210
SUPPLEMENT TO THE
HONGKONG DAILY PRESS.
GREAT PUBLIC MEETING. public meeting" "was" "Teta" "Monday, two 7th inst., afternoon, the purpose of which will be best expressed by the notice convening it, which was as follows:-
[GRATIS TO SUBSCRIBERS.1
HONGKONG, 10ти OCTOBER, 1878.
TO C. F. A. SANGSTER, Esq.,
Sheriff of the Colony of Hongkong. SIR-We, the Undersigned, beg to request that you will call on & PUBLIC MEETING to be held at the City Hall, in the City of Victoria, in this Colony, on MONDAY, the 7th day of October next, at 3 o'clock in the Afternoon, for the following purpose:- 1-To consider and discuss the existing state of insecurity of Life and Property in the Colony. 2-To pass such Resolutions as may be doomed
advisable by the Meeting. We have the honour to be, Sir, your most abedient Servants.
TRYRE,
best of motives I have 110
THE STATE OF THE COLONY, hope that this meeting might be a means the Penco)-Gentlemen, after the words to of suggesting a remedy, which has become so which we have listened, and in the presenco necessary from the great state of alarm in which of such an assemblage as I see before me, the recent numerous burglaries and reports of and considering the gravity of the occasion dreadful attacks have placed us. Gentlemen which has called this meeting together to-day, I come here to-day not in any disloyal spirit. I, with great diffidence, address you; but when (Hear, hear.) I hope we all meat in the same the welfare of the colony is at stake I think it spirit. (Cheers.) I trust my fellow Colonists, well that there should be no hesitation on the you Chinamen, will give your vote dispassionately, part of those who feel keenly for its welfare in knowing what you are voting for, and with no speaking out.-(Cheers.) The head of the feeling of evil one way or the other. (Hear, hear.) Executive, for eighteen months past, has in Gentlemen, wo have come to a stato of alarm, the opinion, I believe, of the majority of for what reason it is not for me, indeed, I the colonists besu wanting in that Ermness cannot, say; but I have my own opinions about which we expect a Governor to exercise in it. I have lived here many years, and I cau look the repression of crime-(Cheers)-from the back to a time when, many years since, a similar very
doubt, state of alarm existed. But the administra- and from a feeling of humanity which we must tion then governing us took very anxions all respect, though we may consider it misplaced thought to form repressive measures, and such frequently. It is, as the Chairman has mentioned, acts were framed as in my belief did tend to not in any disloyal spirit that I make a single check that orime, as was soon shown by the do- remark here to-day, I would support now and crease. Gentlemen, I think of late those acts in the future, as I have in the past supported. have been somewhat relaxed, and I think a re-every act of any Governor which I thought tara to them might help us very considerably. worthy of support.(Lond cheers.) But it does Gentlemen, I refer more particularly to the use appear to me, when we look across to the mainland of the cat. It may be a cruel punishment, but and consider the position of this island--that w severe acts call for severe measures. Hear, are only a stone's threw from fjernsya bear. But, while we are all warm-hearted and tung, which, though it contains and has puc peace loving, we must have repressive measures the most enterprising of the people of China. for bad offences. Gentlemen, I think with those also contains within its borders the most lawless acts and the fast of deportation crime did decrease-I think it bohores the Government of this here, and a strict return to those laws will again colony to be most careful about the admission Gentlemen, I see around me a very large num. reason, from the sentences of our courts, to Kacw put us, I believe, on a safe basis.-(Cheers.) into the colony of those whom there is good bor of influential and industrious Chinamen, are dangerons. I have always had a foeling They know as well as I do of the existence of a that instead of crowding our gaols with the very dangerous class on the mainland and about soum of the neighbouring province it would be here which we must take care to keep in well if we deported them-send them back order. Gentlemen, with these few words I think to the places from whence they come, there to I may consider the meeting opened and I will be exercise a more honest calling than the one they glad to bear what people have to say in regard practise here.--(Choors.) Gentlemen, I have à to the subject before us.
resolation to propose. I hope that it will be
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and 63 other Signatures. Hongkong, 27th September, 1878.
H
ONG KONG TO W IT.
In compliance with the above requisition, I hereby summon and convene 2 PUBLIC MEETING of the INHABITANTS of this Colony, to be holdon in the Building kuown as foe CITY HALL, on MONDAY, the Seronth day of October, 1878, at 3 o'clock in the Afternoon.
C. F. A, SANGSTER, Sheriff. Hongkong, 1st October, 1878. On repairing to the ball shortly before three o'clock the Europeans found it had already been packed with Chinamen, aud only a very limited number were able to gain access. According to the estimates of several English speaking natives not two dozen of the Chinamen present were able to speak English or understood what was going on.
take the chair.
The Sheriff, Mr. SANGSTER, having read the advertisement, declared the meeting opened and asked it to elect a Chairman.
Mr. NELSON-I beg to propose that Mr. Gibh
The motion was carried by acclamation. The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, with so large a meeting as this it is ridiculous to try to make onsself beard in a room like this. I therefore propose that this meeting be removed to the open
air.
The meeting was accordingly removed to the Cricket Ground.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, having this meeting it was necessary to ask a gentleman to act as secretary for us, and Mr. Caldwell was good enough to say he would do so. You have beard the requisition for the meeting read by the Sheriff. I, in common with my fellow country, reen and other Europeans in this colony, as well as many influential Chinese gentlemen, signed that request, not in any captions or disloyal epirit, but in a fervent, anxious, and loyal
May I ask, Sir, before we go any further-
Mr. FRANCIS (Acting Police Magistrate)-considered fairly, and, if it represents the opinion of this meeting, adopted. I don't say that crime The CHAIRMAN-Yes.
is wholly to be attributed to the want of repressive
Mr. FRANCIS-Whether this meeting is to be measures, for we know that at all times the an honest public discussion of the present state golony has been subject to attacks, but it have come here who have discussed the matter and I believe that severity again would be of the colony or whether a number of gentlemen, is only by severity we have overcome them, and decided the question amongst themselves, beneficial. I could say more, gentlemen, but it with resolutions ready prepared and drawn up, would be very much to the same effect. The and their speeches cut and dried, to ask the resolution I have prepared-as I am happy to in- assent of this meeting to them. The object of form Me. Francis-(cheers)-is to this effect:- the meeting, as mentioned in the advertisement. That during the past 18 months, life and property was to discuss and consider the present state of in this colony have been seriously jeopardized and a the colony and suggest certain remedies. If, after feeling of insecurity, the result of recent events. has the discussion, certain resolutions are proposed as has bean mainly caused by a policy of undue iemeney been engendered, which in the opinion of this meeting the natural and proper outcome of that discussion, towards the criminal classes. they may have some weight, but if resolutions cut I look apou it as a modest expression of opinion, and dried are put forward, and speeches equally and I do not ask one single man here to vote for eat and dried to support them. I doubt very it unless ho feels he can do so conscientiously. it ought to have.-(Cries of "Yes.") much whether this meeting can have the weight (Loud cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN-I think Mr. Francis has made remarks which, from my few words, can be hardly called, for. I said this was an open meeting, and it is an open meeting.
Mr. FRANCIS-That is not an answer to may question.
:
Mr. W. REINERS (Austro-Hungarian Consul) Gontlomen. I fully coucur in what Mr. Kes- wiok says and I have great pleasure in seconding this proposition.-(Cheers.)"
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, before putting the resolution to the meeting 1 must ask if any gentleman wishes to make further remarks upon it or wishes to propose au amendment. Is there any amendment? Gentlemen, I would ask you
The CHAIRMAN-I beg your pardon. I am not in a position, and would not if I knew, tell you what is going to take pince. I think you to express your approval. aro entirely out of order in asking for the reso.! Intions.-(Cheers.)
Mr. FRANCIS-Will you allow me to make a remark, and that is to move as an amendment
Hou. W. KESWICK (M.L.C. and Justice of that the last clause of that paragraph be struck
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