1960-02-06 — Page 8

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JOOM THE “CHENA MAIL, SATURDAY:: FEBRUARY 6; 1980.

THE GOVERNOR'S

June 18, 1950, I returned to Hongkong for the fourth time. But this arrival was different. On the three previous occasions (I had arrived from England twice, and Singapore once). I had been under military care, so the business of clearance was merely routine. On this fourth occa- sion, I was on the run. I had been on the run for exactly à month to the day. The details of this were given in my “The Last Days of Shanghai.”

For the first time in my life, I had crossed the police. My guilt was clearly established. It started in the Police Bureau at Shanghai. I had laughed when they examined some British War Bonds. But to possess them seemed highly suspicious. At fifteen shillings a go, I had helped finance a Fascist war.

the

My looks and gestures werD reckons "Imperialistic," favourite adjective of the regime.

new

They saw me off at the sla- tion in Shanghai, Ond unter travelling a might and a day, and yet another night, 1 arriv ed'in Tientsin as dawn WAR breaking.

I had to report to the police. 1 overslept, ant arrived five minutes after twelve. I WBS riven in severo reprimand, n fakt to return the next day. Then the War House had post- ed some compaign medals onto mc. What was I doing with

these?

I was wakened up in the early hours of the morning, and

my room was searched. My last search before leaving this town, I have already described in a previous artele. After a mobil: it beghs to well.

Very

sight

The Hongkong Police

By JOHN LUFF

ctured quickly. The rogue anticipated, and quietly turned back. That is real efficiency.

ic year

.

Elliot had gone, to had Sir Henry Pottinger, and now Sit John Davis was Governor.

A

As a prologue, he gave it as breach between Sir John Davis his opinion that the Mugistrates and Chief Jusilee Hulme, were dealing with cases which soldier bad too much to drink, should, be brought only before and finding that in such a state the Supreme Court.

ht disliked everyone in view, he set about the nearest civillon.

A nearby policeman was call ed upon, but he refused to do anything, and in fact, edged in a tile closer, to get a good view of the proceedings,

Sir John Davis was livid with age. lie called his Magistrates

But it was not always so.

This was the trouble, Up to For instance, let us nee the the arrival of Chief Justice Governora ry Hongkong police in action. J. W. Hulme, the month of June has

1841, and the and Administrators had

seen the Imagined they were the law. first land sales.

Caine, ignorant of the law, Hiiller, Many or the Amaller and his assistant, Mr merchants are disgusted; they equally ignorant, continued to do not nee why they should take orders from the Governor have to pay for land that up to on all questions of legislation up and give certain orders, the mome.. had never bees The Chief Justice would not From then on, every petty case

But the more affluent coin. tolerate this. He had Caine, now was directed to

HWCT a Major, and

in Court. up panies bought land and paid front of him, and tried to ex- a pretty peany for Il.

plain that the law is an t- One

personal body, and that it is not administered according to whim or inclination,

The very sight of a policeman worth cent drove me sick.

Then I sailed into Hongnong on the morning of June 18, 1950,

The Hongkong police carne aboard at Kowloon Hay, bachuse we had a number of refugees who were bound for various parts of the earth they had never seen. Many of these poor Hunted people had already made mental reservations to lose themselves in Hongkong. So net until they were taken off and taken aloft in a plane did we soil again.

disgruntled merchant takes a look along the water front where Queen's Rond is roughly regged out, and sples a plot of ground marised out but unoccupied. As a matter of fact, it is to be a Inne be- 1ween two lots."

Refuses

Calbe look great offence, So did Sir John Davis. But Chief Justlen Hulme refused to concede his point.

A turrible food broke out, so potty, co mean, that it seareely bears telling

It began with Davis

over

Then the police turned to us, Subconsciously, my mind This unnamed merchant - riding thố Chief Justice, and

making WHE

comparisons, cuples the lot, and plants his imposing through his magis These

chaps

sflug there. Captain Caine of trates, a large fire upon a mer socmed impersonal, friendly enough if the Cameronian's tells him to chant. The merchant appealed you spoke to them, but cut-

Chief remove his flag and take him to the Supreme Court, side their duty, their routine self off. He refuses. Caine Justice Hulme found in favour check. they displayed

returns to his moushed office, of the merchant, and used the officiousness,

"unjust,

110

My passport was stamped, and all that was said was, “So you

to settle down here?" lot.

"Hm you might do worse," I felt I had to pay more. The month's grilling, following year of state police, made me foel that this was too casual. But I couldn't put it into word:. And later experience has taught me that it is an experience you cannot share unless it be with mother who has gone through the poller state mill.

Alert

"Sost in silence until we anchored. The policemen slood smart, plert, and withdrawa Qulot, cffelent, but not de- humanised that is the phrase I wanted.

Since then, coming and go ing, I have heard people make the same remark.

Chiefly Americans, who knock around Asin, and then stop off at Hongkong. The rapidly of the clearance at the Airport, The absence of the inquisition, The human touch. BUL of

swears in some soldiers as occasion to pronounce Sir John special constables and again Davis's decision approaches the disputed and excessive, and illegal”

The Governor took this as a personal insult,

He orders the soldier-specials.

to throw down the flag and

it now became very evident forcibly remove the squatter. that the Governor was going to This 13 unnecessary, the have a showdown. This oc- merchant-squatter walks off curred on October 27, 1848.

without making a fuss.

This seems all right, but as

Two Chinese junks collided

In the Harbour, and as the junk

a fault tried to sail away, the

a matter of fact, the Hongkong crew of the injured junit fired

Police got off to a very bad start Looking at it any way you like, when Captain Elbst appointed William Caine Chief Magistrate of the Island of Hongkong, he made a big mis- lake.

On the other hand, there had 1o be a Magistrate, and it was more or less Hobson's choice.

But the first requirement of a Magistrate is a knowledge of law, And Caine knew nothing of Briush Law; or, come to that, did the first Governor, Sir Henry Pottinger.

It did not matter much unti

"

Hongkong began to acquire an executive form. There cane

Court, and with the Supreme Court, a Chief approach

Justice, J. W. June, Hulme, who arrived in 1844.

course, this casual does not mean a casual applica tion. Those in the clear ave

Give Braemar - give pleasure!

BRA-MAR

SCOTLAND'S FINEST KNITWEAR

For

someone who deserves the best-

ono

of the

finest

mon's cardigars In Practical the world. yet

magnificent. a Braomar will be. A constant, good com. panion for years to Comfortable, relaxed and superbly mado In choicest cashmere or lambs- wool.

come.

SEE THE RANCE OF BRAEMAR MEN'S CARDIGANS AT

ALL THE LEADING STORES

their muskets to attract atten-

ion.

Piracy?

A police boat observed what was going on, thought it a cure

piracy and Bred oh the escaping junk. Five men were, drowned, and the remudalag 19) were brought as prisonera to Hongkong.

The Police Magistrate dealt with the case. He pronounced the 13 men vagrants, had them Blogged, and then sent them 10 the Kowloon City Mandarin to handle them as he wished,

On the other hand, the Coroner's JUTH, after thred days' examination of the case, brought in a verdict of man slaughter against the policej and (by implication) declared the innocence of the 13 flogged

MLEN,

The Supreme Court took up the case and set aside the ver Met on the ground of regulari Pity, the prisoners having beeri Eworn to the truth or their de positions, thus making them in- criminale themselves,

the Supreme

Waste

of

Meanwhile, the citizens Hongkong were quite aware of all that was happening. In fact, they quite enjoyed it until they found that they were called time and time agalii for Jury duty, only to discover they were un- wanted.

This aflor blew over, but within a few days, the Magist- rates were in trouble again, Nine men were sentenced to three months' imprisonment on). a charge of intent to commit a felony. They appealed to the Supreme Court, and the charge was clearly disproved,

Temper

The Magistrate was brought up before the Chief Justice, where he explained that he (the Magistrate) sentenecd the prisoners under the Vagrants

Act of Glycogs TV),

Chier Justice itulme frown- ed, tapped his fingers Im! ...: Pellenily upon the bench, ther

allowing his temper: to cool. alghilly, captained that ` tùo | Act is question was superi seded By Ordinance 14. of -TRAK.

The Magistrate left the Court, bip tall between his legs, wowing edwatago in the next future. (@liler · Jumetics · Haine kent to see Sir John Devir, THE Interview, was bot pleasant, andj there

plain) speaking. The Tulige koterred |4o lha Ighörinee of 'the Magis-)

their high-handedn

which seemed to stem from one couragement in high elecion; und) the Judge also rendo the point;

tored from the point of view of British Lawes

Sold Agents: Fielding Brown & Finch (Far East) Ltd, that justice would be admink

As body, the citizens of Hongkong addressed the Chief Justice and told him their time was being wasted, The Chief Justice agreed, took a note of their complaint, and forwarded it to the Governor,

Later, when the policeman was questioned on to why he res fused to Interfere he repiled that his Instructions forbade him 10 interfero with the Milltary.

The Sessions wong on, and come out in Court that Govern-

ment had ordered the police not to interfere with the Military.

Not

worth

The Chief Justice, gave his opinion, Such an order was not worth the paper I was printed ment could exempt soldiers from Only an Act of Parlin-

being amenablo to civilian authority.

Again blood pressures rose

The newspapery played to a dangerous height. There was one more petty 999, and In the end, showdown preceding the actual Adjutant-General wrote

BRICK BRADFORD

THE SPACESHP CLIMBS UP TOWARD THE TIME-TOP,FIRING

ROCKETS.-***

FOUR D. JONESË MADDOCKS

'BEAKS

LEFT: The Right Hon. Sir Henry Pot- finger, Bort, G.C.B., Hongkong's first Governor, who knew little law.

..

RIGHT: Sir John Davis, Bart., who was # law unto him self

local press that no such order was issued

But Chiet Justice Hulme would not leave it there, slowly the truth leaked out; the order was a general order, mado during the address to the saw sembled regiment,

So _camo the showdown profer. The Governor told the Chief Justice that ¦ as Governor, he could arg-ingo the willings of the Citirt se- cording to the Governor's wiibes.

No comment

The Chlof Justico mado no this, but took comment upon advantage of a lull fix the tirado to inform the Governor that the Chief Justice was usually referred to as His Lordship.

Sir John Davie was in mich fury that he almost leaped the Peak, The Chief Justice wanted a showdown. He would have it.

On November 22, 1847, the Chief Justice was tried by the Executive Council on a charge of being drank and incapable wille presiding Over thue Bessiona

Major Calio, anxious for re- venge, Mr Johnston, were

the only members to support the Governor, both vowing that the

Chief Justice was drunk and in- capable most of the time.

So with such evidence from such reliable sources, Sir John Dayls reckoned he could do no other than remove the Chief Justico from his offleẹ,

Davis then sent á detalled Toport

Pulmersion. to Lord Lora Palmerston, ignoring the fnet that the document mado this very unpleasant charges against the the Chief Justice, sent it on lo the the Colonial Secretary,

BRICK THROWS A SWITCH WHICH SETS

UP AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD

AROUND THE TIME-TOP

NOW, LITTLE GRINGO. CAN WE TAKE IT THAT

YOU WISH TO BECOME

A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE ?

POP-Rockaby Rock

FERD'NAND

(SURÈ

IF YOU

LIKE

WHAT TUNBO'S "GUKT SUPPOSED

“O BE

THAT WILL DETONATE THE

ROCKSTS ATA) SAFE PISTANCE!

CRA

FLIKE! THEN WE ARE. AS

ONE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE COMMON ENEMY!

GENER

whereas Cilis's pátron had

left the Colony.

When this became knows in Hongkong, every citizen of re- pute called upon the Chief Justice, while the local soltel It had its ludicrous sido: also. tors presented him with a gold The newspapers were calling snuff box inscribed indignante Caine all kinds of bitter names, insidia florebis justus ——("Though and one paper had opened in. you and indignant at the dependent enquiries as to his Jealousy-Justice shall flourish.") conduct in business offairs, his

The Chief Justice was re- instated on orders from home, The resignation of Sir John Davis was accepted.

The news

social deportment-especially with referénco to local fašЯies, and one or two other things.

Catné had to wali years be tore be dared to proceed with his libel sulte against the paper in question, and when at last ho brought it after the re

ex-

News of this resignation was tirement of Hulme, he received with joy throughout plained that his delay was due the Colony The Chief Justles to his axloty

thin.

to

receiva

Court by a cheering crowd who was escorted to the Supreme Justice, His plea sounded very

with his

gave him three stmes three

he proceeded 19 Judicial duties.

So, as 1-said, looking at the legal side of police affairs, the beginning was unfortunate to say the legal.

Major Gaine, Chief Magis- © But what about the per- trate, wil left in the air. sónnel of the Force? He had risked everything upon Bir John Davis winning new the man the day, and

ho had sworn. WRE AİWAYE A

drunk, wan

WEDNESDAY:

back in ome, FINE POLICE, INDEED!

By Paul Norris ··

KETO ARE

VATURELY!

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HATE: HATE

{M MAKING

IT UP

STHEN

DIVE IN AS CLOSE AS YOUCANI

AND

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ILFORD

DEATH TO THE PEGLAY BUREAUCRATIC REAC

NEW

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TOURAN PRE

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nood drog la curilágunď Skrip willag duid

QUIERO, ALPER COLLTE.

ITRIINIC

THAT'S A

Goog "TITLE

By Gog

IN SPAIN THEY PLAY

THE CASTANETS;"

AND THEY DRINK

Carlsberg

ishermen prefer

SWISSAIR

AIRLINE, OF SWITZERLAND.