CO129-190 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [10-12] — Page 180

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

by

a man who has had no

and is

official training

strongly under this personal influence

of the Governor.

Sir J. Hennessy's

It is simply a defence of

Chinese

policy.

It appears to me to have been an error

to have allowed the custom to grow up of giving gratuities instead of pensions to Chinese without direct orders from home, but one of the arguments for it was that the Chinese preferred the lump sum down, this preference is shown by Dr. Eitel. The custom received the approval of the Secretary of State & was recommended by the Hong Kong authorities: it is left for Sir J. Hennessy to discover that he and Kimbaly were misled and that the custom was part & parcel of a regular System for oppressing the Chinese.

I think the custom was not wholly a fortunate or justifiable one as it does not seem to have left sufficient option as to pension or Gratuity to the retiring officer. But if it is to be amended I trust the absurdity of permitting one year's climate bonus for pension will not be allowed. It is true that in other colonies natives are given a climate bonus, but that does not make the practice less absurd, I wish it might be swept away in all. The difficulty is of course to decide who are natives & who are not. If Portuguese from Macao are given a climate bonus while Chinese are not, the course will have to be justified on the grounds that the fairest distinction is that between the native of this race and Immigrant.

You will observe that a large part of Dr. Eitel's remarks refer to Interpretation, it will be time enough to deal with them when Sir J. Hennessy sends his promised despatch on the subject, but I protest strongly against mixing up these various

Dec.

Page 180

Page 181

4

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by a man who has had no and is official training strongly under this personal influence of the Governor. Sir J. Hennessy's It is simply a defence of Chinese policy. It appears to me to have been an error to have allowed the custom to grow up of giving gratuities instead of pensions to Chinese without direct orders from home, but one of the arguments for it was that the Chinese preferred the lump sum down, this preference is shown by Dr. Eitel. The custom received the approval of the Secretary of State & was recommended by the Hong Kong authorities: it is left for Sir J. Hennessy to discover that he and Kimbaly were misled and that the custom was part & parcel of a regular System for oppressing the Chinese. I think the custom was not wholly a fortunate or justifiable one as it does not seem to have left sufficient option as to pension or Gratuity to the retiring officer. But if it is to be amended I trust the absurdity of permitting one year's climate bonus for pension will not be allowed. It is true that in other colonies natives are given a climate bonus, but that does not make the practice less absurd, I wish it might be swept away in all. The difficulty is of course to decide who are natives & who are not. If Portuguese from Macao are given a climate bonus while Chinese are not, the course will have to be justified on the grounds that the fairest distinction is that between the native of this race and Immigrant. You will observe that a large part of Dr. Eitel's remarks refer to Interpretation, it will be time enough to deal with them when Sir J. Hennessy sends his promised despatch on the subject, but I protest strongly against mixing up these various Dec. Page 180 Page 181 4
Baseline (Original)
by a man who has had no and is official training strongly under this personal influence of the governor. Sir. J. Hennessy's It is simply a defence of Chinese policy. It appears to me to have been an eror to have allowed the custom to grow up of giving gratuitére instead of pensions to Chines without direct orders from home, but one of the arguments for it was that the Chinese preferred the lump sumes down, 2 this preference the instances bought forward is shown by by of? Eitel. The custom received the affrural of the Secretary of State & was recommended by the Hong Kong authorities it is Authorities: it is left for Sir J. Hennessy to discover that and Kimbaly was misled and that the custom was prout & parcel of a regular System for oppressing the Chinese. I think the custoon was not wholly a fortunate or justificable one as it does not seems 178 3 or to have left sufficicut option as to peusion Gratuity to the retiring officer. But if it is of how amended I trust the absurdity of fer- mitting I giving one year. have in six to Chinese them a climate bonus for pension will not be allowed. It is true that in other colonies natives are given a climate bonus, but that does not make the practice less absund, I wish it mig it be swept in all. The difficulty is of away is of courbe to decide who are natives & who care Lot 1 given a if Portaguase from macas are dimate bonus while Chinese are not, the course will have to be justified on the grounds which can that the fairest distinction be made is that between the lative of this Immigrant d race. You will observe that a large part of S'-Eitel's rernauld's refer to Interpretation, it will be time enough to deal with them & When Sir J. Hennessy Scuds his promised despatch on the subject but I potest strongly against mixing up there various Dec. Page 180Page 181 4
2026-05-22 01:04:52 · Baseline
View content

by

a man who has had no

and is

official training

strongly under this personal influence

of the governor.

Sir. J. Hennessy's

It is simply a defence of

Chinese

policy.

It appears to me to have been an eror

to have allowed the custom to grow up of giving gratuitére instead of pensions to Chines without direct orders from home, but one of the arguments for it was that the Chinese preferred the lump sumes down, 2 this

preference the instances bought forward

is shown

by

by of? Eitel. The custom received

the

affrural

of

the Secretary of

State & was recommended

by the Hong Kong authorities it is

Authorities: it is left for Sir

J. Hennessy to discover that and Kimbaly

was misled and that the custom was

prout & parcel of a regular System for oppressing

the Chinese.

I think the custoon was not wholly a fortunate

or

justificable

one

as it does not seems

178

3

or

to have left sufficicut option as to peusion Gratuity to the retiring officer. But if it is

of

how amended I trust the absurdity of fer-

mitting

I giving

one year.

have in six to Chinese

them a climate bonus for pension

will not be allowed. It is true that in

other colonies natives are

given

a climate

bonus, but that does not make the practice less absund, I wish it mig it be swept in all. The difficulty is of away

is of courbe

to decide who are natives & who care

Lot 1

given

a

if Portaguase from macas are

dimate bonus while Chinese are

not, the course will have to be justified

on the

grounds

which can

that the fairest distinction

be made is that between the lative of this Immigrant

d

race.

You will observe that a large part of S'-Eitel's rernauld's refer to Interpretation,

it will be time enough

to deal with them

&

When Sir J. Hennessy Scuds his promised despatch on the subject but I potest strongly against mixing up there various

Dec.

Page 180Page 181

4

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