CO129-196 - Public Offices & Others - 1881 — Page 335

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

The fact that a Chinese lady is seldom seen outside of the private apartments of a house renders it perfectly impossible for a large number of Chinamen to understand the freedom accorded to ladies in Europe and America.

This fact alone renders it extremely undesirable that ladies should only be able to visit the Museum when it is crowded with natives. The personal habits of the Chinese of the lower classes who flock in large numbers to the Museum, who eat garlic with their rice, and whose clothing in winter is not in the cleanest state and in Summer is of the scantiest description, are quite sufficient to discourage Europeans from visiting the Museum during the hours when it is thus crowded.

The Committee would have wished to avoid putting forward such an argument but feel bound to do so when pressed for the reasons that have actuated them in the matter. The arguments that might be adduced with reference to such places as the "public gardens" are totally inapplicable to a room on some occasions visited by 4 to 5000 Chinese in one day, where they occupy a very large portion of the space which is not great, and where the temperature for many months ranges between 80 and 100 degrees.

Another fact that the Committee would bring to your Lordships' notice is the necessity that exists for closing the Museum in the middle of the day in order to allow of its being swept out and cleaned. The staff attached to the City Hall is, owing to financial considerations, kept as small as possible with due regard to the amount of work that has to be done, and were the Museum to be crowded all day long, a larger staff of employees would be required.

The Committee would also inform you that, though at one time a Chinese policeman was told off for special duty at the Museum from 10 to 1 daily, his services have for some time past been withdrawn by the local Government, and the Committee are wholly dependent upon their own staff to prevent theft, damage, and disturbance.

To conclude, the Committee would remind your Lordship that the present rules were agreed to, after very full discussion at a large meeting, by a large majority.

Page 328

R 137

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The fact that a Chinese lady is seldom seen outside of the private apartments of a house renders it perfectly impossible for a large number of Chinamen to understand the freedom accorded to ladies in Europe and America. This fact alone renders it extremely undesirable that ladies should only be able to visit the Museum when it is crowded with natives. The personal habits of the Chinese of the lower classes who flock in large numbers to the Museum, who eat garlic with their rice, and whose clothing in winter is not in the cleanest state and in Summer is of the scantiest description, are quite sufficient to discourage Europeans from visiting the Museum during the hours when it is thus crowded. The Committee would have wished to avoid putting forward such an argument but feel bound to do so when pressed for the reasons that have actuated them in the matter. The arguments that might be adduced with reference to such places as the "public gardens" are totally inapplicable to a room on some occasions visited by 4 to 5000 Chinese in one day, where they occupy a very large portion of the space which is not great, and where the temperature for many months ranges between 80 and 100 degrees. Another fact that the Committee would bring to your Lordships' notice is the necessity that exists for closing the Museum in the middle of the day in order to allow of its being swept out and cleaned. The staff attached to the City Hall is, owing to financial considerations, kept as small as possible with due regard to the amount of work that has to be done, and were the Museum to be crowded all day long, a larger staff of employees would be required. The Committee would also inform you that, though at one time a Chinese policeman was told off for special duty at the Museum from 10 to 1 daily, his services have for some time past been withdrawn by the local Government, and the Committee are wholly dependent upon their own staff to prevent theft, damage, and disturbance. To conclude, the Committee would remind your Lordship that the present rules were agreed to, after very full discussion at a large meeting, by a large majority. Page 328 R 137
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fact that a chinese lady is seldom seen outside of the private aparti:unts of a house renders it perfectly impossible for large number of Chinamen to understand the freedom accorded to ladies in Europe Europe and America. ai } This fact alone renders it extremely undesirable that ladies should only be able to visit the Museum when it is crowded with natives. The personal habits of thre ie Chinese of the lower classes who glad to observe flock in large Amber to the Museum, who eat garlie with them rice, and •hose clothing in winter is not scantiest in the cleanest state and in Summer is of stre description are very quite sufficient to discourage Europeans from visiting the elluseum during the hours when it is thus crowded. The Committee would have wished to avoid putting forward angement but feel bound such an to do so when pressed for the reasons that have activated them in the matter. The arguments that might be adduced with reference to auch places as the "public gardens are totally inapplicable to a room on some occasions visited by 4 to 5000 dunese in one etrow cases day where the occupy a very large portion 328 portion of the space which is not great and where the temperature for many months 80 and 100 degrees. ranges betrreen Anoltrer fact that the your Lordships notice is the necessity, that exists for closing the Museum in the middle of the day in order to allow of it's being swept out and cleaned. The staff attacked to the City Hall is owing to financial considerations Keph as small as possible with due regard to the amount of work! Committee would call to that has to be done and were the Museum to be crowded all! day long a larger staff of employees would be required The Committee with also to inform you that though at one time a chinese policeman. was told off for effecial duty, at she Museum from 10 to 1 daily his services have for sometimes past been withdrawn by the local Government and the Committee are wholly dependent upon their own theft damage staff to prevent and disturbance. To conclude the Committer would remind your Lordship that the present rules wvere already pointed agreed to as out by a large majority. after and very full discussion at the R 137
2026-05-22 21:39:37 · Baseline
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fact that a chinese lady is seldom seen outside of the private aparti:unts of a house renders it perfectly impossible for large number of Chinamen to understand the freedom accorded to ladies in Europe

Europe and America.

ai

}

This fact alone renders it extremely undesirable that ladies should

only be able to visit the Museum when it is crowded with natives. The personal habits of thre ie Chinese of the lower classes who glad to observe flock in large

Amber to the Museum, who eat garlie with them rice, and

•hose clothing in winter is not

scantiest

in the cleanest state and in Summer is of stre

description

are

very

quite sufficient to discourage Europeans from visiting the elluseum during the

hours when it is thus crowded.

The Committee would have wished to avoid putting forward angement but feel bound

such an

to do so when pressed for the reasons that have activated them in the matter. The arguments that might be adduced with reference to auch places as the "public gardens are totally inapplicable to

a room

on some

occasions visited by 4 to 5000

dunese in one

etrow cases

day where the

occupy a very large

portion

328

portion of the space which is not great and where the temperature for many months

80 and 100 degrees.

ranges betrreen

Anoltrer fact that the

your Lordships notice is the necessity, that exists for closing the Museum in the middle of the day in order to allow of it's being swept out and cleaned. The staff attacked to the City Hall is owing to financial considerations Keph as small as possible with due regard to the amount of work!

Committee would call to

that has to be done and were the Museum to be crowded all!

day long a larger staff of employees would be required

The Committee with

also to inform you that though at one time a chinese policeman. was told off for effecial duty, at she Museum from 10 to 1 daily

his services have

for

sometimes

past been withdrawn by the local Government and the

Committee are wholly dependent

upon their own theft damage

staff to prevent

and disturbance. To conclude the

Committer would remind your

Lordship that the present rules

wvere

already pointed

agreed to as out by a large majority.

after

and

very full discussion at

the

R

137

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