26
At all events, the discontent would never have arrived at such a pitch, and with Mr. Caldwell at Colonel Caine's elbow, whilst the honourable gentleman was addressing the mob, he must have been a bold villain indeed that would have ventured upon the cry of "Ta Ta Fan-kwei lo" (strike, strike the barbarian), to which, in his absence, the crowd on all sides gave free utterance. One good measure, however, to result from this affair will be, the general registration of Chinese in the colony, in accordance with the Proclamation.
Deeming it a duty I owe to myself, I addressed the Governor through the Colonial Secretary, suggesting means for the preservation of life and property until the restoration of order at Canton, and the following is a true copy of the same:--
Sir,
Victoria, Hong Kong,
December 20, 1856.
The present state of affairs at Canton having given rise to divers rumours connected with the safety of this colony, I have been induced to draw up the following proposals, which I beg you will do me the honour to submit to his Excellency the Governor.
That lists of all Portuguese and all other foreign male inhabitants above the age of fifteen, be immediately sent in to the Colonial Secretary, together with the locality where they reside, for the purpose of being enrolled in companies near to their own habitations, in event of its becoming necessary for them to defend the same. It is fair to presume that every foreigner is possessed of arms, and this force would considerably aid the police and military, not only in maintaining order, but also in putting down disturbers of the peace. The boarding-house keepers to furnish a list of such of their boarders as might be inclined to volunteer for an auxiliary police force, to turn out when called upon; and upon such occasions they should be remunerated for their services by the Government. If arms be not procurable, they would prove a most efficient auxiliary, if merely possessing clubs. I am informed that from fifty to sixty Manilla men and Malays are out of employ on shore; these men, with forty Europeans, ought to be hired at once as a temporary increase to the police force, for the specific purpose of night patrols of at least six or eight parties.
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The Masters of all merchant ships (British) in the harbour to send a boat's crew from each vessel on occasion of fire or disturbance; the numbers being, of course, in proportion to their numerical strength on board; which might be easily ascertained by the harbour-master from the masters; these crews would necessarily be armed.
It would be essential to appoint places of assembly, or points of rendezvous, for parties from the water, as well as for those on shore; so that all confusion might be avoided, and each party have its particular point of assembly clearly defined. A well understood signal should be established and promulgated to the public, so as to ensure the prompt and unmistakable attendance of those concerned.
The military force is so distant from the city, that I should strongly recommend a party of the 59th Regiment, of not less than fifty bayonets, being established in some central position of the town, to come on duty at seven in the evening, and to return to their barracks on the following morning. I further suggest that a Committee of Public Safety be formed for taking into consideration the best means of preserving life and property. The Committee to consist as follows, until a better suggestion be made:--The Senior Naval officer; officer commanding the Troops, and his Town Major; the Chief Magistrate; Harbour Master; Mr. May, Superintendent of Police; Mr. Caldwell, Registrar-General and Protector of the Chinese; Mr. E. Pereira, Mr. Antrobus, Mr. Gibb, Mr. Scarth, Mr. R. S. Walker, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Agent; Mr. Armstrong, two Masters of vessels, and three of the most influential and trustworthy of the Chinese; as well as Mr. Lapraik, Mr. George Duddell, and Mr. Lane; and the result of their labours to be submitted to the Governor for his sanction. Barricades at the ends of streets are very desirable; to be removed, of course, during the day. The city to be told off into wards and districts, with supervising officers to each; one of such officers to be taken from the inhabitants.
For the present native craft should be prohibited from moving about the harbour after seven in the evening, unless only to convey Europeans to their vessels. Only two wharfs should be allowed for this purpose. Steamers conveying native passengers to Hong Kong should detain any passengers with arms, and immediately send them to the Police Station.
The Police ought to carefully watch the actions and abodes of all Chinese idlers or suspicious persons, not having any ostensible means of livelihood, and through the instrumentality of the Tepos of districts, take them to the Police Station for examination, invariably searching their houses for arms.
Hong Kong Harbour should at the present crisis be ...
G
26
At all events, the discontent would never have arrived at such a pitch, and with Mr. Caldwell at Colonel Caine's elbow, whilst the honourable gentleman was addressing the mob, he must have been a bold villain indeed that would have ventured upon the cry of "Ta Ta Fankwee lo" (strike, strike the barbarian), to which, in his absence, the crowd on all sides. gave free utterance. One good measure, however, to result from this affair will be, the general registration of Chinese in the colony, in accordance with the Proclamation..
Deeming it a duty I owe to myself, I addressed the Governor through the Colonial Secretary, suggesting means for the preservation of life and property until the restoration of order at Canton, and the following is a true copy of the
same :--
Sir,
Victoria, Hong Kong,
December 20, 1856.
The present state of affairs at Canton having given rise to divers rumours connected with the safety of this colony, 1 have been induced to draw up the following proposals, which I beg you will do me the honour to submit to his Excellency the Governor.
That lists of all Portuguese and all other foreign male inhabitants above the age of fifteen, be immediately sent in to the Colonial Secretary, together with the locality where they reside, for the purpose of being enrolled in companies near to their own habitations, in event of its becoming neces- sary for them to defend the same, It is fair to presume that every foreigner is possessed of arms, and this force would considerably aid the police and military, not only in main- taining order, but also in putting down disturbers of the peace. The boarding-house keepers to furnish a list of such of their boarders as might be inclined to volunteer for an auxiliary police force, to turn out when called upon; and upon such occasions they should be remunerated for their services by the Government. If arms be not procurable, they would prove a most efficient auxiliary, if merely pos- sessing clubs. I am informed that from fifty to sixty Manilla men and Malays are out of employ on shore; these men, with forty Europeans, ought to be hired at once as a temporary increase to the police force, for the specific purpose of night patrols of at least six or eight parties.
The Masters of all merchant ships (British) in the harbour to send a boat's crew from each vessel on occasion of fire or disturbance; the numbers being, of course, in proportion to their numerical strength on board; which might be easily
27
53
ascertained by the harbour-master from the masters; these crews would necessarily be armed.
It would be essential to appoint places of assembly, or points of rendezvous, for parties from the water, as well as for those on shore; so that all confusion might be avoided, and each party have its particular point of assembly CLEARLY defined. A well understood signal should be established and promulgated to the public, so as to ensure the prompt and unmistakable attendance of those concerned.
The military force is so distant from the city, that I should strongly recommend a party of the 59th Regiment, of not less than fifty bayonets, being established in some central position of the town, to come on duty at seven in the even- ing, and to return to their barracks on the following morning. I further suggest that a Committee of Public Safety be formed for taking into consideration the best means of pre- serving life and property. The Committee to consist as follows, until a hotter suggestion be made:--The Senior Naval officer; officer commanding the Troops, and his Town Major; the Chief Magistrate; Harbour Master; Mr. May, Superintendent of Police; Mr. Caldwell, Registrar-General and Protector of the Chinese; Mr. E. Pereira, Mr. Antrobus, Mr. Gibb, Mr. Scarth, Mr. R. S. Walker, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Agent; Mr. Armstrong, two Masters of vessels, and three of the most influential and trustworthy of the Chinese; as well as Mr. Lapraik, Mr. George Duddell, and Mr. Lane; and the result of their labours to be submitted to the Governor for his sanction, Barricades at and then prompt action to be at once takeu.
the ends of streets are very desirable; to be removed, of course, during the day. The city to be told off into wards and districts, with supervising officers to each; one of such officers to be taken from the inhabitants.
For the present native craft should be prohibited from moving about the harbour after seven in the evening, unless only to convey Europeans to their vessels. Only two wharfs should be allowed for this purpose. Steamers conveying native passengers to Hong Kong should detain any pas- sengers with arms, and immediately send them to the Police Station.
The Police ought to carefully watch the actions and abodes of all Chinese idlers or suspicious persons, not having any ostensible means of livelihood, and through the instru- mentality of the Tepos of districts, take them to the Police Station for examination, invariably searching their houses for
arins.
Hong Kong Harbour should at the present crisis be
G
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