CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8] — Page 635

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

632

would of course be unjust that, during his occasional visits to China he should not be treated as a British Subject, though I am strongly of opinion that the wearing of the "queue" which is a badge of subjection to the present Manchu Dynasty, should not be allowed.

The Authorities of China have a strong objection to protected Chinese having nothing to distinguish them from the ordinary native, and I have as lately as in August last received a despatch from the Viceroy pointing out the inconvenience of the absence of any distinguishing mark. It enables Chinese British Subjects to use every privilege possessed by natives of Chinese soil, and on the other hand gives them an advantage over natives in that they can seek British protection in all their law-suits, an advantage they are not slow to avail themselves of.

In the present corrupt state of Chinese justice a claim or complaint put in through a Consul on the ex parte statement of a British Subject, means that the defendants, though they may have a perfectly good defence, are subjected to the preliminary "squeezing" and extortion of the Yamen runners before the case comes to trial. Though I would not for a moment make any sweeping condemnation of Anglo-Chinese as a class, my experience is that the above regrettable fact is often used by them as a means of compulsion in their dealings with

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632 would of course be unjust that, during his occasional visits to China he should not be treated as a British Subject, though I am strongly of opinion that the wearing of the "queue" which is a badge of subjection to the present Manchu Dynasty, should not be allowed. The Authorities of China have a strong objection to protected Chinese having nothing to distinguish them from the ordinary native, and I have as lately as in August last received a despatch from the Viceroy pointing out the inconvenience of the absence of any distinguishing mark. It enables Chinese British Subjects to use every privilege possessed by natives of Chinese soil, and on the other hand gives them an advantage over natives in that they can seek British protection in all their law-suits, an advantage they are not slow to avail themselves of. In the present corrupt state of Chinese justice a claim or complaint put in through a Consul on the ex parte statement of a British Subject, means that the defendants, though they may have a perfectly good defence, are subjected to the preliminary "squeezing" and extortion of the Yamen runners before the case comes to trial. Though I would not for a moment make any sweeping condemnation of Anglo-Chinese as a class, my experience is that the above regrettable fact is often used by them as a means of compulsion in their dealings with

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632 would of course be unjust that, during his occasional visits to China he should not be treated as a British Subject, though I am strongly of opinion that the wearing of the queue" which is a badge of subjection to the present Manchu Dynasty, should not be allowed. The Authorities of China have a strong objection to protected Chinese having nothing to distinguish then from the ordinary native, and I have as lately as in August last received a despatch from the Viceroy pointing out the incon- venience of the absence of any distinguishing mark. It enables Chinese British Subject to use every privilege possessed by natives of Chinese Soil, and on the other hand gives them an advantage over natives in that they can seekBritish protection inall their law-suits, an advantage they are not slow to avail themselves of. In the present corrupt state of Chinese justice a claim or complaint put in though a Consul on the ex parte statement of a British Subject, means that the defendants though they may have a perfectly good defence, are subjected to the preliminary "squeezing" and extortion of the Yamen runners before the case comes to tria), Though I would not for a moment make any sweeping condemnation of Anglo-Chinese as a class,my experience is that the above regrettable fact is often used by them as a means of compulsion in their dealing with

2026-05-31 06:09:26 · Baseline

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632

would of course be unjust that, during his occasional visits

to China he should not be treated as a British Subject, though

I am strongly of opinion that the wearing of the

queue"

which is a badge of subjection to the present Manchu Dynasty,

should not be allowed.

The Authorities of China have a strong objection

to protected Chinese having nothing to distinguish then from

the ordinary native, and I have as lately as in August last

received a despatch from the Viceroy pointing out the incon-

venience of the absence of any distinguishing mark. It enables

Chinese British Subject to use every privilege possessed by

natives of Chinese Soil, and on the other hand gives them an

advantage over natives in that they can seekBritish protection

inall their law-suits, an advantage they are not slow to avail

themselves of. In the present corrupt state of Chinese justice

a claim or complaint put in though a Consul on the ex parte

statement of a British Subject, means that the defendants

though they may have a perfectly good defence, are subjected

to the preliminary "squeezing" and extortion of the Yamen

runners before the case comes to tria), Though I would not

for a moment make any sweeping condemnation of Anglo-Chinese

as a class,my experience is that the above regrettable fact

is often used by them as a means of compulsion in their dealing

with

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