1937-10-13 — Page 15

THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 13, 1937.

Page

RENT CONTROL SCHEME

Mr. Lo's Proposal For Emergency Measure

HAWKER PERSECUTION I refer particularly to the arrest and prosecution of hawkers. They are, of course, easy prey. Any constable who is hard-up for cases can quite easily take the line of least resistance by ar resting a hawker on some charge, whe ther real or imaginary.

tigation into the complaints, which have ventured to bring forward

CHOLERA EPIDEMIC

Coming now to the recent Cholers epidemic, I cannot but give utterance. to the sense of disappointment on the part of the public in regard to the way in which it was dear with by the Med- The following figures are gleaned ical Department. The sense of from the LG.P's Reports for 1935 and satisfaction has been expressed public

dis-

1936:

Hawkers charged

Other cases charged

Total

»)

MINOR OFFENCES

1934 % 1935. % 16030 57.80 23567 7141 11703 42.20 9433 28.59

1936. 26075

27733 100.00 33000 100.00

69.44 11474 30.56

37549 100.00

RENTS QUESTION

nt to the World, in ge the Far East, includi particular, were to be distriss

Emergency Ordinance such a passing refe

Suggested

I feel sure this Corned would come a statement from Government to the position of the Chinese fishin fleets in relation to the present hostil I now desire to take up a few mo ties. The recent statement attributed Rents question in the Colony. ments of this Council's time on the to the Honourable the Colonial Secre It is conceded that, on account of the the Press, was, in my submission, hard

tary at an interview, as published trade depression of the past few years, ly reassuring. rentals have fallen below the normal, Is the position this: that Chin and reasonable increases in rent may

fishermen many of whom, like be justified in many cases. But to

forbears, were born in Hong eject a tenant, in spite of his willing- and who have been rendering an ness to pay a reasonable increase in

sential service to the Colony by any existing circumstances cannot, in my

plying fish to the local population. submission, be justified.

are to be left to the fate of gun-f resulting in loss of life and the traction of their fishing junks, s out any redress, simply because pursuit of their lawful avocat they ventured beyond the territor waters of the Colony? Is the lony's fishing industry to cease gether?

NEUTRALITY OF CONSCIENC

I notice that in 1935, out of a total of over 23,000 cases, only 583 were dis- ly in the Press. I gladly and grate- Whilst a substantial proportion · of charged, and that in 1935, out of a total fully acknowledge the high sense of the landlords, or even an overwhelming of over 26,000, only 576 were discharg- devotion to duty and to the public weal majority of the landlords, may be sern ed. Even if half of the convicted cases shown by my Honourable friend the pulously abstaining from exploiting the involved imprisonment in default of D.M.S., and all the Medical Officers. existing situation, there is no reason payment of fines imposed, we need not The Colony is grateful to them. But why any landlord should be permitted be surprised at the overcrowding of the somehow the organisation broke down. to profiteer at the expense of his un- gaol! And it will be seen that the Take the case of the supply of serum fortunate fellow-men.. number of cases, from. 1934 to 1936, On the 16th August the “South China

I therefore venture respectfully to has increased from 16030 to 26075, Le Morning Post" published an account of submit the following proposal for con- an increase over 10,000 cases.

the interview with the Honourable sideration of Government:

I of course, accept the position DMS, at which the D.M.S. pointed out 1 That a Rents Ordinance, based on this Colony must be strictly neut that there was sufficient anti-cholera the Rents Ordinance 1922, as amended, But surely there is no such thi serum for a 5 or 6 day campaign at full and having some date like the 31st neutrality of conscience? And, I can speak from experience as to speed. The paper also stated that it July, 1927, in relation to the statutory no neutrality can prevent either how much time has to be expended in had been decided to appeal to Manila, "standard rent, and limited in- dura public, or the Government of regard to gases in Court. The Police Bangkok and Saigon for further urgent tion to, say, one year, be forthwith Kong, from entertaining fee officer in charge has to attend Court at supplies. The very next day the paper passed as an Emergency Legislation. dumbfounded dismay and horror s the opening of the Court and wait his announced that "ample supplies were 2. That the new Ordinance is to indiscriminate sixughter of no turn, and sometimes his turn may not still available, "Government having a contain a special clause on the lines of batants by the Japanese air bo come until the end of the session, when good supply remaining of the consign- Section 13 of the Crown Bents (Appor- As Lord Granborne, British Und the Magistrate has no alternative but ment received from Shanghai, and hay- tionment). Ordinance, 1936, providing in Secretary of State for Foreign Affai to adjourn his case. Of the 26,000 ing secured some locally from the effect that the Ordinance shall apply to, is reported to have said at Geneva. hawker cases dealt with by the Magis Bacteriological Department” These and come into operation as regards, "words could not express the feeling

I do respectfully commend the above figures to Your Excellency's attention.

TIME ANALYSIS

trate in 1936, I do not know how conflicting reports would appear to such houses, lots, areas or districts, and of profound horror with which news at many were. cases in which the lend support to the rumour that the as from such date or dates as shall these raids is received by the whole hawkers charged pleaded guilty, and statement of shortage was made in from time to time be appointed by the civilised world...... If this tendency how many were cases which involved ignorance, or forgetfulness, of the fact Governor by proclamation.

is to continue. and to be intensified, can actual hearing of evidence. Assuming that a large supply had actually been 3. That the rights under the new civilisation itself survive?” that, on an average, each case took only lying in the godown at Kowloon all the legislation be confined to the actual Speaking for myself, I find it. 2 minutes of the Court's time to dis- time, and that the "so.s." messages tenant in relation to the actual premises tremely difficult to concentrate, on pose of, then it is obvious that the 26, sent to various places to send further occupied by him, in contra-distinction Budget figures for the din and cres 000 cases absorbed 52,000 minutes or supplies to Hong Kong had to be can- to the principal tenant", who would woe, and helplessness which seem over 866.6 hours. I suppose each Mag- celled soon after they were despatched otherwise benefit at the expense of his ring in my very ears. istrate, again on an average, spends

INOCULATION CRITICÍSM superior landlord.

RELIEF FUND about 5 hours each day in Court To one, like myself, who has always

RENTS OFFICER

The theme of the maintenance Therefore 866.6 hours represent over appreciated the value of educating the That a Bents Officer be appoint friendship between Hong Kong and 173 Court days of one Magistrate! And general masses in regard to the efficacy ed And it is suggested that an Assis Canton has been the subject of repeated the expenditure of time on the part of of preventive Western Medicine in gen- tant Secretary for Chinese Affairs reference in this Council, and only in the Police in regard to the 26,000 cases eral, and of inoculation in particular, it should be Rents. Officer in regard to October last Sir Andrew Caldecott said: must of course be even greater. If is a matter of supreme regret that so Chinese tenancies, and, say, the Assis "Of the need for understanding and co- those cases had not been brought, the much dissatisfaction should have been tant Grown, Solicitor should be Rents operation between ourselves and time and energy saved would have been expressed regarding the way in which Officer in regard to non-Chinese tenan Chinese neighbours there can be no tremendous, and in this connection I inoculations were done by Government cies. doubt very much whether a third Court during the epidemic. Amahs and boys

possible doubt, and I agree with the 5. That the Bents Officer is to bear Senior Chinese Unofficial Member that at the Central Magistracy would be who attended to be inoculated express- both the landlord and the tenant in re it cannot be too greatly emphasised or

ed their determination never to do so gard to any complaints against either too often reiterated" REVIEW NECESSARY

In times again. It would appear that the doc- an increase of rent, or notice to quit. Calamity such as flood and fami I feel strongly that the whole prob- tor in charge, hopelessly overworked, 6. That if the Bents Officer cannot Government has frequently, lem of hawkers in Hong Kong should and finding it physically impossible to settle the matter amicably between the past, shown its great symmet be reviewed by a Commission, and that oope with the numbers who attended, parties, and if he considers that the this Colony's Chinese neighbours the specific questions to be placed be- had to perform the inoculations without landlord is acting unreasonably or in- voting substantial sums for fore the Commission for investigation using a freshly sterilised needle for conscionably, he is to recommend to suffering is indescribable, and and report should include the questions each patient, and had to content him- Government, to "proclaim" the house in for medical succour is precede as to whether or not the licence of self with merely wiping the needle with question, which would then come under Is there any reason why Governm hawkers other than for certain types of a piece of cotton wool dipped in alcohol the new legislation.

should abstain from giving material

necessary.

foodstuffs, which may constitute a real after each case However little actual I submit that the mere existence of sistance purely as an act of human and not a theoretical danger to public risk there might have been in such pro- such legislation will have a most sain because the occasion for such assi health, should not be abolished alto- cess, those who attended could not but tary and deterrent effect, and that it has been caused, not by Heaven, but by gether, and as to how hawker cases" feel a sense of repugnance in seeing will have the merit of curbing the anti- nation whose main object, m the can be dealt with other than by a Cadet the same needle being used on so many social activities of any landlord who, in of Lords Cranborne, "seems to be to Magistrate, and at reduced expense to persons. I realize that it must have the opinion of the Rents Officer, is un- spire terror by indiscriminate, slaughter the Colony. In any case. I hope that been difficult to arrange for more Gov- reasonably exploiting the prevailing of civilians?" any Police officer who has an undue ernment doctors to be available for con- extraordinary conditions. number of hawker cases to his credit, ducting the public moculations And THREE MONTHS NOTICE will be reprimanded, rather than com- yet I feel that, with better organisa- mended, by the LG.P.

tion, the objection allude to above could

CHINA'S HOUR OF NEED In most respectfully commending

In default of a "Rents Ordinance on this question to the sympathetic com-

I wish to say a word about Head 22 have been overcome. And, with all the the lines above suggested, it may be sideration of Your Excellency, I desire (Medical Department).

diffidence and humility which an ignor that a short Ordinance, to the effect to take this opportunity of acknowledg MEDICINE FOR POOR ant layman should feel, I do wonder that, during the currency, of the Ordin- ing the deep debt of gratitude whic The vote has been increased from whether it was really necessary to nti ance, no notice to quit shall be valid the Chinese entertain for the courag round about 12 million in 1934, 1935 lise the services of a medical officer to unless it shall be, say, at least 3 impartiality, ever willing, readiness to and 1936, to $2,140,000.00 odd (Revised await the arrival of trains, in order to months' notice, may afford some relief receive and consider representation Estimates for 1937), and to $2177,000 watch for cholera cases. Surely a doc. against too sudden evictions.

and high statesmanship shown by Y 00 (Estimates for 1938):

tor, by looking at a man, cannot say

Sir Andrew Caldecott, in winding up Excellency in guiding the Ship of State Here, again, the Community must be whether that person has incipient the Debate on last year's Budget, sug- along the troubled waters through prepared to pay what is necessary to cholera in him!

gested a new procedure in relation to which it is passing, and by your Chief maintain a sound public health and

MUTTSAI REPORT

the proceedings in this Council on the Adviser, my Honourable Friend the Co- "medical organisation. But I have an

Annual Badget. The new procedure Ionial Secretary, and also for the ma uncomfortable feeling that, in spite of retary's speech dealing with the Head contemplates "an Annual Address by terial assistance rendered by the people the Governor, “im which he dwelt of this Colony in the sacred cause of the large annual expenditure, medical "Secretariat for Chinese Affairs", be broadly but concisely with current relief of human suffering in China facilities to the poor still leave much referred to certain appointments as problems and reviewed in perspective hour of need. Toom for împrovement

..

In the Honourable the Colonial Sec-

"UNHAPPY STATE OF THE WORLD"""

nature. The ground gained by one generation may be lost by the next. The thoughts of men may flow into the channels which lead to disaster barbarism.”

having been made in accordance with the important events of the year". But As the Rt. Hon. A L. Fisher said In particular I have received many the recommendations of the Mai Tsai whether the new procedure will or will in the preface to his famous "H "complaints in regard to the food and Commission and with resolutions adopt not be adopted, the Annual Budget has of Europe. The fact of progres lack of essential requirements, incind- ed by the League of Nations Confer traditionally been the occasion for re- written plain and large on the page of ing medicine, in the third-class accom- ence at Bandoeng in 1937" My Hou- viewing the whole position, past and history, but progress is not a law of modation of the Tsan Yukc Maternity ourable friend the Senior Unofficial prospective, of the Colony. Hospital. I am informed that, with 60 Member has already expressed on: ap- beds, there are available only 3 or 4 ziz, proval of these appointments. But rings, and 3 or 4 bed-rests, in spite of feel the Colony would welcome an un- * the large number of serious post-opera- nouncement by Government as to its The Colonial Secretary, in his speech, tive cases. I further understand that policy in regard to the Mui Tsai quen has referred to "the present unhappy the stable diet consists chiefly of salted tion, especially on the point whether state of the world" With all the in the challenge to civilisation is real. egg and salted cabbage, and that it is Government has definitely accepted the calculable damage to the Colony, actual But if I may be permitted to pare mach inferior to the diet given in the Majority Report. Is Government aware and potential, as the result of the pre- phrase the well known words of Wi third-class wards at the Queen Mary that a petition has been sent to the sent Sino-Japanese conflict, I submit liam Pitt, I would like to feel that the Hospital

Secretary of State for the Colonies in that any debate on the general position verdict of history will be that China I hope that my Honourable friend regard to extended ren trations of of the Colony must assume an air of has saved herself by her exertions, and the DMS will make a thorough inves- transferred females?

unreality if this subject, so vitally im- has saved civilisation by her

The forces of reaction are

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