1958-12-24 — Page 4

THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1958.“

Page: 4

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a

happy

P.1

Of The

Press

100 Years

Ago

JOHN LUFF's second chapter of "THIS HONGKONG.

EDITORS' ESCAPADES

NO PUNCHES

[ONGKONG'S PRESS IN THE COLONY'S

NEWS REPORTING "OR IN ITS EDITORIALS, FAIR STATEMENT OR LIBEL ARE TODAY MATTERS REFERRED TO LEGAL OPINION- BUT IN THOSE DAYS OUR FORBEARS ACKNOWLEDGED NO SUCH NICETIES. IN THE SECOND PART OF THIS ABSORBING SERIES THE WRITER DESCRIBES SOME OF THE MUD-SLINGING THAT WENT ON IN THOSE DAYS....

IN turning over the files for 1857, no matter how charitably minded you are to say the least, both private and public affairs leave much to be desired.

The reader must realise that the Colony was an isolated place. The Even speediest news could come no quicker than the fastest ship. when the domestic affairs of the Colony were referred to London, so long an interval of time found London facing an accomplished situation. The result was decisions had to be made on the spot. Being made on the spot, they could be reversed on the snot, and differences of opinion were not submitted to arbitary bureaucratic findings. Rather were there outspoken statements.

H

the

propriety. If that

case. was the China Mall was soon to revoke any such sentiments, and fling

self into the fray.

imprisonment, but when the ease eame on in the December of 1858, i ended in the favour of the defendaßt.

Iz short, things that B ducted itself with a sense of damages for assault and false whispered today behind closed doors, were then thrashed out 171 the Full light of publle Fair statement or libel are now malters referred to legal Upanion, but our forbears knowledge no euch nicet les A letter to the press was mildest form

vage editorial

no means a rarity

18447

{"

the

of attack

A

mere

pin-

the twelve years of its existence,

managed

the

China Mati

keep out of trouble.

bearer

of responsibility

years,

wax mounced a journal

tu

printed any gosip be

y.

funte aus

"Brother, you said it."

☆

* *

Naturally, the newspapers re- thecled this feeling, and none butter than the Friend of China, of worse, should I say?

To quote Dr Eltel again: The Friend of China

+7)

main

the

EPL

Fan

Wyndham Street --- The Colony's "Fleet Street," as it appeared in those

days.

A

*

WDS

the

*meng

He servatul

Lon-

tbu

anyone

f

But rending through these nu We have seen that Mr Tarrant clent crackiing pages, you find was carrying around a large-size that the press were the least to

his shoulder. As a offend. chip, upon oismissed Government servant, In 1857. mising no words,

Elated with this success, Mr stormy petrel of old Hongkong Civli Service. He was a valuble fluent * WHY: Govemment, but you And that he was after

Allorney-

and the

on the wing again. Terunt

suspended was

Cantonese, and not inhibited by any selicate General charges the Registrar- A knockdown: blow, by feelings on the aw of libel, le General with having a seandal- Attomey-General commenced an started up the Friend of China speaker of

gilation In England against again, transfered it to Canton, friend of Ma Chow Wong.

Bir Hercules Robinson started interest pereuninry I think a falt observer would aeross, and when he could not brothels, and of having spent Lieutenant-Governor Caine, the and in 1882, to Shangha!.

But Tarrant had lost his flery to allp the wings of the Hong- press right away. Ho associating with ease mentioned earlier in this

article. selves the years 1857 to 1866 as any had to ding, be nude part of his life

zeal, and his too cager solitude kong

the Legislativo ini

Chinese outlaws and pirates. most

the some, the

unpleasant

The article or negotiating the slippery pole branght before This was the end Dr Eltel, a later historin ol

The feast said about such

He sold the Friend of Counell a bill to amend the law Colony's public

of China reads; of libel history of the

the Friend the Colony says the Colony at matters, ite hetter. but

in 1889, but without relative to newspapers in Hong- 110 In fact, following these

kony." this time was convulsed by "an mana as a fact that the press, Colonel Calne must either be China

either the Tarrant it folded up. years, Sir Hercules Robinson was

chromte warfare, the

. Itself on the the of two things,

cleverest rasgal that ever lived in 1870, he returned to

The only law then applicable sout from London to do a little internal

Press was Ordinanco Then after, acorbitles of which beggared all side of decency and law spring cleating.

The battle was heree, and then felon for whom transportation don, broken in health, and he to the

On his death, he Number 2 of 1844 which released note of the incidents associated deserption

As a later generation would rewards did not always go, as would be too light a punishment died in 1872.

much maligned bequeathed

to Hongkong's old the press from all restraint, and with the public and social life of the years the Colony during

poetica: Justice would have them or he is

City Hall a complete le of the made no provision for libel or

Where It is defamation of character, decided the latter Friend of China go. under discussion were repeated

The Jury During

This new bill introduced by savage a seale.

The Attorney-General resigne

Hercul.o had newspaper when the Registrar-General was ad Mr Tirinen went to geol for now, I have no idea. Probably

Iwelve months and

also coted, but such copies which re. Str

muin

China Mall, publishers enter into a bond of with Jund rais

£250. The Governor then called ned £50.

Tarrant pleaded justification reconstruct the story in part. upon the Attuency-Genernity

With the Arrival of Sir

* * in court, but his charge against Maybe the proud announce

defend himself ander pair of

There was also a new proce- ment which designated it the

He was suspended Caine was a particularly odious Hercules Robinson in 1859, who SUSTORSIGN.

and the jury returned a had instructions to refrain from dure to be followed in taking of Government's Official

"generalis, in February 1858. entered into

"lering up that mass of mud cut bel eases. Up to that time, verdict, accordingly. Alt:ouncements, gave it a scrise entleised the Government and

private practice, and started to

which appears to have encum- * ★

Instituting proceedings During those must public offers with some

give Government a bad time

bered suciety in Hongkongan had to apply to e magistrate for pro- animUA ceHainly

The China Mail managed to

That fnlshed up the Friend of all round improvement was ex: a summons, and if the evidence The which con-

Friend of

China keep clear of all this by the

went 'sick' in peated. Ilawever, China, Tarrant

strong Wii

cnough the do- "repeatedly Fasinuated that simple

expedient of avoiding geol ind was moved into the first business was an enquiry

fendant was submitted to the Lieutenant Governor Caine court cases, probably because of hospital, but the visiting justices into the Civil Service. This case, Supreme Court, and the (while he was Chief Magistrale) is being declared a semi-official ung him out and he was 50 briefly mentioned on page 103 of had been in cultuston with his

back to the cells to mix with the Sayer's "Hongkong," was taken Attorney-General prosecuted. wrong conclusions wero unbellevenbly fothesome scam ap by the editor of

drawn

the local *

populace, who fled Hongkong's gnol' at Prem,

who presumed that Government Even A later editor of the

However, things were going that me.

prosecuted in its own interests China Mai) queried us to why

Out of pity, Hongkong Loutenant Governor Cane to far. Mr Andrew Wilson, the

The quarrel was really be- Lgainst certain editors. llowed five years to pass betace vultor of the China Mall com- petitioned the new Governor, Sir

candidly on the Hercules Robinson, who had tween Mr May, he took any action to refute this enter very libel

way in which the ex-Attorney- been sent out to put a stop to tendent of Police, and Mr Cald- by Sir Hercules provided that a Sh well the Registrar-General, al person who considered himself Ciceral had conducted the cuse all this scandalous stuT, The reason is that the an-

turned the petition ready mentioned in passing a ciled had to sue for damages, and that costs at all events fortunate Caine was called upon of the Crown versus Tarrant, Hercules

having great an interest in

recovered by the to give evidence before a judge Mr Wilson was bound over for down.

But agitation grow and at last pirates One pirate in parti- should be

platif. This becam OT who had earlier been suspend the sum of $1,000,

State cular causing the police much dinuce Number 10 of 1860. the Secretary for ed for looking too deep into the keep the pence, and apologise.

He suggested that trouble, Ma Chow Wun. 1880, the bend was increased to Had Catre brought At this, the China Mail threw intervened {pewter pol.

be transfered the The Daily Press accused Mr $1,200. ong his case earlier, it would off all connection with Govern- Tarrant

The enquiry, instituted by Sir Save been heard before this nont and arranged itself along debtors side of the prison, and Caldwell of extortion and per

side the other papers,

that half his sentence be

At once proceedings were Hercules Robinson Into the May- re-jury. judge.

negun against the editor for libel. /Crthwel business did not August 1857, and the editor of mitted. am 1 able to perhaps Thus

Eventually, the case came up The editor withdrew the charges. atisfy Mr Murrow, the editor of right an earlier wrong done by the Friend of China is again in

in looking things over from the Daily Press, who produced trouble He is on a charge of before the House of Commons. the China Mail.

The

against Acting Colonial Tarrant was released humedlate this distance of time, it seems prisoners as witnesses But Cine's silence was mi libelling

whom ho inter- interpreted by the press at the Secretary whom he accuses of ly, his Que having been paid by the newspaper man had a rough Caldwell for

tinie. In most cases, thers talced an implacable hatred. ne, and at once there broke burning the books of Ma Chow subscripion.

some basis for their troubles were existed the pirate, to

But Tarrant's

When Sur Hercules Robinson out a vicious period in journa Wong,

ilmself and the Registrar not at an end. Dr Bridges, whom charges. But even if they seem refused to reopen the enquiry, listr In short, the press went

the fuct re- meanwhile reminding Murrow General against

of you will remember had a grudge unfairly treated, yellow.

against Tarrant, brought a case nains that no man can be tried that he had Ave charges of libel The more wicked and vicious complicity with pirates.

and in avinst himself, Murrow lost his This

the newspapers, time the editor was against Tarrant for costs, $2,283, by ils greater

on the creasing legislation has made heat, and storted xpularity, and Hongkong lapped found, not guilty and costs were a connection with the trial.

Dr Bridges made no secrot of it pretty hot for any British Governor. awarded against Government # up.

Bat Sir Hercules stood firm. Daily Press seized the This may have been due to the the fact that he was taking it out newpaper that tries to anticipate

and at that, the mud miinging Mr fact that the Governor had found of Tarant. This only aroused the vertet of the jury. pla by the car.

Another sub- The fact remains that Cald- which had disgraced the Colony Murrow, its editor, had been it a reasonable time to take a public sympathy.

dismissed from scription was raised and the well was

the censed to some degree. crossed by the Registrer-General trip to Manila.

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Mr Murrow outdid Mr Tarrant

in scurrilous statement, He said the Registror-General was "the tool of unscrupulous Chinese compradores, and in league with pirates."

At any rute, the Registrar- General resigned, but was later persuaded to carry on.

The Daily Press, thus encout- aged went a step higher, and had

a

go at the Governor, and

accused him (Sir J Bowring)

of comptly favouring the fren of Jnrame Matheson & Co. In the matter of public contracts. Murrow was put on trial for this, and received Elx month in gaol, the jury taking only fifteen minutes to KITÍVA la verdiet.

at

The judge also fined him $100 "to vindicate the law, and put

a stop to the unmeasured abuse

of publie Individuals,"

It seems that the editor, Mr Murrow quite enjoyed himself in gaol...Ho was put in the debtor's side of the prison, and was allowed overy, comfort,

While in the gool he still ran

paper,

editoriais and his were a beauty to behold, and what he said about the Governor was no one's trustress,

Strangely enough, critician of this originated not in Hongkong, but in London, when the illustrated London News of July 3rd 1888, severely, erlifeised Hongkong Government for allow- Ing such scandalous reports to issus from gaol,

When Mr Murrow was re- Jeased, ho immediately took nction at law against dir Johti ¡Bowring, Asking for 40,000

1:aper.

ordered to

screen

charge

The

the Dally

the Superin-

ZERO DAY ON THE MOTORWAY ...

Motorway NOL-drivers Mopeds Motorcycles under 50cc Invalid-carriages Pedal-cycles Pedestrians

Animals

The unending bill introduced

BY JAK

*Not bad for a start, sir. Three out of seven, wrong side of the road--and we don't even open till tomorrow.”

London kasterS AURION,