CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10] — Page 446

The Daily Press.

HONGKONG, OCTOBER 4TH, 1924.

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THE riot which occurred yesterday, though serious in its character, might have been at- tended with far graver results but for the combined forbearance and tenacity of the Polico. The mob showed greit daring and fury, and bad the opportunity been afforded, it is to be feared that they would have pro- ceeded to the most desperate acts. The sa- rage and wanton attacks on the Rev. Dr. HORDER, Inspector GERMAIN, and others are' sufficient proof that their appetite for violence was thoroughly whetted, while the vengeful threats shouted by the retreating rioters when the troops appeared on the scene showed that a truly incendiary spirit pos- seased them. As the crowd included great numbers of poor ignorant men and boys who were merely the tools of others, it is a mattor for ancere congratulation that the outbreak was subdued, for the time, without thei serious loss of life that must have follow- ed bad the Buffs been obliged to fire upon thein.

The danger cannot, however, yet be regarded as over: the stormi has, there is reason to believe, only lulled. The passions of the rioters may have cooled down somewhat, but a fresh apark vonld quickly rekindle the flame, and there would seem to be no lack of evil minded advisers to apply it. The Police will therefore need to ex- ercise the keenest vigilance, and the Troops/ should be kept ready for an emergency at any moment. The gallant Buffs have never been found unready, however, and General- SARGENT will, weare sure, never allow red tape to stand in the way when despatch is the first essential to prevent disaster. The com- munity need therefore, we think, feel under no alarm as to the turn of events. Incon. venience and pecuniary loss are the worst evils the foreign residents are likely to have to endure.

Asto how long these strikes are going to last,, and by whom they are incited, abetted, and supported, we can only hazard conjectures, which it would be better just at present to omit. It is, however, plaiuly the duty of the Government to leave no stone unturned to get at the bottom of the conspiracy against law and order which has evidently been set on foot in the Colony. It is no time for baif measures or reluctant concessions. The rioters have appealed to violence, and no treaty can be entered into with them. Nor should the Government forget that the case has passed out of that phase when strict ad- herence to conventional measures isobligatory, and that specialaction may be necessary to bring the contumacious cargo-boat people to reason. The Government will not, of course, wish to' punish the coolies who have been prac- tically compelled to strike by threats of vio lence, but they must thoroughly re-establish order, and the influential members of the Chinese community would do good service if |

they could point out to the rioters the futi- sity of their lawless proceedings, and the un- reasonableness of their agitation. That the riots have been forced on by persons who keep carefully in the back. ground is very widely suspected, and hints to that effect. have fallen from

some of the Chinese. We trust, however, that these

rumours

are exagrerated or unfounded, for we would prefer to believe that the riots arose out of a mistaken sense of injury rather than as the result of a deep-laid plot, by either guild or official. It is reported that the area of the strike is to be extended far- ther, and that notices are being circulated among the Chinese employés of foreign re- sidents calling upon them to cease work also, under various penalties. We can only hope that this last atte apt, if made, will prove

sigual failure, and that the prime movers in the matter Day be brought to trial for their misdeeds. If necessary a substantial reward should be of. fered for information that will lead to the arrest of the ringleaders or inciters to sedition, who, if caught, would assuredly get their full deserts.

ERIOUS RIOT IN SAI-YING-

PUN YESTERDAY,

As we briefly stated in our midday extra yes. terday, there was some rioting of very serions character in the Western District, beginning carly in the morning and continning right through the forenoon. Some trouble was anti- cipated by the police the day previous, but no- thing of the magnitude that the doings of the mob really attained to before the morning was out. It was known that many of the cargo boats were going to return to work after their strike. They had demanded as a condition of their re- turn that they should receive a guarantee against being compelled to take French en- ployment, but not being able to obtain that concession they intimated that they would return to work without it. The police did

not expect that they would be able to get to work again without some trouble from the roughs, who desire to hold out, and accordingly a number of extra police were put on duty on the Praya early yesterday morning. The cargo boat people were true to their word, and they came over in considerable numbers to the Praya, principally along the Praya West, near the P. and O. wharf. They had scarcely got ready to set to work when they were assailed by a crowd of coolies, who saluted them with showers of stones, bricks, and any other available missiles, and drove them off again. Even the refuse removal boats were similarly attacked, and one coolie who was specially prominent in that work was arrested, after two or three ineffectual attempts, by In- spector Clerihew just as he had thrown a great atone into a little sampan in which wore a couple of old women. In spite of the attempts of the crowd to rescue the miscreant, and the showers of atones they kept raining, the man was retained in custody and taken to No. 7 Station by some lekangs. After the hoats had been driven from the Fraya ail quieted down again, and matters seemed to be going on in the

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