CO129-246 - Acting Governor Fleming - 1890 [8-9] — Page 200

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

But leaving aside that rites according

• according to English law were proper rites" and "rites according "proper rites ! It was quite patent therefore that the Ordinance would cause inconvenience to the Chinese, and he desired to have a further opportunity of minutely considering the matter. Thereupon the Attorney General said: "Hongkong is a British not a Chinese possession. If Chinese cannot comply with the law, they need not come to Hong Kong, they however must abide by the laws, without question as to whether the laws are agreeable or not, and must be made to obey them." The present dynasty during a rule of 300 years has not ventured to change Chinese customs which took shape thousands of years ago, nor has any alteration been attempted in Hong Kong since its colonisation fifty years ago.

We do not know whether the Attorney General was purposely speaking in violent language, or merely using vivid language, or actually meant what he said. If however it is true that people who are unable to comply with the law need not come to Hongkong, we pray that Your Lordship, before promulgating any law, will give due notice to the Chinese, so that every one may know exactly how the matter stands, and that honest people may not be implicated in violations of the law.

We have also heard that some people say that it is impossible for a concubine to rank as a legal wife, but those who speak thus are utterly ignorant of Chinese customs. Chinese take concubines to ensure a line of successors; in wealthy families, women of many conditions may be found, in poor classes...

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But leaving aside that rites according according to English law were proper rites" and "rites according "proper rites ! It was quite patent therefore that the Ordinance would cause inconvenience to the Chinese, and he desired to have a further opportunity of minutely considering the matter. Thereupon the Attorney General said: "Hongkong is a British not a Chinese possession. If Chinese cannot comply with the law, they need not come to Hong Kong, they however must abide by the laws, without question as to whether the laws are agreeable or not, and must be made to obey them." The present dynasty during a rule of 300 years has not ventured to change Chinese customs which took shape thousands of years ago, nor has any alteration been attempted in Hong Kong since its colonisation fifty years ago. We do not know whether the Attorney General was purposely speaking in violent language, or merely using vivid language, or actually meant what he said. If however it is true that people who are unable to comply with the law need not come to Hongkong, we pray that Your Lordship, before promulgating any law, will give due notice to the Chinese, so that every one may know exactly how the matter stands, and that honest people may not be implicated in violations of the law. We have also heard that some people say that it is impossible for a concubine to rank as a legal wife, but those who speak thus are utterly ignorant of Chinese customs. Chinese take concubines to ensure a line of successors; in wealthy families, women of many conditions may be found, in poor classes...
Baseline (Original)
ut LeaVL that rites accordirig according to English law were proper rites" and "rites according "proper rites ! It was quite patent therefore that the Ordinance world cause incavenience to the Chinese, and he desired to have a further opportunity of minutely considering the matter. Thereupon the Attorney General said: "Hongkong to Chinese law were not is al British not a Chinese possession. If Chinese cannot comply with the law, Hong Kong, if do come, they naturally need not come to they however they must abide by the laws, without question as to whether the laws are able or not, and must all be agreeable made to obey them." The present dynasty during a rule of 300 years one of the has not ventured to change Chinese austerns which took shape. thorwands of years ago, mer has any alteration been attempted in HongKong sunce 198 since its colonisation fifty years a ago. Attorney We do not know whether the att General in purposely speaking did was violent merely using vivle the language, or actually as he meant what he said. If however it is true that people who are unable to comply with the law need not come to Hongkong, pray that Your Lordship, before promulgating any law, will give due notice to the Chinese, are so that every may know exactly how matkro stands, and that horrest people. may not be implicated in violations of the law. We have also heard that sorve people say that it is impossible. for a concubine to rank as a legal wife, but those who speak thus are utterly ignorant of Chinese customs. Chinese take corrcubuires to ensure a line of wealthy successors; in weal, families, women conditionis may of many be found, in poor Kerweh clás 1:|::༥། bi
2026-05-26 09:32:01 · Baseline
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ut LeaVL

that rites accordirig

• according to English

law were proper rites" and "rites

according "proper rites ! It was quite patent therefore that the Ordinance world

cause incavenience to the Chinese,

and he desired to have a further

opportunity of minutely considering the matter. Thereupon the Attorney General said: "Hongkong

to Chinese law were not

is al

British not a Chinese possession. If Chinese cannot comply with the law,

Hong Kong, if do come, they naturally

need not come to

they however they

must abide by the laws, without

question as to whether the laws are

able or not, and must all be

agreeable

made to obey

them." The

present

dynasty during

a rule of 300

years one of the

has not ventured to change Chinese austerns which took shape.

thorwands of years ago,

mer has

any

alteration been attempted in HongKong

sunce

198

since its colonisation fifty years a

ago. Attorney

We do not know whether the att General in purposely speaking

did was

violent

merely using vivle

the language,

or

actually

as he

meant what

he said. If however it is true that people who are unable to comply with the law need not come to Hongkong,

pray

that

Your Lordship, before promulgating any law, will give

due notice to the Chinese,

are

so

that every may know exactly how matkro stands, and that horrest people. may not be implicated in violations of

the law. We have also heard that

sorve people say

that it is impossible.

for

a concubine to rank as

a

legal

wife, but those who speak thus are

utterly ignorant of Chinese customs.

Chinese take corrcubuires to ensure

a line of

wealthy

successors; in weal,

families, women

conditionis

may

of many

be found, in poor

Kerweh clás

པ 1:|::༥། bi

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