nese.
Readers who may be interested in investigating this subject further will find Mr. PICKERING's letter and the official notifications above referred to set out in Mr. NORTON-KYSHE'S "History of the Laws and Courts of Hongkong."
No one would wish to make the Chinese British subject in China ridiculous by requiring him to wear a stovepipe hat and swallowtail coat, but there is nothing degrading and humiliating," to use Lord CHARLES BERESFORD's words, in requiring him to boldly proclaim his British nationality if he desires to enjoy the advantages it affords. On the other hand it would be degrading and humiliating to the British Government to be continually called upon to interfere between the Chinese authorities and Chinamen who had been passing as Chinese subjects but appealed to British protection when they got into trouble or wished to avoid payment of their debts.
On the question of what the distinguishing badge of a Chinese British subject in China should be the British Government would naturally be disposed to consider to the fullest possible extent the wishes of the parties concerned, but it is essential that the badge, whatever form it may take, should be clear and unmistakable both to the Chinese and the British authorities. If the persons affected are "proud to be the subjects of the Queen of England"—again we quote from Lord CHARLES BERESFORD—they should not be ashamed to proclaim the fact.
The Hon. Dr. Ho Kai himself has long discarded the queue and adopted European costume, and in the Straits there is a movement amongst the more progressive Chinese in the same direction, so far at least as discarding the queue is concerned.
Page 635
nese.
Readers who may be interested in investigating this subject further will find
Mr. PICKERING's letter and the official notifications above referred to set out in Mr. NORTON-KYSHE'S " History of the "Laws and Courts of Hongkong."
No one would wish to make the Chinese British subject in China ridiculous by requiring him to wear a stovepipe hat and swallowtail coat, but there is nothing degrading and humiliating," to use Lord 'CHARLES BERESFORD's words, in requiring him to boldly proclaim his British nation- ality if he desires to enjoy the advantages it affords. On the other hand it would be degrading and humiliating to the British Government to be continually called upon to interfere between the Chinese authorities and Chinamen who had been passing as Chi- nese subjects but appealed to Brit ish protec- tion when they got into trouble or wished to avoid payment of their debts. On the question of what the distinguishing badge of a Chinese British subject in China should be the British Government would naturally be disposed to consider to the fullest possi- ble extent the wishes of the parties con- cerned, but it is essential that the badge, whatever form it may take, should be clear and unmistakable both to the Chinese and the British authorities. If the persons affected are "proud to be the subjects of the Queen "of England "—again we quote from Lord CHARLES BERESFORD-they should not be ashamed to proclaim the fact. The Hon. Dr. Ho Kar himself has long discarded the queus and adopted European costume, and in the Straits there is a movement amongst the more progressive Chinese in the same direction, so far at least as discarding the queue is concerned.
635
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