, it is the Intention of the Govern- what he gets pays the leant head turned, and it becomes apparent The poorer class of people find it ment to do away with the rider to take care of the conservation of that many had failed in their civic a great hardship in this hot wea- main system gradually and to re-water in the interests of the com

ther to carry water up, sometimes, place it with a universal meterage munity. to the third floor",

system. As to whether the change

Sea Water Scheme. should now be effected or not is a Replying to a question, Dr. Koté question which I am going into."

wall said that the sea water "The rider main system" said scheme was a question for experts,

as compared with former years, and for what reason was not appareat. Ladies Disqualified.

A few ladies also turned up to the poll only to find that, while they have the vote at Home, in Hong

duty by neglecting to vote.

of

the

Crux Of The Matter.

tem was introduced.

Well Organised Campaign That Dr. Li Shu-fan had the sup- port of non-voters as well as voters Continuing, Dr. Katewall said Kong they were disqualified, and was apparent by the fact that that since some people of respon. Dr. Kotewall, was introduced over it had been considered very that the only ones who have the throughout yesterday" many public sibility and experience have vote bere are men of 21 years of motor cars were seen in the City advocated the use of sea water 25 years ago, as a result of a visit fully by the Water Authority, and age and over who are on the cur- with posters pasted on their wind for flushing purposes, it seem-by experts from Home who were while they considered it feasible, rent Jury Last, or are exempted screens with "Vote for Dr. LI Shued to him that the crux invited by the Government to study they considered the cost too heavy- persons under Part II of the fan" In red letters.

the water problem. I understand "thig Inatter was schedule...

Speaking of the storage - "re- Dr. Lis

Canvassers, both if the water works now under con introduced in 1901 at a cost of dens, Dr. Kotowall said

that the rider main system was servoir at the Botanical Gar Soon after the polling had clos-Chinese

and European, were struction and in contemplation $500,000, paid by the inhabitants it would not but add to that ed and the candidates and their very hard working being en-when completed could only just of the districts into which the sys the storage capacity of the is scrutineers had been locked in the gaged throughout the day in goaupply the ordinary consumption of polling office with Mr. Lang for the ing about in motor cars to round up the Colony, then he thought that counting, a number of people who those who had promised their votes the proposal for using sea water The Chinese hold that, since can safely leave it to the Water had voted earlier in the day arrived and bring them to the poll. It for fushing and street cleansing they paid for it, the system ekould Authority to make an equitable dis- to ascertain the result. There was was a campaign such as was never and such other purposes should be not be abolished. Of course, the wibation since there are several no excitement during the wait but before seen in Hong Kong and seriously one into, having faith question of water La very reservoirs to fall upon.

deserved to succeed because of its in the future of the Colony he important one, and should be studi- thoroughness.

would not be surprised that, in aned from the point of view

whole. other five years we would and the comm Mr. Simon Tas Yar, a keen sup- population Increased by 200,000 porter of Dr. Li, was present at the or o Supreme Court throughout the pay day armed with his aun able movie camera, and he tookman

rather curiosity as to what Dr. Li's majority would be, as it was the general opinion of those in the corridor that the doctor would be feturned.

Matter Clinched.

The officers assisting Mr. Lang In the polling ofice were Messrs

Film Of Election

W. R. N. Andrews, R. Dormer, H. hundred yards of "shots"? Owen Davis, William O. Lows and arriving and departin

J. Horsford Messrs. Un Ting-fan, ups of the candi

Wong and Lin were the assistant pro

clerks,

The matter was clinc

several

*ndun

whe

Census Wrong7000 Speaking of the population, Kotowall said that, without

Imputation on the. ose work he had

The Public

the

the

land's water, adding "I think we

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PARNUM

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