1959-01-14 — Page 4

·Page 1-

As

THE

THE CHINA MAIL,

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1959.

WORSHIPPERS OF ST. FANTAN

Bucking

I have suggested from time to time, By. Hongkong was in some rospects a very naughty town, and also from time to time, many of its former Governors wore extreme- ly depressed by the activities of various citizens.

The reasons I have given. While the Island has always had its quota of fine upstanding citizens of British, Chinese, and third nationals, it has always had more than its quota of mischievous subjects who thumbed their noses at all who wished to guide their feet onto the paths of righteousness.

thie ly licensing a Bmited mun- bar of gambling houses.

It is necessary to repeat that many Chinese who came here, did so to avoid meeting certain gentlemen known as Mandarins who had arranged appointments with the focul headsmen in the localities where the aforesaid unruly citizens lived.

So, in a way Hongkong was a Fort of sanctuary for many who were pirates by trade. They in were joined by naby Turn

Wh European! that they might have been, were it not for the fact that the British Navy had almost put the pirates out of business.

white

hot

the

JOHN LUFF

chinese territory. They were

Tiger

with

the fear of raising on intern merely small Chineze villages, fonal question

its a hut hid vicious reputation, tendant "difficulties has hitherto fact, their, only revenue was vies prevented the Executive Council and gambling, and they were of this Colony from taking any under the control of a Mundaries active steps to put a stop to this who made a very fine thing out very fruitful source of serious of t

Do not imaging all you h to do to get there was jump on bus at the Star Ferry, and go there. There was no Nuthan fload. There was a kind of track which followed the sea- ime round, and it ran through

the village of Yaumati.

But this did not deter the boys. There was no racial dis- unction, and the Chinese wel comèd the European lads from Ilongkong who visited them.

Of course during the day, the telpuns, who used to work them. selves in those days, kept the to go far as Shamshulpo, but on Sunday afternoons, a special steam launch used to run to ac- commodate then,

crime in our midst.""

considerable number of the British and forelan community. Persons occupying prominent positions in the Colony."

The inws of China expressly Prohibit gambling of overy description. and so severo are the penalties against the keepern that even in the huge eity of Canton, where official bribery is the most prominent feature of government, these popular ganies have to be played

mandarinie

strictly under the rore.

*

✩

THE City Hall-opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1869. It contained

Theatre, two halls, a music-room, public library and reading roomed

Lion,

and

museum and the offices of the Chamber of Commerce,

refinement

C012

"As a matter of fact, the res cognised centre and only in Those who have read the legalised home of fan-Can former articles will now know South China is in the Holy City Smith wrote thus at Macao, Hoensed under the Aral of tlis why Frazer

Most Christian slashing attack which follows.

With a very few exceptions, Majesty, the King of Portugal fiongkong Government Officia's and Algarves. are quite content to draw their boral salaries and allowances

"At Sam-shui-po and Kowloon so lower themselves as to be. for supervising in a more or les

come regular habitues of such the gambling is carried on with- perfutictory manner the routin

unclean dens of infamy and vice, Interference frum the

the Rociates of evil-smelling varlous offices, t work of their

beemise the without troubling themselves as authorities, simply

coolies, the patrons of the least charge of interesting and most degrading to the real interest of the public. Petty mandarins from whom they rective their these places are bribed by the form of gambling known on the generally easily earned wages, keepers of gaming houses to face of the globe,"

I particularly like that literary "And we do not hesitate to more what daily goes on.

"Steam-launches run frequent- assert that our pulle interests

Kowloon and gem, worshippers at the shrine

of St Fantan have been most prejudically at-ly from here to

Sam-shut-po, not only during

*

low-class gambling hells in the considerable portion of the It took a little time-heaven

aces

Put England was far, and what was good enough for Surbiton was good enough for Hongkong. pirates, had such inclinations The Tropie at home were dis- Inds' noses to the desk too late feeted by the existence of the the day, but also late at night, a

Could not the people fur bed, of Hongkong be told it wa against the law to gamble?

Tut worried Sir John realized til the only way to enforce the law was to put a wire fence round Victoria, and post a lel- for telling everyone they would be gooled for gambling.

This is all to say that there was room for a very very great deal of improvement:

Javing, I hope made the clear, I now want to draw your

Twelve years later. In July,

above named being mored, nay, almost recognised Ly the Hongkong Government.

are bound on the passengers Same mission"to buck the tiger, as fan-ton has suggestive ly been named.

Contem-

to friendly pressure which the local Government brought 19 bear on the Viceroy of Canton, these dens of Infamy had been finally doomed to extinction, but unfortunately the rumour was without foundation.

or

"Into whose pockets do the profits of these heil-peoplin: estabilaliments ro? Is it, as 15 openly stated into those of the Mandarin in eommand there,

the do

cut-throat who Booundrels

ran them absorb the whole?

"It would be alike Interest. Ing and useful to have s point finally decided, as the necessary measures for their suppression could then be framed in accordance with the requirements of the case.

ous clutch and sírained gazo eliher gathered in thetr un- hallowed rains, or watched their piles diminishing,

"Truly

a pitiable sight!.. "A CLERGYMAN" Now that letter reads a bit hollow to me, and I wonder if "A Clergymon" was not over to buelt the tiger himself, when he was spotted by one of his flock.

To find himselt wounded to the soul in these parts over a fan-tan gume is -bit farfetched,

However, as the literature of Mrs Humphrey Ward has made plain, that, was the manner af expression expected from the clergy of those days.

Well, people still "buck tho tiger" and "chase the dragon," and all the laws that can ba made cannot stop them from so doing.

did not reem in a hurry-but on February 8, 1891, fire broke out in Shenishulpo,

In one night, the whole place was wiped out, The Hongkong Police do not k damage amounting ไม่ hesitate to say that a large pro- $30,000 was caused. portion of the Chinese visitors porary reports do not hesitate to are shroffs, and office 'boys' and suggest that many of those who domestic servants in European had fled their voices against unploy in this Colony.

this village, considered the te

A few years ago, it was quite as less a vindication, but more "I visited the place on the common for people to go over

Lord's Hay just to satisfy my- of a response to their petitioning.

to Macno to "back the tiger," But Shamshutpo took the fre self as to the truth of the many but at the moment, I never re in its stride, because by August harrowing tales I had heard member the Colony to well

of the doings there, and was behaved. 26 of the same year, the whole

the rzelly

most wounded to the soul to see, wpcctable town in the Far alas more than I had ever East. dreamed of.

This used to run through the week also for those who could, "It used to be common custom, et off, but Sunday seem. 19 and we have a doubt that I

suit is at the present time, for Have been the big day.

Things got so bad that Mr crowds of a certain section of

community, including 1867, eleven aambling houses Frizer Smith of the Hongkong the 13

women and children, to go over were licengast, and the number Telegraph ran this sinching lead-

in stem-launches to Sam-shuf- Is it nny wander therefore, "For some yours pest 104 pe and pass their Sunday after that petty pilfering is rather the was later increased to sixteen. My article on March 10, 1830.

have, from the to thine, directed nanny In Althy Chinese dens, rule than the exception in al- the attention of the Hongkung gambling at poo-ch! and fan- most every house and offee in

the pernicious

new generation Hongkong? tan, teaching Government to

"The European worshippers at thing was going at full swing, gambling which is permitted to the very worst forms of vice.

"And it is notoriouston the shrine of St Fantan are of crusing this letler

be Douchecked in the Chinese villages

many actions of Sam-shui-po and notorious, alas-that the wretch-

and of various eddressed to the editor of the

"Only last week li currently reported that owing

attention to two villagCA, you have a map, you wil easily find Shamshulu, which is now fforded a nivasure of res pectability, for the Army have a Command Work- camp and #L shop there

fat in the days I wish to dis cars, it WI I very place.

✩ +

per mitted to enter these gambling homes, and there was consider- and bitterne about this un- Neither wicked fair racial treatment,

Endihmen were not

Now End Kowloun City. Thi: Wie women allowed in these Kowloon, which are situated on cả conglomeration of Chinese positions la social life, and is Hongkong Telegraph. was another wicked place, nad kambling joints, and in 1893, the Borders of British Territory. hovels known as Kowloon City a matter of great surprise that

it cost the respectible citits of Hongkong much heartach, as I shut now relate.

shrotta, and It is almost needless to say that

is the favourite rendezvous of a

Chineze servants, cashiers were excluded.

The reason for the last bit of legislation is easy to see the The English and the Chilures servantes chroffs and others, have a great deal in comunan, as were trying to make good their onyone who has lived here for loves and make a bit for their nny length of time will tell you masters by dipping into the 1,

Icel magistrates The is, an persons who get out unt

But of all things working nightshift: dealing and about. they have in commun, none with them

controlling This rehome of so common as the love of having

Et muling by legislation was wel- Institutions Comed by 100st, of the com- established in Hongkong have munity. and the police were earned Chinese admiration. The most enthusiastic, for it saved

a flutter.

Many of

the

were

fine hotels, the Botanical their care fect from walking Gardens, the University of Hong- round looking for such citize kong, but the

admiration for these is execeded by the drain ing of Happy Vuiley and the inking of the Race Course.

There, ell nationalities melt in the crucible of backing the ¡LUTSPS. Ia faci, I think if all, the world were a race track, and all men and women merely backers, ie could solve all buter- national dificulties.

But to return to yesteryear. We all remember from our Sun day school days of Sodom and Gormorah, and how in the end,

who were borrowing from the verinus ls,

But "few gentlemen of the elerieat profession who felt it i their duly to protest," started agliating. The Reverend F, S. Turner of the London Mission with the Reverend D. B. Morris, minister of the Union Church, and four missionaries, raised rather violent ones.

T Inde of those days could express themselves very well in print, and there was quite a bit of mid-slinging as well as ink-

incing.

persons

educa- of position,

ما

was

"There wers

anit men. women loo,' of the various social trades who with nery-

Saturday:

THE FIRST TOURISTS

ONE OF BRITAIN'S TOP JOURNALISTS PRESENTS HIS STARS OF 1958

Well, at least

one man said

SIR WILLIAM ROOTES Down-to-earth. -

what he thought!

One Hongkong wit coined As the most OUT-

д

term that had the Colony laugh-

SPOKEN man of

these two cities caught it pro in; ie dubbed them the "Moral the year I nominate Mr perly. Well, if any two places six. were asking for it during the last But the six were on2 half of the nineteenth century, many for the lads, and the

were

too John Davis, right-hand

They Kowloon City,

Sir John Rowring You might say, this is all very In 1855. was the Governor who tried to well, but you told us to look for do something about a tendency Shain huipo and Kowloon City. towards gambling. On the face Well, pli this brings me to that. of it. It was a good idea. He In those days, Shemshuipe

Kowloon City decided to evangelise the inevit aud

Shamshuipo and scheme for licensed gambling

houses was dropped in 1871,

A

gracious welcome to your guests

DRY FLY SHERRY

DRY FLY SHERRY

*

More & more people are drinking DRY FLY SHERRY

were

BY ALEXANDER THOMSON

man to Lord Rank in the up with quite a few of the over "never-never" loans from the And "celluloid" empire of the hasty. Rank Organisation.

In the big chey field, the has tackled Mr Riding Price. SHREWDEST move was surely Ten times this year he has cut made by Mr Gibson Jarvie, prices in his chain of storen, Britain's "Mr Hire Purchase. Is there no place for women List? He foresaw the ending of hire in this special Honours purchase controls months before. Miss Nancy Maurice City nis pcretary from Battersca, shall it happened, and linked United Dominions Trust with be our heroine.

Barclays Bank, ready for "the

off

Who shall we have as the

nost PERSISTENT man of

1058? No doubt about that,

Ticked off

a

The way she stood up before crowd of men at a share- Mr Henry Laxell, 55-year-old owners' meeting and ticked off head of the Beecham Group, financler John Dalgleish of the whose products range from Comp Bird industrial and Brylcreem to Lucozade)

riining group makes her the He earns that title for his no- BATTLING WOMAN. of tho holds-barred fight with

Sir year. Frederic Hooper, of Schweppes, Of course, Mr Amory, the for control of the Corona soft- Chancellor, should be drinks business.

High this Honours List, too, after his The bidding open.ed at great achievements in 1958, £8,500,000. It linished at nearly But on my reckoning he is £8,000,000 with BeechamS on ctill only half-way down

top,

courte.

the

It was a double-your-money So wait satil he has slashed tussle that whisked Corona income

shores

tax

and

reorganised up from 275, 30. to purchase tax in his next Budget, Gd. almost before you and scrapped that troublesome could say soda water

Treasury creature," the Capital Then there is Sir Simon Issuca Committee. Murks, that 70-year-old dynamo

then Monckton jumped behind the Marks and Spencer all thear awards (except Misa Then, next year we shall roll

bank.

shead again with a "personal enterprise.

Maurice's) Into one--and give the Most of the other big banks cheque" plan for workers to give He deserves

HOUSE him THE LOT! As the bill roll in at the your's end. I imagino some are rushed in to fellow his lead. us cloth-cap banking.

WIVES' award for the way he wishing that they had pald

It was in a glittering room deep in the heart of Mayfair more attention to Sir William's that he let fy a few months sound advice.

in

age.

These two are sparkling and colourful personalitics. As the BOLDEST man of the year, here

"Some of our young stars imply won't work." declared the hard-working Mr Davis. is u 72-year-old Yorkshireman

"They appear in one or two airns, receive encouraging notlees from the critics, then start getting big ideas.

"They lose their sense of proportion. They

mako outrageous demands

They become quite impossible."

It's crazy

who is plain and homely, as well as forthright.

He is Mr Algernon Denham, the "lone ranger" of the build- Ing. societies and head of Britain's biggest, the Halifax.

Denham is the only one of the big bosses in the societies to an- nounce a cul in the interest rate on home loans because of this year's reductions In Bank rate, As long ago as last August, ho

In saying that. be sald raid he was lowering his rate lo

what many of us must surely

(sel.

home buyers from 6p.c. to 5%

c.

It is a crazy system that has At the time, he declared: "I brought the little twinkling don't think building societies can lights in the firmament of oater- go on indefinitely Ignoring the trend in interest tainment pay packets that make downward those of our top scientists, on

tates."

Buliding which the future of Britain de- But the powerful pends. look like chicken feed, Societies Association, of which pnd which many of our top men

the Halifax is not a member, in industry must envy.

has not budged itself yet. It is So thank you; Mr John Davini Millaying that the old 0 p.c. The most DOWN TO EARTH the correct rate for home man of the year? I award that prize to Bir William Rootes, the

ar millionaire.

Da you remember

the

ballyhoo that frrated the

scrapping of the last of the

loans.

Ahead again

It is n "new boy" to the world "nevor-never controls in the of finance and big business who

T suggest bas Autumn?

the

In thefirst one carelessfapture BIGGEST STIR of the past of that free-for-all, you were year,

told you could drive away a new This distincion I give to car for a little as a fiver down. 67-year-old Lord Monckton, who From Sir William came cold after his triumpha as a lawyer word of reason: "It is and Tory Labour Minister is chitirely wrong to, persuade now chairman of the Midland people to buy things they Bank. may not be able to afford. I Think back on hot he would like to ace stability, not startled the City by launching “personal stunts,"

the Midland'a new By now, the facts of economie Ioana" scheme for buying any- life will no doubt have caught thing from ours to

MOSCOW WASHINGTON (VIAMOON)

"GEE, AND NO HORNS OR TAIL EITHER

~(London Express Service).

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