1949-05-25 — Page 1

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1

HONG KONG, WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1949.

REFORM CLUB'S MAJOR SPLIT

Water For 70 Days

"Water in the Colony's re- servoles yesterday amounted to 2,110,000,000 gallone AI compared with 1,524,000,000 gelions on May 24 last year. Based on, the average daily consumption of 30,000,000 gallons the water can Inst

70 days (not 40 as reported yesterday).

Aussies Parade In Tokyo

Tokyo, May 24.

Eight hundred Australian servicemen today marched through the streets of Tokyo with fixed bayonets shortly after the prospects for an early Japanese peace treaty were revived al the "Big Four" Foreign Ministers' Conference in Paris.

Differences Arise Over Question Of Electorate

SHOULD CHINESE VOTE ?

Opposing views on who should form the electorate of Hong Kong were voiced at a meeting of the Reform Club held at the Hong Kong Hotel Roof Garden läst night. Mr. Marcus da Silva' lashed out at advocates of an electorate not confined entirely to British nationals, and contended that this being a British Colony it was constitutionally wrong for any persons other than British subjects to vote for election to the legislature.

This view was shared by Mr. T. A. Martin who warned that to put the franchise into the hands of a non-British section of the com-

entitled to vote.

(who

**Imagine a sufficiently large body of British residents in the right to vote and to elect also pay taxes) in Ching demand- representatives to the Legislative

he

Straits Dollar Depreciation

to

Bingapore, May 24.

The Straits-dollar-plunged.

alt-time low on the Bingapore black market you- herday. Black market opéra- tors, ware. offering up 10 four Straits doftars for one U.9. dollar. The logs) eats. { 2.12 for one V.8. dollar. -Associated Press.

Swatow Becoming Dead City

Price: 20 Conts.

SIGNS

All Kinds of Portable TYPEWRITERS

AT REASONABLE PRICE.

HONG KÔNG TYPRWRITER EXCHANG

9, D'Agullar St.

Tel. 21439

SIGNS OF NATIONALIST WITHDRAWAL FROM SHANGHAI INCREASE

Shanghal, May 24.

The general air of expectancy in the beleaguered metropolis scared to new heights by the sight of thousands and thousands of troops stroam- ing Northward from all points of the city. All military roads led in the direction of Woo- sung, with long columns of troops swinging Northward all day long, accompanied by commandeered trucks, rickshas, pedicabs and handcarts piled high with luggage and sup- plies.

River bank.

Adm. Brind

Leaves For The North

Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, Commander-in-Chief, Far East Station, left by HMS London yesterday for the North.

During his brief stay in the Colony after his return from

munity who by force of numbers could use should also realise that, constitu- of the looming threats of Com-Yews Agency reports, but direct Nationalists during the night- | last night that the

it under the protection of the British Flag,tatives to would be suicidal.

be had

I

Was

on

declared discussion.

matters of **mutual

CHINA MAY RETURN MENDIP

The movement came on the | Shanghal awake, subsided towards heels of a three-mile long dawn into a sporadic artillery duel "victory" procession of over after the failure of Red units to

coming a dead city. Business

"Swatow is gradually be- 100 decorated trucks and floatsmash through to the Whangpoo

in celebration of the National- The Communista are, however, Singapure last Monday, Admira Yuan of the Chinese Government

is slackening and the streets ist success at Kaochiao in Poo- believed to be now less than a Brind conferred with Admira and you have a complete and truc

quarter

mile from the water's Oscar C. Badger, .Commander analogy and a faithful pleture in are deserted before dusk," or tung.

Pootung, op-

the United Stales Fleet, Western principle of exactly what I mean. rivals on the British conster

The entire city was gaily beding edge in Southern

French con- Pacific, who arrived hero "or "Mr. Chun rightly refers to the Shengking sald yesterday.

god today to commemorate the posite the former

Monday morning on his flagship couple of Legislative Council as "the highest

victory, which was re-emphasised cession, of which a

USS El Dorado from Tsingtao. river steamers no more than organ of Goverment" "but

the people are visibly nervous in the latest bulletin and Central

small 200 tons cach

A naval spokesman were sunk bv this However, thus belieing

"everthing weit Lionally, those who elect represen-munist invasion.

whether to block a possible Ren¦ were that highest organ, far, these were no Indications of in hand at the front theoretically and practically large-scale, military preparations. Garrison order lengthening the crossing or to aid to West bank interest," govern the Colony. nak Mr. The Shengking arrived he curfew from tonight by an hour defences it was not clear. One of Chen and ask you whether it is

half, from 8.00 p.m. to these sunken steamers lies almost after her first trip to and a yesterday constitutionally right thinl British Colony should be governed Swatow, from which run she had 8.00 a.m. local time, instead and directly below Router's window.

been

cen diverted for more than 15 of from 5.00 p.m. to 5.00 am. Every block of the Bund was by persons who are not British

In the now curfew statement. heavily patrolled this morning nationals. Let us

suppose that years.

armoured cars There were only 142 Chinese the Garrison warned all residents and Elre should send to the U.S.A.

much as through the quiet, expectant tomorrow 10,000,000 Irishmen who passengers who disembarked at to remain indoors us

Custodian Wharf.

She possible and said that all publie waterfront. In some sectors the

Commodore Yang. Yuan remain Irish and do not acquire the American nationality, but who at brought no foreigners from that transportation will cease at 6.00 blockade has been extended

.m. and a round-the-clock curfew adjoining parallel streets.

of the Many chung, commander "I accuse those who supporte same time as all residents most Chinese port

WIN be enforced in all the battle large

concrete Chinese-owned

Chinese Navy Fourth District On the fourth Empire Day of

the idea of an electorate confined do, pay American taxes.

The last foreign ship to'sall Is it

arca Headquarters, arrived at; the buldings in the-business the

of subjects

being Occupation, the Australian

constitutionally right that thon down the Whangpoo, the Sheng areas

It was understood that the were under military occupation Colony from Canton by plans remained forces alone

the of

Mr. Bernacchi advocated an afraid, not so much of the old 10,000,000 Irishmen should demand king arrived here last Wednesday

British authorities broadcast United

an today. These included the Chinese yesterday morning. He was Kingdom contingents electoral roll

rendition, composed of all exey of

but simply the right to vote representatives with more than 200 evacuees. that people of Chinese race wito Congress?

and Would not

was then the

several sent up- Nor She

North announcement this afternoon ad- Cotton which had previously participat- taxpayers in the Colony, with no

Exchange

met by two Royal Navy offe vising Britons to remain in their help be in the majority on the Coun-answer be: First acquire Ameri- last Thursday

cvacultu

hotels.

cers at Kai Tak Airfield!! #7 ed in the celebrations.

nationality limit to voting.

cils.

Large columa of smoke were Lieutenant-General C. E. D.

can nationality?

According to Commodore, Yang, The order

the of But apparently

Harbour still curling up the Pootung sky "Yet the picture is so distorted, as many foreigners homes.

hal as possible the perspective so warped in this

of the because

deteriorating Command threatened all unseat in several areas torky after last was going to call on Admira

P. Brind, commander-in-chief of British Colony of Hong Kong that situation

Communist-tled: vessels with bombing by the night's violent. Aghting in which the Far Eastern Fleet, on board statements and demands of this besieged port, she called Chinese Air Force. It was estimat- Chinese Air Force planes played HMS Tondon at the latter's re-

quest.

Celebrating Empire Day, they reminded the Japanese people of the part the British Common- wealth had played in their de- feat.

Robertson,

זיי

the Commander-in-

He

Strongly opposing this view | who had been here most of their Mr. Brook A. Bernucchi who lives, but

seen racial warned this would raise racial troubles in a number of countries, and he abhorred any attempt at feeling and bitterness.

racial discrimination or to ensure described Mr. Siva's conten- that any one race should dominate tion that only British nationals the councils of the Colony. were eligible to vote in a Bri- tish colony constitutional fallacy.

Mr. Bernacchi's contention was

vital factor in uniting this cosno-

to

British

British Common-supported by Mr. R. A. Webb who Racial Issues Chtel of the wealth. Occupation Forces, told advocated the creation of a Hong an impressive ceremonial parade Kong citizen status as the inost on the Imperial Palace Plaza:

"I say that it is of the utmost have never known co-politan community. He deplored operation as close as that exist the tendency to make any poll-importance that we should avoid ing between the British Common leal debute the source of racial making the political issues of this Colony, racial issues. It ja be-| friction. wealth forces in Japan and 'our,

cause the Chinese are suspicious great ally, the United States.”

that the Europeans want racially Ketter,

to dominate the Councils that une finds such Independent or- ganisations springing up, as the Chinese Reform Association, and it is with very strong feelings Indeed that I ask certain Chinese newspapers to desist from refer- ring to us as the European Re- form Club.

The meeting was presided over by Mr. Charles Loseby, the Pre- sident of the Reform Club,

BURMA TROOPS Major Split

RUSHED TO YUNNAN BORDER

Calcutta, May 24. Burmese troops werd being rushed to Burma's frontiers with the Chinese province of Yunnan to prevent the entry of Chinese Communists, M.

jan Ambassador to Burma,

Sino-Burmese

Mr. Brook A. Bernacchi, the first speaker, said it was his un- fortunate duty to disclose that thei Committee was apilt on one ma- for aspect of proposed reform for the

namely, legislature, whether only British nationals should have the vote, or whether

"We are the Reform Club of Hong Kong. We fight on a non- racial basis. A large number of sur members are Chinese. Our one interest is to ensure that we

It should be extended to Chinese have h government for Hang rezidents and business men of Kong that represents Hong Kong, the Colony who though not Bri- while at the same tirae not per- Mohammed Auj, former Pakis- | tish subjects, had the bests of mitting those Influences dctri- Hong Kong at heart, and regard-mental to the real well-being of saki here today.

ed the Colony as their home. the Celony from using us to ob- tain a foothold in the Govern- frontier The

After stressing that he and those ment, might be closed in view of the latest developments in China, he supporting him insisted on all ardell, The Burmese Govern. member being elected and none ment, he believed, would-be able should be nominated, as nominu. to face the disturbed situation at cipe va democracy, Mr. Bernacchi home with promised Common- ciple of

said a matter of greater import- wealth aid.

The Pakistani diplomat focent- Committee had xpilt, was

Ance,

matter upon which the ly left Rangoon on his appoint question as to what extent, if any, the respect or the support of the ment as High Commissioner in British nationality was to be es- Chinese community on which, in

sential in matters appertaining to fact, it so greatly dependa,“ these elections.

Canadu Reuter.

Three Taiwan Ports Open

the

abundantly "If, as It seems clear, the idea of an electorate bared on British nationality is complete anathema to every res- ponsible Chinese body in this Colony, then such an electorate cannot hope to command either

nature

publicly and are made

at

to

the

Was

tho

od that at least 10 ships will be the Hong soulfled in various parts or She

put on WDS

Whangpoo before nightfall. Kong-Syntow route, and leit oneanwhile, many fishing boats voiced with clamour, with hardly a back the following day.

Meanwks were being burnt to Sunday on her first voyage.

dissent vaico raised in proper denunciation.

(Continued On Page 3)

AMERICANS IN CANTON AREA TOLD TO LEAVE

· Canton, May 24.

The United States Consulate General today decid- ed to adviso its nationals in the Canton urban area that they should seriously.consider the evacuation of dependants and non-essential personnel while time and commercial faci- lities were available.

deny them to the Reds.

Red Spearheads

7

rumbled

He Indicated government.

tho

ponalder" returri"

a prominent role.

In full view of hundreds ont

of "grandstand" specta thousands of fighters and bombers streaked in the destroyer Lin. Futo Gre

on roof-tops, Government through the sky from the North Lin Fu. is at present in the and West, akimmed skyscrapers

Colony. on the Burd and attacked the opposition

anti-aircraft fro

The Chinese commodore re

with bombs.. and turned to Canton yesterday afters Official reports today admitted machine-gun fire. This was re- that reinforced Communist spear-peated Ume and again as the noon. heads launched a major attack battle went on against the Western perimeter of Communist Shanghal and battled their way was extremely heavy, judging to the wooden barrier protecting from the continuai strings of red the inner elty.

tracers which Illuminated the Millary reports said the Com-starless sky. munists were overrunning Nation-

falist artillery emplacements which

At Lunghwa

MINESWEEPER SINKS

were firing point blank over open alghts into the attacking wavòs The offices of both the China this afternoon after striking a

co-National Aviation

Of the crow of 33, all were

This was an extension of an evacuation warning

⚫ issued on April 29 to nationals in the remain-/or Shanghal, which brought the evacuees this morning following crew were reported to be in-i

der of the Kwangtung-Kwangsi Consular dis- trict.

Today's decision nounced following a meeting of the Consular Corps, which was attended by representa- lives of Britain, the United States, France, Holland and Portugal.

the

were

air-

includlor

ntionaly

Tokyo, May 24, A Japanese miners reper sank of troops.

Corporation magnetic mine in the Straits--of Was The Western attack ordinated with another advanca and the Central Air Transport Shimonoseki, according to an am-

clal announcement. by some 200,000 Communist troops Corporation were besieged by

of lost minute rescued except four. Three of the) across the Wangpoo River, Eastleige crowds

resumption of emergency Jured.-Reuter.. battle within sight of watchers on the

flights by these Chinese the Bund.

Late this

four lines. afternoon, river streamers

was learned that since no, miles from Woosing you burning Chinese

settling down in the hect attacks were reported en for the 1ird day. It w. 1 too risky slowly non- Whangpoo, next to the famous Lighwa Airport the companies to send fire fighters due to the was an- tion of dependants and personnel, Mr.

Stolt battleship row" off the Bund, af-wili maintain the present ruh nghting nearby. The tank con- there was

as long as possible al-tains an estimated 2,40 tons of essential

their crows had scullled them, service no tor

A government communique ad- though for all anticas spopover nobile petiol. Basurance that in time of need emphasised that

metal means of transportation mitted the Communist attack on there is no longer a grad ser- could be provided.

West had broken through the vier, of any sort at the airfold.

men and thron children, Nationals were requested to Nationalist lines but claimed the All evil planes come in with their employed by the St ndard. Ol own fuel, supply and usually installation there, are. living › in advise the Consulate General of situation was only temporary It

breakthrough eks-off again within a few hours, a candle factory some distanta Mr. Bernacchi sald reform was A spokesman said that the de- their plans. All nationals not said the point of

the

lanted to capacity with passen-away but are not in any dangor Consulate was in the area of Hungino air-

from hostilities at present. : The- "We are all agreed that the re- something that continued to de- cision was not made as the re-registered with

neld two miles West of the 10-gers. Gre presentatives in the Legislative verop, and the Landale scheme, sult of any specifle information were urged to do so.

fence which A big tank of the Standard group includes Russian, German, the Consular bodies.

added letter

the foot high wooden that by

Ou Company on the Italian and Swiss around Vacuum Council must be British subjects: I ever got to the statute book, received

for 30 miles stretches Consulate The British Consulate General,

Peutung side of the river seven United Press and Reutor. but in and opinion in whatever must be of a number of your committee, warded as a scheme for an in- which issued a similat ovacuation valuable readable, property and Shanghai's Western limit.

The fence studded with con- Govertument no such qualification is essential, terim

only. The warning on May 2, has decided it was suggested that nationals

They crete pillboxes and mud strong- either constitutionally or practic ultimate am that he envisaged not to repeat the rivice to its consider doing

area of were invited to consult the Con- points, is considered to he Shang- ally, in the best interents of this for Hong Kong was a Hong Kong nationals in the urban Colony, for the electorate," said Parliament modelled somewhat Canton, as the intentions of most sulate on the question of fate-hai's last line of defence before Mr. Bornacchi.

on the line of that of the Isle British subjects in or near,

the d

guarding Immovable.

nghting reaches the city's streets. Property of Man.

In the meantime,, the British The government admission } city have already been obtained

to confirm reports that to circular letters. Consulate General has already to through repiles

that Most have indicated

they

the munist troops captured Hunaja circularised its nationals in intend to stay.

district, asking.

them "to keep in airport two days ago. It said that It was based on the "deteriora-

touch with us in case they may fighting had been going on be

barrier and tween the Western It is understood that ships ar- of argument by those who for Expressing complete confidence tion of the over-all situation" in be in need of assistance,"

China.

There are 650 Americans and Huajuo airfield for the past week. Taiwan rlying at

should give the effects of un electorate con- in the Integrity of the majority South

The American and British 250. Britons in the Kwangtung- advance notification to the Exo-] taining some voters who do not of the Hong Kong Chinese, whose

also Kwangsi Condular district,

Artillery Duel of vincial authorities of their moves claim to renounce all ties with homes and business are here. Mr. Consulates Cluneral today

about 60 per cent live ments-Reuter.

the land to which they are rack Pernacchi said he did not share decided to advise their nationale which ally bound to be linked.

and are mostly. The thunderous battle of Poo- the fear that his friend Mr. Mar- throughout the Consular district, outside Canton cun da Silva nursed on the dan, including Canton, to ensure that, missionaries.

tung last night, which kept all The French Consular district being

to consider moving their valu- based on exercised over them.

Canton is limited to

ON OTHER PAGES ables to a place of safety,

Kwangling Province and contains Mr. Marcus da Silva, the next The American Consulate Gen-about 100 Franch nationals Page 2 Va must always remember speaker, prefaced his talk by dis-eral subsequently released the Neuter-AAP, that. Hong Kong has a cosmo- pelling what he termed Mr text of a letter which will be politan community and that the Bernacchi's bogey about lack of sent to key individuals and or- average resident is probably not faith in the Hong Kong Chinese,ganisations throughout the Con-

British subject, or at least has and racial discrimination, Stres-ular district. dual nationality, and yet if that sing that his arguments were resident has not got the best in-based entirely on constitutional tercats of fong Kong at heart, rounds and logic, he said: then God help Hong Kong, for

Taipeh, Taiwan, Muy 24. Following the imposition of Martial Law in Taiwan, It is been announced that except for the ports of Keelung, Kaohajung and Makung, all other ports have been closed to shipping. The three poris remaining open are now under the supervision of the Gar- rison Headquarters.

The Weather

At 6896 GIT (2 18.mger) from a Paride anti-cyclone croirad ♬ of Jaban a pliàs extends to E and BIG Chine, a amali

depression, nuw over the 8 scast, of Shi-

koku ia mźwig rapidly ENT

Tony's. FOTOCARS-Las

BW winds. Falt,

Yesterday's Winthersm;

Maximum 10 den. Puha, In/muoi Tho d, Pak

Bunabinet dus hour. ~-

“Any suggestion that the elec- torale is constitutionally bound to be composed of British sub- jects is entirely unfounded, "and |

is used merely for the prirpse;

Confidence

Cosmopolitan City of Improper outside Influence their pussports were in order and

moderais

no Government can exist,

Hainfalls 17.1 0.67 in. Felki qines

Jan. 1971.8 m.14.99,

/meainst an average of -106.5 mm

10.90 in

'If t

"As Britisher, I demand for

Re-Emphasis

Signed by the senior Consul

Mr. Winfield H. Stott, the letter

likewise.

RAF's Big Offensive

Singapore, May 24.

to

Correspondence