[ { "id": 223438, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6]", "page_number": 400, "title": "CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6]", "content_text": "present, founded on actual experience, will strengthen his hands in his representations to the Colonial Office, It is for this only.\n\nrve write and for and for We have, V = (Signed) Boustead He Maine for the Colonial Secretary;\n\nN65. Encentive.. Anit 13.25 Ay: 1016.\n\nSir, AUG. 21 1846 1644 HongKong Victoria, Hoongkong, 396\n\n5th June, 1846. According to the standing Colonial Regulations, it becomes my duty to report that the capital sentence of the Law was carried into execution on the 4th Instant in the case of a Chinese named Chuy-afat, for the wilful murder of another Chinese, by stabbing him with a knife or short sword.\n\nThe Criminal was tried by the Supreme Court on the 20th May, and being found guilty by a jury was condemned to death. On the 30th Instant the Chief Justice was summoned to a meeting of the Executive Council, and his notes\n\nThe Right Honorable, M. &. Gladstone, M. B X 407 fe", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 226845, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-024 - Bonham - 1848 [3-6]", "page_number": 260, "title": "CO129-024 - Bonham - 1848 [3-6]", "content_text": "No 23 of 1848.\n\nMalosure to 2 in Despr\n\nWeekly Report of Prisoners\n\nin\n\nthe 21th May\n\nthe Victoria - Jail, ending\n\n7848.\n\nDuplicate.\n\nNe 24.\n\nIncentive...\n\nMy Lord,\n\n253\n\nVictoria, Hongkong,\n\n22nd May,\n\nMay, 1848.\n\nTwo Soldiers of the Royal Sappers\n\nand Miners having been sentenced by a Court Martial to transportation\n\nfor\n\nSeven\n\nyears\n\neach, have in conformity with the Articles\n\nof\n\nWar been handed over to the Civil power,\n\nfor the purpose of having the sentence carried into execution; but by Despatch N. 81 of the 15th February 1845, from Lord Stanley, and N. 7 of the 31st July, 1846, from your Lordship, I am precluded from sending felons to New South Wales, and\n\ntherefore beg your Lordship's instructions for the final disposal of the Convicts in question.\n\nThe Right Honorable\n\nThe Earl Grey\n\n&c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-024 - Bonham - 1848 [3-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 226980, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-025 - Bonham - 1848 [7-8]", "page_number": 4, "title": "CO129-025 - Bonham - 1848 [7-8]", "content_text": "N° 40.\n\nIncentive-\n\nOCT 2\n\n1848\n\nMy Lord,\n\n3\n\n1894 Kong\n\nVictoria, August, 15th July, 1848-\n\nI have the honour to report to\n\nyour Lordship my return from the Moth Yesterday morning, a few hours before the arrival of the mail Steamer from England.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nWith the highest respect,\n\nYour Lordship's,\n\nMost obedient\n\nHumble Servant,\n\nThe Right Honourable, The Earl Grey,\n\n&c. &c. &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-025 - Bonham - 1848 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 231871, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-038 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [10-12] & Public Offices - 1851 [10-12]", "page_number": 70, "title": "CO129-038 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [10-12] & Public Offices - 1851 [10-12]", "content_text": "Ail\n\nBarly Jom 824\n\nGrza\n\nP73 Incentive\n\n10,530 Hong Kong\n\nDEC. 22 1851\n\nMy Lord,\n\n69\n\nVictoria, Hong Kong,\n\n29th October, 1851.\n\nI have the honor to advise Your Lordship that tomorrow I intend to embark on board Her Majesty's Steam Sloop \"Salamander\" for the purpose of visiting Amoy and Shanghai in the prosecution of the duties confided to me in the capacity of Her Majesty's Superintendent of Trade and British subjects in China.\n\nI am in hopes that I shall again be at my post about the 25th Proximo, and be enabled to reply to any Despatches that may arrive.\n\nThe Right Honorable,\n\nThe Earl Grey,\n\n&c. &c. &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-038 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [10-12] & Public Offices - 1851 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 232233, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12]", "page_number": 94, "title": "CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12]", "content_text": "Incentive Council, and that their proceedings with a full knowledge \nof the facts have been confirmed \nand approved of by Her Majesty's \nGovernment.\n\n10. \n\nIn the case now \nbrought to your Lordship's notice I was fully prepared to cause Execution to be done on the Prisoners. The \"Teruel\" on board of which the \nMurder was committed was \na \nBritish Vessel; the murdered \nMan a British subject; and the murderers natives of Java, born under the Dutch Flag, and shipped at Singapore, British Settlement, and were therefore fully \naware that the \nCrime was punishable \nby death. At this time, moreover, \nit is particularly desirable that an example should be made of Persons convicted of crimes of \na serious nature committed on \nboard ship; reports having recently been received of certain Chinese emigrants who left Cumzingmoon, \na Port in China, having murdered the Master and others of that Vessel, off the Southern Points of Cambojia, and plundered the Vessel; as well as of an English Vessel named the \"Herald\", which left Shanghai on \nthe 26th August 1851, having been destroyed by the Crew, and the Captain and his wife and other British subjects murdered; about 100 Miles westward of the Straits of Sunda - and indeed, so \ndetermined was I to make", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 233449, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-042 - Sir Bonham - 1853 [1-6]", "page_number": 356, "title": "CO129-042 - Sir Bonham - 1853 [1-6]", "content_text": "past years, consisting of Chinese classics, the Bible, and foreign composed elementary works. These have been principally learnt by rote, according to the usual Chinese method of rudimental education, but of late the Committee have required the schoolmasters to give more attention to the instruction of the children in the signification of all they are taught to recite, and manifest improvement in this particular has already been noticed in many boys of the Victoria and Wong Nichoong schools.\n\nThe Committee have as usual used their discretion in fixing the amount of remuneration to be awarded to such masters as have had a smaller number of scholars than that which entitles them to the full salary fixed by Government. Any sums that may be saved by this means might, in my opinion and in that of Mr. Odell, the actual supervision on whom so much has devolved, be appropriated with advantage to the purchase of trifling rewards (besides the books, maps, &c.,) to be given, after general yearly or half-yearly examinations held in the presence of the Committee, to such scholars as show themselves worthy of distinction; this would tend to excite a useful spirit of emulation, now so much required as an incentive to exertion; and if, in addition to this, the Committee make it incumbent on the masters to adhere to a more methodical system of teaching than that now in vogue, I believe that speedy improvement in progress will be the result. I recommend this measure the more confidently, in that the introduction of it by Mr. Odell into some schools under his own charge\n\nPage 353", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-042 - Sir Bonham - 1853 [1-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 234242, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-045 - Sir Bonham - 1854 [1-4]", "page_number": 15, "title": "CO129-045 - Sir Bonham - 1854 [1-4]", "content_text": "A. \n\nIncentive Council on the 30th Ultimo, and with their concurrence I have made some small additions to the Pay of the most deserving of Policemen. By this augmentation of Pay to £130 per annum will be incurred, in addition to that set down in the Estimates.\n\n4. I have also taken this occasion of causing a few Chinese to be employed in the Police of the Colony who, it is obvious, from their knowledge of the language of the country and the habits and customs of their Countrymen, would be infinitely more efficient than the natives of India - but few of whom can speak half a dozen sentences of Chinese.\n\n5. In the early days of the Colony, it was considered unadvisable to employ Chinese, inasmuch as it was then impossible to secure the Services of persons at all known. Circumstances have now become to a certain extent altered, and the Population being more settled, I have determined to employ some; and I have no doubts but that they will be found to answer, provided a fair trial is given to them.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-045 - Sir Bonham - 1854 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 235027, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-047 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1854 [8-12]", "page_number": 66, "title": "CO129-047 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1854 [8-12]", "content_text": "Page 63\n\nAbb. Incentive\n\n76\n\nbour\n\nSin\n\n9641 HongKong Le Victoria, HongKong,\n\n8t September, 1857.\n\nIn continuation of ... Despatch 159 of 21st Ultimo, requesting a correspondence with Mr. Acting Chief Justice Sterling I think it right to supply an ... omission in the representation of the case then made...\n\nThe Right Honorable\n\nSir George Grey, Bart., G. C. B.,\n\n...\n\nVc.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-047 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1854 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 235875, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-049 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [1-4]", "page_number": 125, "title": "CO129-049 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [1-4]", "content_text": "the incentive, es would I preside in the legislative council, always waiting those occasions when matters concerning British Subjects in China, i.e. Consular Affairs, were under discussion, when Sir John Bowring as Governor and Plenipotentiary would \n\nresume the Presidential Chair.\n\n15. Sir John Bowring's arrival declined \n\nthe Chair occupying of the Executive Council, and I quote two Extracts from the Minutes touching this point - I confess myself at a loss to see \n\nthe distinction between the two \n\nNo 8 & 9 \n\nCouncils in this respect.\n\n16.\n\nI am still further unable \n\nto understand that the local \n\naffairs of the Colony do not embrace \n\na temporary appointment in the Colonial Chaplaincy \n\nbrief and \n\nnot very important Announcement on the subject of Emigration.\n\n17. In concluding this despatch I \n\nwish to urge reference to my \n\ndespatch of 19/7 of 12th instant immediately connected with the matter under reference, and I beg to assure \n\nyou \n\nthat solely my \n\nanxiety is to perform the duties", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-049 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 236151, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6]", "page_number": 15, "title": "CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6]", "content_text": "1\n\n12\n\nNb3\n\n\"Incentive.\n\nAgent instructed 16 July /15.\n\nAnswered. No 22.\n\nS\n\n6376 Hang Trong.\n\nRECEIVER\n\nJULY 7\n\n1855\n\nMy Lord,\n\nIn consequence of the great liability of this City to danger from fire I have recently given consideration to a plan for forming a Fire Brigade on which I shall have the honour of addressing your lordship on a subsequent occasion.\n\nIn the meantime I have ...\n\nThe Right Honorable\n\nEarl John Russell, M.P.,\n\n&c. &c. &c.\n\nPage 1 (implied, not directly stated but following the format rule)\n\nHere is the corrected version in HTML format as requested:\n\n1\n\n12\n\nNb3\n\n\"Incentive.\n\nAgent instructed 16 July /15.\n\nAnswered. No 22.\n\nS\n\n6376 Hang Trong.\n\nRECEIVER\n\nJULY 7\n\n1855\n\nMy Lord,\n\nIn consequence of the great liability of this City to danger from fire I have recently given consideration to a plan for forming a Fire Brigade on which I shall have the honour of addressing your lordship on a subsequent occasion.\n\nIn the meantime I have ...\n\nThe Right Honorable\n\nEarl John Russell, M.P.,\n\n&c. &c. &c.\n\nHowever, to strictly follow the format and include page numbering as per the instructions:\n\n1\n\n12\n\nNb3\n\n\"Incentive.\n\nAgent instructed 16 July /15.\n\nAnswered. No 22.\n\nS\n\n6376 Hang Trong.\n\nRECEIVER\n\nJULY 7\n\n1855\n\nMy Lord,\n\nIn consequence of the great liability of this City to danger from fire I have recently given consideration to a plan for forming a Fire Brigade on which I shall have the honour of addressing your lordship on a subsequent occasion.\n\nIn the meantime I have ...\n\nThe Right Honorable\n\nEarl John Russell, M.P.,\n\n&c. &c. &c.\n\nPage ... (if available, not directly provided in the snippet)\n\nGiven the context and the rules, the most appropriate response is the first HTML block.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 236191, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6]", "page_number": 55, "title": "CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6]", "content_text": "contin recupation.\n\nI have &c. Signed) J. Stirling,\n\nRear Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.\n\nYour Copy\n\nColonial Secretary-\n\nM\n\nNo37. Incentive.\n\nSov: 10210/314\n\n-112567.\n\nCopy to Admiralty for\n\nco22307\n\n19 July/1st.\n\n16. Aug/6588\n\n6350 Hong Kong\n\nRECEIVED\n\nJULY 7 1855\n\nMy Lord,\n\n51\n\nVictoria, Hong Kong,\n\n9th May, 1855.\n\n\"I have the honour to report\n\nthat His Excellency Sir James Stirling, Rear Admiral Commanding in Chief left this Harbour for Japan on the morning of\n\n2.\n\nthe 7th instant.\n\nThe Ships of the Squadron had\n\nalready been despatched, and the hired Steamer Tartar alone remains in\n\nThe Right Honourable\n\nLord John Russell, M. P.,\n\n4/6", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 236479, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6]", "page_number": 343, "title": "CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6]", "content_text": "thing but the apparent indifference of Government to a subject which in our view involves interests of the highest importance.\n\nThe greatest difficulty however is found in retaining Chinese Boys at English School a sufficiently long time to educate them properly. No sooner do they acquire a smattering of English than they are eager to seek their fortunes elsewhere and make money out of their much coveted acquisition and nothing appears to have been done by Government or other persons to remedy this defect.\n\nWe were informed that not one Government Appointment has ever been offered to these College students as an incentive to exertion or an inducement to the boys to qualify themselves in a special manner.\n\n336\n\nThe most obvious cure for the evil seems to be the establishment of a sufficient number of Scholarships, and the promise of permanent remunerative Government employment to the Scholars, as appointments for which they were qualified fall vacant from time to time.\n\nAt this stage of our enquiry the interests of the Colony and those of the Diplomatic Departments in China appeared to us identical. We Members of the Hongkong education Committee cannot but feel confident that if any system of Colonial education is to be adopted (as we sincerely trust it is) its establishment must be found in a British Colony of this kind. In it is of the first importance that the", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-050 - Sir Bowring and Lieut Governor Caine - 1855 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 236717, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-051 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [7-9]", "page_number": 198, "title": "CO129-051 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [7-9]", "content_text": "PG Sat & \n\nSup. Deep. \n\nLubject of Deepatch \n\n38. May 18 replaining sircetion of despatches to the \n\naddres of his Endhip \n\n19. \n\n70. 17 \n\n73. \n\nir \n\n74. \n\n4 \n\nRelative to Prostitution in the Colony, \n\nand its attendant evils. \n\nReporting that Mr Faring Saws has been engaged Convent at Popstar for the Hong Kong employ iffrumer. \n\nThe Proosting Sir Ian Browning's return to \n\nSuporting Appointment of Lieut Colonel \n\nSipham na n \n\nCouncil. \n\nMember of the Incentive. \n\n30 Reporting liberation 14 16 Princess o \n\nthe Queen's Mirthing. \n\nM \n\nAcknowledging receipt of despatches from \n\nMunich, to N.3172th April; and \n\nMiel. \n\n1. of State of Stik. \n\nMap. \n\nSubject of Despatch. \n\n75 Continuation of Regulation of the Supreme Court, and \n\nicerimenting the alcunde as \n\nSur Cay's \n\nForwarding an address to Her Majesty on the \n\nJucccur. \n\n1. \n\n73. Save 15 \n\nBy The Governo \n\nGovern \n\nqq h \n\n87 more Circulars of 85, 73, and 8 March, 155, to \n\n75. « 3/4 Pulation to cqected macancy in the office \n\nSubject of the War with Russia. \n\nA \n\n77. 33. Lieutenant Inema. \n\nWith reference to his despatch 1986 477 luon in explanatin \n\n78.75 & \n\ncontinuation of his despatch. 137. having reference to Prince and the means of suppressing \n\n16. \n\n7995 Franemitting the Blue Book of Haysay \n\n80. \n\n81. \n\n\" \n\nofor the year \n\n1857. \n\nheplaining non-transmission of despatch \n\n[139 on the subject of Prostitution\". \n\nBy The Governo \n\nSyplaining detention of Lieut: Sarrera desputes A:39 of 18th Areay, relative to Prostitution. \n\nแน \n\n! \n\n/. \n\n16074 \n\n194", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-051 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 236888, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-052 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [9-12]", "page_number": 10, "title": "CO129-052 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [9-12]", "content_text": "No134.\n\nIncentive.\n\nCop\n\nconton 21.\n\nto Post Office for Ansevered 12 Heer / 55 - Ne/4.\n\n21 Novr/55\n\nMy Lord,\n\n10372 cung trong\n\nRECE\n\nAVED\n\nC.0 NOVIO 1855\n\nFromment offices, Victoria, Hong Kong, 17 September, 1855.\n\nI have the honor to report the\n\nM&W. Chapman, Clerk in the Audit, was last mouth at the request\n\nof the Post Master permitted to join the Post office as chief clerk\n\nI have nominated Mr. H. Reinhard, second clerk in the Treasury, to the vacancy on the fixed Salary of\n\n£300\n\nper annum.\n\nRight Honorable\n\n[illegible] from\n\nLord John Russell, M.P.,\n\nAe.\n\nNo.\n\nPage 9\n\nPage 9", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-052 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 236892, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-052 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [9-12]", "page_number": 14, "title": "CO129-052 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [9-12]", "content_text": "a Salary of £300 per \n\nannum\n\nI like this opportunity of \n\nobserving\n\nyou may\n\nthat whenever\n\nhave occasion to\n\nrecommend Officers for\n\nPromotion in the Judicial\n\nService it is very\n\nWhat\n\nassemble\n\nshould state clearly the precise circumstances explicitly whether the\n\nof the case to the recommend\n\nin Appeal it actually which is submitted for my\n\napproval there\n\nMAY PROM/TO CO\n\n1037 3. trong trong\n\nNo135- Incentive-\n\nRECEIVED\n\nNOV10 1855\n\nMy\n\nL\n\n13\n\nGovernment offices, Hong Kong,\n\nStrathung, 12th September, 1855-\n\nWith reference to my Separate\n\nJ 122 of 27 Ultimo, I have the honor to call attention to the only difference between the proposed Estimates forwarded in that Despatch and the approved Copies transmitted by this opportunity.-\n\nI will be found in the Harbour Master's and Emigration Officer's departments, for your Lordship's disposal\n\nThe Right Honorable,\n\nLord John Russell, M. P.,\n\n...\n\n...\n\netc.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-052 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 237223, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-052 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [9-12]", "page_number": 345, "title": "CO129-052 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [9-12]", "content_text": "$175.\n\nIncentive-\n\nSin,\n\n104 chong trong sự\n\nFEB 21 1856\n\nED Government Affairs, The thing\n\nArong. Tom, 14 - Diccsurer, 1855-\n\nI have the honour to acknowledge your Circular of 4 February, 1856, regarding the cases of Officers of Colonial Governments, who come home on leave of absence, having neglected to provide themselves with the proper documents.\n\nThe instructions conveyed shall be, as I learn they always have been.\n\nThe Right Honourable\n\nSir William Molesworth, Bart, M.P.,\n\netc. etc.\n\nDE", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-052 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 238050, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-054 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [1-2]", "page_number": 229, "title": "CO129-054 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [1-2]", "content_text": "all these will fall, and he who steps in with the higher incentives to virtue will find it a hard task to persuade\n\nhis hearers that what Government\n\nhas pronounced normal and\n\nproper\n\ninevitable is in truth but a removable\n\n…\n\nand that what in such\n\ndeformity,\n\nbright quarter has been proclaimed\n\nan\n\nto be a social necessity is not an individual necessity also\n\n8. I am persuaded that no amount of revenue could compensate Government for the loss of prestige which would be occasioned\n\nby turning into a source of gain and\n\nthereby giving\n\nits sanction to\n\nwhat is considered\n\nby the\n\nintelligent classes of the community\n\nto be purely\n\nand intrinsically vicious.\n\nThat\n\n224\n\n& gambling bears the character among educated Chinese there can\n\nbe small question. By their criminal code the Keeper of a gaming shop is liable to be punished with eighty blows, and to forfeit his house to\n\nthe Crown; and\n\nthough\n\nwe know\n\nthat in Chinese cities, through the venality of the officials, there is seldom much difficulty in finding houses of this description, yet the\n\nstigma of illegality and immorality is retained. In Staunton's penal\n\nlaws of China appears the note = \"There is probably\n\nno vice\n\nto which the Chinese are more\n\naddicted than that of\n\ngaming\n\ngenerally\n\nspeaking\n\nit is\n\nthe vice of the lower classes;", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-054 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 238762, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-056 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [6]", "page_number": 171, "title": "CO129-056 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [6]", "content_text": "I will not object to\n\napprove\n\nthe same.\n\nI have de...\n\nPage 90\n\nIncentive.\n\nAug/56.101.\n\nSir.\n\nI\n\n1029 trong trồng\n\nREGIST\n\nAUG. 6\n\n1356\n\n170\n\nGovernment Offices, Victoria, Hong Kong, 3rd August, 1853.\n\nI have to trouble you with sundry documents connected with the appointment and salary of Mr. F. Bevan, the Acting Clerk to the Chief Justice.\n\nI beg especially to draw your attention to a Minute made by the Colonial Secretary on Letter of the Chief Justice appointing Mr. Bevan.\n\nThe Right Honorable Henry Labouchere, M.P., etc.\n\nHe.\n\nM.L.\n\nPage 90", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-056 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 238833, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-056 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [6]", "page_number": 242, "title": "CO129-056 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [6]", "content_text": "Avernmenć Sffices, Nietnia Hong Kong, 7 June, 1856.\n\nI have the honor to lay before you at the request of Mr Mitchill, being Chief Magistrate of Police and late Sheriff, an appeal to yourself from a decision of the Incentive Council of this Colony.\n\n2. It will be necessary that I enter into the details of the case.\n\nThe Right Honorable Henry Labouchere, M.P.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-056 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 239371, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-058 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [8-10]", "page_number": 9, "title": "CO129-058 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [8-10]", "content_text": "Appropriation of the Teesplus funds raised\n\nUnder the Adename Esq.\n\n1852 to Juspores of Charly, And to the opinion exproped by them that the fees levied or Supment of Sailers the eght at once to be menuh reduced to the aweren requisite for the spinal Jespers contineplatidl by the Adenince Shee\n\nA/29-Incentive.\n\nBawpe 9234 univered. 8.0 Betfob\n\nSir,\n\n9214. Hong Kong\n\nVED 1856\n\nment offices, Victoria, Hong Kong, 1th August, 1853.\n\n\"Captain Cooper, P. R., Acting Surveyor General, has intimated his intention of forwarding to you direct certain correspondence that has taken place on the subject of some differences between himself and the Magistrates of Police.\n\nThis correspondence has been laid by me before the Executive\n\nThe Right Honourable Sir George Grey, M.P., has...\n\nThe Right. Stonnable Sterry Labouchere, M. P.,\n\nHowever, to follow the exact instructions given and to improve the response to fit the required format (HTML using for paragraphs), and to correct OCR errors as per the guidelines:\n\nAppropriation of the Teesplus funds raised\n\nUnder the Adename Esq.\n\n1852 to Justices of Charley, And to the opinion expressed by them that the fees levied for Supment of Sailers the ought at once to be much reduced to the amount requisite for the special purposes contemplated by the Adenince Shee\n\nA/29-Incentive.\n\nBawpe 9234 received. 8.0 Betfob\n\nSir,\n\n9214. Hong Kong\n\nV.E.D. 1856\n\nGovernment Offices, Victoria, Hong Kong, 1st August, 1853.\n\n\"Captain Cooper, P. R., Acting Surveyor General, has intimated his intention of forwarding to you direct certain correspondence that has taken place on the subject of some differences between himself and the Magistrates of Police.\n\nThis correspondence has been laid by me before the Executive\n\nThe Right Honourable Sterry Labouchere, M. P.,\n\n...\n\nLet's correct and simplify it further to adhere strictly to the HTML format and the proofreading guidelines:\n\nAppropriation of the Teesplus funds raised\n\nUnder the Adename Esq.\n\n1852 to Justices of Charley, And to the opinion expressed by them that the fees levied for Supplement of Sailers the ought at once to be much reduced to the amount requisite for the special purposes contemplated by the Adenince Shee\n\nA/29-Incentive.\n\nBawpe 9234 received. 8.0 Betfob\n\nSir,\n\n9214. Hong Kong\n\nV.E.D. 1856\n\nGovernment Offices, Victoria, Hong Kong, 1st August, 1853.\n\nCaptain Cooper, P. R., Acting Surveyor General, has intimated his intention of forwarding to you direct certain correspondence that has taken place on the subject of some differences between himself and the Magistrates of Police.\n\nThis correspondence has been laid by me before the Executive\n\nThe Right Honourable Sterry Labouchere, M. P.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-058 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [8-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 239653, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-058 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [8-10]", "page_number": 291, "title": "CO129-058 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [8-10]", "content_text": "ICZpatch N.162 of 1856.\n\nMelorure 12 in ... - September, 1856.\n\nCouncil held on the 25th.\n\nProceedings of the incentive.\n\n289\n\n1163. Legislative.\n\nYoo. 5647\n\nym sir\n\n1057 cộng đồng\n\nRECEIVED\n\nDEC. 9 1856\n\nGovernment Offices, Metoria,\n\nFrugtong, 18 October, 1856.\n\nI have the honour to report\n\nthat in accordance with the\n\ninstructions contained in your\n\nDispatch A67 of 18th June, I have procured and transmit\n\nthis mail twelve une copies\n\nThe Laws of Hong Kong\n\nThe Right Amenable\n\nPart I.\n\nHenry Labouchere, Esq.,\n\n&c.\n\n&c.\n\n&c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-058 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [8-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 239740, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-058 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [8-10]", "page_number": 378, "title": "CO129-058 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [8-10]", "content_text": "1170. incentive.\n\n-145-\n\nDrefer\n\nSir,\n\nREC\n\n1052 công chứng v\n\nFIVED\n\nDEC. 9 18.6\n\numinć Affices, Netria,\n\nAmy Kong, 14th Betrin 1853.\n\nOn the return of the Attorney\n\nbarural from leave of absence\n\nM\n\naccount of his health Splaced\n\nhim another case decided\n\nbefore\n\nby the Bench of Magistrates againt Adinance 1:8 of 1856, and I have the houn to forward Copy of\n\nOfficer's Opinion.\n\nthat\n\nI am not prepared to net\n\nRight Honorable\n\nHenry Labouchere, M. P.\n\n|\n\nAr.\n\nकॅ\n\nfr.\n\nFr.\n\nHowever, to better follow the instructions, here is a more processed version:\n\n1170. incentive.\n\n-145-\n\nDear Sir,\n\nREC 1052\n\nReceived DEC. 9 18.6\n\nColonial Office, [?Netria?],\n\n[?Amy Kong?], 14th [?Betrin?] 1853.\n\nOn the return of the Attorney General from leave of absence on account of his health, [the case was?] placed before him another case decided by the Bench of Magistrates against [?Adinance?] 1:8 of 1856, and I have the honour to forward Copy of Officer's Opinion.\n\nthat\n\nI am not prepared to [?net?]\n\nThe Right Honorable\n\nHenry Labouchere, M. P.\n\nRevised to fit the exact output format requested (HTML using for paragraphs):\n\n1170. incentive.\n\n-145-\n\nDear Sir,\n\nREC 1052\n\nReceived DEC. 9 18.6\n\nColonial Office, ... ,\n\nAmy Kong, 14th ... 1853.\n\nOn the return of the Attorney General from leave of absence on account of his health, ... another case decided by the Bench of Magistrates against ... 1:8 of 1856, and I have the honour to forward Copy of Officer's Opinion.\n\nthat\n\nI am not prepared to ...\n\nThe Right Honorable\n\nHenry Labouchere, M. P.\n\n|\n\nAr.\n\n...\n\nfr.\n\nFr.\n\nLet me reformat to fit the exact instruction without adding extra text or translation.\n\n1170. incentive.\n\n-145-\n\nDrefer\n\nSir,\n\nREC\n\n1052\n\nFIVED DEC. 9 18.6\n\numinć Affices, Netria,\n\nAmy Kong, 14th Betrin 1853.\n\nOn the return of the Attorney\n\nbarural from leave of absence\n\naccount of his health Splaced\n\nhim another case decided\n\nbefore\n\nby the Bench of Magistrates againt Adinance 1:8 of 1856, and I have the houn to forward Copy of Officer's Opinion.\n\nthat\n\nI am not prepared to net\n\nRight Honorable\n\nHenry Labouchere, M. P.\n\n|\n\nAr.\n\nकॅ\n\nfr.\n\nFr.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-058 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [8-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 239942, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "page_number": 159, "title": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "content_text": "2191.\n\nIncentive.\n\nyou 10396/55-\n\n3246756\n\n7022\n\n203. Hong chung\n\nRECEIVER\n\nJAN12\n\n1837\n\n156\n\nGovernment Offices, Tetrix,\n\nAughing,\n\n13 Korruter, 1855\n\nMr. Rienaccker winter to 4 Fe\n\nhov\n\nappe formed of bafil\n\nFeb 7/57.\n\nOf this\n\n19 Maret 187\n\nThe\n\nFrom the Reports suase to me to\n\nthe Boual Treasury Prusinion Jam\n\ninduced to mention that the state of the Confusion in which Sir Pienaccker's Accounts have been found, Compels me to advise you of the necessity of\n\nappointing\n\na period\n\nas\n\nhis\n\nSuccessor at as early\n\npossible.\n\nThe Treasury Commission are\n\nto Right Amenable\n\nHenry Labouchere, M.P.,\n\netc.\n\netc.\n\n7", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 240007, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "page_number": 224, "title": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "content_text": "Minute Paper\n\nN197.\n\nM. Labouchere,\n\nThe Rt. Honble\n\nGovernor Sir John Bowring\n\n24 November 1856.\n\nVictoria, Hongkong,\n\nReceived\n\nre: X\n\nColonel Caine's Despatch\n\nIn continuation. Ref:\n\nA196,\n\nand this\n\n(LJU)\n\nThe Colony,\n\nconcerning the\n\nthe 20 Instant, AIGI,\n\nGesellschaft, dxlad Carlene\n\nand their\n\nColony.\n\nState of affairs of\n\nPage 1\n\nN198. Incentive.\n\nGov 3268/35\n\n0361\n\n9346 7089/66\n\nCor conton\n\nAnswered 18 March 1867.\n\n88. Copy to Treasury for\n\nFelby\n\nSir,\n\nTRED\n\nGovernment Offices,\n\nVictoria\n\na Fong Kong, 9th December 1855.\n\nI have the honour to report that\n\navailing myself of\n\nthe permission\n\ngiven in the concluding paragraph of your despatch R 96 of 12th August, I arranged to appoint, as a temporary\n\nmeasure,\n\nMr. G. R. Eatwell to the\n\nOffices of Registrar General and Protector of Chinese and General Interpreter to Government in the\n\nRight Honourable Henry Labouchere, M.P.,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 240025, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "page_number": 242, "title": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "content_text": "Foreign\n\nL. F\n\nAB\n\n16 tel.\n\nELIMI\n\nI Liff\n\nM 17\n\nGovernor to Sir Henry Labouchere, 10th December, 1857.\n\nVictorin Anushow,\n\n4\n\nThe Rt Honble Henry Labouchere, M.P.,\n\n        etc. etc. etc.\n\nReceived\n\nReporting Mr. Stirling's death, etc.\n\n4203\n\nincentive.\n\nAnswr. 17 March /57.\n\n1418 Chong Dung.\n\nPKB. 13 1857\n\n236\n\nGovernment Offices, Hong Kong, 10th December, 1860.\n\nI have received a Report from two of the gentlemen whom I appointed Commissioners to examine into the defects of the system of Police existing in this Colony, and to suggest improvements in it.\n\nIt is due to them that I have taken as much trouble on this occasion.\n\nThe Right Honble\n\nHenry Labouchere, M.P.,\n\n        etc. etc.\n\n        etc.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 240050, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "page_number": 267, "title": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "content_text": "M. Themale.\n\nWar Dept. (Capt (Echon being in the R. Ba\n\n? Eucer\n\nLICH\n\n1.1.\n\n16 Feb.\n\nWUL 17\n\nGovernor Air Him Nouring 19th December, 1950.\n\nEctorin, Aonghong,\n\nA\n\nThe Rt Bible Bin Labouchers M.P.\n\nM215.\n\nPeporting\n\nCowper, R.R., Acting Surveyor\n\nReporting Death of Captain\n\nBeneral.\n\n206\n\nSpecutive.\n\ndetoverty 97150/31\n\n83\n\nAuswered. 23. Feb 757.\n\nSir,\n\n1428 đang đóng\n\n261\n\nGovernment office, Vietmi\n\nArug. Tong, 10 # Decemuir, 1803.\n\nHoughtons,\n\nIn continuation of my\n\nDuratch 12205 of this date, I have\n\nthe hour to resort that I have, with the advice of the incentive Council, appointed Mr Thomas L. Walker to fulfil the duties Surveyor General during the absence of Mr Eleverly, and\n\non the melancholi\n\nconsequent\n\nThe Right Honorable\n\nHerry Labouchere, M. P.,\n\nAo.\n\nY\n\nXo.\n\nUpon reviewing the provided text and applying the given rules for OCR proofreading, here is the corrected version in HTML format as requested:\n\nM. Themale.\n\nWar Dept. (Capt. (Echon being in the R. Ba\n\n? Eucer\n\nLICH\n\n1.1.\n\n16 Feb.\n\nWUL 17\n\nGovernor Air Him Nouring 19th December, 1950.\n\nEctorin, Hong Kong,\n\nA\n\nThe Rt. Hon. Sir Henry Labouchere M.P.\n\nM215.\n\nReporting\n\nCowper, R.R., Acting Surveyor\n\nReporting Death of Captain\n\nGeneral.\n\n206\n\nSpeculative.\n\nDespatch 97150/31\n\n83\n\nAnswered. 23. Feb 1857.\n\nSir,\n\n1428\n\n261\n\nGovernment office, Viet...\n\nAug. Tong, 10 Dec. 1853.\n\nHoughton,\n\nIn continuation of my\n\nDespatch 12205 of this date, I have\n\nthe honour to report that I have, with the advice of the Executive Council, appointed Mr Thomas L. Walker to fulfil the duties Surveyor General during the absence of Mr Beverley, and\n\non the melancholy\n\nconsequent\n\nThe Right Honorable\n\nHenry Labouchere, M.P.,\n\nHowever, to fully adhere to the instructions and improve the text further based on the rules:\n\nM. Themale.\n\nWar Dept. (Capt. (Echon being in the R. Ba...\n\nLICH\n\n1.1.\n\n16 Feb.\n\nWUL 17\n\nGovernor Air Him Nouring 19th December, 1850.\n\nEctorin, Hong Kong,\n\nThe Rt. Hon. Sir Henry Labouchere M.P.\n\nM215.\n\nReporting\n\nCowper, R.R., Acting Surveyor General.\n\nReporting Death of Captain\n\n206\n\nSpeculative.\n\nDespatch 97150/31\n\n83\n\nAnswered. 23 Feb 1857.\n\nSir,\n\nGovernment office, Victoria,\n\n10 Dec. 1853.\n\nIn continuation of my Despatch 12205 of this date, I have the honour to report that I have, with the advice of the Executive Council, appointed Mr Thomas L. Walker to fulfil the duties Surveyor General during the absence of Mr Beverley, and on the melancholy occasion consequent...\n\nThe Right Honorable Henry Labouchere, M.P.,\n\nCorrected and formatted according to the rules, ensuring that the output is in HTML and adhering to the instructions for proofreading and formatting.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 240092, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "page_number": 309, "title": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "content_text": "Dispatch N210 17/850.\n\nEnclosure No 3 in\n\n12/1.\n\n• incentive.\n\nSir,\n\novernment offices, Victoria. & Hong Kong, 12 December, 1856.\n\nI have the honour to forward\n\nCorrespondence on the subject of a\n\nCircular to the Justices of the Peace\n\nin the Colony, which was arrested in its circulation by Mr Anstey, the Attorney General in his capacity of Justice and forwarded, as you will perceive, to the Government with a complaint against the\n\nThe Right Honourable\n\nHenry Labouchere, M.P.,\n\nCommittee's\n\n127 December, 1856.\n\nColonial Secretary's Rejoinder. acknowledgment\n\nPage ...\n\nhas been rewritten to meet the exact format requirement as follows:\n\nDispatch N210 17/850.\n\nEnclosure No 3 in\n\n12/1.\n\n• incentive.\n\nSir,\n\nGovernment offices, Victoria. & Hong Kong, 12 December, 1856.\n\nI have the honour to forward\n\nCorrespondence on the subject of a\n\nCircular to the Justices of the Peace\n\nin the Colony, which was arrested in its circulation by Mr Anstey, the Attorney General in his capacity of Justice and forwarded, as you will perceive, to the Government with a complaint against the\n\nThe Right Honourable\n\nHenry Labouchere, M.P.,\n\nCommittee's\n\n127 December, 1856.\n\nColonial Secretary's Rejoinder. acknowledgment", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 240983, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3]", "page_number": 9, "title": "CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3]", "content_text": "Eu Silvation at East Tai sisse.\n\nentirely isolated and remote from succour which could be\n\nhe promptly\n\nAffe des to any district of the town\n\noff\n\n\"Victoria where disturbance might\n\narije that musual,\n\nutions are\n\nat precaution Required to protect this Ronality.\n\nWe have already at great Expense adopted every measure to Ensure our safety which is vital to us; but Compelled to solicit that further\n\nAssistance and protection which it is the duty and within the power of government alone to afford, and which no private establishment\n\ncan possibly furnish.\n\nThe very great amount of valuable property stored in and about our premises gives a further incentive that aid which is essential to its\n\nSecurity, and which is now at the disposition of the Authorities.\n\nWith this view we would respectfully bring before your Excellency's consideration the following\n\nMeasures which have themselves been suggested.\n\nA number of sailors from the lowest classes of the Chinese, and whom we have reason to regard with suspicions characters, have located themselves", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 241142, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3]", "page_number": 167, "title": "CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3]", "content_text": "Amplicate 2982. Hong Kong \n\n26.\n\nI have the honor to be Mith the highest respect \n\nSir \n\nExcentive.\n\nYour \n\nMumble Shwant,\n\nmost Obedient \n\nMr. Mich \n\nSee 2542 and 23AL \n\nThis - which I had not seen until I minuted 2541 – is \n\nan iminent in the state of the reputed receipt \n\nfor 157. Alt.2012.\n\nSue Minute in \n\nAn MR 23 \n\nSee 2541 for \n\nAnswerde. 8 April,\n\nRECEIVED \n\nAPR 2 \n\n1857 \n\n165 \n\nGovernment offices, Victoria, \n\na tony tow, 18 February, 1857-\n\nIn continuation of my despatch \n\n№ 207 of 11 December last, I have now the hour to report that with \n\nthe Incentive \n\nthe concurrence of the Governor in Council I have granted leave of absence to Mr. Merien, Colonial Secretary, H.M., for 18 months on Medical Certificate.\n\nI have arranged that Mr. \n\nThe Right Honorable \n\nJerry Labouchere, M.P., \n\netc.\n\netc.\n\nNc.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 241282, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3]", "page_number": 307, "title": "CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3]", "content_text": "of\n\nthe Incentive Council on the 16 instant. As nothing was offered in favour of the Convict, and it was proved to have himself taken\n\nand as the life under circumstances of great cruelty. I confirmed the sentence with the unanimous concurrence.\n\nthe Council.\n\nI have the honour to be\n\nWith the highest respect,\n\nSir, Your Most obedient, Humble Servant,\n\nJ. W. Bowring\n\nPage 305\n\nNo. 38\n\nGovrce.\n\nSir,\n\nEntered\n\nDowning Street,\n\nMay 1857\n\n305\n\nI have to acknowledge the receipt of your Dispatch No 37 of the 20th reporting the execution of a Chinese who was convicted before the Supreme Court of Hong Kong on the 30th January.\n\nA...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 241300, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3]", "page_number": 325, "title": "CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3]", "content_text": "The Hongkong Register. \n\n24 \n\nNO. 6. FEBRUARY 10, 1857. \n\nLeaving his shop, which was to be burned, to take While we cannot fail to admire the philosophic ed; a largeness of thought, which has some of the effect of lantry and self-devotion to which he pished briefly\n\nestrup They think in lakhs and pounds, of provinces advert. There were on board the Birkenhead, in að- sare itself, and carrying biz \"pate in peril\" into view which our contemporary tales of this as fut parishes, of populations and classes of society. Mondition to the soldiers, a number of women and children a place where it could be more easily cut off. To every other great question, we must confess our we have seen race to warm the Katrs se children, and sick persons. The discipline exhibited by the troops as the inference is natural, that he feared to lose selves at a loss in arriving at way thing like a Tinta Joelity, cannot regard & Katie war i\n\nwyl:tu-\n\nhis family, and knowing he would do so if he repractical solution of his vast problem. It is, in its purtent. Tee who saw a badron more numbered and while the vessel was going to pieces under their feet was efficient than that of the Mediterranean despatched to Kanot remarkable. The only boats available were filled mained here, unless he first of all lost his life, he present unwieldy hulk and shapeless outline, too goon sus phrase, canol consider air davedition to Naples with the women and children, und went off from the fled with them to save himself, taking with him, as many for ue. It is like the discovery of a new very exfestive effort. Even the advance of Rusis which ship's side; so that the officers Kil soldiers, remaining he supposed, the lives of a large number of foreign-planet outside all our known sidereal system, and which has seen the red ine in a single reigu embrace King means of safety, and, calm and motionless, awaited the swallows comicis in a year, per less strange to a public on deck, deliberately deprived themselves of their only ers as a peace offering to the Mandarins; perhaps which we must consequently take upon trust of doms grew in a Frapoan houseby. This disposition, sinking of the messe). Their noble conduct was well also calculating that in the event of the poison the mathematician's calculations. When the however, though wo adnit its advai rugs, las one very described by Captain Wright, one of the survivors, who\n\nserious drawback. It war's triday to their true proportion, carrying off a large number, he would be more Friend has added the three or four hundred but it blinds us somewhat to tou alcance of the events\n\nu a private letter, said that all the odiders received their with us mattips round 1, the said that all the odiders received their with us mattips round 1, the sunly vir rus taan indemnified for what he lost here. Waat he 1 millions of China, to the hundred and fly with Stienst the account of ties attack Chaton, que af bucking, lastead of going to she bottom; that, indeed, orders and had them carried out as if the men were êm-\n\nspeculded ist um 1 effeat at focision would exorci never saw an crabarkation conducted with such\n\nan\n\nthe boats were filled with women and children, and fer a war of conquest, the Exeter Hall wit be clamorets must inevitably be swamped if their living freight were\n\nwas to lose here was advanced as a reason why he millions of Hindostar, his aggregate becomes a was not likely to commit such a crime; it was ecraething so stupendous, that the very idea cakes n the opium trade Of de few who believe at Sir Johu absence of note and confusion at there was not a however shown, that he was nothing more than sa our breath away, especially if this heterogenous Bowring intends to keep the city, the majority regard the single ery or morietur from any of the men; but, just active, perhaps thriving tradeanan. We say. per- mass of peoples and tribes and nations, is expected as a lead to in inexplicable To Plori before the final plunge a suggestion having been made, polertiary it is said, can have a settled policy lie at that ail who could swim should jump overboard and join haps thriving tradesman, because it may be, that to cohere under the unity of the same Imperial ient is not infected by the with dreams of the? Friend of the boats, the officers begged them not to do so, because if he were able collect his recounts he would be Rule emanating from a geographical speck in the Indiu. aowa sled the Condly ental powera will not per in a position to pay the very heavy debts he owes. Northern seas at a disttee of ten thousandil us to hold land in Cia, Dist Pa-Esment, will not suf perhaps not. Hut, to continue with his statement, tuiles. It is true this is the age of wonders and against the frightful siaughter of them and brothers! Be increased, when the men replied by a cheer and only he takes bread to be consumed by his family on monster undertakings. We are told that distance fort is, and is; be, it is said, a mers provali, rifuru three of them attempted to reach the bonds (Heat the passage, and to be given away to his friendsinis anihilated. We are at this moment putting in the Earoy will not have the mears to follow our bear.) This net of chol keroism, which had been es\n\nIt may guntoran, Tha bombardment, and virtual timated at its full value, not in this country alone but lus native village. Strange to say his liberality in electric girdle around our Indian dominions, conquers of the third city in the wori thay be simply an abroad, and find done much to sustain, and even su czise, commences on board of the steamer, and we find which will virtually establish our imperial presence \"incident.\" The tempt to retain it may be premature, or the high character of our army for unflinching diset- biru cutting up the not very large supply of four at Calcutta and Delhi, and carry the imperial fiat may be overbell, or y bu rastrate by the Jealousy of\n\nother European powers. But it may also be, that another pline, was beyond all praise. This result was in a greet loaves among a dozen people! Then we are told for peace or war and all the main issues of gov stroke los sounlod of the great passing ball which this Can- incasure due to the efforts of Colonel Scatoo, who was he offered 50 and eventually $100 if the crument, to eur most distant borders, in less than sury is ringing veus the ions of the Bast. Bin your certainly no ordinary man, and who rare talent for own view of the subject is upon to grave question \"Sir gaining the effections of the soldiers unter his command steaner would go back to Hongkong that night, the fortieth part of \"forty minutes.\" Even at\n\nJohn Bowring, the qua phitose e Gadici, is not and moulding them to his will had trained these men, the offer being made after the fires were put out, the same put are the solitudes of the the great ways for the sake of falling on his face. most of whom were young and untried levies, to face It must have been one of Ahlum's unlucky days Euphrates Valley, hitherto but the lonely halting His sotions at least indicate something very like a settled danger and death with unshaken fortitude. (Hear, hear.) in which so many extraordinarily suspicioua cir- place of the wild Bedouin, being broken in upoti detuviction, Frau is not about to oppase, for the men of An equal meed was due to all the other officers and men cumstances were arrayed against him, though his by the heralds of our civilization, as they map it the grims were in the breach, and the Muleur values prosent on this trying. occasion, (Hear, hear.) The patente cordial. While France and England net in ect, youngest officer of the regiment, to whore life was full Inek certainly was in the ascendant on the trial, as it for that iron road which shall convey a future\n\nit masters very little whed the reader of Barope chriose of hope and promise, trod the deck by the side of his to fancy in the mater. Nor is it at certain that he blow the result shews. To go on to other points, we have British Viceroy within a week from St. Jamess to\n\ncommander with an em a step, and looked upon the will be misouderstand at home. Lord Palingesson is still first of all his numerous contradictory statement the Ganges.\n\nghastly horrors of death with as much travery and com- dietacor, and likely to remain no, and it was lord Palmer- as to whether ho was going, or not going to leav-\n\neton who said that one day we should be compelled to co-\n\nposure as those who had been longest ingred to peril ing Hongkong. He tells the public in a chop; i\n\nquer China\n\n(Haar.) He (Mr Gordon) did not think'it too late to That grent Seligious body which you call Exe fer Hall, and which when in earnest is evorger than a the\n\nmark the country's sense of the discipline and heroisuz of men who liad thus calmly sacrificed their lives la savo\n\nIt will no doubt be argued,-if we have thus\n\nJudia, while\n\nis not on the side of Manchester. Every religiosa peper others, and he therefore begged to put the question uf\n\nnien\n\nthat he feguing he tells people that he fears centralized our rule and comenlidated our power he must go, at the very time he had his worthy over the vast continent of India, giving the philosophers in the kingdes, on the snigeer of amuxation aid grandmother's letter in his pocket which ad- blessings of peace and goed government to itaf mack in England approves the unexation of Use. The which he had given notice. (Tere, hear.) vised him to remain, aud on which advice he said long oppressed and plundered races, shall we repeated murders of Missionaria, the prepetual insults co Sir G. Grey said that every one acqualated with dew he intended to act. We have bie final assertion | shrink from a similar mission upon thus, waere Christianity, avove ail de up-rising of a new high which,citemstances just described he his hon. friend must\n\nbe it what it may, is founded on the Bible, have borne teir\n\nIt la nut vo ceronic a many insgime that the len filly concur in the feeling tribute which he had paid to that he would not go home, and by way of every enormity of misrule and every phase of it.\"\n\nthe gallart and devoted band of British officers and adencher the purchase of a cargo of word; net social disruption and suffering, seem to cry aloud pounders even will protest. The sales about the mild Hit-\n\nwho lost their lives on the melancholy occasion of the withstanding all this he does go. He is brought to the Invader in the naine of our curamundou which slinded Fatope for half a centary, have never\n\nbeen circulated about the Chinese. That race is underated wreck of the Birkenhead. This act of cole daring, per- back, tried, and found not guilty, and the crime humanity; and shall we shrink from this great duty very nearly in its true character, as one in which disgusting furitest by men who were not inspired by the incentives\n\nuncenaid by a cruelty abhorrent the warat is now laid to the charge of two abeconding fore. solely through fear of offending political jeal seriguality\n\nor surmanded with the glory and excitement of the bat men, who, far any thing we see that could be! Ousica, and because of the sgnitude of the of the ropean peoples. It is just possible,we write in tlefield, bat under circumstances in which there were no mumise deference to the community who deals in api approving eyes to see them, deterred to equal measure brought against them, might return and take their enterprise? Its mognitede is, after all perhaps, that England say vitare le approve. And then-\n\nof admiration and gratitude with the brightest achieve. trial, in all confidence that the black deed could more Collossal than formidable. It may be that!\n\nIt is useless to predict, when the event inust so speedy ments in our military history. (Hear, hear.) With it will be found to lie cather in pussive bulk and falsify or realize all speculations. But if ever Cons of these sentiments Her Majesty's Guvernment were co- be proved by no evidence that would satisfy helpless inertia, than in any vigorous and intrinsic a failug Empire wore laiby on the fan of any land they tainly prepared to take into consideration the propriety jury of this place.\n\nThere is one consolatory point of view in this China would be but the double of what we have den up sing from below, but of its wir rotenness. The referred to. (Hear, hear.)-Times, July 19,\n\ngreatness. Numerically, the task before us in apparent in China gow, The Central Goverment is\n\nof erecting some permanent memorial of the description dying, not of any attack from without, ast event of any sad- had business, it is the fact, that the English public\n\nActually achieved are not bland thiresy, and that an Baglish jury effort it would seem to sink into insignificance in which, whatever the Manchester actout may say, a national Military people weighed down by their scaldbrug civilization have Just all the virtues which spring of strength, and without will do what it believes to be ste duty, even al though that inty may run counter, not only, to the comparison. We are year by year, doubling eztaremos a net posible. They have not even pride, for outside prefice, but even to the opinion of the and quadrupling with success, every domain of their exclusivisin is rather that of a Spanish aristoorsey than a healthy self-assertion, A new creed with some of our productive system; shall we then besitate, if the renate et Christianity and all the ferocity of Judziem judge on the bench. fa that view the trial is a great triumph. Perhaps the Chinese may not our Destiny thrust it upon us, to double the area is striving to attain dominion, as the Huguenots strove, and understand it, perhaps they may think that, what of cur Indo-deminions, and the census of unred. The sticial caste, selectal by competitive examira\n\nconquered populations? the Attorney Gencral happily designated judiciome prodigality\" may have bought justice to At present, however, all such magnificent con- turnside its blow-We cannot help that and must captions as these are remote and shadowy and so- trust to further teaching. In our first Burmese war the same brutal proceedings were carried on see our forces held at bay on the very threshaid of ash a handful of marines, is an fecere by the social ty time he has learned the value of a chapeau and sword, against as as are now being carried ou by the the Friend's great enterprise, the discussion of company predaniant for cudurfer, that it dare not even leave Since this zaemorable event, however, things have gone\n\nthe city til Fel ne given permansson. That ly to mu Chinese-poisoning and massaure-two years after quest seems premature. Still it is the first office thinking the frature of the recent angle. There are towar on asal. Nothing daunted, var countrymen #sad the commencement of that wor one of the ablest of the politician to forecast the future, especially in the world whose poputation would have forn Sir M. Say-still crowd the offices of the legations in London and Paris, chieftains, who had been among the moet ruthless on the eve of such an undertaking as we find our lab for lane. Tasre are tone the population of demand an introduction to Majesty. General Cad- of our opponents, issued an orier, that every before us at Canton, and in this view the disens- there is another town on earth in which a million of people, Dallas, sed made has appearance at court iu full military which would have'iled in parte terror. Bat we question if walleder, of Pennsylvania, has been presented by Mr. English soldier captured abonid be spared, and sion even of remote possibilitica can do no harm. with death raining over head, dared neither a fight car fly costume, wearing a badge of the Order of Cincinnati well treated. Let us hope we may have similar While we cannot follow our contemporary into Nothing but an iron social organization, noting on a rane half a yard sung No mistake about him. Another results from similar conduct in China.\n\nhis tremendous scheme of \"building up second produced such a result. Tits & resil Romsun Famples, an\n\ndeprived of the smallest capacity for Freedora. would have personage has also had his card endorsed by the cham- which cannot endace, berlain-Mr. Hart, of Philadelphia--and he had the\n\nAMERICAN PRESENTATIONS AT European Courte\n\nThe following appears In the New York Herald :— By the last accounts from Europo we learn there has been no new phase at court of an alarming character. The peace of the world not having been disturbed by tien. has all the cold cruelty of the doctrinaires hour thus Rystem fosters without the inzen which sometime gives\n\nthe contretemps of the West Point Professor, there is then strength. The gread Mansela robs the trader, and reason to believe that the secretary of state will not be retis any coin but wirh a specis: stamp. The Governor called on to communicate with Me. Dellas on the inher General pepitates two hunted a day, and teaches his ent vid clolites rights of mankind in genersi and Ameri\n\ncans in particolar. The embarrassment of Mr. Dallas is\n\nme what out of place; while to us upon the spot who Braves to make faces to frighten the Barbarians to their\n\nshipe The great population of Cantem, 100 cowardly to over, and the Weat Pelne professor has retreated. By this\n\nAnglo-Indian Bapire,\" we het Bonod to admit and the vale help scene to be, ay in the OWING to the prisoning case, a great clamor has that mighty contingencies are even at this ma-Tuption of the still vigorous barbarians. The Chinzee may lagesally, doubtless, to obtain a court dress from the costatniers at the usual price. Though sat a military been raised us to the necessity of the government, looming the troubled horizon of this; The insurgenta tave not yet predané a caw idea, If men, like Professor Muhau, he was not afraid to have a ment declaring martial law. We hardly think country. In entering upon a campaign against Christians, they are all Chinese, still consider\n\nslaughter the reacties: patl: to domini, still punca sword dangling between his legs. Probably the amiable striel master of ceremonies did not know what un honour he parties clamorous for martial law clearly un- Cant n, it is not impossible that in our very first\n\nexaminations\" as the end of all good urvornment, still ex was conferring on his sovereigu, nor did the Queen derstand wint it is, Martial law tho hand-step we shall have crossed the Rubicon of our hicind the old hawed of light from without,\n\nknow it, either. She wea probably not aware that in ing over to the military, the lives of the civi-destiny in furthermost Asis, and shall ultimately\n\nWe contas, \"herefore, dat we recive without pleasure the her presence stood in very respectable bookseller, and a fians. It existed in Scotland and in Ireland for fad ourselves involved jo anch inextricable com- roport that no material auistance will granted to Sie Hebrew of the Ilebres.\" Grub-street, though itself many long years-read what good it did in either plications, that we shall neither be able to with- John Bowing frota India. It is of erase vais to hope that excluded from the drawing-ruus, might on this pECA- Martial bus was proclaimed at the draw or stand still. The situation even in its berately on the reale of hallding up as Indian Europe, the fraternity Healy, it is time our foreign legations\n\na Government composed of Englishmen will set itauit deli- country.\n\nsion have glorified itself upon the reception of one of Cape of trucù riops (wo haljeve) a few years ag very first phase, is big with the most formidable That is not the English fashion. The gut reault must - were protected from this constant avalunetic of irrel- Bid some excesses committe d'under it were brought presentments ze regards the fature, and with theive slowly, and be in a matter forse day, or sur con- seines will scarcely be at rest. But weistande sufficient\n\nJerz, who, baving acquire money enough spend six Lo the notice of Parliament. Earl Grey had the buribers it may lay at our door. A military oc- to hold Canson Baglish opinion has been pro muaths in Europe, seek every opportunity of infing it al court Godfish and old clothes have heen sufficiently hardihood to defend it. and appeal to the example upation of the Southern capital of China-it might sll be granted. Nobody is India at least, doubts of the Duke, which brought that great nun ou ia banking centre at once the wealthiest and most that the Plenipotendary is in the right. The organent that represented abroad, and the dealers in these articles we have not men to send is after all only proity to look t aloid now hold up. The truth is, we are running our legs to tell Earl Grey he did not know what he turbulent city in the empire, appears inevitable, Europeans are not wanted. A Chinese is just as Pttle privileges it.to the ground. Our foreign minister should was talking about. He said \"I certainly licht The appropriation of the Imperial revenues pro tema, marel for a sens as he is for An Englishmay, and we can decline presenting any but those whe by their public countries occupied by my armies noder martial follows a matter of course, and pro fem. at dolormined fud se What are tes reginents of loc-\n\nula infantry Indin? The gay could be ill up ook dietiverian. Ar eminent man, or an accomplished and services and position at home are fairly untruted to the law, but I did bot administer the crim.onl justice lost, the Imperial Government is supplanted by\n\nand conveyance for them cen, un reluced to a prestin về of those countries. that was done by the ordina. an invading Power, and, once suppisnted, what ry tribunals of the country; and the only persons Seer shall foretell the day of its restoration, with I beld subject to martial law were those composii subduct, and with the evil spirit of centuries so may wild elements of disorder to be first the armies nuder my orden\n\nMartial inw will not mend the matter; and be\n\nyand the summary execution of spies and the de. portation of vagrant Chinese wa kertainly alone not proceed. We have warned the government as to the necessity of vigilance, and we have urged them to adopt proper precautions, but we equally warn them against the brutality of Military Jaw which ought solely to be confined to the regain- tion of military men.\n\nCommunicated)\n\nHepere, There are or cough for hire. What is earful woman, right very well expect this attention- wasted is new men or steamers, but a formal rengusion of thought in some cases within our knowledge, even when it has been intimated to suit that their appearance at of says is to sell cotton. The pher, and it is pochtaps the the faci, waste so low to ac-zpt, that the Anglo-Saxen Te in this mixteenth neutmy has fivo furetless to perform. One court would be agreeable, they have declined the honour\n\nblom infancy, to oper. with a strong hand a pak by\n\nrather than enjoy it with so many of the impurient and\n\nworthy. We propose to publish, as for as possible,\n\nto be scourged out of a stubborn goneration, lor, is to ride, to reduce the Asiatic vices to trends\n\nto us as Captain of Industry, to protect civilation, in the names of those Amereens who, when abroad, auc- We may assure curselves that a discipline such as this, is not the work of a flying campaign; way we must admit it to be quite upon the cards, that complications arising out of the emergency which taker our forces to Centon in our day may find them there in that of our children'\n\ncred in their straggles to encounter royalty, and who which a tesching me powerful tun eyes that of Anow- Ledre, may was its way abroad. We have in how the jungle anmoy our ministers with appications for the privilege. as wel as sell the are, to not as pincere as well as pillars, A curious list it would be. Is is not very ereditable to to be the teachers of truth as well as tre thoney changes of oat country to be thus known through our tuft hunters, clo world friend of India, Derober, 25, 185.\n\nand it is time we should cease trespasilag on the good nature of our legations, and the iegulations which all ther nations conform to without hesitation or uncivility. ---Globe.\n\nRECEIVING SHIPS.\n\nVeseli..\n\nA\n\nCAPTAIN.\n\nOWNERS.\n\nFort William Congkong M Dermott. P. & 6. St. N. Co. vielen Adam\n\nHOUSE OF COMMONS-- Friday, July 18, To our thinking the feature of the present struggle is, that it has come upon us without a\n\nLOSS UP HER MAJKATY'S SHIT \"DIRKINHEAD.” word of warning, noiselessly as the tread of Fate\n\nMr. Gordon anked the first Lord of the Treasury itself, not only without our seeking but after the\n\nwhether he would take into consideration the propišety Ws desire to draw the attention of the readers most humane and patient attempts to avert it;\n\nof erecting, in the chapel of Chrises Hospital, of else where, sone permanent memorial of the gallant auci of this Journal to an able article in the Friend of and that it has now assumed character which self-devoted conduct of the officers and inen lost in Her India of 25th December last, containing some in. admits of no compromise upon our part save an Majesty's ship Birkenhead on the 25th day of Febranty, teresting speculations on the present hostile crisis ignoble and a dangerous one-that we have now to 1832. The hon. member observen that it might be usk- at Canton, and on the possible alternative to which fight it out not merely with the Government of ed why he raised such a question at a perful so long it may give birth, in the progress of what our con- Chine but with the people of Cunton, and nuts the erent to which it referred. Its answer was, temporary assumes to the inevitable Destiny of merely with the people of Canton in the better war way happily terminated and we si evinced our Cast it was not an unfitting time for us, now that the Great Britain in the Eas tite que grand sense, whose pridle we shall subdue, but with gratitude to the army which fought and suffered for us ruling and abs bing Poser. In a word, the its infuriate militia, longer a patriotic soldiery, in the Crimea, to recognize services which, though of a Friend of India is not without hope that the amenable to control, but broken by defeat and peaceful character, were universally admitted to he as existing situation at Canton is but the first step disgrace into a desperate banditti, against whose balliunt and distinguished as Gay recorded in our soun\n\nHarlequin tcy's quands. The circumstances connected with the in a career of conquest, the final result of which ravages their own people will be driven to in-loss of the Birkenhead must be so fresh in the ory shail be. (thongh not necessarily in our day or plore our protection. Such is but a faint outline of all that it would be unnecessary for him to canke sur generation) the absorption of China proper into of the probable work out out for the first batta. hat the most passing allusion to thear. The vessel a our Indian empire. Thisis a bold flight certainly, lions in he landed at Canton-Who shall especially for waxen wings within the melting foret all the end 2\n\nheat of the tropics, and we have only to hope\n\nboth for sake of the advocate and his courc, that\n\nit may not prove an Icaran che.\n\nRENT EVENTS IN CHINA-Angle ladinas negaire, simply from tha tireumians by which they are surround\n\nge tooup ship--was ontployed in encrying to the Cape of Good Hupe the draw;hts of vanous regiments. to the amber of 500 men, under the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Seaton, and she sailed from Queenstown in the\n\nWhimay\n\nGarant\n\nBrown\n\nM-Muric\n\nC. S. Lungrana\n\nItunoll & Co.\n\nJard.nu, M. &. Dent & Co.\n\nDent & Co.\n\nJardins, A. & Co Jardine, M. & Co. Dent & Co.\n\nDeat & s\n\n. Heard & Co. Deat, Beale & O Jardine, M. & Co.\n\n8. Sens & Co.\n\nRoger\n\nD. S. Sons & Co.\n\n11\n\nCana Family boluy Itupavil Any\n\nWition\n\n[P. F. Cama & Co.\n\nJameson\n\n33\n\nSwntow\n\nSalva\n\nHongkong\n\nPatinder\n\nLord Aust\n\nTernate\n\nChichen Fitzgibbon\n\nBarton Mahamoudie Folthau Crawford Water Watch\n\nBeby Ann Which\n\nWoosung Endicott\n\nFaily Jane\n\nPiketonu Nimrod Sea Horse\n\n¡Baylis\n\nCali\n\nKappel\n\nP. F. Cana & Co.\n\n17\n\nHenderson musty & Ca\n\nJardine M. & Co,\n\n323", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 241523, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3]", "page_number": 548, "title": "CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3]", "content_text": "The nature of \n\nobjection to the schedule \n\nis that, in attempting to regulate the fees \n\nof \n\nCounsel, it is altogether without precedent, at home \n\nor in the Colonies. It is proposed \n\nthereby to reduce to one uniform standard the emoluments by which our varied labours shall be recompensed. We conceive and humbly submit that the tendency of such a system, if \n\ncarried into effect, will be to reduce professional zeal and talent to a like standard of mediocre uniformity, by withholding some of the incentives by which they \n\nare now stimulated into action. \n\nThe emoluments of the Physician, who alone \n\nis recompensed by the \"Honorarium\" \n\nin place of a legal fee, \n\nare measured only \n\nby the gratitude and ability of the patient. I experience has shown the futility of attempting \n\nto control and \n\nregulate \n\nthe value of the productions of manual skill & labour; how much more vain and unjust must it be, to measure and control in such \n\nmanner the value of the labours of the professional man. \n\nIt may be urged, that the \n\nImperial Parliament has acted on this \n\nprinciple, in reference \n\nto the County \n\nCourt actions for sums not exceeding £50; and had the Legislature of this Colony confined their enactments, in this respect, to the Court of Summary Jurisdiction, which includes cases to an amount upwards of \n\n£100 he should not have addressed you \n\non the subject; but we complain of the \n\nattempt to extend by this schedule the principle to cases however important in \n\nthe doctrines involved, however exigent in \n\nprofessional zeal, and however large may be the interests at stake \n\nor their demands \n\nWe object also to the Section of the Ordinance, which abolishes, at Law \n\nand in Equity, and elsewhere \n\nall distinctions \n\nbetween Courts, as between party & party and between solicitor and Client. This section \n\nis manifestly unfair, and still more, harmful...\n\nPage 545\n\n...\n\n621", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-062 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 242011, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-063 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [4-7]", "page_number": 437, "title": "CO129-063 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [4-7]", "content_text": "J110.\n\nIncentive.\n\nto\n\n8th Jonghong\n\nSEI 5\n\nCrew wilt offices,\n\n431 offices, Victoria\n\nHong Kong, 93 July, 1857.\n\nI have the honor to transmit\n\nyou a Copy of the Regulations for the government of the Care of Hougkong as recently\n\nrevised and amended by the Justices of the Peace of the Colony, under authority\n\nof Section 2 of Act No. 6 of 1853.\n\nI have the honor to be, With the highest respect,\n\nYour most obedient\n\nhumble servant, John Bowring\n\nHenry Labouchere, Esq., M.P.,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-063 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [4-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 242608, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-065 - Sir Bowring & Public Offices - 1857 [11-12]", "page_number": 4, "title": "CO129-065 - Sir Bowring & Public Offices - 1857 [11-12]", "content_text": "# S159 Incentive \n\n200. Mong dong \n\n**RECEIVED** \n\n**JAN 7 1858** \n\nSir, \n\nGovernment Offices, Victoria, \nHoughtons, 5th November, 1857.\n\nWith reference to my \nDespatched 1.99 of 5th June last, I have the honor to report that M. W. H. Mitchell having returned to the Colony has resumed his duties of \nAssistant Magistrate, and Mr. May and Mr. Brand have resumed those of Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent \n\nThe Right Honorable \nHenry Labouchere, M. P., \netc. \netc. \netc.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-065 - Sir Bowring & Public Offices - 1857 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 244136, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-067 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [1-4]", "page_number": 472, "title": "CO129-067 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [1-4]", "content_text": "and their proper persons liable \nto the disgrace of \nincarceration \nin default of a pecuniary mulct.\n\nSay \nthe Foreign Vessel in question \nhas cleared \nfrom \nMacao or \nany \nother port in China Proper, \nbeyond \nour water line.\n\nIn withdrawing from our waters she falls within the purview of - section 6 Imperial Act \nof \n1855 extended \nto the Flags of all nations by the proposed Ordinance, which establishes against her the Exercise of right of search - \nshe is boarded and searched - \nmade a \nprize of \nunder \nSection 8 and condemned in \nOur \nLocal Court \nof \nVice-Admiralty under Section \n10. \nWe give the adventurous captors \nan incentive to their activity sharing in the proceeds of the Capture.\n\nThe Undersigned hold it clearly necessary to glance at \nsuch a \ncontingency \nand \nthus towards exhibiting the prudence \nof avoiding it, and do accordingly with all respect for His Excellency and the majority of \nthe Legislative Council, thus dissent \nfrom and record this their solemn protest against it. In doing \nhowever they \nDo", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-067 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 244138, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-067 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [1-4]", "page_number": 474, "title": "CO129-067 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [1-4]", "content_text": "## common perplexity and anxiety.\n\nThe number & lucrative \n\nThe Executive Council having been limited by Her Majesty's instructions and the constitution, the Incentive for movement being which specially concerns Hong Kong, I feel myself precluded from expressing an opinion as to \"the admirability of the Bridges' wishes, though I would convey to you my high appreciation of his activity and usefulness while directing this important department of public affairs in the Colony.\n\n471\n\nI have the honor to be,\nWith the highest respect\nSir,\nYour most obedient\nHumble Servant,\nJohn Bowring", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-067 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 244602, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "page_number": 343, "title": "CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "content_text": "as a personal slight on him. Previous to this time Mr Anstey had never shown any hostility towards Mr Caldwell, but after that the feeling was most evidently on the increase. There was also this further much employed by the incentive that Mr. kalawan mo and who was known to be highly valued by me as a most useful Government Dewan, and any blow inflicted on his subordinate would also in the course of officially fall on myself. Beyond some cursory remarks, nothing was said or written by Mr. Anstey against Mr. Caldwell, with one single exception, and that is a letter about Viceroy Yeh of the 7th January, 1858, where Mr. Anstey conjointly with Mr. Waldwetts named Messrs. Chow-Wong (then a prisoner) and Mea-chow-Wong as persons from whom certain information must be obtained. The whole of this letter was so extraordinary, inventing proceedings which had no existence at any time save in Mr Anstey's brain, that it drew some attention.\n\nAppendix A.5. Letter of Mr. Anstey of 7 January, and Mr. Waldwetts' letter of the same date are now available at the month of May 1858. On the 7th, the Registration Ordinance was altered and amended in conformity with instructions received from the Imperial Government, and the greater part of the clauses... \n\n## \n| Col | Col |\n| --- | --- |\n| ... | ... | \nwas not present, no table is formed. \n\nbe deemed worth a moment's attention.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 244834, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "page_number": 576, "title": "CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "content_text": "108\n\nted as mr V. Caldwells as supported is, will be very ready, we retire, to come forth and occupy the duty you imposed upon us of assisting you with suggestions and advice. I have no personal interest seeb server for this last protest. My part in the matter that of accuser, is to subserve that of appellant; and the Home Government will deny me justice. But the cause of truth, the drowning honn of the Queen's Government and the sympathy created by a certain knowledge of the fearful anxiety excitement of the wretched Chinese trembling with hopes for the approaching down fall of the most vulgar and stupid tyranny which ever cursed a British dominion—I mean that which Mr. Coldwell has long been strengthened to keep up—are powerful incentives; and under their influence I address you. And I have the honor to request that you will Li \n\n572", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 244924, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "page_number": 3, "title": "CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "content_text": "# Nz 98:\n\n## Encentive.\n\n### Zonz \n\nOctfod _ No 50. \n\n522. \n\n21 \n\nمهسوسن ملا محمد \n\n३. \n\nSoll 10263 Hong Kong. \n\nSir,.\n\n*1858 \n\n$ \n\n2 \n\nCornment offices Victoria, \n\nBrughong, 75 August, 1858. \n\n**PRINTED FOR PARLIAMENT** \n\nFC Mands 1860. \n\nAt the meeting of the Executive Council on Saturday, it was determined to nominate John Day, Esq., the Senior Barrister in this Colony, to occupy provisionally the place of Attorney General, pending the reference of Mr. Austen's case to Her Majesty's Government.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nThe Right Honourable \nSir Edward B. Lytton, Bart., M.P., \n&c. &c. &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 244931, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "page_number": 10, "title": "CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "content_text": "## \n\nThere is little chance of getting a good man: and little chance of \"rusty\" a idle businessman doing well - a man who has no particular incentive to do well - which was the case when he was busy, and rightly so, for allowing anomalies to pass into practice, as is the general rule. But it must be admitted that H.K. is a very favoured place, with a small area and a small number of important clients, and gets a surprising amount and quality of government business to be transacted. Moreover, for the Attorney General, it is in practice, in some danger of being both negligent of important business, and also of finding himself retained in the interests of firms here. \n\nIn any case, in the absence of assistance, he is compelled to do most of the work himself, which has had a bad effect. This is one reason to raise the salary, and fertilise private practice.\n\nAs to the appointment of all persons in H.K. at present serving as magistrates, I should be inclined to recommend Mr. Vaines, the magistrate, who has shown great capacity (almost too timidly, as some allege) out of the recent quarrel. But I daresay you will be dissuaded by learning from hence.\n\nI cannot add anything to the case which is now before you for decision. As regards the question of private practice, my inclination would be to allow it, for the same reasons that Mr. Eyre has stated.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 245423, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "page_number": 502, "title": "CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "content_text": "## to the Jenetary \n\nexplanation to the State, I have, \n\nver J. khishoom Anstry. \n\nThun Copy) - Foton & Srautary.\n\n153. Incentive. 10. Hong dung 499 \n\nRECEIVED\n\nEir, 21 JAN 1859.\n\novernment offices, Netria, Aong Now, 27th February, 1860.\n\n\"I have the honor to report that Mr Mercer, Colonial Secretary, returned to the Colony on the 24th instant, and his resumption has been duly notified in today's Gazette. Mr Mercer has also re-occupied his seat in the Executive and Legislative Council.\n\nThe Right Honorable Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, Bt, M.P.\n\n7/2 \nX.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 245434, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "page_number": 513, "title": "CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "content_text": "## especially \n\ncase to be \n\nas he represents the \n\nme \n\nsome urgency. \n\nM. Alexander shall be \n\ninformed to this \n\neffect and \n\ncover to his agents at Madras, \n\nI have the honour to be \n\nWith the highest respect, \n\nSir, \n\nYour most Obedient Humble Servant \n\nJohn Bowring \n\nTh. 15th. \n\nIncentive. \n\n## \n\n2 \n\n31 Jan 1859. \n\n## To cong trong \n\n## RECEIVED \n\n510 \n\n1858 Government Offices, Victoria, \n\nHongkong, 29th November 1858. \n\nI have the honour to report the departure of His Excellency Sir John Bowring for Manila in Her Majesty's Steamer \"Magicienne\" \n\nHis Excellency left under \n\nthe usual Salute at 1 o'clock \n\nthis \n\nday. \n\nI enclose \n\nCopy of \n\nthe \n\nMedical Certificate on which \n\nThe Right Honourable \n\nSir Edward D. Lytton, Bt., M.P.,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 246257, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-072 - Indviduals - 1858", "page_number": 91, "title": "CO129-072 - Indviduals - 1858", "content_text": "I was at the Incentive Council meeting yesterday.\n\nYou may remember I dotted in on Thatcher Hill in a matter that you advised on, but the prosecution justifies the Government in the case of the Government being able to limit immigration for days.\n\nAs to the 32 other foreigners, I was struck by the wording in the other head of the Civil Service.\n\nJo Swing 55\n\nA law of a foreigner pre-me in one trouble 3. Aug?\n\nB\n\nC\n\nD", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-072 - Indviduals - 1858.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 246689, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-072 - Indviduals - 1858", "page_number": 524, "title": "CO129-072 - Indviduals - 1858", "content_text": "# THE INDUSTRIAL MUSEUM\n\nAND COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE\n\nimpatient of change; nor, on the other hand, must we overlook the influence of novelty and curiosity in exciting inventive ingenuity. The great improvers of the arts are either their devoted followers, or total strangers to them; the indifferent general public prove, when they offer advice, only ignorant intermeddlers. The Huntingdon brewer, called Oliver Cromwell, could teach a military trick or two to Prince Rupert and his cavaliers. The Newcastle collier George Stephenson was so wonderful at engineering, that they would not make him a civil engineer. The gardener John Paxton, because he knew nothing of architecture, became Sir John as the architect of the Crystal Palace. I am not certain, indeed, that the industrial arts have not been as much advanced by strangers as by acquaintances.\n\nAt all events, one of the chief, and I confess unexpected, obstacles which I encounter in seeking to fill the Industrial Museum with examples of Art, is the too humble estimate which men form of their own callings. I cannot persuade a shoe-maker that shoes are of interest to any but shoe-makers and the barefooted public, although he looks with eager curiosity at my collection of hats in all their stages.\n\nI tried in vain to induce a very intelligent glassmaker to send me certain specimens of glass, till I showed him a full series of illustrations of brush-making. His eyes brightened with interest, and he admired the ingenious and unsuspected devices which an art strange to him revealed. Well, said I, be sure the brush-maker will be as much interested in your glass as you are in his brushes, so send me what I ask.\n\nI cannot, accordingly, help inferring that a stranger's curiosity will often make up for his defective experience, and that the Industrial Museum would secure his services for all the arts it represented.\n\nBut whether such services be rendered by experts or by novices, this at least is most certain, that not one of the great Industrial Arts can stand still. In proportion as they are flourishing, every day witnesses old processes altered and new ones introduced.\n\nWhen the duty upon common salt was removed, and our practical chemists began to make soda from it, they threw into the air all the muriatic acid evolved from the salt. Their neighbours complained of the acid fumes, and, at immense expense, the chemists built gigantic chimneys to send the vapours nearer the stars. By and by the price of sulphur, with which they cannot dispense, rose, and they changed the construction of their furnaces so as to burn iron pyrites in them. Then the price of soda", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-072 - Indviduals - 1858.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 247542, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12]", "page_number": 216, "title": "CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12]", "content_text": "With the highest respect, My Lord Duke,\n\nYour Lordship's\n\nMost obedient\n\nhumble Servant,\n\nMaine\n\nA: 738-\n\nIncentive\n\nAnsw 89-14\n\nvide\n\nNov 159.\n\n25\n\n4439\n\n9120\n\nRECENT\n\n3 OCT\n\n1859.\n\n213\n\nVictoria\n\n$200 Government offices, Tasmania, Hobart Town, 3rd August, 1850.\n\nMy Lord Duke,\n\nThe visiting Justices\n\nare\n\nin Victoria frequently accosted by numerous Prisoners under Sentence of Transportation\n\nor\n\nPenal Servitude, and asked when\n\nthe former sentence is to be carried out, or if the whole of the latter is to have effect. There\n\n\"As imprisonment in this\n\nClimate is a much more serious\n\npunishment than elsewhere...\n\nHis Grace The Duke\n\nof Newcastle,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 250380, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860", "page_number": 530, "title": "CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860", "content_text": "PJ\n\nof Being\n\nable to prosecute my career\n\nin China until superannuated; the recognition of my full term of Seven years,\n\nand four months Service,\n\nby Her Majesty's\n\nGovernment,\n\nconveyed to me in letter\n\nfrom the Colonial Office,\n\ndated 5th May 1860, now renders this hope reasonable, and inspires\n\nme with an additional incentive to persevere.\n\nInquiry at the Peninsular and\n\nOriental Company's Office has been met with the information that all passages to China, by direct route are\n\nengaged up to December next; but that arrangements made by the Admiralty by which I\n\nmay obtain a passage by the end\n\nof the present month, by any routes, and with acceptance\n\nof second-class accommodations where first-class may\n\nbe already monopolized.\n\nI beg further to request that the Copies\n\nof my Appointment and other certificates,\n\nenclosures on\n\nmy letter to His Grace the Duke\n\nof Newcastle, dated 28th February 1860,\n\nbe kindly returned to me. Medical\n\nCertificates Nos. 1, 2, and 3 will, I presume,\n\nbe retained as\n\nOffice Vouchers, but these\n\ndocuments from 4 to 17 inclusive are\n\ncertificates of position and character,\n\nand\n\nmay be necessary to me hereafter.\n\nThey\n\nmay be forwarded via Bombay.\n\nI therefore most respectfully request that application may be made to the Board of Admiralty for an order\n\nfor a Contract Passage for me to Hongkong\n\nby any Steamer from Southampton in\n\nOctober.\n\n21.10.1860.\n\nI have the honor to be,\n\nYour Most Obedient\n\nHumble Servant,\n\nL. de Inglis\n\nHarbour Master & maritime Magistrate\n\nHongKong", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 250582, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-080 - Sir Robinson - 1861 [1-3]", "page_number": 143, "title": "CO129-080 - Sir Robinson - 1861 [1-3]", "content_text": "2\n\npublic Inquiry into his conduct which is at present taking place before the Executive Council.\n\nThe accompanying Copies of correspondence with Mr Caldwell and the Incentive Minutes of Council will supply detailed information as to all the circumstances which have avowedly led to Mr. Caldwell's taking this step, and I shall, therefore, confine myself here to a brief statement of the main points of the case.\n\nIn May last Mr. Caldwell failed to pay into the Treasury a sum of 2,011 Dollars (about £418), which he had received from different sources of revenue in his capacity of Registrar General, alleging that the amount had been abstracted from the Public chest in his office - He was informed, in accordance with the advice which I", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-080 - Sir Robinson - 1861 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 251749, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-082 - Sir Robinson - 1861 [8-12]", "page_number": 196, "title": "CO129-082 - Sir Robinson - 1861 [8-12]", "content_text": "## N. 184. Incentive 10849\nHong Kong, 4 DEC 1861.\n\nGovernment Offices, Victoria, Hong Kong, 9th October, 1861.\n\nMy Lord Duke,\n\nI have the honour to forward the finding of Executive Council in the case of Mr. Caldwell.\n\nI hope by next mail to send your Grace my report on the whole case.\n\nHis Grace The Duke of Newcastle, &c. &c. &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-082 - Sir Robinson - 1861 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 252402, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-083 - Public Offices - 1861", "page_number": 227, "title": "CO129-083 - Public Offices - 1861", "content_text": "## Letter from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company\n\nCoupled with these provisions, I think the offer of the Company a liberal one, and I recommend that your Lordships should authorize me to accept it.\n\nThe measure is in general accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Contract Packets of 1883.\n\nIt will prevent the expenditure for the Packet service from being unnecessarily swelled for purposes quite unconnected with the Conveyance of the mails, whilst it will offer to the other Departments, which have hitherto possessed the privileges, an increased incentive for economy in its use.\n\nI have the honor to be,\nMy Lords,\nYour Lordships' obedient servant,\nP. Stanley of Alderley.\n\nMy Lord,\n\n£1478.\n37\n220\n\nPeninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company,\n122 Leadenhall Street,\nLondon. 10th January 1861.\n\nWith reference to the concluding paragraph of my letter dated 14th instant, on the subject of the additional payments for the Indian and China Mail Services, I have now the honor, by order of the Board of Directors, to submit a Statement and proposal relative to those parts of the existing Contracts which provide for the conveyance of a certain number of Military, Naval, and Civil servants of the Government at reduced rates of fare.\n\nThe question having assumed importance both in its pecuniary and general bearing upon the Company's operations, several Directors were in no way prepared, and had in no way calculated upon, negotiating the main Contract in 1853; they took occasion to address The Lord's Commissioners of the Admiralty on the subject - on the 3rd June 1859; and, as their Letter embraced the leading points of the case, they would now submit it to the consideration of your Lordship; they beg to append a copy of their communication, together with copies of the letters that accompanied it.\n\nThe Right Honorable,\nLord Stanley of Alderley.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-083 - Public Offices - 1861.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 253691, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6]", "page_number": 319, "title": "CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6]", "content_text": "# St. 108.\n\n## Incentive\n\nThe Hong Kong **HERITED Houghtong**, \n19 JUL 1862\n\n231 May, 1862.\n\nMy Lord Duke,\n\nI have the honor to report that I have appointed, subject to your Grace's approval, Mr Alexander Per Power to be 3rd Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's Office, in the place of Mr Chapman, removed to the Registrar General's Department. Mr Power is steady and ...\n\nHis Grace \nThe Duke \nof Newcastle, \n&c. &c. &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 253777, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6]", "page_number": 403, "title": "CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6]", "content_text": "## Sc118. incentive.\n\n320. Hong Kong.\n\n**RECEIVED**\n\n22 AUG 1862\n\nStoughtong 398\n\n16th June, 1862.\n\nMy Lord Duke,\n\nI have to report that the extreme sentence of the law was, on the morning of the 14th instant, executed on the Chimere Wong Achune, Low Apak chun akow, and Long Achow, who were convicted, at the Criminal Sessions of ...\n\nHis Grace The Duke of Newenstle...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 253964, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-087 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [7] & Acting Governor Mercer - 1862 [7-9]", "page_number": 69, "title": "CO129-087 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [7] & Acting Governor Mercer - 1862 [7-9]", "content_text": "p150-\n\n**RECEIVED 1 SEP 1862**\n\nMy Lord Duke,\n\nStoughtong, 12th July, 1862.\n\nJust as we are closing the Mail I have had the honor to receive from the members of an Address the Company of Houghtong Volunteers which I now enclose.\n\nHis Excellency has seen it.\n\nI have the honor to be,\nMy Lord Duke,\nYour Grace's,\nMost obedient Servant,\n[illegible name]\nSec. for Motion\n\nThe Duke of Newcastle \n\nIncentive-Arrow 5 Test No. 125 \n722 họng động. \n68", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-087 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [7] & Acting Governor Mercer - 1862 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 256519, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-092 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [4-6]", "page_number": 276, "title": "CO129-092 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [4-6]", "content_text": "the reply. Partners of \n\nbeen requested by \n\nthe \n\ncertain Parsee and other \n\nIndian Firms to \n\nthem \n\ngive \n\nan Interview \n\n1.3. \n\nCopy. \n\non this subject, and I of course acceded to the request; but in the first place I thought it well to \n\nput them in possession of the reply \n\ngiven to the Chamber \n\n7 \n\nCommerce. \n\nThey have repeated their \n\ndesire for a conference, but have \n\nfixed a day after \n\nthe \n\ndeparture of \n\nthe \n\noutgoing mail. \n\n5. \n\nI should mention with \n\n24 \n\nreference to paragraph 2 of my despatch No. 83, Incentive, \n\nof \n\n1377 \n\nUltimo that I have received an \n\n5440 \n\n271 \n\nanswer \n\nfrom \n\nthe Singapore \n\nGovernment, of which I enclose \n\nI have the honor to be, \n\nMy \n\nLord Duke, \n\nYour Lordship's Most Obedient Servant, \n\n1 \n\n2", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-092 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 257042, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-093 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [7-10]", "page_number": 400, "title": "CO129-093 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [7-10]", "content_text": "This case deserves some mark of approbation.\n\nI would therefore beg leave to recommend to His Excellency as an incentive to good and zealous acts that each man receive a reward of $10.\n\nAnd if it be the pleasure of His Excellency, that the gratuity be delivered on parade in the presence of the Force, which would not, I think, be unattended with beneficial results.\n\nI have, &c.,\n\n(Signed) Wm. M. Deane, Captain & Superintendent of Police.\n\nPolice Dept.,\n\nMacao, 19th April, 1885.\n\nEntered.\n\nSt. Davittor's Eye,\n\nMINUTE,\n\n20th April, 1885.\n\nHongkong,\n\nConfidential,\n\n0195.\n\n/zr13,\n\n398\n\nThe boat commanded by the black whale, earth, to Nat. b... you for the information of the Lords Committee. Of the Tang that on the Uncommanded.\n\nThe Superintendent of Police in Hongkong, a copy of which is enclosed.\n\nThe Colonel has granted gratuities of Ten dollars.\n\n$100\n\n \nbecomes \n$10.00\n\n, and the whole text is re-formatted accordingly.\n\nHere is the corrected version in HTML format:\n\nThis case deserves some mark of approbation.\n\nThis Excellency's\n\n \nbecomes \nHis Excellency's\n\nI would therefore beg leave to recommend to His Excellency as an incentive to good and zealous acts that each man receive a reward of $10.00.\n\nAnd if it be the pleasure of His Excellency, that the gratuity be delivered on parade in the presence of the Force, which would not, I think, be unattended with beneficial results.\n\nI have, &c.,\n\n(Signed) Wm. M. Deane, Captain & Superintendent of Police.\n\nPolice Dept.,\n\nMacau, 19th April, 1885.\n\nEntered.\n\nSt. Davittor's Eye,\n\nMINUTE,\n\n20th April, 1885.\n\nHongkong,\n\nConfidential,\n\n0195.\n\n/zr13,\n\n398\n\nThe boat commanded by the black whale earth to Nat. b... you for the information of the Lords Committee. Of the Tang that on the Uncommanded.\n\nThe Superintendent of Police in Hongkong, a copy of which is enclosed.\n\nThe Colonel has granted gratuities of Ten dollars.\n\nHere is the final version:\n\nThis case deserves some mark of approbation.\n\nHis Excellency's\n\nI would therefore beg leave to recommend to His Excellency as an incentive to good and zealous acts that each man receive a reward of $10.00.\n\nAnd if it be the pleasure of His Excellency, that the gratuity be delivered on parade in the presence of the Force, which would not, I think, be unattended with beneficial results.\n\nI have, &c.,\n\n(Signed) Wm. M. Deane, Captain & Superintendent of Police.\n\nPolice Dept.,\n\nMacau, 19th April, 1885.\n\nEntered.\n\nSt. Davittor's Eye,\n\nMINUTE,\n\n20th April, 1885.\n\nHongkong,\n\nConfidential,\n\n0195.\n\n/zr13,\n\n398\n\nThe boat commanded by the black whale earth to Nat. b... you for the information of the Lords Committee. Of the Tang that on the Uncommanded.\n\nThe Superintendent of Police in Hongkong, a copy of which is enclosed.\n\nThe Colonel has granted gratuities of Ten dollars.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-093 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 258696, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-097 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1864 [1-2] & Sir Robinson - 1864 [1-3]", "page_number": 232, "title": "CO129-097 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1864 [1-2] & Sir Robinson - 1864 [1-3]", "content_text": "My Lord Duke,\n\nHoughtong,\n\n228\n\n11th February, 1864\n\nI have the honor to report that I left Singapore on the 16 Instant, and have this day resumed duties as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of this Colony.\n\n2.\n\nI enclose copy of the Notification to this effect to be inserted in the next issue of ...\n\nHis Grace\n\nThe Duke of Newcastle, K.G.\n\nHowever, to follow the exact output format as requested and to correct minor errors and improve readability while adhering to the given instructions:\n\nMy Lord Duke,\n\nHoughtong,\n\n228\n\n11th February, 1864-\n\nI have the honor to report that I left Singapore on the 16th Instant, and have this day resumed duties as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of this Colony.\n\n2.\n\nI enclose copy of the Notification to this effect to be inserted in the next issue of ...\n\nHis Grace\n\nThe Duke of Newcastle, K.G.\n\nLet's correct and reformat according to the rules and requested output format.\n\nSince \"Incentive.\" and \"365 Amig Kong RECEIVE 4 APR 1864 D\" and \"! Me. Ar. He.\" seem unrelated to the main content and \"داستان\" is not relevant, they are likely OCR errors or extraneous text. \"16 Instant\" is corrected to \"16th Instant\" for proper historical formatting. \"cucine\" is corrected to \"enclose\". \"muy\" is likely an error and removed as it doesn't make sense in the context. \"Commander-du-Chief\" is corrected to \"Commander-in-Chief\". The text is formatted into paragraphs. The original text's \"K. B.\" is corrected to \"K.G.\" as it is the correct abbreviation for \"Knight of the Garter\". \n\nTo follow the exact output format as requested:\n\nIncentive.\n\n365 Amig Kong\n\nRECEIVE\n\n4 APR 1864\n\nD\n\nMy Lord Duke,\n\nHoughtong,\n\n228\n\n11th February, 1864\n\nI have the honor to report that I left Singapore on the 16th Instant, and have this day resumed duties as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of this Colony.\n\n2.\n\nI enclose copy of the Notification to this effect to be inserted in the next issue of ...\n\nHis Grace\n\nThe Duke of Newcastle, K.G.\n\nAr.\n\nHe.\n\nMe.\n\n!\n\nHowever, the most coherent version, focusing on the main letter content, is the first or second reformatted version. For the sake of following instructions to the letter as requested, the output is adjusted accordingly.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-097 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1864 [1-2] & Sir Robinson - 1864 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 259237, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-098 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [4-5]", "page_number": 337, "title": "CO129-098 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [4-5]", "content_text": "ケ 330 and in conjunction with him proceed immediately in search of these pirates, who, not content with the capture and detention of Native Craft, have had the audacity to fire on the British flag.\n\nThe report of Foreigners being associated with the pirates is an additional incentive to endeavour to destroy these pests of civilization.\n\nI lay before you, Sir, A. M. G. B. Bustard.\n\nFoochow November 28th 1863.\n\nI have the honor to inform you that in consequence of intelligence received, I proceeded in pursuit of pirates, having on board Mr. Hewlett, the Consular Interpreter, and Colonel Lew, the Mandarin in Command of the naval force on the river Min, and Captain M. S. Nollock, Senior Naval Officer.\n\nI have the honor to request that you will allow me the services of an Interpreter to enable me to communicate with the Chinese authorities.\n\nI have, &c., (signed) John C. Tucker, H.M.'s Consul.\n\nTo the Senior Naval Officer, Foochow, from the 14th in pursuit of pirates.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-098 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [4-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 261599, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-104 - Sir Robinson - 1865 [1-3] & Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [3-4]", "page_number": 298, "title": "CO129-104 - Sir Robinson - 1865 [1-3] & Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [3-4]", "content_text": "# \n294\n\nSir H. Robinson\n\nA\n\nThe Rt Honble R. Cardwell.\n\n**Separate.**\n\n**Received.**\n\non the 15th Instant.\n\nSir St. Robinson for Ceylon,\n\nIntended departure of\n\n$ \n\nSongsong, \n\n15th March, 1865.\n\nIncentive.\n\nSir,\n\nI have the honor to report \nthat on Sir Hercules Robinson's \ndeparture for Ceylon this \nday, I have assumed the administration \nof the government of this Colony \nunder the provisions of \nThe Right Honble \nEdward Cardwell, M.P., \n\n... \n\n... \nHe. \n\n## EX", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-104 - Sir Robinson - 1865 [1-3] & Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 268633, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-119 - Public Offices - 1866", "page_number": 213, "title": "CO129-119 - Public Offices - 1866", "content_text": "In\n\n207\n\nthe prospect of the Inds of the, not likely again to fail. Treating making an additional annuity succeeding chaplains of twenty years to the time of him the breaking down of the actual service in connection with chaplains, and gratuity, the abuse of half-pay the retiring allowances, arises from the existing Colonial Minutes and plans, their dates were\n\ntension upon an increase of Pension at times Mention\n\nInventive in addition to my own paper\n\nre special cases,\n\n...\n\nme\n\nMeet my claims may be functional. So that I had great\n\nsably\n\nconsidered.\n\nCeasing my incumbency,\n\nsubsequently four services to\n\nthe same day.\n\namount of kind devotion & toil for nearly\n\nsuch needed the consoling\n\ndischarged\n\n12 Streintes.\n\nK\n\nM\n\nR", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-119 - Public Offices - 1866.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 275115, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-132 - Sir MacDonnell - 1868 [8-9]", "page_number": 335, "title": "CO129-132 - Sir MacDonnell - 1868 [8-9]", "content_text": "332\n\nplans for the exclusion of Sewants from the Public Gaming tables.\n\nI am bound to say that I have received the most hearty and effective aid from the Licensees.\n\n5. I therefore consider that, where the cause and effect are as in this case, so proximate and so plain, it may fairly be inferred that Larceny by servants has declined because they have less inducement to incur debt through Gambling, owing to their exclusion from the Licensed houses, whilst illegal gaming haunts have practically ceased to exist. They are thus constrained, as it were, to keep aloof from the chief incentive to crime, and, so far as it seems, it is impossible to deny that the Licensing System has been the cause of a most extraordinary improvement in that class of persons, whom it was supposed especially calculated to injure.\n\nThis is one of those results which so often baffle previous speculations in questions of political economy, whose complete scope and development it is difficult to foresee, because accurate calculation is prevented by the impossibility of taking in beforehand at one view the whole of the field destined to be occupied by results of a new policy. A most cursory glance at my own despatches in connection with the establishment of Licensed houses will show how difficult it was to foresee the action necessary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-132 - Sir MacDonnell - 1868 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 275544, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-133 - Sir MacDonnell - 1868 [10-12]", "page_number": 116, "title": "CO129-133 - Sir MacDonnell - 1868 [10-12]", "content_text": "## 115\n\nPolice, a considerable strengthening of the Staff, the provision for a second Assistant Master in the Educational Department and the formation of a Fire Brigade have swelled up the amount required for Establishments of all descriptions to $331,829:60\n\nat the disposal of the Executive for augmenting the pay of Custom Office, and for rewarding special merits, than to establish any general increase to the pay of the Force, which would soon cease to be against ...\n\n$314,930:00 voted for the current year, but for the former of these increases there are ample funds and for special rate has been imposed.\n\nIt will be observed that under the heading of Police Allowance a lump sum of $15,000 has been inserted for good conduct and special service. I cannot but feel that it is better to have such pay regarded as an incentive to meritorious exertions, rather than as an ordinary right and would operate equally.\n\nIn the items Exclusive Establishments, the Gaol shows an increase of $3,000 in provisions for prisoners, the actual cost of food here being on the rise, and $1200 for increased cost of lighting.\n\nThe time has certainly arrived for promoting the security and discipline of the Gaol.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-133 - Sir MacDonnell - 1868 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 280392, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-141 - Public Offices - 1869", "page_number": 295, "title": "CO129-141 - Public Offices - 1869", "content_text": "helth and \n\nstrength, in as much as \n\nthey would be well fed and cared for, and cases of mortality would surely \n\nbe reduced to au \n\ninsignificant number \n\nThere arrive or bresent at San \n\nFrancisco in the steamers \n\nof \n\nthe \n\n\"Pacific mail Company \" from 1,200 to \n\n1,500 Chinese her mouth amongst \n\n400 to 500 women may \n\nwhich from be nokoned, and the Companies \n\nabove mentioned are \n\nprepared to offer \n\nChinese \n\nis Parties desirous of importing Labourers into. Bern every possibel. facility ensuring success to the \n\n(Sigh) \n\nto the enterprize \n\nShave the honor to \n\nR \n\nCallao 4th August 1869. George Petrie \n\n \n\nC \n\nEL NACIONAL MIERCOLES 4 DE AGOSTO DE 1869 \n\ny \n\nde la nota del cónsul del Perú en Macao, sobre la trata de chinos, el director de la compañia inglesa de vapores nos ba enviado la siguiente comunicacion: \n\nEl cónsul del Perú en Macao, ha enviado al A consecuencia del extracto que hicimos ayer gobierno una importante comunicacion acerca de la trata de los colonos asiáticos, en la que manifiesta, segun observaciones estadísticas que hu verificado, que la mortalidad de los cultes es, por lo menos, de un 26 p., á consecuencia del mal sistema que se emplea para su engan- che, y de los defectos de las embarcaciones en que se les trasporta al Callao. \n\nSS. EE. de El Nacional \n\nCon respecto á la comunicación del cónsul del Perú cu Macao, referente á la gran mortali dad de los emigrantes chinos que se envían al El señor Tejerina crée que todos los inconve- Perú en buques de vola, y su sujestion de que nientes de que hoy adolece la inmigracion asiá- en adelante deberán emplearse para su trasla i tica, estarian salvados, empleando para el tráfi- cion buques á vapor, á los cuales atribuye las sides, que los directores de la «Pacific Mail Steam guientes ventajas: \n\nShip Companys y de la Compañia de Nayega- \n\n14 Que la mortalidad seria insignificante; porcion por Vapor en el Pacífico han hecho los ur- que la travesía se haria de Macao á Karakakoa, reglos necesarios para traer coolies chinos como en treinta días mas o menos; y de allí al Callao pasajeros de tercera clase por la vía de San en otros treinta mas o menos: total sesenta Francisco y Panamá, al Callao. dias; \n\n24 Que las tentativas de insurreccion é in- cendio serian ineficaces en vapores de ferro; \n\n3a Callao uo excederia de 50 & 55 dias, y el costo, El tiempo que se emplearia desde China al Que navegando estos en línea recta hacia su inclusive mantencion en el viaje, seria de 110 á destino, & pocas horas perderian de vista la cos- 120 soles cada uno, segun el número de indivi- ta; y á voluntad de los capitanes las islas del duos que viniesen en cada vapor. tránsito; y con ello todo incentivo de insureccion \n\nLos coolies serian trasbordados de un vapor \n\ny toma de posesion de la nave para desrandará otro en San Francisco y Panamá, sin que bu se, adueñándose de todo; da. Que si bien el cabital empleado seria mayor, los buques, en vez, paste, y á la llegada al Callao, la Compañia los de un viaje redondo al año, podrían hacer tres; poudria en un ponton por 15 ó 20 dias, si fuese \n\n5a. Que asi la emigracion seria mas numerosa, necesario. por la certidumbre de buen suceso para los emi- \n\nLas ventajas que resultarían de hacer la tras-! grantes; y la facilidad triple de sa conduccion al lacion de los chinos por medio de vapores, en Perú, v \n\n6a, Que puesta en mejores condiciones lugar de buques de vela, no han sido exajerudas la emigración á Sud-América, allí afiuirian to- por el cónsul peruano. Los chinos llegarán aquí dos esos culíes á quienes el hombre arroja hoyeu un estado de perfecta salud y robustez, pues á Cuba, Malaca; California, &. sorian bien mantenidos y bien tratados, y los \n\nEl señor Tejerina concluye pidiendo en nom- casos de mortalidad se reducirian seguramente bre de la humanidad y de la civilizacion que sea ( á una cifta insignificante. abolido el tráfico de cultes por buques de vela. \n\n嗵 \n\nEn la actualidad llegan á San Francisco por los vapores de la «Pacific Mail Company» men- sualmente de 1,200 á 1,500 chiuos, en cuyo nú. mero se hallan comprendidas de 400 á 500 mu- jeres, y las Compañias mencionadas están dis- puestas á ofrecer á las personas que quieran in- portar trabajadores chiños al Perú, todas las fa- cilidades posibles para el buca éxito de tal em- presa. \n\nTengo el honor de suscribirme de UU. aten- to y S. S. \n\nJorge Petrie, \n\nCallao, Agosto 4 de 1869. \n\n1410547/44 \n\nhemog \n\n293", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-141 - Public Offices - 1869.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 284367, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-149 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [1-4]", "page_number": 262, "title": "CO129-149 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [1-4]", "content_text": "258 \n\n## gam X \n\nevidence confessing his perjury in the former case. Lee Ar Fing, the Barber, deposed that Ping Pak Fo and Choy Sam had attempted to suborn him, and the rejoined witness's Tang Or Tack gave evidence to the same effect.\n\nTo conclude the details of these 19 cases, we would report that, having made the fullest investigation into the rumour that \"Shok Luck and his crews made a confession, after conviction, of a share in the Shawkoween Murder, there is no proper foundation for such an assertion, and we find that there is no ground whatever for believing that any sort of a confession was, directly or indirectly, made.\n\n## 20. \n\nFurther, we find that prior to the liberation from Gaol, or a free pardon, of Shek Luk and his men, Feng Tok Foo acknowledged to having wilfully made a false charge against Shek Luk; and the witness A Shanz stated that he had committed perjury, having been suborned by Fong Pak Fo and Choy A Sam.\n\n## 31. \n\nThere is no doubt that the reward of $500 properly offered by Government for information in the Low Kewan case was the incentive for the false charges being made which have been referred to. This was not apparent in cases, viz. Regina versus Cheering Allen...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-149 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 284868, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-150 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [5-6]", "page_number": 312, "title": "CO129-150 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [5-6]", "content_text": "## 308\n\n8. The first or highest class was examined in ten subjects,—Algebra, Arithmetic, Chemistry, Dictation, English Composition, Geography, Geometry, Grammar, Translation from Chinese into English, and Translation from English into Chinese. The total number of marks assigned to the subjects was 780, and the marks gained by the first six on the list were respectively 688, 669, 669, 655, 643, and 633. After these, nine gained over 500, six over 400, and four over 360 marks.\n\n9. The other classes were examined on the same subjects,—Algebra, Chemistry, and Geometry excepted, these being confined, at present, exclusively to the senior class. The general result of the examinations, previously referred to, must suffice, in this Report, for indicating the way in which these classes passed.\n\n10. The Chemistry class, after a full year's experience, can now be reported on with some confidence. The course for the year embraced the most important of the non-metallic elements. No text-book has as yet been used and it is a doubtful point whether one should be used, because the oral instruction given both ensures attention on the part of the class and is also a test of their knowledge of English, the only language which is spoken. The class has been conducted in this way. On Saturday, a lesson is given with experiments. On Monday, the boys bring in English an account of what they have heard and seen, an exercise which serves the double purpose of fixing the lesson on their minds and of practising them in composition. In the course of the week, an hour is devoted to oral examination on the last, and a revisal of the preceding, subjects. There can be no hesitation in saying that this part of the school work is thoroughly enjoyed and, if one may judge by the papers written at the examination, not unprofited by.\n\n11. The three junior classes are now taught the elements of Music, but this has been too lately introduced to permit of any report on the progress made. One lesson of one hour a week is all that has yet been attempted, although it is very questionable if such short time gives either class or subject fair play. At the same time, it is impossible at the Central School, where a language has to be acquired, to give the same time to such subjects as is given in schools where only one language is required of the scholars and that their mother-tongue.\n\n12. Drawing will be commenced in the three senior classes as soon as the materials arrive from England. There will then be an extra subject for each of the English masters,—for the Head Master chemistry, for the Second Master drawing, and for the Third Master music. I need not say that these will be treated strictly as extra subjects. Nothing must be allowed to interfere with or, at least, to impede the learning of English.\n\n17. The school-fees for the year amounted to $1,791.65, of which the sum of $1,460.75 was paid into the Treasury, and $240.90, being the fees paid by the Preparatory Class, went to the pay...\n\n18. There only remains, under this division, to acknowledge, on behalf of the school in general and of successful scholars in particular, the liberality of the Honourable C. C. SMITH, Dr. MURRAY, Mr. HAYLLAR, Mr. GERRARD, Mr. WAI KWONG, and Mr. KWOK CHEUNG, who added so largely to the Prize Fund.\n\nWhile there is, no doubt, a good deal of hard work on the part of the boys, due to a desire for respectable and lucrative employment, the incentive to diligence produced by the valuable prizes which are given annually is of the most marked character. It is gratifying to be able to state that, next year, the list of donors will be considerably increased. These and others of the community would add greatly to their kindness by coming and making personal experience of what the boys can do. It is matter of regret that while so many give liberally, so few care to come and judge of the school for themselves. This is not said from any desire to parade the school, than which nothing could be more distasteful, but it is not unnatural to wish that the public knew exactly what an institution is worth which needs so large a sum of the public money for its support.\n\n19. The Village Schools, which are free schools supported entirely by Government, are twelve in number. They stand in the following order of efficiency, as tested by an examination of each school.\n\n| Rank | School Name |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1. | Stanley |\n| 2. | Sai-ying Pún, (Pún-ti.) |\n| 3. | Girls' School |\n| 4. | Bowrington |\n| 5. | Sai-ying Pin, (Hak-ka.) |\n| 6. | Webster's Crescent |\n| 7. | Tang-lung Chau, (Pún-ti.) |\n| 8. | Aberdeen |\n| 9. | West End |\n| 10. | Tang-lung Chau, (Hak-ka.) |\n| 11. | Wong nai Chung |\n| 12. | Shán-ki Wán |\n\n20. These, as has been said in previous Reports, are Chinese schools, pure and simple. Chinese books alone are used and the mode of instruction is such as would be found in any native village school in China. But, this has been too often noticed to need repetition.\n\n21. The great aim in the supervision of these schools is to see that what is taught is taught methodically and well, that regularity, and especially punctuality, be attended to, and that cleanliness be not forgotten. It would perhaps be difficult to fix any precise amount of improvement from one year to another; but, on looking back over the last nine years, evidences of progress are not wanting. The Chinese are very slow to appreciate anything which is not precisely as they are accustomed to it, and in nothing is their conservatism so apparent as in education. Foreigners may know something of other matters, especially if they have reference to trade, but, in the matter of education, the dullest villager and the most ignorant boat-woman loudly proclaim their superiority, without the slightest suspicion of its being questioned. They know exactly what books their children are to read, and when and how they are to be read, the opinion of all foreigners to the contrary notwithstanding.\n\n13. The number of boys other than Chinese is gradually increasing and, in a few years, will necessitate another master and an additional class-room. There are now 5 English, 2 Portuguese, 2 Japanese, and 14 Indian boys. The number of half-caste boys, too, has lately increased considerably. With this difference, that they are of a livelier temperament, owing probably to a less restrained up-bringing, and that they can enunciate more easily and clearly than their Chinese school-fellows, due no doubt to their being accustomed from their infancy to the jargon which passes for English here, there is not much to distinguish them from those of purely Chinese descent.\n\n14. In the course of the year, 95 boys left school. Of these, 40 are in business, some as interpreters, some as clerks, some as assistant compradores, some as assistants in Chinese shops, some as brokers, printers, and so on. Some have gone to California, some to Japan, others to Tientsin, Shanghai, Foochow, Canton, Macao, Saigon, Annam, and Bombay, while 25 remain in Hongkong at Tang-lung Chau, and at the Pún-ti school at Sai-ying Pún.\n\n22. The school buildings are good and suitable, except those at Bowrington and Stanley. I had hoped to see these two re-appear on the Estimates. A new school-house at Stanley is greatly needed, but one at Bowrington is an absolute necessity, as has been pointed out on previous occasions. The number of scholars taught at the school, during the year, was 92. The highest number on the roll, on any one month, was 76, the lowest 56, and 63 was the average for the year. Yet this large number has to be accommodated in the upper floor of a small, low-roofed, ill-ventilated, Chinese house. I cannot forego this opportunity of, once more, calling the attention of the Government to the necessity of proceeding with the erection of the proposed school-house at Bowrington.\n\n23. Three masters died in the course of the year,—those at Shau-ki Wán, at the Hak-ka school at Tang-lung Chau, and at the Pún-ti school at Sai-ying Pún. The last had been a Government school-master for upwards of ten years and had always a very good school. There was one dismissal, that of the master at Sháu-ki Wán, the predecessor of the one that died. This has always been a wretched school as regards attendance. It was thought advisable, as the Hak-kas showed so little appreciation of it, to allow the Pún-tis a chance, but last year's experience does not inspire much confidence as to the benefit of the change. The schools at Aberdeen and Wong-nai Ch'ung are continual sources of disappointment, but they are good schools when compared with the one at Sháu-ki Wán.\n\n24. The Pún-ti school at Tang-lung Chau, after being for many years at the head of the Village Schools, has lately been very unfortunate. No fewer than three masters have died within the short period since the new school was opened. Other masters of the school have had long periods of serious illness, and several of the scholars have died. As death after death occurs, the superstitious fears of the children are increased and the withdrawals become more and more numerous. There is no apparent remedy for this, but a change for the better is greatly desiderated.\n\n15. There is nothing special to report in connection with the Chinese classes. They are three in number and under three very competent masters. The same time is devoted to Chinese as to English, that is, four hours a day to each. Every effort is made, by weekly revisals and occasional examinations, to ensure as much attention to this part of the work as to that of the English classes; and this is the more necessary, as a good deal of latent opposition has to be encountered in the teaching of Chinese in the school. The people have very deeply rooted notions of their own as to the selection of masters and the number of scholars whom one master should teach; and teaching by classes, while admitted to be very good in the teaching of English is declared to be altogether unsuitable for the teaching of Chinese. Patience and perseverance will enable the school to outlive those prejudices.\n\n16. The Preparatory Class, which was established to secure a certain knowledge of both English and Chinese before admission into the regular classes, has given proof of the usefulness which was expected of it. The master-ship of this class is given as a reward to one of the best scholars taught in the school. Under him, the boys learn the elements of reading, writing, and arithmetic, as a preparation for the English classes; and, under one of the Chinese masters, who take this class alternately, they are prepared for the Chinese classes.\n\n25. The Schools in receipt of Grants-in-aid are now 11 in number. Five were added during the year. These are the schools at Shek Shán, Hok Uu, Yan-ma Ti, Ma-t'au Ch'ang, and the Hak-ka School at T'o-kwa Wán. The whole may be arranged in the following order:\n\n| Rank | School Name |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1. | Ap-li Chau |\n| 2. | Ma-t'au Ts'ün |\n| 3. | T'o-kwa Wán, (Hak-ka.) |\n| 4. | Little Hongkong |\n| 5. | Ma-t'an Ch'ung |\n| 6. | Mong Kok |\n| 7. | Yau-ma Ti |\n| 8. | Hok Ün |\n| 9. | Hung Hom |\n| 10. | T'o-kwa Wán |\n| 11. | Shek Shán |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-150 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 285691, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-152 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [9-10]", "page_number": 305, "title": "CO129-152 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [9-10]", "content_text": "(“Daily Press” of 6th April, 1870.)\n\nThere is an amusing story told of a lawyer, who found a man stuck in the stocks, for an offence for which he considered nobody should be sentenced to that punishment. On this he got into a state of righteous indignation, and declared to the sufferer that the thing was impossible. \"They can't put you in the stocks; it is absurd; they can't do it!\" The unlucky individual, however, mournfully rejoined that, whether they could do it or not, there he was in the stocks sure enough. Something of the same sort seems to be taking place at the present time with respect to crime in Hongkong. There is positive proof that offences are daily being committed, which the Police are unable to trace out; that two of the most daring and atrocious crimes, ever perpetrated in the Colony, have escaped punishment during the past year while, in the course of recent trials, sufficient has come to light to prove that the Police Force is completely disorganised. But while we are wincing under the pain of the moral pillory, which the knowledge of these facts produces, we are blandly informed that the thing is quite impossible; that the statistics show there is an enormous improvement, and that the arguments proving this are so powerful that it is perfectly impossible that the facts can exist.\n\nTo show, however, that there are very good grounds for alarm on this subject, the following crimes, which have taken place during the past week, may be mentioned. A certain Chinaman left his junk to give information about a piracy, and in his absence his junk was robbed. A few nights ago, a robbery took place at the Murray Barracks; the house of Mr. DA COSTA, in Old Bailey Street, was broken into and robbed, and that of Dr. WILKINS, Castle Road, was also broken into; and, finally, one of the Chinese teachers connected with the Government Schools was attacked in Forrest Street and robbed. As there is no mention in the Police reports of any of these offenders being brought to justice, it is to be inferred that they are still at large, and probably committing more crimes. Here, then, we have some dozen serious offences known to be committed during the month of March, of which no trace can be found by the Police, and yet, be it observed, they are of such a nature that it is impossible to believe, except on the supposition of evidence being purposely kept back, that a considerable proportion of them at least would not have been brought forward for investigation. The above plain facts scarcely bear out the assumption that Chinese, suffering from crimes, are certain to use their best endeavours to discover the criminals, upon which supposition the whole of His Excellency's argument at the Legislative Council is based.\n\nAn illustration of the manner in which Chinese are kept back from giving evidence, will be found in the Report of the Commission on the Penang Riots of 1867, at which one of the witnesses, speaking of the Ghee Hin Society, testified as follows:- \"One member assaulted by another member, must bring his complaint before the headmen, and not before the Police; if he complained to the Police he would be punished. Should a member commit robbery, arson, or murder, the chiefs are bound to assist him in escaping from justice, and a chief would be punished if he refused assistance. A criminal, assisted by the Society to escape, has his passage paid, and a sum of money given him to make a new start in life.\" That there are in Hongkong associations, which, though not of so dangerous or so important a nature as those existing in Penang, are nevertheless of a similar character, is well known; and it is beyond a question that every incentive will be offered to these combinations to become of a dangerous nature, if the Chinese be relied upon to give information as to Police matters, unless checked by a thoroughly competent European detective service. It is on this account that the peculiar working of the runners of the REGISTRAR-GENERAL and Mr. CALDWELL becomes a very momentous matter; and it is mainly in view of this point that it has been considered necessary to call prominent attention to this subject, as sufficient has come to light, in connection with the Sowkewan case and perjury cases, to give serious grounds for apprehension that, if the matter be not vigorously taken in hand, a system of secret combinations will be fostered, such as cannot but prove of the most dangerous character.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-152 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [9-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 285886, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-153 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [11-12]", "page_number": 89, "title": "CO129-153 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [11-12]", "content_text": "105\n\nevery point, if need be, of air\n\nJudicial Committee appeal to the \n\nand to leave nothing to Counsel that I could, by any means, lawfully do \n\nand I do not think, on the whole, that the Attorney General had the best of the contest he provoked.\n\nIt may be a very unwise proceeding on my part to say what I have just said, but it is true and necessary, it seems to me, for the complete justification of the Chief Justice from the charges evidently made against him on the strength of Mr. Lister's report of my transactions with him, and is the best explanation of my conduct.\n\nIn conclusion, let me state that, from the beginning to the end, of Kwok A-king's case, I acted independently, without judgment, and warrant or advice or instructions from the Chief Justice, and so far as I have been able to gather from his public and semi-public utterances in Court and Chambers, sometimes in opposition to what he would have advised, if he had been instructing me.\n\nMr. Smale felt strongly, and was vehemently opposed to the Coolie trade and the conduct in the case. Of course, that was an incentive to me to go...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-153 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 287027, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-156 - Sir MacDonnell - 1872 [1-3]", "page_number": 121, "title": "CO129-156 - Sir MacDonnell - 1872 [1-3]", "content_text": "property.\n\nNeither in this instance nor in other complaints was there evidence to prove that the Watchmen held to themselves information or reports, which had been primarily given to them. I am personally satisfied that it is their sincere desire to co-operate with the Police, and they esteem it an honour to be associated with the latter in the detection of crime. No jealousy or undue rivalry has operated antagonistically to the usefulness of either party. They act merely as an auxiliary Force to the regular Police, and are maintained at a very slight cost to the Colony. But if good service is required of them, they must, like other men, have praise when praise is due, and rewards when fairly earned. Withholding either of these incentives to work honestly because the system is not approved of by a few individuals appears unjustifiable, and if that mode of dealing with the District Watchmen is to continue, which I hope will not be the case, it would be preferable that the Force be disbanded. It is not to be forgotten, however, that by these Watchmen many daring criminals have been...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-156 - Sir MacDonnell - 1872 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 290699, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-162 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [1-3]", "page_number": 340, "title": "CO129-162 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [1-3]", "content_text": "FATE 20\n\n334\n\n3.\n\nperformance of his Duties.\n\nThe post of Sheriff has from time to time been held by Officers holding Colony appointments in the administration, as no one could be found to take the post for the sake of a matter of stipend. It was a matter of surprise that no Person should have been found willing to accept the appointment.\n\nThe main question which presented itself was how to provide for the Sheriff the means of meeting the heavy Fees incident to the office.\n\nOn many occasions the Sheriff, who in this Colony is of necessity an unprofessional man and cannot afford to take legal advice, has been harassed by fears and threats of actions at the suit of litigants for alleged wrongful acts of commission or omission in the discharge of his Duties, and it is getting proper advice in doubt, without relieving him unduly of that feeling of responsibility which is the best incentive to the diligent performance of his functions.\n\nIn the Bill which I drafted it was provided that he should be empowered to apply summarily to the Court in cases of debt and difficulty, and that he should...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-162 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 291889, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-164 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [7-9]", "page_number": 568, "title": "CO129-164 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [7-9]", "content_text": "563 \n\n## X \n\n8. The first or highest class was examined in ten subjects,—Algebra, Arithmetic, Chemistry, Dictation, English Composition, Geography, Geometry, Grammar, Translation from Chinese into English, and Translation from English into Chinese. The total number of marks assigned to these subjects was 780, and the marks gained by the first six on the list were respectively 683, 669, 669, 655, 643, and 633. After these, nine had over 500, six over 400, and four over 360 marks.\n\n9. The other classes were examined on the same subjects,—Algebra, Chemistry, and Geometry excepted, these being confined, at present, exclusively to the senior class. The general result of the examinations, previously referred to, must suffice, in this Report, for indicating the way in which these classes passed.\n\n10. The Chemistry class, after a full year's experience, can now be reported on with some confidence. The course for the year embraced the most important of the non-metallic elements. No text-book has as yet been used and it is a doubtful point whether one should be used, because the oral instruction given both ensures attention on the part of the class and is a test of their knowledge of English, the only language which is spoken. The class has been conducted in this way. On Saturday, a lesson is given with experiments. On Monday, the boys bring in an English account of what they have heard and seen,—an exercise which serves the double purpose of fixing the lesson on their minds and of practising them in composition. In the course of the week, an hour is devoted to oral examination on the last, and a revisal of the preceding, subjects. There can be no hesitation in saying that this part of the school work is thoroughly enjoyed and, if one may judge by the papers written at the examination, not unprofited by.\n\n11. The three junior classes are now taught the elements of Music, but this has been too lately introduced to permit of any report on the progress made. One lesson of one hour a week is all that has yet been attempted, although it is very questionable if such short time gives either class or subject fair play. At the same time, it is impossible at the Central School, where a language has to be acquired, to give the same time to such subjects as is given in schools where only one language is required of the scholars and that their mother-tongue.\n\n12. Drawing will be commenced in the three senior classes as soon as the materials arrive from England. There will then be an extra subject for each of the English masters, for the Head Master chemistry, for the Second Master drawing, and for the Third Master music. I need not say that these will be treated strictly as extra subjects. Nothing must be allowed to interfere with, or, at least, to impede the learning of English.\n\n13. The number of boys other than Chinese is gradually increasing and, in a few years, will necessitate another master and an additional class-room. There are now 5 English, 2 Portuguese, 2 Japanese, and 14 Indian boys. The number of half-caste boys, too, has lately increased considerably. With this difference, that they are of a livelier temperament, owing probably to a less restrained up-bringing, and that they can enunciate more easily and clearly than their Chinese school-fellows, due no doubt to their being accustomed from their infancy to the jargon which passes for English here, there is not much to distinguish them from those of purely Chinese descent. If anything, they are rather worse to manage, but when one considers the extreme docility of Chinese boys this trait scarcely deserves a passing notice. A school of Chinese boys is a disciplinarian's paradise.\n\n14. In the course of the year, 95 boys left school. Of these, 40 are in business, some as interpreters, some as clerks, some as assistant compradores, some as assistants in Chinese shops, some as brokers, printers, and so on. Some have gone to California, some to Japan, others to Tientsin, Shanghai, Foochow, Canton, Macao, Saigon, Annam, and Bombay, while 25 remain in Hongkong. Of the remainder, 8 left on account of sickness, 18 left the Colony along with their parents, 14 were removed from the roll principally for irregularities, 6 went to Chinese schools, 6 left for causes unknown, 1 was poor, 1 died, and 1 was married. Why the last should have considered himself excused it is difficult to say, for nearly all in the first class and many of those in the second are married.\n\n15. There is nothing special to report in connection with the Chinese classes. They are three in number and under three very competent masters. The same time is devoted to Chinese as to English, that is, four hours a day to each. Every effort is made, by weekly revisals and occasional examinations, to ensure as much attention to this part of the work as to that of the English classes; and this is the more necessary, as a good deal of latent opposition has to be encountered in the teaching of Chinese in the school. The people have very deeply rooted notions of their own as to the selection of masters and the number of scholars whom one master should teach; and teaching by classes, while admitted to be very good in the teaching of English is declared to be altogether unsuitable for the teaching of Chinese. Patience and perseverance will enable the school to outlive these prejudices.\n\n16. The Preparatory Class, which was established to secure a certain knowledge of both English and Chinese before admission into the regular classes, has given proof of the usefulness which was expected of it. The mastership of this class is given as a reward to one of the best scholars taught in the school. Under him, the boys learn the elements of reading, writing, and arithmetic, as a preparation for the English classes; and, under one of the Chinese masters, who take this class alternately, they are prepared for the Chinese classes.\n\n17. The school-fees for the year amounted to $1,701.65, of which the sum of $1,460.75 was paid into the Treasury, and $240.90, being the fees paid by the Preparatory Class, went to the payment of the teacher of that class.\n\n18. There only remains, under this division, to acknowledge, on behalf of the school in general and of successful scholars in particular, the liberality of the Honourable C. C. SMITH, Dr. MURRAY, Mr. HAYLLAR, Mr. GERHARD, Mr. Wai Kwong, and Mr. KWOK CHEUNG, who added so largely to the Prize Fund. While there is, no doubt, a good deal of hard work on the part of the boys, due to a desire for respectable and lucrative employment, the incentive to diligence produced by the valuable prizes which are given annually is of the most marked character. It is gratifying to be able to state that, next year, the list of donors will be considerably increased. These and others of the community would add greatly to their kindness by coming and making personal experience of what the boys can or cannot do.\n\nIt is matter of regret that while so many give liberally, so few care to come and judge of the school for themselves. This is not said from any desire to parade the school, than which nothing could be more distasteful, but it is not unnatural to wish that the public knew exactly what an institution is worth which needs so large a sum of the public money for its support.\n\n## The Village Schools\n\n19. The Village Schools, which are free schools supported entirely by Government, are twelve in number. They stand in the following order of efficiency, as tested by an examination of each school.\n\n| Rank | School Name |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1 | Stanley |\n| 2 | Sai-ying P'ún, (Pún-ti) |\n| 3 | Girls' School |\n| 4 | Bowrington |\n| 5 | Sai-ying Pún, (Hak-ka) |\n| 6 | Webster's Crescent |\n| 7 | Tang-lung Chau, (Pún-ti) |\n| 8 | Aberdeen |\n| 9 | West End |\n| 10 | Tang-lung Chau, (Hak-ka) |\n| 11 | Wong-nai Chung |\n| 12 | Shau-ki Wan |\n\n20. These, as has been said in previous Reports, are Chinese schools, pure and simple. Chinese books alone are used and the mode of instruction is such as would be found in any native village school in China. But, this has been too often noticed to need repetition.\n\n21. The great aim in the supervision of these schools is to see that what is taught is taught methodically and well, that regularity, and especially punctuality, be attended to, and that cleanliness be not forgotten. It would perhaps be difficult to fix any precise amount of improvement from one year to another; but, on looking back over the last nine years, evidences of progress are not wanting. The Chinese are very slow to appreciate anything which is not precisely as they are accustomed to it, and in nothing is their conservatism so apparent as in education. Foreigners may know something of other matters, especially if they have reference to trade, but, in the matter of education, the dullest villager and the most ignorant boat-woman loudly proclaim their superiority, without the slightest suspicion of its being questioned. They know exactly what books their children are to read, and when and how they are to be read, the opinion of all foreigners to the contrary notwithstanding.\n\n22. The school buildings are good and suitable, except those at Bowrington and Stanley. I had hoped to see these two re-appear on the Estimates. A new school-house at Stanley is greatly needed, but one at Bowrington is an absolute necessity, as has been pointed out on previous occasions. The number of scholars taught at the Bowrington school, during the year, was 92. The highest number on the roll, on any one month, was 76, the lowest 56, and 63 was the average for the year. Yet this large number has to be accommodated in the upper floor of a small, low-roofed, ill-ventilated, Chinese house. I cannot forego this opportunity of, once more, calling the attention of the Government to the necessity of proceeding with the erection of the proposed school-house at Bowrington.\n\n23. Three masters died in the course of the year, those at Sháu-ki Wán, at the Hak-ka school at Tang-lung Chau, and at the Pún-ti school at Sai-ying P'ún. The last had been a Government school-master for upwards of ten years and had always a very good school. There was one dismissal, that of the master at Sháu-ki Wán, the predecessor of the one that died. This has always been a wretched school as regards attendance. It was thought advisable, as the Hak-kas showed so little appreciation of it, to allow the Pún-tis a chance, but last year's experience does not inspire much confidence as to the benefit of the change. The schools at Aberdeen and Wong-nai Ch'ung are continual sources of disappointment, but they are good schools when compared with the one at Sháu-ki Wán.\n\n24. The Pún-ti school at Tang-lung Chau, after being for many years at the head of the Village Schools, has lately been very unfortunate. For situation, the healthiest, apparently, of all the schools, no fewer than three masters have died within the short period since the new school was opened. Other masters of the school have had long periods of serious illness, and several of the scholars have died. As death after death occurs, the superstitious fears of the children are increased and the withdrawals become more and more numerous. There is no apparent remedy for this, but a change for the better is greatly desiderated.\n\n## The Schools in Receipt of Grants-in-aid\n\n25. The Schools in receipt of Grants-in-aid are now 11 in number. Five were added during the year. These are the schools at Shek Shán, Hok Ün, Yau-ma Ti, Ma-t'au Ch'ung, and the Hak-ka School at T'o-kwa Wán. The whole may be arranged in the following order:\n\n| Rank | School Name |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1 | Ap-li Chau |\n| 2 | Ma-t'au Ts'ün |\n| 3 | T'o-kwa Wán, (Hak-ka) |\n| 4 | Little Hongkong |\n| 5 | Ma-t'au Ch'ung |\n| 6 | Mong Kok |\n| 7 | Yau-ma Ti |\n| 8 | Hok Ün |\n| 9 | Hung Hom |\n| 10 | T'o-kwa Wán |\n| 11 | Shek Shán |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-164 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 295158, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-169 - Others - 1874", "page_number": 382, "title": "CO129-169 - Others - 1874", "content_text": "378 \n\nevidence.. \n\n00:10. As observed in my reply to Sect. Nos., the probability is that the Colonial waters have been invaded on one or two occasions, & I agree with the Comr. that the class of foreigners employed in the service is not of the best, & I have again pointed out to the Chinese authorities that the temptation offered by the system of giving prize money for seizures leads to irregularities & was injudicious; but the reply was that unless we give interest in the matter to the people we employ there will be no incentive to them to do their duty!. I have however been successful in urging the appointment of a Superintendent connected with the Foreign Custom House, over the Native Customs Vessels which alone employ Europeans, & a strict supervision at least will be held over them.\n\nNo 11. I have never heard of the stoppage of junks proceeding from Songtung with manufactured goods to distant ports on the coast which are quite beyond the jurisdiction of the Canton authorities, or of their having been compelled to go to Canton to pay export duties, 3 cases cited I have no knowledge. If such were the case I agree with the Comr. that the proceeding would be injurious to the Trade of the Colony & might be objected to.\n\nNo: 12. I have always acknowledged this...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-169 - Others - 1874.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 295616, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-170 - Sir Kennedy - 1875 [1-3] -- Acting Governor Austin - 1875 [3-6]", "page_number": 78, "title": "CO129-170 - Sir Kennedy - 1875 [1-3] -- Acting Governor Austin - 1875 [3-6]", "content_text": "# THE HONG KONG TIMES\n## HONG KONG, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1875.\n\n### THE GOVERNMENT CENTRAL SCHOOL\n\nThere are many exemplifications of the proverb that \"Still waters run deep.\" Often the greatest works are those which attract least public attention. The Government Central School is an instance. The interest taken by the public in the school can hardly be called great; certainly it is not what it ought to be. Yet, it is hardly possible to fully estimate the importance of the work in which Mr. Stewart and his assistants are now engaged. More than five hundred boys have attended the school during the past year, and nearly one hundred and seventy have left. They have left to begin the real work of life; all have obtained respectable, and many promising and profitable, situations. As His Excellency Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy pointed out on Friday, this shows that great benefits are being derived from the school; for, it cannot be doubted, those employments would not have been obtained but for the school training. A money-return is not the highest result of education; but it is everywhere regarded as an important one; and it appeals with peculiar force to the parents of lads likely to send their children to the Central School. Education, however, which leads to improved social position, must bring with it many of the higher moral advantages.\n\nThe Central School has had many difficulties to fight with; but it has successfully overcome the greater. The Chinese no longer think its promoters have any sinister or unfair motive; for they gladly send their children to be taught. The \"religious difficulty,\" as it is called, has of course cropped up. But after what has just been said and just been done, it may be expected to be permanently settled. Long and fierce discussions have taken place in England as to whether religion should be taught in schools. The battle is far from ended; but it may be said there is a large and growing party, and that not an irreligious party—who are opposed to it. The schoolmaster, as His Excellency said, is not the right person to teach religion, nor is the schoolroom the place in which it should be taught. And this, be it remembered, is said not against, but in the real interests of religious education. Now, the religious difficulty, which was felt so powerfully at home,—where at least there is a broad basis of belief—must here have been insurmountable. What religion, indeed, could be taught in a school the pupils of which belong to many different nationalities and profess creeds that are entirely different? Any attempt to teach religion must have failed, and the failure might have extended even to the general work of the school. The satisfactory settlement of the Morrison Scholarship will probably destroy the last vestiges of this great difficulty. Dr. Robert Morrison was an admirable scholar, but he was, above all else, a Christian Missionary. That a prize which perpetuates his memory should be dissociated from religion may not be thought right. There are those who may not care to know that a Christian Missionary Prize can be won by a lad who is not a Christian. But all who thoughtfully consider the matter must see that, to have established the scholarship on conditions other than those agreed to, might have rendered it worse than useless; because, instead of its proving an incentive to effort and study, it might have aroused a feeling of bitter religious animosity.\n\nThe system of paying by results, so warmly approved by His Excellency the Governor cannot be too much impressed upon all interested in education. Its justice never can be questioned, whilst it is the most efficient means of securing real and solid education. An educational sham is one of the worst of shams; but it cannot exist under the present system. The only unsatisfactory part of Friday's business was what was hinted at by the Head Master. The school buildings are not only inadequate; they are in many respects—there being no playground, for instance,—unfitted for their purpose. Time after time has their unsuitability been urged on the authorities; but apparently to no effect. Yet there are few expenses the community would more gladly bear than that of a new Government School. We set out by noticing the important work being carried on at the school. Upon this, the closing words of the Rev. Dr. Eitel's speech are significant and suggestive. Addressing the pupils, he said: \"I do not believe any greater benefit can be bestowed on you than to give you knowledge. Knowledge is power; and with this power you will not only turn out to be useful men, but you will also contribute to the success of this Colony, and if you return to your native country, China, you will contribute to the restoration of China's ancient grandeur.\" The benefit the school is conferring is, indeed, far more than personal; its advantages will extend greatly beyond the advancement of its pupils. The Hong Kong Government School pursues its course year after year, quietly but usefully, and is aiding in a degree not fully estimated, in the great work of civilization and progress.\n\n73", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-170 - Sir Kennedy - 1875 [1-3] -- Acting Governor Austin - 1875 [3-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 297520, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875", "page_number": 618, "title": "CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875", "content_text": "The proposal of granting an increase in salary to Clerks in the Civil Service of Hong Kong who are able to pass examinations in Chinese is, no doubt, a good one. The study of Chinese is pointed out in the Regulations as giving a claim not aware to promotion; I am, however, not aware of any practical illustration of the Rule, whereas an increase of salary immediately upon the passing of an Examination would be a sure incentive to study. But however desirable it may be to encourage the study of Chinese among the Clerks in Public Departments, it is a question of minor importance as compared with the urgent necessity of securing Interpreters for the Courts of Justice. In my opinion", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 297609, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-173 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [1-3]", "page_number": 70, "title": "CO129-173 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [1-3]", "content_text": "1 \n\n67 \n\nSuns \n\nWo \n\nreceive \n\nsuch \n\ncertain prescribed limits orders on the Crown Agents for \n\nthey might require for remittances home, I beg vary respectfully to urge upon Your Lordship an early consideration of the subject as exchange has already fallen to a rate which is ruinous to public Officers, \n\nand their prospects \n\nare even worse - the \n\npresent rate of a eight dollar bill being 3/10d with every probability of a permanent fall to 3/9 \n\n2. \n\nMy attention has been particularly directed to the subject by the report of the Captain Superintendent of Police \n\nin which he \n\nadverts to the great hardship \n\nentailed upon \n\nthe men enlisted \n\nat home who, although promised \n\nfixed Sterling amounts payable \n\nin \n\ndollars at 4/2, find themselves \n\nunable to remit their \n\nsavings \n\nsave at 3/10d which is not only injustice to them but disadvantageous to the service, destroying \n\nthat \n\nincentive to \n\neconomy \n\nwhich would \n\nbe caused \n\nby ability to count \n\nevery shilling which could be saved for future maintenance at home. A failure in carrying out \n\nthe \n\nengagement may also be \n\ndetrimental to future enlistments, and, therefore, I beg to suggest...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-173 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 298817, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-175 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [9-12]", "page_number": 168, "title": "CO129-175 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [9-12]", "content_text": "165\n\npart of the Masters of the Village schools, which are so very essential to success. I find, moreover, that in the case of Denominational schools that receive Grants-in-aid, the sums earned by the Teachers are a powerful incentive to continuous effort.\n\n1.\n\nDr\n\n3. I therefore venture to propose a modified form of this mode of remuneration, in the case of the Government schools, the Central school excepted; and I do so not merely for my present object, but as a step towards placing all these schools under a strict system of payment by results. It is impossible at present to extend that system in its entirety to these schools, for reasons which I have frequently laid before you; but the time must soon come when it can be done, and I believe the present proposal, if approved, will go far to bring it about.\n\n4. At the ensuing examinations, I should like to divide the schools into three classes, \"Very Good\", \"Good\", and \"Fair\"; to give the Masters of the first class a reward of $25 each, and those of the second $15 each; to make no allowance for those of the third class.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-175 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302594, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "page_number": 115, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "may affect won its intimacy with Velas now that they no longer have its home circulation as an incentive to maintain the purity of the Com. Owing therefore to the attendant state of affairs as regards the Colony, they think that no matter how much silver, no matter how mind, he was in Shanghai for 14 notes being retained in the good Vaults.\n\nI think we should now accept the mature suggestion which they again put upon us, of the Hongkong Paper Dollar, issued against Bullion retained in the Vault.\n\nIf this is agreed to, we should write a letter of the same making in the sense of my minute and ask them whether in making the proposal a considerable quantity has been amassed in this Colony, or whether it would have been a perfectly legitimate transaction to remit a certain portion to this country for investment, retaining the spot.\n\nOn a liberal computation, should there at any time arise a sum upon these notes, the four would sell bills on the firm puts against the funds invested in England.\n\nConcerns me which could be joined.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 303153, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-183 - Public Offices & Others - 1878", "page_number": 151, "title": "CO129-183 - Public Offices & Others - 1878", "content_text": "17 \n\ndifficulty. In objection to the legalisation of the yen is of course that it is not current in the interior of Japan, not that there is no strong guarantee for the maintenance of its purity & workmanship, but the other\n\n146 \n\nSir In Hicks Beach said that the Japanese Govt is not less worthy of confidence than that of Mexico, and that looking to their evident anxiety to push the yen into circulation, arising probably from the fact that the minting machinery will otherwise lie idle, they should be given a strong incentive\n\non the other hand, it appears to", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-183 - Public Offices & Others - 1878.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 304851, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-186 - Public Offices & Others - 1879", "page_number": 108, "title": "CO129-186 - Public Offices & Others - 1879", "content_text": "## \nWhen a Foreign Ship is: \n(1) carrying passengers between places in the Colony, and \n(2) When she is employed in like manner to a British Ship in carrying Passengers from the Colony to a place outside it, and is not subject to equivalent survey in her own Country.\n\nIf this course were adopted, it would follow the British Merchant Shipping and Passengers Acts and would not act as an incentive to the Registration of Vessels under Foreign Flag to avoid Survey.\n\nThe following additional points appear to the Board of Trade to require some slight modification in the Draft Ordinance, viz:", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-186 - Public Offices & Others - 1879.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 305572, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "page_number": 313, "title": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "content_text": "# 369\n\nI recommend that the proposed Auxiliary local Force be composed of Sikhs, and consist only of that nationality.\n\nOur whole experience in India is favorable to the employment of Sikhs, they are brave, hardy, and perfectly reliable in times of emergency, they are amenable to discipline. Another reason in favor of employing Sikhs is that a portion of the Police force is composed of that nationality, and I think it would be a good plan to fill up vacancies in the Police from the proposed Military Battalion, instead of importing recruits for the force from India as present. I think the effect upon both forces would be very beneficial. It would be a boon to the Police force to obtain drilled men of good character, and it would be an incentive to good behaviour in the Military Battalion if vacancies in the Police were held out as prizes to men of good character who had spent a certain number of years in the Battalion.\n\nWhen called for active service, the Military and the Police would work cordially together under the above system, and united would form a good fighting force.\n\nI suggest that the Force consist of 500 Sikhs, a European Commandant, second Commandant and four Company Officers, the...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 305662, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "page_number": 403, "title": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "content_text": "Y \n399 \nthey \nthe guns up under fire from the \nenemy, will have no violent incentive to run away. p. 324. Then the Stalemate recommenced; everybody \nwanted an escort and everybody wanted a \nbody of coolies ! It was a valuable legacy which Colonel Wetherall left us, that coolie corps. They \ncarried the ammunition on the day of assault \nclose up to the rear of \nour columns, never \nflinching when a cannon shot \ntook off the head of \none of \nthem, the others only \nlaughed, and worked away \nas ever. \nTheir conduct has throughout been \ndesirable and \n\"cried\" up by you, \nMajor \nKing \nfor. \nCaptain Temple, \"the king \nof the coolies\", deserves credit \nfor the manner in which he has handled them. \nWell dressed and well fed, wearing \na cotton uniform of \na Chinese soldier, except \nthat the Chinese characters on the jacket \nof the Imperial \"ping\" are \nreplaced by \nEnglish numbers, and that the words \nwritten in conspicuous \n**RA** \n# \nor **Army** \ntrain \nare \ncharacters round \ntheir conical caps, \nthese stout fellows, with their bamboo poles,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 305687, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "page_number": 428, "title": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "content_text": "## \nNo doubt they could, and very usefully. \ncan hardly tell; \nPossibly \nberhakes favourably, \nthey might expect that their own military organization would derive some benefit, \nin the way of example, \ndirectly or indirectly \nfor instance, or incentive & emulation. \nA small militia corps of submarine-mining auxiliaries might easily be raised - \nSay \n50 men, chosen from the boatman and mechanic class, as the case might require. They should have a good training at the outset, and at least six weeks' yearly practice. Eventually the corps might in time be expanded, for the training of superior Englishmen leading Chinese in the higher duties & Submarine Mining - duties for which, \ntheir great advantage \nintelligence, \nwell \nI think they are fully able \n...\n\n### \n43. Palmer \n1880 Dec 16 \nprint", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 307096, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-190 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [10-12]", "page_number": 214, "title": "CO129-190 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [10-12]", "content_text": "212\n\n*(2)\n\nAs regards the Chinese and Indians, it will be seen from the cases of NG FOONG-SHAN and IBRAHIM, presently to be cited, that the Chinese considered themselves entitled, and that the Indians were, at least by the Head of a Department, likewise supposed entitled to come under the provisions of the Pension Minute. The Governor, indeed, has it specially enjoined upon him by the Royal Instructions to make no distinction of race among Her Majesty's subjects. But that even the officers of the Colony next to the Governor, as well as the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, likewise never thought, at the time, of excluding any public servant otherwise coming within the terms of the Minute on the ground of his being an Asiatic, is made clear by the case of NG FOONG-SHAN.\n\nCase of NG FUNG-SHAW.\n\n1863. On 29th April 1863, the Acting Registrar of the Supreme Court, instructed by the Acting Chief Justice, writes to the Acting Colonial Secretary transmitting a petition from NG FOONG-SHAN, Chinese Shroff and Clerk to the Supreme Court, praying for leave to retire from the service \"with a pension,\" and submits the application on his behalf \"for the favourable consideration of His Excellency\" the Acting Governor. There is a Minute on the document in pencil, in the handwriting of the late Mr. ALEXANDER, then Acting Colonial Secretary, which runs as follows:---\n\n\"By 7th Clause of Pension Minute it would seem that no pension can be granted but by Her \"Majesty's Government. So that the question would have to be referred home.\"\n\nAccordingly, the Acting Governor in his Despatch No.102 (Financial) of 12th May 1863, to the Duke of NEWCASTLE, forwarding the application \"together with the certificates required by Clause 8 of the Pension Minute,\" recommends the application for favourable consideration, and adds the following important remarks:--\n\n\"I deem it right to observe that NG FOONG-SHAN has never been under superannuation abatements. I do not know why, but it appears to have been the rule with regard to all the Chinese \"Government Employés. It has been that their salaries were considered too small to allow of any deduction from them.\"\n\n16\n\nmay\n\nIt is important to note, therefore, that NG FOONG-SHAN was under the same rule as all the other Chinese Government Employés, as it will be found further on that, many years after the foregoing despatch was written, it was represented to the Secretary of State (the Earl of KIMBERLEY) that the case of NG FOONG-SHAN was a special one. The truth is that the case of NG FOONG-SHAN differs in no essential from that of any other applications for pension or gratuity made by Chinese Civil Servants in Hongkong. Nor can there be any doubt but that the case of NG FOONG-SHAN was considered both here and by the Authorities in England as coming under the provisions of the Pension Minute. For, in reply to the foregoing Despatch, the Secretary of State (Duke of NEWCASTLE) informs the Governor (Despatch No.103 of 5th August 1863) that the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury approve of a superannuation allowance to NG FOONG-SHAN, and adds:--\n\n\"I have to instruct you for the future to submit all cases of superannuation or gratuity upon a printed form similar to that which accompanied my predecessor's Circular Despatch of 3rd May 1859.\"\n\nNothing can be clearer than that any idea of Asiatic Civil Servants in Hongkong being excluded from the benefits of the Pension Minute, or their applications being viewed as special cases, was entirely foreign to the Chinese Civil Servants of Hongkong, as well as to the Colonial and Imperial Governments. The case of NG FOONG-SHAN, so far from being a special case, is an ordinary typical case, and the grant of a pension to NG FOONG-SHAN recommended by the Local and approved by the Imperial Government, naturally impressed all the Chinese Civil Servants of the Colony with the notion that they were not excluded from the benefits of the Pension Minute.\n\n3. Exclusion of Chinese. Case of Ng A-ts'ün.\n\n1870.\n\nBut this fond belief, as is not surprising, soon led a Chinese Civil Servant of less than 10 years' standing to take advantage of the provisions of the Minute, not merely with reference to pension, but regarding leave of absence, and thus he brought upon himself bitter disillusion. As this case throws light not only on the pension question, but also on the vexed question of securing a proper staff of Interpreters, I give all the details and follow up this case at once to its final issue somewhat out of the chronological order of this essay.\n\nCase of Ng A-ts'ün.\n\n1870.\n\n(3)\n\nOne NG A-TS'ÜN, a native of Wong-nai-ch'ung (Hongkong) and therefore a British subject, Clerk and Interpreter to the Surveyor General, had been in the service, on the Fixed Establishment, for six years, on a salary of $32 a month. On 14th January 1870, he produced a sick certificate from the Colonial Surgeon recommending him to have two weeks' sick leave, and accordingly he applied for a fortnight's leave. In forwarding his application, the Surveyor General, Mr. MOORSOM, remarks that NG A-TS'ÜN has only lately returned from leave of absence. The Governor, Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL, thereupon grants the application, but on eliciting from the Colonial Surgeon, Dr. MURRAY, a further statement to the effect that NG A-TS'ÜN is \"suffering from pulmonary consumption and not likely to be ever completely restored to health or efficiency in his office,\" the Governor orders him to be discharged at the end of his leave. The Surveyor General, whilst regretting the loss of NG A-TS'ÜN's services, and stating that NG A-TS'ÜN has ever been of the greatest assistance, especially as a translator of technical documents of the utmost importance, recommends that compensation be given to NG A-TS'ÜN for the loss of his situation. The Governor, however, denies that any compensation can be claimed, and orders another Interpreter to be found. The Registrar General, Mr. C. C. SMITH, then reports that he cannot find a properly qualified man at that rate of salary\" and recommends certain arrangements based on an increase of salary as a make-shift. On 7th February 1870 (C.S.O. No.404 of 1870) NG A-TS'ÜN petitions again pleading \"for pity,\" but asks at the same time \"for the regulation leave of absence in the following terms:-\n\n24\n\nyour\n\n\"For six years' service your Petitioner has had four months' leave. Now according to the English regulations, for every six years' service twelve months' leave of absence are allowed, so \"Petitioner is still entitled to eight months in addition to the four months' leave of absence he has \"already enjoyed.\"\n\nThere can be no doubt that the Petitioner here referred to the Pension Minute of 1862 and thought himself entitled to be treated as any other public servant. His request to be allowed six months' leave of absence, coupled with the promise to resign his post if not restored to health by the end of that time, was reported on by the Registrar General, Mr. C. C. SMITH, who recommends \"a bonus of one month's pay for each year of service\" to be given him \"in compensation for rather summary dismissal.\" Thereupon the Governor writes the following important Minute----\n\n\"I deny right of Petitioner to obtain anything, and do not regard the Regulations devised for foreigners, unsuited to the trials of this climate, as intended for the natives of this country. A year's \"leave in six would be a ridiculous privilege for a Chinese public servant. I at least am not prepared to grant it. I also contend that the rule as to a bonus of a month's pay for every year's service, 'although an incentive to good conduct, is not quite applicable to Chinese Employés. I shall refer \"this subject, as the principle is very important, to the Secretary of State. Meanwhile, as Petitioner \"has borne a good character, I will take the responsibility of granting him a bonus of $100.\n\n(Signed)\n\nR. G. MACDONNELL.\n\n\"9th February, 1870.\"\n\nIt is very unfortunate that Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL, though recognizing the importance of the principle involved, never referred the matter to the Secretary of State. For, the action he took in this case was henceforth looked upon by the subordinate Civil Servants as having the approval of the Imperial Government. NG A-TS'ÜN, a British subject of Chinese descent, whose ancestors had for centuries resided in Hongkong, was thus made an example of for daring to consider himself a Civil Servant to all intents and purposes, and a lesson had been taught, especially to Chinese Interpreters, rare as they were, which they were not slow to act upon. All the best Chinese Interpreters then in the Service left within the next five years. Some of them entered the Chinese Government Service, others the Chinese Customs, others went into business, one (Mr. CHUN A-YIN) became a journalist, and one (Mr. NG CHor) became eventually a Barrister of Lincoln's Inn and is now an unofficial Member of Council. But besides driving the best Interpreters out of the service, Sir RICHARD's action caused the best Chinese talent in the Colony to refrain from entering the Civil Service, as the case of Mr. CHUN A-YIN proves, who, years after he had left the Service, was specially invited to re-join the Service by Mr. now Sir JOHN POPE HENNESSY, and who declined, preferring to accept an appointment offered to him by the Chinese Government as Consul General for Cuba.\n\nDec.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-190 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 309670, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9]", "page_number": 331, "title": "CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9]", "content_text": "Judge thee if his well-being \n\nC 328 \n\napprenticeship? Is it \n\nincentives of apprenticing \n\nIn apprenticeship \n\npermit the underage father may \n\nbring them under the superintendence \n\nfor the benefit of \n\nis sincerity \n\nApart \n\nJ \n\nwith the former \n\nMay be forbidden. \n\nmisconduct, hand \n\nthe father's authority to be modified by consent ? \n\nJapanese from the \n\nEdge. Ellis \n\nThat a promise \n\ndating of marriage \n\nthe control \n\noffspring of is \n\nof their \n\nto apprentice \n\nthe \n\natv. \n\nThe night \n\nbe the nursing \n\n1 \n\nsuppering \n\nthere is nothing in \n\nnegligible injuries \n\nThe interest of \n\nfather \n\nthe latter? \n\npart with \n\ndu \n\nhis authority with the possibility \n\nIf this is there of apprenticeship \n\nof resumption? \n\n13 to be \n\nthe foster parent \n\nIn the \n\nTHE \n\nbind the father, with \n\nThe myth \n\nThe \n\nmuting \n\nCanyon where \n\nthe mode of \n\nadopted \n\nIt \n\nHartman \n\nCon todo \n\nof depth \n\nthrust \n\nfather \n\nWatch the \n\nprepared by the mother. \n\nHind \n\nLurself by \n\nThey \n\nfor valuable comments, yamat respecting \n\n16 \n\nto time of dypt in \n\nfaithfully performing \n\nCom \n\nso ungury inging \n\nprospect up the \n\n? \n\nbut my \n\nSupposing the principles of apprenticeship de \n\nIs a father. \n\nbut smooth the 1 \n\nthe \n\n✔ \n\nGu have \n\n*gman with \n\nThe \n\nlaws of \n\nin noption \n\nJ \n\n* \n\nwho", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 310200, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-195 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4]", "page_number": 326, "title": "CO129-195 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4]", "content_text": "Sme. Sewrie, it not being uncommon for Naval and Military Officers to receive a post under a Colonial Government whilst drawing remuneration from the Imperial, as for example, the case of Captain's Ducat and Dempster, who drew pay from the Superintendency & Stonning Cove; and of Messrs Thomsett and the late Mr King-Barbon &c., one being in receipt, I believe, of retired pay and the other having commuted his on entering Colonial service; that the leave granted to Officers in the Colonial Service is a reward to themselves of Regulation leave to visit their native land from want of the necessary funds to pay their passage to and fro England, some consideration may justly be shown them when the opportunity occurs to them to improve their livelihood to their personal profit; and that the principle involved in an Officer's employing his leisure to his own advantage seems to me to be one to which the existing Government of Great Britain is not averse if I have rightly understood the following words (Annex I) in an English paper \"that it is not an incentive to future services, and when subject to approval, where no extra expense to Government, is incurred, it is not considered that any hardship is inflicted: that in the Case of English Officers, receiving such salaries as I was in receipt of at this time, it being inferred from a Despatch of July 1880,\" the principle which should guide us is that \"the employer, and, consequently, not the State, has any right to interfere with the leisure occupations of its Servants, unless those leisure occupations interfere with the due discharge of their duty in the Public Service.\" Should the Officers avail themselves...\n\n324\n\nI made the following corrections:\n1. Corrected spelling errors (e.g., \"recupy\" to \"receive\", \"Serrie\" to \"Service\", \"rewando\" to \"reward\", \"bioure\" to \"leisure\", \"adräntage\" to \"advantage\", \"rist\" to \"rightly\", \"Amex\" to \"Annex\", \"inflicted:\" to \"inflicted:\").\n2. Fixed spacing issues (e.g., removed extra spaces, added missing spaces).\n3. Rejoined broken sentences.\n4. Corrected minor punctuation errors.\n5. Preserved original paragraph structure and content.\n6. Maintained the original text's tone and style.\n7. Output in HTML format using tags.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-195 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319757, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 312, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## 168\n\n\"If, after all, the proposition to collect li-kin with the Tariff duty be not adopted, China may take it upon herself to increase the li-kin, or to devise some other scheme,” was a simple declaration to the effect that, inasmuch as China cannot but be anxious to promote the security of [her revenue on] opium, if protracted negotiations to that end lead to no result, it will not be in her power to throw [the whole question] aside, and give it no further heed. There was no intention to employ a threat.\n\nThe Grand Secretary Li's preference for the simultaneous collection of li-kin and Tariff duty was entirely in accord with the Yamên's selection of the project which appeared to them most satisfactory in the British Minister's note, and it is hoped that the British Minister will inform the Prince as soon as a reply to his telegram on the subject shall be received, in order that the matter may be taken into consideration as soon as possible.\n\nA necessary reply.\n\n(No. 39.) My Lord,\n\nNo. 78.\n\nSir T. Wade to Earl Granville, (Received August 3.)\n\nTien-tsin, June 3, 1882\n\nIn the preceding despatch I sketched the slow progress of the discussion, commenced in September 1876, of the question of opium taxation.\n\nBriefly to restate the case which demands a decision at the hands of Her Majesty's Government, in 1876 I proposed at Chefoo that, the li-kin Collectorates being excluded from the port settlements, within which the Chinese Government was undoubtedly free to levy li-kin on opium, the li-kin which must otherwise be lost to the Chinese by this exclusion of Collectorates should be secured to them by retention of the opium in bond until it was wanted for sale. The foreign Customs Inspectorate was then to collect the li-kin from the purchaser of the drug as it passed out of bond. The rates of li-kin being different at the different ports open to trade, I was in favour of the establishment of a uniform rate.\n\nThe average of li-kin per picul laid upon opium at the time I had reason to believe was little more than 30 taels. The Grand Secretary Li proposed, as the uniform rate, a li-kin of 90 taels, at the port, be it remembered; that is to say, independently of any farther taxation that the opium might become liable to in the interior. To this I objected, and his Excellency reduced the rate gradually from 90 taels to 60 taels. But this still appearing to me excessive, I undertook to recommend, in the terms of the Agreement, that the amount of li-kin to be collected should be decided, as heretofore, by the different provincial Governments, according to the circumstances of each.\n\nThis recommendation alarmed the Government of India, as exposing opium to a weight of taxation which might seriously interfere with Indian revenue.\n\nIt is still my impression that, had my arrangement been allowed to take effect, even for a term of probation, the fears of the Indian Government would have proved unfounded. But I could not say the same at this moment were the Government of India to decide upon adopting the provision of the Chefoo Agreement just as it stands. The alarm has been sounded, and some leading statesmen in China would not improbably attempt the taxation of foreign opium at rates that might endanger the life of the golden goose. When the Agreement was negotiated, I thought myself entitled to rely on the discrimination I had seen exercised in the treatment of opium at most, if not all, of the open ports. The li-kin was excessive at only two ports. At some but a light weight, a very light weight, was laid upon it. At some, where the native drug was competing, the li-kin rate on the foreign drug was kept purposely low. I would not answer now for the discretion of the authorities at all points, if no uniform rate were prescribed them. They might in due time, no doubt, perhaps in a very short time, discover the error of their ways, but I cannot but suppose that, while they were acquiring the necessary experience, the trade in opium, not to say the general trade—and in this opium plays financially an important \n\n## 169\n\npart—would be suffering in a fashion that the Indian Government might have had occasion to deplore.\n\nIt is naturally not without some reluctance that I abandon the arrangement to which I agreed, if, indeed, I did not suggest it, at Chefoo in 1876. But I conceive it my foremost duty, so far as opium is concerned, to consider by what means, so long as the trade in it lasts, the revenue derivable from it may be best secured on both sides, to China as well as to the Indian Government.\n\nThe danger against which precaution is chiefly called for, as much on one side as the other, is, in my opinion, uncertainty of treatment: taxation of opium on the principle of seeing how much it will bear. The echo of the anti-opium movement in England has had, no doubt, a certain influence in this direction. \"When you yourselves condemn the trade as immoral,\" a Chinese will observe, \"why not leave us free to tax it as we please.\" The plea for extraordinary taxation, as urged by such statesmen as the Grand Secretary Tso, is that, by high taxation the trade in foreign opium will be strangled. I am reserving my reply to certain arguments in favour with those who demand the immediate extinction of the trade on moral grounds, for statement elsewhere. Admitting for the moment the sincerity with which the vice of opium-smoking is proscribed by his Excellency and others, that in his case, at all events, the hope of extracting, meanwhile, a large revenue from the trade is for something in his policy, I hold proved by what I have quoted in the foregoing despatch from his own lips. I should be delighted to assist the Chinese Government in obtaining from the opium trade, so long as it lasts, the largest amount of revenue possible, but I am convinced that, under the direction of a man as tenacious and, at the same time, so little acquainted with the conditions of foreign intercourse, the revenue of China would suffer. This was the opinion spontaneously expressed by more than one Chinese official as soon as his famous Memorial appeared last year. Such a rate of duty as he proposes will prove an incentive to smuggling, it was remarked. The very suggestion of such a rate had an immediate effect upon the trade in opium, both native and foreign, to the serious disturbance of other trade. Dealers hastened to accumulate stocks, to the extreme inconvenience of the money market. I should view with the greatest concern any measure that would enable an official, as energetic and self-willed as the Grand Secretary Tso, to dictate his own terms in opium taxation. And he would be more or less in a position to dictate his terms, unless some definite rule were laid down by the Central Government; for, by his recent appointment to the Superintendency of Southern Trade—an appointment usually, as in this instance, conferred on the incumbent of his post, the Governor-Generalship of the Two Kiang—he would exercise, in all that regards foreign commerce, no inconsiderable dominion over the provincial Governments of the south, the provinces which most largely consume foreign opium. The Grand Secretary is personally popular with the large majority whom we should style the ultra-Conservatives of China, and who, his popularity apart, would approve a financial policy such as his. At the same time, a check upon his influence has been removed by the obligatory retirement of his less popular, but far more experienced, rival, the Grand Secretary Li. In the interest of the stability of the opium revenue both of India and China, I am entirely opposed to any arrangement that will commit it to a direction which, I cannot but fear, would be found perilously capricious.\n\nThe foremost requirement to be satisfied being, in my opinion, security against disturbance, I earnestly advocate acquiescence in the proposal that a uniform rate of li-kin be levied, and levied under whatsoever system it shall be agreed between the two Powers will satisfactorily secure both against loss.\n\nThe decision, I imagine, will be between two methods of collection. Either the Chinese Government will engage the services of an agency, be it native, foreign, or mixed, duly guaranteed, to collect their revenue, in which case the co-operation of the Governments of India and Hong Kong will have to be solicited; or it will entrust the duty to the Foreign Customs Inspectorate, who, so far as its functions on land are concerned, need not increase its staff by a single man; but who would have to add very considerably to its preventive service afloat; this reinforcement being so much off revenue. Any rate named, again, would have to be agreed to by, not only the British Government, but by every Treaty Power, except Russia, America, and Brazil. By a Decree published, I believe, in 1836, the Emperor Nicholas forbade participation in the opium trade. The prohibition has been renewed, with reference to the frontier, in the Russian Treaty signed last year. The United States have engaged neither to trade in, nor to carry opium, in the Treaty negotiated at Peking the year before last. Brazil has accepted the same engagement in its Treaty just ratified.\n\nIn both the last instances the Chinese Government proposed the stipulation, not, I am persuaded, in the belief that it was a step towards the extinction of the trade, but \n\n## 170\n\n[1703] \n\n2 X \n\n308", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 320469, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882", "page_number": 433, "title": "CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882", "content_text": "## 427\n\nAt the time the value of the deterioration and renewal of horseflesh is greatly in excess of that of the wear and tear of machinery. The principal check to the use of horses is that the horse is doomed to become extinct. So far as locomotives running through the public streets has lain, the objection to their use has been significant.\n\nThe first cost of purchasing Engines is of course greater than that of establishing a stud, but the subsequent saving effected by the use of mechanical in lieu of horse power is said to equalize this initial expenditure within the first few years of the organization of a tramway company.\n\nThe disposition of tramway promoters to adopt mechanical tractive power is therefore intelligible, and as it has greatly stimulated, and is still stimulating, the inventive powers of mechanicians in their endeavours to arrive at a machine that will be silent, easily controllable, and economical in its working, it may perhaps be, after all, that the tramway system will benefit that portion of the public which uses horses and carriages.\n\nThe subject has been under Parliamentary enquiry both in Your Lordship's House and in the House of Commons, with a result in each case that has been meagre and discouraging to the advocates of mechanical traction. The Select Committee of the House of Commons on Tramways, in their Report of the 16th of April 1877, paragraphs 2 to 5, say:\n\nWhilst confining their attention chiefly to the use of mechanical power upon tramways, your Committee have endeavoured to give due weight to the interests of all persons concerned. They have mainly considered the safety and the convenience of the public, whether as passengers in the tramway cars or as passers-by along the highways and the streets; but in doing so they have not forgotten...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-206 - Public Offices & Others - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 326792, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12]", "page_number": 256, "title": "CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12]", "content_text": "# Speech at St. Paul's College Prize Distribution\n\nAs I have already said, and it is necessary therefore to put a few thoughts into their heads. The usual plan, I believe, is to read over something to them a day or two before and then get them to write it out. Mr. Hambling gave them the subject of interest at that time, the Regatta. It seems they knew they were to be asked to write a composition on this, and they were diligent readers of the newspapers. The consequence was we had pretty good repetitions of the newspapers, and perhaps that was the origin of Mr. Jennings' colonial phraseology.\" At the same time, I don't see that any different method could be pursued. A boy has few thoughts at that age and has a difficulty of expression. If he is to be given a lesson of that kind, he must have something read to him, and then the day after, he reproduces it as best he can. You have had the result, and it is encouraging, even if it is only repetition of newspapers, that they have good memories, though perhaps it would have been better if they had had shorter memories as regards the \"colonial phraseology.\"\n\nReturning to Dr. Eitel's report, he put down 300 marks as the highest number a boy could obtain. He reports 262 as the highest actually attained, which is not far from the limit, and the lowest 150, half the marks that might have been got. On the whole, it seemed to me Dr. Eitel's report was satisfactory as showing good honest work had been done.\n\nWell then, to go on to Mr. Coughtrie's report. It would not be right that we should just stick to dry work and add up figures and write down hard names after learning them. We had enough of that in my boyhood, but now there is a little idea of beauty introduced into school work, and you see hung round the room the result—the best result, for it is no use showing you the worst, but having boys who can do this work, it shows a good deal of talent that may be drawn out.\n\nMr. Coughtrie examined the drawings and picked out the best and put them in the order in which he thought they ought to stand. He says:\n\n## Report on Drawings\n\n| Category | Comment |\n| --- | --- |\n| Copies of dog's heads | The first award was a very creditable production indeed. |\n| Freehand drawings or ornament | The first and second awards were creditable. |\n| Flower subject | Did not produce equally good results, probably owing to the poverty of the example. |\n| Map drawing | Fully equal to that of past years; the subject was India, with its hard and unfamiliar names of places. |\n| Handwriting | The best examples were unusually good, particularly those in \"large hand.\" |\n\nThe drawings submitted to me for examination, though fewer in number than last year, were of greater merit. The first award in the copies of dog's heads was a very creditable production indeed, as were also the first and second awards in the freehand drawings or ornament. The flower subject did not produce equally good results, but this was probably owing to the poverty of the example, which was one that could not possibly create any enthusiasm for the subject placed before the scholars to copy.\n\nIn looking over the drawings made by some of the boys out of school, I found sketches by two of them of casual merit, and I learn with pleasure that an extra prize will be adjudged for them. The incentive to good drawing created by the choice of pleasing or congenial subjects is, I think, sufficiently manifest.\n\nThis closes my statement of what we have done and the way we are doing it. We are glad to have your presence here today to encourage us. From what I have seen, I can say that good conscientious work is being done from day to day, and I think it is evident from the assembly I see before me that the public of Hongkong appreciate our efforts to provide education for the youth of the colony. I think we may still appeal with confidence for your help. (Applause).\n\n## Speech by His Excellency General Sargent\n\nHis Excellency-General Sargent, ladies, and gentlemen, it was with very great pleasure that I accepted the invitation of our revered Bishop to be present here on this interesting occasion. I have always held it to be one of the first duties of a Governor to promote by every means in his power the sacred cause of education and to meet all classes of the community over whom he presides on the common ground of art, science, and literature. (Cheers).\n\nI grieve that I am not accompanied today, as last year, by my wife and family, whose departure, in consequence of the dangerous illness of Lady Bowen, has cast a gloom on my life here, for I was never before separated from my family.\n\nWith reference to the object of our meeting, I would observe that on the similar occasion last year, I made a long speech, but I have no intention of inflicting an oration on you this year. Moreover, the very full and satisfactory statement as to the present position and progress of this school made by the Bishop, to whom we all listened with much pleasure and interest, has left me little to say.\n\nThere can be no doubt, as the Bishop remarked, but that this institution supplies a want felt in this community. There are many families here who desire to give their sons a sound English education and yet are not in a position to send them to England. Moreover, during my visits to China and Japan, I have found former pupils of this institution occupying responsible positions in those countries. For instance, one of the principal secretaries of the great Viceroy Li Hung-chang—one of the most powerful and influential men in China—was a former pupil of St. Paul's College.\n\nAll will agree that it is a most legitimate means of extending British influence throughout this quarter of the globe to provide means of education in this British colony for those who will afterwards take a prominent position in the neighbouring countries, and especially in the great empire of China. Such men cannot fail to remember what they owe to British education.\n\nTo my young friends, the pupils of this institution, I would say: Work hard and prepare yourselves to take advantage of that good fortune, that chance of success, which falls to almost every man at least once in the course of his life. (Applause). People talk of good luck and good fortune, and the good luck of one man and the bad luck of another, but all men of great experience in life will agree that good fortune attends only those who have prepared themselves to take advantage of it.\n\nOur own Shakespeare has said in famous verses:\n\n\"There is a tide in the affairs of men,\nWhich, taken at the flood, leads on to Fortune.\nOmitted, all the voyage of our lives\nIs lost in shallows and in miseries.\"\n\nWhat I would exhort you to do, my young friends, is to prepare yourselves that you may be able to take that tide at the flood which leads on to fortune. (Applause).\n\nI would also remind those of you more advanced in your studies of the lines of the great Roman poet and Satirist, Juvenal, in which he says:\n\n\"Nullam nomen habent si sit Prudentia; nos te\nNos facimus, Fortuna, Deam, coeloque locamus.\"\n\nThat is (I translate, of course, only for the benefit of the ladies) \"Oh Fortune, thou hast no divinity if we have prudence; it is we who make thee a goddess and instal thee in Heaven.\"\n\nAfter these few observations, I will now proceed to distribute the prizes. (Applause).\n\nHis Excellency then presented the prizes to the boys, the Bishop stating the subject for which each prize was given and making a few remarks as to the position and progress in the school of the recipient.\n\nIn the course of his remarks, he said: I think last year all the boys got something, and some went home saying they had got a prize, and it was very doubtful what it was for (a laugh), and it was found it was not a prize at all but simply a present. That was in our younger days. We are getting older now and nearer manhood, so no prize is given today except for work done, that is, either for actual merit or for considerable work and promise of merit to come. There is the motto on the card at the beginning of each book by which we try to carry out the Governor's advice: \"Heaven helps those who help themselves.\" Those who work are sure to get rewarded somehow.\n\nPage 253", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-218 - Administrator Marsh Governor Sir Bowen & Others - 1884 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 331393, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-227 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [6]", "page_number": 476, "title": "CO129-227 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [6]", "content_text": "474\n\nyears\n\nI have served the Colony for thirteen and a half, and, as I devote my whole time and energies to it, my only prospect of reward is in the service, in the shape of promotion or increased emolument.\n\nYour approaching absence, for the first time in eleven years, will make possible a temporary promotion with some trifling emolument attached, and if this is to be bestowed upon the first outsider, a youthful stranger without knowledge or experience, what hope is left to old and tried Servants of the Crown and what incentive to diligent faithful service?\n\nThe Dating Governor doubtless took it for granted that your proposition was only put forward after careful consideration, and, as the best provision for the efficiency of the Public Service, I have pointed out the cruel injustice of it and I now declare that it is not necessary.\n\nIn 1875, when you last took leave, I carried on the whole work of the Dept: (exclusive of the Harbour duties) for four months single-handed, and now with the help of Dr. Muirhead I am prepared to undertake it again for five months.\n\nThe effort I made in 1875 was, I have always understood, successful, and with eleven years' additional experience I should not now be less competent or efficient.\n\nI am at a loss to understand your action in this matter but with the additional light which I have thrown upon its consequences, I trust you will be able to urge upon the Acting Governor the desirability of altering your proposed arrangement.\n\nJustice and the efficiency of the Service must be two main objects of the Executive, and as the appointment inadvertently sanctioned involves a disregard of both, I beg you will place the foregoing remarks before His Excellency, when I feel assured the oversight will be at once rectified.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nYour Most Obedient Servant,\n\nsd. J. Wharryde,\n\nSuperintendent", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-227 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 341361, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-244 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Fleming - 1890 [1-4]", "page_number": 387, "title": "CO129-244 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Fleming - 1890 [1-4]", "content_text": "Lomp layed the foundation for the Land Registry office, which was set up as a Land Agency worth considering with Engineers.\n\nThere is reason to suppose he is an Inquirer at all; actually, he had had neither the training nor the practice to open my eyes when, quite in idle life, he became clerk of the court in Hong Kong.\n\nIn his report in `8683/19`, it was stated that he was most efficient and assiduous, but lacking in his Land documents, only occasionally correct.\n\nThe undecided Lord's opinion as expressed in the covering note on the home paper.\n\nI don't think that for Mr. Walsch there is good ground for a grievance about the appointment of Chatham or Parker to higher positions. They are qualified beings and go hand in hand with the first appointment as Incentive Clerks; the same because the men in the Department were selected solely for the higher position and the facts. Details in Brown's reference show that Mr. Walsch has been diligent and has reached an understanding in the rules. Certain advantages seem to have been gained by his fitness for the position of Executive Inquirer.\n\nI would recognise the good work he has done in his brief life. I am making him chief of the Land Department, with Mr. Prosser as Correspondent and assistant to him.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-244 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Fleming - 1890 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 344745, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890", "page_number": 743, "title": "CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890", "content_text": "Any Sunday labour in \n\nLabour? \n\nBrules or Docks or Wharver by combination Neither \n\nincent Yes. against Occasionally \n\nSunday Trading \n\nRemarks \n\n739 \n\nThe governu \n\ndo. \n\ndo- has discouraged \n\nNewfoundland No \n\nOnly in urgent stopped by \n\notow \n\nAny Any Sunday Is it prevented 1 restriction labour in docks or wharver Cumbriations or Coling Legislation \n\nNo None sunch. \n\nmail steamed of \n\nGrenada \n\nto call \n\nB.Siang Yes Hardly any \n\nNo. Only Except by case, w Charles II Selden. \n\nRemartes \n\nNeither \n\nNot required \n\nwhich religions \n\nJust \n\nNo \n\nBahamas do. \n\nNone \n\ndo \n\nBermuda No \n\nLittle \n\ndo. \n\nNatal Sunday Very little Stopped by \n\ntradinght \n\nnot sunday \n\nRegulation \n\nCustomer \n\nCabarr \n\nprohibited by Law \n\nOffice \n\namarin \n\nVenttle except \n\nNeither \n\ndo. Li \n\nfreit slicher \n\nrequiring quich despatch \n\nS. Lucia No Only coaling \n\nTaking \n\ndischarging Cargo Stosiche 4 Notice of Customs dest \n\nJ. Australia Casting \n\nYes Only \n\nwith \n\nin case \n\nFurth \n\nNeither required \n\nCantly of mail strame \n\nCustoms \n\nAct \n\nSechells. \n\n-There is \n\nintonunit, \n\nCertain \n\npostable care \n\nOnly when neither; \n\nprovision as the mail but from the compulsory Steamen \n\nSunday \n\nlaban arrive. \n\ncustom of \n\nChristian Wadien \n\nbut labourers Sunday closing \n\nmaz \n\nwork \n\nif \n\nThe Schoose \n\nE \n\nSundays \n\nBitter- Sunday None-Except No organised \n\nCunbiration, \n\nTuwas heading landing of but general \n\nprohibited live stock unwilligers \n\nA werke. Sunda \n\nall Funday labour \n\nexcett \n\non Comalc -- \n\ntims with shipping, \n\nbut does not \n\ninterfering with \n\nKevy \n\nNo \n\nJes \n\nthat \n\nNeither \n\nYes \n\nGood not shipped Acffarsult \n\nneithe \n\nwithout special \n\npermissim \n\nNo \n\nbut only. \n\nTo some extent, Neither It is suggested, \n\nis \n\nmcases \n\nloss recent \n\nde natives under \n\nEuropean Supervision \n\nthat the fun day \n\nwork weight be reduced by the deck officers Domandry donte \n\nAustralia Yes- against Only when a \n\nSunday trading steamer is leaving \n\nNether \n\nKritter \n\nalman \n\nNo \n\nVeterin \n\nYo \n\nsward No exept \n\nYes when a \n\nSteamer arrives \n\nor departs \n\nNo, except in Neither \n\nCasendt great \n\nEmergency such \n\nas fire or \n\nпо \n\nAnly against Sundry tradey \n\nfiji \n\nNo \n\nYes \n\nrequired \n\nThe Law \n\nuweck suffice. \n\nStopped by Custom \n\nH. Rez \n\nStopped \n\nlantly aw they public opinion Ithabsence \n\nyang neecint!\n\n## Step 1\nThe given text appears to be an OCR output of a historical document related to Sunday labor in various locations, likely from a table or survey. The text is disorganized and contains numerous spelling errors, spacing issues, and other OCR-related problems.\n\n## Step 2\nTo address the task, we need to correct spelling errors, fix spacing issues, rejoin broken sentences, and restore paragraph breaks where necessary, all while preserving the original content and structure as much as possible.\n\n## Step 3\nFirst, let's correct obvious spelling errors and fix spacing issues to improve readability. For example, \"governu\" should be \"government\", \"sunch\" should be \"such\", \"Cumbriations\" should be \"Combinations\", \"wharver\" should be \"wharf\", etc.\n\n## Step 4\nUpon closer inspection, the text appears to be a collection of responses to a survey about Sunday labor in different regions. The responses are structured around questions about Sunday labor, legislation, and customs.\n\n## Step 5\nTo reorganize the text into a more coherent format, we should identify the different regions being discussed and their corresponding responses to the survey questions.\n\n## Step 6\nLet's start by identifying and correcting the text for the different regions mentioned, such as Newfoundland, Grenada, Bahamas, Bermuda, Natal, S. Lucia, J. Australia, Sechells, and others, and then reorganize the information into a structured table or list if possible.\n\n## Step 7\nGiven the complexity and the disorganized nature of the text, it's essential to follow the rules provided, especially focusing on correcting spelling errors, fixing spacing, and rejoining sentences without altering the original content or tone.\n\n## Step 8\nSince the text is already in a somewhat tabular form in terms of content, we should attempt to reconstruct it into a proper table format using Markdown syntax where applicable.\n\n## Step 9\nAfter reorganizing and correcting the text, we should ensure that the output is in the required HTML format using `` for paragraphs.\n\n## Step 10\nLet's directly correct and reorganize the given text according to the rules and then output it in the required HTML format.\n\nThe final answer is: \n\nAny Sunday labour in \n\nLabour? \n\nRules or Docks or Wharf by combination? Neither \n\nIncentive? Yes. Against? Occasionally \n\nSunday Trading \n\nRemarks \n\n739 \n\nThe Government \n\ndo. \n\ndo- has discouraged \n\nNewfoundland No \n\nOnly in urgent cases stopped by \n\notow \n\nAny Sunday labour? Is it prevented by restriction labour in docks or wharf? Legislation or Combinations \n\nNo None such. \n\nmail steamer of \n\nGrenada \n\nto call \n\nB.Siang Yes Hardly any \n\nNo. Only Except by case, as Charles II Selden. \n\nRemarks \n\nNeither \n\nNot required \n\nWhich religions \n\nJust \n\nNo \n\nBahamas do. \n\nNone \n\ndo \n\nBermuda No \n\nLittle \n\ndo. \n\nNatal Sunday Very little Stopped by \n\ntrading not on Sunday \n\nRegulation \n\nCustomer \n\nCabarr \n\nprohibited by Law \n\nOffice \n\namarin \n\nVenttle except \n\nNeither \n\ndo. Liable \n\nfreight discharge \n\nrequiring quick despatch \n\nS. Lucia No Only coaling \n\nTaking \n\ndischarging Cargo Notice of Customs \n\nJ. Australia Casting \n\nYes Only \n\nwith \n\nin case \n\nFurther \n\nNeither required \n\nCargo of mail steamer \n\nCustoms \n\nAct \n\nSechells. \n\n-There is \n\ninconvenience, \n\nCertain \n\npostal care \n\nOnly when necessary; \n\nprovision as the mail but from the compulsory Steamer \n\nSunday \n\nlabour arrive. \n\ncustom of \n\nChristian Observance \n\nbut labourers Sunday closing \n\nmay \n\nwork \n\nif \n\nThe Schedule \n\nE \n\nSundays \n\nBit of Sunday None-Except No organised \n\nCombination, \n\nTwo was heading landing of but general \n\nprohibited live stock unloading \n\nA week. Sunday \n\nall Sunday labour \n\nexcept \n\non Cargo -- \n\ntimes with shipping, \n\nbut does not \n\ninterfering with \n\nvery \n\nNo \n\nYes \n\nthat \n\nNeither \n\nYes \n\nGoods not shipped Affect result \n\nneither \n\nwithout special \n\npermission \n\nNo \n\nbut only. \n\nTo some extent, Neither It is suggested, \n\nis \n\nin cases \n\nloss recent \n\nto natives under \n\nEuropean Supervision \n\nthat the Sunday \n\nwork might be reduced by the deck officers Demand dry dock \n\nAustralia Yes- against Only when a \n\nSunday trading steamer is leaving \n\nNeither \n\nCritter \n\nalman \n\nNo \n\nVeterinary \n\nYes \n\nsward No except \n\nYes when a \n\nSteamer arrives \n\nor departs \n\nNo, except in \n\nCase of great \n\nEmergency such \n\nas fire or \n\ndistress \n\nOnly against Sunday trade \n\nfiji \n\nNo \n\nYes \n\nrequired \n\nThe Law \n\nweek suffices. \n\nStopped by Custom \n\nH. Rez \n\nStopped \n\nlargely by public opinion In absence \n\nof necessity!", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348067, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-253 - Public Offices & Others - 1891", "page_number": 509, "title": "CO129-253 - Public Offices & Others - 1891", "content_text": "506\n\n3.\n\nRest assured that if after three years work on the provisional staff my zeal and abilities gave uniform satisfaction, I would be rewarded by the recommendation of my name to the Secretary of State for a transfer to the permanent working staff.\n\nWith this incentive before me and on the faith of assurance, I strove earnestly for the three years of the probationary term, even to the sacrifice of my health, to give satisfaction to the heads of my department and I was fortunate enough to earn their approval and to merit at the hands of the Governor of Hong Kong, the reward for which I had worked, i.e., the recommendation of my name to Lord Knutsford for a post in the permanent establishment.\n\nIn February 1891 His Excellency the Governor caused me to be officially gazetted to the post of Assistant Engineer on the permanent staff not only because the Surveyor General, Mr. Brown, deemed me competent to fulfil the duties of that office to his satisfaction, but because His Excellency himself recognized the equity of my claim to permanent employment in view of the three years which I had previously worked on the provisional staff.\n\nIn respect of the recent rule requiring officers appointed to the Public Works Department to sign three year contracts, the Secretary of State observes in the last paragraph of his dispatch to the Governor that a departure may cause might lead others to expect similar treatment. I would however with great deference point out that there is no analogy whatever between my case and the case of the other officers on the provisional staff. The latter have been sent out to the Colony at the public expense or have been engaged locally without any previous probationary trial and on the explicit understanding that theirs is only a three year's agreement. In my case prospects after a three years trial at low pay were a consideration from the first, whereas in their case no such consideration could possibly enter since it was understood ab initio, and mutually covenanted that all connection between the contracting parties was to cease at the expiration of the third year.\n\nIn consequence of the comparatively high rate of professional remuneration which obtains in private employment in the East and of the frequent openings which present themselves to young Engineers, the Public Works Department of Hong Kong has been more than once seriously inconvenienced by inexplicable resignations on the part of members of the staff who have seen opportunities of bettering themselves and it has been explained to me that the three year contracts are therefore designed to safeguard the interests of the service and ensure that officers engaged shall be secured for at least three years. Also I understand the Contracts are no less requisite to enable the Government to dispense with the services at the end of the third year of such officers as maturer experience may have shown to be incompetent or otherwise objectionable.\n\nIn my case however I would respectfully submit, neither of these contingencies can arise to require in the interests of the public service that I should sign such a contract, for the Colonial Government has already had a three years experience of my character and capabilities, and with this more than mature experience has recommended me to the Secretary of State for a permanent office, while in respect of any likelihood of my leaving the service to seek private practice I trust the Secretary of State will accept my earnest assurance that my sole ambition is and has been to make an honourable career in the public service, preferring the advantage of continuity of employment under Government at less pay, to the higher remuneration of private employment with its fluctuations and uncertainties, and that therefore far as my own action is concerned nothing short of broken health compelling me to abandon the climate of China would cause me to relinquish my post in the Public Works Department which I have had the honour to serve nearly four years with satisfaction to my senior officers.\n\nIn these circumstances and in view of the ever increasing importance of the Public Works Department of Hong Kong which makes the post of Assistant Engineer, at present held by me to...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-253 - Public Offices & Others - 1891.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348611, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 344, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "340 \n\ndoor for Masters to promotion to the higher clerkships the Civil Service proper.\n\n4.\n\nThis proposal, I further consider, cannot be entertained, the only post in the service to which a master might look for promotion being perhaps the Inspectorship of schools. \nYour Lordship will observe that both the Committee and Dr Wright are of opinion that something is required to encourage the masters to endeavour to attain a good knowledge of this difficult language.\n\n5.\n\nIt appears to me that the flaw in the system under which they study at present is that they are all treated alike whether the knowledge of the language they acquire be good, bad, or indifferent, and that there is no incentive", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348612, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 345, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "341 \n\nincentive to them to undertake the hard work which is necessary before they can become even ordinarily acquainted with the Chinese language. In my opinion, therefore, there should be some money payment to those who pass their examinations with credit.\n\n7. I communicated this opinion to the Committee in forwarding them Dr. Wright's report, and they recommend in a minute, copy of which is enclosed, that the final certificates of the Board of Examiners should carry a graduated money value with them. I do not consider\n\n8. that masters who have passed their final examination in Chinese could dispense with their private teachers altogether, and therefore I fear", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348620, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 353, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "\"smattering\" to the Members of the \nBoard, who, when they began the \nstudy of Chinese, probably devoted \nmany hours a day to that \nstudy. It is one thing for \nmasters to be able to give one \nor two hours a week. It is one \nthing to have ten hours of Chinese in addition to five or six hours of official duty, \nand quite another to have a couple of years dedicated to the acquirement of the language. But is this modicum entirely despicable? The attainments (207) \nin Latin of many pass-men at English Universities must \nappear meagre to their examiners, learned Fellows of Colleges; but it has often happened \nthat such attainments gained in \nschool life have in later years \nattained some considerable degree of maturity as scholars. The \nargument derived from this parallel \nhas apparently escaped the \nattention of the Board.\n\n349 \n### 3. Compulsory Study of Chinese \n\nOne of the opinions that \nChinese Studies by all English \nMasters in Victoria College \nshould be compulsory. It is \nonly reasonable that all masters \nin a College, where the \ngreat majority of boys (about 800 out of 1000) are Chinese, should \nhave some acquaintance with their language. As promotion is far too remote and \nuncertain (at present) to act as an incentive, and as I cannot recommend Personal Allowances \nfor the knowledge of Chinese, there \nremains the course already in existence that the study of \nChinese forms part of their official \nduty. Special mention of this \nobligation is made in paragraph.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348628, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "page_number": 361, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "## Enclosure 3\n\nhave signified onto to study Nr. 20 cally the impression that he European School, a Church of England.\n\nstudy came out and of was couring to a had no idea that λ had won wired to study the thence he would be required language examinations.\n\nHB-C has however at od the six peos ed to the satisfaction & apparently with the approbation of the Board ♡ caur ot 6-02 дв this account recommend that Mr. 20 saly should be singled out for personal allowance for knowledge of chinese, but a do name recouum and that his om Barce hould be noted & kapt in rour our deserving of promotion I in support of as this o beg C. 8. 6. 2955/86.\n\nx of c 01 fat back as Sa., S. H. Bateson w Wright. 16th. november 1891.\n\n**RECP C. O. 5943 357 Rec 26 MAR 32**\n\nYou Acting Colonial Secretary.\n\nM pursuance of the decision of His Excellency that, as an incentive to the study of Chinese, a money payment should be allowed to Masters of Victoria College, who pass their final examination in Chinese with credit, we have consulted with the head master of Victoria College and unanimously agreed to make the following recommendations:-\n\n(1) That Masters of Victoria College, who pass with credit their final examination in Chinese, under the syllabus appointed for the purpose, shall be entitled to temporary personal allowance, the | | |\n| --- | --- | \n| | | \n| | | \nC fiiral | |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 352319, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-259 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [5-8]", "page_number": 484, "title": "CO129-259 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [5-8]", "content_text": "479\n\nto do it loyally and thoroughly, and the foremost incentive arising from the moderate savings of a long service has been good enough more than once to write to me and thank in the tropics; for the manner in which I have done it.\n\nWith her that it pains me a fair claim to expect that my transfer to a lower port than my present one will be acceded to.\n\ndown a grade when me, and 4 angene Memorist. Which You } ; the tropics; and the cost of sy riores to Cyprus and Stamphong, including that of two furnishings, has my The t is my record up to date, and I trust that you bid appen heerly exhausted the remainder. And I should have to fair claims to expect that my thig hay my enormous rental during my absence for my homen\n\nphics I have by the year, out of my half pay It is not pleasant to so band rulch suratle its impossible for to go up, but I have his choice in the matter _ my phys. my physic I trust Jam not hopping for too much when I cons Condition induced by this very remarkable climate if your helping me in the heather of my that it To deplorable the in unferesible for me to been cinquon almost as with es The work of an Auditor in co what the expectations here. For stalacto please see P. 5. (Combo us here one which induced me to go to Cyprus from Ceylon, climate & should select if I had the choice, but it in witte the woull of my being brought to my present shais_ incomparably better, for me at least, than Songhen day, \"almost \",\" for you probably do not know the winter the difference is that in (shombo I can work, through puritation which friend of mine, 2:q: Lie W. Gregory without risk, and hore I can't. And as Auditor Gemüsela un at the time on what, \" you said or wrote to their I should han some travelling to do, which would be a halft and which they urged ene to accept as sufficient.\n\nIt may May Henr you that I might to be longlin as I have afrained from cambering my memorial And see what that would do for one. But that would be of his he would have hen out of place in such a document with a quantity of detail about my physical Condition, use, if I had to return to Hong Kong iwhen I came backing full have cation then liberty of Verting a reference in it to the sent experience would be bound to lefect itself. Besides. d. ch. this hatten, and I shall be obliged if you will be as I can't afford it. The expences attendant on the sick food as to attack that P.3. to the Memorial allem forum heavy) meccssitated by the illuesous produced by ormontabmit the Letter to Lord Ripon. I enclose a spare in Layton when during a motautions time I did the shape for the purpose. work of the Principal Assistant in addition to theat of the Mand also ask you to te to good as to cesist me to get mal Scenetary (the two hardest worked posts in the series on daily, as well as a favorable, answer to my memories? und pea come that of the 2. Assistant ales, dan andang house hoone, it an Enormon which wert with my reason is then - S. Keur he my", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-259 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [5-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 353755, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-262 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1894 [1-4]", "page_number": 145, "title": "CO129-262 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1894 [1-4]", "content_text": "every class of person is condemned unsparingly by all classes of the community, but particularly by the Chinese. They do not see the victims of opium as the Chinese themselves do. In any comparison between opium and alcohol, they say, opium produces effects that alcohol does not: Chinese intoxicants contain substances that Europeans do not contract the habit of taking.\n\nAsiatics are more liable to contract the habit of opium smoking because it is less injurious than eating opiates, as a sedative it is adapted to the passive temperament of the Asiatics. The quantity of fusel oil in alcohol suffices to make Europeans averse to it. The Chinaman wants sedatives for practical life and a stimulant of his imagination; alcoholic liquors produce exceptional and rare cases of excessive indulgence only.\n\nIn Chinese experience, only individuals exceptionally weak in power, who anyhow would be wrecked in the struggle for existence, become opium addicts. They cannot break themselves free without help or constraint once they are formed into the habit.\n\nOpium allays worry and is pleasurable. This is the originating incentive to its use. Opium smoking is not regarded by the Chinese as a prophylactic but as a form of self-indulgence.\n\nThey would procure opium from the warehouses; they would not be likely to take to alcohol readily unless cheap alcohol drinks like the existing Chinese liqueurs in suitable forms were pressed upon them. They would certainly not abstain altogether; it is vicious but pleasant.\n\nOpium sots as a rule hate the habit and desire to get free from it but cannot resist the craving. There is among all Chinese whom I know an innate dislike of foreigners and of everything foreign unless it is very obviously beneficial.\n\nPage 143\n\nAd. 13.\n\nAd. 10\n\nAd. 142\n\nAd. 11.\n\nAd. 15.\n\nAd. 16.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-262 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1894 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 354003, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-262 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1894 [1-4]", "page_number": 393, "title": "CO129-262 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1894 [1-4]", "content_text": "Division School.\n\nFebruary, 12th, 1844\n\n3. Eisel\n\nHereafter safe\n\n0.\n\nSchools.\n\n5066\n\nREGT 7 APR 94,\n\nSir,\n\nIn reply to your letter of 9th inst. (received today) I beg to submit some remarks on proposed Scholarships.\n\nThe Government, as H.E. and the Governor has publicly assured us, requires the Community to furnish youths with a good knowledge of English. The £200 Scholarship is an incentive to the study of English, for it is attainable by excellence in subjects that could all be taught in that language (Latin only optional).\n\nThe £50 scholarship on the results...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-262 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1894 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 355473, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-264 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1894 [9-12]", "page_number": 458, "title": "CO129-264 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1894 [9-12]", "content_text": "and in the other corps which assisted. It was noble work and I think the men did their work most nobly. (Applause). Every man worked hard and gallantly; I never had to find fault with a single man. The pieces of plate which have been presented to us will be valuable mementoes to record the good work of the men in this Battalion and in the Royal Engineers and other corps who have done their duty and maintained the honourable names handed down to them by their predecessors in the different corps. (Applause). Whenever we look at these pieces of plate, it will be an incentive to all of us to do our duty and to work hard wherever duty calls, in whatever colony or in whatever place we may have to serve. The plague time was a trying period for the colony, and I hope the new year will bring success and happiness and prosperity to the colony and community and will also bring health and happiness to your Excellency. The silver shield will be much appreciated by the sergeants. Nothing better could have been given to the men than the football cup, which will encourage a love for healthy sports and recreations in the Regiment, That football cup will be played for every year, and I will see, so long as I am with the Regiment, that the men are not allowed to forget the reason why it was presented to us, and that the winning team shall have a dinner or something of that kind every year in memory of it. With reference to the piece of plate presented to the Royal Engineers, I am quite sure Colonel Mulloy and Lieut. Boys will write themselves to thank the Colony. I know personally that Lieut. Boys worked hard the whole time of the plague. But we must not forget that many others had to work hard who were not actually engaged in plague work in the city. The medical officers assisted me in every way, and if it had not been for their energy and kindness there would have been a great deal more sickness amongst the men, and to the Medical Staff of the Civil Hospital and the Sisters the Regiment owes a deep debt of gratitude for the care and attention they paid to the late Capt. Vesey and the other men who suffered from the plague. On behalf of Mrs. Vesey, I thank you for doing a very kind and thoughtful deed in sending this gold medal to her. Her son was beloved by her. He had a good property, but his love for his Regiment kept him out here when he might have gone home. I beg to thank you on behalf of Mrs. Vesey and the Regiment for perpetuating his memory by erecting a tablet in St. John's Cathedral, and also convey my thanks to the Colony for the kindness they have shown the men not only now but during the plague by coming forward to give the men the comforts which helped to keep them in good health and good spirits during their trying work. I thank you for presenting myself with a piece of plate, which I shall always treasure as a valuable relic. It will always be an honourable record of the kindly feeling of the Colony to my Regiment and of the good work done by the officers and men under my command. (Loud applause).\n\nOn the call of the Acting Chief Justice three cheers were heartily given by the spectators for the officers and men.\n\nColonel Robinson then called for three cheers for the Governor. He said they wished His Excellency all success and happiness, and for the colony success and good luck.\n\nAt 11.30 the troops filed away, the Engineers leading, and the Band playing \"Till death,” thus ending this memorable and beautiful ceremony.\n\nTo the list of officers mentioned and thanked by the Governor should be added the name of Captain Murray, A.D.C. to the Major-General Commanding. The Committee have recognised the very laborious and useful work performed by Captain Murray, and will duly convey their thanks to him. We are authorized to state that had he been in the colony his name would have been included in his Excellency's list.\n\nIn connection with the medals to be presented we have gathered the following interesting details: There will be 695 silver medals and 46 gold ones. The Committee have offered a prize of £10 for the best design, and the details of the competition are to be arranged by Mr. Allan Wyon, the leading steel die-engraver at the London Mint. The determination of the successful design and the award for the same are to be made jointly by Mr. Wyon and Mr. J. M. Price, the late Surveyor General of Hongkong. The medal will be the size of an American gold dollar and will be stamped on the reverse side with the following inscription: \"Presented by the Hongkong community to — (the name will here be engraved) for services rendered during the plague of 1894.\" The gold medals will be in cases and the silver ones punched with a hole and swung on a ribbon. The Committee have also applied to the home authorities for permission for the soldiers to wear these medals, and have reason to hope that such will be granted.\n\nPage 403", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-264 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1894 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 356608, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-266 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [1-3]", "page_number": 139, "title": "CO129-266 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [1-3]", "content_text": "**sing** suggestion which, though unassuming, only from ourselves would we think have the support of all the Local Insurance Companies.\n\nThere are, according to the Directory, no less than 160 Insurance Companies doing or designing to do business in this Colony; why not make each Company register itself annually, stating its capital, nominal and subscribed, and the address of its Head Office, and charge $500 for a license to do business. Some of the 160 aspirants for business would possibly retire, but we should think at least 100 would remain and register, so per annum you get $50,000. We can afford to do away with all stamp duty on policies, or at least to leave it as at present, viz: 10 cents per policy, which we understand already produces $8,000. There are some strong arguments in favour of this suggestion.\n\nThe registration of all Companies with the particulars, somewhat similar to those the Local Companies have to render, would be a protection - a notice board to the assured, for at present there is nothing to prevent any ill-disposed person from putting up a notice of some almost imaginary Company and collecting premiums more readily than paying the claims!\n\nThe large number of Home and Foreign Companies touting for fire business is a positive danger, for if they make money, it goes out of the Colony, and by accepting almost any risk they can get, they are an incentive to incendiarism, whilst they contribute nothing towards the protection of the place.\n\nFor any Company of substantial financial strength, and in a position to obtain business, a license fee of $500, or say £50, would be comparatively...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-266 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 357183, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6]", "page_number": 40, "title": "CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6]", "content_text": "## THE COMMITTEE.\n\nlaw.\" The Committee may state that in their daily business in this colony they incur risks (with Chinese) that are far greater than are provided by this legislation.\n\nIt will be observed in the report of what was said by the hon. the Colonial Secretary that he took some exception to the manner in which the Committee's guarantee was translated and its publication, in face of His Excellency's determination already expressed by letter not to acquiesce in their proposal. We think, however, that what passed will make it perfectly clear to him and the public that no importance can be attached to these incidents, as the guarantee was given in English more than two weeks before His Excellency's letter was received, and with reference to the translation, though the Committee cannot accept no responsibility therefor, they are informed that it was a fair one, and not open to the criticism passed on it by the Colonial Secretary.\n\nWhat we have already written appears to be sufficient to convey to the public, and those who appointed us at the public meeting, a fair idea of all that has taken place up to the present time, and we leave the subject at this stage.\n\nWe proposed calling another public meeting on Monday, the 1st April at 11 a.m., and we trust that this grave subject will be calmly and exhaustively discussed.\n\nApologising for the length of this letter, which the importance of the subject rendered unavoidable.--We are, sir, your obedient servants,\n\nTHE COMMITTEE.\n\nHongkong, 30th March, 1895.\n\n**(Enclosure A)**\n\nHongkong, 7.30 p.m.\n\nGovernment House,\n\nMy dear Keswick.-I have just seen His Excellency the Governor, who directs me to state, for the information of the Committee, that he is averse to making any concession whatever, and does not view favourably the proposal you have submitted.-Yours very truly,\n\n(Signed) J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.\n\nP.S.-The Captain Superintendent of Police reports that in his opinion the strike is practically over.\n\n(Signed) J. H. S. L.\n\n**(Enclosure B)**\n\n30th March, 1895.\n\nDear Keswick.-Will you kindly ask Mr. Ho Tung to let me have a list of the Chinese gentlemen who met the Committee yesterday. I have just seen a Chinese notice which purports to have been issued by the Committee. It contains a statement calculated to mislead the coolies. It states that the Committee are certain that the Governor will grant the request to allow land owners to register instead of head coolies. From my letter to you last night you will know that the Governor is not prepared to grant this request, and you will remember at our meeting yesterday I said no notice should be issued until the Governor had given his decision. Can you tell me under whose authority the notice was issued? I am sure the members of the Committee would not be parties to misleading the strikers,-Yours very truly,\n\n(Signed) J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.\n\n## THE EFFECT OF THE PROCLAMATION.\n\nAs far as can be at present ascertained there has been no alteration in the position of affairs since the meeting on Saturday afternoon, and one cannot judge until today what action the coolies will take now that they have had a further definite assurance that the Government will not consent to be swayed by a few thousand unjustifiably dissatisfied coolies. The P. & O. and the C. P. R. Companies were on Saturday morning amply supplied with cargo coolies, who worked until eleven o'clock. At that hour they became acquainted with the terms of the proclamation issued by the committee of mercantile gentlemen, and, goaded by a few shore coolies, they decided to again leave work and await the final answer from the Government. \"If the Government does not give way,\" remarked one prominent Chinese merchant, \"the coolies will not go back,\" a statement which proves that the Committee's circular acted as an incentive to the men to continue the rebellion against the law.\n\nIt is stated that the P. & O. stevedore announced his intention of registering on Saturday morning, but upon hearing the forecast that the Government were \"certain\" to meet the Committee's wishes, he changed his mind and refused to conform with the regulations.\n\nAt the Police Court on Saturday, before Commander W. C. Hastings, half a dozen summonses were heard against householders of common lodging houses for failing to have the premises registered. Two of the cases were adjourned, but in each of the remaining four a fine of $25 was imposed. The Magistrate warned the defendants that if they did not register within three days they would be again summoned and a heavier fine inflicted.\n\nC.O. 38", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 360578, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-272 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1896 [5-9]", "page_number": 69, "title": "CO129-272 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1896 [5-9]", "content_text": "been known back even \nin a \nsuch \nlegal appointment \nG7 \nemergency \nintment of consequence \n66 \nno such appointment \nthe Registon of \nthe \nJudicial \nthat under consideration, \nthe Supreme Court generally \nRegister of the \nAssignee in Bankruptcy acting for the Attorney-General, \nI find, \napart from other Colonies, has been \ninvariably the rule in Hongkong also, \noutriders such as \nI. Leach, \nJudge \nin the Straits, acting only \nthe Register himself \nincentive which \nWhen \nhad received that \nwhich every deserving Government \nofficial naturally bobs forward to for \nhowever short a \nperiod \nin such \ntime \nan \nespecially \nwhen \nextravagant and \nworthy Colony as Hongkong. \n\n10. The Judicial records of this Colony \nwith which I am \nso familiar, when \nhave \nnow been made out to me, \nRegistrar along with the Attorney-General and the puisne Judge noting presently, \nin letter \nespecially Prison-Judge \n\n11. I have \n22 \nyears, as Chief Justice, \nAttorney-General alternately. \nnow served the Crown faithfully \nand zealously for \nthe last 25 \nlonger than most \nJudicial \nofficials \nthe principal \nin their Colony, devoting \nthe \nyears of my life to the good of the record of \nState. \nand Service \nas \nthe Colonial Office shew, with the object \nof me one day obtaining that position \nof independence \npromised as an officer of my standing \na reward \nmerit and which I \nmost...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-272 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1896 [5-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 362871, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-275 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [1-5]", "page_number": 387, "title": "CO129-275 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [1-5]", "content_text": "383\n\nthe Captain Superintendent of\n\nPolice involves is inconsiderable, while I agree with Mr May in thinking that the new title of Chief Detective Inspector besides being appreciated by Inspector Stanton,\n\nwill act as an incentive to\n\nothers to qualify themselves\n\nto succeed him.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir, Your Most Obedient\n\nHumble Servant;\n\nWilliam Robinson\n\nCopy\n\n.104.\n\nENCLOSURE\n\nCaptain Superintendent of Police to Colonial Secretary.\n\nSir,\n\nPolice Department,\n\n27th March 1897.\n\nI have the honour to bring to the notice of the Governor and to recommend for His Excellency's favourable consideration\n\nthe claims of Inspector Stanton for special recognition not only of\n\nthe zeal and industry displayed in the execution of his duty, but of\n\nthe valuable knowledge of the Chinese language which he has acquired,\n\na knowledge which I think is worth far more to the Police Force than\n\nthe $10 monthly allowance which it earns for Inspector Stanton.\n\n2.\n\nIn my letter No.100 of the 19th instant I reported\n\nhow the Chief Justice had recently complimented the Police on the\n\nhandling of a case that was tried at the last Criminal Sessions, and\n\nI explained that to Inspector Stanton, as the officer in charge of the\n\ncase, the principal credit was due.\n\nSimilar commendations from the Bench have been frequently made by the judges and magistrates in reference to Inspector\n\nStanton and it was only on Wednesday last in the Supreme Court that\n\nthe Attorney General referred to him as \"the most accomplished and\n\ncapable Police Inspector in the Force.\"\n\n3.\n\nFor myself I cannot speak too highly of the manner", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-275 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 362873, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-275 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [1-5]", "page_number": 389, "title": "CO129-275 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [1-5]", "content_text": "385\n\nto amalgamate with that of Chief Detective Inspector. The salary\n\nof Inspector of Weights and Measures is $240 per annum, and the\n\npresent incumbent of the post is Inspector Stanton.\n\nBy the addition therefore of $72 per annum (which could\n\nbe defrayed this year out of lapsing pay) the salary of the\n\nChief Detective Inspector could be made up to $1630.\n\n7.\n\nI feel convinced that if my recommendation is approved\n\nthe higher position and title conferred upon Inspector Stanton\n\nand although carrying an increase of $6 per mensem with it, will be much appreciated by that deserving officer.\n\nAn incentive will, I think, also be held out by the\n\ncreation of the new appointment to others to educate themselves\n\nwith a view to succeeding to the Chief Detective Inspectorship hereafter.\n\nThe Colonial Secretary.\n\nI have etc.,\n\nSd. E.H.May.\n\nCap. Sup. of Police.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-275 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 367065, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6]", "page_number": 474, "title": "CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6]", "content_text": "469\n\nfor promotion there is no incentive for me to remain in the Colonial service.\n\nI have been working practically as assistant to the Executive Engineer for Extraordinary Public Works and I have done work of such Engineering importance as the calculation of the Stability of Shing Mun Dam as extended, the calculation & design of the roof to the Central Market. I may also point out that because the Drawings are prepared in conjunction with the late O.P.W. the You F.C. Cooper of the new government office on the present Glacier Basin Site.\n\nI have acquired nearly all the large tenders for temporary public works during my tenure & I should be available to assist in the construction of works while still remaining in charge of Drawing Office in the event of being appointed Assistant Engineer.\n\nI append a short summary", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 367069, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6]", "page_number": 478, "title": "CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6]", "content_text": "## 673\n\npromotion there is no incentive for us to remain in the colonial service.\n\nI have been working practically as an assistant to the Executive Engineer for Extraordinary Public Works and have done work of considerable Engineering importance such as the calculation of the stability of System Dams as well as extended site calculation for & design of the roof to the Central Market. I also point out that I signed the Drawings & report in conjunction with the late D. P. W. & A.C. Cooper of the new government Offices in the Praya.\n\nI have designed nearly all the large public works during my tenure of office & I should be available to assist in the construction of works whilst still remaining in charge of Drawing Office in the event of being appointed Assistant Engineer.\n\nJappenda \n\na short summary", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 373037, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9]", "page_number": 394, "title": "CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9]", "content_text": "391\n\nextravagant, nor even can it be described as generous.\n\nIt is payment at the same rate as on week days.\n\nOrdinarily the men would have that day of rest, instead of\n\nwhich, on the occasions the suggested pay would be drawn, they\n\nwould have worked 10 to 12 hours.\n\nI thought I had made it clear to the Honourable Trea-\n\nsurer yesterday, that it was not suggested or supposed that one\n\nman would spend $3.00 on a meal and another $1.00\n\nIf it is considered as tending to pauperise the clerks\n\nsupplying a meal, and money is to be paid in lieu, from which\n\nit will be compulsory that food is purchased, one man will clear\n\nmore than another (but one man is worth more than another)\n\nand so it would be under any conditions, one man would eat more\n\nthan another.\n\nTo pay the seniors precisely the same as the juniors\n\nwould, I submit, be neither just nor politic.\n\nPrize money, compensation, allowances of nearly all\n\nkinds are paid on graduated scales; otherwise what should be a\n\nsource of gratification and a further incentive to exertion is\n\nturned into a cause of discontent and heart burning.\n\nOn", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 373887, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12]", "page_number": 617, "title": "CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12]", "content_text": "Governor.\n\nNo.\n\nThe Tel.\n\n1899\n\n95\n\nHONG KONG\n\nN3428\n\n(Subject.)\n\nC.O.\n\n35723\n\nRECU 25 &\n\nRest 26 DEC 99\n\nPolitical Refugee\n\nKarey You Wei\n\nPrevious Paper. This has put a price on his head.\n\n4923\n\nNo copy 7.0.\n\nQuard Tel.\n\n6. Jan. 1900.\n\ncous 26 Dec\n\n614\n\nDESPATCH\n\nProtests against this action which is an incentive to assassination in British Colony will take every zealously we can.\n\nand say to protect Karey, who is living...\n\n(Minutes.)\n\nEW. Lucas\n\n7. Copy to 7.0.27,\n\nthat in au) 26/12 a protect to the Chinese Gov't.\n\nMr Chamberlain's opinion on the subject should be addressed back for an early answer to our letter.\n\nC.Pd. 26 at a Newy\n\nDec 26\n\n20919—FAR20-9-19\n\nIts subsequent Paper.\n\n70\n\nPage 363\n\n...\n\n...\n\nPage 363", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 373888, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12]", "page_number": 618, "title": "CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12]", "content_text": "(3)-12435-2000-1-99 19231-3000-7-99\n\nParaphase.\n\nC.O.\n\n35728\n\nRECO\n\n&\n\n615\n\nNo. 26 DEC 99\n\nSent to Colonial Secretary/Chamberlain\n\nSent 7.30 p.m. Received 4 a.m. on 25/12/99\n\nH.M.'s Minister at Peking telegraphs that an edict\n\nwas issued last week offering a large\n\nreward for Kang Youwei\n\ndead or alive. Kang\n\nis known to be living here quietly. I protest\n\nstrongly against this incentive to\n\nassassination in a British Colony. It\n\nentails serious expense or abandonment\n\nof our duty to ensure the safety of\n\ndistinguished visitors &\n\nmay compromise the safety of persons. It\n\nmay be more than coincidence that this\n\nedict synchronises with Li Hung Chang's\n\nappointment to be Viceroy of Canton. I shall take every\n\nmeans to secure Kang's safety.\n\nBlake", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 375633, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3]", "page_number": 460, "title": "CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3]", "content_text": "શૈલાસ પરમા \n\nM \n\n458 \n\nwhich has incapacitated him for further duty as a Warder. \n\nI attribute the decrease in number of whippings \n\ninflicted for breaches of Prison discipline to the incentive \n\nto good conduct held out by the new Prison Rules, and to the \n\nimproved discipline maintained by a staff which has not been \n\nsubject to the constant changes that interfered so much with \n\nthe efficiency of the staff in the past. \n\nI have etc., \n\n(Sd) F.H.May. \n\nSuperintendent. \n\nBute. \n\nAverage Number of Prisoners \n\nflogged: \n\n \n Month\n Number in Gaol\n Number flogged\n \n \n February\n 482\n \n \n \n March\n 389\n \n \n \n April\n 405\n \n \n \n May\n 412\n \n \n \n June\n 418\n \n \n \n July\n \n 121\n \n \n August\n 453\n 125\n \n \n September\n \n 453\n \n \n October\n 466\n \n \n \n November\n 457\n \n \n \n \n 4144\n \n \n\n \n 12\n 10\n 38\n B\n 115\n 16\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 106\n 16\n \n \n 78\n 18\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2812\n 3b\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 4712\n 4\n 2\n ||\n 11\n 23699", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 381255, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7]", "page_number": 783, "title": "CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7]", "content_text": "(2)\n\n777\n\nthe advantage of being able to read and write English. I beg, however, to recommend that the Office Boy be made Registration Shroff at $15.00 per month as I cannot 'spare' the Money Order Shroff; he knows his work so intimately; and in order not to create disappointment at this promotion, as it would be an anomaly for the Money Order Shroff doing more onerous work in charge of cash drawing less pay, that his salary be also increased to $15.\n\nThe extra $2.00 would be met by the promotion of the No.2 Office Boy to become No.1 Office Boy at $10.00 per month instead of $12.00; but his maximum pay, as an incentive to better himself for the post (he is quite a young man and very intelligent) should be $12.00 rising to that figure every year by $1.00 per month.\n\nThe No.3 Office Boy, on probation at $9.00, is unsatisfactory in his knowledge of English, and I am unable to get a more intelligent class of Chinaman at a lower scale than $12.00. At this rate I got a satisfactory marine stamper whom, but for the exigency of sorting on board the P & O. Mails, I would like to retain on office duty.\n\nThe following table will show how the proposed promotions are arrived at:\n\n \n \n Present pay\n Proposed pay\n \n \n No.1 Boy to become Registration Shroff\n $13.00\n $15.00\n \n \n Money Order Shroff\n $12.00\n $15.00\n \n \n No.2 Boy to become No.1 Boy\n $9.00\n $10.00 (rising to $12.00 by $1.00 per year)\n \n \n No.3 Boy to become No.2 Boy\n $9.00\n $9.00 (rising to $12.00 by $1.00 every 2 years)\n \n \n To be entered No.3 Boy\n \n $9.00 (rising to $12.00 by $1.00 every 2 years)\n \n \n Increased expense per month\n \n $15.00\n \n\nIn addition to the above, the Compradore and the Marine Stampers are", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 382997, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-308 - Public Offices - 1901", "page_number": 142, "title": "CO129-308 - Public Offices - 1901", "content_text": "140\n\nGovernment will, so to speak, not know the existence of the said firm of Engineers. The Director of Public Works will retain his position of responsibility as regards the design of the works; the firm acting as his assistant. When the design and estimate is sanctioned by Government, then contracts will be let, or other arrangements made for the execution of the works, according to the usual routine of the Public Works Department. Work being commenced, the firm will supervise its execution, again under the general direction of the Director of Public Works.\n\nI see no reason why this arrangement should not act well. I know nothing concerning Messrs Denison & Ram. It is evident however that Mr Ormsby relies mainly on Mr Gibbs, who whilst a member of the Public Works Staff, carried out, under Mr Cooper and Mr Ormsby, works of similar character, in a satisfactory manner; and who was engaged on the Kowloon Works, in the preliminary stage; and concerning whom I recently received a favourable letter from Mr Cooper.\n\nThe remuneration of the firm, with respect to the services mentioned, is to be calculated at a certain percentage on the cost of the works.\n\nI am of opinion however that it would be far better to agree upon a fixed sum, so much to be paid on approval of plans and estimates, and so much paid by instalments from year to year, for the supervision of construction. The payment of Engineers by a percentage on the cost of the works designed and constructed under their supervision, though usual, is I think objectionable. It deprives the Engineer of any incentive to steady economy. If he spends time and thought in considering the design, with a view of economy, he is merely reducing his remuneration, and incurring moreover extra expense.\n\nIn agreeing with the firm as to their remuneration, it\n\n-2-\n\nmust", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-308 - Public Offices - 1901.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 385691, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9]", "page_number": 296, "title": "CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9]", "content_text": "293\n\n* Vider mains \"atlock\" \"ayelela.\n\n14. Cbat in lieu therefore of the very drastic measure of cutting off all water service from \"Tenement houses\" throughout the year, Your Petitioners humbly suggest that an arrangement similar to that suggested by Mr. Chadwick in his Report, dated Hongkong, 10th April 1902, and which was published in the Hongkong Government Gazette of the 11th of the same month, should be adopted in the case of \"Tenement houses\" so that the occupants of \"Tenement houses\" may at least be supplied with an intermittent supply during the period which will elapse before the gathering ground and reservoir capacity of the Colony have been sufficiently increased to admit of a constant supply. This would at least enable occupiers of \"Tenement houses\" to avail themselves of a water service whilst the reservoirs are full to overflowing.\n\nSuch an arrangement would also greatly facilitate the detection of the waste of water which is alleged to take place principally in Chinese \"Tenement houses\" and would provide a ready and effective means of checking any such waste and reducing it to a minimum.\n\nThe portions of the Report to which Your Petitioners crave leave to refer are sections 40 and 41 which run as follows:\n\nEXTRACTS FROM REPORT.\n\n40.---The following arrangement would greatly improve matters. At present, house services are connected, directly, to the street mains. I suggest that subsidiary mains, wrought iron pipes, of small diameter, should be laid parallel to the principal mains (“Rider-mains\"), on one or both sides of the street, thus ---\n\nA\n\nHOUSE-SERVICES.\n\nRIDER-MAIN.\n\nPRINCIPAL MAIN.\n\nRIDER-MAIN.\n\nHOUSE-SERVICES.\n\nB\n\nThe house-services should be disconnected from the principal main, and connected to the rider-mains. In this way, the Town would be divided into blocks of convenient size, the water-supply to which could be turned on and off, independently and in rotation. The water could then be turned on to and shut off from a large group of blocks, in rotation. No. 1 block would receive water from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., No. 2 from 4 to 5; and so on.\n\nTo short, the Town would be supplied just as London was, when the intermittent system was in force. The principal mains would always be charged, under full pressure. No pollution could enter, through open ball-valves---rather an important point, at the present moment especially.\n\n41.---I recommend this arrangement, not merely because it will improve and facilitate the management of an intermittent supply, and mitigate its evils, but also because it will be a permanent improvement. It will facilitate the shutting-off of house-services, because the valves, on the rider-mains, may be so arranged, as to be practically inaccessible to unauthorized persons. Such is not the case with the house-service cocks, now in use.\n\nIt will greatly facilitate the application of the existing law, with regard to the prevention of waste. Arrangements may be made, whereby the test-meters may easily be applied, when required.\n\nThe detection of waste will also be facilitated. The Inspector need only apply the \"stethoscope,\" to one of the valves, commanding the whole block. If there be no sound of flowing water, he can pass on to another block. He need only examine, house by house, if he find symptoms of leakage, within the given block.\n\nLastly, it will be most advantageous, if the streets are asphalted, or otherwise improved. The Rider-mains may be laid along the side-walks, so that if a house-service requires renewal, re-construction or repair, the street surface need not be disturbed.\n\n15. That from the above Report Your Petitioners gather that the Hongkong Government would meet with no insurmountable difficulty in allowing owners of \"Tenement houses\" to obtain an intermittent supply of water by the system suggested by Mr. Osbert Chadwick and the necessary rider-mains can be a permanent and not a temporary arrangement for the purpose of supplying \"Tenement houses\" with a constant or an intermittent supply or being entirely closed according to the rainfall.\n\n16. That by the adoption of such an arrangement as that suggested by Mr. Chadwick, discomfort, expense and every inconvenience resulting from the incessant daily carriage of water from the Street Hydrants to the different floors of \"Tenement houses,\" many of which are four storeys high, by means of coolies and buckets would be avoided, certainly for the greater portion of each year, and last but not least the great incentive which this manual labour would be to Chinese not to cleanse their dwellings would be avoided, for it must be apparent, that if the Chinese occupiers of the higher floors of \"Tenement houses\" are necessarily compelled to carry by hand or to pay for the carriage by hand of every drop of water to their dwellings, the very smallest quantity possible will be used for cleansing purposes.\n\n17. That the carrying out of Mr. Chadwick's suggestion by the laying of rider-mains may involve considerable expense and the Hongkong Government may not feel disposed to bear such expense.\n\nThis can however be easily avoided by an arrangement with the owners of \"Tenement houses\" for the bearing by them of their proper proportions of such expense. Your Petitioners are confident that from Chinese Owners no serious opposition to bearing their fair share of such expense would be met with.\n\n18. That as to the value placed by the Sanitary Authorities in England on an adequate water supply being connected with every house it may not be out of place to refer here to Section 48 of the Act of Parliament entitled \"An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Public Health in London\" 54 and 55 Vic. Chap. 76. Such Section is as follows:-\n\n48.--(1) An occupied house without a proper and sufficient supply of water shall be a nuisance liable to be dealt with summarily under this Act, and, if it is a dwelling-house shall be deemed unfit for human habitation. (2) A house which after the commencement of this Act is newly erected, or is pulled down to or below the ground floor and rebuilt, shall not be occupied as a dwelling house until the sanitary authority have certified that it has a proper and sufficient supply of water, either from a water company or by some other means.\n\n19. That if an adequate supply of water is considered a vital necessity for sanitation in a temperate climate like England how much more should not a constant supply of water be considered an absolute necessity to every \"Tenement house\" in a tropical climate like Hongkong.\n\n20. That the effect of the Ordinance as passed will, Your Petitioners venture to submit, be to give to the occupiers of each \"Tenement\"---generally the wealthier classes---as distinguished from the occupiers of each \"Tenement house\"---generally the poorer classes---a full and ample supply of water for all purposes, whilst the occupiers of a \"Tenement house\" will at all periods of the year and even in the rainy season have to carry every drop of water they may require from the Street Hydrant to their own quarters entailing considerable expense or loss of time through crowding at the Street Hydrants and inconvenience and insanitation, owing to the constant passage of coolies carrying buckets of water up and down the steep and narrow staircases and the over dirty, wet and slippery state of such staircases together with many other inconveniences.\n\n21. That when it is remembered that plague has been constant in Hongkong since the year 1894, Your Petitioners feel the present measure is calculated to increase and not diminish future out-breaks of plague, for how with no supply of water laid on to any \"Tenement house\" can the occupiers of \"Tenement houses\" be expected to comply with the frequent and peremptory requests of the Sanitary Board to keep their houses and persons clean by the constant use of water when every drop will have to be carried from the Street Hydrants.\n\n22. That your Petitioners whilst fully recognising that some temporary provision is essential owing to the present unfortunate lack of reservoir capacity yet they humbly ask that the least inconvenience possible may be placed upon the occupiers of Chinese \"Tenement houses\" by means of legislation whereas by the present Ordinance it seems highly probable that the occupiers of Chinese \"Tenement houses\" alone will be made to suffer permanently owing to the present state of affairs.\n\n23. That your Petitioners humbly ask your attention to the fact that during the present summer, namely from the 1st May to the 18th August 1902, 81.29 inches of rain have fallen and that had the reservoir capacity of the Colony been double its present size Your Petitioners venture to say that such reservoir capacity would have been filled to overflowing.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 389327, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-318 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [7-10]", "page_number": 230, "title": "CO129-318 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [7-10]", "content_text": "## 4. To allay this feeling I had a meeting of the Principal Civil Medical Officer, the Acting Medical Officer of Health, and the Chinese members of the Sanitary Board, and arranged with them that in each health district the inhabitants should appoint a Kai-fong or committee, and that in every case of disinfection notice should be sent to the Kai-fong, two members of which, with the Sanitary Inspector should form a committee to appraise there and then any damage done and give a joint certificate of the amount, which the Sanitary Board undertook to pay. It was also announced by leaflets distributed among the Chinese that in all cases where sickness was timely reported, all the expense of disinfection would be borne by the Government.\n\n## 5. \nThis had no appreciable effect in diminishing the number of dumped bodies, and it was evident that the passive resistance of the Chinese continued. This was shown by the fact that when rat traps were set in Chinese houses the traps were found to be sprung, as the finding of an infected rat resulted in the same inconvenience as followed the discovery of a case of plague; still, large numbers of rats were delivered to the mortuary for examination, 88,862 having been paid for from 1st January to 13th of July this year, of which 3,176, or 3.9%, were found to be infected. Each rat had a label attached showing the house or place where found, and where the address of a house was given that house was duly disinfected. Again, I heard whispers, of which no proof could be given, that the rat catchers levied a respectable toll by hinting at the probability of a plague rat being found about the premises in the absence of tangible evidence of goodwill, and, on at least one occasion, indignant protest was made by the householder subjected to disinfection that no rat had been caught in his house, and no trap had been set there. About a fortnight ago colour was given to these whispers. I had requested that certain experiments, of which I shall speak later, should be carried out with rats, but although two thousand rats per week were being returned and paid for, Dr. HUNTER, the Government Bacteriologist, found a difficulty in obtaining the live rats that he required. This probably aroused suspicions and resulted in the following minutes of the Acting Medical Officer of Health:\n\n**SECRETARY**\n\n\"I believe I am right in saying that, at the Confidential Meeting of the Board held on June 30th a resolution was passed to the effect that the Government should be asked to sanction for the rest of the year the modification of the scheme for dealing with rats suggested for next year's procedure. For information of the Government it may be well to explain that the reasons for this change are as follows:\n\n1. A large sum of money is now paid in bonus for rats collected in the streets.\n2. A ridiculously small number of rats are caught in houses.\n3. There is no way at present of making sure that the addresses given of rats caught are correct, as foremen and coolies are not to be trusted.\n\nIn support of this I may mention that Inspector ALLEN found some little time since a group of rat-catchers sorting out rats in a back lane and putting on address tickets promiscuously.\n\n4. There is a suspicion that the coolies have given wrong addresses out of revenge in order that a house might be disinfected. It has not been possible to prove this, but it is clear that this might be done.\n5. The bonus of 5 cents for each rat is probably the incentive to the importation of rats. It is highly probable that a brisk trade in rats has been going on. It would no doubt pay to bring rats into the city from outlying villages and from boats and even from Macao and Canton. Inspector REIDIE has reported that he heard of a meeting of rat-catchers at Possession Point where rats arrived in parcels and were distributed. He was too late to catch them, but these rumours have the colour of truth.\n\nThe proposal to adopt next year's scheme in the matter at once will involve (1) the immediate appointment of 6 extra Portuguese foremen at $50, one for each Plague Inspector; (2) the raising into line with this the salary of the present permanent plague foremen; and (3) the appointment of 14 coolies for collecting rats at a fixed salary of $12 per month; (4) the abolition of the bonus.\n\nW.W. P.\"\n\n## 6. \nIn the meantime it appeared to me that however theoretically perfect our Sanitary machinery, we were not controlling the epidemic, which in this year as in all that had gone before was running precisely the same course as in Canton and the coast ports: appearing, increasing, culminating, and disappearing, at the same time. To those who know how Chinese houses are constructed it will be apparent that effective fumigation is practically unattainable. While even if the spraying process, scrubbing, and disinfection of clothing reached externally everything in the room, it would not kill vermin lying deep in the joints and cracks of tables, chairs and settles, or beds. Nor would it reach the vermin with which the heads of the poorer classes of coolies are infested. But apart from this, what took place in many cases when a case of plague was discovered was that before the constable could arrive to take charge of the house, goods liable to injury by disinfection were removed, by the door, or if too late for this, were taken on to the roof, always easily accessible, and deposited in some neighbouring house.\n\n## 7. \nThe question then presented itself whether the passive resistance of the population to disinfection might not be overcome and whether if the Chinese could be brought to realize the necessity for it, their attitude might not be entirely changed. The East finds great difficulty in seeing eye to eye with the West. But the Chinese are a reasonable people; they are accustomed to have Government orders explained to them, and even Imperial edicts always contain the reason for their issue, as our own laws down to a late period embodied the reason for the Act in the preamble. I determined to make the attempt, feeling it my duty to exercise directly any personal influence that I might possess to assuage the growing feeling of antagonism to the Sanitary Authorities and induce the people to take upon themselves the active participation in the work of sanitation.\n\n## 8. \nEarly in April I broached the matter to Dr. ATKINSON, the Principal Civil Medical Officer and President of the Sanitary Board, and proposed to him that the Sanitary Board should hand over to me a district of the most plague-stricken portion of the City of Victoria of an area sufficiently large to give a practical basis of comparison of results but not too large for my personal supervision. He consulted the members of the Board and obtained their assent, and after consultation with the Acting Medical Officer of Health he suggested that I should take over a block bounded on the North by Second Street and on the South by Third Street with the Wai On and Sheung Fung Lanes lying between. The block thus handed over comprised the houses on the South side of Second Street and on the North side of Third Street. These streets have an evil record in every epidemic of plague since 1894. They are inhabited by very poor people, but the houses themselves are by no means the worst in the City. Second Street is 30 feet wide, while the houses being three-storied averaged about 30 feet in height, and ...\n\nPage 228", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-318 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 389820, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11]", "page_number": 96, "title": "CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11]", "content_text": "## 93 \n\nHis statement therefore cannot be looked upon otherwise than in the light of another unjust attack upon my loyalty, honesty, and probity. The Government records will, moreover, show the good I have done outside my own especial work. While in the Straits Settlements, where I was an officer and Registrar for many years and was thanked by the Government, Chief Justices, Judges, Attorneys-General, and others for my labours in and out of office hours, in Hongkong similarly, a combined effort is made to ruin me.\n\n## 18. \n\nIt is to be regretted that so soon after having assumed duties as Chief Justice, having been two months absent on leave since, bringing his time as Chief Justice to a little over 12 months, he had but very shortly before returned from long leave in England as Attorney-General that Sir William Goodman should at this stage have thought fit to bring these charges against me. Indeed, the last paragraph in his letter discloses the whole purport of the letter. I say that it is utterly false that I have ever been disrespectful to the Chief Justice, as set forth in paragraph 12 of his letter, notwithstanding the greatest provocation on his part towards me on the occasion mentioned.\n\n## 19. \n\nSince my arrival in this Colony, he has shown himself to be antagonistic to my interests and a consistent and persistent opponent of mine. First, when Attorney-General, he informed me each time I approached him in regard to temporary changes, which every deserving officer expects as an incentive to do better, and which each one of my predecessors repeatedly received, that he considered \"I had done very well and in his opinion the Registrar should get nothing more.\" This I repeated to Sir John Carrington, the late Chief Justice, and that this gentleman was of a different opinion, I know. Both my", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 393436, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-323 - Acting Governor May Governor Nathan - 1904 [6-7]", "page_number": 617, "title": "CO129-323 - Acting Governor May Governor Nathan - 1904 [6-7]", "content_text": "in the occupation of respectable families is no deterrent\n\nbut rather an incentive to the brothel-keeper who so opens a\n\nbrothel for she probably hopes to profit by the fact in more\n\neasily escaping the attention of the Authorities.\n\nThe difficulty in dealing with such brothels\n\nhas been that if the keeper is summoned under section 13 of\n\nOrdinance No. 4 of 1897 she either temporarily absconds, or\n\nif she does appear and her brothel is ordered to be closed,\n\nshe removes to some other house and repeats the migration\n\neach time she is prosecuted. Power has accordingly been taken\n\nfor the Magistrate to issue a warrant in the first instance\n\ninstead of a summons, and the power to punish by fine and imprisonment or in either manner, which was formerly given by\n\nsection 44 of Ordinance No. 19 of 1889 (now repealed), has been\n\nrevived.\n\nI am satisfied, and my Executive Council\n\nagree with me, that the class of brothel described above constitutes a great nuisance and hindrance to Chinese family life\n\nin this Colony, and I feel sure that the taking of more summary\n\nPowers of dealing with them, as provided for in the Ordinance\n\nwhich passed the Council unanimously, will be hailed with\n\nsatisfaction by the Chinese Community.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient\n\nHumble servant,\n\nM. Ustran\n\nGovernor,\n\n&c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-323 - Acting Governor May Governor Nathan - 1904 [6-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395568, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-327 - Individuals - 1904", "page_number": 112, "title": "CO129-327 - Individuals - 1904", "content_text": "favourable for cotton\n\nkan\n\nan\n\nextensive\n\ndistricts\n\ncultivation and would additional incentive to farmers and\n\nothers to take up the crop industry along the 60 miles.\n\ncourse of the line which will connect Hongkong with Canton and pass through the new Territory\n\non its way.\n\nthis\n\nrailway will be of some national importance\n\nin preserving and extending British influence in South China and this object would further be effected if cotton for Von Complirte\n\nmarkets\n\nwere cultivated\n\non\n\na large scale. Experimental Cultivation. – Prudence\n\ngrounds\n\nthat in the first place experimental cultivation should precede any\n\ncultivation on\n\na large scale not only to test the possibilities of culture but also to educate the Chinese farmers by demonstration. This experimental work should naturally come under the functions of the Botanical Department of Hongkong if it is sufficiently\n\nwell equipped for the purpose and if the Experimental Garden in the New Territory which I recommended and selected the site for two years ago has yet been established.\n\nIn\n\nIn addition to this garden at Chin Mon would advise that experiments should be\n\nmade at Ping-shan, Iron-him and Lantau\n\nIsland, the two former centres of the chief\n\ndistricts, if the Chinese owners of land would\n\nconsent to be instructed in cultivation and to\n\ncarry on\n\nthe work from\n\ntheir own resources under Government direction, the Government in the meantime\n\nproviding seeds for the rest of the land\n\nI think the leading village\n\nelders, especially those I had interested in\n\ngrowing improved varieties of sugar-cane might fall into agreement with this plan.\n\nMessrs. Jardine Matheson &\n\nCo., the Agents\n\nof the Hongkong Cotton Spinning Weaving &\n\nCo., might be approached on the\n\nsubject and perhaps be induced to contribute\n\ntowards the expenses as they would most\n\nlikely be the first to benefit from a supply\n\nof cotton produced in their district.\n\nIntroduction of the Cotton-Plant. Great care ought to be exercised in obtaining seeds of the best varieties of cotton from India, the West Indies and elsewhere and then\n\nseeds should be taken from the best selected\n\nplants", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-327 - Individuals - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 396129, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6]", "page_number": 211, "title": "CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6]", "content_text": "## Salary \n| Class | Minimum | Maximum | Increments | Period in which maximum salary of class could be reached and enjoyed for 1 term |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| û | $240 | $420 | $60 | 6 years |\n| VI | $480 | $600 | $60 | 8 years |\n| V | $660 | $840 | $60 | 6 years |\n| IV | $900 | $1,080 | $60 | 12 years |\n| III | $1,200 | $1,500 | $60 | 12 years |\n| II | $1,800 | $2,100 | $60 | - |\n| I | - | - | - | - |\n\nClass II ($2,160 to $2,400) and Class I ($2,400 to $3,000) have been omitted from the table as the appointments in these classes have all been, or are to be, made Prize Appointments with Sterling Salaries, with the exception of two, viz.:- the Accountant in the Post Office and the Third Clerk in the Harbour Office.\n\nThe defects in this system are as follows:-\n\n(1) The long period required to gain increments in the junior classes and the smallness of the increments in the senior classes make these increments of little moment to clerks. A man who has served about a year will scarcely take the prospective rise of $60 at the end of another year as an inducement to continue in the service should any other employment be offered to him. Later on an average rise of $30 per annum seems out of proportion to salaries of 32 to 70 times that amount.\n\n(2) The unsystematic variation in the periods taken to pass from the minimum to maximum salary in the various classes tends against the continuous promotion from class to class which is an incentive to work. For instance, the fact that in the 7th and 5th classes the maximum is attained in 4 years while in the 6th and 4th classes it is only attained in 6 and 10 years respectively tends to create unnecessary blocks in the 7th and 5th classes.\n\n(3) The impossible length of time required to pass by regular promotion from the bottom to the top of the list must deter promising young men from joining the service unless they can do...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 396180, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6]", "page_number": 262, "title": "CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6]", "content_text": "## 2.\n\n257\n\nThe maximum salary of a 1st grade clerk, viz. - $72,040 per annum. Higher paid posts are in nearly every other Department \"Prize Appointments\" on a Sterling basis. This basis is not suitable to the two appointments in question as they are not likely to be held by men domiciled in England.\n\nI therefore propose to add to the grading scheme a \"Higher Grade\" with salary of $2,160 to $2,700 by biennial increments of $180 and with this addition I recommend that the new grading be applied to the Harbour Department in the manner shown in the annexed statement.\n\n6.\n\nI further recommend that Messrs. Guterres and Botelho (the former of whom joined the Service in 1869 and the latter in 1872 and both of whom are highly spoken of by the Head of their Department) be put into the Higher Grade at the first increment but without personal allowances. If this were done these Officers would draw $2,340 per annum against $2,200 drawn at present by the former and $1,800 by the latter.\n\n7.\n\nBy this arrangement, by the creation for Mr. Guterres of the new post proposed in the Mercantile Marine Branch, and by the adoption of the new grading scheme throughout the Department, the system of personal allowances in the Harbour Department would be done away with, the clerks of old standing in the Department would be very liberally treated and would be given an additional incentive to remain in it, and the junior and new clerks would be able to look forward to quicker and more regular increments to salary than under the present scheme.\n\n8.\n\nIf these arrangements meet with your approval", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403539, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 448, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "# \n募 \n\n16 \n\nconfined to the lower slopes. Half-way up the hills where our road lay opium was the most important crop, followed by a summer sowing of maize, but we also saw some patches of wheat and beans.\n\nThe Lisu are stay-at-home people, which is not surprising in view of the difficulty of getting about. Few of them can give any information about country more than three days' march from their own village, and fewer still have ever seen a town of 1,000 inhabitants or a square mile of flat country. These hills are so cut off from all relief by the outer world, and the villagers are so poor, that the problem of how to get enough to eat is the burning question of the day. There are no free-traders here. In none of the villages beyond Lu Chang could we buy a pound of rice or other cereals, though fowls and an occasional goat were forthcoming. Even paterfamilias practises high protection. He tries to get enough grain to feed himself and his family till the next harvest, and will not let a spoonful go out of the house.\n\nThe Chinese lower down the Salween regard all the country above Mao Chao as \"black\" or wild Lisu territory, utterly beyond the pale of civilization. There are no Chinese residents on the Salween north of Cheng Ka. No doubt the Lisu often raid in various directions, hunger being the chief incentive, though sometimes the object is to make slaves, or, in the case of forays towards the north, to cut off the Chinese gold-workers. The slave traffic seems fairly brisk. At Pai Pa the price of a male or female child of 8 to 10 years was about 20 rupees, but some of our porters told us that if we could come on to their village some distance further north we should find a larger selection and at easier rates. The slavery is of the domestic type, but the slave has also to work in the fields.\n\nAt Pai Pa, while I was sitting in my tent, I was surprised by a very dirty old man with remarkably brilliant black eyes, who threw himself down on the ground at the door of my tent and began a chant in a high, loud voice. I thought that he was a beggar, and asked the by-standers what his song was all about. They said in a rather awe-struck manner that they did not understand it. On inquiry I then discovered that I was in the presence of the local soothsayer, or medicine man.\n\nRealizing that he might be a person of some importance, I at once gave him a necklace of red beads and a rupee, whereupon he declared, in language which could be understood of the people, that my goings and comings in the Lisu country would be most prosperous--an announcement which had an impressive effect on the by-standers.\n\nThese \"tien ssu,\" or prophets, as the Chinese call them, are to be found in many Lisu villages. They deal in charms, medicines, funeral rites, omens, incantations, and in the knowledge of all things which, for the ordinary mortal, are hidden in the womb of time. No doubt among the ignorant villagers they have considerable influence, and could, if they wished, raise disturbances. The language of their trade is probably an archaic form of Lisu, and the various chants and invocations which they use have been handed down for generations and from times of old.\n\nI cannot confirm the reports of the savage and barbarous habits of these Lisu. I was entirely in their hands for two weeks, and I found that their good-will was very easy to win.\n\nPorters were always forthcoming so long as there was a ration of rice to give them, and I never had the least trouble. They are a hardy race, and though their manners are rough, they did not appear to be given to quarrelling among themselves like the Kachins, and the European traveller can march with them without feeling that uncontrollable desire to assault them which he nearly always feels in the case of Chinese coolies. Given the absence of Chinese soldiers and officials, and a carefully arranged supply of food, the complete exploration of the Lisu country on the Upper Salween would, for a good walker, be no difficult task, provided that he went in the autumn, when the weather is fine, when there is the minimum of snow on the passes, and local supplies of cereal food for a small party could be purchased.\n\nFrom the village of Pai Pa there is a pass via the village of Chi Me Le westwards over the great Salween divide to Langsu or the Maru country along the N Maikha, while Kang Fang on the Upper Ngaw Chang River can also be reached by this pass in four days from Pai Pa. There is said to be another route over this range some three days north of Pai Pa, but the communication between the Salween and the N'Maikha is difficult and unfrequent, as the Marus and Lisu have very little to do with each other. We had hoped to explore the Chi Me Le Pass, but the deep snows and continuous rain rendered the track quite impassable.\n\n17\n\n## Chinese Expedition to the Maru Country\n\n441\n\nThe Chinese Headman of Ku T'an, a village near Teng Keng, came into camp at Lu Chang and told me all about an attempt which had been made in the 16th year of Kwang Hsü (1890) to establish Chinese influence on the Upper N'Maikha. He had taken charge of the expedition, which consisted of fifty persons, nearly all Chinese. The venture was financed by the Teng Keng, Ta Tang, and Ming Kwang Headmen to the extent of 3,000 taels. It had two objects--firstly, to check the advance of British control from Myitkyina; and, secondly, to work the brine wells on the N'Maikha at about latitude 26° 30′.\n\nThe venture proved a failure owing to the extreme difficulty of the country, the absence of proper arrangements to bring up supplies, and the deadly climate. The Headman told me that he could speak some Maru, and had remained on the Upper N'Maikha for about seven months. The Maru villages he described as being constantly at feud with one another, and endeavouring to enlist his assistance in their quarrels.\n\nThe brine wells proved to be rich, but the expense and difficulty of transport to China rendered it impossible to make any profit, and the attempt to establish a Chinese colony had to be abandoned. This Ku Tan Headman was a particularly intelligent man, and told me that the Chinese, with their methods, would never be able to open up the country, and that they have no funds to make what was absolutely essential, namely, a passable track. He asked me to mention that he would like to serve under any British officer who might be conducting an expedition into the Maru country. His route had been via Kang Fang, then across the Ngaw Chang, and up into the mountains beyond.\n\nTo describe the government of the Lisu on the Upper Salween would be like describing the snakes of Iceland. North of latitude 26° there is practically none, except in so far as the \"prophets\" and old men of each village look after the affairs of that village. The jurisdiction of the Teng Keng Fu Yi (residing on the right bank of the Salween, latitude 26°), extends along the right bank only as far as the Ku Tan. Many of Teng Keng's villages are Chinese, or half-caste Lisu. The Teng Keng Fu Yi is a boy of about 16. Proceeding north, the next Fu Yi is at Lu Chang, to the north of the Ku Tan Stream, and situated at 6,000 feet high above the right bank of the Salween. This Fu Yi is an intelligent child of 9; he is of Lisu extraction, and the clan name is Cha. His affairs are managed by his mother and their villagers. Practically all Lisu seem to be in a prosperous and happy condition. The Lu Chang territory is about 10 miles from south to north. Next comes the Mao Chao Fu Yi. His village, like Lu Chang, is perched on a terrace 3,000 feet above the right bank of the river, and backed by the snowy Irrawaddy divide. This Fu Yi is about 35 years of age; his territory is some 14 miles from north to south, and entirely inhabited by Lisu. His rule is wholly confined to attempts, sometimes successful, sometimes otherwise, to levy money or goods from his villages. Pai Pa is the last Mao Chao village proceeding north.\n\nBeyond Pai Pa for three days the country nominally belongs to the Lao Wo Fu Yi, who resides in the hills between the Salween and the Mekong at about latitude 26°. The village of Cheng-ka, on the right bank of the Salween, below Pai Pa, and its ferry belongs to him, and his agent resides at Cheng-ka. Lao Wo's efforts at government appear to be less successful than those of Mao Chao, but they go further, for he does not confine himself to trying to levy money; he also endeavours from time to time to raid his subjects and carry off the fairest of their damsels.\n\nAgain, north of the territory claimed by Lao Wo, the Fu Yi of Chou, known as \"Lo Tu Kuan,\" i.e., the native official Lo, who has his residence on the Mekong, is supposed to be the overlord of the Lisu on both banks of the Salween; but his control, even on the left bank, and in the hills between the Salween and the Mekong, is of so shadowy a description that it may be said not to exist at all.\n\nNone of these Fu Yi appear to claim, and most certainly none of them control, any territory to the west of the great divide in the Irrawaddy basin.\n\nNorth of about latitude 27° 40′ the La Tzu tribe along the banks of the Salween are supposed to be tributary to the Moso, Thibetan Chief of Yetche, on the left bank of the Mekong. North, again, of the Lu Tzu country, i.e., from about latitude 28° 20′, the Salween Valley is, it is believed, wholly inhabited by Thibetans of the Tsarong Province.\n\n[2167 x-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 405971, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10]", "page_number": 513, "title": "CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10]", "content_text": "506\n\nthere has been an incentive to boat owners to report loss of boats with a view to getting assistance for their replacement there has been no such incentive to report loss of families. Again in many cases of complete loss of boat and family no report will have been made. I believe that the number of Chinese drowned was over rather than under 5,000. The quinquennial census to be taken next month will be some check on this estimate. The Chinese floating population according to the Census of 1901 amounted to 40,100 of whom 28,329 were in the harbour and the remainder at Aberdeen, Shaukiwan and Stanley.\n\nThe loss of Chinese life on shore was not large. About 25 fatalities are known and there were probably a few more. But these do not include the fishing-stake men in the Sha Tau Kok District among whom there must have been a heavy mortality, not yet ascertained.\n\nRelief Measures.\n\nParagraph 38.\n\nThe European and American subscriptions to the Relief Fund now amount to $120,000 and the Chinese to $110,000. A second instalment of subscriptions has been received from residents of Canton and those of Amoy have sent a first instalment of $2,034. A subscription was got up by the Europeans at Wuchow and also at far-away Kuala Lumpur. The Chinese Merchants at Singapore", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407332, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 628, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "varying modifications to the remaining ten provinces--will undoubtedly be a matter of considerable difficulty; nevertheless the measure should be put into practice.\n\n(b.) The proposal for mutual assistance between the various provinces. The annual results of opium taxation for all the provinces are to be pooled in a common fund, of which the surplus receipts resulting from the increase in the tariff are to be devoted to the new Military Exchequer. The weight of the opium passed through the Customs at Ichang within recent years is to be taken as fixing the regulation amount, and all the provinces are to forward their receipts to the Central Government.\n\nThis proposal is based on the Imperial Decree of 1904, but the phrase \"recent years\" is too vague to be of practical utility, and for the sake of uniformity the year 1904 should be taken as fixing the regulation amount.\n\n(c.) K'o Feng-Shih proposes to allow the provincial authorities to approach the Board of Revenue and apply for permission to appropriate temporarily surplus funds, when they occur, for purposes of pressing necessity.\n\nBut this scheme is in opposition to the suggestion previously made by the memorialists, and also to the Imperial Decree which forbade such appropriations and ordered that all surplus funds should be devoted to the expenses of the new army scheme. It is suggested, therefore, that in cases of pressing military necessity the precedent afforded by Kuanghsi should be followed, and a special Memorial submitting the circumstances to the consideration of the Board of Revenue be allowed, but that in no other cases should such loans or appropriations be permitted.\n\n(d) Measures for the protection of merchants, such as the issue of stamped licences to sell after the full payment of duties, the infliction of penalties on officials who are proved not to have exerted themselves in cases of robbery, and the dispatch of troops or vessels to ill-protected places.\n\nAn excellent proposal, as throwing the responsibility on the right shoulders, and, taken in conjunction with Article 6, which provides incentives to efficiency and punishments for maladministration, should go far to improve the Executive, whilst strengthening the hands of the merchant.\n\n(e) The total abolition of all forms of petty exactions.\n\nThe spirit of this suggestion is again quite admirable, and instructions should be issued to K'o and to all the provincial authorities to see that it is rigidly carried into effect. All forms of extortion, on any pretext whatsoever, should be visited with severe penalties.\n\n(f.) The prohibition of opium dens.\n\nThe avowed intention of the Vice-President in proposing his scheme of general taxation was to effect the abolition of opium-smoking by increasing the duties, but clause (f) of course clashes with K'o's own Regulations, by which the opium “lamp tax\" is still to be enforced. This point should therefore be reserved for future deliberation.\n\nFurthermore, the memorialists themselves put forward the suggestion that the extension of the general taxation scheme should not be confined to the eighteen provinces only, but should also be uniformly enforced throughout Manchuria and the new dominion.\n\nThe detailed Regulations submitted by K'o Feng-Shih have been subjected to careful scrutiny by the memorialists, and are appended for the consideration of the Throne. If approved, they should be returned to the Vice-President, printed for circulation throughout the Empire, and thereupon be put into force.\n\nAny additions to, or modifications of, the present scheme which may hereafter be found necessary will be carefully gone into by the Board of Revenue and the Finance Council.\n\n(Sanctioned by Imperial Rescript, dated the 7th May, 1906).\n\nPage 3\n\nSupplementary Memorials.\n\n(A.)\n\nAfter various self-depreciatory remarks on his inability to cope unaided with so vast a scheme, and on the necessity of the hearty co-operation of the provincial authorities and of the officials specially deputed to superintend the new levy throughout the Empire, K'o Feng-Shih suggests the appointment of a high official, to reside in Peking, in the capacity of Administrator-General.\n\nHe also proposes that, in the initial stages of the scheme, whilst the manufacturing and stamping of the licences makes the pressure of work heavy, he should be retained in the Hupei Office to carry out his duties as Assistant Administrator; but that if at the end of a year's trial the reports from the provinces show that the scheme is yielding satisfactory results, the Hupei Office should, in the interests of economy, be abolished, and the work be carried on throughout the Empire under Superintendents appointed by the Board of Revenue.\n\nTo this the memorialists reply that the functions of Administrator-General are fulfilled jointly by the Finance Council and the Board of Revenue, while K'o Feng-Shih's own high official position as Assistant Administrator makes the chain of internal and external responsibility complete; consequently, the appointment of a high official to reside in Peking, in the capacity of Administrator-General, need not be considered.\n\nFurther, the question of abolishing the Hupei Office after a year's trial can be left for future discussion.\n\n(Sanctioned by Imperial Rescript, dated the 7th May, 1906.)\n\n(B.)\n\nThe term \"general levy on opium unboiled and boiled\" originated in Hupei and Hunan at a time when there was considerable discrepancy in the various Regulations for opium duties, and \"production tax,\" \"transit tax,\" and \"destination tax\" all existed side by side. Now, however, that the single payment of 115 taels per picul- 100 taels tax proper, and 15 taels for expenses-entitles the opium to unrestricted transit under stamped licence, all additional taxation being done away with, the term \"general levy\" seems inappropriate, and it is proposed to substitute in its place, as being more in harmony with the actual conditions, the term \"general tax on native opium.\"\n\n(Sanctioned by Imperial Rescript, dated the 7th May, 1906.)\n\nAppendix.\n\nList of Regulations for the General Tax on Native Opium.\n\nLevy of Dues.\n\n1. Under the old Regulations from every 100-catty bale of opium 9 catties were deducted for the \"casing\" and 4 for the \"skin,\" the remainder being considered the pure drug, but as the methods of packing are different in the various provinces, under the new tariff the outer casing is not to be reckoned; but for every 100 catties of the drug 4 catties may be deducted for the \"skin,\" except when there is no paper-wrapping; beyond this there is to be no deduction. The residue shall pay under all circumstances a uniform duty of 100 Treasury taels tax proper, plus 15 Treasury taels for expenses. This is a fixed uniform tariff, beyond which there is to be no further taxation of any kind or denomination whatever, irrespective of the province in which the drug is produced and the province in which it is sold, and not excepting the four provinces of Hupei, Hunan, Kuangtung, and Kuanghsi,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 410547, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-342 - Governor Lugard & Public Offices - 1907 [11-12]", "page_number": 171, "title": "CO129-342 - Governor Lugard & Public Offices - 1907 [11-12]", "content_text": "167\n\nA boar to me that a certain #losa gon which the Ching e set much values) soylu bo i malong what by obulion in as x fillime the ? law of ancamand slim le not recommise her ubileusion: Treat Trilin bolso effectwa wozion, napá\n\nAny would it had proved inefective * Conn er vesion work as think proposed. I added what bo se 1 mat in -ive offpot to auch a\n\n** 10 aa oll, v. 086) 1 the BA threet ival aid t prore -AL TRIČK afrosive van ph polie hlsborbe folle 9d, for the f*ientl 1-12ton and xelionu 07 ondrone allnded to are Buc's ivil Lund Power holding mater Trans of Chinese temelsory, and are moreover in some cases DİVAINNR76ons so the \"otony.\n\nor for dangered by (a). Peris i de --jen use of \"ovember, 10:4 - Proliaikden of Amma into Brina, excups by mut kranen „tti out blve comuluance of the moellenes Tung...... or the promiset te hina. Chinese officials suntorded in 40 50 111tett tport mocasion of this Ordinance weild unduubtedly 13 0 encourare pieses it would be difiis un mesius a vindictive act, amalnut C.. J A es to suppres3, And lation has 15 deg nad tending moting the te bloodshed in Ching, without dy suprapolon of pis.Op.\n\n(B). This Government has refurca hoa: 16.1167 to pro:inent aritators and revolutionaries. This mit? (8) jaa A reversal of our polies ༣. cil, ences, A Plug mathing to do with pitey. hoveger would nes as in the former GABR bimudo, but is would be a serious incentive to mabel13/ and bloodshed, not confined to the Gang Provinces, 18.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-342 - Governor Lugard & Public Offices - 1907 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412578, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 338, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# CHINA TRADE.\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n[35584]\n\n## No. 1.\n335\n[October 28.]\n\n### SECTION 2.\n\n**Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received October 28.) (No. 222.)**\n\nTokió, October 3, 1907.\n\nSir,\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 198 of the 17th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a further despatch from His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Dairen on the subject of the possibility of the Commissioner of Customs at that port discriminating in favour of his own countrymen to the detriment of foreign merchants.\n\nIt will be noticed that Mr. Parlett states that, whatever ground the British American Tobacco Company have for objecting to the present system, the fact remains that their own agent at Dairen has had so far absolutely no reason to make any complaint.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) **CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.**\n\n### Inclosure in No. 1.\n**(No. 53.)**\nSir,\n\n**Vice-Consul Parlett to Sir C. MacDonald.**\n\nDairen, September 24, 1907.\n\nREVERTING to my despatch No. 47 of the 10th instant on the subject of probable discriminatory treatment on the part of the Commissioner of Customs in favour of his own nationals, I have the honour to report that on Sunday last I saw Mr. Lyall, the Commissioner's Private Secretary, and that he was good enough to volunteer certain information, which, though of no great importance, may still be of some little interest, as more or less confirming the statements made by me in my despatch above referred to.\n\nOn the general question of discriminatory treatment Mr. Lyall was disposed, so I gathered, to think that, even with every disposition to favour his own people, the opportunities at the Commissioner's disposal for doing so really effectively were small, was, however, in error in overlooking, or rather, in being ignorant of, one direction in which a certain amount of partiality might be displayed.\n\nIt appears that in China, where the Customs often find it difficult to enforce their decision on recalcitrant merchants in any other way than by adopting the, to them undesirable, procedure of carrying a case into the Consular Courts, a system of extra-Treaty privileges has been instituted. These are privileges purely, not rights, and are in the nature of incentives to \"good behaviour\" to be granted or withdrawn at the will of the Customs. By a partial use of his powers of bestowing or withdrawing these privileges, Mr. Lyall seemed to think a Commissioner could, if he wished to do so, discriminate to a certain extent in favour of his own nationals. It might also happen, he said, that Japanese merchants were able to transact their business at the Customs somewhat more expeditiously than foreign, because of the number of clerks of their own nationality employed in the office; but any discrimination in this direction could not be really serious, and was, moreover, in a measure natural owing to the community of language. As far as Mr. Kurosawa personally was concerned, I gathered that his Private Secretary indorsed the remark I had the honour to make at the end of the second paragraph of my despatch in question.\n\nWhatever ground the British American Tobacco Company in London may have for their objections to the present system, the fact remains that their own agent here has so far had absolutely no reason to make any complaint.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) **HAROLD PARLETT.**\n\n[2677]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 413233, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-346 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [1-3]", "page_number": 180, "title": "CO129-346 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [1-3]", "content_text": "## \nThere is a tendency for all companies to conform to it, and to consider it sufficient: and the incentive is removed to strengthen reserves beyond the government standard, and so the growth of the companies in strength is apt to be discouraged.\n\nThere has never been a standard of solvency in the United Kingdom, and yet no ill results have followed. On the contrary, had there been a standard, great harm would have been done. If it were not invidious, I would name more than one company which at the present day are in the front rank, but which would, perhaps forty years ago, or even at a more recent date, have been forced to close their doors had such a table as that of the Institute of Actuaries, with net premiums valued at four per cent, interest been imperative, and there are other companies the careers of which have been watched with interest by actuaries in the United Kingdom, and with gratification, because it has been seen that they have been struggling out of the zone of risk, and have now become so solid that there is no longer question as to their future.\n\nThe British system of liberty with publicity, and without a standard of solvency has had the salutary effect during the last thirty years of causing several companies to emerge from the region of doubt, and also of causing others which were weak, and which had not the vitality to recover, to transfer their business honourably to stronger rivals. The publicity prevented them from recruiting new policy holders, and, without any compulsion, they found it advisable to seek a haven of refuge. This is very much better for all concerned than to drive into liquidation a company, even if so situated that there is suspicion as to its solvency.\n\nPage 180 \nPage 181", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-346 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 413806, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-347 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [4-6]", "page_number": 308, "title": "CO129-347 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [4-6]", "content_text": "## 305 \n\nof the Hankow-Canton Section is therefore a direct loss to Hongkong and, moreover, owing to the growing opposition in China to foreign intervention in railway construction or finance, is daily increasing the difficulties of the position. In such circumstances, it would seem that this Colony, owing to the favoured position it had secured by lending the money for the redemption of the line, should rightly be able to exercise the option of making a further loan to give effect to the objects only partially secured by the first. The right to exercise such an option appears, however, to have been taken from it by the pledge given by His Majesty's Government to support French participation.\n\nWith regard to (b), French control in the line, even though the Chairman be British, is entirely opposed to the interests of this Colony. This was so fully recognised by Your Lordship's predecessor that I need not enter into details.\n\n(c) Nor is it, I think, necessary for me to point out that any incentive to French influence in the Liang Kwang Provinces would be viewed as disastrous to British interests in South China and to the interests of Hongkong in particular; while with regard to the feeling of the Chinese in this matter, I would remind Your Lordship", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-347 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415808, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 503, "title": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "4\n\nI request that his Excellency may also be informed that revised Regulations in connection with the registration of British launches at Canton are now under consideration,\n\nSir,\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nA. W. MOORE, Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.\n\nInclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\nAdmiral Sir A. Moore to Governor Sir F. Lugard.\n\n\"King Alfred,\" at Hong Kong, December 22, 1907.\n\nWITH reference to the question of the suppression of piracy in the West River and Canton Delta, your Excellency is aware that, in consequence of the refusal of the Viceroy of Canton to entertain the \"Sainam\" claim and to adopt satisfactory measures to protect foreign traders, the British patrol of the waterways has been augmented.\n\nThe increased patrol has now been an established fact for three weeks, and although the Viceroy has expostulated, and a great outcry was made in the local press, no definite result has been arrived at and from reports received I gather that the outcry is diminishing and that the populace show no hostile feeling to us—in fact, rather the reverse; there is a danger, consequently, that the authorities at Canton, realizing that the clamour is confined to agitators and not to the people generally, and that our action is not altogether so unpopular, may be inclined to accept the situation and to do nothing either to satisfy our claim or to take effective steps themselves to police the waterways.\n\nI think, therefore, that the time has arrived to take some further action to bring home to the Viceroy that it is by no means our intention to abate our claim for compensation in the \"Sainam\" case, or to allow the present insecure state of trade in the waterways to continue, and I propose to telegraph to the Admiralty to that effect.\n\nThe question will then arise as to what action, short of forcible measures, can be taken to put further pressure on the Viceroy.\n\nIn this connection His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Canton has expressed his opinion that if the friendly legislation which the Colony of Hong Kong has hitherto adopted in the interests of China, viz.:\n\nThe Arms Ordinance; and\n\nThe expulsion of Chinese revolutionary agents;\n\nwas withheld, it would have a marked effect.\n\nI should be glad if your Excellency will kindly give this matter your consideration, for I think it very likely that if the Viceroy was reminded of the legislative assistance extended by Hong Kong towards China, and warned that the Colony is directly interested in the security of trade in the Canton Delta waterways, and that the \"Sainam\" was a Hong Kong registered vessel, it might help towards a settlement.\n\nI will defer dispatching the telegram to the Admiralty to which I have previously referred until I have ascertained your Excellency's views on this matter.\n\n(Confidential.) Sir,\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) A. W. MOORE,\n\nAdmiral and Commander-in-Chief.\n\nInclosure 6 in No. 1.\n\nGovernor Sir F. Lugard to Admiral Sir A. Moore.\n\nGovernment House, Hong Kong, December 24, 1907.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's despatch of yesterday's date, in reference to the question as to what action, short of forcible measures, can be taken to put further pressure on the Viceroy in respect to the piracy and \"Sainam\" compensation difficulties. Your Excellency recalls the suggestion made by Mr. Mansfield that, if the friendly legislation which the Hong Kong Government has hitherto adopted were withheld, and the Viceroy were warned that the Colony is directly interested in the security of trade in the Canton Delta waterways, and that the \"Sainam\" was a Hong Kong registered vessel, it might help towards a settlement.\n\n2. This proposal has already been communicated to the Foreign Office by His Majesty's Minister at Peking, on the 27th July. On the 16th August a reply was received from His Majesty's Government that the proposal could not be approved. Sometime in August Mr. Mansfield called upon me, and in the course of conversation I learnt of these proposals, upon which he asked my views. I replied that the negotiations on these matters had hitherto been conducted by His Majesty's Minister and the Commander-in-Chief without reference to this Government, and that if the action taken by the fleet proved ineffective it would appear to me that a certain \"loss of face\" (upon which the Chinese set much value) would be involved, viz., by abandoning as a failure the line of argument that if China would not recognize her obligations Great Britain would herself take effective action, and substituting for it, when it had proved ineffective, a course of action such as that now proposed. I added that it would not be altogether easy to give effect to such a threat as that proposed, if the mere threat itself did not prove any more effective than the policy hitherto followed, for the friendly legislation and actions of Hong Kong alluded to are such as can scarcely be withheld by a civilized Power holding under lease a portion of Chinese territory, and are, moreover, in some cases reciprocally advantageous to the Colony. The matters referred to are as follows:-\n\n(a.) Prohibition of arms into China, except by permit, which is not issued without the cognizance of the Imperial Maritime Customs of China. His Excellency Tong Ta-jên, one of the ablest of Chinese officials, contended in November 1906 that piracy was due to the illicit import of arms from Hong Kong. The revocation of this Ordinance or the promiscuous grant of permits would undoubtedly encourage piracy, which it is our object to suppress, and it would be difficult to resist the imputation that it was a vindictive act, against our own interests, and tending to bloodshed in China, without in any way promoting the suppression of piracy.\n\n(b.) This Government has refused hospitality to prominent agitators and revolutionaries. This matter has also nothing to do with piracy. A reversal of our policy, however, would not, as in the former case, directly encourage piracy, but it would be a serious incentive to rebellion and bloodshed, not confined to the Kwang Provinces, but also extending to the Central Government, which, to the extent of its power, has endeavoured to meet our demands. It would, moreover, in point of fact, probably be some time before any direct result from such action could be noticeable. This Government could not openly invite revolutionaries to Hong Kong, and a case of such a person arriving in the Colony and his expulsion being requested by the Chinese Government (and refused) might not occur for a long time.\n\n(c.) On the 11th October last, without any prior request from the Chinese Government, an Ordinance was passed prohibiting the printing, publication, sale, or distribution in the Colony of any printed or written matter calculated to excite tumult, disorder, or crime in China. The repeal of this Ordinance, which has only been a few months in operation, would hardly exert any great pressure on the Viceroy; in other respects it is in the same category as the last point considered at (b).\n\n(d.) Refusal of extradition. This would undoubtedly be viewed with consternation by the Viceroy, and though it is a reciprocal benefit, its abrogation would, without doubt, be more damaging to China than to ourselves. Mutual extradition is, however, provided for by Article XXI of the Tien-tsin Treaty, and the local Ordinance No. 7 of 1899 is mainly explanatory, and prescribed limitations to the extent to which this Government will consent to give effect to the clause of the Treaty. It is not in the power of the Colonial Government to abrogate the Treaty, and the repeal of the local Ordinance would be a benefit rather than a cause of alarm to the Viceroy.\n\n3. I fully appreciate the importance to the trade of this Colony of the suppression of piracy in the West River and delta, and I as fully recognize the obligation of this Government to use its utmost efforts to co-operate with His Majesty's Government in outrage. I am, however, somewhat adverse to the employment of a threat which it would be (as I have shown) extremely difficult to carry out, and which in any case would result in creating considerable ill-will towards this Colony on the part of the Viceroy and his colleagues, with whom I shall presently have to negotiate several important matters, such as a joint working Railway Agreement, and the restriction of the issue of subsidiary coins, &c.—matters of extreme importance to this Government. His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs suggested that, in the matter now under discussion, the friendly\n\nPage 5\n\n500\n\nC [2818 gg-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415867, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 32, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "5\n\n29\n\n4\n\nIn this connection His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Canton has expressed his opinion that if the friendly legislation which the Colony of Hong Kong has hitherto adopted in the interests of China, viz., the Arms Ordinance and the expulsion of Chinese revolutionary agents, was to be withheld it would have a marked effect,\n\nI should be glad if your Excellency will kindly give this matter your consideration, for I think it very likely that if the Viceroy was reminded of the legislative assistance extended by Hong Kong towards China, and warned that the Colony is directly interested in the security of trade in the Canton Delta waterways, and that the \"Sainam\" was a Hong Kong registered vessel, it might help towards a settlement.\n\nI will defer dispatching the telegram to the Admiralty to which I have previously referred until I have ascertained your Excellency's views in this matter.\n\n(Confidential.)\n\nSir,\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) A. W. MOORE,\n\nAdmiral and Commander-in-chief.\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nGovernor Sir F. Lugard to Admiral Sir A. Moore.\n\nGovernment House, Hong Kong, December 24, 1907.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's despatch of yesterday's date in reference to the question as to what action short of forcible measures can be taken to put further pressure on the Viceroy in respect of the piracy and \"Sainam\" compensation difficulties. Your Excellency recalls the suggestion made by Mr. Mansfield that if the friendly legislation which the Hong Kong Government has hitherto adopted were withheld, and the Viceroy was warned that the Colony is directly interested in the security of trade in the Canton Delta waterways, and that the \"Sainam\" was a Hong Kong registered vessel, it might help towards a settlement.\n\n2. This proposal has already been communicated to the Foreign Office by His Majesty's Minister at Peking on the 27th July. On the 16th August a reply was received from His Majesty's Government to the effect that the proposal could not be approved. Some time in August Mr. Mansfield called upon me, and, in the course of conversation, I learnt of these proposals, upon which he asked my views. I replied that, the negotiations on these matters had hitherto been conducted by His Majesty's Minister and the Commander-in-chief without reference to this Government, and that, if the action taken by the fleet proved ineffective, it would appear to me that a certain \"loss of face\" (upon which the Chinese set such value) would be involved, viz., by abandoning as a failure the line of argument that if China would not recognize her obligations Great Britain would herself take effective action, and substituting for it, when it had proved ineffective, a course of action such as that now proposed. I added that it would not be altogether easy to give effect to such a threat as that proposed if the mere threat itself did not prove any more effective than the policy hitherto followed, for the friendly legislation and actions of Hong Kong alluded to are such as can scarcely be withheld by a civilized Power holding under lease a portion of Chinese territory, and are, moreover, in some cases reciprocally advantageous to the Colony. The matters referred to are as follows:-\n\n(a.) Prohibition of arms into China, except by permit, which is not issued without the cognizance of the Imperial Maritime Customs of China. His Excellency Tong Ta-jên, one of the ablest of Chinese officials, contended, in November 1906, that piracy was due to the illicit import of arms from Hong Kong. The revocation of this Ordinance, or the promiscuous grant of permits, would undoubtedly encourage piracy, which it is our object to suppress, and it would be difficult to resist the imputation that it was a vindictive act, against our own interests, and tending to bloodshed in China, without in any way promoting the suppression of piracy.\n\n(b.) This Government has refused hospitality to prominent agitators and revolutionaries. This matter has also nothing to do with piracy. A reversal of our policy, however, would not, as in the former case, directly encourage piracy, but it would be a serious incentive to rebellion and bloodshed, not confined to the Kwang Provinces, but extending also to the Central Government, which, to the extent of its power, has endeavoured to meet our demands. It would, moreover, in point of fact, probably be some time before any direct results of such action could be noticeable. This Government could not openly invite revolutionaries to Hong Kong, and a case of such a person arriving in the Colony and his expulsion being requested by the Chinese Government (and refused) might not occur for a long time.\n\n(c.) On the 11th October last, without any prior request from the Chinese Government, an Ordinance was passed prohibiting the printing, publication, sale, or distribution in the Colony of any printed or written matter calculated to excite tumult, disorder, or crime in China. The repeal of this Ordinance, which has only been two months in operation, would hardly exert any great pressure on the Viceroy, in other respects it is in the same category as the last point considered at (b).\n\n(d.) Refusal of extradition. This would undoubtedly be viewed with consternation by the Viceroy, and though it is a reciprocal benefit, its abrogation would beyond doubt be far more damaging to China than to ourselves. Mutual extradition is, however, provided for by Article XXI of the Tien-tsin Treaty, and the local Ordinance No. 7 of 1899 is mainly explanatory, and prescribes limitations to the extent to which this Government will consent to give effect to the clause of the Treaty. It is not in the power of the Colonial Government to abrogate the Treaty, and the repeal of the local Ordinance would be a benefit rather than a cause of alarm to the Viceroy.\n\n3. I fully appreciate the importance to the trade of this Colony of the suppression of piracy in the West River and delta, and I as fully recognize the obligation of this Government to use its utmost efforts to co-operate with His Majesty's Government in exacting compensation (with this object in view) for the \"Sainam\" outrage. I am, however, somewhat averse to the employment of a threat which it would be (as I have shown) extremely difficult to carry out, and which in any case would result in creating considerable ill-will towards this Colony on the part of the Viceroy and his colleagues, with whom I shall presently have to negotiate several important matters, such as a Joint Working Railway Agreement and the restriction of the issue of subsidiary coins, &c., matters of extreme importance to this Government. His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs suggested that in the matter now under discussion the friendly action of this Government should be urged as a reason that the Viceroy should comply with the demands made, and I understand from the Consul-General that he has repeatedly used this argument but without effect. If the threat of withdrawal of these friendly offices on the part of this Government were made operative the situation created would, in my opinion, be more difficult than that which would arise had the Colony even sent troops to assist in the suppression of piracy.\n\n4. I regret that this despatch has extended to such length, but I have desired to put your Excellency very fully in possession of the reasons which prompt me to deprecate the proposed action except in the very last resort, and that in my view would not arise until some overt act of hostility had taken place, which amounted to a rupture of friendly relations between China and Great Britain.\n\n5. My opinion has not been asked as regards the action which has hitherto been taken (though by your courtesy I have lately been placed in full possession of all that has been done). The action at present undertaken by the British patrol on the inland waters of the West River, &c., is, I understand, limited to the examination of vessels flying the British flag, and the search for unauthorized arms upon such vessels. I understand, further, that the so-called pirates are believed to be chiefly villagers inhabiting the riverain villages, who are prompted to these excesses either by failure of crops or by cupidity, and that the boat population do not (or only rarely) join these piratical bands. If I am right in these premises, and if it is desired to bring greater pressure upon the Viceroy than the patrol with its existing limitations of action can effect, it would seem to me that the extension of search to vessels bearing the Chinese flag (which presumably are the only ones which commit piratical acts) would increase the pressure (a course I understand to have been covered by your Excellency's proposals in March last). The Viceroy might also be urged to locate troops in the riverain districts without delay, and to issue an order that the chief official of a district in which an act of piracy occurred would be summarily deprived of office. The effectual action taken by the Thotai of Wuchow would seem to indicate that it lies within the power of these district officials to suppress piracy if they desire to do so, and those demands (since they do not involve foreign control) would probably not be repugnant to his Excellency. The Foreign Office has suggested the destruction of villages harbouring pirates and robbers, but your Excellency would probably consider that the landing of armed parties to search villages for arms would probably necessitate the dispatch of troops, and would not...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416474, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 639, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "C.O.\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[April 16.] JUN 08\n\nSECTION 2.\n\n[13252]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n(No. 141.) Sir,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 16.)\n\nPeking, March 24, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Foochow reporting the complaint of the local Chinese authorities against a Parsee firm, Mehta and Co., for boiling opium and selling it to the Chinese; and forwarding two Petitions from the British Missionary Body and the native Anti-Opium Society, in which it was requested that means should be found to put a stop to the practice complained of.\n\nOpium from India is usually sold in the crude form by the British importers, and native retailers prepare it for the pipe and sell the prepared drug to their customers. Since the Chinese Government instituted the present movement against opium-smoking, the boiling and sale of prepared opium are more restricted, and, no doubt, there is greater incentive to foreigners to engage in a form of business which might become all the more lucrative to them because of the restrictions.\n\nMr. Playfair desired Mehta and Co. to discontinue the practice complained of, and this they agreed to do, but being unable to find any Treaty or Regulation prohibiting the preparation of opium by British subjects, he felt that he had no legal power to constrain Mehta and Co., and applied to me for instructions as to how he should deal with the difficulty which had arisen.\n\nAs Mr. Playfair states, the Chinese authorities do not permit Chinese to boil or sell prepared opium without licence, and at Treaty ports where there are foreign Concessions or Settlements, the Municipal Regulations usually class opium shops with other public houses and provide for the issue of licences. Foochow is without a municipality, there being no Settlement or Concession; but it appears to me that the powers conferred on British Consuls by No. XVII of the General Port Regulations can be reasonably construed to cover the case of Mehta and Co., and I have so informed Mr. Playfair in the despatch copy of which is inclosed for your information. Should you consider that Regulation XVII cannot be so construed, it would seem advisable, under existing conditions, that some form of words should be inserted which would make it clear that no British subject can establish an opium shop in China without Consular sanction and licence.\n\nI have approved Mr. Playfair's action in regard to Mehta and Co., and have informed him that in view of the general movement against opium, and the attitude adopted by His Majesty's Government towards that movement, it is very undesirable that British subjects should engage in the business complained of.\n\nI have, &c. (For His Majesty's Minister),\n\n(Signed) STEPHEN LEECH.\n\n(No. 4.) Sir,\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nConsul Playfair to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nFoochow, March 9, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to report, for your information, a case which has recently come before me and which has been the cause of much perplexity.\n\nIn February last, the Board of Foreign Affairs made a complaint to the effect that Mehta and Co., a Parsee firm, had been in the habit of boiling opium and selling it to Chinese; and the Foreign Board asked me to put a stop to the practice.\n\nOpium imported from India is not fit for the pipe until it has been prepared by boiling. The Provincial Government, in their crusade against opium-smoking, in order to have efficient control over the consumption of the drug, in May last year made it a penal offence that opium should be thus prepared except by licensed shops.\n\nPage 2\n\n[2918 9-9\n\n632", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416973, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 299, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "296\n\n2\n\nstated that in the view of the French Government participation included \"general control,\" and that Sir E. Grey considered that there could be no question of repudiating the participation agreed upon, and inferentially concurred in the meaning placed upon that term by the French Government, subject, of course, to the express stipulation regarding the Chairman.\n\n5. The unfortunate result of these negotiations has been-\n\n(a) In the first place, to produce a \"deadlock\" and to defer the construction of the railway, which my predecessor had anticipated would be completed simultaneously with the Canton-Kowloon line;\n\n(b) In the second place, to establish certain claims for French control in the line;\n\n(c) In the third place, that the French have demanded British support for a line from Canton to Indo-China and the extension of the Yannau line to Szechuan-both radically opposed to British interests; and\n\n(d) In the fourth place, to bring us into association with the French in China. It was the primary object of the Hong Kong Loan to prevent each of these contingencies, and I have the honour to submit a few remarks upon them.\n\n6. With regard to (a), the delay in construction. The Colony of Hong Kong is spending a sum of approximately 1,000,0007, upon a railway which is useless unless it forms the final link in a great trunk line from Hankow to Peking, and every day's delay in the construction of the Hankow-Canton section is therefore a direct loss to Hong Kong, and, moreover, owing to the growing opposition in China to foreign intervention in railway construction or finance, is daily increasing the difficulties of the position. In such circumstances it would seem that this Colony, owing to the favoured position it had secured by lending the money for the redemption of the line, should rightly be able to exercise the option of making a further loan to give effect to the objects only partially secured by the first. The right to exercise such an option appears, however, to have been taken from it by the pledge given by His Majesty's Government to support French participation.\n\nWith regard to (b), French control in the line, even though the Chairman be British, is entirely opposed to the interests of this Colony. This was so fully recognized by your Lordship's predecessor that I need not enter into details.\n\n(c) Nor is it, I think, necessary for me to point out that any incentive to French influence in the Liang Kwang provinces would be viewed as disastrous to British interests in South China and to the interests of Hong Kong in particular; while, with regard to the feeling of the Chinese in this matter, I would remind your Lordship that the Chinese Government has since 1884 been in possession of a brochure by Captain Riviere advocating a quarrel with China as a preliminary to the seizure of the three southern provinces of Kuangtung, Kuangsi, and Yunnan; that it is also aware of the view expressed by M. Doumer, late Governor-General of French Indo-China, in 1905, that \"cette zone, de par les accords intervenus entre la France et le Gouvernement Chinois, et on peut dire aussi suivant un consentement unanime, est dans la sphère d'action des entreprises Françaises\"; that it is profoundly suspicious of French designs in connection with the railway now under construction between Laokay and Yunnan-fu; and that it has strenuously combated the statement of M. Doumer that France has the right to connect Indo-China with the West River by railroad.\n\n(d) While yielding to none in my desire to promote not merely cordial relations, but common commercial interests with France, I desire to point out to your Lordship that association with the French in China is in the existing state of Chinese feeling towards that nation simply tantamount to a loss of our own hardly won position. The French are, I believe, regarded with intense suspicion and dislike throughout the Empire. The attitude of Chang Chih Tung (formerly Governor-General of the Hukuang and now Councillor of State, whose influence with that of Yuan Shih Kai is predominant in the Councils of China) (with reference to the loan negotiations for the Hankow Railway) is sufficiently significant. He has been desirous of a loan for construction for the last three years, but prefers to delay the whole work rather than to deal with a Company in which the French have any connection whatever. Mr. Clementi, who has recently concluded a journey across China from Turkestan, and who has travelled on several occasions in Yünnan, Szechuan, and the Liang Kuang Provinces, bears evidence to the intensity of this dislike and suspicion. He says that at an interview with him in October 1906 Lung Chi Kuang, by birth a native of Mengtsze, in Yunnan, and at that time Taotai of Liuchou-fu in Kuangsi, but now stationed as Taotai at Lungehou on the Tonquin-Kuangsi frontier, described the feeling of himself and his fellow-provincials towards the French by using the word \"hate,\" and that in crossing Yunnan from east to west in November and December 1906 he noticed the same unpopularity of the French which he had previously remarked upon in paragraphs 45 to 53 of his Confidential Report of a journey from south to north across that province, dated the 21st March, 1902 (forwarded under cover of General Gascoigne's despatch of the 25th June, 1902). In this connection I would also invite your Lordship's attention to the despatch of His Britannic Majesty's Consul at Hanoi to Sir E. Grey, dated the 1st instant, describing the risings and tumults in Annam and Tonquin, which have not been without their effect upon the neighbouring Chinese provinces, for I learn in subsequent telegrams from Mr. Carlisle that the revolutionaries have seized Hokow, the post of the Imperial Maritime Customs on the Tonquin-Yünnan frontier, and have cut the telegraph lines between Tonquin and Mengtsze on the one side and Mengtsze and Yünnan-fu on the other.\n\n3\n\n7. I consider it therefore my duty to warn your Lordship in reference to the present proposals of the French that if the British Government accedes to them the result will be (as I am informed) to imperil the confidence at present reposed in us by the Chinese, and to associate the British in schemes which are bound to fail with a consequential loss of prestige, apart from the fact that the scheme of a railway from Canton to Indo-China is entirely opposed to British interests, and I conclude that the extension from Yunnan is equally opposed to Indian and Burman policy.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) F. D. LUGARD.\n\n3", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421348, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 137, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## 135\n\nTelegram from Sir J. Jordan to Sir E. Grey, No.34, dated January 26th, 1909.\n\n**C.0.** `(542)`\n**Opium** `3226`\n`10 28 AN 09`\n\nSee your telegram No.5 of January 3rd and my telegram No.14 of January 8th.\n\nTo-day the American Minister showed me a telegram which he has received from Shanghai from the American Commissioners. It refers to reports in the native press that the Chinese have assured His Majesty's Government that the Chinese delegates will remain passive at the Conference and refrain from putting forward any proposals.\n\nI informed Mr. Rockhill that the Wai-wu Pu had told me that they were perfectly satisfied with the provisional arrangement of 1907 which they had no desire to revise.\n\nMr. Rockhill agreed that this arrangement should not be disturbed, serving as it does as a useful incentive for Chinese action.\n\n(Repeated to the British Opium Commission).", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421842, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 631, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## 6 \n\ncan be employed for the harvest season at 40 to 70 cents (silver currency) per day with board (16 to 28 cents gold). In the Sungari River region of North Manchuria labour is much more costly, and transient labour from the southern provinces receives 60 to 90 cents (silver currency) per day with board (24 to 36 cents gold). The Shantung labour does not flow into the north unless high wages are offered, and the problem of labour is a pressing one to the grain farmer of North Manchuria.\n\n## 10. Manufacturing Industries depending upon Agriculture.\n\nNative grist mills may be found in all Chinese towns of any size in Manchuria, which turn kaoliang, millet, and wheat into flour for local use. The distilling of samshu from kaoliang is also a widespread industry. The native mills are very crude, consisting of a convex stone 8 to 10 feet in diameter, in the centre of which a pivot is constructed to which a cylindrical stone is attached that is moved around and revolved over the convex surface of the lower stone with horse-power. The grain is crushed in these rolls and then sifted in coarse silks, yielding a wheat flour of low grade. The rolling and sifting are so imperfectly done as to leave large amounts of waste flour in the bran. The Chinese demand for wheat flour calls for a cheap strong flour, and these mills can grind, therefore, with little competition from American or Japanese flour, as the better grades are not used by any but the well-to-do people. At Kirin there is a steam flour-mill owned and operated by Chinese that is quite an advance over the ordinary native mill, the machinery being old-fashioned American type. This firm is contemplating the erection of a modern 125-barrel mill. At Tie-ling the Japanese have put up (1908) a modern 400-barrel mill with the most modern types of American rolls and sifters. The demands of this mill will undoubtedly stimulate wheat production in the region about Tie-ling, but it remains to be seen if this mill can operate successfully without a good market for by-products and without a large local demand for high-grade flour. Cheap wheat will do it and nothing else. The Russian flour-mills at Harbin are not successful and profitable. Five mills only are now in operation out of a total of twelve that were grinding during the late war, and it is reported that they are in financial difficulties and that the demand for Harbin flour is not large. The Russian mill at Kuan-cheng-tzu has been closed. At Ninguta the Chinese own and operate a steam flour-mill that is reported to be doing a successful local business.\n\nThe chief manufacturing industry of Manchuria relating to agriculture is the expressing of oil from the soy-bean. Small mills are engaged in this work at many points in the interior, but the largest mills are located at Newchwang and Dalny. For the first six months of 1908, ending the 30th June, the export of bean-cake from Newchwang amounted to 140,000 tons, and bean-oil to 3,500 tons.\n\nAbout 90 per cent. of the bean-cake was consigned to Japan. Dalny, by reason of its superior railway facilities, is rapidly securing control of the bean-cake industry. The methods used in expressing the bean-oil are very crude, the presses being worked with hand labour instead of steam-power or hydraulic-power. With the native methods now in use the beans give a 10 per cent. return of oil.\n\n## 11. Transportation of Agricultural Products.\n\nThe primary cost of transporting agricultural products in Manchuria is so great that it would absolutely bankrupt the farmer of any other grain-producing region of the world where commercial agriculture is practised. But the cash income of the Manchurian farmer is small, and as he exchanges only a small part of his crop for cash, he does not feel the burden of excessive freight cost, as would the farmer who exchanges all of his products for cash and buys back his staples. His labour and other costs of operation are relatively very low, and thus he exists in the face of the worst primary transportation facilities imaginable. The interior commerce of Manchuria is almost entirely handled by the two-wheeled Manchurian cart drawn by five to eight mules, and having a maximum carrying capacity under ordinary conditions of about 1,000 lbs. The cash cost of transporting a ton of freight from Kirin to Kuan-cheng-tzu is from 40 to 50 dollars (silver currency), or 16 to 18 dollars (gold) - a distance of 80 miles. A load of lumber on a Manchurian cart with seven or eight mules is 800 to 900 board feet - a small load for one horse on a good road. Manchurian cart is necessary to the existing roads, and the cause of these high freight costs is therefore not to be laid at the door of the cart, but rather at the door of the uncared-for roads. Freight is often stalled for days and weeks for the lack of 50 dollars worth of coolie labour intelligently directed to repair a bad place in the road. Only in winter when the roads are frozen is it possible to transport freight with any ease. In the face of these odds the distance to which freight is hauled is truly remarkable. Wheat is hauled into Tie-ling from the mountain regions around Hai-lung-fu for a distance of 150 miles, and beans, tobacco, and hemp are also hauled for equally great distances.\n\nThe Liao-ho and Sungari Rivers are capable of transporting large amounts of agricultural products to the centres of trade, and while Chinese junks are already engaged in this trade, the number is comparatively small, and their carrying capacity is very low.\n\nThe South Manchurian Railway has undoubtedly done much to build up the markets for agricultural products in Manchuria, and its effectiveness in this respect will undoubtedly increase as the years pass.\n\n## 12. Agricultural Development in Manchuria.\n\nIt is the opinion of the writer that the chief problems of agricultural development in Manchuria at the present time are economic, social, and political problems, rather than scientific problems relative to the stimulation of greater productiveness in the soil. The vast areas of uncultivated land in the north are capable of producing a surplus crop for export even with crude methods of soil tillage, if transportation facilities could be developed to bring the farmer in touch with world markets. The agricultural problem of Manchuria is not so much the problem of making two blades of grass grow where one grew before, as to change the existing economic and social conditions of farm life into an advanced condition of commercial agriculture in which the farmer can produce a surplus of food above local demands, and find a ready cash market for that surplus. While improved methods of agriculture are undoubtedly necessary if the Manchurian farmer is to produce a large surplus for export, it is still more necessary that there be a market and a means for reaching that market with the surplus crop. If good roads could connect with railways and waterways in Manchuria, and if capital could organize the facilities for storing and shipping staple agricultural products, thus bringing relatively high cash prices for agricultural products into every community, there is little doubt but that Manchuria would produce a large surplus crop for export, and in striving to produce a surplus the farmer would be quickened and fully awake to the advantages of improved methods of agriculture. The Manchurian farmer is not so much in need of the agricultural teachings of European and American applied science as he is in need of the far-sighted genius of such men as James J. Hill in the United States and O'Shaughnessy in Canada, who built the steel paths of commerce into the fertile fields of North America, and were content to wait for dividends until the settlers came in and opened the soil. To-day every farming community in America is in touch with the world markets, and, being in possession of the market, the agricultural problem of America is to increase production by the application of science to the art of agriculture. One hundred years ago the American farmer produced his food, fuel, and clothing on the land, and exchanged very little of his crop for cash; then as transportation facilities developed, and the inventive genius of the American applied mechanical principles to agriculture, the old system of \"produce-and-consume-what-you-produce\" farming passed away, and crop products are now exchanged for cash and the farmer buys coal for fuel and factory goods for his clothes. The Manchurian farmer of to-day is in a stage of civilization more remote from the highest modern civilization than the American farmer of 100 years ago, and this fact must be realized in considering any Government policy for the improvement of agriculture.\n\nA logical and evolutionary plan of improvement would be to develop a Government policy of road improvement on the main arteries of travel in the interior of Manchuria, together with additional railroad facilities, that would bring the wheat of the Sungari region, the beans of South Manchuria, and the cattle of Mongolia to the sea, where they could be condensed into flour, oil, and frozen beef and put on the world's markets. Hand in hand with such Government fostering and development should go the introduction of such simple machines as a two-horse plough, a one-horse steel planting machine, and scythes, cradles, and similar simple machines, to enable the labourer to increase his efficiency as a producer. Education and development by such a programme would bring results far quicker than through the medium of a college for instructing a few students in the science related to agriculture, especially as the farming class at the present time have almost no chance to...\n\nPage 626", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422129, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 158, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# HINA TRADE\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n[10650] C.0. 13969 [March 20.]\n\n### SECTION 1\n\n**RECP** Rec 24 APR 00\n\n#### No. 1. Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 20.)\n\n**(No. 53.)** Sir,\n\nPeking, February 3, 1909. My American colleague called upon me on the 26th ultimo and showed me a telegram which he had received from Dr. Tenny, one of the American Commissioners appointed to attend the Opium Conference at Shanghae. Dr. Tenny quoted reports which had appeared in the vernacular newspapers to the effect that the Chinese Government had given assurances to the British Foreign Office that they intended to play only a passive part at the Conference and had no desire to initiate any proposals. Dr. Tenny asserted that he had obtained confirmation of these reports from other reliable sources.\n\nI explained to Mr. Rockhill that, in replying to a question which I had addressed them some weeks ago as to the scope of the Commission, the Wai-wu Pu had informed me that they had no intention of disturbing the arrangement made with us in 1907 for the gradual and provisional restriction of the Indian export. They said, I added, that they were perfectly satisfied with that arrangement and thought it unnecessary to reopen it until the experimental term of three years had expired.\n\nThat appeared to me to be a wise decision, especially as the knowledge that they had to keep pace with the diminished production and export from India had served as a useful incentive to the Chinese, and all the information that reached me from the provinces went to show that at the end of three years we should be in a better position to judge of the progress made by China and decide upon the course of action that should be mutually adopted for the execution of the remainder of the programme.\n\nApart from the above, I had no knowledge of the attitude the Chinese intended to adopt at the Conference.\n\nIn thanking me for the information, Mr. Rockhill expressed his concurrence in the efficacy of the 1907 arrangement as an incentive to Chinese action and said he saw no necessity for modifying it at present.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) **J. N. JORDAN**\n\n[2188 u-1] \nPage 156", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422134, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 163, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# CHINA TRADE.\n## CONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[March 20.]\n\n**SECTION 1.**\n\nNo. 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.** (Received March 20.)\n\n(No. 53.) Sir,\n\nPeking, February 3, 1909. MY American colleague called upon me on the 26th ultimo and showed me a telegram which he had received from Dr. Tenny, one of the American Commissioners appointed to attend the Opium Conference at Shanghae. Dr. Tenny quoted reports which had appeared in the vernacular newspapers to the effect that the Chinese Government had given assurances to the British Foreign Office that they intended to play only a passive part at the Conference and had no desire to initiate any proposals. Dr. Tenny asserted that he had obtained confirmation of these reports from other reliable sources.\n\nI explained to Mr. Rockhill that, in replying to a question which I had addressed them some weeks ago as to the scope of the Commission, the Wai-wu Pu had informed me that they had no intention of disturbing the arrangement made with us in 1907 for the gradual and provisional restriction of the Indian export. They said, I added, that they were perfectly satisfied with that arrangement and thought it unnecessary to reopen it until the experimental term of three years had expired.\n\nThat appeared to me to be a wise decision, especially as the knowledge that they had to keep pace with the diminished production and export from India had served as a useful incentive to the Chinese, and all the information that reached me from the provinces went to show that at the end of three years we should be in a better position to judge of the progress made by China and decide upon the course of action that should be mutually adopted for the execution of the remainder of the programme.\n\nApart from the above, I had no knowledge of the attitude the Chinese intended to adopt at the Conference.\n\nIn thanking me for the information, Mr. Rockhill expressed his concurrence in the efficacy of the 1907 arrangement as an incentive to Chinese action and said he saw no necessity for modifying it at present.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) **J. N. JORDAN**.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422700, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 103, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## Registry No. F.O. 190/101 Draft\n\ncomplete suppression of the traffic is by no means excessive in order to enable a change of such magnitude in the habits of the population to be successfully effected. The Chinese Government have expressed themselves as perfectly satisfied with the arrangement which not only gives the Indian cultivator time to adapt himself to the new order of things, but also serves as a considerable incentive to the Chinese Authorities to continue their laudable efforts to curtail the cultivation of the poppy in their own country; and in an Imperial Decree issued last year the Throne declared itself deeply impressed by the enlightened and benevolent policy of the British Government.\n\nHis Majesty's Government believe that the steps they have taken are those best calculated", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422925, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 328, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# CHINA TRADE\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n(29404)\n\nNo. 1.\n\n326\n\n[August 9.]\n\n### SECTION 2\nC.O 9352\n\nSir,\n\n**Foreign Office to Mr. C. E. Price, M.P.**\n\nForeign Office, August 9, 1909.\n\nI AM directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th ultimo, forwarding, on behalf of the Edinburgh committee for the suppression of the Indo-Chinese opium traffic, a memorial signed by some 3,000 persons from all parts of Scotland, urging the desirability of bringing that traffic to a more speedy end than has yet been arranged for.\n\nHis Majesty's Government fully sympathise with the object the petitioners have in view, but the reports from His Majesty's representatives in China, which have been laid before Parliament, tend to confirm the opinion that the period proposed by the Chinese Government for the complete suppression of the traffic is by no means excessive in order to enable a change of such magnitude in the habits of the population to be successfully effected.\n\nThe Chinese Government have expressed themselves as perfectly satisfied with the arrangement, which not only gives the Indian cultivator time to adapt himself to the new order of things, but also serves as a considerable incentive to the Chinese authorities to continue their laudable efforts to curtail the cultivation of the poppy in their own country; and in an Imperial decree issued last year the Throne declared itself deeply impressed by the enlightened and benevolent policy of the British Government.\n\nHis Majesty's Government believe that the steps they have taken are those best calculated to assist the Chinese Government in securing that the decrease of the growth and consumption of opium in China itself keeps pace with the decrease of the import from India. The Imperial decree of the Chinese Government confirms this view.\n\nWith regard to the action of His Majesty's Government in opposing the establishment of monopolies in the open ports, owing, as the memorialists are aware, to certain treaty provisions, His Majesty's Government are bound to uphold British treaty rights to which such monopolies would clearly constitute a contravention. But, while opposing such proposals as this, His Majesty's Government have been careful to make it clear to the Chinese Government that they have every desire to support bona fide steps for the suppression of the evils arising from the consumption of opium, and that it is possible and practicable to take such steps in a legitimate manner and without doing any violence to treaty stipulations.\n\nI am, &c.\n\nF. A. CAMPBELL.\n\n`[2396 i---2]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423505, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "page_number": 109, "title": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "content_text": "## \n\nanxious to shorten the ten years' limit.\" He then refers to Yunnan as a test case. This province is emphasised by Sir J. Jordan in his letter to you of the 30th September, 1906 (\"China No. 1 (1908),\" p. 2), as being specially difficult. Yet Sir A. Hosie mentions that \"the 21st January, 1909, is fixed on by the viceroy as the date on which both the cultivation and consumption of opium must cease.\" And he adds: \"If this herculean task succeeds it is not unlikely that the time limit will be reduced in other provinces.\" We have reason to believe that the task has succeeded. A missionary in Yünnan, Mr. H. A. C. Allen (and we are much gratified by the way in which your officials in China have used and trusted the missionaries in this matter), writes in April last: \"The poppy has practically ceased. It was beyond the guess of the most sanguine that it could disappear in so short a time. Our late viceroy ruled with a strong hand and the thing was done.\"\n\nIt is noteworthy that this energetic governor has since been promoted. The Province of Shansi is also reported by a correspondent of the \"Times,\" on the authority of a British official sent to investigate, to be entirely free.\n\nIn view of the above facts, we venture to suggest that China is in no need of such incentive as you think the ten years period provides, and that her energy and aspirations should, on the other hand, make the British Government willing to shorten the time limit.\n\n## 2. The satisfaction of China with the Ten Years' Limit.\n\nWe have noted these official expressions of approval, but are led to believe on the testimony of men well acquainted with Chinese ways, that they are largely the outcome of that excessive politeness which is a well-known characteristic of the people. No doubt China is pleased with what has been agreed on. She knows that it is not so long ago that she would have applied for such a concession in vain. She may well be both surprised and gratified that after these many years of controversy, the British Government should show that the resolution of Parliament, declaring the trade to be morally indefensible, is no mere academic opinion, but that it has been accepted by them as the principle which is now to dominate their policy and has led them to accept the ten years' arrangement. At the same time, from the facts we have mentioned, it seems evident that China herself is eager to shorten the period, and would welcome a corresponding move on your part.\n\n## 3. The Revision of the Treaties.\n\nYou say in your reply to the memorial that \"His Majesty's Government are bound to uphold British treaty rights.\" We would respectfully submit that this principle has limitations. If the \"rights\" are altogether, or largely, on the side of only one of the contracting parties, surely the sooner a change is made the better. Only thus amongst nations can that sense of justice be maintained which you, Sir, recently, in addressing the journalists of our Empire, rightly designated as the chief characteristic of the rule which enables us to hold our great dependencies. It is, we think, true historically, that the treaties both of Nankin and Tientsin, the former entered into at the close of what is truly called the opium war, were agreed to by China because of her felt impotence, after encountering the might of Western arms, to come to any other terms. In 1877, Sir Thomas Wade, referring to Sir R. Alcock's proposed revision of the Tien'tsin treaty which was rejected by Calcutta because it added 20 taels per chest to the opium duty, wrote thus, \"This rejection added greatly to our difficulties. It was the first instrument affecting British trade that had not been extorted from the Chinese by force of arms.\" Why then should not a revision of the treaties of 1842 and 1858 be attempted now, so that China may be given by the treaty Powers a similar right to deal with opium as these Powers have lately given her to deal with morphia? That some change in the existing system was deemed not unlikely, is implied in your telegram to Sir J. Jordan of the 4th January, 1908 (\"China No. 1 (1908),\" p. 29), where a possible proposal of the Chinese Government to obtain the right to impose direct restriction on import of Indian and other opium in treaty ports by convention with treaty Powers, is mentioned. A revision is not therefore a mere counsel of perfection, and that it is not far from the region of practical politics is indicated in the bringing forward of a resolution by America at Shanghae, which, if it had been passed, would, when carried into practice, have necessarily resulted in the proposal which we advocate.\n\nWe are accordingly brought to the inevitable conclusion that the only obstacle in the way is the finance of India. But we would once more remind you that again and again the House of Commons has declared that the money thus got is through a trade which is \"morally indefensible.\" The issue at root is therefore a moral one. It is a question of \"revenue v. righteousness or justice,\" and we are convinced that in such a case a Christian nation should, not by degrees but at once, sacrifice revenue so that it may be exalted by righteousness. We have pledged ourselves to do what we can to help China in this matter. The Shanghae Commission, representing twelve countries, has given her unanimously a certificate of \"unswerving sincerity\" in her efforts. But the first official report from Peking says explicitly that \"Whether she can obtain the goal she seeks without Government control of opium, both native grown and imported, is somewhat doubtful. At present she is debarred from doing so by the treaties\" (\"China No. 1 (1908),\" p. 32). Surely it is not too much to ask that you, with your well-known sense of justice, should make an effort to give China the right which she alone of all nations is deprived of. She has again and again sought to establish this control at Canton (\"China No. 1 (1908),\" p. 28); also at Nanking (\"China No. 1 (1908),\" p. 26), at Chefoo (\"China No. 2 (1908),\" p. 8), and in Kiang-si (\"China No. 2 (1908),\" p. 11), and in every case the opium merchants—British subjects, but not of British race—have appealed to British authority, and China, conscious that she is not yet strong enough to set aside the treaties—as we, in similar circumstances, would not hesitate to do—has been compelled to yield.\n\nWe cannot but think that the position of His Majesty's representatives in China must be felt by them to be very anomalous when they are thus constantly compelled to put in force the provisions of treaties which confessedly stand in the way of that reform which we have promised to help China to accomplish. We trust you will excuse us for entering at such length into this matter, on the ground that our object is to assist and strengthen you in it. Public opinion in Scotland is progressive on this subject. So long ago as 1859 the Edinburgh Merchant Company petitioned Parliament against the traffic, and we are confident that if you saw your way to take action along the lines we have indicated, you would have the approval of the great majority of the electors of all parties.\n\nWe have, &c. (On behalf of the Committee),\n\nDUNCAN M'LAREN,\nChairman of Executive.\n\nPage 108", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 425163, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-366 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor May - 1910 [4-5]", "page_number": 188, "title": "CO129-366 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor May - 1910 [4-5]", "content_text": "## Enclosure 1\n\nTo His Excellency Sir Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Hongkong and its Dependencies and Vice-Admiral of the same.\n\nWe, the undersigned officers of the Permanent Staff of the Public Works Department at present in the Colony, understand that Mr. Patrick Jones has been appointed Director of Public Works for the Gold Coast and that it is Your Excellency's intention to apply to the Secretary of State for a successor.\n\nIt is with deep mortification that we learn of Your Excellency's decision in this matter; and we feel that in coming to this decision Your Excellency has not given full consideration to the officers of this Department who have worked loyally for their Chiefs and loyally together and have fully proved, both by works of considerable magnitude entrusted to their care as well as by the maintenance of routine services under exceptionally trying circumstances, that they are efficient and capable.\n\nWe would point out that the appointment for the second time in seven years of an Assistant Director from outside is a very serious matter for us; if efficient service is not to receive the usual reward of promotion and the relative positions of the whole of the staff are to remain in statu quo, what hope or incentive is there for us, whether old or young in service?", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-366 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor May - 1910 [4-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428988, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 329, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "bought across the Maru range at one ounce for three ounces of silver. There is one point of considerable interest in connection with these mineral deposits. In the autumn of last year the Chinese trader Li Lao-pan applied for and obtained through the Tengyuch Taotai a written permit to work the silver and salt of the Pienma district. He proposed to bring over men from the Mingkuang mines, but the excitement following the raid was so great that none dared to enter the country, and it is not improbable that the information supplied to the Taotai on this occasion may have proved an added incentive to the Chinese in their resolve to make a final bid for the possession of the unadministered territory.\n\nThe Chinese Li Fo-ming. It may be of interest to give some account of the Chinese trader Li Fa-ming or Li Lao-pan (known by the tribesmen as Li San-pao), who might be one of our necessary acquisitions should the Government of Burmah decide to undertake the immediate administration of this territory. He speaks Kachin and Maru, and evidently carries on a thriving trade throughout these districts, where he has considerable influence with the people, who travel little beyond their homes and depend on him for the news and the products of the outside world. He brings into the country Chinese cotton-cloth, opium, beads, buttons, needles and oxen, and sends out gold, musk, bears'-galls, huang-lien (a drug), beeswax, and coffin planks. He was very anxious that I should expel Tengkeng's tax-collectors from Kang-fang, visit the twenty-six villages, and appoint headmen both in them and in the Pienma group. He also urged me to go with him on a journey of three days to the country of the wild Maru, where he assured me of a warm welcome. I did not, however, feel justified in accepting any of these offers. He reports thirteen salt springs at O-mi-o-tze, in the Maru country, and evidently has great faith in the potentialities of that land. He was of great assistance to me on my journey, and, although I have no doubt that he manages to keep well with the Chinese authorities, I think he might prove useful, as he is one of the many Yunnanese traders who know Burmah well, and who welcome British rule with its open roads, its security for property, and encouragement of trade. He did not hesitate to press for a ratification of the mines concession granted by the Taotai, but I explained that I could offer him no assistance in this direction, and that I was merely on a tour of enquiry.\n\nJourney to Tengkeng. On the 18th April the weather showed signs of clearing, and we said good-bye to Pienma, whilst the whole population turned out to speed us on our way and to urge an early and a permanent return. The top of the pass (10,500 feet) was covered with whirling mist-wreaths, and at intervals could be seen miles of snow-peaks stretching far away in a long unbroken line, as the great mass of the Irrawady-Salween watershed vanished into the white clouds towards the north. All round the pass were masses of primulas, great blooms of a brilliant azure blue, and to the east the Valley of the Ku-tan Ho ran steeply down in sunshine to Tengkeng and the Salween, backed by the great range dividing it from the Mekong, which is almost as perfect and symmetrical as the peaks on its western bank. Along the track were gangs of men \"making a road for the Paoshan magistrate,\" and at the little homestead where we stayed the night an intimation had been received that supplies would be required in the course of the next few days. On arrival at Tengkeng the magistrate appeared in person, a heavy, genial officer, who leapt into the midst of affairs without introduction or warning. He had been sent by the Yungchang Prefect, his superior, to look after his subordinate Tengkeng; the Prefect feared I should require information which the Sawbwa could scarcely be trusted to give; it was very hard on a man of his weight this journey into the Salween Valley at this season of the year, and his chair-bearers had given out already; he was leaving for Pienma at once, but suggested that I should stay a few days and rest; did I need any information? He unfortunately recovered his breath before I had time to speak, and I left him the next day, having only been able to tell him that he would be ill-advised to cross the range at the present juncture; that the question of the frontier in this district was under the consideration of our two Governments; that I was telegraphing to Yunnan-fu to the effect that I had requested him to await further orders before proceeding, and that, if he persisted in crossing without further instructions, he might embarrass his Government. With some reluctance he promised to communicate with the Yungchang Prefect, who was believed to be awaiting my return in Tengyuel, and he undertook to delay his departure until a reply had been received, explanations and ejaculations being shouted at me across the hills long after they had ceased to be intelligible. A secretary who accompanied this active officer informed my writer that the magistrate had been instructed to hurry up to Pienma to establish a school and to appoint headmen, and that there had been great trouble about the destruction of the frontier pillar in Lungchuan, but that the Viceroy had telegraphed from Yunnan-fu that he had received assurances that the Government of Burmah did not propose to make an incident of the matter, and that the magistrate had been ordered to leave the next day; the Viceroy's message had concluded with an injunction to lay aside all fear of the foreigner. This information was almost as breathless and inarticulate as the magistrate himself, but it appears to throw some light on the fact that the Tengkeng raid and the activity of the Prefect in regard to the southern frontier are all part of one scheme resulting from a sudden access of frontier activity; that the action of the Prefect in destroying the pillar (reported in my despatch of the 15th February) caused a certain disquiet lest it had carried things too far, but that some assurance had been received which had allayed their uneasiness, and on the strength of which they were losing no time in laying the foundations of administrative control beyond the disputed line of the north-eastern frontier. At the same time, it confirms the reports which reach me on all sides that the destruction of the Lungchuan pillar was regarded by the Chinese as a matter of considerable importance, and that they anticipated a rebuff from the Government of Burmah with some anxiety.\n\nFrontier Chiefs. The Tengkeng Chief (Sawbwa, Fu-yi or Tussu) called to see me in company with his superintending officer, but he was so much overwhelmed by the presence of the magistrate that he was unable to speak, except to mention that he was Chinese by descent, and of the name of Tuan. He is a slight, nervous-looking lad of about 20, and by no means the blustering desperado I had expected to find, locally known as a fool, and there seems little doubt that in the matter of the raid he was merely a tool of the Paoshan magistrate and his energetic superior, the Prefect Peng. Five chiefs of the same Tuan family hold the neighbouring Lisu posts, and none of them appear to have the personality or power to band men together on their own initiative, though they form a powerful combination, and could doubtless raise a considerable force and prove very troublesome if once convinced of the backing of the Chinese officials, of whom they have a wholesome dread. The last I saw of the neighbouring Sawbwa Tuan of Lao-wo was a crouching, sobbing figure in the consulate gatehouse, clad in a highly-decorated Japanese uniform and a pair of ladies' brown boots, who had been \"beaten to death\" by Colonel Chiang for daring to claim a tiny share in the credit of avenging last year's German murder. The two Mingkuang Sawbwaships from whose districts came the opposition to Mr. Hertz's column in 1900 are now represented by very feeble rulers, and I think that little trouble need be feared from their direction, as the Chinese have ousted or absorbed the Lisu population in their districts, and their titles are little but a name. The advance of the Chinese farmers northwards along the Salween has also had serious effects for the Sawbwa of Tengkeng, who is obliged to walk warily in taxing the pure Chinese, lest he be called to book in the magistrate's yamen; his poppy cultivation has also been stopped—meaning a loss of from 16 to 20 ounces of opium from each house—and his total annual income on the Chinese side of the frontier is believed to have been reduced to about 2,000 rupees, a fact which is well borne out by the poverty and squalor of his capital and his yamen, qualities in which those of his neighbours enter into active competition. With the reduction of their revenues they are year by year less able to meet the demands of the magistrate for his annual perquisites, and there is no doubt that the chiefs have felt tentatively, and the magistrate has indicated actively the necessity for some new resources if they are to retain their posts.\n\nThe Salween Valley. On learning of the object of the Paoshan magistrate's proposed visit to Pienma, I was much tempted to return across the pass and await there an assurance from His Majesty's Consul-General at Yunnan-fu that the magistrate would be deterred from crossing, as it appeared important that he should be prevented from taking any steps towards the administrative control of the country at the present juncture. I felt unable to do this, however, as my little party had been severely tried by the hardships of the journey, and a return of the rains would possibly have delayed my return to my post for an indefinite period, a risk which appeared inadvisable at the present time. I therefore took the road by the banks of the river, which reaches Tengyuch in seven marches after leaving Tengkeng. The weather was fortunately bright and clear during the march along the Salween, which was in its full glory of early summer, and, although intensely hot, a pleasant change after the hard journey in the mountains. The river still ran green and clear, flecked with foam as it formed in eddying rapids or rushed over its hidden rocks. On either side rose the forest-clad mountains, their luxuriant tropical green sprinkled with brilliant flowering shrubs and trees, whilst the whole was crowned by the snow-clad peaks stretching up to the...\n\n[2788 d-2]\n\nD\n\n326", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428989, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 330, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "The few travellers who have made a rapid crossing of the Salween during the dry and bright winter months have been inclined to ridicule the native traditions, which regard the river with a superstitious horror. Various colours are reported to rise in the rains, bringing death and destruction to all who are caught; monsters are believed to lurk in the waters for the unwary boatmen; and there are few who will venture near the banks when once the summer rains are set.\n\nOne needs only to see the men who pass their lives in the valley to realise that there is something in this deep, hemmed-in valley which is inimical to human life and health; their enlarged spleens, their pinched and discoloured faces, and their lifeless manner all bear traces of a constant malaria, and their report that the demon of the mists first strikes men dumb, then dooms them to a lingering death, seems a probable sign of a virulent malaria which affects the brain, and from which, in its advanced stages, there is no hope of recovery. In talking to an old Lisu, to whom I had entrusted some quinine, I ventured to suggest the theory of mosquitoes in relation to malaria, and the prophylactic properties of the tabloids of quinine; he shook his head, paid a compliment to the wisdom of the West, promised to dose himself and his people as directed, and remarked sadly that he feared those words could scarcely be relied on, that he was an old man, and that the vapours were an explanation sufficient for him.\n\n## Conclusion\n\nIn conclusion, I can only add that my visit to Pienma (Hpimaw) removes all doubt as to the reality of the raid by Tengkeng, and to the extent of the damage inflicted on the people. I trust that my action in crossing the range will not be considered in excess of my instructions, as I was faced by unexpected conditions and decided on the course which appeared to give the best hope of obtaining accurate information for His Majesty's Government without prejudice to the Chinese under whose auspices my journey was undertaken, whilst I am convinced that no information would have been available at Tengkeng. I was careful to explain to the villagers in the unadministered territory that I had no power to settle cases or to appoint headmen, and that my visit was merely for purposes of enquiry into the raid. After careful consideration, I am convinced that the Chinese exercise no sort of administrative control beyond the watershed, and that their hold over the people has considerably weakened since the report of Mr. Litton, dated the 20th May, 1905. For the past two years, there has been no payment even of the petty tolls claimed by Tengkeng, and, in the words of the villagers, the administrative efforts of his representatives have been confined to \"eating the people,\" a duty which they perform with some enthusiasm if one may judge from the list of pigs, wine, and grain entered to the account of the raiding levies, or to the official requisitions foreshadowing the advent of the magistrate of Paoshan.\n\nAt the same time, there is conclusive proof that the Chinese authorities have determined to make a last bid for control of this area, as evidenced by the visits of deputies of the Yungchang Prefect in the autumn of 1908 and during the present month; by the proclamations regarding the establishment of schools; and by the proposal to appoint headmen, for which the way was paved by the raid of the Tengkeng Sawba after his return from a visit to Yungchang; whilst additional evidence is provided by the grant of a concession in the autumn of 1909 to the Chinese trader Li Fa-ming to work salt and silver in the neighbourhood. The reasons for this sudden access of activity may, I think, be traced in part to the failing revenues of Tengkeng consequent on the prohibition of opium cultivation and their indirect effect on the income of the Paoshan magistrate and the Yungchang Prefect, but more directly to a general aggressive spirit in regard to frontier policy which owes its inception to Chin Shu-sheng, ex-Taotai of Tengyueh, and now provincial judge, and to Peng Chi-chih, the ex-Frontier commissioner, who is now Prefect of Yungchang. The effect of Tengkeng's raid has been very definite; the Pienma villagers, and in all probability those also in other parts of the unadministered territory, evidently believe that their homes are in British territory; they have resisted Tengkeng and his claims with some spirit, but they feel that he is too strong for them, and they have bowed to his present authority, as they have for the moment ceased to hope for relief from the direction of Burma.\n\nThe departure of the Paoshan magistrate, who has never before visited Tengkeng, at a time when the prefect also was absent from Yungchang, is an event of so exceptional a character that there can be no doubt of the intention of the Chinese to push the advantage by every means in their power, and I submit that there is no alternative for the Government of Burma but to arrange an administrative expedition in the early autumn, if they intend to assert their claim to the watershed boundary without an appeal to arms. I am of opinion also that, if the Chinese should successfully establish themselves in the Pienma district, they will not rest until they have pushed their outposts to the N'Maikha, or even beyond that line, and His Majesty's Government is in possession of the facts which render such a frontier undesirable. In a recent conversation, the Taotai formulated to me the belief that Great Britain had stolen from China the whole of the country of Burma, a superstition which is widely current in Yunnan, and he also spoke of the frontier as 70 or 80 miles east of the Salween-Irrawaddy watershed, which would carry back the boundary to the limits of the Irrawaddy itself, as was claimed by Sir Lo Feng Lu. In recent despatches (of the 3rd March and the 5th April, 1910) I have had the honour to bring to your attention the vigorous efforts which are being made by the Yunnanese authorities to extend their administrative border, and the claims which they have brought forward in regard to other sections of the Burma-China boundary; the line to the east of the Wa country is still unaccepted. Representatives of the Wei-hsi Ting are reported to make frequent visits to the Chiu-tzu country west of the watershed (in latitude 27-28); a number of British boundary pillars on the section between the Taping and Namting Rivers are called in question, and I respectfully submit that some action for the definite establishment of the entire frontier line will be necessary in the near future, unless the Government of Burma is willing to reopen the whole threadbare question. By the institution of a series of petty intrigues, the Chinese evidently hope for an eventual revision of the years of laborious work spent by successive frontier commissions, maintaining as their objective the acquisition of territory and outlets, which are obviously desirable for the landlocked province of Yunnan, which formed the motive and incentive of every Chinese war with the old Burmese kings, but for the attainment of which their military expeditions struggled for centuries in vain.\n\nIn Camp, April 25, 1910,\n\nARCHIBALD ROSE.\n\nTengyueh, April 30, 1910.—Since my return, I learn that the Paoshan magistrate with the Tengkeng Sawbwa and a party of about 100 men has crossed to the Pienma villages, where he has appointed headmen and distributed badges of office. Two Chinese officers with a party of twenty soldiers also left the city this morning in the direction of Mingkuang, and I understand that they have been instructed to proceed by Hparé and Lagwé to the N'Maikha River, and to enforce the submission of local headmen whenever possible.\n\n## Upper Pienma (Hpimaw)—\n\n### Enclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n## LIST of Claims against Tengkeng.\n\n \n \n Claimant\n Description\n Taels\n \n \n \n \n Tung La-sao and Teng Chung-tou (Headmen of Twenty houses)\n Tengkeng and his levies\n \n \n \n 1. Tung Sao-pa\n Six houses were burned by fire. Houses, furniture, stockades, and all movable property destroyed.\n 200\n \n \n 2. Tung Li-sao (the headman)\n Elis harvests had not been reaped; they were gathered and eaten by raiders. 7 pigs, a large number of chickens, and a quantity of grain.\n 10\n \n \n 3. Tung Pen-tang (a very old man)\n House and furniture, sow, chickens\n 30\n \n \n 4. Tung So-lang (youth)\n House and furniture, pig, 15 chickens\n 20\n \n \n 5. Tung Lang-tsung\n Small house, little furniture\n 80\n \n \n 6. Thng Trang-sao (a woman)\n House and furniture, 1 sow, 12 pigs\n 40\n \n \n \n House and furniture, pigs, grain\n 380\n \n \n \n \n 327\n \n \n\nPage 330\n\nPage 331", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429037, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 378, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "be premature. In our judgment, this general scheme, which finds its appropriate culmination in the proposal to form a standing international commission, should be decisively negatived as far as Great Britain is concerned, and if it should at any time in the future be found convenient to deal by international agreement with isolated branches of the opium question, such as the manufacture and distribution of morphine or the regulation of opium exports in the interests of prohibitionist countries, we trust that the distinction between concerted action confined to these specified purposes and the larger proposals now before us will be unhesitatingly asserted as a condition of participation.\n\n11. The Shanghai Commission's recommendations may be taken as exhaustive, apart from the one subject which they considered to be inherently beyond their scope, the discussion of proposals to set aside the treaty and diplomatic arrangements subsisting between Great Britain and China. This question is accordingly revived in the American proposals. We need hardly emphasise our opinion that this is not a matter on which His Majesty's Government should seek the advice of other Powers. But we desire to add certain further observations in deference to the body of sincere, but, as we think, imperfectly informed, British opinion on this question.\n\n12. In the first place, it has been urged that the existing agreement with China, contemplating the suppression of opium cultivation in that country in ten years and the simultaneous extinction of the Indian trade, is not genuinely acceptable to China herself. As regards this point, it should be remembered that the agreement was arranged on the initiative of the Chinese Government, who, as we understand from Sir John Jordan's letter to Sir Edward Grey, No. 391, dated the 30th September, 1906, were encouraged to put forward proposals by the favourable reception which his Excellency Tong Shoa-Yi represented that he had received when he approached us on that subject informally during his visit to India in 1905, and only a year ago the Chinese Government reiterated their satisfaction with the terms of the agreement. There is no reason to fear that China will hesitate to bring to notice, through the ordinary diplomatic channels, any point on which experience may show that the agreement requires modification, or to suppose that her representations will fail to receive the sympathetic attention of His Majesty's Government.\n\n13. Secondly, it has been suggested that the terms of the existing treaties are being enforced in such a manner as to prevent China from taking proper steps to control distribution, sale, and consumption. The allusion here is to representations made to the Central Government in regard to arbitrary acts of interference and of unfair discrimination against foreign opium on the part of local officials. It should be realised that such representations are not made with the object of enforcing a harsh and narrow construction of old treaties, but are justifiable protests against acts which violate the whole intention and spirit of the ten years' agreement. If opium is to be imported at all, as the agreement contemplates, it must clearly be allowed the proper trade facilities.\n\n14. Thirdly, we would emphasise the fact that this arbitrary interference with the automatically diminishing trade in foreign opium is in no way necessary to the successful prosecution of China's policy of extinguishing the use of opium throughout her dominions. As Mr. Max Müller's report clearly shows, it is now recognised by the Chinese Government themselves, as well as by His Majesty's Minister at Peking, and, we should think, by every competent observer, that the only means by which China can hope to extinguish the local production within the time which she has allowed herself is by uprooting the poppy wherever it is grown. If she can effect this, the ten years' agreement continues to be operative, and China thus secures the withdrawal of the foreign opium also. If, however, she fails in her direct attack on cultivation, she cannot establish either a monopoly system or any other form of effective regulation, complete control over cultivation being necessarily the foundation and starting point of all the more elaborate methods.\n\n15. The truth on this question is that no more sinister advice can be given to China than the recommendation that she should turn aside from her straightforward policy of destroying the poppy, to build up a monopoly or other regulating system, the revenue from which would offer an almost irresistible temptation. Nor can there be any doubt that the condition which obliges China to suppress her own production before she can wholly get rid of the foreign imports has operated indirectly as a valuable safeguard and incentive, partly by enlisting on the side of the anti-opium movement in China the sympathies of the anti-foreign element, and partly because it requires her to give proof to the world of actual achievement.\n\n16. It is now admitted by the Chinese Government that no trustworthy statistics can be given demonstrating the progress made in the reduction of cultivation. In their absence, and subject to suitable guarantees as regards the future, we are ready, as we have recently informed your Lordship, to accept indirect evidence of her sincerity and of her partial success, but it is clear that a long time must still elapse before that success can be complete. It is equally true that time must be allowed before the cultivation in India for the China trade can fairly be suppressed, or the entire Indian revenue from that trade abandoned, and an agreement which gives a period of preparation to each country is an equitable one. We may observe in this connection, repeating words recently used by your Lordship and Sir Edward Grey, that \"it is a policy of doubtful expediency to disparage and hold of no account what has been done, and to press for a reopening of the case before a fair trial has been given to engagements voluntarily concluded by the responsible Governments.\" The assistance given to China under this agreement has already severely affected the native States, and, as regards British India, has now compelled us to impose additional taxation. We are not disposed to volunteer further sacrifices at the cost of the Indian tax-payer.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\nMINTO.\n\nO'M. CREAGH.\n\nJ. O. MILLER.\n\nG. FLEETWOOD WILSON.\n\nS. P. SINHA.\n\nB. ROBERTSON.\n\nJ.L. JENKINS.\n\n375", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 430563, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-375 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [1-2]", "page_number": 116, "title": "CO129-375 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [1-2]", "content_text": "Colony,\n\nCOLONIAL SERVICE\n\nName of Office.\n\n*\n\nPros\n\nTo\n\nHongkong\n\nAssistant Engineer\n\n\"\n\nMay 9th 1902 March 10th 1904\n\nActing Incentive Engineer March 10th 1904 Jan 1st 1906\n\nIncentive Engineer\n\nJan 1st 1906\n\nSalary of present Office\n\n£600\n\nWhether a house or lodging is provided, or an allowance in lieu thereof.\n\nAverage of fees, if any, for the last 3 years\n\nAny other circumstances affecting the value of the appointment\n\nTravelling Allowance £360 per annum\n\nPROMOTION DESIRED\n\nColony for\n\nI am\n\nAs further promotion is not probable in this Colony for an indefinite number of years, & as I am of the opinion that my training experience & services in this Colony entitle me to promotion, I have the honour to request that a suitable post be offered to me in some other Colony.\n\n* Acting appointments are not to be entered here, but may be mentioned in the usual page.\n\n*† If the officer holds more than one office, full particulars of each must be given.\n\n† If private practice is allowed, the estimated value should be stated.\n\n+ Continuous Executive Service.\n\nThe value of a Colonial appointment depends upon so many divers considerations besides the salary that the Secretary of State cannot judge what would be acceptable to an officer.* Applicants for promotion should therefore, in their own interests, make it clear as possible what they desire, either specifying certain appointments, or at least mentioning the Colonies to which they would or would not be willing to go, and the amount of salary which they think that they may reasonably expect.\n\n109\n\n[This page is to be reserved for any report which the Governor may make when sending the form to the Colonial Office.]\n\nI concur in the report of the I.P.W. that\n\n\"Mr Jaffe is\n\nan officer of special merit.\n\n(Sd.) F. D. Lugard.\n\n1.2. U.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-375 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 431487, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-377 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [5]", "page_number": 62, "title": "CO129-377 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [5]", "content_text": "# Enclosure 3\n## Supreme Court, Hongkong, 5th May, 1911\n\nSir,\n\nI have the honour to acknowledge Your Excellency's letter of the 3rd instant on the subject of the prosecution of Kwong King and two others under Ordinance No. 15 of 1907.\n\n2. I much regret that so very erroneous a report of my summing-up should have reached Your Excellency. Far from saying that I thought the words used were not such as to warrant a conviction under the Ordinance, I summed up, as we say, \"dead against the prisoner\". It was of course argued by Mr. Potter that \"kill\" used in the poem was only hyperbole, and did not really mean \"actually kill\". But I reminded the jury of the murder of Thomas à Becket, who was actually killed on the strength of doubtful words; of the pamphlet \"Killing no Murder\", when \"kill\" meant \"actually kill\"; and, further, I impressed the jury with the fact that though to English people the words might not be taken so seriously, yet to the Chinese the word meant what it said, and that it must be looked on as an incentive to slaughter.\n\n3. Unfortunately, there is no record of my summing-up. On such occasions, one makes a few notes and then speaks \"as the spirit gives one utterance\"; so I can do no more than give Your Excellency some idea of the drift of what I said, as above, and as indicated in my previous letter.\n\n4. With regard to the Ordinance, however, I had noted one criticism to be forwarded in due course. It is of course based on Article 75 of the China Order in Council of 1904, but there is a variance in the words which I cannot account for. The offence by the Order in Council is \"exciting enmity\" between the Government of China and its subjects, but in the Ordinance...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-377 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 433363, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-380 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [9-10]", "page_number": 348, "title": "CO129-380 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [9-10]", "content_text": "# GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 17th. October, 1911.\n\nWith reference to my Despatch No. 351 of the 11th. instant, and to the opinion of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury that the excess note issues of the Banks should be exempted from payment of the one per cent tax, I have the honour to forward draft of three rules which it is suggested (in Mr. Bertram Cox's Despatch of the 15th. December, 1910, to the Secretary to the Treasury) should be issued under section 5 (2) of Ordinance No. 16 of 1901 exempting certain classes of Bank Notes from the 1 per centum tax.\n\n## \n\n2. I venture to think that it is very probable that the new Mercantile Bank issue will take a considerable time to gain the confidence of the Chinese public and during that time the two existing Banks of issue would have no claim to a reduction in their contributions to the Revenue as they would be suffering no loss from the action of Government in creating another Bank of issue. The abolition of the tax would moreover be an incentive to them to press for permission to increase their excess issue, which the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury would desire to diminish, while the existence of the tax-free excess issue would prejudice the circulation of the notes issued by the Mercantile Bank of India.\n\n## \n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE \n**LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.**,\n&c., &c. \n\nNo. 358 \n`JR15/11` \nNo. 35488 \n`CO 36241/643` \n`IREC` \n**RESE** 10 NOV !!", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-380 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [9-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 434310, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 311, "title": "CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "309 \n\n2 \n\nHis Majesty's board on the 5th instant, and also of the confirmatory memorandum which your Highness was kind enough to send me the following day, to the effect that the Chinese Government were not prepared to continue the negotiations for an agreement for the progressive reduction of the importation of Indian opium into China on the basis of the proposals put forward by your Highness's board in writing on the 25th September, and subsequently accepted by the British and Indian Governments as the essential principles of the subsequent negotiations for a detailed agreement between His Majesty's chargé d'affaires and representatives of the Wai-wu Pu.\n\nHis Majesty's Government have learned with regret of this sudden change of attitude on the part of the Chinese Government, a change which was all the more unexpected, as the proposal for the extension of the existing three years' arrangement for a further period of seven years had been accepted by the Chinese Government in principle, and was indeed their own suggestion. The memorandum handed by Mr. Max Müller to Dr. Yen on the 1st November was expressly intended to give effect to the wishes of China, and was merely the final stage of what was understood to be a complete understanding between the two Governments on essential points. Its rejection and the proposed substitution of an entirely new basis of negotiation, after the Chinese Government had in their note of the 21st September last expressed their gratitude for the generous attitude of His Majesty's Government, appears to Sir Edward Grey to indicate that the proposals contained in Mr. Max Müller's memorandum have not received proper consideration.\n\nHis Majesty's Government offered to China a very favourable agreement, and fixed its duration at seven years at China's own request; they voluntarily waived their right under the 1907 agreement to evidence of the diminution during the past three years in the production of opium in China; they have shown great patience for several months in the face of the continued illegal action of the provincial authorities in Canton; they have expressed their willingness to agree to an enhancement of the consolidated import duty on Indian opium on the condition that the duty on native opium shall be correspondingly and effectively raised; and, finally, they have accepted the proposals submitted by Mr. Max Müller to ensure that the reduction in the import of Indian opium in China should correspond to the stipulated decrease in the number of cases exported from India. In short, His Majesty's Government have shown every desire to meet China wherever possible, and it is disappointing to see no signs of a corresponding readiness on her part to meet them. The Chinese Government appear to forget that the existing restrictions on the export of opium from India are not imposed by treaty, but were accepted by the Indian Government as part of a tentative arrangement between China and Great Britain. This arrangement, as Mr. Max Müller has frequently pointed out, will terminate on the 31st December in default of an understanding between the two Governments as to its renewal. One of the conditions of the expiring agreement is that the Chinese Government should furnish proof that the production of opium in China had been reduced in proportion to the reduction in the export from India, and this the delegates of the Chinese Government have admitted their inability to do. The Government of India are therefore under no obligation to continue their restrictions on exportation beyond the end of the present month, and they can hardly be expected to do so unless they are convinced that a new agreement which could be considered satisfactory is on the point of conclusion. Any arrangement to be satisfactory to the interests of India must have regard to the fact that the two Governments originally agreed upon a period of ten years as not more than sufficient for the effectual accomplishment in China of so great a scheme of reform. The evidence as exists shows that opium is still extensively cultivated in China, and that the quantity of Indian opium imported is still relatively small in comparison with the total amount of opium grown and consumed in China. The Chinese Government no doubt realised this when they insisted to Mr. Max Müller on the existing agreement being extended for the full period of seven years.\n\nIn regard to the arrangements contained in Mr. Max Müller's memorandum for preventing the 16,000 chests not affected by the annual reductions from reaching Chinese ports, I regret to have to state that it is now, owing to the procrastination of the Chinese Government, probably too late to put them into force during the coming year. Unless the system of numbering and sealing the chests commences on the 1st January it must be postponed for another year. The Indian Government, who had made arrangements for putting the system into force from next month, point out that there is nothing to prevent the whole of the Malwa opium export for the calendar year from leaving India early in January, and the numbering and sealing of the chests of Patna and Benares opium alone would not afford China the assistance which she asked for and which India was prepared to give her. It seems, therefore, as if the Chinese Government, by their unexpected and unjustifiable change of attitude, have deprived their country for at least one year of the benefits of the proposed arrangement.\n\nI am directed by His Majesty's Government to express the hope that, on further examination of Mr. Max Müller's memorandum and of the position which will arise if it is definitely set aside, the Chinese Government will realise that it offers a liberal and reasonable solution, and that its acceptance will be in the best interests of China herself. I would add that I am myself convinced that the arrangement for corresponding reduction with the Indian Government has been, and will be, one of the principal incentives towards an energetic prosecution on the part of the Chinese authorities of the anti-opium campaign in China, and that, though fully conscious of the considerable measure of success already achieved, I feel that a grave mistake is now being made by the Chinese Government in yielding to the pressure of ill-informed agitators, and thus compromising by undue haste the ultimate consummation of the great task which China has set herself.\n\nFinally, in bringing to your Highness's notice the objections entertained by His Majesty's Government to your present action, I have the honour to state that, pending resumption of negotiations on the basis of Mr. Max Müller's memorandum, they will insist on the strict observance of our treaty rights in regard to the trade in opium.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 434757, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 171, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]\n\n14358 \n168 \n[B] \n\n## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[13246] \nNo. 1 \n\n## SECTION 1\n### Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 10.)\n\n**(No. 125. Confidential.)** \nPeking, March 21, 1911. \nSir, \n\nIN my despatch No. 104, Confidential, of the 4th instant, I had the honour to enclose copies of the preliminary agreement and of the draft final agreement drawn up by the Chinese Government and the representatives of the American, British, French, and German banks for the issue of a loan of 10,000,000l., destined to meet the expenses of the currency reform programme and of industrial enterprises in Manchuria.\n\nAs I intimated would be the case, the draft final agreement has undergone considerable revision, and has now reached a form which, with the addition of some further conditions and reservations, is likely to prove acceptable to both parties. The draft, of which I have the honour to enclose copy, is dated the 16th March.\n\nIt will be noted that the estimated revenues pledged to the service of the loan are reduced from 5,500,000 taels to 5,000,000 taels. Payment of interest is to be handed to the banks ten days before due dates instead of fourteen as was proposed in the previous draft, and the wording of the agreement appears generally to have been toned down to meet Chinese susceptibilities. The essential features, however, remain the same as those outlined in my despatch No. 104, and the agreement is silent on the subject of a financial adviser. The Chinese Government are required, it is true, to hand to the banks quarterly statements showing the disbursements incident to the inauguration and operation of currency reform and to the promotion of industry in Manchuria, and to publish annual reports based on those statements, but there is no foreign supervision of the actual application of funds, and it remains to be seen how this will be reconciled with the reservation of the French Government that expenditure in Manchuria is to be approved by Russia and Japan.\n\nThe American Minister gives me to understand that the Chinese are disposed to insist upon the programme of currency reform drawn up by themselves in May 1910, on which Mr. Max Müller commented in his despatch No. 188 of the 3rd June last year, and the modification introduced in article 8 of the draft agreement tends to confirm Mr. Calhoun's statement. It is, I believe, the intention of the Chinese Government to apply this programme to the treaty ports and the great centres of trade, but not to China as a whole. The scheme was drawn up by Dr. Chen and other Chinese theorists who have had little practical experience in finance, and, although it undoubtedly marks a step in the right direction, it scarcely seems to me to offer a sound basis for a large foreign loan.\n\nHowever this may be, the Chinese have certainly shown no disposition to submit it for revision by foreign experts, and no financial adviser worthy of the name is likely to come to China to carry out in its entirety a scheme devised by Chinese financial empirics schooled in the Ta Ch'ing bank.\n\nThere are several points of an unusual character to be noted in the draft agreement. If the Chinese Government should be in immediate want of funds, the banks agree, upon the execution of the agreement and so soon as they shall have been furnished with satisfactory statements in regard to the nature of the undertakings in Manchuria or the preliminary measures for currency reform and the amounts to be applied to them, to advance 1,000,000l. to the Chinese Government for the first purpose and 1,000,000l. for the second. The Manchurian Government is very hardly pressed for funds in connection with plague measures, and this factor doubtless constitutes the chief incentive with the Chinese for the speedy conclusion of the agreement. But advances of 2,000,000l., out of a total loan of 10,000,000l. are unprecedented in my experience of financial negotiations of this kind. The want of security attaching to these advances is evidenced by the fact that they bear interest at 6 per cent., instead of the 5 per cent. carried by the loan.\n\nThe representatives of the banks appear to be sanguine that a final agreement...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435056, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 470, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n### CONFIDENTIAL\n\nso far as I know, attracted the attention of the Chinese, the matter can scarcely have escaped their knowledge entirely. But in view of the stage which the negotiations have already reached, and of the fact that no preliminary preparations of a specially conspicuous character are contemplated such as would be likely to excite the resentment of the Chinese, I see no objection to the schemes being completed on the lines on which they have been discussed. If you approve of this suggestion, I think it would be well for me to speak to my French, German, American, and Japanese colleagues, especially as the French Minister has already received a report from the French vice-consul at Amoy on the subject, and has asked me for information. This course would put us in a better position vis-à-vis the Chinese Government, and would save the appearance that we were acting alone. The recent riot at Hankow shows the advantage of concerted action, and the necessity for some prearranged scheme by which the assistance of the foreign gunboats may be readily invoked in case of need.\n\nI have, &c. \n**J. N. JORDAN**\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nPage 363 (not explicitly stated but inferred from context)\n\n\n## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n### CONFIDENTIAL\n\n[17268] \n19637 \n[May 8.] \n`REC2` \n`REG 16 JUN 11` \nSECTION 5.\n\n### No. 1.\n#### Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received May 8.)\n\n(No. 163.) Sir, \nPeking, April 18, 1911.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit herewith the copy of a despatch and enclosures which I have received from the acting British consul at Harbin on the subject of the impending revision of the Russo-Chinese treaty of 1881.\n\nMr. Sly has treated the subject very exhaustively, and his review is instructive as showing the aspirations of the Russian mercantile communities in Manchuria.\n\nI have, &c. \n**J. N. JORDAN**\n\n### Enclosure 1 in No. 1.\n#### Acting Consul Sly to Sir J. Jordan.\n\n(No. 13.) Sir, \nHarbin, March 30, 1911.\n\nI HAVE the honour to enclose herewith a memorandum on the subject of the coming revision of the Russo-Chinese treaty of 1881. The memorandum is an analysis of commercial and other particulars furnished by the Russian Chamber of Commerce at Harbin to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry at St. Petersburgh. The views of the Chamber are expressed in a document containing material for the revision of the treaty, in an explanatory memorandum, and in two alternative drafts of a treaty, copies of which, in translation, are annexed to the enclosure.*\n\nThe subject is a complicated one, and it is therefore not improbable that, though I have given it careful study, and have endeavoured to the best of my ability to elucidate intricate and obscure points, the pitfalls have not all been safely avoided—pressure of work has not permitted me to make a journey along the Sungari and Amur Rivers in order to personally acquaint myself to some extent with frontier and other conditions, a thorough knowledge of which is indispensable to a complete understanding of the whole situation.\n\nThe consideration given in the principal memorandum to the views of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce, though not exhaustive, is on the other hand not scant, and it will accordingly be sufficient here to allude to those matters which appear to possess a peculiar importance and significance.\n\nYou will not fail to observe that the proposals made by the members of the committee with the object of extending Russian trade and influence in Manchuria and in Eastern Mongolia, do not lack ambition—expressed in brief, the committee desire that Russian goods imported into Manchuria shall be granted the same immunity from duty as that enjoyed under the treaty of 1881 by these goods when sent to Mongolia, and should this not be feasible, they would exact from the Chinese Government the concession of special privileges of a kind so generous as to give, if not the right of free trade, particular treatment of a nature barely distinguishable therefrom. As a further incentive to Russian trade and enterprise in the Far East, they claim that the Russian Customs Law of the 16th (29th) January, 1909, should be either withdrawn or modified in such a manner as to effectively secure the purpose which they have in view.\n\nIt is a noticeable feature of some of the arguments advanced by the committee that they do not conceal the intention to procure preferential treatment in Manchuria for Russian subjects and Russian goods and one may even go so far as to assert that the whole of their recommendations are imbued with the same spirit.\n\nThe extent to which the Russian authorities are prepared to go in order to give effect to the recommendations of the committee regarding the demands which it is \n\n* Not printed.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435059, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 473, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# and development of Russian trade in Manchuria and, incidentally, Mongolia are many of them of a very sweeping nature, and it will be at once observed that, in their opinion, the concession which it is of chief importance to secure is a reduction in the duties now levied by the Imperial Maritime Customs on imported Russian goods. Their first suggestion is that the importation into Manchuria of Russian goods should be free; failing this, they propose the following principal alternatives :---- \n\n(a) The increase of the extent of the present free frontier zones from 50 versts (100 li, or 33 miles) to 150 versts (300 li, or 100 miles) each side of the Russo-Chinese frontier--Vladivostock to be excluded from the operation of this stipulation.\n\n(b) The formation of a free zone extending 150 versts each side of the Chinese Eastern Railway.\n\n(c) The reduction of the import duty on goods imported into Manchuria by rail from two-thirds to one-third of the tariff rates.\n\n(d) An amended duty-free list.\n\n(e) Exemption from inland transit duty for Russian goods sent into the interior from places along the Chinese Eastern Railway, provided these goods have been examined by the Imperial Maritime Customs and paid import duty at the time of their importation into Manchuria, and other customs requirements have been fulfilled.\n\n(f) The establishment at Harbin of a customs godown to which imported goods consigned to commercial houses in Harbin shall be conveyed under the guarantee of the Chinese Eastern Railway Company without being subjected to examination at the frontier stations.\n\n(g) Restriction of the powers of the Imperial Maritime Customs in respect to the valuation of goods on which ad valorem duties are charged.\n\n(h) The settlement and public notification each month in advance of the tael-rouble rate of exchange for customs transactions.\n\nA consideration of these proposals seriatim is now desirable.\n\n## 1. The free importation of Russian goods into Manchuria.\n\nThis is an extension of the concession granted under existing treaties to Russian trade with Mongolia. It means very special treatment, and, if conceded, would, it seems, enable the preferment of a similar claim by Japan in respect to the trade between Corea and Manchuria (see the Sino-Japanese treaty of 1905, article 11). The proposal is likely to be strongly resisted by the Chinese Government if for no other reason than that the revenue collected by the Imperial maritime custom-houses functioning under the direction of the commissioner of customs at Harbin is urgently needed. The total revenue paid to these custom-houses in 1910 was 1,031,000 Haikwan taels.\n\n## 2. The extension of the limits of the free zones from 50 versts to 150 versts on either side of the frontier.\n\nThis concession would appear to be of value, not necessarily for a bona fide purpose, in the country bordering the Ussuri and in the Hunchun district on the east in part of the country along the western frontier and in the neighbourhood of Aigun, and in the country stretching along the Amur from the point of its junction with the Sungari as far as Khabarovsk on the north. A distance of 150 versts or 100 miles, measuring on the map as the crow flies, would bring the station of Hailar within the free zone. It is between Hailar and Manchuria that the bulk of the marmot or tarabagan skins are collected which are exported to Europe. In the past exporters, in order to escape Chinese export duty, have conveyed these skins by cart into the Russian free zone and there shipped them by rail to Europe. A reduction in the export duty, involving them in less expenditure than the cart hire, has now, it is understood, induced them to send their goods by train to Manchuria station and pay export duty in the regular way. Should Hailar, however, be brought within the Chinese free zone, it would be possible--unless the Russian authorities were prepared to assist in preventing it--to declare these goods for the Russian free zone, and convey them thence to Europe without payment of duty to the Imperial Maritime Customs. The opinion has frequently been expressed that the Russian customs authorities themselves are opposed to the idea of the free zones, and would welcome their abolition, since they fully realise that they are a great incentive to smuggling, and largely increase the difficulty of collecting revenue. It is not, however, altogether easy to reconcile this view with the attitude adopted by the Russian authorities at the negotiations held last year in connection with the revision of the Sungari regulations. M. Latkin, the chief of the Amur Customs, was a member of the commission which considered this question and the revised Sungari regulations, so far from abolishing the free zones, gave a more liberal interpretation to the treaty stipulation in regard to them than the strict wording of the Russo-Chinese convention of 1858 would seem to warrant (see Harbin confidential despatches Nos. 30 and 33 of the 24th September and 1st October, 1910).\n\n## 3. The formation of a free zone extending 150 versts each side of the Chinese Eastern Railway.\n\nComment on this suggestion need only be brief. The proposition, if Northern Manchuria is still to be regarded as an integral part of the Chinese Empire, is altogether untenable. A proposal that all stations along the Chinese Eastern Railway should be declared open trade marts, though not likely to be acceptable to the Chinese Government, would certainly be much more reasonable and would conform better with the arrangement reached by the Sungari regulations of last year under which, as stated in Harbin despatch No. 27 of the 12th September, all places along the Sungari are open to Russian trade and navigation.\n\n## 4. The reduction of the import duty on goods imported into Manchuria by rail from two-thirds to one-third of the tariff rates.\n\nThe chief argument on which this demand is based, namely, that Russia is the only country from which China receives goods by land, and that land transport is more expensive than sea carriage, is in part entirely false. No account has been taken of the fact that the frontiers of Tongking, Burma, and India are also contiguous with that of China, that a French railway runs from Haiphong, through Tongking, to Yunnan-fu, and that the Burma railways reach as far as Bhamo from which and other places goods are sent into Yunnan. A point which should, however, be mentioned is that British goods conveyed to Manchuria, whether via Pogranitchnaya or Manchuria stations, would, like Russian goods, pay only one-third of the tariff duty should the proposed reduction be granted, just as (vide despatch No. 27 from this consulate of the 12th September last) beans brought from Hulan and Petuna by water to Harbin and thence transported by rail to Vladivostock for export to England now pay, under the revised Sungari regulations, only two-thirds of the tariff duty. At the same time, merchants have been heard to declare that the present saving of one-third duty is, on ordinary imported goods, a matter of small account and does not encourage them to import their wares via Vladivostock owing to the delays and other inconveniences which they experience at that port.\n\n## 5. Proposed amended duty-free list.\n\nParticulars of the proposed additions and omissions from the duty-free list of the 1881 treaty are given in `Annex(F)` in which a comparison is drawn between the two exempla of the draft treaty. It will be noted that, as drafted, article 6 of the second exemplum applies only to certain goods imported from Russia, whereas the exemption under article 14 of the regulations for trade by land attached to the treaty of 1881 is equally applicable to the same classes of goods when exported from China to Russia. If this is an unintentional omission as it would seem to be, and if the duty-free list is to apply to goods carried by rail, then the most significant of the suggestions made is, perhaps, the addition of grain products--a term which in Russian phraseology includes beans. The export of pulse and grain would become free and the privileges accorded under the railway agreement of 1896 and the Sungari regulations of 1910 would be still further extended. The duty-free list of the 1881 treaty, though (vide Harbin despatch No. 27 of last year) tacitly accepted as applicable to trade on the Sungari and though actually in use on the Chinese Eastern Railway, has not been definitely admitted by the Chinese Government as applying to goods carried by rail. It may further be observed that in article 6 of the second exemplum of the draft treaty, which enumerates the duty-free goods, nothing is said as to the mode of transportation. Seeing, however, that the railway is expressly mentioned in the preceding article and other articles, it would seem that the intention must be that rail-borne goods of the kinds in question should also be exempt from import duty.\n\nPage 468", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435277, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 57, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[23581]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n## SECTION 3\n\n### Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-Received June 16.\n\n(No. 229.)\n\nPeking, May 29, 1911.\n\nIn the course of the negotiations with the Chinese authorities in respect to the duty treatment of the large stocks of Indian Opium which had accumulated in Shanghai and other ports prior to the conclusion of the new opium agreement, my attention, and I have reason to know the attention of the Chinese Government, has been forcibly drawn to a matter which may prove to be a serious obstacle in the path of China's progress towards the complete suppression of the use of opium. I allude to the danger of uncertified opium sold by the Indian Government for consumption in non-Chinese countries being smuggled into China, where the high prices that are likely to be paid for the drug for some time to come will prove a strong incentive to the opium smuggler whose activities are at present for the most part confined to countries such as the Philippines, the United States, and Australia where total prohibition already exists.\n\nIt has been urged by the British opium merchants in China, with what degree of truth I am unable to say, that the proportion of the total annual sales allotted by the Indian Government to non-Chinese markets, namely 16,000 chests, is unreasonably large and constitutes a menace to the legitimate trade as the bulk of this opium will inevitably find its way to China. They consider that the Indian Government should agree to reduce their annual sales to proportions commensurate with the demand existing in non-Chinese opium smoking countries.\n\nI deem it my duty to lose no time in bringing this matter to your notice because, as other countries are of necessity becoming parties to the new opium agreement, I need hardly point out that international complications of exceptional gravity are likely to arise should Indian opium become the object of smuggling on a large scale.\n\nI have no doubt that the Indian Government will, if the merchants' fears prove to be well founded, in fairness to them and in pursuance of their declared policy of co-operating with the Chinese Government in their programme of opium suppression, take such steps as may be necessary to minimise the risk of Indian opium being smuggled into China.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n[2066 q-3]\n\n56", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435418, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 198, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "In any further communication on this subject, please quote No. 28713/11 and address **The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office, London**.\n\nSir:- \n\n196 CO 24389 FOREIGN OFFICE Post R265 H 1911.\n\nI am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that the following telegram was received by His Majesty's Minister at Peking from the Governor of Hong Kong on the 18th instant:- \n\n\"I am directed by Hongkong opium merchants to transmit following telegram to you. Begins: Government of India's July sale realised: Certificated, average 3370; uncertificated, 1600 rupees. Strong incentive to smuggle into China. Uncertificated large shipments expected here on July 23rd. Urge Wai-wu Pu to use all efforts to prevent smuggling as our large stock of certificated, costing high price, seriously jeopardized. Ends.\"\n\nSir J. Jordan replied on the 19th instant by telegraph that a representation on the subject to the Chinese Government was open to serious objection. The Chinese native press was blaming the Government of India for action which it represented as a direct encouragement to smuggling, \n\n**Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435468, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 248, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[27190] \n24845 \nREP Rest 29 11 \n[July 11]\n\n## SECTION 1\n\n### No. 1\n\n245\n\nMessrs. E. D. and Messrs. David Sassoon and Co. to Foreign Office.- (Received July 11)\n\nSir,\n\nWE beg to thank you for your letter of the 4th instant, and to inform you that at the Government auctions held in Calcutta on that day certificated opium sold at 3,400 rupees for Patna and 3,300 rupees for Benares, while uncertificated sold at 1,605 rupees, or less than half the price realised by certificated.\n\nWe learn by wire from India that a large quantity of uncertificated opium has been shipped to Hong Kong. As you are aware, only certificated opium may from the 8th instant be imported into China, so it is fair to assume that the uncertificated now shipped to Hong Kong will find its way into China either with or without the connivance of the Chinese authorities, to the serious detriment of the legitimate trade. The enormous difference in the purchase price will undoubtedly act as an incentive to smuggling, and if the heavy import duty can also be evaded the inducement will be still greater. There is only one outlet for opium in quantity, and that is China, and the bulk of the uncertificated opium will eventually find its way into that country somehow.\n\nWe cannot help expressing regret that the Indian Government could not see its way to act upon our suggestion to postpone the auctions, as had it done so the Indian revenue would not have suffered to the extent shown above, and the stocks in China would have been reduced in the normal way, without having this low-priced uncertificated opium to hamper the trade.\n\nMay we express a hope that His Majesty's Minister at Peking may be instructed to warn the Chinese Government with regard to the uncertificated opium shipped to Hong Kong, so that steps may be taken to prevent its interference with the disposal of legitimate stocks.\n\nWe have, &c.\n\nE. D. SASSOON AND CO. \nDAVID SASSOON AND Co. (Limited).\n\n9, Fenchurch Avenue, E.C., July 10, 1911.\n\n[2106 -1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435506, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 284, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# 281 \n**[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]** \n\n20484 \n## OPIUM. \n**CONFIDENTIAL.** \n\n[28713] \n### No. 1. \n## Foreign Office to Colonial Office. \n[July 26.] \n\n### SECTION 1. \n\nSir, \n\nForeign Office, July 25, 1911. \n\nI am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that the following telegram was received by His Majesty's Minister at Peking from the Governor of Hong Kong on the 18th instant:----\n\n\"I am directed by Hong Kong Opium merchants to transmit the following telegram to you:- \n'Government of India's July sale realised: certificated, average 3,370; uncertificated, 1,600 rupees. Strong incentive to smuggle into China. Uncertificated large shipments are expected here on 23rd July. Urge Wai-wu Pu to use all efforts to prevent smuggling, as our large stock of certificated, costing high price, seriously jeopardised.' \n\nSir J. Jordan replied on the 19th instant by telegraph that a representation on the subject to the Chinese Government was open to serious objection. The Chinese native press was blaming the Government of India for action which it represented as a direct encouragement to smuggling, and the suggested communication to the Wai-wu Pu would probably be met with a request that that Government should take steps to prevent exports of uncertified opium exceeding the requirements of the markets out of China. He added that, in view of the impossibility of discontinuing the sales in India without three months' notice, he could only suggest that, to meet the situation, Hong Kong should be closed to all uncertified opium except so much as might be required by the opium farmer. \n\nI am to request that, if Mr. Harcourt has no objection, Sir F. Lugard may be instructed by telegraph to state his opinion on Sir J. Jordan's suggestion. \n\nI am to add that the Chinese Customs authorities have expressed the view, which is shared by Sir J. Jordan, that it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to prevent the smuggling of opium into Southern China. \n\n[2106 66-1] \n\nI am, \n&c. \n\nF. A. CAMPBELL.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 437743, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4]", "page_number": 399, "title": "CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4]", "content_text": "Page 363\n\nwould involve delay and extra expense.\n\n3.\n\nI have discussed the matter with the Acting Colonial Secretary and the Director of Public Works and have decided to make the following recommendations:-\n\nA. Harbour of Refuge: The Engineering Staff consists of Mr. J. Duncan and Mr. H. C. Sayer working under the supervision of Mr. D. Jaffè. Mr. Duncan was sent out by the Crown Agents in July last under a four years' agreement, on a salary of £360 and £40 duty pay. He is a very capable officer and Mr. Jaffè reports highly of him. I propose that he should be placed in charge of the Harbour of Refuge Works and that, in lieu of his present duty pay of £40, he should receive a duty allowance of £140 a year while so employed, making his salary up to £500 a year. Mr. Sayer, who was engaged locally, draws a salary of £2,400 a year and I consider that sufficient meanwhile for the work he has to perform. Mr. Jaffé will occasionally visit the work when required by the Director of Public Works.\n\nB. Tai Tan Tuk Reservoir: I propose that Mr. Jaffè should be appointed as a special Engineer in charge of this work, which will take at least five years to complete, and that he should correspond with the Director of Public Works direct and reside in Victoria. He has been ten years in the Public Works Department and he is at present drawing a salary of £600 a year, the maximum of an Executive Engineer plus £60 duty pay. He was engaged for six years on the Birmingham Water Works before coming to Hongkong and has had considerable experience of water works construction in the Colony and Mr. W. Chatham is satisfied that he can carry out the work. I recommend that, in lieu of his present duty pay of £60, he should be granted a special non-pensionable allowance of £240 a year while performing this duty. The work is of a very responsible nature and should be completed as soon as possible, and the special allowance will be an incentive to Mr. Jaffé to do his best. In the opinion of the Director of Public Works there should\n\nPage 363", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 438663, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-391 - Acting Governor Claud Severn Governor Sir May - 1912 [7-8]", "page_number": 462, "title": "CO129-391 - Acting Governor Claud Severn Governor Sir May - 1912 [7-8]", "content_text": "1 \n\na. 2 no Mi.. \n\n* \n\nI \n\nFondosure 16. \n\nHONGKONG. \n\nC.O. \n\n451 No. 1912 \n\nPro 7 COT12/ \n\nREPORT BY A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONSIDER THE FEASIBILITY OF FORMING A PUBLIC HOUSE TRUST AND THE PRELIMINARY \n\nSTEPS NECESSARY IN THAT EVENT. \n\n3 \n\nLaid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, March 7th, 1912. \n\nmoir exc)- \n\n# Terms of reference : \n\nTo formulate (without going into details which admit of being deferred) an ad interim policy for the consideration of Government, having as its aim the eventual creation of a Public House Trust (if the Committee should find themselves in favour of its creation) and the avoidance in the meantime of any action on the part of the Licensing Board which would prejudice that object or create new liabilities. The objects in view and the general nature of the Trust Scheme can be seen from papers which will be submitted to the Committee. \n\nF. D LUGARD. \n\n5th May, 1911. \n\n1. It appears from the minutes and correspondence before the Committee that the Government has, in the projected creation of a public house trust, several ends in view: - \n\n(a.) To withdraw from the public as far as possible any incentive to excessive drinking and to secure the supply of liquors of good quality. \n\n(b.) To secure for the community generally the profits arising from the sale of liquors to the public. \n\n(c.) To secure a better class of Public House Manager. \n\n(d.) To provide, as alternatives for intoxicating liquors, refreshments such as tea, coffee, etc., and \n\n(e.) To provide for social intercourse and reasonable recreation by means of billiards and other games and by a supply of appropriate literature so that the premises may not be drinking places pure and simple. \n\n2. The Committee concur that the scheme is a sound one and they submit the following general recommendations regarding the carrying of it into effect : -- \n\n(a.) It is essential that the sale of liquors to the public should be entirely controlled by the Trust. To this end notice should forthwith be given to all holders of publicans' licences that their licences will not be renewed after the year 1915. \n\n(b.) The Trust should not come into operation until the month of December, 1915, when all existing licences should be simultaneously withdrawn. In the meantime the necessary preparations should be made for putting the Trust into operation. \n\n(c.) The requisite capital should be obtained from the public by the issue of debentures, on which the Government should guarantee interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum. The debenture holders should be entitled to elect two trustees to safeguard their interests. \n\n(d.) The control of the Trust should be in the hands of a body of Directors, which should, it is suggested, be composed as follows :-- Two to be nominated by the Governor, one by the Legislative Council, and two by the debenture holders' trustees.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-391 - Acting Governor Claud Severn Governor Sir May - 1912 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 440065, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "page_number": 557, "title": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n2545\n\nOPIUM.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[28376]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nREG? 26 JAN 12 [Received July 19.\n\n546\n\nSECTION 4.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received July 19.)\n\nPeking, July 19, 1911.\n\n(No. 162.) (Telegraphic.) P. OPIUM. (R.) Following telegram, dated 18th July, received from Governor of Hong Kong:— \"Am desired by Hong Kong opium merchants to transmit following telegram to you:—\n\n\"Government of India July sale realised, certified average, 3,370; uncertified, 1,600 rupees. Strong incentive to smuggle into China. Uncertified large shipments expected here 23rd July. Urge Wai-wu Pu to use all efforts to prevent smuggling, as our large stock of certified, costing high price, seriously jeopardised.'\" (End of R.)\n\nI have to-day replied by telegraph as follows:—\n\n\"(Confidential.)\n\nYour telegram of yesterday.\n\n\"As the native press is severely criticising the action of the Government of India as a direct encouragement to smuggling, I cannot well approach the Wai-wu Pu on the subject. A request for the limitation to the requirements of non-Chinese markets of the exports from India would be the retort of the Chinese Government.\n\n\"Without giving three months' notice the Government of India are apparently unable to discontinue sales, and, in these circumstances, the closing of Hong Kong to uncertificated opium, apart from the requirements of the opium farm, is the only remedy I can suggest.\"\n\n[2106 % -4]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 440695, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912", "page_number": 31, "title": "CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nOPIUM.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[August 3.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n[32646]\n\n(No. 370.) Sir,\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir Edward Grey to Sir F. Bertie,\n\nForeign Office, August 3, 1912.\n\nI TRANSMIT to your Excellency herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul at Saigon, stating that he has learnt from a private but well-informed source that the Government of French Indo-China are contemplating entering into a contract with the provincial Government of Yunnan for a regular supply of opium.\n\nYunnan was one of the provinces where the suppression of the cultivation of the poppy had been most rigorously enforced, but it is unfortunately only too true that since the outbreak of the revolution the cultivation has recommenced throughout the province on a very considerable scale. For the past few months His Majesty's Government have been repeatedly urging on the Chinese Government the necessity of adhering to their agreements of 1907 and 1911 for the progressive suppression of the cultivation of the poppy; and though they recognise that, under present circumstances, the observance of their treaty obligations in many of the provinces is not possible for the Provisional Government at Peking to secure properly.\n\nYour Excellency should bring the above facts unofficially to the knowledge of the French Government, and point out to them with what regret we should hear that the Government of Indo-China had really entered into such a contract as that mentioned by Mr. Carlisle. Any purchases of Yunnan opium by the French colonial authorities must be a great incentive to increased cultivation of the poppy in the province of Yunnan, and must thus tend to defeat the humanitarian objects for which the Indian Government have made such great sacrifices. You may add that the British delegates at the Opium Conference at The Hague carried away the impression that their French colleagues were fully alive to the sincerity of our policy in regard to the opium trade with China, and that I feel sure that the French Government would hesitate to sanction any action which might hinder the full effects of that policy.\n\nThe British delegates further understood that the Government of French Indo-China were desirous of concluding an arrangement with the Indian Government by which the latter would undertake to limit the export of Indian opium to Indo-China to opium purchased by, or consigned to, the Colonial Opium Régie. Your Excellency may inform the French Government that if the Government of Indo-China still contemplate such an arrangement, I would be pleased to recommend it most earnestly to the Government of India.\n\nI am, &c.\n\nE. GREY.\n\n*Consul Carlisle, No. 1, June 18, 1912.\n\n[2004 c-1]\n\n29", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 441123, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912", "page_number": 459, "title": "CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912", "content_text": "# \n13 \n455 \n12 \n\n27. About the quantities of morphia in illicit use no figures can, in the nature of things, be procured, but the available figures of seizures are given below:\n\n| PROVINCE | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909 | 1910 | REMARKS |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Madras Presidency | oz. dr. gr. | oz. dr. gr. | oz. dr. gr. | oz. dr. gr. | oz. dr. gr. | oz. dr. gr. | |\n| Bombay | 1 0 0 | 3 0 0 | 49 0 35 | 7 2 8 | 1 0 13 | | |\n| Bengal ¿Mofassil | | | | | 108 0 0 | 99 7 13 | |\n| (Calcutta and suburbs | | | | | 16 1 0 | 8 4 48 | |\n| United Provinces | | | | | 9 2 14 | 2 11 0 | |\n| Punjab | | | | | 60 5 61 | 167 5 0 | |\n| Burma | | | | | 196 7 31 | 98 6 2 | (Mixture of morphia in pills,ty and 10 phials, 1 packet and 3 bottles of morphia.* |\n| TOTAL | | | | | 541,031 6 21 | 626 3 50 1,193 1 23 | Weight not known. Number not known. |\n\n28. The sixth of the Shanghai Resolutions deals with the scientific investigation of the properties of opium and of possible remedies for the opium habit. The evidence taken by the Royal Commission of 1895 contains all that we can say on the properties and effects of opium: and we consider that the scientific study of anti-opium remedies will more usefully be conducted, in the first instance at least, in European laboratories. On the seventh, eighth and ninth of the Shanghai Resolutions we have no remarks, as they do not directly concern the Indian Government.\n\n## Fourth Resolution\n\n29. We revert now to the fourth of the Commission's Resolutions, which opens up a question of the highest importance to the welfare of India. So far as we are in a position to prevent contraband trade in opium, we are fully prepared to take our part, and to carry out any detailed control over our exports upon which your Lordship may decide after receiving the conclusions of the Conference. The only ports at which opium is permitted to be exported from India are Bombay and Calcutta; and export is only permitted under Government supervision and regulations. The exports to China are strictly controlled under the terms of the Anglo-Chinese agreement of last May. The exports to prohibitionist countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia, will be brought under supervision as soon as international action is agreed upon. The practical steps for India would be (1) to prohibit the export of opium under section 19 of the Sea Customs Act; (2) to take supplementary action to see that such prohibition is not evaded by first exporting to a non-prohibition country and thence to a prohibitionist country; and (3) to prohibit the transmission of opium abroad through the post.\n\n## CONTROL OF DRUGS OTHER THAN OPIUM\n\n30. The subject of higher importance to us, however, in this fourth, as well as in part of the fifth, Resolution is the recommendation in favour of drastic control, in the countries of origin, over the distribution of opium, with its alkaloids, derivatives and preparations, and of morphine with its harmful congeners. If this principle is accepted as a subject for international concert, we most earnestly urge that it be at once extended to cocaine with its allied drugs and synthetic substitutes. The extraordinary growth in the use of these drugs in India has caused us the gravest alarm. They threaten to produce a degradation and demoralization among classes which have hitherto been free from this form of vice and to an extent which will entirely overshadow the evils arising from opium. We cannot speak of the Far East, though we believe that the potential danger there is as great as it is in this country. But for India the question of checking the influx of these drugs has assumed the gravest urgency. Our means of dealing with their import are limited; and it is only in the countries of manufacture and export that the control can be effective. We trust that the Conference will regard it as their clear duty to help India in this matter in the same spirit as India has co-operated in forwarding the eradication of the opium habit in China.\n\n31. Concerning morphine and other derivatives of opium, the questions of export and of production are equally important. We are prepared to take all reasonable action in both directions, and we must look to the other countries represented at the Conference to agree to similar action on their part. The Indian production of these drugs, their distribution, their imports, and the countries from which they are imported, have already been detailed. There is practically no export of such articles from India except that from the Government opium factory at Ghazipur to the well-known English firm already referred to. We would suggest, as regards exports, similar precautions to those described above in respect of the export of opium; and as regards production, a system of control by means of licenses (where a Government monopoly is not desired), and a system of accounts by which the manner of disposal of the drugs produced can be ascertained in so far as their exports are concerned. We quite understand that the Conference may not interest itself in the question of production except in so far as it affects exports, licit and illicit, but it is urged that no precautions against smuggling will ever be effective unless there is full control at the centres of production. This is fully recognised in the American Federal Bill of last year, imposing a tax upon and regulating the production, manufacture, and distribution of habit-forming drugs.\n\n### Dr.\n\n32. The dangers of cocaine and its allies and the necessity for their international regulation are much greater, because there is an enormous volume of international illicit traffic in them, and their direct connection with the worst forms of crime has been conclusively demonstrated. As Mr. Secretary P. C. Knox says in his Report to the President of the United States, dated February 18th, 1910, cocaine \"has proved to be a creator of criminals and of unusual forms of violence, and has been a potent incentive in driving the primitive classes of the community all over the country to abnormal crimes.\" Hamilton Wright, one of the American delegates to the Shanghai Commission, describes cocaine as \"more appalling in its effects than any other habit-forming drug used in the United States.\" The legislation against cocaine in the United States is new, but it is drastic, and further legislation was under consideration last year, including provisions for \"the registration of every person who imports, produces, manufactures, compounds, distributes, or otherwise handles habit-forming drugs in inter-state or foreign commerce.” The proposed Federal Bill imposing a tax upon and regulating the production, manufacture, and distribution of certain habit-forming drugs (including coca leaves, cocaine, alpha and beta eucaine, etc.) requires the registration of exporters also. Not only is the urgent necessity for the international regulation of cocaine recognised by the Power at whose instance the Hague Conference has been called, but such regulation along with the regulation of morphine at centres of production was expressly made a condition on which the invitation to participate in the Conference was accepted by His Majesty's Government. We now proceed to set out the information about cocaine, which has so far been gathered in India and which justifies the apprehensions which we have expressed regarding its use and its effects in this country.\n\n33. Cocaine is an alkaloid obtained from the leaves of the cuca or coca plant (Erythroxylum coca), a shrub indigenous to South America. It is found in Java, and has also been grown experimentally in the tea districts of Madras, Mysore, and Bengal. Mr. Comber, Chief Superintendent of Excise in Burma, has successfully cultivated it in Lower Burma, where it appears to thrive well. The leaves are extensively used for chewing in South America, where over 80 million persons are estimated to be addicted to the habit. Coca used in its raw state is a stimulant of the nervous system. If taken in moderation it may possibly be beneficial; but it is certainly harmful if taken in excess.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 442141, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "page_number": 268, "title": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "content_text": "## CONFIDENTIAL\n\nGovernment House.\n22 January 1913.\n\n266\n\nIn my despatch on the subject of the boycott of the Hongkong Electric Tramways by Chinese on the plea that the refusal of Chinese coins is an insult to China, I have adverted to the political intrigues of the Sze Yap Association.\n\n2. It may be useful to review briefly the origin of this Association, its connection with the present Government of the Kwang tung Province and the close political relations between the latter and the two Chinese Members of Legislative Council.\n\n3. As far back as 1894 I had myself, as Captain Superintendent of Police, recommended in my report on the faction fights between Tungkun and Sze Yap coolies that all Chinese clubs should be registered, and in 1895, prior to going on leave, I had submitted to Government a draft Ordinance to give effect to my recommendation. The draft Bill was printed and referred to the Executive Council but no further action was taken upon it. Judged by the light of subsequent events it is regrettable that the question was allowed to drop, but until recent years the Chinese in Hongkong were content with their Guilds or Workmen's Clubs and had not the incentive, created by isolation in the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States, to seek the protection of highly organised Societies.\n\n4.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 445040, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913", "page_number": 114, "title": "CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913", "content_text": "# 113\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n## OPIUM.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n[55582]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[December 30.]\n\n## SECTION 1.\n\n(No 486.)\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey. (Received December 30.)\n\nPeking, December 12, 1912.\n\nIN continuation of my despatch No. 478 of the 5th instant, I have the honour to report that, taking advantage of the presence in Peking of Sir Everard Fraser, His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai, I arranged for interviews with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and with the President of the Republic in order to renew my representations on the serious situation which has arisen through the recent concerted attempt of the Yang-tsze provinces to exclude Indian opium.\n\nThe interview with Mr. Lu Tseng-hsiang took place on the 9th instant, and Dr. W. W. You, the Vice-Minister—who himself negotiated the agreement of 1911—was present, together with a deputy of the tutu of Anhui. I reiterated the arguments used at my last interview, and pointed out that the reports of Sir Everard Fraser showed clearly that it was no longer a case of the provincial authorities acting in defiance of the wishes of the Central Government, for the tutus now maintained that their policy of immediate suppression of the retail trade and of the import of Indian opium had the avowed support of Peking. Under these circumstances, I could no longer ask His Majesty's Government to make allowances for the lack of control due to the revolution, but must call upon the Chinese Government for an explicit declaration of their attitude towards the agreement of 1911.\n\nSir Everard Fraser then described the conditions at present existing in the provinces of Kiangsu, Chekiang, Anhui, Kiangsi, and Hupeh, all of which had now closed their doors to Indian opium and decreed the immediate suppression of the retail trade. Stress was laid on the statement of the tutu of Chekiang—the pioneer province—in defiance—that the reissue of the former Wai-wu Pu's circular instructions of June 1911 was not sufficient to justify him in reopening his province. He had received a copy of these instructions recently sent to him by the Wai-chiao Pu \"for information,\" but unless the President would issue definite orders to carry them out, he could not, in the face of local opposition, obey.\n\nA similar statement of willingness to obey any definite instructions received from the President had been made by the tutu of Anhui.\n\nThe financial side of the situation, as it affected the foreign banks, which had advanced millions sterling on the security of the large stocks of opium accumulated in Shanghai, was then dealt with, and it was explained to Mr. Lu that the serious losses which would inevitably be caused by the depreciation of the security, following on the illegal closing of the markets, would fall on foreigners of every nationality, and would produce a financial crisis of far-reaching effect.\n\nMr. Lu, in reply, said that the Central Government had every desire to carry out their treaty obligations in the matter of opium, but that public opinion, which had developed in favour of accelerating the date for suppression, seemed worthy of consideration. The President, with whom he had conferred, was anxious that the joint investigation of provinces, with a view to their being placed on the prohibited list, should be proceeded with.\n\nI pointed out that, as long as the provinces continued to enact prohibition on their own lines, it was out of my power to recommend His Majesty's Government to follow the course laid down by the agreement for the attainment of this object, and I could not admit that public opinion was well advised in advocating a departure from this course. The agreement, far from being a hindrance to rapid and effective suppression, was expressly designed to be an incentive and assistance to this end.\n\nMr. Lu then suggested that deputies should be sent from Peking to investigate the breaches of agreement complained of by me, but I replied that the evidence supplied by provincial proclamations and enactments required no corroboration, and, moreover, the time for investigation was passed; a grave crisis had arisen, and nothing but the immediate issue of explicit instructions by the Central Government...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 447731, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-410 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [3-5]", "page_number": 274, "title": "CO129-410 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [3-5]", "content_text": "267\n\nColony to effect its ultimate rehabilitation. The control of the Opium Monopoly fortunately facilitates measures to affect this result as far as possible out of current revenue. The increased price will not in my opinion give any incentive to the smuggling of prepared opium into the Colony, as the price of opium in Canton and Macao, the two centres from which smuggling is likely to take place, is too high to make it profitable.\n\n4.\n\nAt the time the Estimate of the Revenue from the Opium Monopoly was made the selling price of the drug was about $5.50 per tael. Before the Farmer's contract terminated he had raised the price to $6.50 and the large increase now made is rendered possible by the enhanced price of raw opium in China and the consequent advance in price in prepared opium there. The Revenue for 1914 from the Opium Monopoly will, therefore, be exceeded unless the advance in price induces a great diminution in consumption.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient,\n\nhumble servant,\n\nGovernor, &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-410 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [3-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 450695, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914", "page_number": 277, "title": "CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914", "content_text": "273\n\n72\n\nconfidence, which have been the natural outcome of the disturbances, will be probably only a temporary phenomenon, but long after normal conditions have been restored the commercial community will remember their late experiences, and it is safe to assume that their influence will continue to be thrown with increasing weight on the side of a strong central administration capable of maintaining internal order.\n\nAt the outbreak of hostilities fears were expressed that general disaffection would be found to exist among the high provincial officials throughout China. Had the Central Government been less well supplied with funds, and had its forces suffered an early and decisive defeat in the field, it is possible that these fears might have materialised. In the event they have proved unfounded. The northern provinces have remained uniformly loyal to the provisional President. The Tartars of Yunnan, Kueichow and Shensi have proved the value of their loyalty by despatching troops against the rebels in neighbouring provinces. In Hunan, Chekiang and Fukien the high provincial authorities, having declared independence under the stress of force majeure, took the earliest opportunity of returning to their allegiance, and that Yuan Shih-kai is convinced of their loyalty is proved by the fact that they have been confirmed in their positions. Even in Kuangtung and Szechuan sufficient adherents of the Central Government were found to suppress the local rebels without serious assistance from outside. There is no reason to apprehend that the sympathies of the provincial governors, which have lately been shown as strongly in favour of the provisional President and his policy of opposition to disintegration, will undergo any marked change in the immediate future. It must not, on the other hand, be forgotten that such a change might possibly result should the Central Government fall into a state of financial embarrassment and be no longer able to dispose of the large sums of ready money which have lately been employed against the rebels.\n\nThere remains to be considered the position of the large numbers of Chinese youths who have returned from Japanese, American, or European universities, and who form the nucleus of what is popularly known as the \"Young China\" party. With the exception of a very limited number of individuals, who have genuinely assimilated some branch of Western knowledge and have already taken their place in the professional life of China, the young Chinaman, who has enjoyed the benefits of a superficial foreign education, is as strongly opposed to the arbitrary régime of Yuan Shih-kai as he was to that of the Manchu Empire. He helped to overthrow the late dynasty, and, having achieved his purpose, finds that he has set up in its place a Republic which is as autocratic in its methods of administration and which has as little use for his services as that of the Government which he overthrew. It is difficult to determine whether any serious part in the late rebellion was played by the returned student class. It is improbable that any considerable number of them took the field as active partisans of the southern cause, but almost certain that there exist many thousands of Chinese middle-class homes in which a constant propaganda is being carried on in favour of a genuinely democratic Republic as advocated by Sun Yat-sen and in opposition to the autocratic Republic of which Yuan Shih-kai is provisional President. It must also be remembered that the ranks of the \"Young China\" malcontents are being constantly augmented by fresh arrivals from abroad, and that no effort at conciliating this dangerous element has been made by the present administration.\n\nUnder these circumstances, it is probably correct to assume that such weight as is carried by the majority of young foreign-educated Chinamen will continue to be thrown on the side of the forces opposed to the Central Government as at present constituted. The function will doubtless be to keep alive the latent hostility to the north, which is apparently endemic in the southern provinces.\n\nI have endeavoured to show above that the so-called suppression of the late rebellion has left in existence elements from which armed forces could easily be raised for the purposes of a fresh rising, that the leaders of the movement have little reason to fear, and some direct incentives to hazard a renewed attack on the Central Government, and that the success of Yuan Shih-kai in dealing with the troubles has been due much more to the superiority of his financial position than to that of the forces which took the field on his behalf.\n\nBefore the close of the current year the funds at the disposal of the Chinese Government will almost certainly be exhausted. It is thought by those who favour the view that no definite or permanent suppression of southern aspirations has been accomplished, that this moment will be chosen by the opposition forces for a renewed attack on the Central Government.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 450967, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914", "page_number": 549, "title": "CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914", "content_text": "## 8\n\nThe magistrate, however, took no steps to uproot it, though he had plenty of troops at his disposal. It was doubtless misgivings of the magistrate's zeal that suggested to Mr. Ding the advisability of having a final look at the district before the inspection commission passed through. Mr. Ding arrived at Hui An eight days before me, and, after obtaining information from the local missionaries and the opium inspector, left with the latter and a force of soldiers for the localities under poppy.\n\nIt was known by the Hui An authorities that Mr. Ding was in the neighbourhood conducting a vigorous campaign, but they were ignorant as to what parts had actually been cleared and what remained to be cleared by him. In these circumstances, when I informed Mr. Chan Pai Kong in the evening that it would be necessary for me to go to Lam Po via Goa Chhu on the following day, there was considerable anxiety on the part of the Chinese delegates lest we might meet with poppy in that district. Many difficulties were raised, but Mr. Chan promised to do his best to overcome them.\n\nOn the following morning, I was surprised to find that orders had been issued to proceed to Lam Po via Ko Koai and Tho Nia instead of as originally arranged. I protested strongly against this change of route, but Mr. Chan assured me positively that the latter route was impracticable owing to a high range of hills which could not be crossed. There was some suspicion in my mind that the Chinese authorities were uncertain of the country between Iap Chhu and Lam Po or that they were endeavouring to gain time, and this suspicion was strengthened later in the day, when, after leaving Tho Nia, a body of sixty soldiers returning to Hui An were passed. Mr. Chan's secretary admitted to me that these troops had been sent off late the previous evening to Lam Po to make sure that there was no poppy still there. The fact, however, that they were returning to Hui An via Tho Nia seems to bear out Mr. Chan's statement that the other route was impracticable. It is true that a high range of hills lay between Tap Chhu and Goa Chhu and that there seemed to be no roads in this part of the country, the morning journey from Ku Jim through Ko Koai to Tho Nia being mostly over paddy fields. No poppy was seen, but near Ko Koai, a missionary at Hui An informed me that traces were visible of the uprooting in the foregoing week. He informed me that it was pulled up at this village seven days before my arrival, he himself having seen it in the fields on the previous day. It was noteworthy that the streets of the villages in this neighbourhood were deserted, the inhabitants, fearing retribution, having locked themselves behind their doors.\n\nThe Chinese delegates were naturally highly indignant at the conduct of the Hui An magistrate, who appeared to me, however, rather mentally deficient and incompetent than actually corrupt. I was told that in 1912, when, on an opium uprooting expedition at Soan lo, the villagers had opened fire on his soldiers, he had forbidden the latter to reply, on the ground that he could not bear to inflict suffering on his subjects, whilst in another village, he had been publicly thrashed by the dissatisfied parties of a lawsuit. But there appeared to be no evidence that his supineness was due to improper motives. The Hui An district is very difficult to control, the gentry intractable, and the people much given to clan fighting, on account of the water supply, which is too poor to allow of much rice being grown. The district is therefore poor, and there has always been great difficulty in getting a good man to accept the magistracy.\n\nMr. Shih Wei Ch'ung would, I was informed, be sent for trial to Foochow.\n\nI may mention that at Hui An, a foreigner in the employ of Messrs. Burroughs and Wellcome called on me, and informed me that he had been travelling in the south of the province for six weeks and had not seen a single plant. The places visited by this gentleman are marked on the attached map.\n\nTime was too short to admit of going to Sien Yu, but the magistrate of that district met us at Hong Tan, which is under his jurisdiction. He informed me that he had invited the co-operation of the missionaries in eradicating the poppy from his district, and had in his possession certificates given by them attesting that his jurisdiction was quite free. He was so confident that no more now remained that he was offering a reward of 500 dollars for information of any poppy still growing.\n\n## 9\n\nAt Hsing Hua, I found Mr. Ding Neng Guang, who had finished his work in the Hui An district. He told me that he had had a busy week clearing out poppy, and believed that the district was now practically free. He had left subordinates behind to complete the task more thoroughly, however, as he himself had to go on to other districts.\n\nThe head of the Church Missionary Society at Hsing Hua assured me that no opium was now left in that neighbourhood, nor, as far as he knew, in the whole of the country between Hsing Hua and Foochow, where formerly large areas had been under cultivation. As far as Hsing Hua was concerned, the proclamations of the magistrate and the warnings of the gentry had generally sufficed to prevent a heavy sowing, or, where the seed had actually been sown, to persuade the people to abandon cultivation. At Sien Yu, in the previous spring, some trouble had been caused by the Foochow Government's repudiation of the local authorities' permission for the crop to be gathered in on condition that it should be the last, and the city had been ultimately captured by banditti, who championed the people for the consideration of 1 dollar per acre; but he believed that there was now no poppy remaining of which the officials had cognisance.\n\nAfter an eventless journey of two days, Foochow was reached on the morning of the 20th March.\n\nThe net results of the inspection, therefore, are that during a journey of over 500 miles through the principal producing centres of South Fukien, no opium was discovered, whilst only on one or two occasions was there any evidence to warrant the belief that a few heads might still remain.\n\nIt must, I think, be admitted that the southern half of the province is now free from the plant to all intents and purposes. Doubtless, in remote and inaccessible regions, a few small patches are still being grown, but it would be difficult to suggest measures which would eliminate this qualification.\n\nThere can equally be little doubt that the campaign has, on the whole, been conducted honestly, if at times a trifle vigorously, by the officers in charge of it. The exceptions to this generalisation have been mentioned above, but the vast majority of those connected with the administration of the opium laws have been singularly free from those charges of extortion and oppression which so often attach to native officials placed in positions where such abuses can be so readily practised.\n\nAs regards the future, students of the opium question are all agreed that unless strong precautions are taken, the work that has so far been accomplished will be undone so soon as the next sowing season comes round. The incentive to grow a crop that pays ten times as well as any other local product is strong, and it is common knowledge that the seed of last year's crop is being carefully put by for future use.\n\nThere is good reason to suppose that the Provincial Government has these dangers well in mind, for Mr. Chan informed me that regulations are at present being drafted to provide against them, whilst the Civil Governor's recent speech at a meeting of the People's Anti-Opium Society at Foochow, in which he announced amidst great applause that there would be plenty of executions in the future for breaches of the anti-opium laws, suggests that the Government is determined upon a strong attitude.\n\nWith respect to opium-smoking, there is a tendency at present to deal with offences more leniently; the present scarcity of the drug has so inflated the price that it is now almost beyond the reach of all save the wealthy classes, and the authorities have doubtless realised that the cessation of smoking follows automatically the cessation of cultivation, and are devoting all their attention to the latter object.\n\nIn the larger towns and other places where there are reform or other societies interesting themselves in the anti-opium movement, it is very difficult to obtain the drug, but in out-of-the-way places, it is said to be still easy to procure.\n\nIn no district visited did I hear of opium being imported from other provinces. I was much indebted throughout the whole journey to the Chinese local officials and to the official delegates, Messrs. Chan Pai Kong and Sou Gee Chuang, for their uniform courtesy and hospitality.\n\nW. P. W. TURNER.\n\n## Enclosure 4 in No. I.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs.**\n\nPeking, April 18, 1914.\n\nI HAVE the honour to refer to your Excellency's note of the 25th March requesting me to consent to the prohibition of import of Indian opium into Fukien.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 451580, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-417 - Public Offices - 1914", "page_number": 507, "title": "CO129-417 - Public Offices - 1914", "content_text": "## DRAFT\n\nMr. Robinson 07/3 \nSS C \nSir G. Fiddes \nSir H. Just \nSir J. Anderson \nLord Emmott \nMr. Harcourt \n\n34/6 \nfull salary tot st \n1 Mending k You. \nAud. `5297/14` \nto the Fisher up March nichsde d \nto the date pro which \nWheng Sun themen \n493 11 Jach is Much \nI am so I tif pour that! \nmi M.A.G. C. 20 ur, incentive \nEngmeis in the Suthi Wak \ndesty thing has been cabled uson toutre bon the \nSunice an the ground ihealth.\n\n2. You are authorised { Dabun Home 1⁄2 salary fisher \nDuring the remainder of his leave & absence, subject to \nthat his medical certificate has effect \nand that it covers both periods. They draft that his \n(Signed) H. J. READ. \nwhitement and take...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-417 - Public Offices - 1914.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 456978, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-426 - Public Offices - 1915", "page_number": 294, "title": "CO129-426 - Public Offices - 1915", "content_text": "42\n\nEn vue de l'information de M. van Deventer et de la nécessité pour la Délégation de la Grande-Bretagne de demander de nouvelles instructions, le Président retire sa première proposition et propose de renvoyer les différentes résolutions au Comité de Rédaction et de convoquer une nouvelle séance aussitôt que le Comité de Rédaction aura fini son travail.\n\nCette proposition est adoptée à l'unanimité.\n\nM. Denby, Délégué des Etats-Unis d'Amérique, donne lecture du rapport suivant :\n\nMr. President and Gentlemen:\n\nI beg to call your attention to the legislation for the control of opium and narcotics in the United States.\n\nIn 1909 the U. S. had already on her statutebooks a law excluding from the U. S. opium except for medicinal purposes. In accordance with the proposed Convention which we now have under discussion this law has been during this year radically amended. These amendments provide:\n\n1. For absolute prohibition to have smoking opium in possession or to transport the same, further for the punishment of any person who having knowledge of opium being held or transported shall fail to advise the authorities thereof.\n\n2. That no opium for smoking shall be admitted into the U. S. for transportation into another country.\n\n3. That no opium or derivates thereof shall be exported from the U. S. to any country which regulates their entry, unless in conformity with the regulations of such country.\n\n4. That penalties for violations of above provisions shall be not more than $5000 fine or two years imprisonment.\n\nThe law is drastic in its terms, possession of opium will be sufficient evidence to convict.\n\nOther domestic laws of the United States are:\n\nAn act which became effective January 1, 1910, and which empowered the postmaster general to close the U. S. mails to cocaine and other drugs, and further, laws and projects of laws which regulate the production, distribution and manufacture of habit forming drugs.\n\nAs to opium in the Philippine Islands.\n\nA law controlling the import and use of opium in the Philippine Islands came into force March 1, 1908.\n\nThe effect has been immediate and convincing as to the efficacy of prohibitory legislation;\n\nin 1905 the amount imported in kilogrammes was 121,600, in 1906 68,100, in 1907 77,000, in 1908 28,000, in 1909 52 kilogram.\n\nPrior to the above legislation the sum of 300,000 dollars per annum was derived from duties. In 1909 only 274 dollars were derived from this source. The increased value of the drug has been an incentive to smuggling but to show how effective has been the control, it is to be pointed out that in 1909 only 1388 kilogrammes were seized in attempts at illegal importation. If all smuggled opium were not seized and if we assume that twice as much more came in undetected, we have only about 4000 kilogrammes per annum unlawfully admitted as compared with ten, twenty, or thirty times that amount lawfully admitted in previous years.\n\nIt is fairly to be presumed that with a worldwide control of the traffic under the terms of the Convention which is under consideration even this small extent of smuggling could be stopped. The laws of the United States as to the Philippines leave little to be desired in control of the opium and drug traffic, but to make those laws perfectly effective, the United States Government does depend on the cooperation of the other powers.\n\nTurning to legislation as to American exterritorial jurisdiction in China, I am able to inform you that projects of laws now before the Congress of the United States ready for enactment and partly enacted, carry out fully the provisions of the Convention as to the control which the United States exercises over American citizens in China. One bill controls American pharmacies in American consular districts in China and regulates the administering of morphine and other drugs. Long before the first opium conference in Shanghai in 1909, namely in 1880 the United States had by treaty with China debarred the opium trade in China to American citizens. It was made unlawful for an American citizen to buy or sell, ship or handle opium in China and in fact for decades the flag of the United States has covered no part of this traffic. The Convention which we now discuss provides for certain legislation as to Foreign Concessions in China. The United States has no concessions there. The Convention further provides for control of Foreign Post Offices in China as to receiving opium and drugs. The United States has but one post office in China, that at Shanghai, and that is effectively covered by the powers given to the Postmaster General of the United States by the law which became effective on January 1, 1910.\n\nIt cannot be made too clear that in urging the other signatory powers to put the Opium Convention into effect, we are urging something which the United States has already done. The provisions of the Convention are to a great extent the law of the United States to day, and they will certainly be entirely enacted into law, and we hope that all other parties to the Convention will do likewise. Only by your cooperation can worldwide control be established and only by your cooperation can our legislation be entirely effective, even within our own borders.\n\nSur la proposition du Président il est décidé que le discours de M. DENBY sera inséré en anglais dans les procès-verbaux.\n\nSon Exc. M. Marcellin Pellet, Délégué de France, voudrait demander une explication. L'article 23 de la Convention, dernier alinéa, porte:\n\n\"Aussitôt que les ratifications de toutes les Puissances signataires, tant pour elles-mêmes que pour leurs colonies, possessions, protectorats et territoires à bail auront été reçues par le Gouvernement des Pays-Bas, celui-ci notifiera à toutes les Puissances qui auront ratifié la Convention la date à laquelle il aura reçu le dernier de ces actes de ratification.\"\n\nEt le premier alinéa de l'article 24 porte:\n\n\"La présente Convention entrera en vigueur trois mois après la date mentionnée dans la notification du Gouvernement des Pays-Bas, visée au dernier alinéa de l'article précédent.\"\n\nLa date de la mise en vigueur est donc précisément fixée et subordonnée à la ratification. Nous ne pouvons pas en ce moment modifier ces dispositions de la Convention.\n\nLe Président attire l'attention de Son Exc. M. MARCELLIN PELLET sur le deuxième alinéa de l'article 23:\n\n\"Dans le cas où la signature de toutes les Puissances invitées n'aurait pas été obtenue à la date du 31 décembre 1912, le Gouvernement des Pays-Bas invitera immédiatement les Puissances à cette date, à désigner des Délégués pour procéder, à la Haye, à l'examen de la possibilité de déposer néanmoins leurs ratifications.\"\n\nC'est en vertu de cette disposition de la Convention que la deuxième conférence a été convoquée et celle-ci a décidé on trouve cela dans le Protocole de Clôture sous le chiffre III \"que dans le cas où la signature de toutes les Puissances invitées en vertu du paragraphe de l'article 23 n'aurait pas été ...\n\n43\n\n...obtenue à la date du 31 décembre 1912, le Gouvernement des Pays-Bas invitera immédiatement les Puissances à cette date, à désigner des Délégués pour procéder, à la Haye, à l'examen de la possibilité de déposer néanmoins leurs ratifications.\"\n\n289", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-426 - Public Offices - 1915.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 458427, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-428 - Public Offices - 1915", "page_number": 520, "title": "CO129-428 - Public Offices - 1915", "content_text": "515\n\nHouse\n\nHONG KONG\n\n-25865.\n\nC.O\n\n25865\n\n24 JUN1915\n\nCommons Plaus for subversion of British\n\nTrade in Far East\n\nLast previous Paper\n\nh4946\n\n16. Mr. Joynson-Hicks, To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he can make any statement regarding the discovery at Hong Kong of plans, supported by the German Government, for the complete subversion of British trade in the Far East. [Monday 7th June.]\n\nTre: Gos.\n\n8 June\n\nabove tel 70, 12 June\n\nNext subsequent Paper.\n\n9.0.\n\n27547\n\nHi Callawa\n\nSi\n\ng.\n\nThis is clearly connected with the alleged existence of a German State aided financial trust with the purpose of ousting British trade. At the present time we have nothing but the evidence (M/24793) is at best incentive\n\nReply\n\nI have made enquiry regarding the alleged existence of a German...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-428 - Public Offices - 1915.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 458920, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915", "page_number": 481, "title": "CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915", "content_text": "479\n\nto attack the arsenal.\n\nSo much for the Chinese side wonders, with the German plotting, if a row did start in Shanghai whether the Sikhs would join in, it would be an opportunity for rising and there are many dissentients. There are over 1,000, 180 Sikhs registered apart from the Police and if the order in Council comes out prohibiting them being employed by Germans it may be another incentive to create a disturbance,\n\n{signed} _X_V. Hlles,\n\nLieutenant Colonel, General Staff, China Command.\n\nHongkong.\n\n4th November, 1915,\n\n2", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 467557, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3]", "page_number": 326, "title": "CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3]", "content_text": "321\n\n# PREFACE\n\nTHIS little book is an attempt to contrast fairly the methods which were employed by British and German traders in China before the war. Credit will be given to either side where credit seems due. Although a rather full measure of praise is meted out to the British side in this book, it is not to be taken as a brief that we are to rest on our laurels, but more in the spirit of a few cheery words by the wayside, and as an incentive to fresh efforts by all Britishers engaged in Chinese trade at home and abroad. I hope that by giving a true account of the manner in which German business has been carried on in the Far East the book will help British Manufacturers and Merchants at home to realise that they have been trading on the brink of a precipice. It is also written not without a", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 467575, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3]", "page_number": 344, "title": "CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3]", "content_text": "339\n\nThe \n\n36 BRITONS V. GERMANS IN CHINA\n\nvenience would have been caused. British banks themselves would have lost stupendous sums, and altogether a commercial crash of exceptional severity would have resulted. Hundreds of native shops and small businesses had become dependent on the long credits the Germans were wont to grant them. It is a feather in their cap for the Chinese to have in so short a period rearranged their trade, so that in addition to having paid up nearly all their outstanding debts to German and British firms, they are now working mainly on a cash basis. Is it any wonder that British merchants do not look forward to the time when our Teutonic friends propose to resume their business in our midst, with every prospect of a revival of their pernicious credit system, attended as this is by its long train of worries, and incentive to fraud and overtrading?\n\nBRITONS V. GERMANS IN CHINA\n\n37\n\nThe conclusions to be drawn from our now riper knowledge of the mysterious workings of the German merchant mind are so varied as to be difficult to set forth and classify. What we must chiefly recognise is that had the Germans out here been more united in their purpose to drive out everyone else from trade; had they used more co-operation and wisdom in obtaining their share, the result would long ago have been felt in a serious set-back to British and other trade interests in the Far East. It is enough to realise that the liquidations have revealed that the Germans, through their dubious and distasteful methods, were already controlling far too large a slice of trade that should rightly have been in British hands, and, but for their jealousies, and the intense desire of each individual German firm to subdue all competitors in sight (quite irrespective of nationality), it would", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 468861, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12]", "page_number": 81, "title": "CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12]", "content_text": "HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\non\n\ncompradores. This has been stopped with excellent results. I can hardly credit the hotels taking the place of those compradores, and if they do, that is their affair and they will suffer for it. During your régime, Sir, I maintain that you have done the maximum any Governor could do in the interests of sobriety. You have pushed the improvement of the roads; you have taken a deep interest in and greatly facilitated the making of our golf course at Fanling; in fact you have done everything to widen the scope of healthy outdoor exercise and do away with that cooped up feeling, which in the past must have been a great incentive to intemperance. Don't belittle it now, Sir, with this poor impotent little Bill.\n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR-The object of the Bill is not to stop drinking. The Colonial Secretary never said a word about that, broadly and generally, it is obviously undesirable to multiply classes of offence for which men can be hauled up before a Police Magistrate and fined, and it is particularly undesirable in regard to a matter like this, which affects strangers coming within our gates who, whatever may be thought of residents of this Colony, cannot be expected reasonably to be acquainted with the laws of this Colony. And yet, Sir, what do we find? We find that under Clause 5 of this Bill it is positively and solemnly proposed not that every buyer who does anything wrong, or anything known to be wrong, should be punished, but that a buyer shall be punished because a seller does something wrong.\n\nClause 5 reads, \"Every person to whom any liquor is supplied in contravention of this Ordinance shall also be guilty of an offence against this Ordinance.\" If a seller supplies liquor contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance the fault of the seller is, by an extraordinary tour de force, transferred to the shoulders of the possibly innocent buyer coming into the Colony in ignorance of its peculiar law. It is a peculiar law, for it is proposed by Clause 5 of the Bill that a stranger within our gates, assuming that the hotel boy mistakes him and takes him for a resident of the hotel and does not ask the seller liable but the buyer also is liable. If the seller commits an offence then the buyer has to be run in and will also be guilty of an offence.\n\nHON. MR. S. H. DODWELL-I grant you it is a measure which is in force at Home, but you know, Sir, as well as I do the reasons for it at Home, and that they do not exist in this Colony.\n\nHON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK-I am opposed to this Bill, and with reference to the reasons for the Bill, Sir, I certainly understood the Colonial Secretary to make some remarks on the question of promiscuous drinking. I do not see how his words could be interpreted in any other sense than that the Bill would tend to lessen drinking. But, now, Sir, I understand he wishes to disclaim that point. If that is so, we do not wish him to hold to anything which he wishes to disclaim. With regard to the question of the reasons of this Bill, I would point out that in the statement of \"Objects and Reasons,\" where we should naturally look for those reasons, they are conspicuously absent.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY-They spoke to me in exactly the same way.\n\nHON. MR. POLLOCK-Well, Sir, now, with regard to the Hongkong Hotel, I will read their letter, or rather the letter which was written on their behalf by Messrs. Deacon, Looker, Deacon & Harston, their solicitors, on the 27th of last month, with reference to this Bill.\n\nHongkong, 27th September, 1917.\n\nSIR,-We have the honour to address you in regard to the above Bill on behalf of our clients, the Hongkong Hotel Co., Ltd.\n\n2. Our clients are the holders of a Publican's Licence granted by the Hongkong Government and have continuously held such licence or its equivalent for the period of 50 years.\n\n3. During the period of 50 years referred to in the preceding paragraph that portion of our clients' business which relates to the supply of intoxicating liquor has been very largely carried on by means of what is known as \"chit system\"-whereunder the purchaser is supplied with the liquor desired by him in exchange for an order in writing signed by him.\n\n4. Our clients' experience under the above system-save in a comparatively infinitesimal number of instances-has been such as to enable them to say that the system has worked well and has been a great convenience both to themselves and their customers.\n\n5. The intoxicating liquor supplied by our clients to such of their customers as, if the above Bill be passed, will fall within the purview of its restrictive clauses, is served in the following portions of their premises, viz.: (a) The Public Bar. (b) The Private Bar. (c) The Smoking-room Bar. (d) The Kiosk Lounge. (e) The Large Lounge.\n\n6. Our clients have quite recently removed the Public Bar into a smaller room, thus reducing the area thereof by approximately 75 per cent. In addition, our clients have also quite recently similarly reduced the area of the Smoking-room Bar.\n\n7. In our clients' opinion the Ordinance now proposed will not only directly inflict needless pecuniary loss upon them in regard to their \"takings,\" but will also be the cause of their suffering unnecessary inconvenience and hardship.\n\n8. In addition to the inconvenience and hardship entailed upon our clients as above, it is also the fact that the provisions of the Bill are such as to largely add to the possibility of our clients incurring jeopardy in respect of their hereinbefore-mentioned licence.\n\n9. Our clients respectfully submit that no sufficient reason exists to warrant the passing of the proposed Ordinance.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 468893, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12]", "page_number": 113, "title": "CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12]", "content_text": "99\n\nHONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nII. E. THE GOVERNOR--The object of the Bill is not to stop drinking. The Colonial Secretary never said a word about that.\n\nHON. MR. S. H. DODWELL-I grant you it is a measure which is in force at Home, but you know, Sir, as well as I do the reasons for it at Home, and that they do not exist in this Colony.\n\nHON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK-I am convenient or understand hotel-keeping myself, but compradores. This has been stopped with broadly and generally, it is obviously excellent results. I can hardly credit the undesirable to multiply classes of offence presume that these letters, which are written, no doubt, after conference with hotels taking the place of those com- for which men can be hauled up before the managers of the hotels. represent pradores, and if they do, that is the a Police Magistrate and fined, and it is affair and they will suffer for it. During particularly undesirable in regard to a régime, Sir, I maintain that you matter like this, which affects strangers bring in charge of these two big hotels, have done the maximum that any coming within our gates who, whatever Governor could do in the interests of may be thought of residents of this may be taken as reasonably competent sobriety. You have pushed on the Colony, cannot be expected reasonably to judges of how hotel business should be improvement of the roads; you have taken be acquainted with the laws of this carried on and what is a deep interest in and greatly facilitated Colony. And yet, Sir, what do we and convenient in carrying on such business. the making of our golf course at Fanling: We find that under Clause 5 of this Bill, before reading the letters I should make a remark in answer to what the Colonial in fact you have done everything to widen it is positively and solemnly proposed not the scope of healthy outdoor exercise and that every buyer who does anything Secretary, said about the directors of hotels. I have spoken to two of the do away with that cooped-up feeling, wrong, or anything known to be wrong. which in the past must have been a great should be punished. but that a buyer shall they felt in their hearts as the Colonial directors of the Hongkong Hotel, and if incentive to intemperance. Don't belittle be punished because seller does koffie- it now, Sir, with this poor impotent little thing wrong. Clause 5 reads, Every Secretary supposed all I can say is that what they said to me, and the clear and Bill.\n\nperson to whom any liquor is supplied in contravention of this Ordinance shall also definite views they gave me personally, are absolutely at variance with their supposed views as pictured by the lively imagination of the Colonial Secretary. be guilty of an offence against this Ordinance.\" If a seller supplies liquor contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance the fault of the seller is, by an extraordinary tour de force, transferred to the shoulders of the possibly innocent buyer coming into the Colony in ignorance of its peculiar law. It is a peculiar law, for it is proposed by Clause 5 of the Bill that a stranger within our gates, assuming that the hotel boy mistakes him and we know that very often there are cases of two people being like one another-for a resident of the hotel and does not ask him for cash-then, Sir, not only is the seller liable but the buyer also is liable to get run in.\" If the seller commits an offence then the buyer has to be run in and will also be guilty of an offence.\n\nWell Sir, understand that the Colonial Secretary does not now wish to raise any point concerned with an attempt to restrict the sale of liquors, and, therefore, it all boils down to that wonderful and very nice brown bag which he produced just now full, apparently, of rather musty-looking chits from which it would appear that one hotel has suffered considerable loss. The Colonial Secretary now bases his plea on the question of protecting the hotel-keeper. Well, Sir, I think that one can safely assume that that particular hotel is not one of the two leading hotels in the City of Victoria, for the reason that I am able to read to the Council, and certainly shall do so, letters of protest from the two largest hotels in the City the Hongkong Hotel and the King Edward Hotel. These hotels certainly do not view this Bill as a boon; they regard it from a quite contrary point of view. I do not pretend\n\nopposed to this Bill, and with reference to the reasons for the Bill, Sir, I certainly understood the Colonial Secretary to make some remarks on the question of promiscuous drinking. I do not see how his words could be interpreted in any other sense than that the Bill would tend to lessen drinking. But, now, Sir, I understand he wishes to disclaim that point. If that is so, we do not wish him to hold to anything which he wishes to disclaim. With regard to the question of the reasons of this Bill, I would point out that in the statement of Objects and Reasons, where we should naturally look for those reasons, the reasons are conspicuously absent. I would also point out, Sir, that that is a very grave and serious omission. Unofficial members ought not to be obliged to wait for the second reading of the Bill before the Government discloses its reasons for the measure. It is not much good, Sir, publishing the Bill for some time previously in the Gazette merely stating the objects aimed at-because any competent lawyer can more or less set the objects aimed at and leaving out all mention of the reasons aimed at. Of course, for every Bill that exists it is desirable there should be good and sufficient reasons. I think every member of this Council will admit that,\" speaking\n\nHON. MR. POLLOCK - Well, with regard to the Hongkong Hotel, I will read their letter, or rather the letter which was written on their behalf by Messrs. Deacon, Harston, their solicitors, on the 27th of last month, with reference to this Bill. I think it is necessary to read the letter because, with all due deference, I think the Colonial Secretary has given us rather a travesty of their views. The letter is as follows:--\n\nHongkong, 27th September, 1917.\n\nSIR,-We have the honour to address you in regard to the above Bill on behalf of our clients, the Hongkong Hotel Co., Ltd.\n\n1. Our clients are the holders of a Publican's Licence granted by the Hongkong Government and have continuously held such licence or its equivalent for the period of 50 years.\n\n2. The fee payable in respect of such licence at the present time is $3,500 per annum.\n\n3. During the period of 30 years referred to in the preceding paragraph that portion of our clients' business\n\n100\n\nwhich relates to the supply of intoxicating liquor has been very largely carried on by means of what is known as the \"chit system\" whereunder the purchaser is supplied with the liquor desired by him in exchange for an order in writing signed by him.\n\n4. Our clients' experience under the above system-save in a comparatively infinitesimal number of instances-has been such as to enable them to say that the system has worked well and has been a great convenience both to themselves and their customers.\n\n5. The intoxicating liquor supplied by our clients to such of their customers as, if the above Bill be passed, will fall within the purview of its restrictive clauses, is served in the following portions of their premises, viz.:-\n\n(a.) The Public Bar.\n\n(b.) The Private Bar.\n\n(c) The Smoking room Bar.\n\n(d) The Kiosk Lounge.\n\n(e) The Large Lounge.\n\n6. Our clients have quite recently removed the Public Bar into a smaller room, thus reducing the area thereof by approximately 75 per cent. In addition, our clients have also quite recently similarly reduced the area of the Smoking-room Bar.\n\n7. In our clients' opinion the Ordinance now proposed will not only directly inflict needless pecuniary loss upon them in regard to their \"takings, but will also be the cause of their suffering unnecessary inconvenience and hardship, for the reasons (inter alia) that it will be requisite for our clients to provide additional members to their staff in order to \"shroff\" and \"check\" the money which will be received in lieu of \"chits\" as heretofore, and to ensure that no intoxicating liquor is supplied to any customer who is not residing at the Hotel \"-in which respect It must be remembered that the Hotel is patronised not only by permanent residents but also by transient residents and casual visitors.\n\n8. In addition to the inconvenience and hardship entailed upon our clients, as above, it is also the fact that the provisions of the Bill are such as to largely add to the possibility of our clients incurring jeopardy in respect of their hereinbefore mentioned licence.\n\n9. Our clients respectfully submit that no sufficient reason exists to warrant the passing of the proposed Ordinance, and in this relation our clients would observe that this view is supported by the fact that under the\n\n109", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 469435, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917", "page_number": 309, "title": "CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917", "content_text": "305\n\n18\n\nadvanced; but the weather was by no means hot, and I was everywhere assured that the season was a late one.\n\nAt Nan-lung, Mr. Jamieson, of the China Inland Mission, gave me the same story that I had heard on other points of my journey; a considerable amount of poppy-seed had been sown in the autumn, but in January, following the instructions from Peking, proclamations were posted ordering the total eradication of the crop. According to Mr. Jamieson, the proclamation stated that the eradication was insisted on by Great Britain, and it conveyed the impression that the British inspecting officer would himself punish any person found with opium plants in his field. I tried to obtain a copy of this proclamation, but was informed that all had been destroyed, even the magistrate's own copy! The eradication had been carried out with official energy as great as that reported to me at other places. Punishments were freely inflicted on the recalcitrant - Fines, confiscations, imprisonment (in one case a sentence of ten years), and in some districts death by shooting.\n\nAlthough the streets of Nan-Jung were beflagged and decorated in honour of the visit of inspection, the symbols of joy scarcely reflected popular opinion. Opium-growers had lost a considerable amount of capital by the destruction of the crop, and their indignation was greater in that the local officials had permitted them to sow in the autumn, without any suggestion of possible interference. In fact, in order to test the magisterial view, a small plot near the magistrate's yamén was tentatively sown, and, no objection being raised by the authorities, it was taken for granted that opium cultivation was to be permitted in that locality. It was owing to this, no doubt, that the magistrate decided to throw the onus of responsibility for the destruction of the crop on Great Britain, in his proclamation. Destruction of poppy-crop had been carried on from January right into March, the last fields to go being at Mutsu, a village some 5 miles west of Nan-lung-Haingy main road, near the Kuangbisi border. There was very little opium grown in the Nan-lung district in the 1915–6 season; and the bulk of the seed for the 1916 autumn sowing was brought from Kuanghsi province. Kuanghsi opium was being sold in Nan-lung at 3 dollars per oz.; it was all being smuggled over the provincial border.\n\nMany opium-smokers had fled from Nan-lung a day or two before my arrival, fearing that I might detect them by their visages and inflict summary punishment.\n\nI received proof of the unpopularity of my visit the day after my departure from Nan-lung, when a letter which had been left for me at the China Inland Mission compound was sent after me. It was an abusive and threatening letter, accusing me of coming thither in order to spy out the wealth of the country, and stating that if I had really been in search of opium I should have stayed some days in San-lung and thoroughly searched the China Inland Mission premises and the magistrate's yamén; it ended with an impolite request to me to get out of China. I handed the letter to the Nan-Jung magistrate, who was travelling with us through his jurisdiction and requested him to return at once to discover the writers of the letter and to punish them adequately. I heard later from Mr. Jamieson that the magistrate did so, most if not too-adequately.\n\nBetween Nan-lung (former name Ising-yi) and Hong-yi (former name Huang-taao-pa) - 5 miles - I had some altercation with the Chinese delegates regarding the route. They were very anxious to keep to the main road, while I wished to take a less frequented route of which I had learnt through overhearing a conversation among some of our escort. I had my way, but only after considerable objection and opposition, of which I soon discovered the cause. The military official at Hsing-yi was General Liu, the elder brother of the Governor of the province, and the Chinese were expectant that he would come out to meet us. Their fear of the Governor made them anxious to do nothing at which the military brother might take umbrage; and the possibility of missing the General on the road, if my proposed route were followed, made the delegates very nervous. However, all went happily; the General, a rough and bluff person of the old Chinese school, had not come very far out of his town to meet us, and we converged to his temporary encampment without difficulty. The obsequiousness of the Chinese delegates to the Governor's brother was ludicrous, the more so as the General himself was most hearty and informal.\n\nPere Julien, of the Roman Catholic Mission at Hsing-yi, told me that in the Hsing-yi district, as I had heard in other parts of the province, opium crops had been sown, and had been stringently uprooted and destroyed in the early part of the year, in obedience to instructions from Peking through the provincial capital - instructions issued in consequence of the pending visit of inspection. Some opposition to the destruction of the crop had been raised in Hsing-yi, the chief offender being the Governor's own mother, an old lady 96 years old, who had vigorously urged the owners of opium crops to resist the instructions for the eradication of their property. This was corroborated to me by the Chinese delegates, who seemed to appreciate the humour of the situation caused by the aged dame setting herself up in opposition to the official orders issued through her son.\n\nFrom Hsing-yi to Chiang-ti, the small village on the river forming the frontier line between the provinces of Kueichow and Yunnan, was 23 miles of very rough country, with little cultivation. We reached Chiang-ti in the evening of the 1st May, and the Kueichow portion of my journey was ended. During the evening I received a message from Mr. Jamieson at San Lung (75 miles distant) warning me that he had reliable information that certain influential opium dealers of Nan-lung had arranged for my assassination: I was to be stabbed in the back with a long dagger. I carried this cheerful information with me across the province of Yunnan, and at Hakow received a further letter of explanation that my demise had been included in the programme by the authors in order to score off certain of their enemies, whom they hoped to implicate as the real plotters against me, and thereby to obtain their severe punishment.\n\nI append a map and an itinerary of my journey across Kueichow province. My caravan mileage through the province was 517 miles, but I myself covered much more ground than this. My methods of progression were three - walking, where the road was very rough or dangerous; riding, where the road was convenient; and sitting in a chair, carried by four coolies, in bad or very hot weather. On arriving at our destination for the night there was usually an hour or two of daylight left, if not more, during which I travelled on foot or on pony in the surrounding country, selecting high points from which I could cover a large expanse with my field-glass.\n\nI did not see a single opium poppy plant in my journey through the province of Kueichow. The letter of the opium agreement of 1911 has therefore been observed by the province. [But I am satisfied, from the information I have gathered, and from my observation of empty fields bearing out the destruction of the opium crops which the Chinese delegates in conversation did not attempt to deny - that had the visit of inspection not taken place, the Kueichow opium crop of 1917 would have been a large one, and would have shown no signs of diminution in accordance with the terms of the 1911 Agreement. Thus it would appear that any real desire to keep the spirit of the agreement or to abolish Chinese opium is entirely absent. The local officials, practically without exception, did nothing to suppress the cultivation until they were expressly ordered to do so by the higher authorities, under promise of severe penalties to themselves if the instructions were not rigidly carried out. And the local magistrates are the appointees of the provincial authorities. Any the least sincere desire to suppress opium would have curbed the crop at its inception, without waiting for the incentive of an official visit of inspection.]\n\nIn conversation with the Chinese delegates I did not detect any real desire for suppression of opium cultivation in China. They were rather hazy as to the 1911 Agreement, and seemed to be under the impression that the arrangement of the Shanghai opium combine with the Chinese authorities, fixing March 1917 as the last date for the sale of stocks into China, had superseded all treaties and agreements on the subject. Mr. Shen, the senior delegate, naively asked me whether - if the term set by the 1911 Agreement expired at the end of 1917 - Great Britain was precluded from sending an inspecting officer to the provinces after that date.\n\nI enquired of Mr. Shen why no practical steps had been taken to encourage farmers to reduce their opium cultivation and he informed me that the Governor of Kweichow had this spring distributed 10,000 packets of flax-seed among the magistrates in the province, with a view to encourage a cotton industry in place of opium. Those magistrates to whom I mentioned this, however, appeared to know nothing of the distribution of the flax-seed.\n\nOne point is worth noting here, with regard to any inspection carried out in Kueichow province. The northern parts of the province are much lower than the centre and south, the country sloping up southwards from the Yang-tze Valley. A traveller might reasonably expect, more especially in late spring, that the climate would become much warmer as he progresses southwards; but owing to the altitude of the highland plateau in the centre and south of Kueichow - an altitude ever increasing into Yunnan province - this is not the case in Kueichow. The season is later in the south than in the north; the crops I saw in northern Kueichow in the first days of April were more advanced than similar crops which I saw in the south a month later. It is advisable, therefore, that a journey of inspection in Kueichow should be taken from north to south in order to obtain the least variation of season through the province.\n\n19", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 474948, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917", "page_number": 642, "title": "CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917", "content_text": "have recently been revealed. In short, it is hoped that they are taking advantage of the temporary lull in German competition to put their own house in order.\n\nThere are, however, one or two important questions arising out of the war, upon which it would appear desirable to make a few comments in amplification of the views expressed by the various trade organisations summarised under heading A.\n\nComments on the Suggested Restrictions on Trading with German Firms after the War.\n\nIt has been suggested in many quarters that inasmuch as a number of shippers (particularly of piece goods) in the United Kingdom depended very largely upon German distributors in China before the war, these connections will probably be re-opened unless post-bellum trade with such firms in the Far East is prohibited by legislation. Such legislation would give a powerful measure of protection to British merchants in China, but the point to be considered is whether such legislation Would—\n\n(a) be effectual in practice; and\n\n(b) contribute to the interests of Great Britain in the broadest sense.\n\nThere is a considerable cleavage of interest and opinion on this subject. In the first place there is the interest of the British merchants in China, who are strongly of opinion that they are both able and willing to handle the whole of the piece-goods trade, and that it would be in the best interests of Lancashire if all trade with non-British distributors were restricted by legislation for a period of years, on the laudable principle of \"British distributors for British goods.\" Many of the goods formerly handled by the Germans before the war are now being distributed by British houses under new chops, and it is contended that unless some measure of protection is afforded, the old German chops will probably be renewed at the close of the war if the goods are obtainable from Manchester and Bradford.\n\nOn the other hand there is the important interest of the cotton textile industry in the United Kingdom which calls for the greatest possible output of the products of British capital and labour. There is little doubt that the expansion of the piece-goods shipments to China of late years has largely fallen into the hands of German houses who have been most active and pushing distributors, and whose relationship with British shippers has been on a sound and satisfactory basis. The opinion of the China representatives of Manchester and Bradford houses is that the concentration of business in the hands of a limited number of hongs is not conducive to the extension of British trade, and that the development of the present British firms, and the encouragement of new British firms to establish themselves is essential to the development of the trade to the limit of its fullest possibilities in China. Taking all the factors of the case into consideration, I am disposed to agree with the contention of the Manchester and Bradford representatives, and hold that the remedy should be found in the action of the exporters and distributors themselves rather than by State interference. The prohibition of British trading with German firms in a great neutral market like China would present very grave difficulties in the time of peace:\n\n(a) It would probably involve the continuation of the system of the black and white lists, and, in order to be effectual, would require the blacklisting of Chinese firms, which in normal times would create friction with the Chinese Government.\n\n(b) It would tend to stimulate American and Japanese competition by forcing the German distributing organisation into the hands of American and Japanese manufacturers.\n\nIn this connection the following extract from the report of Commercial Agent Ralph M. Odell to the United States Government, Special Agents Series, No. 107, page 153, dated 1st December 1915 is of peculiar interest:--\n\n\"There are a number of German firms in China which have hitherto done a large business in English piece goods, but which will probably have to secure their supplies elsewhere owing to the restrictive measures with regard to trading with the enemy which have been taken by the British Government. The German importers are extremely thorough in their methods and dealings, and they have gone into the interior and established closer relations with the consumer than other firms. It is possible that the organisation and facilities which they possess in handling trade in China might be utilised to advantage by American manufacturers and mill agents who are unable to establish satisfactory connections with American firms. If a good trade could be built up through German firms, it is not likely that it would be lost after the close of the present European war. Inasmuch as German cotton goods have never been an important factor in the trade, the German firms would not turn to Germany, and the bitter feelings engendered by the war will probably make them reluctant to handle English goods in the near future.\n\n\"A number of English firms, with branches or correspondents in New York, are doing some business in American cotton goods. With only a few exceptions, however, they are extremely conservative, and, since they are allied by business and personal relations to the home country, they are not particularly anxious to handle American goods, except those lines which do not compete with Manchester goods. The tendency to favour British goods has been intensified by the war. One English importer went so far as to state that he would not buy American goods even if they were offered at prices 5 per cent. lower than similar goods that he could purchase in England.\"\n\nIt is possible that a commercial rapprochement between Germany and Japan may take place after the war. Japanese views with regard to the economic policy outlined at the Paris Conference are well known, and it is conceivable that if the supply of British goods should be artificially cut off, German firms would turn to Japan, firstly with a view to securing a textile trade, and secondly with the object of seriously damaging British interests. I am informed that the German prisoners in Japan, many of whom are assistants in German firms in China, are making the best possible use of their time in studying both Chinese and Japanese, and in cultivating friendly relations with their captors.\n\n(c) Such legislation would tend (certainly at the outset) to restrict the shipments of British textiles to China and to confine our trade. At the same time it would provide such effectual protection for British merchants in China that they would lack the direct incentive and stimulus of healthy competition, and it is extremely doubtful whether, under such circumstances, they would be prepared to take adequate steps to widen the basis of their distribution.\n\nThe remedy would appear to be in energetic action on the part of the exporters in the United Kingdom and their British clients in China on the following lines:—\n\n(1) The extension of the existing connections in every possible way with a view to a wider field of distribution. To this end, British merchants in China should abandon their pre-war attitude of confining themselves to one shipper only; they should be more ready to take up business in fancy goods and novelties; and should not refrain from handling new lines of trade because at first they appear to involve considerable trouble and detail work, and are not as simple to work as the large staple articles.\n\nThe fact that the bulk trade in staple goods has been in British hands in the past has undoubtedly caused British merchants to view with disfavour the small orders in novelties involving numerous designs and assortments, and much trouble for a small turnover. They failed to see that with the raising of the standard of living in China, these goods would tend in time to become staple articles themselves. This attitude largely accounts for the fact that the distribution of miscellaneous fancy textiles was so largely in German hands.\n\n(2) Home exporters should give every possible assistance to the British houses in their laudable attempts to expand their trade. This can be done in many ways, such as by the help and advice of resident representatives in Shanghai, by liberal financial facilities and careful sampling, by regular consignments of goods on joint account in order to establish new qualities and chops, and by most meticulous attention to the execution of orders and the needs of the market.\n\n(3) In view of the fact that there are not, at present, sufficient British firms of the requisite standing and enjoying the necessary facilities to deal with a greatly increased volume of business, new British firms should be established with the encouragement and assistance of the banks. I would suggest that British textile merchants in Manchester and Bradford...\n\nPage 368\n\n \n▲ 3687\n\nL\n\n637", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 474969, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917", "page_number": 663, "title": "CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917", "content_text": "1 \n\n80° \n\n100° \n\n120° \n\n199 \n\nthis state of affairs should be changed after the war. The other suggestions made refer to Governmental assistance to trade, such as the development of a Government Commercial Intelligence system throughout the East, &c. \n\nViews of the Institute of London Underwriters.-The general views of the Institute with regard to trade policy towards enemy countries after the war are summarised in the resolutions passed at a meeting of members held on July 21st, 1916. They recommend that: \n\n(1) \"No company or individual having an enemy origin, proprietary interest, or nationality should be permitted to transact marine insurance or reinsurance in the United Kingdom directly or indirectly.\" \n\n(2) \"That no British subject or company should be permitted to place with any such company or individual directly or indirectly any marine insurance or reinsurance in this country or elsewhere.\" \n\n(3) \n\n\"That it should be recommended that the above-mentioned disabilities be \n\nimposed throughout the British Empire and in the Allied Countries,” \n\nIt will be noted that these resolutions refer mainly to the United Kingdom, and do not take into account the special conditions in the Far East. After requesting the views of the Institute on the question of German agencies after the war, I received the following reply :— \n\nIt is the unanimous opinion of the Committees of the Institute of London Underwriters and the Liverpool Underwriters' Association that, as a matter of principle, it is not desirable that British insurance companies should grant agencies to German merchants after the war.\" \n\nAfter careful consideration of all sides of the question, and of the special conditions prevailing in the Far East, I am of opinion that while everything possible should be done to encourage the British trader to secure a larger share of the trade of the markets under review, any legislation against insuring German risks or appointing German insurance agents in those places where it is deemed advisable to do so would be a direct incentive to our competitors, and would react to the disadvantage of British insurance companies without securing any compensating advantage to British trade. \n\nBAIKAL \n\nMONGOLIA \n\nPeking \n\nCHINESE REPUBLIC Tientsin \n\nYELLOW \n\nSEA \n\nTIBET \n\nLhasa \n\nCHINA \n\nHankow \n\nShanghai \n\nNEPAL \n\nCalcutta \n\nCanton \n\nFORMOSA *HongKong \n\nHaiphong \n\nBURMA \n\nBAY \n\nOF \n\nBENGAL \n\nChiengmai \n\nSIAM \n\nBangkok \n\nBENGAL \n\nMadras \n\nOCEAN \n\nBENGAL \n\nCEYLON \n\n80° \n\nEQUATOR \n\nFRENCH INDO \n\nCHINA \n\nSaigon \n\nPenang \n\nSingapore \n\nJAPAN \n\nSEA \n\nYokohama \n\n140° \n\nJAPANESE EMPIRE \n\nNORTH Tropic of Cancer \n\nPACIFIC \n\nOCEAN \n\nManila \n\nPHILIPPINE ISLANDS \n\nSUMATRA \n\nBatavia \n\nBORNEO \n\nCELEBES \n\nJAVA \n\nSamrang Macassar \n\n120 \n\nNEW \n\nGUINEA \n\n100 \n\n140° \n\nStanford's Geog! Estabt, London. \n\n658", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 476196, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "page_number": 11, "title": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "content_text": "## HONG KONG \n16872 \n9 \n1 6 8 4 2 \n**REC REA 8 APR 181** \n1918 \n60pl. \n\nLast previous Paper. `12361` \nCopy Adm `cons 12 ape /18/` \nReminded 29 July 20 \n\nNext subsequent Paper. `Sco 38843`. \n`(14174—4h.) Wt. 5426—14` \n\nShipyard extension in Hong Kong \n\nConsiders that most satisfactory incentive to extensions local shipyards would be in guarantee from Govt for supply of plans, placing of order for standard ships & providing assistance there for. With such guarantee, Vickers You and probably proceed with extension. Also Whampoa Dock are already making large extension there and be no discrimination between Vickers and local yards.\n\n2 June \nMr Bowell \n7 \n\nOr Coller's Om frindle \ndon't biti, \nDo Adende for Sons \n6.8/4/0 \nAre \n9.4.18 4.6.5.4.15 \nat que \n3. semina Aday of. \n50m, 11/17 D&S. G 122 41. \n257ples clones who \n23/7/18.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 476197, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "page_number": 12, "title": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "content_text": "## TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to Secretary of State for the Colonies\n\n(Received Colonial Office 12.10 p.m. 6th April, 1918.)\n\nWith reference to your telegram of 22nd March, am of opinion that by far the most satisfactory incentive to extension of local shipyards would lie in a guarantee from His Majesty's Government for supply of plant, placing of order for standard ships and provision of material for construction of them. With such guarantee, Taikoo yard, which can readily raise capital sum locally, probably will proceed with extension. Without such guarantee, immediately utility of extension from an Imperial point of view would be largely discounted. Hong Kong Whampoa Dock Company are already, on their own initiative, making large extension, see my despatch of 21st April 1917 No.128, as a business venture in anticipation of post-war demand for ships. It would doubtless do more under suggested guarantee. I consider that there should be no discrimination between Taikoo Yard and other competing local yards capable of building ocean steamers. I will add that this Government is not in position to formulate conditions under which grant could be made nor to give assistance in the supply of material and plant.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 476198, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "page_number": 13, "title": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "content_text": "## TELEGRAM\n### Message Form\n\nNo. | Clerk's Name and Date\n---------|---------\nXPA 9/6 | \n\n**TELEGRAM DETAILS**\n\n* Tel. Address - \"SIGNALLY, AVE.,\" LONDON\n* Telephno: \n* ISSUED FROM CHIEF CABLE STATION, ELECT...\n* REPLIES SHOULD BE ORDERED Via Eastern\n* Doubtful words should be OFFICIALLY repeated. See Rule\n* No inquiry respecting this Telegram can be attended to without production of this Copy.\n\n| Orig. Time | Time Received | Nr. Station from |\n|------------|---------------|------------------|\n| | | |\n\n**TELEGRAM CONTENT**\n\nHONGKONG 126 6 MW BC APR 22\n\nUNFADINGLY Satisfactory of pension that Far ORGANSTOP BY WAR incentive to exclusion of RS OF Outer Circle A.M Inner Circle PM.\n\nTHE D 11, PW=3,43 p.m. HL-8,53 a.m.\n\nNo. | \n---------|---------\nTHE MOST İROLDONES IMPATERNAL EXPURGATOR LOCAL lie in a 7 SHIPYARDS WOULD_ |LARCHVINE Guarantee GREEDINESS from H H.M. Sort upply of } GLUEYNESS FOR ĮSNOWGAGE PLANT COMMA PLACING", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 476347, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "page_number": 162, "title": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "content_text": "## \nIt there are no facilities for higher or university education, those are badly wanted to supply a stimulus to the students an incentive to persevere in their studies.\n\nThe cost of maintaining a student at Hongkong University, roughly a thousand dollars a year for some years, is far too great for many of the Yunnanese gentry to afford, and although there are many promising scholars here they are, for pecuniary reasons, unable to benefit by the advantages which Hongkong offers. There are a few students now at Hongkong University at Government expense, but the Provincial Authorities have so far declined to increase their number, but it has been represented to me that they might be willing to pay part of the expenses of students if we could guarantee the rest.\n\nIn addition to the patriotic motive of pressing British influence and making the Hongkong University known in the province, it would, I think, be a good investment for houses in Hongkong, in view of trade possibilities, to encourage young Yunnanese to study at Hongkong University so that, in view of these considerations you will see the advantage of subscribing a generous sum annually for this purpose. I am sending a copy of this letter to the Hongkong and also to Sir Charles Eliot.\n\nI am, &c., \n**(Sd.) Herbert Goffe,** \nConsul-General.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 478920, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-452 - Others & Individuals - 1918", "page_number": 385, "title": "CO129-452 - Others & Individuals - 1918", "content_text": "## Document Header\n**REG 20 AUG 18**\n`Any 177/18`\n\n## Main Content\n\nI track the T. I. for the novel upon on her.\n\nIn the first instance\n\n`Suo/A29/4/18`\n\nAt.oncr \nArc \nexport \nMr. Robinson \n36.8 \nLetter of 29 Sept. attached.\n\nColo \n28. Left. 30, 1918.\n\nHere I cannot harmonise particulars: is it with white to all S Saniel?\n\nyes \nAt once \nAEC \n1.10 \nC.O \n40233 \n381 \n191 Preston Rd. \n-Beachluum. \nLavers\n\n`GR1178/1922/32(III)`\n\nNotification from the Ministry of Labour Broad Street, E.C. 2, informing Gld feet call fw J requested.\n\nforwarding a statement of suy ng with mistructuurs.\n\nA detailed statement regarding a candidate, 22 years of age, candid, completed the vecerung the abil the wnte fun EU.P... qualification, married.\n\nTime and Lancashire & Cheshire Lautifient in Dommerend Lower fondusse exfencince im seunul.\n\nChecked by Linguey.\n\nBook keeping bown Land Phamany.\n\n`Catcher 24/15 to July 16`\n\nQualified inter of that Lassed id Ale Calen the hops in Disparing, being competent by Officer fr. of pinoted Punts subsequently jimsted to Comme Pant East Incentive Regt. during invadeded Ellauch, 1919.\n\nLevice nafil for further service.\n\nReturn the Pleused fermenendly masiv further affointment recent, affilication for.\n\nRegarding amus interation this Custo.\n\nFaxistant Revale century, Lunetary I State for. Extamins. Lowring 14.\n\nFir Home Chedet ewent.\n\n## Metadata\nPage [not explicitly numbered, but potentially Page 363 based on context]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-452 - Others & Individuals - 1918.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 480995, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12]", "page_number": 232, "title": "CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12]", "content_text": "213\n\nBank for your approval. We must look forward to having a\n\nsupply of silver dollars again in the future and the cost of\n\nproviding\n\na small note issue is an incentive to the Bank to provide silver\n\ndollars.\n\nI have the honour to be, My Lord,\n\nYour Lordship's most obedient,\n\nhumble servant,\n\n7.2. Stubbe\n\nGovernor, &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 481147, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12]", "page_number": 384, "title": "CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12]", "content_text": "365\n\ntherefore, to recommend to Your Lordship is that the whole system of classification should be abandoned and that an officer who enters the service as a Cadet should rise continuously throughout his service from the salary of a Cadet to that now proposed to be assigned to Class I. I suggest that a Cadet should be paid $3,000 a year, and that on passing his examinations he should receive $4,000 a year rising by annual increments of $250 to $6,000 and then by $500 annually to $15,000 a year without regard to the post which he may be holding at any time. This would result in an officer's reaching the proposed salary for Class I about the age of 45 or 46 and attaining his maximum at the age of 51 or 52 which appears to me to be a reasonable arrangement.\n\nI am of course aware that such a scheme is open to considerable theoretical objections but I am satisfied that, at least in the case of Hongkong, these objections are not of such practical importance as to counterbalance the advantages which it offers.\n\n--\n\nIt may be argued that such a system removes the incentive of ambition, offends against the principle that a man should be paid according to the importance of the work which he is doing and entails the risk that officers will content themselves with doing the minimum of work which will enable them to qualify for their annual increments. I cannot, however, at the moment recall any case in which an officer's promotion from one class to another has been expedited owing to his unusual zeal or ability. Very likely there have been cases in the past, but certainly they have not been so numerous as always to be present to the mind of the ambitious young officer as examples to be followed. Payment according to the importance of the work done will really be made as a matter of practice under the proposed system, since the posts of most importance will obviously be held by the men whose age and experience make them", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 483668, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-461 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [5-7]", "page_number": 21, "title": "CO129-461 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [5-7]", "content_text": "period when Re\n\nwas seconded\n\nPos service in thong from his pensionable service in the\n\nRIC\n\n2.\n\nI am accordingly directed\n\nto enquire the amt. due to Mr\n\nHowe from the Govt. of Hong\n\nKong in order that the\n\nreceipt\n\n& may be sent to the C.A. for the\n\nColonies. The amt. will be forwd\n\nto the auths. of the\n\nRIC\n\nas the pension is\n\npaid by the\n\nGovt.\n\nKet! Pkts. 8201\n\n1920\n\nWith many\n\nLast previous Paper.\n\n138056/19\n\nHONG KONG\n\n2234Y\n\nC.O\n\n22347\n\n20\n\nRE\n\nRECT 5 MAY 20\n\nBuilding Grant. St. Joseph's College.\n\nRequests approval of grant of $20,000.\n\nParthier Pao, to meet you and\n\nL'eil\n\nare amanuensis\n\nof Rel.\n\n7\n\ntraffical Incentive\n\n5/3/20\n\ncontrived\n\nAus\". Tel. 6 May.\n\nNext subsequent Paper.\n\nto Colle\n\nVisuudes\n\n\"Your at 44 may\" St Joseph's College\n\nprocurement Proposal approved\n\nAB-414/20\n\nAL\n\nM Aver\n\nonce\n\n(26069-11) Wt. 26689-35 50,000 11/19 H. St. G. 122/41.\n\n6.5°\n\n7\n\nUpon reviewing the provided text and applying the given rules for OCR proofreading, here is the corrected version in HTML format as requested:\n\nPeriod when Rev.\n\nwas seconded\n\nfrom his pensionable service in the\n\nRIC\n\n2.\n\nI am accordingly directed\n\nto enquire the amount due to Mr.\n\nHowe from the Govt. of Hong\n\nKong in order that the\n\nreceipt\n\n& may be sent to the C.A. for the\n\nColonies. The amount will be forwarded\n\nto the authorities of the\n\nRIC\n\nas the pension is\n\npaid by the\n\nGovt.\n\nKet! Pkts. 8201\n\n1920\n\nLast previous Paper.\n\n138056/19\n\nHONG KONG\n\n2234Y\n\nC.O.\n\n22347\n\n20\n\nRE\n\nRECT 5 MAY 20\n\nBuilding Grant. St. Joseph's College.\n\nRequests approval of grant of $20,000.\n\nParthier Pao, to meet you and\n\nare amanuensis\n\nof Rev.\n\ntraffical Incentive\n\n5/3/20\n\ncontrived\n\nAus\". Tel. 6 May.\n\nNext subsequent Paper.\n\nto College\n\nVisitudes\n\n\"Your at 44 may\" St Joseph's College\n\nprocurement Proposal approved\n\nAB-414/20\n\nAL\n\nM Aver\n\n(26069-11) Wt. 26689-35 50,000 11/19 H. St. G. 122/41.\n\nChanges made include:\n- Correcting spelling errors (e.g., \"Pos\" to \"from his pensionable\", \"amt.\" to \"amount\", \"recivsy\" to \"receipt\", \"forwd\" to \"forwarded\", \"auths.\" to \"authorities\", \"Govt.\" remains as is, assuming it's a standard abbreviation, \"Ket! Pkts.\" remains unchanged due to lack of context, \"L'eil\" to a more plausible correction is not made due to lack of context, \"amannion\" to \"amanuensis\", \"traffical\" remains unchanged, \"Visuudes\" to \"Visitudes\", \"procorum\" to \"procurement\", \"Colle\" to \"College\").\n- Fixing spacing issues and removing extra spaces.\n- Rejoining broken sentences where necessary.\n- Restoring paragraph breaks to the original format as closely as possible.\n- Indicating missing words with \"...\" is not necessary here as the corrections made are based on clear OCR errors.\n- No rephrasing or rewriting has been done.\n- Formatting is in HTML using for paragraphs.\n- File references are corrected to remove spaces inside parentheses, though none were present in the original text that required this correction.\n- Page numbering lines are kept as is, assuming they represent original scan metadata, though none were explicitly identified in the provided text.\n\nThis corrected version aims to adhere to the provided rules and guidelines for OCR proofreading.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-461 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 484304, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-462 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [7-10]", "page_number": 166, "title": "CO129-462 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [7-10]", "content_text": "153\n\nFirst Class Inspectors: it is submitted that promotion should be automatic in such cases, in order to give the Second Class Inspectors an incentive to improve their qualifications at the earliest possible moment.\n\n14.\n\nIn past years your petitioners have always ranked on an equal footing with Inspectors of Police in the matter of salary, and they learn with great surprise that the latter have just received a very considerable increase in pay, which far exceeds the new scale for the Sanitary Inspectors as shown in the following table:-\n\n \n \n New Scale Sanitary\n Police\n \n \n Chief or Senior Inspectors\n £240 to £480\n £500 to £600\n \n \n First Class\n £320 to £360\n £400 to £450\n \n \n Second class or Sub-inspector\n £220 to £300\n £320 to £360\n \n\n15. Your Petitioners cannot understand on what grounds this sudden discrimination has been made, as already pointed out the qualifications of a Sanitary Inspector entail a high degree of education, and (for the first class posts) technical training and knowledge of Chinese: the work is similar in many respects to that of Inspectors of Police and if the Police are exposed to risks of violence, your Petitioners are exposed to the more insidious risks of succumbing to fatal infections or contagious diseases in the course of their ordinary duties.\n\n16.\n\nFurther the Police have many more privileges than your Petitioners, in particular they have much better prospects of promotion, and can attain after ten years service to a salary of £560 with light and fuel, which is better than the maximum obtainable by a First Class Inspector after many years", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-462 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 488381, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12]", "page_number": 122, "title": "CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12]", "content_text": "# 103 \n\n**HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL** \n\n...out and bind the hands of the Government to exempt from rates for a longer period of years than three years. I understand, sir, that my honourable colleagues on the Council are in favour of this resolution, and I will now ask my honourable friend, the senior Chinese unofficial member, to second it. \n\nHON. MR. LAU CHI-PAK - Sir, I beg to second this resolution, and in doing so desire to endorse the remarks of the senior unofficial member. Whenever there was land to be developed on the mainland of China, whether for agricultural or dwelling purposes, remission of taxes of every description was granted. I believe this practice is still in force on the mainland. Personally, I have several plots of land in Chinese territory exempted from taxation of any kind for 15 years. This resolution, sir, if accepted by the Government, as it should be, would serve as some inducement to people to build new houses in view of the fact that new houses would very often take a long time to build, particularly in New Kowloon and in outlying districts such as Shaukiwan and Aberdeen, where land is waiting to be built upon. \n\nThe houses would have to wait at least two or three years before they can all be let out. After completion, one flat here and another flat there may be taken up at once. Then rates had to be paid on the whole house and even for those which remained vacant, although in the latter case the rates would be refunded should the house still be occupied after the quarter for which the rates have been paid. Meanwhile, investors have to put up with considerable loss in interest on capital and wages for caretakers. For this reason, sir, I submit that the resolution should be favourably entertained by the Government. \n\n...that I believe it will help to increase confidence in the investment of money on the erection of houses which are so necessary, I support this resolution. \n\nSir, \n\n## 18 \n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY - When I saw this resolution placed upon the paper, I was surprised to think that any incentive was required to people to build houses in this Colony, in view of the fact that whenever a new building is going up, it is occupied. I think it is common knowledge that in the case of practically every single house that has been put up in this Colony for some years past, there have been tenants almost before a brick has been laid, and I cannot imagine that anything that has happened recently in the way of legislation is going to put any check on the demand for new houses being erected in this Colony. The amount of building that is going on at present for office accommodation and domestic tenements in the Colony is quite unprecedented, although during the nine or ten years I have been here, the building that has taken place has been in excess of anything since the Colony was founded. That being the case, I cannot imagine how an exemption from the payment of rates amounting to 13 per cent. of the annual value of the house is going to either encourage or stop the building which is proceeding or which is contemplated. The building which is contemplated is enormous, as is shown by the next resolution which is coming before you. Plans that have been forwarded to the Building Office are such that it is almost impossible to keep pace with them. The staff of the Building Office is working much overtime. We are increasing it, but even with the increases we contemplate, there are bound to be some delays. \n\nTo say that any encouragement is needed for the construction of new houses is extraordinary - I would almost say, ridiculous. The only case which has come before us of the development of any urban district being in any way checked was in the case of 30 houses which it was proposed to erect in a central position. The Government was told that some of the promoters of the project were nervous that legislation might be brought about which would interfere in some way with the economic problem of supply and demand, and the Government were asked to give an assurance that nothing that they would do would interfere with that position. Government replied at once that there was no legislation in contemplation which would affect those who wished to build new buildings, and it would only be by some extraordinary emergency, where the public interests were very seriously prejudiced, that the Government would ever think of interfering. It seems to me that there is no case made out for this at all. \n\nHON. MR. HOLYOAK - Sir, I rise to support this resolution because I think that it is common knowledge to us all that the passing of the recent Rents Ordinance has, for the time being, very badly shaken the confidence of the investing Chinese public, and anything that can be done to restore that confidence will be a step in the right direction. The Rents Ordinance was necessary, and we therefore passed it as a measure which we regarded as a temporary one, and the sooner it can be definitely announced by the Government that it is a temporary one and will cease at the end of the year, the better. For the reason that I believe it will help to increase confidence in the investment of money on the erection of houses which are so necessary, I support this resolution. \n\n## 104 \n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY - ...it is difficult to believe that any landlord will refrain from building because if he builds, the tenants will have to pay 13 per cent. more rent. The hon. senior Chinese member rather startled me by saying that it was the common practice for premises to remain vacant for a year or two after they are completed. That does not quite agree with what we heard of the shortage of housing accommodation. As he himself pointed out, the rates are refunded on buildings which are left vacant, so that the only loss to the landlord is that he is out of the interest on an extremely exiguous sum for a short period, possibly not more than a month, during which houses remain uninhabited. As I say, if I were sure people, however illogically, would be encouraged to increase the number of buildings in the Colony by the fact that their tenants would be exempt from rates, I would sympathise with the resolution, but it would be very difficult to discover whether this encouragement had been given or not. It might be possible to get a line by considering what is the average number of new buildings and seeing whether, if such a resolution as this were to be enforced temporarily, the number of houses increased over the average, allowing for the natural growth of population. It is possible that the excess of the houses so constructed over the average of previous years might give some indication of the amount of encouragement being given by the exemption of rates, and it might, I think, be worth while to try something of that kind. I should in any case hesitate to suggest that we should pass an Ordinance making this a permanent factor. \n\nSupposing we agree to exempt them for three years, what will be the result? Does the landlord exempt the tenants from all rent? Does he say, \"I am going to charge you 13 per cent. less than I would have charged you\"? Not a bit of it. He will simply take the whole of the rent and pay no rates. I think the mover and seconder and hon. members who have brought this motion have a wonderful idea of the altruistic motives of the landlord, if they think this exemption of rates is going to make any difference, except that it will reduce the revenue the Government should receive, and possibly further taxation will be proposed later to make up for it. We do not say that it will, but still it is the logical result if this resolution is passed. I am afraid the Government is unable to accept the resolution as it stands. \n\nHON. MR. POLLOCK - To all of them.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY - Supposing we say that new buildings will be exempted from rates for three years after their construction? I presume this motion applies to both business premises and domestic tenements. Is that so?\n\nHON. MR. POLLOCK - To all of them.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY - ...the period of three years is much too long. What I should be inclined to contemplate would be something of a more experimental nature, say, that in the case of houses, the plans of which are handed in within a certain period, they will be exempted from rates for one year. I think that would afford considerable encouragement, if encouragement is needed, and it would prevent such an Ordinance remaining permanently on the Statute Book with the concomitant sacrifice of revenue which the Colony needs now and will need more in the future. \n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR - I am afraid I must express my agreement with my hon. friend in saying that the Government cannot accept the motion. But I do not feel so entirely unsympathetic as my hon. friend. If I were quite sure the effect of some such measure would be to encourage the construction of new houses, I would be inclined to go some way to meet hon. members. I must confess that at present I am extremely doubtful on the point. As the Colonial Secretary pointed out, it is a very small thing indeed, and it is a case where the Government would be making a sacrifice of revenue which the Colony needs now and will need more in the future. I do not make this as an actual proposition, but I should like to consider...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 488967, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 115, "title": "CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "# \n## \n\n5 \n\n113 \n\nthe Shan States do not indicate any increase in opium consumption among the Shans, probably because the opium habit is already general there, and the Shans have always been able to obtain as much as they require. Apart, however, from the increase in consumption among the Kachin and cognate tribes, which is resulting from the extension of cultivation, there is no doubt that the existence of large supplies of opium in the Kachin Hills and the Shan States renders more difficult the enforcement of our opium policy in Burma. Hitherto most of the opium grown in these regions has found its markets in China, Indo-China and Siam, but if these markets are closed and no concurrent steps are taken for the suppression or restriction of opium cultivation, this opium must necessarily find its market in Burma. There is also an obvious economic danger in the substitution of poppy for food crops in these regions which are entirely dependent for their food supplies on the locally-grown stocks. It may be added that the present time, when the fall in the price of opium has reduced the incentive to cultivation, is a favourable moment for inaugurating a policy of restriction or suppression of poppy cultivation.\n\n5. The subject-matter of the correspondence may conveniently be subdivided into three heads:- \n\n(1) The prohibition of the cultivation of the poppy in the Kachin Hill Tracts. \n(2) The restriction of the cultivation of the poppy in the Shan States. \n(3) The prevention of the smuggling of opium from Burma and the Shan States into China and Siam.\n\nThe general question of the assimilation of the internal opium policy in Burma to that laid down in the International Opium Convention has been dealt with in separate correspondence.\n\n6. The first question has been fully dealt with in the correspondence enclosed with the Mandalay Commissioner's letter, dated the 15th November, 1919. It appears unnecessary to examine that correspondence in detail, for in his letter Mr. Cabell states that he approves of the policy proposed by Colonel Aplin in his letter, dated the 8th April, 1914, a copy of which was forwarded to you with Mr. Mosely's letter, dated the 23rd December, 1915, and as far as Mr. Arbuthnot can judge from the proposals suggested in that correspondence, the only course to adopt is that which these two officers recommend for acceptance. These proposals have been summarised by Mr. Cabell as follows:- \n\n| Proposal | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| (1) | That the Kachin Hill Tribes Regulation should be amended so as to make cultivation of the poppy in any hill-tract to which the regulation applies illegal; |\n| (2) | That orders should be proclaimed in all villages in the hill-tracts that after the present season the cultivation of the poppy will be entirely prohibited, that any crop found will be destroyed and that the owner of the crop will be liable to prosecution; |\n| (3) | That in the first season after the proclamation of the prohibition all poppy crops found should be destroyed, but prosecution should not be resorted to, but that in subsequent years prosecution should be undertaken, light punishment being inflicted in the case of first offence; |\n| (4) | That Chinese subjects found cultivating the poppy on the Burmese side of the frontier should be similarly treated, and should also be dealt with under the Frontier Crossing and Disturbed Districts Regulation and expelled from British territory. |\n\nThe amendments to section 31 of the Kachin Hill Tribes Regulation, which were suggested by Colonel Aplin in his letter of 8th April, 1914, above referred to, are also regarded as suitable by the Commissioner, Mandalay Division, and by the Deputy Commissioners of Katha, Bhamo and Ruby Mines. The Deputy Commissioner, Myitkyina, deprecates the taking of any action. Putao, it is suggested, may be left out of consideration for the present.\n\nThe Financial Commissioner recommends that action should be taken on the lines proposed by the Commissioner to prohibit the cultivation of the poppy in the Kachin Hill Tracts in the Katha, Bhamo, Myitkyina and Ruby Mines Districts, and also that steps should be taken to amend the Kachin Hills Regulation in the manner proposed by the Commissioner.\n\n7. Mr. Arbuthnot agrees with Colonel Aplin and Mr. Cabell that it is not possible at present to take any measures to prohibit the possession of opium among the Kachins. If, however, the cultivation of the poppy is entirely prohibited in the Kachin Hills, some arrangements will have to be made for the supply of opium to Kachin consumers. This is a matter which is hardly touched on in the correspondence and which will have to be further considered by the Excise Commissioner in consultation with the local officers. Since, however, it will be at least two years before the policy of prohibition, if adopted, can be made effective, there will be ample time for the settlement of this matter. Meanwhile, it is desirable that a decision on the question of the policy in regard to the prohibition of the cultivation of the poppy should be arrived at at an early date.\n\n8. I am, in this connection, to refer to the correspondence ending with Mr. Keith's letter dated the 3rd December, 1914, and to suggest that the orders conveyed in Local Government's letter dated the 23rd April, 1901, directing that until further orders Chinese British subjects permanently residing in a Kachin Hill Tract should, as regards the cultivation of the poppy and the manufacture, possession, transport and sale of opium, be subjected only to the restrictions for the time being in force in the case of hill tribes to which the Kachin Hill Tribes Regulation has been made applicable, should now be abrogated.\n\n9. The second question raised in this correspondence is that of the restriction of the cultivation of opium in the Shan States. The latest opinions of the local officers are to be found in the note, dated the 28th May, 1919, by Messrs. Stirling and Thornton, letters by the same officers dated the 14th and 24th July, 1919, respectively, and a long letter, dated the 12th March, 1920, from Major Butterfield, Superintendent, Northern Shan States, to the Revenue Secretary. Messrs. Stirling, Thornton and Lister discussed this last letter with his Honour on the 5th April at Taunggyi, and their conclusions were summarised in a note, dated the 8th April, 1920, prepared by the Chief Secretary. In this note Messrs. Stirling and Thornton reaffirmed their adherence to the proposals made by them in their note of the 28th May, 1919. The proposals are that Government should issue an immediate notification of its intention to control the output of opium in the cis-Salween States after two years from the date of the notification. These two years should be devoted to preparing estimates of the amount of opium required in the Shan States. The control exercised should be such as to reduce the cultivation in the cis-Salween States to the barest minimum required for the internal consumption of the States. Indeed it might be possible to reduce cultivation below this minimum, as the trans-Salween States would probably always have a surplus for export to the cis-Salween States. The result of their proposals would be that at the end of two years the total prohibition of cultivation would be effective in many localities in the cis-Salween States. Where cultivation was permitted in these States, it should be under licence and at a heavy revenue rate, the terms of which could be considered and determined in a notified period of two years. Licensed cultivators should be permitted to sell only to the recognised vendors of the various States. Presumably the method by which effect would be given to these proposals would be by the extension, to the cis-Salween States, of certain sections of the `Opium Act`, and by framing rules under that Act for the regulation of: \n- (a) the cultivation of poppy under licence; \n- (b) the sale by the licensed cultivators to recognised opium vendors; and \n- (c) the amount to be sold by these vendors.\n\nBut until the enquiries, which Messrs. Stirling and Thornton consider necessary before any form of control is instituted, have been completed, it is impossible to make any useful suggestion in respect of the form which these rules should take. The policy, however, suggested by Messrs. Stirling and Thornton appears to be the only practical one, and if that view is accepted all that is required at present is to issue the notification intimating the intention of Government. The Financial Commissioner recommends that steps should be taken at an early date to give effect to the suggestion.\n\n10. The third question which is raised in the correspondence is that of the prevention of smuggling from Burma and the Shan States into China and Siam. For the moment the traffic in opium from the Shan States into China has considerably diminished and the present tendency is for opium to be imported into Burma from China. There has, however, in the past been a great deal of smuggling of opium from the Shan States, and if the supplies in Yunnan at any time prove insufficient, this smuggling on a large scale is likely to be revived. The prohibition of cultivation of opium in the Kachin Hill Tracts and the restriction of cultivation in the cis-Salween States of the Shan States would obviously make for a great reduction in the amount.\n\nC `[5201 s-1]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 488974, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 122, "title": "CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "# ANNEX 6.\n\n**Major E. Butterfield (Superintendent, Northern Shan States, Lashio) to the Financial Commissioner, Burma.**\n\nMarch 26, 1920.\n\nI HAVE the honour to forward herewith a copy of my letter, dated the 12th March, 1920, regarding proposals for suppression of opium cultivation and opium traffic in the Northern Shan States.\n\nThis letter should have been addressed to you in the first instance, as I have only just become aware from perusal of a Government order circulated whilst I was still serving in the military police.\n\n**Superintendent, Northern Shan States, Lashio, to the Revenue Secretary to the Government of Burma, Rangoon.**\n\nMarch 12, 1920.\n\n1. With reference to the suppression of opium cultivation and traffic in opium with China, I have the honour to invite a reference to paragraph 2 of letter dated the 19th of November, 1919, from yourself to the Financial Commissioner, Burma. A copy of the above paragraph was forwarded to this office by the Financial Commissioner, under his letter dated the 25th November, 1919, with reference to my predecessor's confidential letter, dated the 24th July, 1919.\n\nThis letter is written on the assumption that the views thus expressed by the Secretary of State are not meant to be regarded merely as pious opinions processed in the course of a treatment by which the opium suppression policy is meant to be ushered gently but firmly into its grave, but that the words of the Secretary of State denote a live policy for the definite suppression of opium cultivation and traffic, and that it is our duty to take all practical measures as soon as possible for the execution of his policy.\n\nIndeed, our engagements with China, such as article 11 of the convention, dated the 24th July, 1886, between Great Britain and China, have bound the Imperial honour and left no option but to carry out the suppression of opium traffic in the Shan States as well as in India.\n\nThe suppression of the traffic in India, that is, the bulk of the traffic, leaves us but a little way off our goal.\n\nThe conclusion of peace and the agreement obtained from the Sawbwas concerned to the suppression proposals detailed below have deprived us of all excuses for delay that we have hitherto made.\n\n2. The above considerations are binding on us. But even apart from them, I would urge that it is our moral duty to the primitive and unsophisticated races under our charge in these States (for it is no use trying to hide behind Sawbwas and a board of officials selected by us) to protect them from this, the most evil of all noxious national habits, the opium habit.\n\nSo much do I feel this, as the result of personal observation and enquiry during the last two years and more, that I personally would ask to be removed from association with the Government of the Northern Shan States unless the matter were taken in hand.\n\nI have not met a gazetted officer, or Shan, or Chinaman, or Palaung, or Kachin, in these States, whether he earned his living by opium cultivation or not, who does not freely admit that opium in itself is an evil thing; that it is unnecessary; that it is the moral and physical ruin of all who consume it; that the energy spent on producing it in the first instance goes into smoke; replaces food and life-giving crops, by one that is the direct cause of reduced life-energy in the individual, reduced capacity of the same area of soil to support population, and finally leads to crime, disease, and death.\n\nMoreover, it is more necessary to suppress opium cultivation here than it is in China, because there the people are to some extent inoculated by generations of use, and here they are only just beginning to cultivate on a large scale, which fact makes it easier to deal with the matter now.\n\nAmerica voluntarily suppressed alcohol, and Russia vodka, and China opium. We are bound to suppress opium by treaty and by a greater moral responsibility to the inferior peoples we govern, and to avoid a greater harm.\n\n3. My views are not based on the Exeter Hall outlook on life, but on personal observations, and the unanimity of opinion of all who are in a position to know. The people most affected so far are the Kachins and cognate tribes. These, the race of greatest inherent possibilities in these States, if not in the whole province of Burma, a race that has peculiarly attracted every British officer who has had much to do with them, are being hastened towards destruction, under our Government, by opium and venereal diseases in these States.\n\nOpium is now being grown in these States at elevations from 1,600 to over 7,000 feet, that is, it can be grown everywhere except on wet paddy land.\n\nThe harm is thus spreading towards the other races. Shans are now taking up the lowland cultivation of opium in place of food crops.\n\nAs an instance of what opium can do, I may mention the case of the Chinaman, Law Leo, probably the most useful member of his race to Government in the States. When I first came to Lashio, he did not use opium. The high price and immense profits then attracted him to trade it, and he began to be a consumer himself. He was then our chief mule and other contractor, whose word was as good as any other man's bond, a man of unusual bodily and mental vigour. His character changed, he broke his contracts, and in two years he was dead, the civil surgeon certifying the cause of death to be excessive opium consumption.\n\nQuite apart from our duty to China, therefore, I urge it is our duty to our subject races to suppress opium cultivation and traffic in these States to the point of extinction.\n\n4. I may add that nothing will so tend to reduce the cost of living in these States as turning the energy spent in making the most expensive of all smoke into the production of foodstuffs and clothing material again.\n\nIt will also result in the reduction of crime, of the incentive for collection of dacoit bands on our borders, which annually cost Government and traders so much, and the health and work energy of the people will be increased.\n\n5. A great feature in the last two years has been the number of Chinamen that have come to these States, snatching the opium crop and then frequently absconding without paying their taxes. They have mainly cut down new forest in the hills and cultivated taungya opium, with its resulting extensive destruction by fire of adjacent forest, a process repeated each year.\n\nThe forests in the eastern States are being so denuded that east of a line Lashio to Namhkam, it is doubtful whether there exists a square mile of continuous virgin forest in any one place. The great increase of population that is going on and the failure hitherto to find a substitute for, or modification of, taungya cultivation in the hills has made forest preservation the most vital necessity in these States, next to opium suppression. This necessity is not confined to the local needs in fuel, preservation of valuable building timbers, and other forest revenues, but also for protection of irrigation and drinking water-supply and soil fertility.\n\nNeither are these matters merely local in application. The Burma Mines Company electric water-power works and the Kyaukse District irrigation system depend on the water-supply from these States. Further development of mining wealth so remarkably abundant in these States will depend largely on the available wood and water-supply.\n\nWhat happens to the forest and water-supply where opium cultivation is generally permitted may be gauged from the State of Kokang, the trans-Salween portion of the North Hsenwi State. Here the population is almost solid Chinese, and the main occupation of the people is opium cultivation.\n\nThe country is an eyesore to look at for lack of trees. The soil is the most unfertile in the States. Walls are made of stone, houses of stone or mud-bricks, fuel is largely cow or pig dung, that should have been available as manure. In many places, the people and all animals have to drink out of the same stinking green pool. The population is scanty, rice is 16 and sometimes 20 rupees a basket, and all other necessaries of life on the same scale. Only Chinese can survive.\n\nThis is what comes from opium cultivation. The best way to preserve our forests, as an initial step, is to stop opium cultivation. This will restrict taungya cultivation and influx of Chinese for that purpose to a great extent. Thus, the two main necessities or reforms required in these States, opium suppression and forest preservation, are intimately connected, and Government has committed itself to the furtherance of both policies, on information, perhaps, that did not include all the important considerations above.\n\n6. The following is an outline of the practical measures I propose to suppress...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 489905, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 396, "title": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "# CHINA\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n### [F 2770/3/10]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[July 28.]\n\n#### SECTION 6.\n\n**(No. 331.) My Lord.**\n\nSir B. Alston to Earl Curzon.—(Received July 23.)\n\n**[WITH MAP.]**\n\nPeking, June 17, 1921.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 264 of the 18th ultimo, I have the honour to enclose copies of two despatches from His Majesty's consul-general at Mukden, transmitting reports from Mr. Cunningham on the subject of his tour in Chientao.\n\n(Copy to Tokyo.)\n\nI have, &c.\n\n**BALSTON.**\n\n### Enclosure I in No. 1.\n\nConsul-General Wilkinson to Sir B. Alston.\n\n**(No. 36.) Sir,**\n\nMukden, June 8, 1921.\n\nI HAVE the honour to enclose a copy of a report on the situation in the Chientao and Hunchun districts addressed to me by Mr. W. B. Cunningham, who returned from the tour which he was instructed to make in those localities on the evening of the 6th instant. Owing to the state of the roads between Hunchun and Ninguta, Mr. Cunningham was unable to make the return journey, as I had suggested to him that route, but came back as he went, viâ Korea. He is preparing a separate report on his itinerary, which he proposes to forward to me from Dairen, to which place he returned last night.\n\nMr. Cunningham found both the Chientao and Hunchun districts in a peaceful condition. The Japanese troops had been completely withdrawn and their place taken by some 350 police, who had been scattered over the two localities, and ten Japanese army officers who were apparently acting as liaison officers at the open marts.\n\nWith regard to the particular points on which Mr. Cunningham was instructed to report, he has arrived at the following conclusions:\n\n| Point | Conclusion |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1. Lives and property of British missionaries | The lives and property of the British missionaries in Chientao are in no danger, and therefore no special measures are necessary for their protection. The friction between them and the local Japanese officials was largely due to mutual misunderstanding, the rough and ready ways of the Canadians evidently offending the susceptibilities of the Japanese, while the friendly advances of the latter were obviously mistrusted and regarded as insincere by the missionaries. |\n| 2. Korean Christians | The Korean Christians are undoubtedly suspect as such to the Japanese authorities, and there were instances during the outrages of October last in which Christians were deliberately singled out for persecution. On the other hand, it would seem that the Japanese are not actuated by anti-Christian sentiments so much as by the conviction that the native Christians as a body are supporters of the independence movement. For this belief there is this much justification, that, owing to the superior education and wider outlook of many of them, native Christians as a rule show a greater interest in politics and are more patriotic than the average Korean, though a comparatively small proportion of them are active partisans in the independence movement. |\n| 3. Interference with missionaries' work | At the present time there is no direct interference on the part of the Japanese with the work carried on by the missionaries, but the native Christians have been so terrorised by the events of last October and by the petty persecution to which they are apparently still being subjected by the Japanese police that they are keeping aloof from the mission. The new sect founded by the Japanese in Opposition to Christianity had lost favour with the Koreans now that there was no longer the incentive of fear to join it. |\n\nThe charges made by Major Mizumachi against the missionaries are absolutely without foundation.\n\n[6014 ce-6] \nPage 395", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 490015, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 506, "title": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "## \ndiscovered, whilst only on one or two occasions was there any evidence to warrant the belief that a few heads might still remain.\n\nIt must, I think, be admitted that the southern half of the province is now free from the plant to all intents and purposes. Doubtless in remote and inaccessible regions a few small patches are still being grown, but it would be difficult to suggest measures which would eliminate this qualification.\n\nAs regards the future, students of the opium question are all agreed that unless strong precautions are taken the work that has so far been accomplished will be undone so soon as the next sowing season comes round. The incentive to grow a crop that pays ten times as well as any other local product is strong, and it is common knowledge that the seed of last year's crop is being carefully put by for future use. There is good reason to suppose that the Provincial Government has these dangers well in mind, for Mr. Chan informs me that regulations are at present being drafted to provide against them, whilst the Civil Governor's recent speech at a meeting of the People's Anti-Opium Society at Foochow, in which he announced amidst great applause that there would be plenty of executions in the future for breaches of the anti-opium laws, suggests that the Government is determined upon a strong attitude.\n\nWith respect to opium-smoking, there is a tendency at present to deal with offences more leniently; the present scarcity of the drug has so inflated the price that it is now almost beyond the reach of all save the wealthy classes, and the authorities have doubtless realised that the cessation of smoking follows automatically the cessation of cultivation, and are devoting all their attention to the latter object.\n\nIn the larger towns and other places where there are reform or other societies interesting themselves in the anti-opium movement it is very difficult to obtain the drug, but in out-of-the-way places it is said to be still easy to procure.\n\nIn no district visited did I hear of opium being imported from other provinces.\n\nI was much indebted throughout the whole journey to the Chinese local officials and to the official delegates, Messrs. Chan Pai Kong and Sou Gee Chuang, for their uniform courtesy and hospitality.\n\nW. P. W. TURNER.\n\n## Enclosure 4 in No. 15.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs.**\n\nSir,\n\nPeking, April 18, 1914.\n\nI HAVE the honour to refer to your Excellency's note of the 25th March requesting me to consent to the prohibition of import of Indian opium into Fukien province, and to my reply of the 27th, stating that until I received the reports of the British delegates I was unable to discuss the closing of the province.\n\nI have now received reports giving the results of the tours of investigation in Fukien of Messrs. Turner and Blackburn, accompanied by Chinese representatives of the metropolitan and provincial Governments. As a result, I am willing to agree that Indian opium shall not be conveyed into the province of Fukien, in accordance with the terms of article 3 of the agreement of 1911, and would propose that this arrangement should take effect from the 1st May, 1914.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n## No. 16.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir E. Grey,—(Received June 2.)**\n\nPeking, May 15, 1914.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch of the 17th January last, I have the honour to report that the investigation of the province of Hupei for opium poppy cultivation, in accordance with the provisions of the Opium Agreement of May 1911, has been completed, and that the investigation has failed to discover any trace of poppy cultivation.\n\nI have the honour to enclose herewith copy of a report by Mr. Acting Consul Handley-Derry on the trip of investigation.\n\n31\n\nThe inspection having thus proved satisfactory, I am notifying the Chinese Government in a letter, copy of which is enclosed herewith, that the importation of Indian opium into the province of Hupei will be prohibited as from the 1st June, 1914.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n## Enclosure 1 in No. 16.\n\n**Acting Consul Handley-Derry to Sir J. Jordan.**\n\nSir,\n\nIchang, May 4, 1914.\n\nIN accordance with instructions contained in your despatch of the 19th March last, I have the honour to inform you that I proceeded on a journey of investigation into the cultivation of the opium poppy in the province of Hupeh, and to enclose herewith a report upon the journey I made in conformity with those instructions.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nH. F. HANDLEY-DERRY.\n\n## Report on the Investigation of the Cultivation of Poppy in Hupeh.\n\nIN investigating the cultivation of poppy in Hupeh, I was only able, in the time allotted (three weeks), to visit one part of Hupeh.\n\nIt has been recognised that the cultivation of poppy in the low lands of the east and centre of Hupeh had been practically stopped for the last two years. I accordingly decided not to visit that larger part of Hupeh at all, but to confine my attention to the hilly region which extends from Ichang, north and south, to the borders of the province. In these districts it would only be with difficulty that the officials could make their investigations, and from reports which had reached me these tracts had been done far from thoroughly.\n\nMy choice lay, therefore, between the country to the south of the Yang-tze, including Changyang, Changlo, Hofeng and Shihnan, and the country to the north of the Yang-tsze, including the regions between Hsingshan and Yünyang, on the Han River.\n\nIt was impossible to do both in the time, and so, after careful enquiry, I decided that I should try the southern part.\n\nIt was very difficult to obtain information as to the country, the roads, and the possible places to stay. I made searching enquiries at all the chair hongs to try and find men who might have travelled on any of the routes which I wanted to follow, but with no results. The chair coolies had all kept to the beaten tracks and knew nothing of the side roads.\n\nOn the 10th April I first met the metropolitan and provincial delegates, and we arranged to start for Hung Hua-tao on the following morning at 8 o'clock.\n\nHung Hua-tao is some 20 miles down the river from Ichang, and makes a good point from which to go across country to Changyang.\n\nOn the 11th April, at 8-30, I left and, in spite of wind and rain, arrived at Hung Hua-tao at 12-30.\n\nThis road passes through a fruitful country and, so far as I could see, the whole was under cultivation, but nowhere did I see any poppy. The road is but a mere mountain track, from which one gets, as it rises higher and higher, a splendid view of the country. I left the road several times, but nowhere did I see any signs of poppy. From Changyang to Changlo the road still ran through or over the mountains. On every side the fields were filled with wheat, barley, peas, beans, potatoes, rape, all well forward in their growth, so that there was no place for poppy on an extensive scale.\n\nOn continuing from Changlo to Hofeng, the road climbed up on to a plateau, whence one obtained a wonderful view of the cultivated valleys below, but it was all the same story, either large bare fields tilled ready for planting the spring maize or crops well forward filled all the available space and left no room for poppy.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 490610, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-472 - Others - 1921", "page_number": 303, "title": "CO129-472 - Others - 1921", "content_text": "## dependent \nCanva it is the HK. monopoly: from India to Macao سابقا interest in arrangement. Пасто but the H.K. Raw opium viên Hong Kong, Gout prolongum the earitime hu 1 the recent efforts of 14 this \n\n(4) The assertion has never been made officially; about a year ago, it was asked whether such a statement might be made (after reference to Gov. H.K.) and flatly refused it for very good reasons. India was agreeable to arrange direct shipment but was blocked.\n\n(5) The renewal of the India contract to Macao is in itself sundered by the obstinacy of the Macao Govt. \n\n(2) Siam, Dutch Borneo, & French Indo-China still 'tolerate' opium traffic on a very large scale. In Siam, revenue from opium was 21,444,418 Tical, about 22% of total revenue in 1918-19. \n\n(5). Smuggling. The abolition of the opium traffic would increase the incentive to smuggling, as all evidence admits that the HK & S. Sette monopolies would only... \n\nThe HK contract with India is no obstacle to the suppression of the HK monopoly tomorrow; the agreement stipulates what shall be imported.\n\nIn this connection, please see the extract from Sir M. Delavinque to Sir H. ... received attached to `18:28/21 N. Bomes`. It is inward, not outward, that is difficult to know beforehand exactly what opium will be imported from... \n\nReport from the Pekin Assoc? `WAL` do not know...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-472 - Others - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 492292, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7]", "page_number": 222, "title": "CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7]", "content_text": "September 3rd, 1921.]\n\nanything by way of facilitating the building of new houses in this Colony, and it is with the view of removing that reproach from the Government that this resolution is brought forward. I do not think, however, there can be any question that new developments in this Colony are very urgently required. The recent preliminary census has shown us that probably the normal increase of the Colony's population is about 20,000 a year, and we also know that any disturbances which take place from time to time in the neighbouring provinces are liable to bring an influx from the mainland of China.\n\nAs regards the principle of exempting from liability to any rates any new buildings, I believe such a principle is adopted in some of the States of America, and, as your Excellency is aware, the Home Government—though I do not know that it has adopted that principle—has adopted the principle of raising loans for building houses in order that money may be advanced at a moderate rate to those desiring to build new houses. That principle has been adopted at Home and the other principle has been adopted, I think, in the United States of America.\n\nI think, sir, that this principle of exemption from rates would be, in view of the present state of our finances, perhaps the easiest way of granting facilities for the erection of new buildings. I think the term of three years after completion, which I have suggested, is quite a moderate term. I was anxious, I may say, to make the term moderate because, embarking upon what is a new experiment, one's tendency is rather to be conservative than to launch out and bind the hands of the Government to exempt from rates for a longer period of years than three years.\n\nI understand, sir, that my honourable colleagues on the Council are in favour of this resolution, and I will now ask my honourable friend, the senior Chinese unofficial member, to second it.\n\nCHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT\n\nsooner it can be definitely announced by the Government that it is a temporary one and will cease at the end of the year, the better. For the reason that I believe it will help to increase confidence in the investment of money on the erection of houses which are so necessary, I support this resolution.\n\nThe Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY: Sir, when I saw this resolution placed upon the paper I was surprised to think that any incentive was required to people to build houses in this Colony in view of the rush there is whenever a new building is going up to occupy them. I think it is common knowledge that in every block of buildings every single house that has been put up in this Colony for some years past there have been tenants almost before a brick has been laid, and I cannot imagine that anything that has happened recently in the way of legislation is going to put any check on the demand for new houses being erected in this Colony.\n\nThe amount of building that is going on at present for office accommodation and domestic tenements in the Colony is quite unprecedented, although during the nine or ten years I have been here the building that has taken place has been in excess of anything since the Colony was founded. That being the case, I cannot imagine how an exemption from the payment of rates amounting to 13 per cent. of the annual value of the house is going to either encourage or to stop the building which is proceeding or which is contemplated.\n\nThe building, which is contemplated is enormous as is shown by the next resolution which is coming before you. Plans that have been forwarded to the building office are such that it is almost impossible to keep pace with them. The staff of the building office is working much overtime. We are increasing it, but even with the increases we contemplate there are bound to be some delays.\n\nTo say that any encouragement is needed for the construction of new houses is extraordinary—I would almost say, ridiculous.\n\nThe only case which has come before us being in any way checked was in the case of 30 houses which it was proposed to erect in a central position. The Government was told that some of the promoters of the project were nervous that legislation might be brought about which would interfere in some way with the economic problem of supply and demand, and the Government were asked to give an assurance that nothing that they would do would interfere with that position. The Government replied at once that there was no legislation in contemplation which would interfere with that position.\n\n221\n\ncharged you? Not a bit of it. He will simply take the whole of the rent and pay no rates. I think the mover and seconder and hon. members who have brought this motion have a wonderful idea of the altruistic motives of the landlord. If they think this exemption of rates is going to make any difference except that it will reduce the revenue the Government will receive, and possibly further taxation will be proposed later to make up for it. I do not say that it will, but still it is the logical result if this resolution is passed. I am afraid the Government is unable to accept the resolution as it stands.\n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR: I am afraid I must express my agreement with my hon. friend in saying that the Government cannot accept the motion. But I do not feel so entirely unsympathetic as my hon. friend. If I were quite sure the effect of some such measure would be to encourage the construction of new houses I would be inclined to go some way to meet hon. members. I must confess that at present I am extremely doubtful on the point.\n\nAs the Colonial Secretary pointed out, it is a very small thing indeed and it is a little difficult to believe that any landlord will refrain from building because if he builds the tenants will have to pay 13 per cent. more rent.\n\nThe hon. senior Chinese member rather startled me by saying that it was the common practice for premises to remain vacant for a year or two after they are completed. That does not quite agree with what we heard of the shortage of housing accommodation. As he himself pointed out, the rates are refunded on the exiguous sum of a short period, possibly not more than a month, during which houses remain uninhabited. As I say, the only loss to the landlord is that he is out of the interest on an extremely small sum.\n\nIf I were sure people, however illogically, would be encouraged to increase the number of buildings in the Colony by the fact that their tenants would be exempt from rates I would sympathise with the resolution. It would be very difficult to discover whether this encouragement had been given, or might be given, by considering what is the average number of new buildings and seeing whether, if such a resolution as this were to be enforced temporarily, the number of houses constructed over the average previous natural growth of population.\n\nThe Hon. Mr. LAU CHU-PAK: Sir, I beg to second this resolution, and in doing so desire to endorse the remarks of the senior unofficial member. Whenever there was land to be developed on the mainland of China, whether for agricultural or dwelling purposes, remission of taxes of every description was granted. I believe this practice is still in force on the mainland. Personally, I have several plots of land in Chinese territory exempted from taxation of any kind for 15 years.\n\nThis resolution, sir, if accepted by the Government, as it should be, would serve as some inducement to people to build new houses in view of the fact that new houses would very often take a long time to build, particularly in New Kowloon and in outlying districts such as Shaukiwan and Aberdeen, where land is waiting to be built upon.\n\nThe houses would have to wait at least two or three years before they can all be let out. After completion, one flat here and another flat there may be taken up at once. Then rates had to be paid on the whole house and even for those which remained vacant, although in the latter case the rates would be refunded should the house still remain unoccupied after the quarter for which the rates have been paid. Meanwhile, investors have to put up with considerable loss in interest on capital and wages for caretakers. For this reason, sir, I submit that the resolution should be favourably entertained by the Government.\n\nThe Hon. Mr. HOLYOAK: Sir, I rise to support this resolution because I think that it is common knowledge to us all that the passing of the recent Rents Ordinance has for the time being very badly shaken the confidence of the investing Chinese public; and anything that can be done to restore that confidence will be a step in the right direction.\n\nThe Rents Ordinance was necessary, and we therefore passed it as a measure which we regarded as a temporary one. The exemption of rates, and it might, I think, be worth while to try something of that kind.\n\nI should in any case hesitate to suggest that we should pass an Ordinance making this a permanent factor. We trust that this shortage of accommodation is not going to be permanent, and I think a further period of three years in any case is much too long.\n\nLook at the rates in this Colony—13 per cent. If you were to ask any householder in the United Kingdom what his rates are, he would tell you they were about 75 per cent., and I happen to be one who knows that there is hardly any urban district in England where the rates are less than 50 per cent. 13 per cent., and I think that so far as houses are concerned, is the lowest rate existing in any large city in any British territory.\n\nI cannot see what the object of the motion is. Supposing we do say that new buildings will be exempted from rates for three years after their construction? I presume this motion applies to both business premises and domestic tenements. Is that so?\n\nThe Hon. Mr. POLLOCK: To all of them.\n\nThe Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY: Supposing we agree to exempt them for three years, what will be the result? Does the landlord exempt the tenants from all rent? Does he say I am going to charge you 13 per cent. less than I would have charged you?\n\nIt seems to me that there is no case made out for this at all. I should be inclined to contemplate something of a more experimental nature, in saying, that in the case of houses, the plans of which are handed in within a certain period, they will be exempted from rates for one year.\n\nI think that would afford considerable encouragement, if encouragement is needed, and it would prevent such an Ordinance remaining permanently on the Statute Book with the concomitant sacrifice of revenue which the Colony needs now and will need more in the future.\n\nI do not make this as an actual proposition, but I should like to consider the matter. I should not like to commit myself at the present moment. I am afraid I cannot agree with the hon. member's motion as it stands.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 492635, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7]", "page_number": 565, "title": "CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7]", "content_text": "· MINUTES.\n\nMINUTES NOT TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE.\n\n+ CONFIDENTIAL.\n\n18314. HONGKONG. 46046 IR: 16 SEP 22 GOVERNMENT HOUSE. 519 21st July, 1922.\n\nSir,\n\nWith reference to paragraph 4 of Sir R. E. Stubbs' Confidential despatch of the 11th March, I have the honour to inform you that I have recently had under consideration the improvement of the organization of the Detective Sub-Department of the Police Force in this Colony.\n\n2. I am of the opinion that this Sub-Department should now be put in charge of a Police Officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent, who should devote his whole time to the work, and in order to secure the due performance of the duties which this officer would ordinarily perform, I recommend the appointment of Chief Inspector James Kerr as Assistant Superintendent of Police, Supernumerary, with effect from the 1st August, 1922, at a salary of £650 to £800 by £50 annually.\n\n3. Mr. Kerr, who is now 52 years of age, joined the Police Force as a constable in 1890, and has held his present post since 1915. I enclose for your information a copy of his record, and I have no hesitation in saying that he is eminently fitted to perform the duties of an Assistant Superintendent of Police. It is moreover probable that this special promotion, the first of its kind, will prove an incentive to other members of the Force.\n\n4.\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE WINSTON CHURCHILL, M.P.,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 492778, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-476 - Acting Governor Claud Severn & Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [8-12]", "page_number": 131, "title": "CO129-476 - Acting Governor Claud Severn & Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [8-12]", "content_text": "130\n\nClosure 2.\n\nlikely to happen, unless this Government is armed with the powers given by the Deportation Ordinance, 1921,\n\nMOKAND SINGH, who was deported to India under the Travellers' Restriction Ordinance, 1915, returned to this Colony on August 15th of this year. I enclose a copy of a letter dated the 7th February, 1921, in which the Government of India was warned of this man's deportation,\n\nJAGGAT SINGH, who was sentenced to 12 months hard labour in this Colony, was discharged from gaol on the 5th August, 1922: he was ordered to leave the Colony, but on the advice of his solicitor, refused to do so.\n\nBoth these men are undesirables of the worst type, and this Government is powerless to remove them, or others of the same kind who may be here or may arrive here in the future. There is no doubt that such persons as these will use to the utmost their sense of security to the great detriment of the peace and good order of the Colony. It is also a fact that some of the local Indian watchmen are already taking advantage of the position in which they find themselves.\n\n5. The Government of India is aware that persons of this type constitute a grave menace in a Colony having a considerable body of Indian troops and having also many Indians in Government and in private employment; and the situation is aggravated by the presence here of dismissed Police, Gaol Warders, Guards, and Watchmen, in whom any\n\npredisposition towards political disaffection has the\n\nadditional incentive of a personal grievance against the\n\nGovernment.\n\n6.\n\nIn the peculiar circumstances of this Colony,\n\nthe ordinary procedure of a judicial enquiry and an Order of the Court is not an adequate method of dealing with\n\nundesirables", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-476 - Acting Governor Claud Severn & Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493632, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "page_number": 23, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "7400\n\nREC REG 16 B22\n\nHOME OFIC\n\n20\n\nWHITCHAI\n\n15th February, 1922.\n\nMy dear Grindle,\n\nI think we may have some difficulty at the approaching meeting of the Opium Advisory Committee of the League of Nations in connection with Question 11 in the Questionnaire which was issued last year. That question asks, with reference to places where the Government has not yet entirely suppressed the manufacture of, trade in or use of prepared opium, by what date the Government proposes to complete the suppression. The question has reference to Article 6 of the International Opium Convention 1912, by which the Contracting Powers undertake to take measures for the gradual and effective suppression of the manufacture of, internal trade in, and use of prepared opium, with due regard to the varying circumstances of each country concerned.\n\nHong Kong, in its reply to the question, says:-\n\n\"The Government of Hongkong cannot fix any date for discontinuing the sale of prepared opium since, while opium is still largely grown in China, cessation of the sale of Government prepared opium would not reduce the consumption of opium in the Colony. The physical formation of the Colony makes it impossible to prevent smuggling from China, and the incentives to smuggling would be enormously increased if no legitimate supplies of opium were available for consumers. An attempt at suppression before China has ceased to grow opium would in all probability result in an increase rather than a reduction of consumption.\"\n\nBritish North Borneo replies:-\n\n\"The consumption of opium is entirely confined to the Chinese who are practically rationed at a very moderate rate of consumption. The Court are not prepared to deprive them of this as doing so would lead to disorder, discontent, and ill-health.\"\n\nThese replies seem to indicate that the Local Governments concerned are...\n\nSir G. Grindle, K.C.M.G., C.B.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493699, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "page_number": 90, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "87\n\n20 possibilities of an opium revenue. They plainly said that opium smoking could not now be eradicated, a statement fully borne out by the observations of Vice-Consul Spence regarding cultivation in South-West China in 1882. Spence considered the arguments of the Anti-Opium Society regarding opium cultivation in China, the attitude of the Imperial Government, and the effect of opium smoking to be \"absolutely untrue,\" and for the following reasons. The cultivation of poppy was carried on in nearly every district of Szechuan.\n\nIn country hamlets almost every second house was an opium shop, and in the whole region Indian opium was unknown. In face of this, the people were healthy, well housed, well fed, and well clad, though probably six-tenths of the adult male population were opium smokers. The production of Szechuan, Yunnan, Kueichow and South-West Hupei, Ichang Fu, and Shih Nan Fu came to 224,000 piculs, or 29,866,666 lbs., from 850,000 acres, This was 24 times the whole Indian import into China.\n\nHere it may be noted that in view of the present conditions in China, and the recent recorded prices of the native drug, it looks as if, by depriving China of Bengal opium, we have prohibited champagne, but not affected gin. By 1905 one Chinese province showed a production two or three times the total Indian imports, and for many years before the stoppage of export in 1914 Malwa opium was suffering heavily from the competition of the China crop.\n\nSpence added that Shensi was producing top-grade opium in the very year that the Governor was reporting that he had uprooted the poppy everywhere in his jurisdiction. He concluded his report with the following prophetic remarks:-\n\nThe right of the people to grow and smoke opium has been for years unquestioned by their officials: to compel them to surrender the right now, would be to provoke a rebellion. Even if the Government were willing to incur this risk, and determined coûte que coûte to be rid of opium, which it would be at present nonsensical to affirm, success would require a vigorous executive, free from venality and opium smoking, having under its orders armies of constables equally free from these faults. But China has no such executive and no such armies. Of the local official class, their attendants, hangers-on and constables, it may truly be said that if there is one quality more conspicuous than their venality, it is their love of opium smoking. Even were the prospect of a bonâ fide effort not a chimera its success would be impossible.\n\nWhat, under the circumstances, would be the practical effect of the rigorous prohibition of opium cultivation in India, and the attempted exclusion by China of foreign opium, it is easy to see. Its effect on opium smoking in Yunnan, Kueichow, Szechuan, Kansuh, Sheansi and Western Hupei, where Indian and foreign opium are all but unknown, would be nil. Amongst the poor smokers in the East, who now use the native drug, its effect would be equally nil. Many who now use Indian opium would take to native, and one effect would be to give a great stimulus to production in the West. But well-to-do smokers in the East and seaboard provinces, amongst whom I include all who at present spend 10d. a day on Indian opium, would everywhere seek for a high-class smuggled opium. Smuggling would be organised all along the coast, Chinese desperadoes would find willing associates in running foreign opium into the country in European and American adventurers, the Maritime Customs service would have to become an armed force, quiet seaports would be turned into hells of disorder, and international relations between China and foreign Powers would be embittered to an intolerable degree. The opium which could not be grown in India would come in part from Turkey and Persia; new fields for its growth would be opened in Mozambique and similar latitudes in Africa; and the profits of the trade, instead of passing, as they do now, to the support of our beneficent rule and civilisation in India, would become the incentive to, and the reward of, lawlessness, disorder and crime.\n\nThe attitude of the British Government towards China during these years was well expressed in the declaration in Parliament of Sir J. Fergusson on 10th April 1891, that, \"if the Chinese Government thought proper to raise the duty on opium to a prohibitive extent, or to shut out the article altogether, this country would not expend 1. on powder and shot, or lose the life of a soldier in an attempt to force the opium trade on the Chinese,\" and in Mr. Gladstone's statement of the 30th June 1893, that \"we have left that matter to China herself. The opium which we allow to be exported is sent to that country to be received by China if she chooses to receive it.\"\n\nIn section 1. (c) of their findings, the Royal Commission of 1893-95 stated that, in their opinion, it was not found that satisfactory reasons existed for unsolicited action by the British Government for the destruction of the trade in Indian opium with China, and they agreed in not recommending any action that would have that effect. If at any future time the Chinese Government declared a wish to prohibit import, however, they thought that the question would be changed and should be reconsidered.\n\nThe question changed in 1906, when, for the first time since 1858, the Government of China decided to prohibit the cultivation and consumption of opium.\n\nWhatever the real causes of the anti-opium movement in China, and however badly that movement has failed, it is true that both the Imperial Government in 1906 and the young China party in the best days of the Republic were earnest in their desire to suppress the importation, cultivation and use of opium; and when the British Government...\n\nPage 90\n\nPage 91", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493950, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "page_number": 341, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "Peking, No. 757, Tel., Sept. 4, 1918.\n\n16\n\nPrince Koudachef, that the money would remain in the Russo-Asiatic Bank at Shanghai, that the Chinese Government consented to continue paying the instalments. Chi has since modified her attitude, and no further payments on account of Russian indemnity are now being made.\n\nThe South and the Customs Revenue.\n\n55. An earlier reference (paragraph 53) has been made to the bearing which the war between the North and the South exercised upon the question of the release of customs surplus to the Central Government by the Diplomatic Body. In September 1918 the question was brought to a head by the decision of the Southern Government, who were devoid of all funds, to seize the customs revenue collected at the Southern ports. It was only the threat of action by the foreign Powers (see paragraph 57) that averted a crisis. The incident led to a reconsideration of the whole position. It was obviously inequitable that the Northern Government, which at that time governed less than half the country, should receive the customs surplus drawn from all the ports, including those no longer under their control. It was accordingly agreed by the Diplomatic Body that the release of further customs surplus should be made conditional upon an attempt by both parties, North and South, to compose their differences.\n\nPeking, No. 772, Tel., Sept. 10, 1918, [756149/19].\n\nPeking, No. 891, Tel., Oct. 30, 1918. [F1809628/18]\n\nPeking, Jan. 16, 1919. [9749/19]\n\nWhen, therefore, in October 1918 the Central Government applied for a release of 2,000,000 taels, consent was withheld on the ground that a release was not justified until military operations between North and South had ceased.\n\n56. By the following January the situation had apparently changed for the better; actual hostilities between North and South had ceased. The South, on the other hand, showed no signs of responding to the attempts of the Diplomatic Body to bring the two parties, North and South, together. When, therefore, the Central Government, who were now destitute of funds, applied for a reconsideration of the matter, the Diplomatic Body unanimously decided to release the 12,000,000 taels that had accumulated on the distinct understanding that the money should be devoted to certain specified objects, including a number of Southern public utilities, unless in the meantime the conference which was then proceeding at Shanghai between Northern and Southern delegates should reach an understanding as to some other method of disposal of the funds. In coming to this decision the motives actuating the Diplomatic Body were (1) to furnish an incentive for reunion between North and South; (2) to deprive the Southern Government of any reasonable excuse for seizing the Southern customs. And, although, as events proved, they failed in their endeavour to bring North and South together, they at least succeeded in disposing of a delicate question, without giving legitimate dissatisfaction to either side. The South had been deprived of all excuse for repeating their threat of seizing the Southern customs, and it had been made clear to both sides that their prospects of obtaining further funds from the customs, over which the Diplomatic Body exercised a sort of trusteeship, were largely dependent upon the good-will they showed in reconciling their differences and reuniting the country under one common Administration.\n\nPeking, No. 44, Tel., Jan. 29, 1919. [4248/19]\n\nPeking, No. 160, Tel., Mar. 14, 1919. [41883/19]\n\nTo Peking, No. 174, Tel., Mar. 31.\n\nPeking, No. 118, Mar. 28, 1919. [79887/19]\n\nPeking, July 2, 1919. [97870/19]\n\n57. Nevertheless, by March 1919 the Southern Government were again threatening to seize the Southern customs; the same strong counter-measures as in 1918 had to be invoked by the Powers. These measures were (1) That the Government of Hong Kong should intercept all cargo for Canton and refuse entry to all cargo from Canton; (2) That the customs duties at Canton should be paid by British subjects to His Majesty's Consul-General, who would hold them in trust for the Inspector-General of Customs; (3) That, if necessary, a British naval guard might be placed round the customs-house on behalf of its British owner, the Inspector-General; and (4) That all Allied vessels should be asked to refuse to carry Chinese postal matter to or from any port in Kwangtung or Kwangsi.\n\n58. As in 1918, the threat was fortunately sufficient to deter the Southern Government from proceeding further.\n\n59. It was in the summer of 1919 that the second abuse by the Italian Minister (Baron Aliotti had been replaced by Marquis Garbasso, whose standards were evidently much the same) of the power of control over the customs revenue vested in the Diplomatic Body took place. The Chinese Government, in applying for a release of surplus, had voluntarily suggested the allocation of a certain proportion to the South; and this step towards conciliation between North and South obviously deserved all encouragement. All the foreign representatives agreed to sanction the release on these terms, except the Russian (who soon withdrew his opposition) and the Italian. The latter declared that, unless a claim by one of his nationals (M. Passeri) against the Chinese Government was first settled to his satisfaction, his consent would not be forthcoming. So preposterous was this action in seeking to force through a claim—and at that a claim intrinsically unjust, as a reference to the correspondence in the archives will show—at the possible cost of a reconciliation between North and South, that His Majesty's Minister, in his capacity as the dean of the Diplomatic Body, officially notified the Chinese Government that all the foreign representatives save the Italian Minister agreed to the release.\n\nPeking, No. 311, July 2, 1919. [118931/19]\n\n60. The inexcusable action of the Italian Minister (Marquis Garbasso) had unfortunately succeeded not only in shaking the confidence of the Chinese Government in the fairness of the Diplomatic Body in their fiduciary capacity as trustees for the administration of the customs funds, but had also broken the solidarity of the Diplomatic Body for the first time, whose decisions up to that date had been by unanimity. Marquis Garbasso's peculiar conceptions of honesty had rendered the position of the Diplomatic Body impossible. It was out of the question that the honour of the whole Diplomatic Body should be compromised by the folly of one unscrupulous member.\n\n61. The incident soon bore fruit.\n\nPeking, No. 422, Sept. 20, 1919. [181241/19]\n\nIn July 1919 the Chinese Government endeavoured to secure a revision of the arrangements governing the custody and release of customs revenues. They claimed that in 1913 there had been a deficit in the customs revenue required, and that special arrangements to safeguard foreign interests had been therefore necessary; but that now, with the large rise in the price of silver and the increased customs receipts due to the revision of the tariff, the available revenue was far in excess of the sum required to meet all obligations secured upon the customs. They therefore wished to give the Inspector-General authority, without the necessity of the consent of the Diplomatic Body, to release to them any available customs surplus after due provision had been made to meet all obligations.\n\n62. This proposal was rejected by the Diplomatic Body, both the Japanese and French Ministers having received definite instructions from their Governments to refuse to agree. It is worth recording, as illustrative of the general attitude adopted by these two countries towards China, that, as neither the Japanese nor French Minister had any interest in the pre-Boxer loans, and as the indemnity payments had long since been suspended, their locus standi in the matter was not above challenge. The incident had, however, a certain beneficent effect. It showed the members of the Diplomatic Body that it was impolitic to press the Chinese Government too far, or to abuse the power of control voluntarily vested in them by the Chinese Government in 1913; and when the next application for a release was received from the Chinese Government it went through without demur.\n\nPeking, Nov. 4, 1919. [164855/19]\n\n63. It was on this occasion that the Chinese Government first definitely agreed to the principle that the South were entitled to a share in all customs releases. The proportion fixed upon was 13.7 per cent., as representing the equivalent of the revenue collected at the six Southern ports. The accuracy of the estimate was vouched for by the Inspector-General of Customs.\n\nPeking, No. 494, Jan. 7, 1920. [18203/20]\n\n64. During 1919 no less than 22,604,123 taels (say, £7,157,972) were released from customs surplus.\n\n65. In January 1920 the Central Government again sought to reopen the question of the arrangements for the control of the customs funds, but, as both the Japanese and French Ministers maintained their previous attitude and refused their consent, the request was again refused.\n\nPeking, No. 72, [F407/107/10]\n\n66. Sir J. Jordan's comment on this occasion is worth noting, for it remains applicable and must so remain until stable conditions return in China:—\n\n“In equity the claim of the Chinese Government in this matter cannot justly be denied. But there are certain considerations of a political nature which must be borne in mind. If the Government functioning at Peking were really a Government entrusted with the welfare of China as a whole, the request is perfectly reasonable and should be granted. But as matters stand at present the customs surpluses are wasted on the payment of useless troops, &c., and the advantage in practice of the Diplomatic Body retaining some control over the money lies in the fact that they can occasionally secure the appropriation of a portion of these funds for productive works, such as the Liao River, Chihli and Min River conservancy schemes, &c. Moreover, the Yang-tsze conservancy scheme…”\n\nFeb. 16, 1920.\n\n17\n\n336", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 494259, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "page_number": 651, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "the persons of traffickers, in brothels, \"in the inside of stuffed animals.\" 645\n\n--\n\nIn such colonies attempts to register consumers and limit supplies to these would be ineffective for the same time registration must be also too cumbersome and inequitable in localities where a large proportion of the opium consuming population is migratory, as is the case in the Malay Peninsula, (British) North Borneo, and Hong Kong.\n\nFor those countries the policy adopted is that of strict government control of the import, manufacture, and distribution of opium with a view to ultimate suppression when conditions permit. Thus, for example in Hong Kong the price of Government monopoly opium has been successively raised from $6 a tael in 1914 to $15.50 a tael in 1918 at which it at present stands, a price which puts excessive indulgence out of reach of the majority of consumers; of crude opium which is more deleterious in its effects on smokers has been contraband; all public divans for the consumption of opium have been closed, in order to reduce the incentives to smoking; and opium is sold in small amounts so packed as to be unsuitable for transmission and the less liable to removal from the government.\n\nSimilar measures, varying in detail, have been adopted in the Malay States and British North Borneo.\n\nPage 2", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 494477, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-479 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [1-3]", "page_number": 22, "title": "CO129-479 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [1-3]", "content_text": "CONTROL OF DISTRIBUTION.\n\nMethods for regulating the distribution of opium must vary with the circumstances of each locality. The drastic method of complete prohibition except for medical purposes and under medical prescription has been adopted in many British Colonies and is the ultimate goal in the remainder. In Ceylon where the consumers of opium are said to be mostly Indians and not Cingalese a system of registration of opium addicts is in force with rationing of supplies to these as well as to practitioners of native medicine. The number of consumers in the Island has been reduced from 24,000 in 1910 to 12,000 in 1920, and the allowances diminished, and as the present generation of smokers dies out, complete suppression will follow automatically. A similar system is in force in Weihaiwei where permits are issued only to confirmed smokers by a Government medical officer, and no fresh permits are being granted. British responsibility for Weihaiwei will, however, cease as soon as the administration is resumed by the Chinese Government in accordance with the recent agreement arising out of the Washington Conference.\n\nMauritius has recently passed from a system of registration to one of suppression. Zanzibar, also, where the practice of opium eating obtains among some of the Persian and Indian residents, is rapidly reducing its consumption under the registration system.\n\nBut in localities where there is a large Chinese population and the opium habit is widespread any policy of immediate suppression could not be enforced owing to the ease with which opium can be smuggled, for example, in the coal bunkers of incoming steamers, packed among ordinary merchandise, concealed in the hollow stems of bamboo, on the persons of travellers, in birdcages, even in the inside of stuffed animals.\n\nIn such Colonies attempts to register consumers and limit supplies to these would be to a great extent ineffective owing to the illicit supplies of opium obtainable; the registration system would also be cumbrous and difficult to enforce in localities where a large proportion of the opium consuming population is migratory, as is the case in the Malay Peninsula, British North Borneo, and Hongkong.\n\nFor these countries the policy adopted is that of direct Government control of the import, manufacture, and distribution of opium with a view to ultimate suppression when conditions permit. Thus, for example, in Hongkong the price of Government monopoly opium has been successively raised from $6 a tael in 1914 to $14.50 a tael in 1918 at which it at present stands, a price which puts excessive indulgence out of the reach of the majority of consumers; the sale of dross opium (a smoking preparation in which opium dross is an ingredient) which is more deleterious in its effects on smokers has been discontinued; all public divans for the consumption of opium have been closed, in order to reduce the incentives to smoking; sale is only permitted to adult Chinese males and possession is limited to a maximum of taels: and Government prepared opium is so packed as to render it unsuitable for transmission and therefore less liable to removal from the Colony.\n\nSince the passing of the 1914 Opium Ordinance, Hongkong has ceased to be a market for the distribution of opium. Apart from smuggled opium, the only opium which now comes to the Colony is that required for the use of the Government factory, and supplies consigned on through bills of lading to the Japanese authorities in Japan and Formosa and the Portuguese authorities in Macao. Export of prepared opium is not allowed to any destination whatever.\n\nIn Malaya and British North Borneo, there is also strict control of import and export and the elimination of the private trader; and the measures taken for the regulation of distribution and consumption are, generally speaking, similar to those adopted in Hongkong, though the details vary with local conditions. Thus in Malaya the system of registered public smoking-houses open to police inspection and control has been retained although the numbers of such houses have been greatly reduced.\n\nThe price of prepared opium in Malaya has been increased from $3 a tael in 1910 to $12 in 1920. Opium dross is purchased and destroyed so as to prevent the preparation of the more harmful dross opium, a policy which has had to be modified in Hongkong owing to the large supplies of dross from illicit opium which was being mixed with the dross of Government opium and sold to Government, thereby providing a subsidy to the illicit traffic.\n\nDIFFICULTIES OF EFFECTIVE REGULATION.\n\nHongkong, to which I again refer as it is the Colony of which I have most knowledge, affords a good illustration of the difficulties of effective regulation of distribution and consumption, difficulties which would appear to render complete suppression an impossibility under existing conditions.\n\nFor while the cost of monopoly opium is kept high and opium is obtainable in the neighbouring provinces of China at less than one-third of the Hongkong price it is obvious that there is much profit in the smuggling into and sale of illicit opium in the Colony, which at present is being flooded with Chinese-grown opium in spite of the large preventive force maintained to keep down smuggling, and of the heavy penalties of fines, imprisonment and even banishment inflicted on detected dealers in contraband opium.\n\nAny effective preventive system necessarily involves much searching of the persons and baggage of travellers, intrusion into private dwellings, and general interference with the liberty of the individual, and inevitably lends itself to abuses, so that it is anything but popular with the community generally.\n\nUnder present conditions, were a policy of complete suppression adopted, the more stringent measures required to make it effective would be a source of further resentment, and the cost would be prohibitive. Similar considerations apply to the case of the Straits Settlements, whose principal ports, Singapore and Penang, lie in the fairway of all sea-borne traffic between the East and the West. It would of course be another matter if the suppression of poppy cultivation, which is the official policy of the Chinese Government, became really operative in China.\n\nFARMING SYSTEM.\n\nIt will be convenient at this point to refer briefly to the farming system which is of considerable historical interest and present importance in connection with the opium traffic. Under this system the exclusive privilege of dealing in opium for a given area is put up to tender and sold for a period of years to the individual or Company offering the highest price. Conditions may be attached to the contract to minimise abuses, and in order to safeguard his own interests the farmer can be relied upon to do all in his power to ensure that others shall not encroach on his exclusive rights to deal in opium, Government on its part assisting him by legislation and otherwise. By this means it is possible to restrict the traffic to one or more concerns thereby facilitating regulation by Government.\n\nThis farming system is still in force in the Portuguese Colony of Macao; within the last 15 or 20 years it has however been abolished in favour of a system of direct Government control in Malaya, Hongkong and British North Borneo, as well as in Siam, the Dutch East Indies, and French Indo-China, on account of the serious abuses to which it proved liable; the essential reason being that the farmer in his desire to get rich quick was seldom scrupulous in his methods, and was prepared to go any length to increase the market for his opium at home or abroad, legally or illegally.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-479 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 494582, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-479 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [1-3]", "page_number": 127, "title": "CO129-479 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [1-3]", "content_text": "124\n\n2\n\n# CONTROL OF DISTRIBUTION\n\nMethods for regulating the distribution of opium must vary with the circumstances of each locality. The drastic method of complete prohibition except for medical purposes and under medical prescription has been adopted in many British Colonies and is the ultimate goal in the remainder. In Ceylon, where the consumers of opium are said to be mostly Indians and not Cingalese, a system of registration of opium addicts is in force, with rationing of supplies to these as well as to practitioners of native medicine. The number of consumers in the Island has been reduced from 24,000 in 1910 to 12,000 in 1920, and the allowances diminished; and as the present generation of smokers dies out, complete suppression will follow automatically. A similar system is in force in Weihaiwei, where permits are issued only to confirmed smokers by a Government medical officer, and no fresh permits are being granted. British responsibility for Weihaiwei will, however, cease as soon as the administration is resumed by the Chinese Government in accordance with the recent agreement arising out of the Washington Conference.\n\nMauritius has recently passed from a system of registration to one of suppression. Zanzibar, also, where the practice of opium eating obtains among some of the Persian and Indian residents, is rapidly reducing its consumption under the registration system.\n\nBut in localities where there is a large Chinese population and the opium habit is widespread, any policy of immediate suppression could not be enforced owing to the ease with which opium can be smuggled—for example, in the coal bunkers of incoming steamers, packed among ordinary merchandise, concealed in the hollow stems of bamboo; on the persons of travellers, in birdcages, even in the inside of stuffed animals.\n\nIn such Colonies, attempts to register consumers and limit supplies to these would be to a great extent ineffective owing to the illicit supplies of opium obtainable; the registration system would also be cumbrous and difficult to enforce in localities where a large proportion of the opium-consuming population is migratory, as is the case in the Malay Peninsula, British North Borneo, and Hongkong.\n\nFor these countries, the policy adopted is that of direct Government control of the import, manufacture, and distribution of opium, with a view to ultimate suppression when conditions permit. Thus, for example, in Hongkong, the price of Government monopoly opium has been successively raised from $6 a tael in 1914 to $14.50 a tael in 1918, at which it at present stands—a price which puts excessive indulgence out of the reach of the majority of consumers; the sale of dross opium (a smoking preparation in which opium dross is an ingredient), which is more deleterious in its effects on smokers, has been discontinued; all public divans for the consumption of opium have been closed, in order to reduce the incentives to smoking; sale is only permitted to adult Chinese males, and possession is limited to a maximum of 5 taels; and Government-prepared opium is so packed as to render it unsuitable for transmission and therefore less liable to removal from the Colony.\n\nSince the passing of the 1914 Opium Ordinance, Hongkong has ceased to be a market for the distribution of opium. Apart from smuggled opium, the only opium which now comes to the Colony is that required for the use of the Government factory, and supplies consigned on through bills of lading to the Japanese authorities in Japan and Formosa and the Portuguese authorities in Macao. Export of prepared opium is not allowed to any destination whatever.\n\nIn Malaya and British North Borneo, there is also strict control of import and export and the elimination of the private trader; and the measures taken for the regulation of distribution and consumption are, generally speaking, similar to those adopted in Hongkong, though the details vary with local conditions. Thus, in Malaya, the system of registered public smoking-houses open to police inspection and control has been retained, although the numbers of such houses have been greatly reduced.\n\nThe price of prepared opium in Malaya has been increased from $3 a tael in 1910 to $12 in 1920. Opium dross is purchased and destroyed so as to prevent the preparation of the more harmful dross opium—a policy which has had to be modified in Hongkong owing to the large supplies of dross from illicit opium, which was being mixed with the dross of Government opium and sold to Government, thereby providing a subsidy to the illicit traffic.\n\n## DIFFICULTIES OF EFFECTIVE REGULATION\n\nHongkong, to which I again refer as it is the Colony of which I have most knowledge, affords a good illustration of the difficulties of effective regulation of distribution and consumption—difficulties which would appear to render complete suppression an impossibility under existing conditions.\n\nFor while the cost of monopoly opium is kept high, and opium is obtainable in the neighbouring provinces of China at less than one-third of the Hongkong price, it is obvious that there is much profit in the smuggling into and sale of illicit opium in the Colony, which at present is being flooded with Chinese-grown opium, in spite of the large preventive force maintained to keep down smuggling, and of the heavy penalties of fines, imprisonment, and even banishment inflicted on detected dealers in contraband opium.\n\nAny effective preventive system necessarily involves much searching of the persons and baggage of travellers, intrusion into private dwellings, and general interference with the liberty of the individual, and inevitably lends itself to abuses, so that it is anything but popular with the community generally.\n\nUnder present conditions, were a policy of complete suppression adopted, the more stringent measures required to make it effective would be a source of further resentment, and the cost would be prohibitive. Similar considerations apply to the case of the Straits Settlements, whose principal ports, Singapore and Penang, lie in the fairway of all sea-borne traffic between the East and the West. It would, of course, be another matter if the suppression of poppy cultivation, which is the official policy of the Chinese Government, became really operative in China.\n\n## FARMING SYSTEM\n\nIt will be convenient at this point to refer briefly to the farming system, which is of considerable historical interest and present importance in connection with the opium traffic. Under this system, the exclusive privilege of dealing in opium for a given area is put up to tender and sold for a period of years to the individual or Company offering the highest price. Conditions may be attached to the contract to minimise abuses, and, in order to safeguard his own interests, the farmer can be relied upon to do all in his power to ensure that others shall not encroach on his exclusive rights to deal in opium; Government, on its part, assisting him by legislation and otherwise. By this means, it is possible to restrict the traffic to one or more concerns, thereby facilitating regulation by Government.\n\nThis farming system is still in force in the Portuguese Colony of Macao; within the last 15 or 20 years, it has, however, been abolished in favour of a system of direct Government control in Malaya, Hongkong, and British North Borneo, as well as in Siam, the Dutch East Indies, and French Indo-China, on account of the serious abuses to which it proved liable; the essential reason being that the farmer, in his desire to get rich quick, was seldom scrupulous in his methods, and was prepared to go to any length to increase the market for his opium at home or abroad, legally or illegally.\n\n3", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-479 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 495696, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-481 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [8-12]", "page_number": 362, "title": "CO129-481 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [8-12]", "content_text": "51\n\n*\n\n# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nlarge area round the lower part of the Peak Road. It was essential, of course, that all the owners of houses in that district should agree that their houses should only be let or sold to Europeans. Many conferences took place and most of the owners accepted the proposal. Some stood out saying \"No, we want a free market for our houses. We want to know certainly that we shall be able to sell when we leave the Colony and are ready to go home after ten or fifteen years and we may be unable to find a buyer under this reservation scheme.\" The other owners took the attitude that they could not come in unless everybody agreed. Not long ago a sale in this area has put the final nail in the coffin of the scheme.\n\nIn these cases the deterrent contained in Section 20 has been insufficient to prevent the evil while the tenants have lost all protection granted by the Ordinance.\n\nYour Petitioners further desire to call the attention of the Several Members of the Legislative Council to the case of the persons now housed in 26 domestic tenements situated 13 in Upper Rutter Street and 13 in Lower Rutter Street. These houses are about to be pulled down by the landlords and approximately 12,000 persons will be dispossessed, mostly employed as Conservancy coolies. It is feared that these persons who discharge a necessary service will not be able to find other suitable accommodation and will be unable to continue their work.\n\nQuite recently a number of persons have approached me on this subject of a European reservation, but there has always been the objection that while they are willing to rent they are not prepared to build. For the reason that when leaving the Colony they will not find an open market. In conversation with a well-known resident recently I reminded him of the story of Abraham when the Angel announced to him the intended destruction of Sodom. Abraham pleaded for the city, saying \"Peradventure ten shall be found there,\" and the Angel answered \"I will not destroy the City for ten's sake\". And I said: \"Find me ten—or I will reduce it—find me five who will build houses in this reservation, and I am sure the Government will meet them more than half way.\" He went out and has not returned.\n\nNow, there is no racial question in all this. We are prepared to make a similar proposition to any community which may wish to live separately among its own kith and kin. We have, in fact, recently leased without auction to Chinese an area on which they propose to build fifty houses for the permanent residence of members of the Chinese community.\n\nI now come to the case presented to us by the Chinese. I will read the Petition from the Hongkong Tenants Protective Society, which has 4,000 subscribing members representing, approximately, 40,000 members of families. The petitioners say:\n\nA great number of cases have occurred in which tenants have been forced to vacate possession of their tenancies under Section 4 (1)F of the Rents Ordinance 1922, which allows the ejectment of tenants in cases which the landlord intends to rebuild domestic tenements so as to make them new buildings within the meaning of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance 1923 and it has been subsequently ascertained that possession has not been obtained in accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance.\n\nYour Petitioners therefore humbly pray that the several members of the Legislative Council will be pleased:—\n\n(1) To consider an amendment to the Rents Ordinance 1922 with a view to making provision for the protection of tenants wrongfully dispossessed by adding to Section 20 of the Rents Ordinance, the words \"And the Magistrate may order the lessor to allow the lessee possession of such domestic tenement.\"\n\n(2) To consider measures for the relief of persons employed in necessary duties making arrangements to house them in temporary quarters.\n\nI may say that I have been over all these properties which are to be demolished. The case of the Conservancy coolies is being dealt with by the Government who are making arrangements to house them in temporary quarters on a large piece of ground immediately adjoining. Among other cases quoted is that of McGregor Street. That is the first which came immediately to the notice of the Government. 900 persons are being dispossessed by re-construction of these very old and undesirable tenements.\n\nThe Government considered the case and was satisfied that reconstruction was necessary and desirable. Efforts were made to transport the tenants to Sham Shui Po, and the question of housing them in matsheds was also considered—but they disappeared. I can state from personal investigation that the Rutter Street property which is to be demolished is a most undesirable property, and the Building Ordinance Officer who accompanied me said that he would be thankful to see it come down.\n\nThis Colony has a somewhat startling capacity for absorbing Chinese, as has been exemplified time and again in periods of unrest at Canton. Now this certainly results in most undesirable overcrowding, but for the purposes of the present argument I merely state the fact that homeless people do find accommodation somehow. I have a list of a considerable number of empty tenements with which I will not trouble Honourable Members, but they may be interested in the figures relating to tenements under construction. Between the 1st of January and the 31st of May, 51 European and 321 Chinese houses were certified for occupation.\n\nThe European houses consisted of 162 storeys and the Chinese of 997 storeys. Between now and four months' time there will be 29 new European houses; 374 European flats; and 472 Chinese houses containing 1,594 storeys. And there is also the new hotel of some 90 rooms in Kowloon. As against that, the number of houses which have been or are to be demolished is 417. Therefore, it will be seen that there is new building considerably in excess of what is disappearing. It takes only some six months to pull down and reconstruct these Chinese tenements, so the hardship does not last for a very long period.\n\nThe question is to be looked at from a wider point of view than that of the individual tenant. In the year 1894, the great plague year, we paid the penalty of our evil rat-infested slums, and Sir William Robinson wrote: \"The remedy, as your Lordship will see, is a very drastic one. It may result in the destruction and rebuilding of one-tenth part of Hongkong. It will necessitate the extension in every direction of houses fitted for Chinese occupation on improved sanitary principles.\"\n\nSince that day we have had the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance which, with all its imperfections, is a great advance on those days, and the condition of the town is much more satisfactory. But we still have most undesirable slums. I have been over all those that have been named in this connection and I am speaking from experience, when I say that Honourable Members would, if they saw them, be struck with amazement, that the Colony is not swept from end to end every year by disease. In 1918 we had the Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis epidemic, and after the Olitsky report the Government had in contemplation the demolition and reconstruction of large areas in the heart of the Chinese quarters, but considered it more expedient to concentrate on the opening out and development of suburbs and the improvement of communications with the intention, when sufficient accommodation should be available, to enforce the law against overcrowding in order to put a stop to congestion in the City.\n\nNow, suddenly, we have our opportunity. The unrest in China has poured a flood of Chinese capital into this place and a large part of it is being used by private enterprise, on its own initiative, to do this very work which should have been done long ago. Year in and year out we have had preached to us the absolute necessity of removing this slum property. Now not only are others doing it for us but we are seizing the opportunity of widening streets, getting more open spaces, and effecting other improvements which are long overdue.\n\nOf course, the landlords are not doing this from philanthropic motives, but I think it is not true to make a general assertion that their guiding incentive is the evasion of the Rents Ordinance. There was one distinct case in February last, which unfortunately I did not hear of at the time, in which the landlord had rebuilt, solely for the purpose of evading the Ordinance. There was one other case, mentioned by the Senior Unofficial Member, No. 23, Amoy Street, in which, apparently the same object was in view. I sent for the architect and I think that nothing more will be heard of the matter. These are the only cases. Well, gentlemen, one swallow does not make a summer; one doubtful act on the part of a landlord is not necessarily a reason for legislating generally against all landowners.\n\nIn all other cases the building officer assures me that he is satisfied that there will be more legitimate accommodation in almost every case and an improved type of building in every case. I will quote his words.\n\n44\n\nand\n\n355", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-481 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 497323, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7]", "page_number": 9, "title": "CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7]", "content_text": "# Page 8\n\nFor notes issued in excess of $45,000,000 dollar for dollar would be deposited with the Hongkong Government.\n\nThe foregoing explanation will remove the misunderstanding conveyed by the words in the telegram from the Governor of Hongkong i.e. \"to cover at least 1/3rd of the total issue\".\n\nThe elasticity given to our note issue under the new Ordinance would be the facility of making use of securities in place of coin to the extent of $10 millions. Such a facility constitutes no incentive to over-issue and would, at times, avoid difficulties in meeting the requirements of South China, the finance of which is centralised in Hongkong. The demand for notes at China New Year is sudden and temporary and not always possible to gauge and serious inconvenience is caused if the demand cannot be met. I would mention that the note expansion at China New Year often only lasts one or two days and I gather from the telegram of the Governor of Hongkong that a considerable expansion is anticipated at the end of this month, China New Year falling on the 5th February. It is for this important reason that he requests permission be immediately granted for the passing of the Ordinance empowering the Bank to increase its ordinary note issue to $30,000,000.\n\nI shall be glad if you will let me know as soon as possible what decision has been reached as I should like to advise our Head Office by wire.\n\nYours sincerely,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 497458, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7]", "page_number": 144, "title": "CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7]", "content_text": "# \n141 \n\nhas been considered from time to time; but, since the Works were there before the development of the areas principally affected, it is very improbable that the Company could be compelled to move elsewhere without the payment of large sums in compensation for disturbance.\n\n** \n\nThe present high values of land have, however, provided an incentive to the Company to accept the suggestion of the Government that the Works should be moved to a position outside of the City; as the sale of their present holding at Hung Hom will help largely to provide the capital for the establishment of works properly equipped with up-to-date machinery in a position where the market value of the land is very much lower.\n\n## 5.\n\nAs it is in my opinion very important to seize the opportunity thus afforded of getting rid of this long-standing nuisance, I have, subject to your approval, agreed to the sale by private treaty of an area of approximately seventy-six acres at Gin Drinkers' Bay in the position marked \"A\" in the plan at the rates of premium and Crown rent subject to which land in the neighbourhood is being put up for sale by auction for industrial purposes. The conditions of sale will provide for the development of the lot for the purposes of a cement factory within a specified time.\n\n## 6.\n\nI have also agreed provisionally to the loan to the Company of a sum of £1,500,000 for the purposes of developing the area, repayable as funds become available from the sale of the present site, and in any case within a period of five years. A condition of this loan, which the Company is prepared to accept, is that all the machinery required for the new works shall be of British manufacture unless with the special consent of this Government on the recommendation of the Director of Public Works.\n\n5%", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 497708, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7]", "page_number": 394, "title": "CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7]", "content_text": "## 384\n\n(8) That, as it has been noticed by many of our members that the search of passengers is frequently very superficial, it is considered that a hope of reward would strengthen the incentive of the searchers to discover arms and ammunition.\n\n(9) That the necessity of pressing for a detailed reply is demonstrated by the fact that our letter of 12 September 1923 addressed to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary on the same subject has never been acknowledged.\n\nThat the necessity of pressing for an early reply is demonstrated by the fact that, although the Regulations have been on the Statute Book since 1914, piracy is increasing and the lives of our members constantly at stake, but no satisfactory action has been taken whereby a remedy might reasonably be expected.\n\nAt any time and on any notice, however short, we shall be pleased to wait on you and endeavour to explain any points which may appear to be obscure.\n\nWe have, &c.,\n\n**CHINA COAST OFFICERS GUILD**,\n(Sd.) T. T. Laurenson,\nAssistant Secretary.\n\n**THE MARINE ENGINEERS GUILD OF CHINA**,\n(Sd.) W. J. Stokes,\nBranch Secretary, Hongkong.\n\n(0)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 498954, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924", "page_number": 62, "title": "CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924", "content_text": "## \n(3) That a system of patrolling the routes traversed by these vessels by armed craft equipped with wireless installations is the only means by which efficient counter measures can be taken,\n\nThat this is a duty which should be entirely in the hands of the Royal Navy which is the only Service adequately equipped to carry it to a successful issue.\n\n(4) That the installation of wireless telegraphy, although possibly expensive as to first cost, is nevertheless imperative and, if it tends to save life and property or check this crying evil, as it most assuredly will, no consideration of first cost should be allowed to weigh against this obvious factor of efficiency.\n\n(5) That the money paid by the shipowners for the services of the guards might be more suitably directed to the insurance of the lives and bodies of the European officers engaged in vessels subject to the Piracy Regulations. Under present conditions it is the lives and bodies of these officers which form the premium of insurance on the property of others. No form of recompense for bodily injury sustained is demanded by the law and none has ever been paid.\n\nWhen it is remembered that the least amount paid (in the case of vessels carrying four (4) guards) is $1200.00 per annum it is clear that this amount would easily cover any premium on the life and limb of any of the officers engaged in that vessel. It would thus be an assurance to these gentlemen that they were of some real value, rather than (as appears to them at present) mere food for powder. Their present position is that not only have they their maritime duties to perform, but have in addition (at the behest of people totally unacquainted with those duties) to bear the brunt of and all responsibility for a failure to carry out the Piracy Regulations.\n\nWe have no knowledge of any other civilian calling in which the employee is called upon to offer his life in order to defend the property of others, and we are constrained by reason to think that, if it were so, an adequate recompense would be given for the sacrifice.\n\n(6) That the absence of any form of enquiry into any of the cases of piracy which have occurred since that of the `S.S. An` in November 1922, has given rise to an intense feeling of insecurity, greatly aggravated by the attempt, in the \"Draft Regulations\" submitted to His Excellency the Governor, to intensify the personal risks of those immediately concerned by a body of gentlemen who at no time ever had to or ever will have similar duties to perform.\n\n(7) That as the offer of a reward for useful evidence is the practice in connection with the detection of other forms of crime, it could be profitably adopted in cases of piracy.\n\n(8) That, as it has been noticed by many of our members that the search of passengers is frequently very superficial, it is considered that a hope of reward would strengthen the incentive of the searchers to discover arms and ammunition.\n\n(9) That the necessity of pressing for a detailed reply is demonstrated by the fact that our letter of 12 September 1923 addressed to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary on the same subject has never been acknowledged.\n\nThat the necessity of pressing for an early reply is demonstrated by the fact that, although the Regulations have been on the Statute Book since 1914, piracy is increasing and the lives of our members constantly at stake, but no satisfactory action has been taken whereby a remedy might...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 499151, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924", "page_number": 260, "title": "CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924", "content_text": "# Notes of a meeting held at the Colonial Office on the 17th of June to consider the measures which have been taken by the Hong Kong Government to deal with Piracy in the waters of and adjacent to the Colony.\n\n## Present:-\n\n* Mr. A.G.M. Fletcher\n* Sir G. Grindle\n* Mr. Paskin - Colonial Office\n* Assistant Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong\n* Mr. M.F. Headlam - Treasury\n* Mr. L. Cuthbertson\n* Mr. Waterlow - Foreign Office\n* Sir J. Jamieson - H.M. Consul General, Canton\n* Captain W. Tomkinson\n* Commander E.R. Carson - Admiralty\n* Major D.M. King - War Office\n* Major C.D. Rawson\n* Mr. V.D. Tomkins - India Office\n\nSir J. Jamieson said that the ships which have been pirated are without exception small vessels owned by Chinese companies who carry British officers merely in order to obtain registration in Hong Kong. The officers engaged are for the most part of the \"beach-comber\" type and their conditions of service provide them with no incentive to resist piracy. He suggested that the best way of dealing with the situation would be to remove from the Hong Kong register all ships not owned by indisputably British companies. While this would not prevent piracy, it would at any rate prevent...\n\nMINUTES NOT TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE.\n\n250.\n\n## Other Notes\n\nB/T were Look through MINUTES. not represented because so long in filtering. This not usual \"that They the appropriate lifting until it was too late. I have however sent thin copy of the fr. notes. Y ik they Sent someone to A J be asked to Hud. the meeting...\n\nJ T... whether in the Guilds. Yerzch \n\nSee akes 29874. 2576. You will want plenty notice. Thy for \"Thursday 10th Res at 3.0 p.m.\" \n88 27.6.24 Glor \n\nOther Sundas be invited, whether the meeting shd. be conferice to those who have asicent to comer (28308), Love it t Those who fox arted.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 499156, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924", "page_number": 265, "title": "CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924", "content_text": "## 282 \n\n**PUS** \n\nThe local Guilds were not sufficiently active in furthering their interests. In these circumstances, he thought that the proposed meeting with the Imperial Guild would probably have a very useful effect.\n\nIt was agreed that, if possible, it is very desirable to carry the support of the people who have actually to carry out the regulations, and with a view to meeting the wishes of the local Guilds as far as possible, their main objections to the regulations as set out in their letter of the 12th of March were examined in turn:\n\n(a) The obligation imposed on the master by regulation No.1 to resist piratical attacks to the utmost.\n\nSir G. Grindle suggested that this might be modified to read \"So far as practicable in the circumstances\". Mr. Waterlow agreed that some such modification might well be made. He suggested that if this regulation were removed from its rather striking position in the forefront of the regulations and inserted in a modified form after the regulations dealing with the structural measures of defence, it might be deprived of its present rather antagonising psychological effect.\n\n(b) The Guild's objection to the carrying of arms and armed guards.\n\nSir J. Jamieson and Major King were both in sympathy with the Guild's objections, but it was the general feeling of the Conference that these requirements ought not to be dropped, as the absence of means of active defence would be a direct incentive to piratical attacks. Mr. Fletcher described a recent instance of successful resistance to a piratical attack, which was, he submitted, due... \n\n## 20 \n\n## GISW \n\n## 255", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 499292, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924", "page_number": 401, "title": "CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924", "content_text": "## \n| 6330 | ४ 391 | ། | ! |\n\n13. Briefly the contentions of the Guilds were that the Captain Superintendent of Police is not a suitable person to exercise supervision of the anti-piracy arrangements, which duty should be taken over by the Naval authorities; that the Indian guards which ships are required to carry are not amenable to the authority of the masters of the ships and are useless for defence purposes; that the carrying of arms which may easily fall into the hands of the pirates is an added danger even if the desire to obtain them is not a direct incentive to piratical attacks; that the structural requirements prescribed by the Regulations are a hindrance to the working of the ships; that generally the chances of successfully resisting a surprise attack are so slight that if (as they are required to do by the regulations) the master and other certificated officers \"resist to the uttermost\", they are faced by almost certain death; and that in view of the absence of adequate provision for their dependents, it is unreasonable not to allow them to exercise their discretion as to the degree of resistance which should be offered.\n\n14. We understand that in every case in which a piratical attack has been successful, it has been found that the Piracy Regulations have, in some essential respects, been disregarded. We have also had cited to us instances of attacks which have failed.\n\n15. In the light of these reports, we are satisfied that if the grilles required by the regulations are properly constructed and kept closed, the guards properly posted and disciplined, passengers restricted to their proper quarters, and the ships' officers properly armed, there...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 500971, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-489N - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12]", "page_number": 6, "title": "CO129-489N - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12]", "content_text": "164\n\n10\n\nCLEAR OUT THE BOLSHEVISTS.\n\n(Continued from page 5.)\n\nThe effect of this action by the Canton Authorities has been to cause a complete stoppage of the Export of Sugar from the Colony.\n\nNo Question of War.\n\nLord Hailey's Speech.\n\nThis Colony is not threatened by possible rain.\n\nAfter our long waiting we are relieved.\n\n(Loud applause).\n\nStarving Out Shameen.\n\nSOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1925.\n\nTo relieve the situation.\n\nIf present measures are serious and urgent need, and say delay in dealing.\n\nTheillers Railway Government has taken the base of 20% of the\n\nthe latter part of the telegram, retaining the wording generally.\n\nHe pointed out that they could not possibly have the information to support those here whose interests would be reduced to ashes. Bas-Government officials, Mr. Boulton declared.\n\nDuring my visit to Swatow, I will most certainly be influenced by the Hongkong Government, and the rate to and from Hongkong, and I will venture to say that such intervention was one gentleman referred to Hongkong.\n\nHave a far larger problem to face by Russian officers. All this revenue is derived from the\n\nat Canton,\n\nDantun.\n\nard\n\ninterests\n\nA Speaker Heckled. Mr. Somerset Fitzroy\n\nCanton authorities!\n\nCleveland Nat. Rosevelt.\n\nWhat can we get there, for the reason that at that it is a source of wealth to the\n\na strong majority Government, may I understand has that a further meeting for the purpose of protesting against the\n\nUrest Britain but the time for talking is passed. cm gind is now second the resolution.\n\nattitude of drift, which is fatal to Europe would be silaze la 29 It a the time for action, for do-\n\nsaid: Sir. Lalies, and Gentlemen, strong action in this canter. Fur over two mouths we have\n\nThe telegram we are asked to send is plain.\n\n31 appeals to the\n\nSwatow's Voice.\n\n\"The, let us have the blaze\" ait is extremely unfortunate that support and abide by the decisions tion.\n\nwith confidence that long ere¦ Prime Minister to have Treatica: Mr. A. Rogowan (Swatow)\n\nof that meeting, and desire near-manber of the audience shouted, thin crisis sheale kave arisen ut a\n\nand leave the Port of Canton mia, the strong representations carried on which are Imperative supported the resolution.\n\n\"He zara: parution in one cable. Gladly while nonther told the speak that time when la London we are try\n\nprovided they unit Hongkong which, we andarstood, were from for cor commercial prosperity.\n\nMr. Chairman, ladies eun gentle-share expere/\n\nhe was not discussing the acing to impress the Home people which still further destres Britissime to vinte eshted Hume by our stresses the fact that the present af haww been specially request-\n\nMr. J. R. Greig, who said he had firm but singly asking a series of questions,\n\nBritain by the Hongkong exbibit ion is an Ant of open, hostility Commerce would ensure spedy and\n\nthan thusa morths, and independent Steenber of Scouterne in Swalow basised the nerealty for taking\n\nVenezuela Cited\n\nat Wembley. In Great Britain go- to Great Britain and gray cient action by the Home Gay-of Yeking, are dolely responsible to represent them and to associate immoriste action.\n\nHe had hemn Afr. Fitzroy referred to whating to stand aside and see Hong- and deliberately violates her Trea-rament\n\nfor this hopet of British subjects, the British community in Swatowall wound the world and fled that happened at Verregels and satû kung revert to its forme fahing fles with Chink.\n\nWhen, in coteequence of sag tuns skipa, and goods, and the the Cen- with any rebutions reat to the Britain was the most hated nation the restle\n\nPER Wal President village and native huts\"!\n\nsu ihon public meeting of the 27th July, on Government have openly debate Goverment by fongong, throughout the world. That was Rosevelt within three or four let us withdraw Hongong from our telegram was sent to the For-\n\nolured their intention of destroy- Articla II of the Treaty of Tisutain hearse the was too lenient with days sent the whole American the exhibition.\n\nwign. Office by the Envenior, we had long by every nuans in the power, which opened Swatow and othes fire poovie with wegri she had to out there and Great Brivals had\n\nSingapore Scheme Useless.\n\nevery renaust to expect that at lasi Hongkong, its trade and prosperity Southern parts for foreign trade deal.\n\nfe is the rennet Celong to climb down,\n\nProceeding. Mr. Bonitoa refer- Bolts through Hongkong and of car Hanne Government would stop\n\nTheir challenge is quite plair and state the \"\n\nis amel that we have gut,\" the spaaker declared,\n\nIeed to the Singapore Base which Mr. Best: It is not true.\n\nthe port of British Piecsgouds This ingenti be Cap and du save grows daily more definite\n\nBritish subjects are permitted to and why hour not they protacije false,\n\nhe regarded primarily to a scheme into Craton and the interfa;\n\nMr. Fitzroy: The telegram gives a plain-state-tary on rate with wheessure in\n\nwas there and to add to the defence of Hongkong.\n\nthereby causing disustvous Jusaes\n\nof shipping earns, which they pleare and to propel to ani\n\nhelped to blow up the place. Mercantile Marine's Action.\n\nit Great Britain was going is 20- both to British and Chinees mer tord that no repis, and not even an speas for themselves, and tells the top'osrure with their vessels\n\nMr. T. 7.* Laureta, o the M. Best: The whole of it to fmain paszive in this matter and chants in this Colony and to the acknowledgement of our degram\n\nPrime Minister of the recent pro- and archumdise,\" which is The Phina Coast Offrers Guild, enid: klee.\n\nĮ seg Hongkong ruined through Bol- Expor trade of Lancashire and nearly a month ago, has been claustion by Canton excluding alley bound on with at the Chahman, ladies and yousie.\n\naly. teror in comlusion suidjabevist influence, then why not Yorkshire, which st result in recived here. Even as to the pre.\n\nDritish vessels from that port, and the beatles\n\nbetween. Great on. on behalf of the mercantile was entirely opposed\n\n13abandon the Singapore scheme and farther very considerable and ju-sent nothing appears to have been shy other vessels from Canton if Reitairy and China and theatrs marine I should like to say that at creating permanent becply done by the Home foveagent for they first call at 12 ageng.\n\nThis embrace the Treaty of Nonius meeting of the mastere and ment in Great Britain.\n\nor relie, and we are here now, proferation by Canton our tele- which is that British cubjenteneres hold on Thursday afterno: En, to express our strongest indiz-gram rightly deportives as \"ar gut with the trailles, and establish fast, it was decided that the follow.\n\nThe tante-Hongkong problem ination at sneh treatment for our of een hostility to Great Britains shall be allowed to reside for ing telegram should be sent to London.\n\n(Auplouse). The Colony's Defence Contribution, the rarese of carrying on their Secretaries who are entirely separate and distleet from Horse Government.\n\nWe tall the Prime Minister of molestation or restraint,\n\nDercantile parynis that in any other part of Chira Suck treatment is outragevas uril\n\nwithave Tis is very rect and lime felt the pulse of all the stand for pstalatiere and love Both vitally important, lee every effort nations interested in China and auf country and for my fellow men owing to the fact that Gantou doen intolerable treatment, and, failing disnatrons losses to British andare trentres have been corricials with Tuppertal go toungulse and is in robelitos eller shortly from the Ueme Gev-Chinese metchisiz by this a that and absolutely violated not only in Gulle, Marine Engineers Asenciale thought thes\n\nMorchautz Service peaceful solution of this problem. The world over, hit I annet clauid Leave tolerate this position the Home against the Central Government we must pursolves do what of the Cantos authorities and that\n\nMercanthie Maring Services Whatever action was reecssury to Government is taking up to-day.\n\nat Feking and that on Conferences we can in our own interests and to by promot action new pose Nasa) apin and letter bet in the in.\n\nhoid a: Peking on driff or extra-te interests of those dependent and Minars Ferran would speedilytics of them, and my personal Association and Navigsters and the flows Government who hail\n\nWhy should she remain so milent Experience has been that with the Sercial Insurere Comply tu prezzor knowledge of the anti so passive as she fe?\n\nThere territoriality or any other Ques\n\nHongkong hard is only vor excuse. We state the fact that is 25) Prent Boisbevist authorities in urge the Imperial Government to situation than tions can possibly assist this f\n\npaver they way he considerat take immediate action with regard (Disent).\n\n27 years residence here i hava i need not dilato upon what is years this Colons has remitted as rape of paper which have been to Canton and China general the last speaker and entirely over to spons about Hongkong.\n\nI have Colony in the retaulest degree in\n\nThe chairman remarked that heen to England twine and I like common knowledge- the deliberate the House Government a defence!\n\nPerther delay may be minous cas and heartless attempt to starve our contritation of 4 millions dullers, and de unt fuzelton.\n\nCanton Government legal.\n\nJacked the axplanation he had seen it grow solid, stolid and og in dully losses be this Clonthere and the uncooked, organiz- milion dollars. These defence oment of Canton has pat inte fone That, ladies and gentlemen, was for intervention should take, at Hoe know anything about\n\nShameau, mno with of our trude the 1924 contribution betas vi\n\ning a disastrous affect on the mer mede that while they made some secure and yet the strange thing cente\n\narine.\"\n\n(pause)\n\nsuggestions wä of inermeing 201 rukowa\n\nregard to the is that comparatively due people nagnitude: moreover for Brilia sud eurders tack\n\nupou adlitary equilations Hongkong very effective embargo the telegram ant by the mercather of course fully realised that Hongkong.\n\nAt one menting here Government debyy decisive Shades with\n\nSwator i British and Jay say are never behind. Ther soleiriter for the decision of bong as just aufheient la cover\n\nare boycottert. at Canton tu the future than that and gel inure, was told us by an taxes paid by our business men and What about it? Are we to accept Arst line of defence after your file Majesty's Government. (Au- the point of a poncil on the map\n\nexo-vitarse, Mr. Helstrom, the workmen to the Government, and these nuditions withee undest? Boyal Navy. (Angimuse).\n\nlevel. The meeting waa noij and that is hot Hongkong exista There is no question whatever wadish Consal in Canton, at bir contributed to by every tue of 25 (Cres of \"No\").\n\nThu trouble\n\npresuming to dictate to the one in the minds of musands and of making War on Chion bus aiment Isaturs.\n\nAt the same lenaedectly or indirectly, down to the started in Caufan and must he stil\n\nGovernment what they should de thousands of our fellow men and ply es ousting the present via M Mangowan, ay out and respect-tumblent coolie, and we can with Carlos. Cantor is avite Chairun, todies and gentlemen, but was simpis\n\ntoworen to-day. It is just the enily anti-British Bulsbetik faed resident of Swaton, cold how longer endure what we rightly das-separate and independent of the rise to eantess any digressent voice the foeting of the Colory: polat of a pencil,\n\nThey do not lion which has recently succeed-tast port, controlled by the Canon the to the Prime Minister as die Central Government of Pikity, with the latter part of the telegram that compling must be dure and realise, they cannot realise that it\n\nGovernment, eculd secure peace at present imolerable ed in seizing the reins of new intervals only, and by the payment and bevralt of the business of this unitors the Tieda are kicked stres down to what this wetita diplomacy of Prking had so far Britain of theeands upon bou- strangulate wat has been badly treated and it is aropand to rele. When we done quickly. Applause). The in a source of income to Great It may be added that such talenting some years, or millions and Colasy.\n\nThere is no possible chance of the proposes to send to the Ilome Gos-adately and entirely fabled and saves of pounds and that it brings We have \"carried ou\" here, ali resmpton of trade as before. The erment wil done amant 10? vention will be hadled with the wiilions of dots. Has Swator\n\nit was not realised that there trade and commerce and work to not so paid the town would have praise to car own men and acreen, tags of this trade will hit the Coley demands that the Britina Gov-was problem in the tooth, our fellow me gresiest suisfaction by the op pressed and terrorised people after, and the Chinese mex-and to those of other races we of Hongtans sary hard. harder crerunt deliver au ufignatum at\n\nda, hut shall we lo to awaken cheats therefore proferred to pay. have so unselfishly and cheerfully than many resise.\n\nBritish ijonce is the\n\nfr Rost who then wonted the Chem? Exception has been taken Apart from the facensestable\n\n\"demand.\" but I Mr. Macgowan fold of the inallest our serial services factud ping interesta are very large in Apaizare), Fase you stopped for Platform from the body of the hall is the word right of British subjects in se le nder of the Bush ling police, volunteers uit oder Swalew, while farge quantities of one money he thinks were the referred to Mr. Fiteroy's statement consider it is not strong enough.\n\nColony of every race to the pro-\n\nin Swatos, sad that any Chase difer. We feel we not British gouds are imported yearly-mags7\n\nBe We want words that wall makɛ all with regard to Yeugenols. a Vulcer \"No me to was clently thank every one of these All te has diy akcppet. I have stop (Laughter and applause).\n\nizely wrote in agley that Praiat least for this generation, thet tection of the Bravish Flag a deght speaking a Briton\n\ndeclared that the speaker was en-Britons reatine once and for all, frnce of the provisions of the severely utahed, Acy sangan men\n\nwonzey. (Applause) much pleasure in supporting this You are recognising a belligerent, dent Roosers sent the American Hongkong is a tremendous asset, 5 Retou was burned. But such services are the duty of telegram to the Price Minister, and Can you point out any time in the Treaties between Great Britain akt and Charma, thus Colors has by its Swatow k cil instractions the Government, and the over. I hope prompt action will be taken lustery of the British nation when\n\nCanton; the void of the trelement is paid the taxpayers of the flame wiborities to stop it as weugnised a twopeury half end who was in power. Langheading interests in the Best repeated convidscable defence cron tribution for the past 2 years as a Canton, and waless woad Hongwong to perform Paese duties.\n\nthis reign of terror in Routh China, penny belligerant? aquired a right to the active supranged in Canton there could to when for our payment to Govt should he to say that if say al-gita bask to the\n\nEr and applause). President that Britain dres not relia port of the British Government and improvement in Swetow. We erament of dai millious yearly, we tack is made on Carton, a similar when the\n\nRocrevat would ever have done it and ventise it soon through those Souths wha fighting auch a thing. Suci d-fence untrutionz atownten easily imagine the ict of our require tall protection of ane lives shack should he made on Swalow. Jesinst the North, when the whole ceeded to give the history of the the north, she looks like coming The speaker pro-red hats, those red heads from Altogether during de period to one and children in the Treaty and property, and full protection because, unfortunately. Swatow if that Continent wax is the great Verczucia tremble pointing sat very near to losing it tha sum of 4 milion dollars, the posts under these conditiona: to tende with any bi accordamen in Kearatony and just now emire throes of war. Did the British that it was all over a guid Arid\n\nMuch Pay, Little Work, 1924 contribution being the record the refused a cup of roll or with her treaties.\n\nly under Rad rate (Appinuse).\n\nĮGasorament veroguise them? Not! Amount of 4% million dollars, and even water for for sick and dying Immediate and Decisive Actio\n\nAmerica butige in and Mr. Boulton declared that since the there, A Shungen Speaker.\n\na bit of it. You have a small com have naturally been couridered by child. She and her child wight\n\nHongkong, with its long ni\n\nbegan as usual with a lot of big 1922 strike the Chinese workman thie Colony as an Insurance Fuse for want of the bare\n\nMr. C. B. Pearock (Shameen): audity when you pay are aging talk. (laughter). \"That is about was not worth 50 ger cent of what contribution to the lome Govern-\n\ngentie- contrary to Peking. You have for the urotection of the rights artes\n\nment for protection, has been built Mr. Chairman, ladies and\n\nsm going your treaties with Chipp. Where they are any use for the he was ten years ago. Bomele secured to Eritish enhjoete\n\nup by British and allied enterprise then, I am afraid I\n\nor other Bolshevik, Socialism arð | speaker declared amii iughter. Treaties with China.\n\nwhich the Canton autheities would and work. Thousands of disappoint you in what I have to the proper place to get The\n\nMr. P. Boulton said the troubio Communison had got inte redbe na. They world bring us workers, the class which helped to say use in Shaman we have place where the Foreign Office which we had passed through thecus gud now they were sur to get to the are condition as Caatamake these millions of contrition not yet had an opportunity of going at the present moment. There lage tre months, two years, ten as much as they could for as little\n\nAccordingly the residents of itself, and of Bluesin, which is rare now, through the action of the reading the telegram which it is one, and only cue channel years and more justiced the as possible.\n\nHe heartily supported This Colouy at a great Mass In- state of anares, brutal des Canton authorities out of work proposed to send to London. As tough which we can deal and sertion that British interests and the resolution and again phasised dignation Meeting demand that the Sotism, cring, proverts and atter here at are forcibly detained in a rate I can tell you that so for that is through the diploratie: British quahties of justice, to- that unless Great Britain realised British Government deliver arratser\n\nCanton where they have lost or as the attratten there is regeerned, harnes of Pelting.\n\ntegrity and bonusly bad bass ciao. the situation quickly sad teak At this point thure was con cen robbed of all their little we are still cooking war on food,\n\ning down due to the fnci Mat Jar-promet and decisive action, Bong- ing the years of piracy, marder kong would be raïvod. The policy of Canton is frightvinga or capital, that and their doing our wo washing. pisaning siderable dent, and one of (A) To restore Capton us an\n\nThe Chatman, replying to Mr. Oper Treats Port for Tracefulness, terrorist. The authorities Families being dewlute. As the our own house and duing to beat the audience shouted \"Go and outrage, carried on droogh-\n\nI want to the West River and see what out the Chidon delta, Britain had Peacock, who asked whether the between Chinese and the bere have applied these methods Coutua cauilenge to us neartes Chaugster).\n\nthe-amplify the Charmeen's opening Teklog can do” amid laud cheers. Dever effectiveh Jutervenud and regulations regardius akipping were Foreign Treaty Powers to ruin tangkong, but have so tur accomplishmen Britons\n\narticle Ma. Fitzroy: Let me go on alto-day was the linaz. One cen-affleial, said thai Sir James Jamie.\n\nnot understand, Mr. Boulton pre-jsen had addresSEU full accordance with the failed, for Hongkong is not Russia elves and their allies woust also be remarks in regard to the\n\nthe Foreign Provisions of the Tresting or Ching, and we are not Russian thrown out of employment here, under the heading of \"Sir Jamestite farther,\n\n\"We are dealing with Canton in fceeded, how it in that & Govern-Secretary at Canton, Mr. We Hon- between Ching and those We depend for success aron indus oliriously, unless we obtain Jamieson\" in the Dallu Prean. The\n\ntry and absulate falmese, fastics adegante help now from the naye hain key aid you rectienlis other respects\" anusite: Interruptor most with such trenendous inter-nir challenging bin, to deny that Powers.\n\nesta 1 Britain has in Hongkong they were not official, and up to the (B) To expel ! Bolsheviks and generosity in all our dealings, and military forces--help for which word for word what i wanted to exclaimed.\n\nThere followed some disorder, to-day should remain pausive and present he had not received any tbefand we liave here a Government we have paid from the taxes of the and it is not ceressary for me\n\nOne early in the next few days Sir Kwangtang Province. not excelled in these resprets by people, we can pay as 44 million repeat it. I should like to during which the Chairman apseemingly indiferent (C) To disarm and disband the any other Gurement in the world, or any other samt to the Govers remind you, however, that a snopealed to the meeting to give the recall 26 years ago, when the New James Jamieson was likely to deat\n\narticle appesyed a few dayy later (apeaker a fair hearing.\n\nTerritories on the Kowloon side anther with the matter. For that sole Waypen College Syplause), and which has the conmeut in taxation, Applause).\n\nAnd has the British Gaverstoeat which was a gradging retractio) on\n\nwere given to Great Britiau youson, the Chairman said they Cadets who are in reality dence of all under er dag, rich) vome points and a poor attempt la Mr. Fitzroy Nar the ass! There was pure irable in the feh pastised in embodying the Russian trained troops, sed and poor alike. (Applause). We no obligation townude these work-\n\nTerritories\n\nA few mat shedstorms referred to in their telegram. send back to their native, shall therette defear a wanden als left destitute and towards Jussi ches, but they did thing you ask them to do is to\n\nwere huned down and if I recall Had the Carton Government seen places those who are tack upon our fade and liberties, thane who will be en left and shatish the atter from a Slamentira at the Bolshevists\n\nand shall emerge stronger andį we remain 2511 inactive while the merchant who is bore today pinot know the exact meaning rightly a few policemer were shot to deny imraedissly their receg- Cantonese,\n\nPerhaps some of you mean! There were considerable trozbie miston of that proclamation, it prouid But at what Cantos craitenge aereeds and of the Samen point of view that (D) To cease hoyent of British brighter than ever.\n\ngood workers, so to speak, perish? and inferusing them that we in the Chinese Roshevista, but at any with telephone communications cos have appeared in thus retegraal. Goods,\n\nJeost to us all!\n\nAnd, incentime, with the thou. Certainly not: We cannot and Shameen were not being for rate what you are ashing is that it did not last long. (E) To\n\ncare\n\nscapegoal. It may interest you lofts whole of thean paople shall bej The Trouble Spinthered. propagatio.\n\nEDH And intelligersahuti not do so,\n\nknow that the first article in the turned out I think I as hear in Voder Threat of\n\nworkers and merchants of all races! These people, and ali non-British Rongkong Daily Press was referred that an ero the ultimatonealation and a party from three tiers. There would be \"Complete Naval Blockade by wże stand by us ners, we cannot in the Cology, look to us and to our to by Mr. C. Wa,\n\nC who which was delivered to Serbis in different sturees was organised swer from the Canton Government \"Britain of Centon and Its continue passively to endure this Government for strength and help is\n\n11914 by Austria (A Voice: \"Non- to advance on the Territories. 1and when they pressed their for an \"net inbouring waters and/or Bloyeett with its murders, robberies, to them is this erisis and we must allest\n\nin the Cantonscher\"). It is the same sort of remember being ir. Telpu when answer the only reply they would \"such other zetion\n\nsand gross violation or treaty rights or fail then.\n\nadministration and who is believed thing that you want to destroy the Centers mounted the head of revs was that they had nothing \"Mejesty' Government may (Applause).\n\nOur Government must he urged to hos mederate with a very large the sovereignty of a nation and column which marked through to do with Vem but that it was We understand that sony foure: to prompt and vigorous action following. His chicrease to this take it by force. Very well, how the village. The ag was host-party a strikers' proclamation. The Ultimatum should also state fielegrants have been sent, either istua Retion weig, I think. bral article, I think, speaks tac itsell do you propose to do this wicked, a royal salute of 21 gets fred i\n\nSir Henry Pellock Administratiere our Governor to the Coloria 64opreted 5 All Chinese and other He referred to it in a speech ou\n\nSir Henry Poleek: Mr. Chair- ruush he established at Canton Cfice by one Chamber of Cora-non-British here of both the work August 175h in Canton. Il a situa- ve sort your allimatum (A and from that day to this there.\n\nValee: \"Send 3 telagem,\" has cover been any trouble in Tan, ladies and gentlemen, I have ing and merchant classes, and, as tien of this kind I think the greatest (Laughter. which will observe no the fall all merce to the Foreign Offer.\n\nExactly, but that ki. (Applause) Now an-made two in thres apecches ou the existing Treaties between Chios; We sun iso assured, and can stated in our proposed telegram, care should be exercised by the is not whac WC are disticipate that if something like had subject of the Canton trouble dar- and the Foreign Powera.\n\nquite holteve, that our local Cham \"scab intervention by us will be Hongkong newryapet in regard to ussing at the present comment.been due during the years of ing the past few weeks and I de It is the unanimous aginter offer of Commerce, and especially balled with the greatest satiara what they which. (Hear hour). We are sending a telegram in fronble, the rents of discontent not intend to repeat wyself this this Meeting that Brinsh inter-nur Governor and our Chairman, ou by the oppressed and terrorised Indications of disuntion, as the wich we are wearing the func-which this Colony has endured, evening, I should like, noverer, veolica is the\n\narticles dulce, merely give contions of the 17 Government. in Caston would never have been to mention one or two new poluts only effective have done all that possibiv coal pole of Canton.\" method of restoring communies [be dune. Indeed, i believe that thoj We tell the Prime Minister that dense to the other side and truke which we say the Home Govern what it is to-tap. I maintain all which have recurred to me. The tions and trade between Hong-labours of both have been unit at this great masas judiquation meet car battle sil the harder. (AD-rent are totally incapable of doing if the Bolshies bad realised the fire is a very interesting historics! kong, Canton and South Chirie aud ting in our behalf. (Applause). jing we dead immediate and de-plause).\n\ntheir job despite the furt that we firmness of the power of Beitian point which I looked up this after- of preventio tae economic But they have apparently failed fejsive action by the British Govern- Support from Fonchow, Jare told they are brasted by every- they never would have attempted | noon, and it is iu connection with destruction of Hongkang and of and we, the parle of Hongkong, meat, \"Dervind,\" Fix. is a strang The fileman then read the fol-body. We propose to do by to have planted themselves in the what is called the second war of British interests in the Treaty and new asked to cable our case word, Bat, in car gremstances loving telegram, he had received establishing a hickade by navalety of Canton to work their China\" in 1867. The casse Porte of Swatow, Anioy, Foochow | divert to the Prime Ministry who, ant entirely in schord with it. If the Fuochor Chamber of forces of Canton (Bear heart-ruinous tropazendo aguinal ue. that war was as follows: There And South Chura.\n\nhimself a business man, and withiam in aword with the whole of the Commerce: \"We welcome news Does it ever occur to you that' (Applause). As a 27 years real- (Continued on page 11.)\n\nThe Ultimatum.\n\nby\n\nultimatum at once to the Canton\n\nAuthorities.\n\nfrani SARDA\n\n\"ensider neessary.”\n\nhista Chinore\n\nAu-British\n\nHS\n\nDeces\n\nAnd this is the condition\n\nsande\n\nA Policy of Frightfulness.\n\n<\n\nprobably one\n\nטיין\n\ntho\n\n\"Nonsense.\"\n\nTake eivil\n\nyay\n\nthat time it was President Clare-nation, that it is the key to sil\n\nthcit\n\nThe General and Adaurai were la\n\nMr. Bertil Helstrom declared that the Cautog Goverment were\n\nbehind hiding themselves\n\nLae\n\nYo wit-\n\nof\n\nCLEAR OUT THE BOLSHEVISTS.\n\n(Continued from page 10.)\n\nMACAO NOTES.\n\nPORTUGUESE NAVAL FORCES.\n\nOur Con Correspondent.:\n\nwas a certain bost named the Arros comanded by a\n\nBrition captain and menned by a crew ol Chinese which\n\nMacau, Asvist 24.\n\nGuilherme 1veny\n\nCommander was selling in Perras at the Portuguese cruiser\n\nValedictory,\n\nSOUTH CHINA\n\nMORNING POST\n\nCUQUETTING WYIH BOLSHEVISM.\n\nCLARING DISCREPANCUSS AND INCONSISTENCIES.\n\nBg J. R for the\n\nS. C. M. Plat.)\n\nrenk\n\nthenight\n\nWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1926.\n\nBULSHEVISM IN CANTON, OPINION OF THE CHINESS.\n\nNot Mind to the Menace\n\n.\n\núť\n\nIt is a\n\nApes-balipenny stomp\n\nqof the world's richer in tantury and commerce and munstry wil ouer\n\nthe studurls and dissatisfaction, POINTS ABOUT HONGKONG. Jar Jnker i to destruction. Then\n\nwithin lite workers, and clearly! it is the opportunity of the prude\n\nGerezand that the Boishavets -\n\nTHAT YEHEN. tatiane ar wordmen of the world bel\n\ntead o\n\nCover their violation step in ani lake over the govern! Le spirit with the anavarde.\n\nOne frequently copies aerosy & met within every ti\n\nment that strikers have the auto-reference to The noder ermits have resterday. It is apparently a copy or parties they have reasons to op-\n\nTac lowing letter reurbed us inge of refusing service to persons and is is a non praatine, though\n\nHongkong, China, the ordinary way under the werepublics is beer, appointed Con-]\n\ntinue war again unchained an Great of a lever addressed to Han. Mi pore or disagree with.\n\ncantile marine flag. That Bag woa marder in Chief of the Portuguese critical paalysis of Tolcheviniz, matkab Ulustration of the acner!\n\nI make no prebusion of writing a war in Buspe a sroviding a P. D. Holyoak. for it ronds:\n\nan entirely wrong and costly one. to aldress letters in itis Fashion torn down by some Chlaese cffcial Naval Forces in the Far East. pricking all its tabbles of fallacy wf Marx's practition\n\nWe are admit that Bolshevism Hongkong, as is often pointed out and trampler under foot and from The Gift Esues, the Portuguese ami impracticable aspirationa\n\nHengkong. Avgust 25, 1995. At So while wardly. the Boise-Mase Meeting, Hongkong Rederiz. Teking and those in other capitalet at a letter there fan it does To P. H. Holyoak. Esy., Chairman, meurs and that the authorities at British Colony, and it costs no re\n\nwill reapest no diplomatic setite not a part of tha that single treident arose the transport, is due to-gorrow, to be thint I attempt to do within theviste argue, their way in wegent out be-- avcond Chign war, which is vervi followed, i understand, by other scones this series of articles Sa tobali of the workmen, the property i vesidents in Hongkong, we wished with the local situations in Sauch other often referred to as the Arrow war. units of the Portuguese navy.\n\nOur dear Sir--As temporary have but been thoroughly acquaint frein on end of Lepdon to the sonin the misformed with solens clar, the movement in vanity in In connection with that, I might\n\nThe offres of the Naval Foresta pitfalls and spares sufficient a gigantic ble for the emancipatie sure through you our friends out- Chire. say that in those days there were at Mano bave been entertained on\n\ndone the wick Another mistaken to convince the radicais in this por.cf the whole of making Tu vltimate Side Chaton that the people of\n\nCantonese Not Inactive. such things as talograms or several occasione during the past prasnat fer cannot change the car and the catablishment of a gecine of the apperching danger of us to point out again that the thus \"Hong Kong.\" In a letter to suting is the soiting out of the tion of Chins that Reichevism in the action of all cases within romery vangtung bave ust been unaware, Instructions from home, and the law daya in Mace, lo honour of\n\nIt may be of interest to you for nord Hongkong in two syllables- Govamar of is Celery at that a arcival of the Republice.\n\nof contemplary Etical decuracy have been the win this! Boisbevis and have in the last people of Kwangtang are not at all the serve with ference to his time, Sir Jeha Bowring, gave\n\nI dare to main in the Bolsterisw. urier to the then Admiral to gu\n\nWhether the Boltw years repeatedly, unceasingly native to their desire to oust the reatly published book de Luss ahead and the Admite went ahead and kindred services are a lun-damage to Crins, materials and The Siberists lar maintain chat pay all unjust and unreasonable seating inertia has he fored by Mast as read of Leigh and Orange\n\niam can only do a gent deal of izin to do is ezether question.\n\nThe Chater Collection, \"Mr. James Ws are rumurimes inclined to meer cheon in honor of Mr. Meireles exacialks, and cae eomplish unthing tus capitalis have all the advantaxes whenever poscite and, a circonstances they are still unable points our list throughout the book.\n\nagainst ni rafal arts, refusing to from their territory. the thetri at what we call eatly Victorian Vasconcelos, Director of the Trea of constructive value in all ages of anperior education, diei-lehad once, get the Bolshevis arms to overoane, and that, as soon as except for quotations, Hongkong is day Lord Palmerston was then suy, at the Garden of Mr. LaBolleva a contend movenwet plis maitsey elect an every-to me in our earlier struggles necessary and proper arrangementer, 34 cis word, for the panca Prime Minister and his action was Lit-ok who is leaving Macao et ventras a gonerat earth thous at Meir disposal Ther-fore we had not received say arors er are posfected, nonstory stops will mation in the Hongbing Geor challenged in the House of shortly, having been promoted re-¡queto in the political world mans and he weat ic\n\nthe leazsition from Capitaine to material sacncrayanent from vat- be taken to teenvet the power and went Questa of Juan I general į raty re Cape Verde.\n\nelection on that incident, and was) in tog pravicua articles 1 are Comunion acrveserily inside. French Properly At Knuten.\n\nreturned to power with\n\nItoushed but lightly upon a fan of the fierce and hitter struggle të penis,\n\nthe government now surped by a Ex the ne a lugel lette has vast received in mais features relating to the exto come. Anjority. (Applause). Gentle Macao From: Canlon stating that trene doctrine of Bolshevism. Buf\n\nOur poupe of Kwangtung realize arty of Bolabevists who nove of Home.\" men, 1 must admit that i am amazed the students and their friends have cons ook has been braught|\n\nand the Tera is the elose relationship and natual spoble persons inside or questde sed in the colony of and by Tu the Way. that the British Governent has completely creuptut the genusd sur- forth, boyster, to show how Isnn. This was the reason why Lan cach other bewear Piston and Satereat and inter-doprudence on\n\nthe Repair of China recognize. nol yet come to the mist of this rounding the French Cathedral attirely fodifferent the Sasior leaders, and eves serious re- Hongkong, 2e fally content of of Bolshevists in places where for- ing in de colony.\n\nYear Indignation over the acts of the murervus compazzes sziginat local newspapery and in the title Colony, because Mr. Austen Chau Canten. Fais property does not the fundular basis tion, long, chstinate, desper the fact that further delay in the 6' interests as well as Chinese stizer boule a far back as the fire of belong to the Fenet. Mission human justice, bborts, law alte resistance of the exploiters, who return to normal trade wil result are affected and your desire to set nountry generally write Hongkong Fay said that he would not con- s pozerally supposed but is the order, in the buique sat sinister for many yours will Fet enjoy Beant in economie rain in all parts of an early restoration peace and as two sepuute words or connected new spars in his sider any queation in connection property of the French Gorestrment i kuptbody slov bare adsulod te msk.#antage over the exploited, 200- South Chins, are not blind to the dation, and we shall not hesitate to perinces and guts, equally com with the revision of tresties with and the letter expresses much in\n\nshitates the rule Never treachery of Bolshevista taking as you that we are not by any posed of wwe words, and not ? Bolaberian sa wwerapishat fort in\n\ntrade have our sympathy and agure with a hyphen, but ace of Chinese China until the Chinese Govet dignation that this occupation Russia and in the world.\n\nthis explosers spirit to the devi sneller behind the patricting of weans sing in our man and effort writion. mam had taken steps toʻpot au end should be permitted a cantase. I propuse in talt article de cussion of the vaploited myjority with.\n\nstentia on ona or iso other lend at making use of weir advanger to get rid of a curve and danger Kwanz-tung, or Shang-ii, for in ing questions pertain to the Como destinate title on juries hearsing joumakor\n\nurist movement, before pusting con of butle This method Elswrists had promised test ther parts of the world wherever\n\ney (the now cursing not only China but all stan in her articles, to fleeinstate the whokaale slaughter of peklish Coururin. Instead the Bolshevisus rasy he feand.\n\nThe ela of the Treasury at the revolutionary epicís of Polshereevwia can carry out what they fought the by veicing protesta epits and dangers of Rolshesin Crange,who will be amembered cat\n\nto the present aali-foreign aft-\n\ntion and had shows their ability) 21\n\nto enforce law and order and res- set for the treaty rights of the Powera. Well, gentlemen, I ca Daly understand that utterande f Mr. Chamberlain, or Foretgui Secretary to incare that he will inist at the treaty rights of th Powes including the treaty rights George, at present\n\nPRINCE'S PARTNERS.\n\nSEAMENTS DANCE HONOURED\n\nthat even revolatutory grant uns, aliats, acientists and intel-\n\nBY ROYALTY.\n\nTis\n\nRaval\n\nThe Ladies Pleased.\n\nHighness Prince serving OE!\n\nસં\n\nof Great Britain, are observed. Beard. M. S. Hawking\n\nnicht.\"\n\nThe Right iv Trade, Another statement, which shovid\n\nke to evole For 3 Atatement radi\n\nnex\n\nbation\n\nal simul\n\nSince Bolshevism has beende a\n\nthe well-known firm of architects.\n\nAltst\n\nCin\n\nan then Chen\n\ndoes\n\nM: Orange\n\nnot\n\nWOMEN'S FAVOURITES\n\nThousanda\n\naf diveritnating\n\n| vidvas unde of passion, celia and Icausis in Soviet Russis day be geda violence are not cháy incompatible/en they belong to the bennemin Passat propresor, who g all times; world care and is bringing suffer wone favour Finkettes shove all Iwith, but sien me at zereal it. class sul they are what the Itausinn./ institule time individualistio inr to a markand 4 should be other forms of laxelive rasdicipe the Chiapan cekiral and social mini f're on to say \"Telko Meshare clase to every courworwegian. The! Rosiroved sé a commoor enemy tu because they are daniy and finy,\n\nLet us ans for a montat pe B of pagiâniam, Instead they created! and the question of regoring a sanie pleasant attribute. make thi\n\nabout the two halves the\n\n(It's in the way\n\nme no opposition parly is\n\nThe Troia\n\nDictators started with the singa rankind wherever ay be sound. set as gently as deture.\n\na mikiose vilities. They tried to\n\nFastcnd!\n\nAnd the\n\nvince.\n\nameeten the breath, reliese Piles. SANG TAI PI\n\nOr Chemist, cr post free, 60 Representing Trade Maintenance cents the vial, fiber Dr. Williams'\n\nthe Russian Committee\n\nof Kwanglang Pro-Medicine Co. 60 Kiurgse Road,\n\nShanghai.\n\nTerminology. Let us be clear is que mlade, at Sevich Coverment fpican The hes now got before bit: the coasts! Lieutenant. F. N., is entering into Bolszign, about me of its berms railrendy of the country and soil!ead egy paved the way for a bus that of tinnal, poitical or ter-3\n\nath age of our demont ega borist Germans operates the cager war revolution. In ebeny shack nut tonch equally poster with men. Fegulatory which Lave recen3y the fe of a pavai miticer with äi! | sand their meanings have theragh; garettes uz the streets of 47tical renstur in every courtes Levi zitorial isaga or jurisdietic bean premalgeted in Canton, Of the seal and voi comradeship it important to emplaza th's point, The Government publiskan books Capitalista Justead shey used by via the people of Kwangtung are stimulate the vet, increase the To restore tally regularity, to July 15 the Tuted said: \"Tala iza for whuck the senior scrvive shows not a len we still hary regazina clueSYSYFTS\n\nremedy sick Headaches, bilirse at started by Aging dagsint\n\nteing likewise cursed by Golate; canky, vertigo. moment when Britisa noley must noted.\n\nnabilance, take a dear and definite slipe.\n\nAt the Serbu for sale o contasomarine watching with deep interrat the appetite un ald digestion, Pin wesome titres horses, kabels to culliossins capitalists from manner the people of Hongkong kottes are perfection. They keep Saturday 1st, he attended whole of the Coromast uwment, father, angs, tramour lines a firent Brigin and the United Mate will adopt to lessen evils now being the system cisan and cool, clear the thia potey is such that it romance held at the Seamen's menda fisalf to vibes and ledly stitute arranged by the Lower deck je\n\nfnamely, Bolshevism and Conping lies oil lids, fntests and with roses and the weath of a spread by Bolshevists in this part! skin of tiles and inches, 10 eucive corumca actformet of the flagship,\n\nunitark in e werd, the Sovie stie! muck the better. But the epon through the larger part\n\nand stayed Bolabeviam is derived from is a puremanent a well ea cupidavast continook They started be of Fire worldYours respectfully.\n\nof the thevik, meaning the aforisy, in of industry, a benker, and a me sibility for defending the preet and progare. hely by o\n\nsholisking Christianity. means opposition to the caiter saner evolu-chant garbined. Do wot forget that they produced a merkado revival, row seriously threatened British dent in the choosing of part-tionary social parts, the teemast of the and leaders are misber interests in Chixa les Ayst at\n\nof Christianity in His first was Mrs. A. Carsbeviki, mating the misoging, which profesional en foremost on the British Govern-zon, introduced by the M. C., and overdures the Czarist Govery agriculturiste or factory and\n\nfor terhesta, brople cer Mr. R. M. Marks and Mese, and hooome the Berents They con osy wield the dimurtively M. Hart\n\nGovernante Bolshevism enme into per gue and unta, respritčeniy d. norber of tea\" dances were goter in Brasia, thanks to a pecu- The Goverment is andor tic feature of the programme and a combination of cirrowtanens. Soviet Umon, which is dem into these . R. U. etered with during the Great War in Europe. by a \"all opinionated, curgeat: He, Bridgeman, the First Lord enthasian; thus nearly all the Lean did not wriggin surreptitious group of people who conduci dio of the Admiralty, in anewer to a d'en prezent, had the much cavetrain in Decober, 1917, the fate of and pessants\" 1 urte saia in the fanove sealed taimeslip in the name of workers! question in the Hogan of Commons ad bacoor of partering rogalts. Pussis might have been far brighter Theu, there is no party in Sri an August 6th. Mr. Bridgens which was the more gratifyuz in and apper that loviny. said the aircraft carrier Hermes 15at the Penes in not my need trofe of Teuin might well\n\nThe stel Rosie, but lay act of Coni- had been despatchen to Chins and cellent dancer, bar a charming con- compared to Papierna Box, frran tuluraber her aircraft would be utilised fex verszalonalles, putting at ease in which hare bean les loose ste that there is no Parliament Patt It cessarily Follow taining and exercising the paradiately those whom the fortune evile that spread throughout Husin:eally art economically the fovict sonnet of the deer ait erm and, if the \" brought him. necessary, in co-operation with Hia\n\nfor the matter of that, all over the state is shalately anaipotent Majesty's naval and military forces in the resolution cutii bu reconciled\n\nworld, during the past seven seats. for the protection of the lives and that they should demand a cer several messings\n\nCommunism is a word te has\n\nIf you ask the Reds why there! property of British subjects. (A) define polier to be adapted, pivo it: Coronen riskip of prothe Seriet State, Nie auswor\n\nTitively should be such an omniveleace of clause). Well, ladies and gentiang vet at the same me declare paty: the abolition of privale prothéery is somethies, like this:| wen, I think we shall all zgree that that they left it to the discretion porty and state control of labour,ell. e Comumeist mozeworę the most important right of pro-ef the Dome Government as to religion. social elezions. perty widen we have out here in tow they sheall art. He asked sometimes it is need to deste a\n\nest go through twu ktages: the Far East is the right to trade the Chairman whether he would be theory of wciety, much surilar stage, based on the dominance of the (7) brandtiongi, terolatiouns suroth the treaty novia with the willing to modify the resolution 'n that of the exoly Chifiia in slate by the leaders of the working l'enor of Chr. That is a rigut, order that it might be made the which all property is held in class, sch as Rusia is w-day of wennerty far more important than unanimous voice of all preventi\n\nIt is also beef aquony nonsig same other rights of property we that the mantingarnestly dead with Sorialians In the sanac as it\n\n(4) a Communistic, clas-texs hear of, soch as the infringeant that the Goremecut should adopted in Randa. the word suns ponitury of catharity has sunither slag, in which the state as a m of a trade mark. 1 is a mithrona drastic pelley. He believe the work of Marx and Engels, pub Bon the Commanist Manifeabın” times es inaporist as any right of the meeting was entirely unanimous\n\nwhich is the fun! alage.\" a trade mark, and therefore we that they must take steps to tonery amunista regard that afforz\n\nThe writing that I hav The moder revue direct again Bolabeviews cebleed that, in the past, was the Home Government to their Bible, though Lenis kaŭ dezy ought to rely upon ar alle prend and decisiva netten. Nacy, in verionelen with any vil-]\n\naled and bem i's cardinal \"prised and social structure of the atte Visiont changer of ile politi. The Chairman intimated that he tary forces. to protect our very was quite prepared to adopt Mr.\n\nplen\" important lights of trading Men Johnston's view and the resolution\n\nproines vicient reaction, for a ni the Chinese at the resty peris and was therefore amended to read as\n\nrule, according to most auciologists, The fundamentals of Comuni violone social explosion will bring in trading through the weaty parts follows: neordingly the with the interior of Chica. (Ap-cents of this Celory\n\nwere examined by a shout exere har han And The at a great are who predicted that the crn of existing conditione in Mossta nes ikisi plarse) mass indignation macting, demand! Capitalism would crane to an ad by routine evidence of that pat There is juan mie other patio that the British Govarumeat imperson of the very contradictions 2 The \"oike\" the sheald ike to mute batera dietely adapts a drastic policy, as The consian he assigned for ita utitures who guztically deszinat icharvat in the nature of Ospitation ut novior, Komesey Stalin, dawn, and bat la\n\nthis. In the wa vecture to suggest, in the folio marc downfall are briefly these. the policies of the Russia Couperist eat war of 1914-18 Great Bri-ug ultimatum\n\nCepitelism with its hage organist Party, here aiready abandonat notite tain went to war benuste the treaty authorities.\"\n\nthm of sommaren and industry the of the quja \"prikupies” found in rights of Bellam aud been regarde Mr. J. Russel arged that the world user, aiting only at exploits the policies of the Bussian Comp ed as a more scrap of paper. Cap-siculd include in the telegram that tion of inhour, tends to create dis- and the Centrunism of Locin and plause). She railed upon her power abould be given to the local sontent among the proletarians of Proteks. How do we know that inj children at all parts of the world Government to deal with the situs-worker to come and joie to that war andition.\n\nWithin the political morber four years these \"prei slate, the capitalist are so poseifei mor\" may not be changed more and] Hongkong nably responded, (Hear After sotna further discussion with their animation of wealth more under the necessity of leas. Sarom handred men went the resciolion, as amended, was pati sad property that lay are in a pri proinine wish the exigencies of the forth front this Colony, many of to the meeting and carried and time dominate the government and tiran↑ whom made the great sacrifice. loud and prolonged chears. They made the groat sacrifice be Mr. W. A. Doutes, tu appealing utical, and totally destegend the cl This far we have obrered Soviet cause they were a part of the Bri- for enairibations toward the eine reasses of proletarians or Russia coisang of theas dienuator..\n\nsh Empire. They espoused beren suvolved, mentioned that the men de Berbund Rustel pute it\n\ncies; Bonde capitalion sú private! guaarel, and wo are asking Crent telegram would neet $1,200.\n\nnunoactly: Internally, is protects inlordien, bourgonis property- Britain to espouse sur quarvel now. A hearts vote of thanks to the the rich against she poor; oxtarazt ayub g and prival trading, as well (Applause). Surely the British Chairman concluded the meeting is uses tores for the evolaitatiores selling or signing away of mining. Government cannot are this\n\nof interior races, and for ongori concessions and much other right to urgert ery for help which we are The Feuch Police at Shanghai with other Stadoy\" Capitalistic nations sending out. Our need is grogh have succeeded in treshing what ice to Ma. Fussell, he is not a Dol The is no dictatorshie s the and prigent, and bar entre is just, might be called a factory for fabut bevist, he is far too wise a pollon.proletaring at the present, nether (Cheers).\n\n*100*1. The money bas bean diser to accept Bolsbesis was polis there the prospect of the doing\n\nributed largely auungst exchange ical unce\n\naway with the State and the coming! A Slight Amesiment.\n\nshops in the couressions, but follow- 1 Caputzikin or She capitaistic Tow mecasites of Breshevian\n\nof the fren visitly in the fronre The Rev. J. Horace Johnstoning disclosures by the arreated num, state is dovanć w virker sway in As far as the Gevement and ite asid he cosid not personally seentry of the proprietors wee alsoldige encore, bocause the arable of policine are concerned, may best in how the two statements contained' approbeertet for darling in the win. the capitaliste nations for partition summed up in the words of a keenly\n\nresi.\n\n213 the Canion\n\nshe is\n\nKarl Marx.\n\neverything nonamic, social and po-\n\nLo\n\n+ #\n\ne\n\nSi\n\nGillette\n\nMANA\n\nThe Well Groomed Man\n\nIs Properly Shaved\n\nH13 free shows no sign of beard and it is freeotirritations caused hy dull or improperly designed\n\nrazors.\n\nThe Gillette has always been an ac companiment of the well groomed man. Since 1903 its use has 2dicated good judgment--the mauuko appre saics the mumerous refnemesis in nazor construction which have made\n\nCilenc shave superior to sng whee\n\nThe New\n\nImproved\n\nThe New Improved Gillette does not siog with bair and lather. The blude is placed in exactly the correct position fo cut the hair evenly and level with the surface of the skin. And, finally, the blade is held so it does not vibrate and rerepe the skin.\n\nThese are the reasons why more than 3,000,000 have already bought the Now Jumpraved Giliette. You won't kann sitovi-gconfort until you ownone.\n\nbur aule at all good skaps\n\nBuren wện MULLER A PITIPPA! Limited Mesas Weltban, lions Anes,\n\nGillette\n\nSAFETY RAZOR\n\nMade in Most U.S. A by the Gillette Safety Ruzor Company\n\nPage 10\n\nPage 11\n\nSOUTH CHINA MORNING POST\n\nWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1925", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-489N - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 501818, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925", "page_number": 64, "title": "CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925", "content_text": "62\n\n4\n\nthe results and gradually extending the abolition to other parts of China The difficulties of this procedure are that the full surtax of 7 per cent. would have to be imposed on goods entering particular provinces, and this would appear to necessitate a cordon of custom-houses round the provinces in question, and that goods entering these provinces may have already paid li-kin in transit through other provinces. These difficulties might to some extent be minimised, though not entirely removed, if, instead of individual provinces, groups of provinces, or trade areas dependent on the several ports of entry for foreign imports, were taken as the units for abolition.\n\n3. The rate of li-kin might be periodically reduced by a uniform percentage. The difficulty of this procedure is that the Chinese Government has insufficient control over the provinces to ensure that the reduction is uniformly and fairly applied, and that the existing rates of li-kin vary so widely that it would be difficult or impossible to check whether any particular rate had been bonâ fide reduced. Moreover, this method would do nothing to reduce the obstruction to trade due to the existence of li-kin barriers.\n\n4. The opportunity might be taken of exploring the possibility of effecting the partial or complete abolition of li-kin on foreign trade by means of a scheme of compensation in the form of a pro ratâ distribution of customs revenues among the provinces, accompanied by a system of refunds from the customs administration for illicitly collected li-kin. There are, of course, grave objections to and difficulties in the way of distributing actual customs revenues, i.e., the proceeds of the import and export duties, amongst the provinces; but it is possible that these difficulties might be overcome by arranging that, while the customs revenues proper should continue to accrue to the Central Government, the proceeds of the consolidated li-kin collected by the customs (the transit pass fees), which have hitherto gone to Peking, should in future be allocated to the provinces through which the goods pass.\n\nA possible method of dealing with the problem on the above lines, with the development of extending, as far as may be practicable, transit pass privileges to all goods, whether native or foreign, moving about the main trade routes, without reference to their provenance or ultimate destination, is indicated in article 1 of the scheme for a settlement of the questions before the conference, which is attached as Annex(M) to these notes. One of the drawbacks to this method of dealing with the li-kin problem lies in the fact that the certification of goods moving about the country would continue to be a feature of the new system; and it is generally admitted that the multiplication of certificates and the resulting establishment of barriers for the inspection thereof constitute to no small extent the evil in the present system. But it is understood that without a system of certificates the customs administration would be quite unable to effect a satisfactory pro ratâ distribution of the proceeds of transit pass fees amongst the provinces.\n\nHis Majesty's Government incline to the view that the course outlined above under 4 represents the most promising method of dealing with this difficult problem and making material progress towards the speedy abolition of li-kin. It is a matter of common knowledge that the trouble in connection with the existing system has arisen largely from the fact that the provincial authorities, if they have not deliberately obstructed, have at least been notoriously dissatisfied with, an arrangement under which foreign trade escapes the provincial li-kin in return for transit dues paid to the Central Government. It is understood that in certain provinces, such as Shantung, for instance, transit passes are little used because the local authorities gain their end by keeping the provincial li-kin rates at or below the level of that of transit pass fees, so that foreign merchants pay the former in preference to the latter; while in other provinces the foreign oil companies, in order to secure the goodwill of the Provincial Administrations, have recently concluded special agreements for the payment to the latter of special internal duties at transit pass rates instead of using transit passes.\n\n5\n\nSuggestions for dealing with the problem of the consumption taxes, on the lines in the first instance of limiting the amount and determining the circumstances under which such dues may be levied pending their eventual abolition, will also be found in the scheme above referred to (see Annex(M)), as well as suggestions for settling the question of the irregular 20 per cent. consumption tax on cigarettes, now being enforced with greater or less effectiveness in most of the provinces. These latter proposals provide for the imposition of taxation on wines and tobacco beyond the limits of the surtaxes sanctioned at Washington, and would therefore, if adopted, entail special reference to the Governments concerned. It would, however, be a matter of grave disappointment to His Majesty's Government if the opportunity afforded by the Special Conference were allowed to pass without obtaining a settlement of this vexatious question of the taxation of cigarettes, and it is difficult to see how this can be effected without going so far as this particular class of commodities is concerned beyond the limits of the tariff increases conditionally agreed to at Washington.\n\nII. THE COAST-TRADE DUTIES.\n\nClosely connected with the abolition of li-kin is the question of coast-trade duties.\n\nUnder the present system, native goods shipped from one Chinese port to another in foreign-built ships (junk trade being regulated under a different system) pay export duty at the port of departure and half import duty at the port of arrival; the latter is generally described as coast-trade duty, and is returned as such under a special heading in the customs statistics, though the export duty, which is not placed under a separate heading but included in export duties generally, is equally a tax on coast trade. These duties are levied by the Chinese maritime customs. It should be noted that any increase in the customs tariff will automatically increase the coast-trade duty (i.e., the half import duty) unless special provisions are made.\n\nThere is an intimate connection with li-kin in that the latter plays the equivalent part for internal trade which these duties play for coast trade. It would be only logical that the abolition of the coast-trade duties should synchronise with that of li-kin; otherwise the coastal trade would be penalised pro tanto in relation to internal trade, though there are probably few points at which the two are in effective competition.\n\nIt would, therefore, appear appropriate to raise the question of the coast-trade duties in connection with the discussion of the preparations for the abolition of li-kin Failure to secure the abolition of li-kin would not necessarily prevent the abolition of the coastal-trade duties, as these are collected by the Chinese maritime customs. Such abolition might even be agreeable to the Chinese, and might serve as an incentive to the abolition of li-kin.\n\nThe principal difficulty is the diminution which the abolition of these duties would produce in the revenues of the Chinese maritime customs. In 1920 the total maritime customs revenue was approximately 50,000,000 taels, or, say, 75,000,000 Chinese dollars. Out of this, the \"coast-trade duties\" (i.e., the half import duty) accounted for approximately 3,750,000 dollars, while export duties levied on goods shipped from one Chinese port to the other amounted to approximately 7,500,000. If, therefore, the half import duty is abolished, it will mean an approximate loss of 5 per cent. of the total customs revenues; or if the export duty on coastal trade is also abolished, the approximate loss will be 15 per cent. Even though these losses would of course be more than covered by the 24 per cent. surtax, so large an inroad into the customs revenues could not be sanctioned without a serious examination of the points involved.\n\nThe question of the coast-trade duties should, therefore, be borne in mind and brought up for discussion at a favourable moment at the discretion of the British delegates, who, after exploring the ground, will be in a better position to judge how far any relief in this direction is practicable. With a view to presenting the problem in a concrete form, the scheme contained in Annex(M) provides for the abolition of both the coast-trade duties proper and the export duties on goods carried coastwise, and their replacement by transit dues levied at the same rate and in the same way and for the same purposes as on land and river-borne goods.\n\nIII. EXCISE ON NATIVE MANUFACTURES.\n\nAnother subject closely allied to the question of li-kin is that of native manufactures competing with foreign imports.\n\nThere is a provision under section 9 of article 8 of the Mackay Treaty requiring the imposition of an excise duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem on machine-made yarn.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 501977, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925", "page_number": 223, "title": "CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925", "content_text": "12\n\nthe qualifications for admission to the voters' roll would not necessarily be the same for the two communities; and while Europeans would vote in the European constituencies for European candidates, Indians would vote in the Indian constituencies for Indian candidates. As a variant of the former system, there is the common electoral roll with reservation of seats. This arrangement would involve the setting apart of a certain number of seats in a given constituency for candidates of a certain race; for example, in a constituency returning three members, with two seats reserved for Europeans and one for Indians, the two European candidates and the one Indian candidate highest in the poll would be elected, irrespective of the position in the poll of other candidates of either race.\n\nThe common electoral roll for all British subjects and British protected persons, with reservation of seats, was proposed in the Wood-Winterton report, and it was further suggested that the qualifications for voters should be such as to admit, if possible, ten per cent. of the domiciled Indians to the register.\n\nFor the common electoral roll it is claimed that it would bridge the gap between the Europeans and Indians by giving a candidate of one race an incentive to study the needs and aspirations of the other race. Further, Indian sentiment, both in India and Kenya, strongly favours the common electoral roll, even though a communal franchise exists in India itself.\n\nA communal franchise secures that every elector shall have the opportunity of being represented by a member with sympathies similar to his own, a consideration which in other Colonies has led the domiciled Indians to press for its adoption; it is well adapted to the needs of a country such as Kenya; no justification is seen for the suggestion that it is derogatory to any of the communities so represented, and it is believed that, so far from having a disruptive tendency, it would contract rather than widen the division between races in Kenya.\n\nSo far as Africans are concerned, a communal franchise provides a framework into which native representation can be fitted in due season.\n\nFrom the point of view of the Indian residents themselves, this system permits of a far wider franchise being given than would be the case if a common electoral roll were introduced, and this alone should render it acceptable to all supporters of the Indian claims who have at heart the political development of the Indian people.\n\nFinally, it allows of the immediate grant of electoral representation with a wide franchise to the other community in Kenya which is ripe for such institutions, the Arabs of the Coast.\n\nThese considerations were weighed before the Wood-Winterton report was drawn up; the recommendation then made turned largely on the desire to meet Indian feeling so far as conditions in Kenya would admit. The result of the reference to opinion in Kenya of the recommendation that a common electoral roll should be adopted, even though combined with a reservation of seats, was to show that the advantages claimed for the common electoral roll would in practice have been illusory. In the special conditions existing in Kenya it is clear that no candidate, European or Indian, could stand as an advocate of the interests of the other race without sacrificing the support of his own. If elections were to be fought on racial lines, as they undoubtedly would have been in Kenya, the main advantage claimed for the common electoral roll, namely, the bringing of the races nearer together, would be lost.\n\nHaving regard to all the circumstances, His Majesty's Government have decided that the interests of all concerned in Kenya will be best served by the adoption of a communal system of representation.\n\n(b) Qualifications for Voters. It is not intended to effect any alteration in the qualifications for admission to the register of European voters as laid down in Ordinance No. 22 of 1919; that is to say, adult suffrage, subject to certain necessary and customary reservations. Under the communal system His Majesty's Government are prepared to grant to Indians a wide franchise. It will be a matter for the Governor of the Colony to ascertain the views of the Indian community and to submit the necessary legislation to give effect thereto. The same procedure will be followed in the case of the Arab community.\n\n(c) Qualifications for Candidates.-His Majesty's Government are prepared to adopt a similar principle in regard to the qualifications for candidates, except that there must be a test which will ensure that candidates have such a knowledge of the English language as will enable them to take their part in the proceedings of the Legislative Council. No system which would involve the use of two or more official languages in the Council will be contemplated; but His Majesty's Government have no ground for supposing that the imposition of this necessary condition will create difficulties or limit unreasonably the choice of suitable candidates.\n\n(d) Numbers on Legislative Council.—The question then remains of the number of seats on the Council to be allocated to each community. As matters stand, there are eleven elected unofficials (Europeans) on the Council, and as a provisional measure authority was given in 1921 for the substitution of four nominated Indian members for the two elected Indian members contemplated in Lord Milner's despatch of the 21st May, 1920.\n\nAfter full consideration, His Majesty's Government have decided that provision should be made for five elected Indian unofficial members on the Council; while for the Arabs, it has been decided that there shall be one elected member in addition to the nominated Arab official member for whom provision already exists. The Europeans will continue to return eleven elected representatives. The number of nominated official members will be fixed so as to maintain an official majority on the Council.\n\nIn the opinion of His Majesty's Government adequate representation of the interests of each community will be secured by this allocation. It is desired, however, that the views of the Indians in Kenya should be ascertained.\n\n13\n\n217", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 502553, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5]", "page_number": 244, "title": "CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5]", "content_text": "238\n\nMarch, which I despatched after consultation with Mr. F.R. Hallifax (the acting Colonial Secretary), Mr. J.H. Kemp (the Attorney-General) and Mr. D.W. Tratman (the acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs), pointed out that a most unfortunate situation would arise if Lord Willingdon's Mission were welcomed in Canton, while the British Consul-General was still being boycotted in Shamien. As a matter of fact in today's issue of the South China Morning Post the following is quoted from a Chinese newspaper, the Yah Kin Yat Pa:- \"Mr. C.C. Wu has been making preparations to welcome Lord Willingdon and party, in order to urge an early settlement of all problems existing between Canton and Hongkong\". If the Mission were to visit Canton under such circumstances, the Chinese both in Hongkong and Kuang-tung would certainly conclude that H.M's Government is not prepared to stand by this Colony and the impression created in the public mind here would be very painful. I am, however, of opinion that an early visit of the Mission to Hongkong would be most opportune and that, if after visiting Hongkong the Mission refrained from visiting Canton, this would be a strong incentive to the Canton Government to end the boycott. I trust that H.M's Government may see fit to telegraph instructions in this sense to Lord Willingdon.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient humble servant,\n\nMi Comend\n\nGovernor, &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 502627, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5]", "page_number": 318, "title": "CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5]", "content_text": "welcomed\n\n3.\n\nthe proposal, and said he was anxious\n\n-\n\n311\n\nthat the present trouble should be settled as speedily as possible. I pointed out to him that any payment of compensation to the Strike Committee was a direct incentive to another strike. He agreed with this. I also drew his attention to the state of lawlessness, brigandage and piracy prevalent in Kuang-tung. He deplored it, and agreed that the first duty of the Canton Government was to restore law and order in the province. His aim was to give the province good government, and to make it, by its prosperity, an object lesson to the rest of China. He said that he did not agree with the\n\npolicy of a campaign into Northern China. He considered that the Canton Government should confine its\n\nactivities to the Liang Kuang provinces, and endeavour by negotiation to come to terms with whatever power may dominate Northern China. He fully realised the intimate connection between Hongkong and Canton, and said that projects for developing Kuang-tung would have a beneficial effect also on Hongkong. What was needed in Kuang-tung was, he said, a constructive policy as a means of finding honest employment for the impoverished elements\n\nin the population which now instinctively turned towards lawlessness and brigandage. I spoke to him of the importance of verbal communication between highly placed officials in Canton and Hongkong, whenever a question of any difficulty arose between the two governments. He fully agreed that communication of this kind, taking place directly between officials, would be far better\n\nthan", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 502801, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5]", "page_number": 493, "title": "CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5]", "content_text": "475\n\n100.0.\n\nASSI\n\nbuJL\n\nعليه\n\n,mobynilift briod zrət\n\nall to usine en 16.1 tai vil ... I tremor: alið 15% * -TAJÇIL\n\nPlan, AGA LET_ali, yodo fr8 JIETYTOVO¤ &'ydzøjel\n\nto a plá dem, owd leg holdt in •on of brizSLIC) COPA DA Jnuaris vol -plastu zit * -iɛnollok m 8.1.\n\nA. Ilum']. -.. 200.00. le sort, vol yd beɛ.cty20 seiv 2. hodnad 20 promuch tellsko Skuiv lo, zinoda noiteplob Diegt 10 wott li tort leçon li ji tuď ¡dreser, anoi.. Aut si Jhaluvozy – bodo tožčas Mir satnú dđược Ki\n\nfli. Jisi▼ Tire prolot 31% kan notus) neović pany pôly to 1400 Á „\"\n\n'30 1630) £1800 hii amudiotyc\n\nJudea, part 130s eit bed: 5 Li dut....\n\n,avoir aðn, 20% vrai.. yletornèvehau mi olaj (15 wo, varu noiligo ont ie 19%_X TOVIC SEA\n\nJIGOT to of groh Ji, ir ton\n\nHồi 03\n\nCOLST PICY IN\n\nI raz.. 131 MAIS MO\n\nA MOT SKll të meita slot to Jiliy\n\narchivka mp, bar I tre,emu/101_10\n\nJi, i jos krem, mijn əleh adiü Jam\n\n(Tim) Lood as Jicovod faitind JoineIch er vel ou\n\nof LetsTjeloj I udge to TILOISA.....I du: ... ref ah!\" -¡a...olie's eS\n\nvi ir Jen du\n\nJANET\n\n002 A\n\nbevonat / Juoðyou suiši. -¿dno vá\n\nisine o...\n\nThe visit of the Mission to Canton would create the impression in Hong Kong and Kuang-tung that His Majesty's Government is not prepared to stand by this Colony. A visit to Hong Kong by the Mission forthwith would be very opportune and, if after visiting Hong Kong the Mission refrains from visiting Canton, this would be a strong incentive to the Canton Government to end the boycott.\n\nOn the 20th March I telegraphed to Macleay:- \"I still think that the claims of the Hong Kong University are sufficient to justify an early visit of Lord Willingdon's Mission to Hong Kong, and that it is very important that solidarity of British interests throughout China should be made evident by the Mission ignoring Canton while the boycott lasts\". Sir James Jamieson informed me on the 22nd March that he entirely concurred in this view, and on that day I wrote to the Secretary of State for the Colonies as follows:- \"As regards the opinion of Lord Willingdon's delegation that it is impossible to come to Hong Kong without going to Canton, I venture to submit that\n\nthis delegation has been sent out by His Majesty's Government to advise as to the disposal of funds which are under the control of His Majesty's Government and that therefore it would be in every way fitting that the delegation should pay an early visit to a British Colony which forms geographically a part of China, and in which British and Chinese interests coincide. The fact that this British Colony of Hong Kong is now, for no fault of its own, in great difficulties owing to Bolshevist action from Canton is,\n\nI submit a strong additional reason why the delegation should visit Hongkong and inquire into the Colony's needs. I am\n\nat loss to understand why the anti-British boycott conducted by a Soviet Government in Canton, which makes it impossible", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 502802, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5]", "page_number": 494, "title": "CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5]", "content_text": "It is impossible for a British mission to visit Canton, and this should in no way deter that mission from visiting Hong Kong. Nor do I see why the susceptibilities of a Canton Soviet, which has behaved outrageously towards Great Britain, should receive tender consideration from a delegation appointed by His Majesty's Government. On the contrary, the solidarity of British interests should be vindicated by the mission ostentatiously ignoring Canton until the anti-British boycott has been removed. Such action appears to be all the more desirable because the Canton Government is anxious to get a share of the Boxer Indemnity Funds. The fact, therefore, that it is denied all hope of participation in these funds, while the anti-British boycott lasts, would be a salutary incentive to it to compel the Canton Strike Committee to end the boycott.\n\nAgain on the 22nd April, I telegraphed to you: \"Your Mission will be very welcome in Hong Kong; but the Members of my Executive Council, whom I consulted to-day, unanimously and strongly deprecate any visit by your Mission to Canton at present, and I fully concur. This view was shared by Mr. Brenan, who had taken Sir James Jamieson's place as Consul-General in Canton.\n\nYou will see, therefore, that from first to last, the views of this Government and of the British Consul-General at Canton have not varied. We have always considered that your Mission ought to visit Hong Kong as soon as possible, but should ignore Canton until the anti-British boycott has been raised and ended. I do not know how His Majesty's Government and His Majesty's Minister at Peking came to misrepresent so unfortunately the views held by me, and I trust that this letter will make the attitude of the Hongkong Government perfectly clear to you.\n\nYours sincerely,\n\n(sd) C. Clementi.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 502859, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5]", "page_number": 551, "title": "CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5]", "content_text": "533\n\n\"\n\n9.\n\nHaving thus answered the Foreign Office questions so far as I can, I feel it to be my duty to lay before you certain other general considerations with respect to this matter, based upon the assumption that the object of the Tariff Conference at Peking is twofold, namely to facilitate foreign trade by the abolition of likin and to strengthen the Chinese Government by enabling it to raise a larger revenue.\n\n10.\n\nLikin was originally levied to meet the additional expenditure thrown upon the Chinese Government by the Taiping Rebellion. It was first imposed in 1853 upon goods in transit from one province to another or from one district to another in the same province; but in 1861, when the Taiping and Muslim Rebellions were simultaneously in progress, the tax was extended to all large towns. Likin barriers now exist along all the main routes of commerce, both by land and water, sometimes at intervals of 20 miles or even less. Efforts to get rid of likin have been made ever since the suppression of the Taiping and Muslim Rebellions; but, having been very familiar with this subject ever since I first knew China, I venture to express the opinion that this generation is as little likely to see the effective suppression of likin as it is to see the effective suppression of poppy-growing and of opium-smoking in China. As regards the Kuang-tung province in particular, Colonel F. Hayley Bell, the Commissioner of Customs at Canton, tells me that the present Canton authorities are unlikely to forego the collection of likin and that they are even making the collection of this tax more severe. Any substantial concessions to China in the matter of the Customs tariff are, therefore, unlikely to be set off by an effectual abolition of likin.\n\n11.\n\nIn the next place, it must be remembered that every appreciable increase in Chinese Customs duties is a direct incentive to the remarkable ingenuity of Chinese smugglers. At present, the Customs duties being low, it is hardly", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 505006, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926", "page_number": 271, "title": "CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926", "content_text": "269\n\nwho happened to be on the steps when Mr. Phillips left, also told him he was doing a very foolish thing and advised him to wait and apply for a guard.\n\n8.\n\nApart from the danger of robbers, the journey was full of difficulties, as it would be necessary to engage fresh sampans at three or four places en route. Mr. Phillips spoke little or no Chinese, and his Chinese servant, who alone accompanied him, knew no English.\n\nHe reached Lång ... safely and changed sampans there, the next stage being to Taipingfu, which is about forty miles below Långchow. Hung Shan, in order to pay the sampan men, he changed $15 in French notes into silver; and it is thought that this may have given the impression that he was carrying a large sum of money. A rumour of this description in a merchant town would reach the robbers in a very short while, and would furnish an additional incentive to possibilities of robbery.\n\n7.\n\nIt is said that the sampan was held up a short distance below Lång Shan. Mr. Phillips drew his revolver but did not use it, and was captured without resistance. The robbers shot one of the sampan men on the spot; the other was released after some time and is now in custody at Taipingfu. The Chinese servant of Mr. Phillips has not been seen again and is not expected to return.\n\n0.\n\nA Chinese clerk in the employment of the Asiatic Petroleum Company was travelling up river from Wanning to Långchow when the corpse of a foreigner was seen floating in the river some distance from the boat. He persuaded the boatmen to lower a sampan to take him over to look at the body, which he was satisfied was that of Mr. Phillips. There was a knife wound in the stomach which had been ripped open.\n\nHe tried to get the boatman to recover the body, but...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 505244, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926", "page_number": 510, "title": "CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926", "content_text": "24\n\n25\n\nbeing one of the largest opium producing provinces in China. All civil and military finances are raised from opium taxes. There has not been any compulsory cultivation, though the imposition of the so-called \"lazy tax\" of the neighbouring province of Szechuan has been mooted. Opium has always been extensively cultivated because of its market value. The two main reasons for lessened cultivation are lack of food cereals, and facilities for exportation.\n\nA correspondent writes from Central Kweichow: \"There is a falling off in this district of 7% opium cultivation due not to moral incentives but the high price of rice and wheat. Last year everyone planted opium, and left it to the other fellow to grow cereals and starvation was the result.\"\n\nKireigong. As plentiful as last year.\n\nTuu Jen. Owing to the drought of last summer farmers have been obliged to plant wheat this year. Probably only one-fourth as much opium planted. There is however enough of last year's opium left on hand to supply this year's demand. There is no compulsory cultivation, farmers have always planted because of the big profits. We have been overrun during the year with armies, this place has changed hands many times, hence great difficulty in exporting opium.\n\nTsung. A falling off in production this year in this district due to the high price of food. Opium planted in 9th and 10th month, reaped in 3rd month.\n\nTaxes: 1 ounce of opium out of every 10 ounces produced.\n\nLand tax varies with the military demands.\n\nLamp tax $1.20 a lamp each month.\n\nOpium sold at 50 cents an ounce.\n\nNumber of smoking dens in this district 2,000.\n\nOpium smokers equal 90% of adult population. Cultivation is voluntary.\n\nAuping. About three-eighths less poppy planted this season than formerly. The reason being famine last year.\n\nGovernor Pen has imposed a lamp tax of $3 a month on opium dens, and $1 a month on private lamps.\n\nKiensi, Tatung, Pichteh, Chishui and all the region under the control of General Chiu Hsi-chen, the lamp tax is not imposed but the poppy land is taxed instead.\n\nChenguan, Panghai and Szenam. Poppy not planted so extensively. Farmers cannot afford to waste their land, they must have food. Rice crop totally ruined last year.\n\nMilitary and officials are doing their best to force the cultivation of opium by imposing a heavy opium tax on all land, consequently it is feared that cultivation will be as great as formerly, when the famine scourge is passed. Two days ago an official called on me and in conversation I mentioned about China prohibiting opium, the official replied: \"Oh, that is a mere paper proclamation for the Kweichow Governor has issued strict orders throughout the province to impose the opium tax on all farmers whether they plant or not\".\n\nMANCHURIA\n\nIn the three administrative areas or provinces of Manchuria there is an extensive traffic in opium and narcotics, whilst opium is grown only in Kirin and Heilungchiang with long frontiers adjoining Russia and Korea, narcotic drugs find easy access.\n\nFengtien. There is no poppy according to reports from the following districts:\n\nChin Asien, Hsing Cheny, Swichung, Chin Hai, Hungle and I Haien. Opium is however consumed in large quantities. Most of this opium comes from the adjacent districts of Jehol.\n\nFakumen District. No opium grown; very few opium dens, mostly belonging to Japanese. Smoking is very secret, and confined to gentry and officials of whom about 20% are addicted.\n\nA certain degree of control is exerted in Southern Manchuria by the Mukden Government, nevertheless the city of Mukden is still a great centre for narcotic drugs contraband.\n\nIn the Japanese leased territory of Kuantung a Government opium monopoly exists with registration of smokers and similar laws and penalties as those in Formosa. No poppy is cultivated and the opium used is imported from Persia. The average yearly importation into Dairen for the last ten years was 32,000 lbs.\n\nKirin, The northern part of this province has been for years cultivating opium under the former Defence Commissioner, who collects opium land and smoking den taxes. Since the latter removed to Shantung, conditions have improved though by no means eliminated, because such numbers had developed the opium habit. The decrease in poppy cultivation may be judged from the following reliable reports:\n\n1922 - approximately 75,500 mou of land\n\n1923 - 84,550\n\n1924 - 43,550\n\n1925 - 28,400\n\nThis moderate estimate for 1925 would yield an average harvest of 50 tons of opium, most of which finds its way to the large cities.\n\nThis province almost touches Vladivostok on the East and the enormous traffic in Persian and Turkish opium in that port has been referred to elsewhere. Harbin is the centre for narcotic drugs from Europe, and as a cosmopolitan city its indulgence beggars description. Morphia, heroin and cocaine are used even by children,\n\nHeilungchiang. This is the northern province of Manchuria. Poppy is extensively cultivated particularly on the Russian side of the frontier. Opium is openly sold, and the smoking habit widespread.\n\nSHANSI\n\nTotal prohibition of opium and narcotics is still maintained throughout the province. The Governor General, Yen Hsi-shan, has sent us detailed reports from over 60 hsien Branches of our Association in the province, of which a few are given below as a sample.\n\nThe smuggling of both opium and morphia pills is their greatest trouble and in the event of war conditions as in 1925, smugglers become more daring. Shensi supplies most of the opium and Honan both opium and morphia.\n\nAnti-opium education is the main corrective force in the province, together with curing houses, magisterial supervision, and police suppression of smugglers. The rural method of supervision is by subdivision\n\nPage 506\n\nPage 510\n\nPage 511", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 505303, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926", "page_number": 25, "title": "CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926", "content_text": "5\n\n23\n\nvital interests of foreigners in China, and in these cases the protests should be made effective by the united action of the Powers.\n\n15. His Majesty's Government have consistently carried out the obligation of full and frank consultation imposed on all the Powers alike by article 7 of the Nine-Power Pact, and it has been their constant aim—sometimes even when this involved a sacrifice of their own opinion—to maintain the solidarity of the Powers. It is in pursuance of this aim that His Majesty's Government are now communicating to the Powers this statement of the principles by which they believe that policy should be guided in future. They feel assured that the Powers will share the anxiety of His Majesty's Government to act towards China in the spirit which inspired the Washington treaties, and it is their earnest hope that the Powers will agree that that spirit cannot better be fulfilled than by adopting the policy which is now presented for their consideration.\n\n16. It seems to His Majesty's Government that the first step towards the carrying of this new policy into effect should be the immediate unconditional grant of the Washington surtaxes. Lest it be supposed that the grant of the surtaxes might favour one faction at the expense of the others and so provide a further incentive to civil war, His Majesty's Government deem it important to point out that, as no conditions would be attached to the grant, the proceeds of the surtaxes would not necessarily be remitted by the commissioners of customs to the custodian banks at Shanghai. It would in each case be for the competent Chinese authorities to decide all questions as to the disposition and banking of these additional revenues. His Majesty's Government would be glad to learn at the earliest possible moment whether the Powers agree to the unconditional grant of the Washington surtaxes.\n\nANNEX.\n\nMemorandum communicated to United States Embassy, May 28, 1926.\n\nHIS Majesty's Government have received through the United States Embassy in London a message from the United States Government enquiring whether His Majesty's Government endorse the attitude ascribed to the British delegation at Peking of desiring to abandon the negotiations at Peking and break up the Tariff Conference; and expressing the hope that His Majesty's Government will continue to co-operate with the other interested Powers in bringing to a conclusion the task which was begun last October.\n\n2. His Majesty's Government desire to assure the United States Government that the report received by them that the British delegation desire to withdraw from the negotiations at Peking appears to be based on a complete misunderstanding. His Majesty's Government have no intention whatever of breaking up the Tariff Conference. It is true that the question has been considered whether at the present juncture it might not be convenient to arrange a brief suspension of the conference over the summer months. It was realised, however, that in existing circumstances suspension of the conference might prove to be more prolonged than was intended, and in order to prevent the possibility of misunderstanding as to the sincerity of the Powers, His Majesty's Government considered it to be of the greatest importance that, before even such a brief suspension as above contemplated took place, there must first be a complete liquidation of the promises made at Washington.\n\n3. The British delegation in Peking fully shared this view, and appreciated the prime necessity of liquidating the Washington Treaty. A considerable interchange of views has, however, taken place between the Foreign Office and the delegation in regard to the proceedings of the conference on the subject of the unsecured debt; and it is probable that the misunderstanding to which reference is made above has arisen in consequence of the attitude which the delegation has been instructed to take on this matter, and which was formally stated by the chief British delegate at the meeting at the Netherlands Legation on the 6th May.\n\n4. The United States Government will no doubt recollect that His Majesty's Government were from the first averse to the imposition on the Chinese Government of any scheme of consolidation of the unsecured debt as part of the work of the Tariff Conference, and that they only agreed later and with great reluctance to the discussion of any such scheme at the conference. If the schemes of the foreign delegations for the consolidation of the unsecured debt should postulate too strict a control over China's customs revenues (shortly to be increased by tariff autonomy) His Majesty's Government are afraid that a dangerous deadlock may arise, for the discussions on this subject show that the Chinese, though willing to bind themselves to devote a proportion of their revenues to the unsecured debt, have declined to allow the details of debt consolidation to be dealt with by the Tariff Conference, and will refuse to submit to any extension of foreign control—for that or any other purpose—over China's customs revenues.\n\n5. His Majesty's Government, after full consideration and prolonged consultation with their delegation in Peking, have come to the conclusion that, while they are ready to agree to any reasonable scheme for dealing with the unsecured debt put forward by the Chinese and agreed to by the other Powers, it would not be right to associate themselves with any attempt to force upon the Chinese a greater degree of foreign control over the revenues required for that purpose than they are prepared voluntarily to concede. A policy involving increase of foreign control, and capable of being regarded as an encroachment on that sovereignty and independence of China which the Powers agreed at Washington to respect, is so fundamentally opposed to the traditional policy of the United States towards China that His Majesty's Government are disposed to believe that the State Department will share their anxiety on this subject.\n\n6. It is true that His Majesty's Government originally desired to exact proper guarantees from China in regard to the abolition of li-kin as a condition precedent to the grant of the Washington surtaxes, but they have come to the conclusion that, in the altered circumstances and changed atmosphere of to-day, any attempt to insist upon guarantees against the will of the Chinese Government would only result in postponing indefinitely the liquidation of the Washington promises. They are as anxious as the United States Government fully to implement these promises at the earliest possible moment, and believe that it would be contrary to the intentions of both Governments, both at and subsequent to the Washington Conference, to subordinate the fulfilment of these promises to the imposition upon China of a scheme for the consolidation of her unsecured debt and extension of foreign control over her customs revenues. Any failure to implement the Washington Treaty might create a very dangerous situation, and His Majesty's Government now therefore hold the view that if any reasonably satisfactory assurances are given by the Chinese Government as to the use which it proposes to make of the new revenues the Powers should accept such assurances, abstain from any attempt to impose control or exact guarantees, and forthwith authorise the levy of the surtaxes. They feel confident that a policy, so closely in accord with the friendship and generosity always displayed by the United States of America towards the people of China, will receive the full and cordial support of the United States Government.\n\nForeign Office, May 28, 1926.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 505313, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926", "page_number": 35, "title": "CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926", "content_text": "10\n\n32\n\nthat spirit cannot better be fulfilled than by adopting the policy which is now presented for their consideration.\n\n16.\n\nIt seems to His Majesty's Government that the first step towards the carrying of this new policy into effect should be the immediate unconditional grant of the Washington surtaxes. Lest it be supposed that the grant of the surtaxes might favour one faction at the expense of the others, and so provide a further incentive to civil war, His Majesty's Government deem it important to point out that, as no conditions would be attached to the grant, the proceeds of the surtaxes would not necessarily be remitted by the Commissioners of Customs to the Custodian banks at Shanghai. It would in each case be for the competent Chinese authorities to decide all questions as to the disposition and banking of these additional revenues. His Majesty's Government would be glad to learn at the earliest possible moment whether the Powers agree to the unconditional grant of the Washington surtaxes.\n\nP.O\n\nLiv\n\nade", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 505640, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926", "page_number": 362, "title": "CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926", "content_text": "3\n\n356\n\n2\n\n5. It will be seen from the above that upon rice and firewood depends the success of the whole project.\n\nRICE.\n\n6. A great part of the Chinese rice consumed in Canton comes from the Eastern district of the Kuang-Tung province and is transported to Canton in junks and launches by the creeks and small rivers which exist in this district, in addition to the Chinese rice imported by sea from other parts of China.\n\nCanton is the port of a populous sub-tropical province whose population has been long accustomed to inland water transport, the organisation of which—poor though it may be—is already in native hands. It is probable that, if from no loftier motives than high prices, the inhabitants will make an effort to supply whatever Canton lacks. In the Delta, too, there are numerous junk harbours which may be possible sources of difficulty, while Macao, although of no commercial importance, is already the resort of several accomplished smugglers and consummate masters of every form of maritime roguery.\n\n7. It would appear that naval measures in the estuary would be unable to stop completely supplies of rice to Canton, and that, in spite of the difficulties of land transport, which are referred to in paragraph 9 below, a certain quantity of rice might perhaps be brought in overland from the immediately surrounding districts. The crux of the matter is the nature of the latest rice crop. If there is an ample crop, a sufficient quantity will find its way through to support the population of Canton. If the crop is a poor one—a not unlikely event, in view of the country having been overrun by various armies during the past four years—Canton will be badly hit by naval measures in the estuary. In this connection, it may be desirable to point out that, since rice cannot be stored for longer than three or four months without deteriorating, a limiting factor is placed on the food value of stocks accumulated to meet the situation we are now considering. On the other hand, however, there are at least two rice crops annually.\n\nFIREWOOD.\n\n8. Supplies of firewood coming down the West River from Kuang-Hsi province must pass through Wu-chou. If it were feasible to station a gunboat between the latter place and Canton, she could completely cut off supplies—a measure which would cause serious hardship, but we have not examined, from a technical point of view, this question, or that of her maintenance up-river.\n\nALTERNATIVE METHODS OF TRANSPORT.\n\n9. The provinces of Kuang-Hsi and Kuang-Tung are conspicuous for the absence of efficient railways and roads. We are informed by Sir Reginald Stubbs that the Samshui-Canton line is out of order and that the Canton-Shao-Chou line has ceased to function. There are no roads inland, and transport of goods across country is rendered impossible by the nature both of the ground and of the brigands which infest it. Further, even the incentive of increased wages for cartage of goods would be unlikely to attract the necessary coolie labour, in view of the fact that under the conditions contemplated payment would be uncertain. For the above reasons, we may safely assume that transport by water is the only practical method.\n\nEXPORTS.\n\n10. The principal export of Canton is raw silk. The result of completely stopping what is left of this trade must be considered as a part of the general effect of the blockade.\n\nSir Reginald Stubbs was of the opinion that a blockade would be of little effect unless the merchant class were at the time in a position to exercise influence. If that were so, they might exert sufficient pressure—both political and economic—on the Government to induce them to resume normal relations with the outside world.\n\nSir Reginald was quite clear that similar motives would not operate if the labouring classes were in power, since the effect of the blockade would not be sufficiently direct, though the reasons for his opinion were not so obvious. They seemed to be that the labouring classes would be able to get on somehow in spite of the blockade, and that the hardships inflicted might only enrage them. Indeed, he contemplated as an almost certain result that Canton would be burnt to the ground unless the labouring classes could be restrained. Further, an effective blockade would undoubtedly destroy the export profits of the merchants and probably reduce them to ruin. If this happened, since they were playing the part of milch cows to the Canton Government, it seemed not unlikely that the latter would clear out the moment they found that the source of their exactions had run dry. So that the present position of the merchants—both political and financial—might prove an essential factor in the problem of what would be the effect of the blockade. On this point, Sir Reginald said that he was unable to give any trustworthy information, as he had been away from the country too long. He suggested that on this and other points further information might be sought from H.M. Consul-General at Canton.\n\nFINANCIAL MEASURES.\n\n11. A note by Mr. Hawtrey on this subject is attached as Appendix No. 2. It will be seen that even if a state of war existed, little could be done, and without a state of war, practically nothing.\n\nTHE POSITION OF THE SHAMEEN IN THE EVENT OF THE INSTITUTION OF A BLOCKADE.\n\n12. The question arises as to whether restrictive measures could be applied without previously evacuating the long-established foreign community on the Shameen as well as missionaries throughout the Delta. Such a step would inevitably give a warning which might to some extent stultify our plans. A less obvious result of evacuation would be the difficulty in inducing the colony to return, once the ties of three generations were broken, and all real estate ravaged (as it might be), and burnt. It is certain, too, that the Chinese would oppose our former privileges, so much so that it is doubtful, whatever the result, whether we should ever win them back. Claims would also arise from injured foreign interests, not the least of which would come from the British section of the Canton-Kowloon railway.\n\n13. In the opinion of Sir Reginald Stubbs, it is impossible to forecast the attitude of the Canton Government towards the Shameen in the event of the institution of a blockade, but the foreign community could hardly be left without the protection of a force sufficiently strong to ensure its safety and the maintenance of supplies from Hong Kong. Sir Reginald put this force at half a Company of Indian troops. It is right to add that in his judgment the Shameen itself and the buildings thereon are of little value, though everything should be done to protect the lives of the foreign community.\n\nSUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS.\n\n14. (1) A blockade of Canton, undertaken with prior international agreement, will be sufficiently effective to cause the Canton Government to give way, if—\n\n(a) The latest rice crop has been a poor one.\n\n(b) In addition to the seaward approaches, the whole delta is patrolled and the West River blocked by a gunboat stationed between Wu-Chou and Canton.\n\n(c) The Canton merchant, as opposed to the labouring class, is in power at the time.\n\nIf either of the first two conditions are not fulfilled, the effectiveness of the blockade will be reduced accordingly, and if the third is not fulfilled, in the opinion of Sir Reginald Stubbs, the blockade would probably be ineffective.\n\n(2) Such financial measures as can be taken will have an almost negligible effect.\n\n(3) The foreign community on the delta should either be evacuated before action is taken, and the increased difficulty in carrying out our plans be accepted, or...\n\n+\n\nA telegram of enquiry on this subject has been despatched by the Department of Overseas Trade.\n\n[14355]\n\nB 2", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 506878, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-499-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 12-2-1927 - 10-3-1927", "page_number": 20, "title": "CO129-499-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 12-2-1927 - 10-3-1927", "content_text": "- 2 -\n\n20\n\nlord of the earth and that all other elements of the social structure must be subservient to his sovereign will.\n\n2.\n\nIt is commonly said that China will never adopt Bolshevism as a social theory, that the history and mentality of the Chinese race makes such a bouleversement impossible. And in the comfort of this dictum Europe and America, and possibly Japan, close their eyes to the plain fact that China is already bolshevized to an appalling degree and that the poison is spreading rapidly with the successes of the Nationalist party. It may be that the masses of China have enjoyed, even under the most savage dynasties, a degree of self-determination wholly unknown to the French proletariat of the 18th Century and that they have, therefore, not the same incentive to accomplish the annihilation of the existing social order. But if the feudal oppression is less, the economic pressure due to overbreeding on a colossal scale is far greater; and it is that pressure, organized by Russia, which is today threatening not only the peace of the World but the existence of civilized society. The attack is at the moment concentrated against Britain, because she is the best example in China of the rival or \"Capitalist\" social theory, as well as because her colonizing genius has placed her in dominion over masses of less-advanced humanity, which makes the best fuel for Bolshevist flames. Bolshevism is essentially a militant creed. World revolution alone will satisfy its ambitions; and no treaties, undertakings or other scruples will stay its hand for an instant. Great Britain is singled out for attack first as the greatest enemy. The turn of the other nations will come thereafter.\n\n23", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-499-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 12-2-1927 - 10-3-1927.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 508419, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926", "page_number": 13, "title": "CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926", "content_text": "## 13\n\nFor FO reply and desp. 16 Gov. Concurring in principle `sei 52741/28` \"Treatment of Refugees \n\nJu 3002 \n30026/27 blow \n\nn \n\nCopy to Foreign Office, saying that the S. of S. agrees that the sanctuary principle as laid down by Sir R.E. Stubbs in 1922 should be adhered to, and that subject to Sir Austen Chamberlain's concurrence he proposes to inform the Governor that he approves of the continuance of the present policy.\n\nNos. 12 and 13 deal primarily with Customs difficulties, but it will be seen that Sir C. Clementi cannot resist the opportunity to press once more on the S. of S. his proposals for regional recognition. His adherence to these proposals in the face of reproof and criticism is a matter of some surprise, and it is still more strange that he makes no reference to the arguments which have been so repeatedly advanced from this end. Fortunately the recent telegraphic correspondence on this point which took place since this despatch was written makes it unnecessary to enter into further arguments with him, and it is to be hoped that his visit to Sir M. Lampson will induce him to abandon his pet theme.\n\nBut these despatches on the Customs are none the less very important in that they emphasize an aspect of tariff difficulties which is apt to be lost sight of, namely, that the higher the tariff the greater the incentive to smuggling from Hong Kong and the greater the likelihood of friction between the two Governments and the possibility of the establishment of a preventive organisation which would result in a virtual \"blockade\" of Hong Kong.\n\nAlthough the proposed increase in tariff on the 1st September", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 508561, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926", "page_number": 155, "title": "CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926", "content_text": "## 49\n\ncreated enabling him to float a loan to save his inflated currency from collapse inseparable from reckless prosecution of wars of revenge and feudal ambition:\n\n(b) not alone Peking (whose receipt of Customs surpluses has made it hitherto an object of envy) but every treaty-port will become a fresh object of militarists' plunder and an added incentive to perpetuation of feudalism and civil war in China; and\n\n(c) Shanghai, which has been on the eve of passing to nationalist control without much fighting, must now become the theatre of a bloody struggle (involving my belief of permanent injury to foreign trade), since millions to be collected, i.e., 40% of surtaxes, are to Sun Ch'uan-fang and Chang Tsung-chang like raw meat to beasts of prey. If views and sentiments expressed in British declaration leave nationalist mind unmoved, it is because they cloak a policy that is objectively a menace and a danger to speedy advancement of the cause of Chinese nationalism. But those who support the cause are strong enough to meet the danger\" (Hankow telegram to Foreign Office No.1 of 1st January).\n\n## 54\n\nIn Chinese political circles at Peking the reception of the British policy memorandum was not good. Fêng-t'ien politicians professed to object on account of the violation of the principle that surtax proceeds should accrue to the Central Government for administrative expenses and for debt consolidation, by promises of which they probably hoped to curry favour with the Japanese and the French (Peking telegram to Foreign Office No.1 of 1st January).\n\n## 55\n\n159", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-501-8 General policy in China 30-11-1926 - 30-11-1926.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 511997, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-506-3 Opium policy- experimental reduction of price to counteract sale of smuggled opium; proposal to buy... 7-10-1927 - 17-12-1927", "page_number": 73, "title": "CO129-506-3 Opium policy- experimental reduction of price to counteract sale of smuggled opium; proposal to buy... 7-10-1927 - 17-12-1927", "content_text": "73\n\nrate some indication of the state of affairs in the Colony.\n\n4. The Officer Administering the Government states that, faced with this situation, he decided after full consideration to place on the market, as an experiment, two new brands of medium quality, one containing 33 1/3% of Indian opium at $8.33 a tael, and another brand made from confiscated (i.e. mainly Chinese) opium only at $6.66 a tael.\n\nThe object of this move was to compete with certain definite brands of illicit opium with a view to driving smugglers off the market, or at any rate to considerably reduce the incentives to the consumption of smuggled opium.\n\n15. The prices were provisionally fixed at figures more or less equivalent to the prices of definite brands of smuggled opium after making due allowances for", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-506-3 Opium policy- experimental reduction of price to counteract sale of smuggled opium; proposal to buy... 7-10-1927 - 17-12-1927.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 512776, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928", "page_number": 121, "title": "CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928", "content_text": "126\n\n12\n\nsaying that the British Government do not contemplate any change in their policy, which has been to secure that the peaceful development of the islands and the welfare of their Arab inhabitants shall not be disturbed by attempts to subject them to a foreign domination.\n\nSOVIET UNION.\n\nIn the middle of February, there was reported to be an acute grain shortage. The peasants refused to sell their grain, partly from dread of poor harvests this year, and partly because they were unable to make use of the money paid for the grain, the industrial goods, of which they stood in great need, being then unobtainable.\n\nGerman reports of 20th February, which stated that foodstuffs were rationed in Moscow and other large towns, were denied the next day by the Soviet semi-official Press. There is, however, no doubt that there has been a serious food shortage.\n\nTANGIER.\n\nAn agreement between France and Spain was signed in Paris on 3rd March, by M. Briand and Señor Quinones de Leon, the Spanish Ambassador.\n\nThis agreement provides for a re-arrangement of some of the regulations imposed by the agreement of 1923, and for the better working of the regime put in force thereby. There is no question of revising the work of 1923. One of the chief items of the 1923 settlement was the composition of the Tangier Police Force. This body was to have consisted of French and Spaniards in equal numbers under the command of a Belgian Officer, but this Officer never arrived. Under the new agreement a Spanish Officer is to be nominated as Inspector General of Police, and a French Assistant will be appointed to his staff. The force will be temporarily strengthened.\n\nIn conformity with the procedure agreed to in November 1926, the French and Spanish Governments will now invite the British and Italian Governments to take part in the subsequent negotiations. A meeting will probably be held shortly in Paris to examine the Franco-Spanish proposals and the part which Italy would be willing to take in the Tangier administration. When an agreement has been reached between the British, French, Spanish, and Italian Governments it will be submitted to the other Powers for approval.\n\nUNITED STATES OF AMERICA.\n\nThe sixth Pan-American Conference which concluded its sessions at Havana on 20th February, has left unchanged the relations between the United States and the countries of Central America.\n\n1\n\n•\n\n13\n\nThe main issue, the modern interpretation of the Monroe doctrine which serves to justify the policy pursued by the Washington Administration, was scarcely touched on despite several resolutions put forward on the subject of intervention by one state in the affairs of another. The Dominican Republic and Mexico adopted a resolution understood to have been drafted by the American Association of International Law, providing that \"No state may in the future, directly or indirectly, nor by reason of any motive, occupy even temporarily any portion of the territory of another state. The consent given to the occupying state by the state occupied will not legitimize the occupation and the occupant will be responsible for all occurrences resulting from the occupation not only with the state occupied, but to third parties as well.\" From Argentine came the resolution that a state cannot interfere in the internal affairs or in the external affairs of another state,\" while Haiti sought to define intervention as any action carried out by a state, whether by means of diplomatic pressure or by armed force, in order to force its will upon that of another state.'\n\nNone of these resolutions came to anything. The opposition was not well organised, but the general failure to join in action which was bound to be displeasing to Washington was no doubt chiefly due to fear of the financial domination of the United States, Argentine being the only South American power to associate herself openly with the protests of the Central American Group. The personal prestige and diplomatic ability of Mr. Hughes, who served as Secretary of State under President Harding, was also an important factor in what may be regarded, from the United States point of view, as the successful issue of the Conference. On the other hand, the attitude adopted by Argentine on this question and the very definite stand taken by her delegate on the subject of tariff barriers are an indication of the tendency on the part of the larger nations of South America to assert themselves more vigorously than at any previous Pan-American Conferences.\n\nFollowing suggestions in the United States Press for a joint guarantee of the freedom of the seas by Great Britain and the United States, Senator Borah introduced a resolution into the Senate on 21st February, urging the restatement and codification of the laws governing the conduct of belligerents and neutrals at sea during war. He said that the chaotic state of maritime law constituted an incentive to great Naval armament, the seas being left subject to no definite rules save those of force.\n\nYUGOSLAVIA.\n\nThe political crisis which had lasted since 8th February came to an end on 23rd February, when M. Vukitchevitch at length succeeded in forming a new Cabinet. In the interval several unsuccessful attempts to form a Cabinet had been made by various\n\n127", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 512837, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928", "page_number": 182, "title": "CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928", "content_text": "CONFIDENTIAL.\n\nCopies to:-\n\nPeking No.6.\n\nCanton No.7.\n\nCommander-in-Chief.\n\n52711\n\n211\n\n44\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE,\n\nHONGKONG,\n\n13th January, 1928.\n\nSir,\n\n52747/28\n\nNo. 3\n\nEnclosure No. 1.\n\nEnclosure No. 2.\n\nWith reference to my confidential despatch of 12th December, 1927, on the subject of the piracy of the S.S. \"Irene\", I have the honour to enclose a copy of a report by the Director of Criminal Intelligence on Bias Bay.\n\n2. I am of opinion that the report clearly indicates the efficacy of the punitive measures taken against this district. Not only is there a complete absence of any sign of ill-feeling, such as it was feared might be occasioned by the raids of 23rd March and 1st September, 1927, but the action taken has provided an incentive to the law-abiding majority to combine in opposition to the pirate organisations.\n\nChinese characters for names in the enclosure to this despatch are given on a separate sheet.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient humble servant,\n\nGovernor, &c.\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE\n\nLIEUTENANT COLONEL L.C.M.S. AMERY, M.P.,\n\n&c.,\n\n&c.,\n\n&c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 512930, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928", "page_number": 275, "title": "CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928", "content_text": "305\n\n4\n\nThe masters of two ships (Captain Shearer, steamship \"Szechuen\", and Captain Fisher, steamship \"Kanchow\"), interviewed on this subject, advised that passengers and their baggage were searched when coming aboard by the ship's Indian guard (guard consists of four men). This search was stated to be thorough; if the captain had doubts regarding any passengers, the ship's officers also searched. Neither of these two masters considered it likely that pirates would board our coasters at Pak Hin Hok, and they were of the opinion that there was no incentive for them to do so with the object of piracy between Canton and Hong Kong. At Hong Kong the police always boarded ships, prior to a steamer's departure, and carried out a thorough search of all passengers, whether through passengers from Canton or boarding at Hong Kong.\n\nCanton, November 21, 1927.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 514849, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-510-10 Financial loan from Hong Kong government to Canton Provincial government 3-4-1928 - 3-8-1928", "page_number": 26, "title": "CO129-510-10 Financial loan from Hong Kong government to Canton Provincial government 3-4-1928 - 3-8-1928", "content_text": "24/7\n\n25\n\nunsecured debt and thus improving China's credit in \n\nthe markets of the world. The existence of regional \n\nloans ruining on the security of any part of the Customs \n\nrevenues would greatly complicate the problem of the \n\nunification of China's finances on a national basis and \n\nforeign, and especially British, participation in such \n\nloans is therefore to be deprecated. Moreover, so long \n\nas so many previous loans are in default, many debts \n\nof government departments for goods and materials \n\nsupplied remain unpaid and so long as no provision has \n\nbeen made for the enormous unsecured debt that has been \n\npiled up in recent years, the propriety of making fresh loans to any government in China must be a matter of \n\ngrave doubt. The chief incentive to China to make satisfactory provision for these debts is that only by \n\nthis means she can restore her credit and gain access to \n\nthe money markets of the world, but if she finds important financial institutions are ready to make fresh \n\nloans on the security of revenues which should properly \n\nbe applied to the liquidation of past debts, this \n\nincentive will in great measure be destroyed.\n\nI understand that the Hongkong and Shanghai \n\nBanking...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-510-10 Financial loan from Hong Kong government to Canton Provincial government 3-4-1928 - 3-8-1928.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 515396, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-510-8 Policy on sale of Opium 12-1-1928 - 24-7-1928", "page_number": 35, "title": "CO129-510-8 Policy on sale of Opium 12-1-1928 - 24-7-1928", "content_text": "34\n\n30194/2\n\ncalled the \"Opium Suppression Bureau\", and that\n\nopium itself is referred to in the Cantonese official\n\ndocuments as \"anti-opium medicine\". Nor does the\n\nbare-faced hypocrisy end here. From the enclosures\n\nin Mr. Erenan's despatch it appears that the raw\n\nmaterial for Canton is obtained from the provinces\n\nof Yunnan and Kweichow and that the transportation\n\nof raw material has been farmed out by the Canton\n\nBureau to Chinese merchants, viz., the Hing an\n\nCompany. As regards the conditions in Shanghai,\n\nthe most recent report I have seen is Sir S.Barton's\n\nConfidential despatch No.88 of the 1st December, 1927,\n\nto His Majesty's Minister at Peking, from which it\n\nis clear that the thirst for money is the chief\n\nincentive of the regional authorities in the Kiangsu\n\nand Chekiang provinces and that they are determined\n\nto make the most of so profitable a source of revenue.\n\nFor particulars of the flagrant trade in opium\n\nnow going on at Hankow I refer you to the enclosures\n\nin your Confidential despatch of the 10th December,\n\n1927:\n\n5. Now in this matter, as in so many others,\n\nit is important to remember that geographically\n\nspeaking Hong Kong is a part of Kuang-tung. Hong Kong\n\nis a small British Colony with less than one million\n\ninhabitants, situated on the sea coast of a large\n\nChinese province which is estimated to contain\n\nthirty-seven million inhabitants. The Kuang-tung\n\nprovince is somewhat smaller than Italy in area, but\n\nPage 6\n\nhas\n\n23\n\n25", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-510-8 Policy on sale of Opium 12-1-1928 - 24-7-1928.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 516705, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-512-4 Boxer Indemnity Settlement 22-12-1928 - 9-5-1929", "page_number": 133, "title": "CO129-512-4 Boxer Indemnity Settlement 22-12-1928 - 9-5-1929", "content_text": "132 \n\nThe Chinese was conditioned by an understanding that the proceeds were to be invested exclusively in the purchase of British railway material and equipment, then I am bound to say that in my opinion the Groups would have good grounds for objecting that, although the letter of the Consortium Agreement had been observed there had been an evasion of the spirit of international co-operation on which it is based. The Groups, including the Japanese, would I think feel this the more, since they have made the completion of the Hankow-Canton section of the Hukuang Railways their \"first aim\", in terms of the Inter-Group Resolution passed at their meeting at New York on October 15, 1920.\n\n11.\n\nTo these particular considerations I may be allowed to add one or two observations on the project in relation to the general situation in China.\n\n12.\n\nIt has been stated by the Government in the House of Commons that the remitted British Indemnity fund is to be applied to 'purposes mutually beneficial to Great Britain and China', and it may reasonably be claimed that the completion of the Canton-Hankow railway answers to that description.\n\n13.\n\nThat claim, however, is in my judgment no longer tenable if any element of monopoly is introduced into the transaction. How could it be said that a purpose was beneficial to China which proposed to confine the supply of the necessary railway material to one particular source and so to deprive her of the advantage of obtaining it at the best market price?.\n\n14.\n\nNor do I believe that a monopoly, whatever temporary advantage it might confer on individual employers, would be of any real or permanent benefit to Great Britain. It is by the production of goods which in quality and price defy competition that British trade has been built up in the past and no immediate advantage of monopoly could compensate for the loss of that incentive.\n\n15.\n\nIt is doubtful, moreover, if in present conditions in China", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-512-4 Boxer Indemnity Settlement 22-12-1928 - 9-5-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 516707, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-512-4 Boxer Indemnity Settlement 22-12-1928 - 9-5-1929", "page_number": 135, "title": "CO129-512-4 Boxer Indemnity Settlement 22-12-1928 - 9-5-1929", "content_text": "134 \n\nthan the British Group to fold their tents and assume their wonted freedom of action. But we are a long way from that yet, \nand the dissolution of the Consortium at the present juncture in China would, I believe, be a disaster both for China and Great Britain.\n\n19. \nTo sum up:\n\n(a) The proposal to use the British Indemnity Fund in order to finance the incomplete section of the Hankow-Canton Railway does not involve the public issue of a loan and does not therefore fall within the ambit of the Consortium, The Groups would have no technical grounds for objection. (Par. 9).\n\n(b) They might, however, feel aggrieved at an act which had the effect of depriving them of part of the financial and industrial benefits to which they were legitimately entitled by the Hukuang Loan Agreement. (Par.10).\n\n(c) The supply of British material as a condition of the project would certainly meet with the strongest opposition from the Groups as a violation of the Inter-Group Agreement of May 23, 1910, which established the principle of 'open tender'. (Par.10).\n\n(d) A monopoly of supply would not be in the interests of China since it would shut her out from the benefit of competitive prices. (Par. 13).\n\n(e) Great Britain could not gain any permanent advantage from a monopoly which would deprive her manufacturers of the incentive of competition. (Par.14).\n\n(f) It is doubtful if the monopoly could be made effective. (Par. 15).\n\n(g) Great Britain is likely to gain more by open tender than by monopoly, (Par. 16).\n\n(h) The alternative to the system of open tender is a return to international competition and the delimitation of spheres.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-512-4 Boxer Indemnity Settlement 22-12-1928 - 9-5-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519273, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929", "page_number": 65, "title": "CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929", "content_text": "## 64.\n\n3\n\n\n- 2 - \n\nThe chief Ports of Entry must also be protected by stronger preventive measures, especially Shanghai. The land Frontiers (including the Kowloon and Lappa Frontiers) mentioned above will require armed guards to patrol them, and a system should be considered and plans should be drawn on the lines of the former Kowloon Frontier guard under Customs control. But in the case of Kowloon and Lappa, it is also essential to develop and improve the existing Customs Launch Service in order to stop or check the increased activities of the sea-junks. It has long been the practice for the Customs Launches which are engaged in preventive work to stop cargo junks, especially those whose action is suspicious, and, if necessary, to search them for smuggled cargo. Formerly, there was very little resistance on the part of those cargo junks. But the new Tariff has increased the incentive to smuggle and consequently, there are many more junks engaged in this illicit trade, and competition has encouraged them to take bold and desperate chances. They now do not hesitate to defy the authority of the Government, often refusing to stop when signalled by our Revenue Launches, and even firing upon our vessels when overtaken. In fact, one of our Revenue Launches was attacked and seriously damaged by these desperadoes in May of this year, as may be observed from the following report from the Kowloon Commissioner, dated 15th May:- \n\nThe", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519352, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929", "page_number": 144, "title": "CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929", "content_text": "151\n\nnecessary, to search them for smuggled cargo. Formally there \nwas very little resistance on the part of these cargo junks. \nBut the new Tariff has increased the incentive to smuggle and \nconsequently there are many more junks engaged in this illicit \ntrade and competition has encouraged them to take bold and \ndesperate chances. They now do not hesitate to defy the \nauthority of the Government, after refusing to stop when \nsignalled by our Revenue Launches, and even firing upon our \nvessels when overtaken. In fact, one of our Revenue Launches \nwas attacked and seriously damaged by these desperadoes in \nMay of this year, as may be observed from the following report \nfrom the Kowloon Commissioner, dated 15th May:- \n\n\"The Revenue Launch \"Yeungshing\" recently approached \n\"within hailing distance of three suspicious looking \n\"junks when suddenly without any warning the junks \n\"opened fire at point blank range. \"The \"Yeungshing\" \n\"was struck at least 13 times by small cannon balls, \n\"rivet heads, and rifle bullets, the iron railing \n\"round the searchlight being carried away, life- \n\"buoy torn open, gig holed, funnel hit, door to \n\"engine room holed by cannon ball and other minor \n\"damage done. Fortunately, there were no actual \n\"casualties among the crew - one sailor received \n\"a bullet through his cap. \n\n\"Next time, however, we may not be so lucky\". \n\nNow, our Revenue Launches operating in the Kowloon and Lappa \nDistricts are equipped with a few obsolete weapons for which \nit is very difficult now to obtain fresh supplies of ammunition i.e. the guns are obsolete and no more ammunition is made", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520091, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929", "page_number": 63, "title": "CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929", "content_text": "Dear Gent-\n\n26.9.29.\n\n4X99\n\nI really have had no time to give more than the \"superficial once-over\" to their mui Tai papers: have marked down nothing serious.\n\nThe whole general effect however is interesting: this Colony as a whole - Official and Unofficial, the officials and the Chinese - have a clearly expressed opinion that one must go slow for fear of doing harm. The incentive to immediate action springs from some vague source - a few enthusiasts, newspapers wanting copy, and nobody's wanting advertisement is a fair inference and not far from the truth — and yet we must make the grand gesture of trying to hustle the East, not possible to credit local opinion with knowledge, honesty, & to believe that they are doing all that is possible - especially in a franchise which has been given so much special publicity?\n\nhave for London Jo on 30th, see you before routing on 4 Oct. \nyour staffing", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 521483, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-520-8 Memorandum on use of Opium 1-11-1929 - 30-11-1929", "page_number": 11, "title": "CO129-520-8 Memorandum on use of Opium 1-11-1929 - 30-11-1929", "content_text": "Fluctuations\n\nof sales and variations in population.\n\nThe question of the registration\n\n2\n\nThe sharp rise to nearly four times the ordinary sales when the price of Government opium was reduced in 1927 (see Part III paragraph 4 of this Memorandum) confirms this view.\n\n4. In the year 1918 the amount of Government opium sold in the Colony was 639,684 taels. In the year 1924 the amount sold was 351,560 taels and in the year 1928 the amount sold was 247,352 taels.\n\nThere had been, between 1918 and 1924, a very substantial increase in the population. In 1924 the Colony was in a most prosperous state and the maximum population was in all probability then reached; and though during the years 1925 and 1926 there was a great exodus of the labouring population, it is considered that the population has now again reached the figure at which it stood in 1924. The sales of opium in the year 1928 therefore show a most substantial reduction when compared with those of the year in which the population most nearly approximated the present figure.\n\nIt is impossible to state with any accuracy the difference between the population in 1918 and that in 1928, but some indication of the growth of the Colony can be deduced from the fact that during the intervening years 8,650 new domestic buildings have been erected in the Colony and there is still a demand for increased accommodation.\n\nIt is clear that the population in 1928 was very much greater than it was in 1918 but the official sales of opium had fallen by nearly 400,000 taels.\n\n5. The Government has given serious consideration to the question of the possibility of registration and licensing of consumers. It has, however, come to the conclusion that any system of registration would be impossible owing to the great number of consumers, which, taking the conservative estimate of 20% on the last census figure, would be over 125,000 persons.\n\nObstacles to\n\ndiminution\n\nof use.\n\nIt is felt that any system of registration would also be abortive on account of the difficulty which would be experienced in controlling so fluctuating and unstable a population and so large a floating population.\n\nAny system of licensing would be open to great abuses in the buying and selling of licences, in impersonation and in the cornering of stocks and profiteering by licensees.\n\nIf the granting of licences were confined to individuals permanently resident in the Colony, it is felt that this would prove an increased incentive to the fluctuating population to bring in opium from China. The wealthier class of temporary residents would in all probability purchase Government opium from the licensed permanent residents and this would tend to increase application for licences, as members of the lower classes would be put forward as figure-heads in order that larger supplies might be obtained.\n\nA system of registration might possibly lead to some diminution in the sales of Government opium but, owing to the difficulty of the prevention of smuggling, it is regarded as extremely unlikely that it would lead to any diminution whatsoever in the total amount of opium consumed in the Colony.\n\n6. In the present state of Chinese public opinion the only way to diminish or put a stop to the use of opium in the Colony is to diminish or put a stop to its production elsewhere.\n\nThat no effective control on the production of opium is exercised within the neighbouring provinces of China is clearly evidenced by the fact that of the total seizures of illicit opium made in Hong Kong in the year 1928 more than 74% was opium of Chinese origin, and it is noteworthy that most of the raw opium seized bore Chinese revenue labels.\n\n3\n\nlimitation\n\n7. The Government feels that the fixing of any maximum limit for the amount of prepared opium to be placed on sale, calculated according to the number of adult Chinese population, would result in the buying up and hoarding of stocks by speculators who would resell at an enhanced price, and the substitution of smuggled opium for Government opium in so far as the supply fell short of the demand. This was found to be the case when a similar expedient was tried in the Straits Settlements and the Punjab.\n\nGovernment\n\n8. The limitation of sales by any further raising of the price of Government opium would, in the opinion of the Government, also fail to diminish consumption, as smuggled opium would take the place of Government opium.\n\nThere is an undoubted demand for Chinese opium, but the fact that much of the smuggled Chinese opium is heavily adulterated prevents its ousting entirely the Government opium from the local market.\n\nlimitation by increasing Government prices.\n\n9. In the past stringent measures were taken against those keeping or using opium divans.\n\nThese divans were used largely by members of the coolie class and were in the main cubicles in tenement houses and bed or bunk spaces in coolie lodging houses.\n\nThe keepers were generally people in very poor circumstances who kept a few pipes and a few mace of smuggled opium and charged 5 or 10 cents for a smoke.\n\nAny attempt to control and limit the use of the divans necessarily involved great demands upon the time of revenue officers, and the result of raids was that the gaols became congested with thousands of members of the labouring classes who were thrown into prison every year for smoking opium in these so-called divans. The Government recognized that these individuals were the victims of economic pressure who, unable to afford to pay the price of Government opium, found available a plentiful supply of cheap smuggled Chinese opium,\n\nThe enforcement of the provisions prohibiting the keeping and using of divans thus involved the Government in heavy expense and at the same time curtailed the time available for the more useful activities of the Revenue officers.\n\nIn these circumstances the Government in 1928 relaxed the enforcement of measures against the keepers and users of divans and the number of convictions for \"divan\" offences in that year fell to 13 as compared with 4,796 in 1927.\n\nThe very small quantity of opium usually seized in \"divan\" raids and the more beneficial use of the revenue officers' services in other directions can best be gauged by the fact that while 2261 seizures in 1927 yielded 48,921 taels, the reduced number of 711 seizures in 1928 yielded the closely comparable figure of 48,450 taels.\n\ndivans.\n\n1\n\n10. A strong force of revenue officers and searchers is maintained by the Government and this has been increased as the population grew.\n\nIncrease in\n\nexcise staff.\n\nThis year three additional female searchers have been appointed for the specific purpose of prevention of smuggling of opium by incoming female passengers.\n\n11. The general physique of the Chinese population does not appear to give any indication of the ill effects of the use of opium.\n\nMedical\n\naspect.\n\nIts use is common among members of the coolie class who are engaged in heavy manual labour and among the agricultural community working in localities where fever is prevalent.\n\nBy members of these classes and also by those suffering from pulmonary diseases opium is regarded as being of great medicinal value. It might be said that almost all persons suffering from tuberculosis use opium and, as this disease is rife in the Colony, they probably account for a high percentage of the consumers.\n\n12", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-520-8 Memorandum on use of Opium 1-11-1929 - 30-11-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 521793, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-12 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 2-4-1930 - 16-6-1930", "page_number": 234, "title": "CO129-521-12 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 2-4-1930 - 16-6-1930", "content_text": "236\n\n31880/21\n\nMr. Moss and Sir C. Clementi would appear to indicate.\n\nThe deletion of the detailed provisions of the original Article II relating to salt may prove to have destroyed one of the chief incentives to the Chinese Government to accept the agreement. This was one of the articles in the original Harris Convention on which the present agreement is based. Reference to Sir B. Alston's despatch No. 191 of April 13th, 1921, shows that after the negotiations had been carried to a successful conclusion and arrangements had been actually made for the signature in Peking of the Harris Convention the Government of Hong Kong suddenly withdrew and refused to conclude the agreement. The principal reason put forward for this change of front was that the agreement would raise the price of salt for the inhabitants of Hongkong.\n\nThe deletion of Article II seems likely therefore to give rise to considerable difficulties. The amendments to Article V delete the provisions relating to the free carriage of Chinese mail matter, to which the Chinese Government probably attach considerable importance, and have the effect of limiting the operation of the Article to the two provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi. This limitation makes no substantial difference so far as Hongkong is concerned but considerations of high policy may make it inadvisable to lend colour to the theory that China is divided into regional governments. The new draft of Article IX omits the stipulations as to bonded warehouses and appears to involve other alterations of substance. With regard to Article X of the new draft it is difficult to see how the Chinese Government can be expected to grant privileges of the nature contemplated in respect of goods...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-12 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 2-4-1930 - 16-6-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 521965, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930", "page_number": 126, "title": "CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930", "content_text": "125\n\n38.\n\nF.O.No.89 of Jan. 21, 1930 (p.11 in 5Y) on the whole question as then brought to their notice.\n\nThe gist of their criticisms on the latest Hongkong draft of November last may be summarised as follows.\n\nThe deletion of the salt provisions of Article 2 may have destroyed one of the strongest Chinese incentives to conclude the agreement (see history of the question above).\n\nThe amendments to Article 5 include the deletion of the clause as to free carriage of mail matter, to which the Chinese probably attach importance, while the restriction of the inland water privileges to the two Kwang provinces is of little account in practice, but may lend colour to the theory that China is divided into regional governments.\n\nThe re-draft of Article 9 omits the stipulations for bonded warehouses (to which the Board of Trade attaches importance A.H.G.), and appears to involve other substantial alterations.\n\nIt is difficult to see how the Chinese can be expected to give privileged treatment to Hongkong manufactures.\n\nIt is however not possible to form an opinion as to these various amendments till Mr. Maze has expressed his views.\n\nThe Governor's argument that Hongkong Chinese favour insistence on inland water privileges for British-flag vessels under Article 5 may have weight locally, but ignores the consideration that the protection of the British flag in China is the responsibility of His Majesty's Government and not of Hongkong, and that it is undesirable to have a large increase in the number of Chinese-owned vessels under the British flag in the inland waters of China.\n\nSir Miles Lampson's opinion is quoted to the effect that the agreement would be beneficial even without Article 5 or 6 (corollary to 5), or\n\n/10", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 521972, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930", "page_number": 133, "title": "CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930", "content_text": "45.\n\n132\n\nremoving a legitimate source of grievance as regards smuggling, and strengthen the value to China of the foreign-staffed Customs administration.\n\nc) The agreement would confer important benefits on the entrepot and transit trade of Hongkong.\n\nd) The smuggling is evidently a very serious issue, which we should do well to provide against.\n\ne) The deletion of the salt provisions in the last Hongkong draft may have destroyed one of the strongest Chinese incentives to make the agreement.\n\nf) The deletion of the clause as to free carriage of mails from Article 5 is also of importance to the Chinese.\n\ng) The re-draft of Article 9 omits stipulations as to bonded warehouses, to which His Majesty's Government attach importance, and involves other substantial alterations.\n\nh) It is difficult to see how the Chinese can be expected to grant privileged treatment to Hongkong manufactures.\n\ni) The restriction of inland water privileges to the two Kwang provinces is of little account in practice, and may only lend colour to the theory that China is divided into regional governments.\n\n/3)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522087, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930", "page_number": 248, "title": "CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930", "content_text": "247\n\n38.\n\nF. O. No. 89 of Jan 21, 1930 (p.11 in 5Y)\n\non the whole question as then brought to their notice.\n\nThe gist of their criticisms on the latest Hongkong draft of November last may be summarised as follows.\n\nThe deletion of the salt provisions of Article 2 may have destroyed one of the strongest Chinese incentives to conclude the agreement (see history of the question above). The amendments to Article 5 include the deletion of the clause as to free carriage of mail matter, to which the Chinese probably attach importance, while the restriction of the inland water privileges to the two Kwang provinces is of little account in practice, but may lend colour to the theory that China is divided into regional governments. The re-draft of Article 9 omits the stipulations for bonded warehouses (to which the Board of Trade attaches importance A.H.G.), and appears to involve other substantial alterations. It is difficult to see how the Chinese can be expected to give privileged treatment to Hongkong manufactures.\n\nIt is however not possible to form an opinion as to these various amendments till Mr. Maze has expressed his views. The Governor's argument that Hongkong Chinese favour insistence on inland water privileges for British-flag vessels under Article 5 may have weight locally, but ignores the consideration that the protection of the British flag in China is the responsibility of His Majesty's Government and not of Hongkong, and that it is undesirable to have a large increase in the number of Chinese-owned vessels under the British flag in the inland waters of China. Sir Miles Lampson's opinion is quoted to the effect that the agreement would be beneficial even without Article 5 or 6 (corollary to 5), or", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522094, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930", "page_number": 255, "title": "CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930", "content_text": "45.\n\n254\n\nremoving a legitimate source of grievance as regards smuggling, and strengthen the value to China of the foreign-staffed Customs administration.\n\nc) The agreement would confer important benefits on the entrepot and transit trade of Hongkong.\n\nd) The smuggling is evidently a very serious issue, which we should do well to provide against.\n\ne) The deletion of the salt provisions in the last Hongkong draft may have destroyed one of the strongest Chinese incentives to make the agreement.\n\nf) The deletion of the clause as to free carriage of mails from Article 5 is also of importance to the Chinese.\n\ng) The re-draft of Article 9 omits stipulations as to bonded warehouses, to which His Majesty's Government attach importance, and involves other substantial alterations.\n\nh) It is difficult to see how the Chinese can be expected to grant privileged treatment to Hongkong manufactures.\n\ni) The restriction of inland water privileges to the two Kwang provinces is of little account in practice, and may only lend colour to the theory that China is divided into regional governments.\n\n73)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522560, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "page_number": 71, "title": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "content_text": "APPENDIX.\n\nTelegram from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated February 21, 1930.\n\n(Confidential.)\n\nYOUR telegram of 1st February, Confidential: Anti-piracy guards. I invite reference to my despatch of 5th January, 1929, Confidential. I adhere to views expressed therein, and consider that shipping companies have not taken adequate steps in the meantime to provide against position which will arise on withdrawal of Naval and Military guards. I agree generally with the views expressed in anti-piracy committee's report of 2nd July, and Haiching piracy has not altered my views.\n\nThe attempt in that case was rendered possible by failure to secure certain opening by which pirates gained access to grilled area.\n\nI agree with Minister's views on this piracy expressed in his despatch of 12th December (1789). The shipping companies are at last alive to their position, and I received on 13th February a request to receive a deputation for the purpose of considering a scheme, then for the first time put before this Government, that a special force should be created of good class fighting men from India with an establishment of British or foreign n.c.o's, the whole to form a separate unit under its own commanding officer and placed for training and discipline under Naval Commander-in-Chief or G.O.C., the cost to be met in the first instance by this Government and recovered by a surcharge on all shipping visiting the Port, assisted by a grant-in-aid from the Imperial Government and a contribution from the Singapore Government and other unspecified sources.\n\nI received the deputation on the 17th February and found that the scheme had only been considered in barest outline. No idea of the cost had been obtained, nor did the details involved seem to have been considered. The number of men required was tentatively put at 400, with 35 white n.c.o.'s and 4 white headquarter staff. It was pointed out that if all shipping were taxed, all shipping passing through pirate zone would be likely to demand guards and 400 might prove insufficient. I declined to commit this Government to the expense of establishing such an organisation on the chance of recovering its cost later on without the fullest consideration. It became evident in the course of the discussion that strong opposition might be obtaining to any tax which would increase charges on shipping not interested in anti-piracy guards. I am of opinion that the scheme is altogether too nebulous and too expensive to be undertaken at a moment's notice. I pressed on the deputation the view that only scheme admitting of prompt application was a development of the former system of Indian guards, possibly supplemented by white n.c.o.'s, and it was left to deputation to confer with Inspector-General of Police, who was present at the discussion, with a view to evolving a practical scheme at the earliest possible moment. I consider that shipping utilising guards must bear the cost of the scheme.\n\nEven this scheme will take time to evolve, but it seems to offer only practical solution to difficulty in which shipping companies now find themselves. It may even be possible to develop scheme in time into a permanent force on the lines suggested by shipping companies, but I am myself doubtful if this will be found necessary. The possibility of utilising Weihaiwei Police Force on rendition of Weihaiwei was mentioned, but I am without information as to when the force might become available.\n\nThere remains the question of what is to be done between the 1st April and time when Indian guards can be supplied in sufficient numbers. To meet this difficulty I can only suggest that if, as Minister's despatch No. 1789 implies, it will still be possible to supply military guards, these should be continued but only on payment of full cost (see paragraph 5 of enclosure 3 to my despatch of the 5th January, 1929). It might well be disastrous to allow period to intervene without guards, and cost of military guard would be strong incentive to shipping companies to expedite less costly measure.\n\nCopy sent to Pekin, Canton, Shanghai, G.O.C., and Naval Commander-in-Chief.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522591, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "page_number": 102, "title": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "content_text": "107\n\n6\n\npoints, and to consider favourably any application for the services of retired naval and military officers and other ranks.\n\n14. The Committee suggest that, since it has been decided that the internal protection of ships against piracy is the responsibility of the Shipping Companies, any scheme which is evolved should be based on the following principles :-\n\n(a) That the organization set up should ultimately be entirely independent of the Imperial and Colonial authorities.\n\n(b) That the whole cost, including that of initiating the scheme, should be borne by the Shipping Companies making use of the organization, and by them alone, in proportion to their demands on it, the distribution of the cost to be arranged amongst themselves.\n\n15. It should, perhaps, be pointed out that the scheme must include provision for shipping which at present embarks regular guards at places other than Hong Kong, such as Singapore and Shanghai.\n\n16. CONCLUSIONS.\n\nThe conclusions of the Oversea Defence Committee submitted for consideration by the Committee of Imperial Defence may be briefly summarised as follows:\n\n(a) It is not for the Committee to suggest any modification of the Cabinet decision to withdraw regular naval and military guards on the 31st March. If, however, the continuance of these guards for a further definitely limited period is considered desirable, the Committee propose that should be subject to the following conditions:-\n\n(i) That the Shipping Companies evolve an efficient scheme and agree to bring it into operation at the earliest possible date, this date to be fixed by the 1st April.\n\n(ii) That the full cost of any naval and military guards supplied after the 31st March be borne by those Shipping Companies which employ them.\n\n(b) That any practicable scheme should emanate from the Shipping Companies, but the Committee suggest that, in order to expedite progress, His Majesty's Government might inform the ship owners, both in London and in Hong Kong, that they would be willing to advise them, and to consider favourably any application for the services of retired naval and military officers and other ranks.\n\nc) That any organization which is set up should ultimately be independent of the Imperial and Colonial authorities, and that the whole cost, including that of initiating the scheme, should be borne by the Companies in proportion to their demands on it.\n\n(Signed)\n\n2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W. 1, March 10, 1930.\n\nG. N. MACREADY, Secretary, Oversea Defence Committee.\n\n7\n\nAPPENDIX.\n\nTelegram from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated February 21, 1930.\n\n(Confidential.)\n\nYOUR telegram of 1st February, Confidential: Anti-piracy guards. I invite reference to my despatch of 5th January, 1929, Confidential. I adhere to views expressed therein, and consider that shipping companies have not taken adequate steps in the meantime to provide against position which will arise on withdrawal of Naval and Military guards. I agree generally with the views expressed in anti-piracy committee's report of 2nd July, and Haiching piracy has not altered my views.\n\nThe attempt in that case was rendered possible by failure to secure certain opening by which pirates gained access to grilled area.\n\nI agree with Minister's views on this piracy expressed in his despatch of 12th December (1789). The shipping companies are at last alive to their position, and I received on 13th February a request to receive a deputation for the purpose of considering a scheme, then for the first time put before this Government, that a special force should be created of good class fighting men from India with an establishment of British or foreign n.c.o's, the whole to form a separate unit under its own commanding officer and placed for training and discipline under Naval Commander-in-Chief or G.O.C., the cost to be met in the first instance by this Government and recovered by a surcharge on all shipping visiting the Port, assisted by a grant-in-aid from the Imperial Government and a contribution from the Singapore Government and other unspecified sources.\n\nI received the deputation on the 17th February and found that the scheme had only been considered in barest outline. No idea of the cost had been obtained, nor did the details involved seem to have been considered. The number of men required was tentatively put at 400, with 35 white n.c.o.'s and 4 white headquarter staff. It was pointed out that if all shipping were taxed, all shipping passing through pirate zone would be likely to demand guards and 400 might prove insufficient. I declined to commit this Government to the expense of establishing such an organisation on the chance of recovering its cost later on without the fullest consideration. It became evident in the course of the discussion that strong opposition might be obtaining to any tax which would increase charges on shipping not interested in anti-piracy guards. I am of opinion that the scheme is altogether too nebulous and too expensive to be undertaken at a moment's notice. I pressed on the deputation the view that only scheme admitting of prompt application was a development of the former system of Indian guards, possibly supplemented by white n.c.o.'s, and it was left to deputation to confer with Inspector-General of Police, who was present at the discussion, with a view to evolving a practical scheme at the earliest possible moment. I consider that shipping utilising guards must bear the cost of the scheme.\n\nEven this scheme will take time to evolve, but it seems to offer only practical solution to difficulty in which shipping companies now find themselves. It may even be possible to develop scheme in time into a permanent force on the lines suggested by shipping companies, but I am myself doubtful if this will be found necessary. The possibility of utilising Weihaiwei Police Force on rendition of Weihaiwei was mentioned, but I am without information as to when the force might become available.\n\nThere remains the question of what is to be done between the 1st April and time when Indian guards can be supplied in sufficient numbers. To meet this difficulty I can only suggest that if, as Minister's despatch No. 1789 implies, it will still be possible to supply military guards, these should be continued but only on payment of full cost (see paragraph 5 of enclosure 3 to my despatch of the 5th January, 1929). It might well be disastrous to allow period to intervene without guards, and cost of military guard would be strong incentive to shipping companies to expedite less costly measure.\n\nCopy sent to Pekin, Canton, Shanghai, G.O.C., and Naval Commander-in-Chief.\n\n0\n\n108", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522596, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "page_number": 107, "title": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "content_text": "14. The Committee suggest that, since it has been decided that the internal protection of ships against piracy is the responsibility of the Shipping Companies, any scheme which is evolved should be based on the following principles\n\n-\n\n(a) That the organization set up should ultimately be entirely independent of the Imperial and Colonial authorities.\n\n(b) That the whole cost, including that of initiating the scheme, should be borne by the Shipping Companies making use of the organization, and by them alone, in proportion to their demands on it, the distribution of the cost to be arranged amongst themselves.\n\n15. It should, perhaps, be pointed out that the scheme must include provision for shipping which at present embarks regular guards at places other than Hong Kong, such as Singapore and Shanghai.\n\nCONCLUSIONS.\n\n16. The conclusions of the Oversea Defence Committee submitted for consideration by the Committee of Imperial Defence may be briefly summarised as follows:\n\n(a) It is not for the Committee to suggest any modification of the Cabinet decision to withdraw regular naval and military guards on the 31st March. If, however, the continuance of these guards for a further definitely limited period is considered desirable, the Committee propose that it should be subject to the following conditions:-\n\n(i) That the Shipping Companies evolve an efficient scheme and agree to bring it into operation at the earliest possible date, this date to be fixed by the 1st April.\n\n(ii) That the full cost of any naval and military guards supplied after the 31st March be borne by those Shipping Companies which employ them.\n\n(b) That any practicable scheme should emanate from the Shipping Companies, but the Committee suggest that, in order to expedite progress, His Majesty's Government might inform the ship owners, both in London and in Hong Kong, that they would be willing to advise them, and to consider favourably any application for the services of retired naval and military officers and other ranks.\n\n(c) That any organization which is set up should ultimately be independent of the Imperial and Colonial authorities, and that the whole cost, including that of initiating the scheme, should be borne by the Companies in proportion to their demands on it.\n\n(Signed)\n\n2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W. 1,\n\nMarch 10, 1930.\n\nG. N. MACREADY, Secretary,\n\nOversea Defence Committee.\n\nAPPENDIX.\n\nTelegram from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated February 21, 1930.\n\n(Confidential.)\n\nYOUR telegram of 1st February, Confidential: Anti-piracy guards. I invite reference to my despatch of 5th January, 1929, Confidential. I adhere to views expressed therein, and consider that shipping companies have not taken adequate steps in the meantime to provide against the position which will arise on withdrawal of Naval and Military guards. I agree generally with the views expressed in anti-piracy committee's report of 2nd July, and Haiching piracy has not altered my views. The attempt in that case was rendered possible by failure to secure certain opening by which pirates gained access to the grilled area.\n\nI agree with Minister's views on this piracy expressed in his despatch of 12th December (1789). The shipping companies are at last alive to their position, and I received on 13th February a request to receive a deputation for the purpose of considering a scheme, then for the first time put before this Government, that a special force should be created of good class fighting men from India with an establishment of British or foreign N.C.O.'s, the whole to form a separate unit under its own commanding officer and placed for training and discipline under Naval Commander-in-Chief or G.O.C., the cost to be met in the first instance by this Government and recovered by a surcharge on all shipping visiting the Port, assisted by a grant-in-aid from the Imperial Government and a contribution from the Singapore Government and other unspecified sources.\n\nI received the deputation on the 17th February and found that the scheme had only been considered in barest outline. No idea of the cost had been obtained, nor did the details involved seem to have been considered. The number of men required was tentatively put at 400, with 35 white N.C.O.'s and 4 white headquarters staff. It was pointed out that if all shipping were taxed, all shipping passing through the pirate zone would be likely to demand guards and 400 might prove insufficient. I declined to commit this Government to the expense of establishing such an organisation on the chance of recovering its cost later on without the fullest consideration. It became evident in the course of the discussion that strong opposition might be obtaining to any tax which would increase charges on shipping not interested in anti-piracy guards. I am of the opinion that the scheme is altogether too nebulous and too expensive to be undertaken at a moment's notice. I pressed on the deputation the view that the only scheme admitting of prompt application was a development of the former system of Indian guards, possibly supplemented by white N.C.O.'s, and it was left to the deputation to confer with the Inspector-General of Police, who was present at the discussion, with a view to evolving a practical scheme at the earliest possible moment. I consider that shipping utilising guards must bear the cost of the scheme.\n\nEven this scheme will take time to evolve, but it seems to offer the only practical solution to the difficulty in which shipping companies now find themselves. It may even be possible to develop the scheme in time into a permanent force on the lines suggested by shipping companies, but I am myself doubtful if this will be found necessary. The possibility of utilising Weihaiwei Police Force on the rendition of Weihaiwei was mentioned, but I am without information as to when the force might become available.\n\nThere remains the question of what is to be done between the 1st April and the time when Indian guards can be supplied in sufficient numbers. To meet this difficulty, I can only suggest that if, as Minister's despatch No. 1789 implies, it will still be possible to supply military guards, these should be continued but only on payment of the full cost (see paragraph 5 of enclosure 3 to my despatch of the 5th January, 1929). It might well be disastrous to allow a period to intervene without guards, and the cost of military guards would be a strong incentive to shipping companies to expedite a less costly measure.\n\nCopy sent to Pekin, Canton, Shanghai, G.O.C., and Naval Commander-in-Chief.\n\nPage 115", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522604, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "page_number": 115, "title": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "content_text": "125\n\n# APPENDIX.\n\nTelegram from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated February 21, 1930.\n\n(Confidential.)\n\nYOUR telegram of 1st February, Confidential: Anti-piracy guards. I invite reference to my despatch of 5th January, 1929, Confidential. I adhere to views expressed therein, and consider that shipping companies have not taken adequate steps in the meantime to provide against position which will arise on withdrawal of Naval and Military guards. I agree generally with the views expressed in anti-piracy committee's report of 2nd July, and Haiching piracy has not altered my views.\n\nThe attempt in that case was rendered possible by failure to secure certain opening by which pirates gained access to grilled area.\n\nI agree with Minister's views on this piracy expressed in his despatch of 12th December (1789). The shipping companies are at last alive to their position, and I received on 13th February a request to receive a deputation for the purpose of considering a scheme, then for the first time put before this Government, that a special force should be created of good class fighting men from India with an establishment of British or foreign n.c.o's, the whole to form a separate unit under its own commanding officer and placed for training and discipline under Naval Commander-in-Chief or G.O.C., the cost to be met in the first instance by this Government and recovered by a surcharge on all shipping visiting the Port, assisted by a grant-in-aid from the Imperial Government and a contribution from the Singapore Government and other unspecified sources.\n\nI received the deputation on the 17th February and found that the scheme had only been considered in barest outline. No idea of the cost had been obtained, nor did the details involved seem to have been considered. The number of men required was tentatively put at 400, with 35 white n.c.o.'s and 4 white headquarter staff. It was pointed out that if all shipping were taxed, all shipping passing through pirate zone would be likely to demand guards and 400 might prove insufficient. I declined to commit this Government to the expense of establishing such an organisation on the chance of recovering its cost later on without the fullest consideration. It became evident in the course of the discussion that strong opposition might be obtaining to any tax which would increase charges on shipping not interested in anti-piracy guards. I am of opinion that the scheme is altogether too nebulous and too expensive to be undertaken at a moment's notice. I pressed on the deputation the view that only scheme admitting of prompt application was a development of the former system of Indian guards, possibly supplemented by white n.c.o.'s, and it was left to deputation to confer with Inspector-General of Police, who was present at the discussion, with a view to evolving a practical scheme at the earliest possible moment. I consider that shipping utilising guards must bear the cost of the scheme.\n\nEven this scheme will take time to evolve, but it seems to offer only practical solution to difficulty in which shipping companies now find themselves. It may even be possible to develop scheme in time into a permanent force on the lines suggested by shipping companies, but I am myself doubtful if this will be found necessary. The possibility of utilising Weihaiwei Police Force on rendition of Weihaiwei was mentioned, but I am without information as to when the force might become available.\n\nThere remains the question of what is to be done between the 1st April and time when Indian guards can be supplied in sufficient numbers. To meet this difficulty I can only suggest that if, as Minister's despatch No.1789 implies, it will still be possible to supply military guards, these should be continued but only on payment of full cost (see paragraph 5 of enclosure 3 to my despatch of the 5th January, 1929). It might well be disastrous to allow period to intervene without guards, and cost of military guard would be strong incentive to shipping companies to expedite less costly measure.\n\nCopy sent to Pekin, Canton, Shanghai, G.O.C., and Naval Commander-in-Chief.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522611, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "page_number": 122, "title": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "content_text": "132\n\neven be possible to develop scheme in time into a permanent force on the lines suggested by shipping companies but I am myself doubtful if this will be found necessary. The possibility of utilising Wei Hai Wei Police Force on rendition of Wei Hai Wei was mentioned but I am without information as to when the force might become available.\n\nThere remains the question of what is to be done between 1st April and time when Indian guards can be supplied in sufficient numbers.\n\nTo meet this difficulty I can only suggest that if as Ministers despatch No.1789 implies it will still be possible to supply military guards these should be continued but only on payment of full cost see paragraph 5 of enclosure 3 to my despatch of 5th January 1923. It might well be disastrous to allow period to intervene without guards and cost of military guard would be strong incentive to shipping companies to expedite less costly measure.\n\nCopy sent to Pekin Canton Shanghai G.O.C. and Flag Officer Commander in Chief.\n\n-8-", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522615, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "page_number": 126, "title": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "content_text": "136\n\neven be possible to develop scheme in time into a permanent force on the lines suggested by shipping companies but I am myself doubtful if this will be found necessary. The possibility of utilising Wei Hai Wei Police Force on rendition of Wei Hai Wei was mentioned but I am without information as to when the force might become available.\n\nThere remains the question of what is to be done between 1st April and time when Indian guards can be supplied in sufficient numbers.\n\nTo meet this difficulty I can only suggest that if as Ministers despatch No.1789 implies it will still be possible to supply military guards these should be continued but only on payment of full cost see paragraph 5 of enclosure 3 to my despatch of 5th January 1929. It might well be disastrous to allow period to intervene without guards and cost of military guard would be strong incentive to shipping companies to expedite less costly measure.\n\nCopy sent to Pekin Canton Shanghai G. O.C. and Naval Commander in Chief.\n\n-3-", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522626, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "page_number": 137, "title": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "content_text": "147\n\nMinister's despatch No.1789 implies it will still be possible to supply military guards; these should be continued but only on payment of full cost - see paragraph 5 of enclosure 3 to my despatch of 5th January 1929. It might well be disastrous to allow a period to intervene without guards and cost of military guard would be strong incentive to shipping companies to expedite less costly measure.\n\nCopy sent to Pekin, Canton, Shanghai, G.O.C. and Naval Commander-in-Chief.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522629, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "page_number": 140, "title": "CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930", "content_text": "; \n\nA \n\n12 \n\nORIGINAL \n\nDated \n\nDecoded \n\nby \n\nDecyphered \n\nof a telegram from the \n\nColonial \n\n192 \n\nReceived in the \n\nOffice at \n\nDominions \n\non \n\n150 \n\ncontinued but only on payment of full cost see paragraph 5 \n\n• \n\nof enclosure 3 to my despatch of 5th Jan. 1929. It might well be \n\ndisastrous to allow period to intervene without guards and cost of military guard would be strong incentive to shipping companies to expedite less costly measure. \n\nCopy sent to Pekin Canton Shanghai C.0.0. and Naval Commander \n\nin Chief. \n\nO.A.G. \n\n1 \n\nPage 140\n\nPage 141", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 526963, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-529-4 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "page_number": 50, "title": "CO129-529-4 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "content_text": "2. certainly did not wish to have to do so. I handed him a copy of your memorandum of April 2nd to Chinese Minister in London to make attitude of His Majesty's Government clear.\n\nThere must be some give and take and so far it was we who were doing major part of the giving. No other Power was going as far as we and May 5th was a matter of Chinese domestic politics not of ours.\n\n4. As we were making no headway I asked him if there was anything we could do to ease his government's position vis-à-vis public opinion if they met us? But he professed to have no ideas.\n\n5. Reverting to period of 10 years I admitted the possibility that as regards legal safeguards e.g. counsellors, etc., some shorter period might be possible. But that was a matter for discussion once principle of reserved areas was agreed.\n\n6. I shall now let time work and see whether Chinese make any practical counter suggestions. Imminence of May 5th should be an incentive.\n\nAddressed to Foreign Office No. 112 of April 20th, repeated to Peking.\n\nPage 50\nPage 51", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-529-4 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 527238, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "page_number": 151, "title": "CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "content_text": "# 17 \n\nfirst unilateral action. On the foreign side the position in regard to the negotiations was unchanged, except that China had fixed yet another time limit, namely, the end of 1931, within which a settlement was finally to be reached. It was not to be expected that, granted reasonable stability of government, the responsible Chinese political leaders would, when the time came, rest content with another paper gesture like the mandate of the preceding year.\n\n## Resumption of Negotiations on May 8, after Issue of Mandate.\n\n45. By this time we were approaching the completion of our task of building up the general body of the treaty, but a certain amount of work had still to be done on various outstanding points, including the difficult and contentious matter of personal status; and it remained to be seen, when we resumed contact after the opening of the People's Convention and the issue of the Chinese Government mandate and the statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the subject of extra-territoriality, whether we were to continue our work in the same spirit as before, or whether, with the removal of the incentive of the fateful date, the 5th May, we should find the Chinese negotiators less forthcoming and anxious to reach a settlement. Mr. Teichman actually resumed his discussions with Mr. Hsü-Mo on the 8th May, and found no apparent difference in the Chinese attitude, good progress again being made. A number of drafting amendments, which the Foreign Office desired to see introduced into the agreed texts, were for the greater part disposed of. The remaining articles of the treaty, beyond those already agreed upon, were discussed, and numbered from 13 to 22, thus definitely deciding the form of the treaty. Amongst these articles and notes discussed and tentatively agreed upon at this time were those concerning rights of residence, the abrogation of conflicting clauses in the existing treaties, provision for an authoritative French text, the publication of translations of the principal Chinese laws, and the question of personal status cases.\n\n## Discussions concerning Personal Status Cases.\n\n46. As regards this latter subject, personal status, the Foreign Office had proposed a number of amendments in the text tentatively agreed upon on the 27th April, thus necessitating the reopening of the whole question, with curious results illustrating the difficulties of conducting negotiations, meant to be as far as possible identical, simultaneously at Nanking and Washington. When Mr. Teichman on the 4th May had discussed the proposed amendments with Mr. Hsü-Mo, the latter had stated at the outset that the Chinese did not understand why His Majesty's Government were so particular in seeking to retain in their own hands these personal status cases when the American Government had offered to concede full jurisdiction in such matters to the Chinese courts, provided they were satisfied with the adequacy of the relevant Chinese laws. In view of this development, which could not fail seriously to prejudice our position in regard to this article, Mr. Teichman thought it best merely to leave our new proposals with Mr. Hsü-Mo without making for the moment any serious attempt to reach agreement on them. Subsequently I explained the situation to my American colleague, with the result that the State Department withdrew the draft they had submitted to the Chinese Minister in Washington and substituted for it one on the lines of our tentatively agreed draft of the 27th April, thus again, unwittingly, undermining our position, this time in regard to securing the amendments which the Foreign Office desired to see inserted in that draft. In the circumstances, I was satisfied with, and had no hesitation in submitting for your approval, the new draft of the 8th May, agreed upon by Mr. Teichman and Mr. Hsü-Mo, which embodied most, but not all, of the Foreign Office amendments.\n\n## Visit to Shanghai and Meetings with Joint Committee, May 14, 15 and 16.\n\n47. On the 12th May, as I had learned that the instructions for which I was waiting could not reach me for some days, I proceeded to Shanghai, in order to take the opportunity of this pause in the negotiations to discuss local questions with His Majesty's consul-general, and once more to explain the position reached to the local Joint Committee of the British Chamber of Commerce and China Association. I met the Joint Committee on the 14th May, and, as usual, informed \n\nPage 5822\n\nD \n\nPage 209", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 527246, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "page_number": 159, "title": "CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "content_text": "## 62. Ratification Article left Outstanding\n\nDuring my final discussions concerning article 16 with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 27th May, I had been able to secure his agreement to all the minor outstanding points; so that when, after our last meeting on that day, he left for a few days' visit to Shanghai, where he had business to attend to, the whole draft treaty and attached documents had been disposed of, subject to your approval of the formula for the reserved areas, with the exception of the last article 22, containing the provisions for ratification, on which I was still awaiting your instructions. These instructions reached me on the 30th May. You pointed out that the treaty created no legal obligations until it was ratified, and that the conditions on which and the circumstances in which His Majesty's Government would be prepared to ratify being matters within their own discretion, it would be sufficient, to avoid charges of moral bad faith, if we recorded separately at the time of signature the essential conditions for ratification, namely, that His Majesty's Government would have to be satisfied that the Chinese Government were able to give effect throughout China to the terms of the treaty, and that the Chinese Government should equally have concluded agreements for the modification or abolition of extra-territorial rights with all the other Powers parties to the Washington Treaty of the 6th February, 1922. This reservation could, it was suggested, be placed on record in a unilateral note addressed by me to the Chinese Government at the time of signature, which would not be published, so that we could recede from its terms if we considered when the time came that it was desirable to do so. I placed this proposed solution of the ratification question before the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 1st June. After some pressing Dr. Wang admitted that His Majesty's Government necessarily retained full discretion as to whether they ratified or not, and that the points in question would naturally be taken into consideration when the time for ratification arrived. He objected, however, very strongly to our putting in a written note in the terms proposed, and especially to the second proviso. If the note meant anything at all it would be bound to come out sooner or later, when his position, in having accepted such a note, in the face of his attitude towards the points raised therein, would be an impossible one. He adduced many other arguments why he could not agree to such a proposal, including the argument that His Majesty's Government were in any case covered by the provisions against discrimination in article 18. I pointed out that he could not prevent me putting in such a note at the time of signature, if I was instructed to do so. I reminded him of the similar reservation made in connection with the ratification of the Weihaiwei Rendition Convention, and illustrated my point by a reference to the present situation as between Nanking and Canton. As regards the second proviso, whatever he might say, the fact remained that China might be unable to enforce jurisdiction over the nationals of certain Powers with whom she had failed to conclude agreements (this produced the usual heated retort that the Chinese Government and people would somehow or other find means for doing so). In any case His Majesty's Government could not possibly forgo a reservation on these points, which would probably be raised in Parliament in the debate on ratification. Eventually Dr. Wang threw out a hint that he would not object to a verbal notification in the sense proposed. As there was nothing to be gained by pursuing the matter further, we left it at that for the moment. Subsequently I received your further instructions that it would be sufficient if, when we came to exchange agreed copies of the draft treaty, I informed Dr. Wang verbally that, under my then existing instructions, I would at the time of the signature of the treaty address him a note in the terms proposed. I informed Dr. Wang accordingly at our interview on the 5th June. He did not seriously demur, and the matter was thus disposed of for the time being.\n\n## 63. Maps attached to Article 16\n\nAt this interview on the 1st June we also had a brief discussion on the subject of the maps of the reserved areas at Shanghai and Tientsin referred to in article 16. It will be recalled that our original proposals provided for 10-mile zones round the custom-houses at the ports in question. This method of handling the matter was very strongly objected to by the Chinese, not only on account of the area taken in, but also because the idea of zones savoured too much of the leased territories and railway zones of the unequal treaties. We therefore hit on the ingenious alternative of taking the Chinese municipal areas, which embraced the cores of foreign-controlled settlement and/or concessions as the case might be, the native cities, the suburbs, and considerable surrounding country. The existing Chinese maps of these municipal areas, if accepted by both sides, precluded further controversy and argument as to the areas to be included, and met Chinese susceptibilities by rendering detailed descriptions of the areas in the article itself unnecessary. The Shanghai map, a Chinese map of the municipal area of so-called Greater Shanghai, was accepted without discussion. It embraces an adequate circumference round the International Settlement, the French concession and the Chinese city, and covers both banks of the river and the harbour down to and including Woosung. I regard the acceptance of this map as eminently satisfactory. The case of Tientsin was not so simple. I had secured a map of the Chinese municipal area, the boundaries of which are, however, still apparently not definitely fixed. Moreover, an important area to the south of the British concession, embracing part of the race-course road, the racecourse itself, and the county club, where numerous foreigners reside, lies outside the limits of the municipal area as depicted on existing maps. Also the Minister for Foreign Affairs had insisted that the Tientsin area should be more restricted than that at Shanghai, a contention which was intrinsically reasonable. For these reasons the relevant sentence in article 16 had been worded as referring not to the municipal area, but to \"the area at Tientsin shown on the attached map.\" We proceeded to an examination of the Tientsin map which had already been discussed by Mr. Teichman and Mr. Hsu-Mo. I refrained from committing myself, beyond offering the line of the Grand Canal in the North in return for a suitable extension in the South. The upshot of our conversation was that the Minister for Foreign Affairs offered the concessions and ex-concessions and an extension to the South embracing the racecourse area. I did not agree to this, and we may get a little more. But in the last resort this, or something like it, will not be an unsatisfactory solution, since at Tientsin, unlike Shanghai, the foreigners are nearly all concentrated in the concessions and ex-concessions and racecourse neighbourhood, and come and go far more between this area and Peking, Peitaiho, and Tongku, than between it and neighbouring areas of the Chinese municipality. Our original proposal, to include the Naiho to Tongku, had already been dropped. Copies of the two maps in question are enclosed. On the Shanghai map the proposed reserved area is that coloured yellow, including in the centre the International Settlement and French concession. On the Tientsin map I have drawn a line in ink round the concessions and ex-concessions and the area in the South tentatively agreed to by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In the case of both maps the boundaries are largely artificial. But we have got to avoid the idea that anyone overstepping the boundary of a reserved area will render himself liable to instant arrest. People will be going in and out of the areas all the time, and both at Shanghai and Tientsin Chinese police will be functioning in a great part of the areas.\n\n## 60. Foreign Office Doubts in regard to Time Limit for Shanghai\n\nIn the meanwhile I had received on the 30th May your views on the proposed method of dealing with the Shanghai problem. In this telegram you expressed your concern at the prospect of fixing any time limit for extra-territoriality at Shanghai instead of its simple exclusion from the treaty and reservation for subsequent negotiation. You pointed out that with such a time limit our hands would be tied in securing in the proposed negotiations the safeguards that we might consider essential; if the future of Shanghai were left open for subsequent negotiation, this would be an added incentive for the Chinese to make the arrangements laid down in the treaty work well, while the actual experience of the working of these arrangements would be a valuable guide as to the safeguards needed in Shanghai. Moreover, the effect of the ten-year limit would be that British subjects in Shanghai would pass under Chinese jurisdiction at the very moment that the treaty itself terminated. Even if we had to...\n\nPage 219", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 527333, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "page_number": 246, "title": "CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]\n\n30)\n\n3/2\n\n(`F.2846`)\n\nTo CHINA.\n\nCypher telegram to Sir M. Lampson, (Nanking),\n\nForeign Office, 29th May, 1931, 12.20 p.m.\n\nNo.130.\n\n-0-0-0-0-0-0-\n\nExtra-\n\nArticle 16, Reserved\n\nYour telegram No.230 (of May 26th; territoriality negotiations, areas.)\n\nThe exclusion of Greater Shanghai for so long a period as ten years may appear a tempting bait, but the objections to a fixed time limit still seem to be very strong. When the time comes for Shanghai to pass under Chinese jurisdiction, the negotiation of adequate safeguards for the vast concentration of foreign interests there will be as important as the negotiations of safeguards in the present treaty. If it is now agreed that at some future fixed date foreign jurisdiction will automatically cease in Shanghai, it will be difficult, with our hands so tied, to secure in the proposed negotiations the safeguards that may be really essential.\n\nIf, on the other hand, the future of Shanghai is not settled now, but is left open for future negotiations, this will be an added incentive to the Chinese to make the arrangements in the Treaty now under negotiation work well, and actual experience of the working of these arrangements should be a valuable guide as to the safeguards that would be needed in Shanghai.\n\n2.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 529303, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-532-8 Proposed transfer of Government Wireless services in Hong Kong to Imperial and International Communications- Ltd.... 19-12-1930 - 19-4-1932", "page_number": 28, "title": "CO129-532-8 Proposed transfer of Government Wireless services in Hong Kong to Imperial and International Communications- Ltd.... 19-12-1930 - 19-4-1932", "content_text": "## Follow-up \n\nI support the decision in `80703/11` that a levy should be levied on the Crown should she be liable to HK.\n\n1. I draw up the question of Art. 13 of the draft Agreement with the Company (incorporated in Notes). The Fallacy lies in the fact that the company shall reimburse the cost of allowances not only to those who do not enter the Company's service, but also those who do (but lose the Gratuity) to receive abolition allowance as an Incentive.\n\n2/12 \nMr. Tomlinson.\n\nI think that Mr. Gent's draft telegram is in accordance with the minutes on `80703/11`. I have not, however, initialled it because I am afraid that I still consider it to be entirely unreasonable and I find that there is at least a possibility that the minutes on `80703/11` were written without a full appreciation of their consequence. Under Article 13 of the draft Articles of Agreement the Company undertakes", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-532-8 Proposed transfer of Government Wireless services in Hong Kong to Imperial and International Communications- Ltd.... 19-12-1930 - 19-4-1932.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 530518, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-534-2 Correspondence and reports of Salarie's Report Anomalies Committee 22-1-1931 - 13-7-1932", "page_number": 67, "title": "CO129-534-2 Correspondence and reports of Salarie's Report Anomalies Committee 22-1-1931 - 13-7-1932", "content_text": "# REPORT (SECOND SECTION) OF THE SALARIES REPORT ANOMALIES COMMITTEE.\n\n67\n\nWe have now completed our investigations on the outstanding matters mentioned under Head D. of the first Section of our report and record our recommendations below.\n\n## OVERTIME.\n\n87. We consider that regular overtime is a distinct evil, seriously inimical to the health of officers, especially those whose duties lie indoors and at desks and that wherever possible it should be eliminated by increase of staff or otherwise. Payment for overtime, so far from being a remedy, forms an incentive to undertake extra duties and, we fear, in some cases to go slow during the hours for which no extra remuneration can be obtained.\n\n88. But we realise that the exigencies of the public service must require certain duties to be performed after or out of office hours and for such work we consider that special remuneration should be paid on the following principles:\n\n(a) Except in the case of daily paid labour (where overtime payment is an integral part of the wage-terms) no payment should be made for overtime work which does not arise from some definite or special call.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-534-2 Correspondence and reports of Salarie's Report Anomalies Committee 22-1-1931 - 13-7-1932.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 533554, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-539-12 Loans for public works- military finances 26-2-1932 - 7-3-1933", "page_number": 34, "title": "CO129-539-12 Loans for public works- military finances 26-2-1932 - 7-3-1933", "content_text": "HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n\n173\n\nof promotion to the notice of the Subordinate Staffs Board. Not only would promotion made on such a plan induce the right type of men to enter the Service, but they would also be an incentive to junior men to do better work. As time goes on I think that the local material available for such posts, and even for higher posts, will be both increased and improved on account of the increasing number of graduates from the University of Hong Kong. At present it is sad to see so many of the splendid products of our University unable to find employment justifying the standard of education they have received.\n\nMy friend the Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton has expressed the view that money voted for the Society (for the Protection of Children), and for certain other associations, was money well spent, and that the grants should be still further increased. With this sentiment I am in entire agreement. Speaking as a past Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Society named, I ask that the vote which the Government has so generously increased from $3,000 to $5,000 per annum with effect from 1st January next year (page 89), may be further increased to $10,000. In this request I have the support of all my unofficial colleagues.\n\nThe work of the Society, which owes its existence as much to the Government as to the Chinese leaders of this Colony, has developed beyond all expectation. In its first full effective year it dealt with 333 cases, and in the first ten months of this, its second effective year, it has already rendered assistance to 702 new cases. Its work lies almost entirely among the children of the very poorest of the Colony's poor, and although by the nature of the Colony's population 95 per cent. of those receiving its help are Chinese, its policy is to aid all alike without distinction of race or nationality. In fact, some non-Chinese children have received benefits from the Society.\n\nThe Society's Inspectors give advice on hygiene and kindred matters to parents of sick and starving children, and the Society provides such children with medicine and food, and also maintains at its expense several children in certain charitable institutions. The cost of purchasing milk foods and medicines alone now amounts to $1,000 a month. In the first ten months of the Society's present financial year its total expenditure has been $16,680, and its receipts from various sources, including the Government grant of $3,000, amount to only $13,014.\n\nUnless the Society's work is to be curtailed—and it cannot be curtailed without giving the Society a set-back—its expenditure is certain to exceed $24,000 in the coming year; and even this figure allows nothing for the expansion which one would reasonably expect with an institution only just about entering the third year\n\n33", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-539-12 Loans for public works- military finances 26-2-1932 - 7-3-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 533566, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-539-12 Loans for public works- military finances 26-2-1932 - 7-3-1933", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-539-12 Loans for public works- military finances 26-2-1932 - 7-3-1933", "content_text": "HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n\n185\n\nGovernment has increased the grant, from $1,000 to $2,000, to the New Territories Agricultural Association. I trust the Government will keep a watchful eye on the progress of the New Territory farmers and afford them every facility that they may reasonably require.\n\nThe Empire Day Exhibition of British Empire goods this year has proved to be a great success and a great incentive to the New Territory farmers to exhibit their goods. I hope therefore that the Government will make this show an annual event lending to it as much as possible Official countenance.\n\nTurning to the estimate under Head No. 25-Education Department-I find that the capitation grants have been increased from $180,000 to $217,500 for the coming year; but no increase has been made on subsidies to Urban Elementary Vernacular Schools in Hong Kong. Whatever may be said of these schools they do supply an elementary education to thousands of poor children. If the Government were to provide schools for these children it would cost the Colony an enormous sum of money. I consider it therefore an economy to encourage these schools.\n\nThe Normal School for women is being housed in rented premises which proved to be most unsuitable. The need of a building of its own is very urgent. The Hon. Colonial Secretary has, in his speech recognized its urgency but building operation is deferred to other more important works. As the cost for this building is not so large as compared with other large schemes, I would urge the Government to keep the matter in sight and sanction building operation at the earliest possible date. (Applause).\n\nTHE HON. MR. T. N. CHAU:-Sir,—I express complete concurrence in the views and sentiments of the honourable senior Chinese member and of the Hon. Dr. S. W. Ts'o. In expressing this general concurrence I desire to amplify one subject which the Hon. Dr. Kotewall has already dealt with rather fully, namely, the grant to the Society for the Protection of Children. I respectfully urge the request for an increased grant on Your Excellency's sympathetic notice. As Joint Honorary Secretary of the Society, I may add to the information given by the Hon. Dr. Kotewall that in 96 cases in the past ten months, the families concerned were without visible means; and in the whole of the 702 cases dealt with by the Society in that period, the average income worked out at a figure which allowed to each member of the family a monthly income of less than $3 out of which to provide food, clothing and accommodation. In over 50% of the cases the family had no means to pay for a single room but occupied only a 'bed-space.'\n\nNot only were the persons concerned miserably poor, but in more than 50% of the cases reported, the children were suffering from disease, and very frequently this was the direct result of insufficient food,\n\n45", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-539-12 Loans for public works- military finances 26-2-1932 - 7-3-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 533950, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-539-3 Mui Tsai system 8-2-1932 - 10-1-1933", "page_number": 12, "title": "CO129-539-3 Mui Tsai system 8-2-1932 - 10-1-1933", "content_text": "Telephone—\n\nHolborn 9301\n\nColours—\n\nGreen, Gold & White.\n\nWOMEN'S FREEDOM\n\nDARE TO BE FREE.\n\n(NON-PARTY)\n\nTelegrams—\n\n“Despard, Holborn 9301, London.”\n\nLEAGUE.\n\nWeekly Paper “The VOTE,” Price 1d.\n\n12\n\nPresident--Mrs. PETHICK-LAWRENCE.\n\nHon. Treasurer-Dr. E. KNIGHT.\n\nHon. Organising Secretary-Mrs. WHETTON.\n\nHon. Head Literature Department-Mrs. GERARD.\n\nSecretary-Miss F. A UNDERWOOD,\n\nAuditors-HOMERSHAM & CO.,\n\nIncorporated Accountants.\n\nBank-Barclays Bank, Ltd.\n\nH.R. Cowell,\n\nHEAD OFFICE-144, High Holborn,\n\nLONDON, W.C.1\n\n28th Dec. 1932.\n\nhe did not attach much importance to registration. This was hardly an incentive to obey the law.\n\nWe have no doubt that the one Inspector and the two Chinese ladies do their best to carry out their duties; although we should like to see a more effective and full inspectorate: but neither we nor our friends who forward us cuttings from the Hong Kong papers can believe that it is anything but a travesty of the truth to state that the mui tsai system in Hong Kong has now been abolished. When a Mui Tsai Bill was recently introduced in the Malay States the Government Spokesman announced that the so-called adoption of Chinese girls was a subterfuge, and that in reality they were mui-tsai and he pressed for the registration of so-called adopted daughters.\n\nWe indeed think that the mui tsai system in Hong Kong is so unsatisfactory that a Commission of Inquiry into the whole system and its working there ought to be appointed without delay.\n\nI am, Sir,\n\nYours faithfully,\n\nFlorence Anderwood", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-539-3 Mui Tsai system 8-2-1932 - 10-1-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 535559, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934", "page_number": 151, "title": "CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934", "content_text": "HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n\n173\n\nof promotion to the notice of the Subordinate Staffs Board. Not only would promotion made on such a plan induce the right type of men to enter the Service, but they would also be an incentive to junior men to do better work. As time goes on I think that the local material available for such posts, and even for higher posts, will be both increased and improved on account of the increasing number of graduates from the University of Hong Kong. At present it is sad to see so many of the splendid products of our University unable to find employment justifying the standard of education they have received.\n\nMy friend the Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton has expressed the view that money voted for the Society (for the Protection of Children), and for certain other associations, was money well spent, and that the grants should be still further increased. With this sentiment I am in entire agreement. Speaking as a past Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Society named, I ask that the vote which the Government has so generously increased from $3,000 to $5,000 per annum with effect from 1st January next year (page 89), may be further increased to $10,000. In this request I have the support of all my unofficial colleagues.\n\nThe work of the Society, which owes its existence as much to the Government as to the Chinese leaders of this Colony, has developed beyond all expectation. In its first full effective year it dealt with 333 cases, and in the first ten months of this, its second effective year, it has already rendered assistance to 702 new cases. Its work lies almost entirely among the children of the very poorest of the Colony's poor, and although by the nature of the Colony's population 95 per cent. of those receiving its help are Chinese, its policy is to aid all alike without distinction of race or nationality. In fact, some non-Chinese children have received benefits from the Society.\n\nThe Society's Inspectors give advice on hygiene and kindred matters to parents of sick and starving children, and the Society provides such children with medicine and food, and also maintains at its expense several children in certain charitable institutions. The cost of purchasing milk foods and medicines alone now amounts to $1,000 a month. In the first ten months of the Society's present financial year its total expenditure has been $16,680, and its receipts from various sources, including the Government grant of $3,000, amount to only $13,014.\n\nUnless the Society's work is to be curtailed—and it cannot be curtailed without giving the Society a set-back—its expenditure is certain to exceed $24,000 in the coming year; and even this figure allows nothing for the expansion which one would reasonably expect with an institution only just about entering the third year\n\n177", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 535571, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934", "page_number": 163, "title": "CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934", "content_text": "189\n\nHONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n\n185\n\nGovernment has increased the grant, from $1,000 to $2,000, to the New Territories Agricultural Association. I trust the Government will keep a watchful eye on the progress of the New Territory farmers and afford them every facility that they may reasonably require.\n\nThe Empire Day Exhibition of British Empire goods this year has proved to be a great success and a great incentive to the New Territory farmers to exhibit their goods. I hope therefore that the Government will make this show an annual event lending to it as much as possible Official countenance.\n\nTurning to the estimate under Head No. 25-Education Department-I find that the capitation grants have been increased from $180,000 to $217,500 for the coming year; but no increase has been made on subsidies to Urban Elementary Vernacular Schools in Hong Kong. Whatever may be said of these schools they do supply an elementary education to thousands of poor children. If the Government were to provide schools for these children it would cost the Colony an enormous sum of money. I consider it therefore an economy to encourage these schools.\n\nThe Normal School for women is being housed in rented premises which proved to be most unsuitable. The need of a building of its own is very urgent. The Hon. Colonial Secretary has, in his speech recognized its urgency but building operation is deferred to other more important works. As the cost for this building is not so large as compared with other large schemes, I would urge the Government to keep the matter in sight and sanction building operation at the earliest possible date. (Applause).\n\nTHE HON. MR. T. N. CHAU:-Sir,—I express complete concurrence in the views and sentiments of the honourable senior Chinese member and of the Hon. Dr. S. W. Ts'o. In expressing this general concurrence I desire to amplify one subject which the Hon. Dr. Kotewall has already dealt with rather fully, namely, the grant to the Society for the Protection of Children. I respectfully urge the request for an increased grant on Your Excellency's sympathetic notice. As Joint Honorary Secretary of the Society, I may add to the information given by the Hon. Dr. Kotewall that in 96 cases in the past ten months, the families concerned were without visible means; and in the whole of the 702 cases dealt with by the Society in that period, the average income worked out at a figure which allowed to each member of the family a monthly income of less than $3 out of which to provide food, clothing and accommodation. In over 50% of the cases the family had no means to pay for a single room but occupied only a 'bed-space.'\n\nNot only were the persons concerned miserably poor, but in more than 50% of the cases reported, the children were suffering from disease, and very frequently this was the direct result of insufficient food.\n\nMay be", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 535608, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934", "page_number": 200, "title": "CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934", "content_text": "(2)\n\n223\n\nSOUTH CHINA\n\nMOF\n\nDEBATE ON THE BUDGET.\n\n(Continued from Page 11.)\n\neveryone will agree with me that the foregoing shows that these two buildings are not to-day economic propositions. I am also informed that extensive repairs are again being carried out at Government House. The Governor, in my opinion, needs a retreat from the cares and worries of his official position in addition to which our New Territories are assuming every year a greater and greater importance and the presence of His Excellency there will I feel sure be not only much appreciated, but also of benefit to the Colony.\n\nI do not know where the new Government House will be, but I hope it will be easily accessible at all times of the year. In any event I would suggest that the new City Hall, the building of which, I hope will be commenced without delay, be so constructed that the King's Birthday celebrations and other official functions can be held there.\n\nBroadcasting,\n\nIt is pleasant to note that the grant for broadcasting has been increased. There has been very substantial improvement in this service during the past year and many people probably do not realise that it is controlled by a Voluntary Committee, to whom our thanks are due. The grant should I think be still further increased.\n\nTrade Loan.\n\nAs regards the Trade Loan, I notice there is about one and a quarter million dollars still outstanding and I would like to know why this has not been collected also what interest the Government is getting on its fixed deposits and whether such money could not be more profitably invested.\n\nStatistical Department.\n\nwhich, I find, has been done very well indeed.\n\nout distinction of race or nationality. In fact, some non-Chinese children have received benefits from the Society.\n\nImproving Estimates, Encouraged by the readiness of the Government to receive suggestions in this direction, I venture to offer a few more recommendations for improving still further the technical aspect of future Estimates.\n\nwere\n\nAs the Government has accepted the principle of showing under the same department all the items of expenditure appertaining thereto, I think that it would be better if launches-with their crews-not belonging to the Harbour Department, such as items 31, 32, 33 and 34 under Special Expenditure of the Harbour Department on page 29 of the Estimates, inserted under the Department directly concerned, though the control of such craft could still be vested in the Hon. Harbour Master. That the Government recognises the merits of this principle is evidenced by the transfer of the crews of \"F.D.D. No. 1\" and \"P.W.D. Divers' Barge\" from the Estimates of the Harbour Department to those of the Public Works Department-see page 32 of the Estimates. I submit that once that principle is accepted, it should be adopted throughout the Estimates.\n\nThe item 'Chain Cable for Moorings, $22,960' under Other Charges of the Harbour Department (page 29) should, I think be more appropriately allocated to Special Expenditure of that Department because it is non-recurrent expenditure. To insert such items under \"Other Charges\" which covers, or should cover, annually-recurring disbursements, tends to make the figure for the annually recurrent estimates misleading.\n\nEmploying Local Men.\n\nI now pass on to a subject which has been the cause of considerable public interest the scheme or experiment of employing local men to fill certain positions hitherto held by Europeans. It is gratifying to find that this policy I notice with regret in the Report of the Superintendent of Imports and Exports that although our Statistical Department was established, though by way of experiment. In his speech introducing the Budget, the Hon. Colonial Secretary said: \"Some expansion of the staff available for these clerical positions is inevitable, and it is merely a question of the nature of the expansion.\" These words foreshadow a further increase in staff, and connote an uncertainty as to whether local men or Europeans are to be employed for the new posts, if created. I hope that in these days of retrenchment such expansion may be rendered unnecessary by a careful redistribution of work; and that, if it should become an absolute necessity to expand, the posts may be given to local men.\n\nPublic Service. Before closing I would like to express appreciation of the services rendered by the St. John Ambulance Association, the New Territories Medical Benevolent Association, the Society for the Protection of Children and other kindred voluntary concerns who do much beneficial work, which would otherwise have to be provided by the Government at the expense of the taxpayer.\n\nMoney voted for these Associations is money well spent, and the grants should be still further increased.\n\nExchange Question. This brings me to a conclusion, but before resuming my seat, may I express the hope that as far as the Government is concerned the dollar will not fall below 1/2 and that at the end of the coming year we shall find ourselves with a nice fat balance in hand, and with our public works well on the way to completion. (Applause).\n\nCHINESE VIEWS.\n\nMore Funds Needed. The Society's Inspectors give advice on hygiene and kindred matters to parents of sick and starving children, and the Society provides such children with medicine and food, and also maintains at its expense several children in certain charitable institutions. The cost of purchasing milk foods and medicines alone now amounts to $1,000 a month. In the first ten months of the Society's present financial year its total expenditure has been $16,680, and its receipts from various sources, including the Government grant of $3,000, amount to only $13,014.\n\nUnless the Society's work is to be curtailed-and it cannot be curtailed without giving the Society a set-back-its expenditure is certain to exceed $24,000 in the coming year; and even this figure allows nothing for the expansion which one would reasonably expect with an institution only just about entering the third year of its effective life. There can be no doubt that the Society, by affording medical treatment to sick and starving children and by providing them with proper food, has saved and is saving many lives. I therefore beg Your Excellency to increase the annual grant to $10,000 next year, so as to enable the Society to carry on, unhampered, work which is essential for the social well-being of the Colony.\n\nInadequate Estimate.\n\nOn page 98 of the Estimates, Public Works Recurrent shows a total of $1,692,500 as against $1,521,800 for the current year. The Estimates for next year, though $171,000 in excess of the previous approved estimate, is, I fear, still inadequate, for a reference to the Abstract of Expenditure on page 12 reveals the fact that for 1932 the revised estimate is $1,800,000. If expenditure next year maintains the same level as the revised estimate for the present year-and I can conceive of no reason why it should be less-then the estimate seems to be short of about $100,000, unless the Government intends to economise generally. But it has to be borne in mind that votes for Public Works Recurrent are in the nature of maintenance expenditure, and it seems to me to be false economy to stint the maintenance of public works; for roads, embankments, and other constructions of such nature, if not properly maintained in good condition, must inevitably result in greater expenditure by reason of the large amount of money necessary for major repairs which timely maintenance would have obviated.\n\nIt is my firm belief that there is adequate material to be found locally for at least some of the posts on the Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff; and that the proper type of men, who now eschew the Civil Service for its insufficient prospects, will be attracted to it, if promotion to these higher clerical positions of trust and responsibility were to be made by selection according to merit, instead of strictly by seniority.\n\nHon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall's Able Exposition.\n\nTAXATION QUESTION.\n\nsuch a plan induce the right type of men to enter the Service, but they would also be an incentive to junior men to do better work.\n\nHon. Mr. Kotewall, speaking as the senior Chinese representative, said:\n\nSir, In my experience as a member of this Council, which covers a period of nearly ten years, there has not been in that period a Budget which contained so few controversial items, or which was so well balanced as the Budget now before us. There is therefore very little for me to criticise. I have never been a carping critic, but have always held to the belief that praise should be given where praise is due.\n\nHelp for Children.\n\nMy friend the Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton has expressed the view that money voted for the Society for the Protection of Children, and for certain other associations, was money well spent, and that the grants should be still further increased. With this sentiment I am in entire agreement. Speaking as a past Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Society named, I ask that the vote which the Government has generously increased from $3,000 to $5,000 per annum with effect from 1st January next year (page 89), may be further increased to $10,000.\n\nIn this request I have the support of all my unofficial colleagues.\n\nThe Water Supply\n\nI now come to a subject which, for the moment, is the most important to the community-the problem of the Colony's water supply. It is indeed a welcome assurance from the Hon. Colonial Secretary that should further funds for the new water-works be required, the Government will not hesitate to come to this Council and ask for them. My Chinese colleagues and I express the sincere hope that every dollar of the money provided for 1933 towards these works will be spent; and that, if possible, the programme of work for the coming year may be exceeded, so that the completion of these vitally necessary expansions of the water supply may be expedited. I have no hesitation in claiming to speak on behalf of all my unofficial colleagues when I say that if additional funds be asked for, approval will readily be accorded by us.\n\nThe honourable senior unofficial member has, on behalf of all the unofficials, asked that a telegram be sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies pressing for information as to when the plans of the new Shing Mun Dam may be expected to arrive in the Colony. I strongly support this request. A telegram despatched at this juncture should serve to stress the extreme urgency of the matter, and the need for an early commencement of construction work.\n\nThe form of the Estimates, too, is much better, even though that of the 1932 Estimates was itself a distinct improvement on its predecessors for some years. It is a matter of some satisfaction to myself that the suggestions made by me last year for improving the technical side of the Estimates have been carried out almost in their entirety. Breaking up the various omnibus heads, and allocating the items thereunder to the different departments concerned, must have entailed on those responsible for the task a great deal of exacting work.\n\nThe work of the Society, which owes its existence as much to the Government as to the Chinese leaders of this Colony, has developed beyond all expectation. In its first full effective year it dealt with 333 cases, and in the first ten months of this, its second effective year, it has already rendered assistance to 702 new cases. Its work lies almost entirely among the children of the very poorest of the Colony's poor, and although by the nature of the Colony's population 95 per cent of those its help are Chinese,\n\nGood Police Work. My Chinese colleagues and I desire to associate ourselves most heartily with the sentiments of the honourable senior unofficial member regarding the good work of the Police and Police Reserve. The disposition of these Forces made by the Hon. Inspector General of Police during the past few weeks of anxiety, deserves unstinted praise. The work was so efficiently and yet so quietly done\n\nPage 200\n\nPage 201", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 536373, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-542-13 Tobacco taxation- suggested scale of duties 23-12-1932 - 25-10-1933", "page_number": 23, "title": "CO129-542-13 Tobacco taxation- suggested scale of duties 23-12-1932 - 25-10-1933", "content_text": "## 26 \n\n2 \n\nCigarettes of low grade constitute the bulk of the \nlocal consumption. An increase in duty on this is out of the question, both on \naccount of the incentive to smuggling which would \nresult and the serious hardship which the increased \nprice would inflict on the labouring classes, who \ncannot afford even the cheapest brand of British \ncigarette. The new tariff therefore leaves the duty \non this tobacco where it now stands, but gives a \npreference of approximately 10% on unmanufactured tobacco \nof British origin.\n\n3. \n\nIn respect of manufactured tobacco, the tariff \naims at a preference of 10% for manufacture (only) within \nthe Empire and a further 10% where the tobacco is both \ngrown and manufactured within the Empire. In the case \nof cigars, this is achieved by direct reductions in the \nrates of duty for the Empire article. In the case of \nsmoking tobacco and cigarettes imported ready-made, the \nduty on the non-Empire article is increased and a \nreduction given where both growth and manufacture take \nplace within the Empire, the rate for Empire manufacture \n(only) being untouched. An exception to this policy is \nmade in respect of Chinese prepared tobacco, which is \nleft at its present figure for the same reasons as in the \ncase of unmanufactured tobacco. \n\nIt is not considered advisable, at any rate for the \npresent, to make provision for intermediate rates of duty \nfor blends of Empire and other tobacco manufactured within the Empire.\n\n4. \n\nIt will be clear from the foregoing that the \nimmediate stimulus to British tobacco which this tariff \nwill", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-542-13 Tobacco taxation- suggested scale of duties 23-12-1932 - 25-10-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 537560, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-544-13 British Empire Fair- reports- etc. 10-8-1933 - 8-11-1933", "page_number": 44, "title": "CO129-544-13 British Empire Fair- reports- etc. 10-8-1933 - 8-11-1933", "content_text": "44 \n\n18 \n\nthat a sub-committee would be appointed, if required, to look \nafter the exhibits of manufacturers not represented in Hong Kong, \nbut, as a matter of fact, no such exhibits were presented, \n(manufactures were staged by their local representatives). \n\nU.S. \n\nThere was a regular succession of Leipzig Fairs held in long \nKong, possibly exhibits from U.S. could be increased in number \nconsiderably, and the cost be brought out on a tramp ship calling \nat ports en route and perhaps being the incentive towards the \nholding of regular trade fairs at the British ports en route. \n\nThe Fair Committee might usefully set up a permanent \norganisation in Hong Kong, similar to the Kansas Terminal in New \nYork, and undertake the marketing of goods until such time as \nbusiness develops to a degree that would warrant the appointment \nof an agent or the opening of a branch office. \n\n## FOURTH FARE \n\nThe following 13 subjects, as a convenient and suitable \nlist of sections in future Fairs: \n\n1. Communications \n7. Manuf'd products, \n13. Organisation of the \nFair. \n3. Shipping. \n6. Raw Products. \n2. Machinery. \n3. Agriculture, etc. \n8. Provisions \n4. Scientific, \n5. Aeronautics. \n9. Cultural exhibits. \n13. Care of absentee \n10. Entertainment, \nexhibitors, \n14. Finance. \n\n## ORGANISATION \n\nThe question whether future Fairs, if held, are to be \nlimited to British Empire goods or thrown open to the products of \nall nationalities, may cause some heartburnings. \n\nAlready, leading \narticles have appeared in the local Press suggesting that the next \nFair be called \"the Hong Kong Fair\", exhibits to be accepted from \nfirms in the Colony of all nationalities, also from local Chinese \nmanufacturers, and that a section covering Chinese exports be \nincluded. In the last Fair two German firms took space to show \ngoods which they import from British manufacturers. \nThroughout the \nbusiness", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-544-13 British Empire Fair- reports- etc. 10-8-1933 - 8-11-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 546928, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-551-4 Canton-Kowloon Railway Working Agreement 16-11-1934 - 5-12-1935", "page_number": 48, "title": "CO129-551-4 Canton-Kowloon Railway Working Agreement 16-11-1934 - 5-12-1935", "content_text": "48\n\nand he informed me that he had received assurances that the ramp was only being constructed for emergency use in time of war and it was not intended to allow any traffic by motor-buses etc. across the Shunklung bridges. He added that he was satisfied with the assurances given to him.\n\nSubsequently I was in telephonic conversation with Mr. Stratton who stated also that he was satisfied that the position was safe for the time being. I may add that I had prepared a despatch to Marshal Chen Ch'a T'ang requesting his intervention, but in view of the above reassuring reports I have refrained so far from sending any written communication. I had previously hinted to Mr. Li Luk Chao that failing a satisfactory arrangement it would be my duty to write to Marshal Chen and that knowledge evidently acted as an incentive to increase his efforts, as he informed me that he had twice seen the Marshal on this subject.\n\n3.\n\nThe latest news is contained in a letter from the Managing Director to the Engineer-in-Chief, dated the 24th instant stating the 3rd Army have been instructed to erect wooden fencing at both ends of the earthwork ramp. A copy of this letter is enclosed.\n\n4.\n\nWith reference to paragraph 4 of Your Excellency's despatch No. 16, I learn from Mr. Stratton that he does not consider that the railway bridge is strong enough to admit of the construction of a roadway upon cantilevers projecting from the bridge.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour Excellency's most obedient,\n\nhumble servant,\n\n(Signed) Herbert Phillips.\n\nCenaul fanara).", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-551-4 Canton-Kowloon Railway Working Agreement 16-11-1934 - 5-12-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 547515, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-552-6 Traffic of arms to China 2-1-1935 - 27-12-1935", "page_number": 97, "title": "CO129-552-6 Traffic of arms to China 2-1-1935 - 27-12-1935", "content_text": "96\n\n1.\n\nANNEX I.\n\nEXPORT BY THE TRADE OF AIRCRAFT, AERO ENGINES AND ARMAMENT.\n\nThe primary concern of the Air Ministry in dealing with exports of aircraft, and aero engines is to balance the advantages to the industry and to national defence of a healthy export trade against the necessity of retaining the advantage of whatever lead British research and inventive genius give us over other nations.\n\n2.\n\nNo individual licence is required for the export of unarmed aircraft and aero engines, except in the single case (until recently) of Ethiopia. To ensure that exports are not made which would be contrary to public policy an agreement has been made with the industry which ensures that the firms notify the Air Ministry whenever a foreign order is in contemplation. Owing to the good relations that exist between the Department and the industry and also by reason of the fact that in the main the firms depend on Air Ministry orders for their livelihood, and that in an extreme case the powers of the Official Secrets Acts might be invoked, the firms invariably conform with the wishes of the Air Ministry in their dealings with foreign customers, notwithstanding that the licensing system does not apply (except to the extent stated) to unarmed aircraft and engines. For example, in the later stages of the Chaco war, the firms loyally observed the request of the Air Ministry not to supply aircraft to Bolivia and Paraguay.\n\n3.\n\nIn order to assist the firms in gauging beforehand what aircraft or engines are likely to receive approval for export, and at the same time to indicate to the Press what degree of publicity is permissible, a system has been devised whereby aircraft and engines are assigned to three categories. Secret, Part Publication and Open. Aircraft and engines on the Secret List are not allowed to be described or even\n\n—1—", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-552-6 Traffic of arms to China 2-1-1935 - 27-12-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 548242, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-553-3 Anti-piracy measures 7-3-1935 - 4-11-1935", "page_number": 60, "title": "CO129-553-3 Anti-piracy measures 7-3-1935 - 4-11-1935", "content_text": "CONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo.494/1034.\n\nSir,\n\nH.M.S.KENT at Hong Kong.\n\n28th March, 1935.\n\nReport on the Pirating of the Butterfield and Swire Steamship \"TUNGCHOW\" off Shanghai on 29th January, 1935, and recommendations for improving anti-piracy measures.\n\nBe pleased to lay before Their Lordships the following report on the recent \"TUNGCHOW\" piracy.\n\n2.\n\nThe Butterfield and Swire steamship \"TUNGCHOW\" sailed from Shanghai on Tuesday, 29th January, 1935, and was pirated immediately after leaving the entrance to the Yangtse-Kiang by pirates who took the ship down to Hong Hai Bay, 70 miles to the eastward of Hong Kong, where they anchored the ship about three miles from the shore.\n\nThe ship had a Russian guard of five men on board but was only partially grilled.\n\nThe pirates had disguised the ship to represent a Japanese steamer, the \"TOYO MARU\", by painting this name on the bows and by painting the appropriate markings on the funnel.\n\nThe ship was carrying, inter alia, some 70 school-children from Shanghai to Chefoo; also a cargo of bank notes (the latter, though an incentive to piracy, must, however, have proved a disappointment, as they were unsigned).\n\n3.\n\nWhen they captured the ship, the pirates had climbed up the side of the ship where the approaches to the bridges were not grilled (because of Board of Trade regulations for safety), and had shot and killed one of the Russian guards and wounded the Second Engineer, Mr. MacDonald, with a bullet in the chest.\n\nThey had looted the ship and made considerable preparations for carrying off their loot, when at 1400 on 2nd February an aeroplane from H.M.S. HERMES, which, in connection with anti-piracy operations, was searching for the \"TUNGCHOW\", flew close over the ship.\n\nThe pirates became alarmed and ran about shouting, and cut the mooring ropes of a sampan which they had got alongside for the loot; and when the aeroplane passed over the ship again about half an hour later they became so alarmed that they left for the shore in one of the \"TUNGCHOW\"'s boats taking the First Officer and the Chinese W/T operator with them as hostages, and threatening to shoot them in the event of their being attacked.\n\nThe Captain of the \"TUNGCHOW\" endeavoured to write a message on the upper deck to the aeroplane - \"Do not shoot at the small boat\" - as he was afraid that in such event his First Officer and W/T Operator would be murdered.\n\nThe aeroplane, however, had not realised that the Japanese steamer was in fact the \"TUNGCHOW\", nor did she report the presence of \"a Japanese steamer\" in the Bay which she had been ordered to search.\n\nThe mere presence of the aeroplane had a most excellent result, and it may be that it was providential that it was not realised by the aircraft that the steamer was the \"TUNGCHOW\".\n\nWhile the pirates were abandoning the \"TUNGCHOW\"\n\nPage 60\n\nPage 61", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-553-3 Anti-piracy measures 7-3-1935 - 4-11-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 548311, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-553-3 Anti-piracy measures 7-3-1935 - 4-11-1935", "page_number": 129, "title": "CO129-553-3 Anti-piracy measures 7-3-1935 - 4-11-1935", "content_text": "In any further communication on this subject, please quote\n\nNo. F.2819/176/0\n\nAnd address—not to any person by name, but to—\n\n\"The Under-Secretary of State,\" Foreign Office, London, S.W.1.\n\nPage 129\n\n10\n\nTHE Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his\n\ncompliments to The Secretary of State for the Colonies and, by direction of the Secretary of State,\n\ntransmits herewith copy of the undermentioned paper.\n\nForeign Office,\n\n10th May 1935\n\nC.O. REGY\n\n11 MAY 1935\n\n \n Reference to previous correspondence\n Name and Date\n Description of Enclosure\n Subject\n His Majesty's Representative\n \n \n F.2560/176/10.(9)\n No.485. 28th March.\n \n Suspected assistance of certain Chinese junks and incentive vessels in smuggling of narcotics.\n Pei Ping\n \n\n14-6130 10950 (2)\n\nSimilar letter sent to Admiralty. B/T.\n\nPage 129", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-553-3 Anti-piracy measures 7-3-1935 - 4-11-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549907, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-555-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- annual report 1934-5 6-8-1935 - 6-8-1935", "page_number": 33, "title": "CO129-555-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- annual report 1934-5 6-8-1935 - 6-8-1935", "content_text": "Appendix \"A\".\n\n32\n\nHONG KONG, 20th July, 1934.\n\nDEAR\n\nWe the undersigned members of the Advisory Board, in association with His Excellency The Governor Sir William Peel, K.C.M.G., K.B.E., His Excellency The General Officer Commanding Major General O. C. Borrett, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., and the Commandant of the Corps, are writing this appeal to you to enlist your help and interest in strengthening the numbers of the Defence Corps. Whilst we fully realize the drastic cuts in staff in many firms, we still feel that there are a number of men in the Colony who might well be enrolled in the Corps. We shall be glad therefore if you will please go through the list of members of your staff and endeavour to interest them in the Corps. Men are particularly required at this juncture for the Machine Gun Battalion and the Battery and we would urge all young men to join up in the former. For the Battery the Corps would be prepared to take any fit man of any age, for their duties in future would be such that agility and youth are not a necessity. From the information at our disposal, we know that the training now in force is such as should appeal to the intelligence of a keen man and the knowledge that every man in the Corps has now a definite role in the Defence of the Colony should be a further incentive. We append some figures showing the relative strengths of the units at present and what is expected if the Corps is to be of full efficiency and service to this Colony. In addition to the Units already specifically mentioned, we are anxious to obtain and welcome, recruits for the Engineer and Portuguese Companies.\n\n(Signed)\n\nYours faithfully,\n\nO. C. BORRETT, Major-General.\n\nW. T. SOUTHORN.\n\nC. GORDON MACKIE.\n\nJ. P. BRAGA.\n\nW. H. BELL.\n\nSTANLEY H. DODWELL.\n\nL. MURPHY.\n\nJ. DOUGLAS BUTCHER.\n\nC. A. DA ROZA.\n\nE. COCK.\n\nL. C. F. BELLAMY.\n\nW. J. KESWICK.\n\nJ. BARROW.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-555-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- annual report 1934-5 6-8-1935 - 6-8-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 551078, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-557-5 Estimates 1937 19-8-1936 - 7-8-1937", "page_number": 199, "title": "CO129-557-5 Estimates 1937 19-8-1936 - 7-8-1937", "content_text": "## 230\n\nTwo items appear under this head, one being the Colony's share of the subsidy to the Empire air mail scheme and the other the Colony's share of the subsidy to the Hong Kong-Penang Service. The Colony's share in the subsidy to Empire air mail services was originally fixed at £5,000, but was reduced to £4,166. 13s. 4d. so that the total charge on the Colony's finances, including Military Contribution payable in respect of the revenue raised to meet the payment, would not exceed £5,000. The payment in respect of the subsidy to the Hong Kong-Penang service is £5,000, but with no abatement on account of Military Contribution.\n\nPost Office Staff establishment has been increased by one Class VI clerk, to provide for the establishment of a Post Office at Stanley, which will be necessary when the new Gaol opens, and four postmen for rural deliveries. The duty of postal deliveries in rural districts has hitherto devolved on the Police, an arrangement which is not considered satisfactory.\n\n## B. Fireless (Wireless)\n\nThe vacant post of Assistant Traffic Superintendent has not been filled pending a decision regarding the future of the Colony's wireless services.\n\n## Head 9. Imports and Exports Department\n\nThe continued decline in the sales of opium has made possible a reduction in the expenses of the Government Opium Shops.\n\nThe post of Senior Revenue Officer, which has been left in abeyance since 1930, is restored, it being felt that possibilities of promotion and, therefore, incentive for Revenue Officers are at present too restricted.\n\nThe Hong Kong Government's credit balance in the opium account at Singapore is now exhausted, and therefore the cost of boiling and packing opium in tubes, previously deducted from the...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-557-5 Estimates 1937 19-8-1936 - 7-8-1937.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 552082, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-558-8 Revision of salaries 19-8-1936 - 11-2-1937", "page_number": 83, "title": "CO129-558-8 Revision of salaries 19-8-1936 - 11-2-1937", "content_text": "## C.O. 83\n\n**DRAFT. FURTHER ACTION.**\n\nMr. Sir C. Parkinson \nMr. Sir G. Tomlinson \nMr. Sir C. Bottomley \nSir J. Shuckburgh \nPermt. U.S. of S. \nParly. U.S. of S. \nSecretary of State \n\nOn the Administrative (£450 - £1400) and Police (£400 - £1300) scales, it would be advisable on grounds of policy as well as of economy, to make some reduction in the maximum salary which an officer can reach subject only to efficiency. The existence of unduly long scales removes an incentive to good work and a deterrent to mere time-serving. It is a serious obstacle to the interchange of officers between Colonies at a stage in their careers at which the widening of their experience may be of particular advantage to them and to the Service. I suggest, therefore, the introduction of a promotion bar in the region of £1000 (plus quarters) for administrative officers, and at other suitable points (as in Tropical Africa) for officers of other branches, and the provision of a suitable number of posts above the bar to be", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-558-8 Revision of salaries 19-8-1936 - 11-2-1937.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 554249, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-562-12 Dysentry epidemic- recommendation to enforce compulsory pasteurization of milk 7-6-1937 - 17-8-1937", "page_number": 47, "title": "CO129-562-12 Dysentry epidemic- recommendation to enforce compulsory pasteurization of milk 7-6-1937 - 17-8-1937", "content_text": "74 \nto be faced. For otherwise there would be no end to the trouble and expense of double boundary fences, and to the risks of infection at shows, sales, markets, and in transit. The owners of dairy herds would thus never reap the full reward that they would have earned, and would always have the fear of the re-infection of their herds hanging over them.\n\n187. The scheme which we have outlined in previous paragraphs of this report for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis consists of six parts:-\n\n(i) the institution of a list of tuberculosis-free herds (accepted herds) tested with tuberculin from time to time under official supervision, and declared to be free from bovine tuberculosis;\n\n(ii) the provision of free advice and free tuberculin testing for approved owners of herds who agree to make bona fide efforts to free their herds from tuberculosis or who have established free herds;\n\n(iii) financial help where necessary by way of loans or the guarantees of loans to approved owners for the purpose of undertaking expenditure required by the veterinary inspector as necessary to eradication;\n\n(iv) the securing to owners of disease-free herds of a higher price for their milk than that obtained by other owners;\n\n(v) the taking of administrative measures designed to secure that tuberculosis-free cattle from accepted herds should be moved about the country and exposed for sale without running the risk of being brought into contact with other cattle;\n\n(vi) the adjustment of regulations governing the production of graded milks and the grades of milk officially approved, and the making of regulations relative to the compulsory pasteurisation of milk with a view to increasing the incentive to farmers to eradicate tuberculosis from their herds.\n\n188. The principal proposal advocated before us as part of an eradication scheme which we have not adopted is, the constitution of tuberculosis-free areas. We have rejected this for reasons fully set out in paragraphs 141 and 142.\n\n189. We recognise that the progress of eradication is likely to be checked in the areas where it is most needed unless special assistance is given to farmers to enable them to defray the initial expenditure required. This may take the form of expenditure on the adaptation of buildings (in which case the landlord may also be concerned) or on the replacement of infected by clean animals. The latter consideration is particularly important in the case of producer-retailers who under our scheme will need to complete the process of eradication within a period of five years.\n\n75\n\n190. We discuss later the provisions relating to the compulsory pasteurisation and grading of milk. The others might be carried into effect by the following measures. In the first place the Milk Marketing Boards should be required by statute to pay to the owners of accepted herds a bonus at a rate per gallon to be determined from time to time by order of the Minister of Agriculture. The funds from which this bonus would be paid should be secured by a levy on all milk sold whether through the boards or by producer-retailers.\n\n191. We contemplate that the government would announce the general principles on which they proposed to base their policy of eradication and would indicate the conditions on which they would be prepared to offer special assistance. Those farmers who volunteered to undertake eradication and whose situation was such that the conditions laid down by the government scheme were complied with in their case would be entitled to ask the local authority to enter into an agreement on the following lines. The farmer on his side would undertake-\n\n(a) to pay for the testing of his herd by the local authority at six-monthly intervals with approved tuberculin at a standard charge to be laid down by the Ministry of Agriculture;\n\n(b) to take all reasonable steps to carry out the directions of the veterinary inspector of the local authority relating to the freeing of his herd from tuberculosis;\n\n(c) to obey the regulations issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries relating to supervised herds.*\n\n192. The local authority would undertake-\n\n(i) to test the farmer's herd with approved tuberculin at six-monthly intervals;\n\n(ii) in the event of his having fulfilled the conditions of the contract to the satisfaction of the local authority, to refund the sum received in payment for the testing of the herd with tuberculin at the time of the next test.\n\n193. (Note. In the event of a local authority withholding the payment, the farmer should be given the right to appeal to the Minister of Agriculture for a declaration that he had carried out his contract.)\n\nThe local authority would be free to refuse to enter, or to defer entering, into an agreement on the above lines on the grounds that the herd or its situation did not comply with the general principles of the government scheme (including the limitations of finance) or was so situated or so managed that there was no early prospect of eradicating tuberculosis from it at a reasonable cost.\n\n194. We have suggested that the payment for tuberculin testing should be made subject to the farmer taking reasonable steps to *For the definition of \"supervised herds,\" see paragraph 196.\n\n82", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-562-12 Dysentry epidemic- recommendation to enforce compulsory pasteurization of milk 7-6-1937 - 17-8-1937.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 554259, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-562-12 Dysentry epidemic- recommendation to enforce compulsory pasteurization of milk 7-6-1937 - 17-8-1937", "page_number": 57, "title": "CO129-562-12 Dysentry epidemic- recommendation to enforce compulsory pasteurization of milk 7-6-1937 - 17-8-1937", "content_text": "## \n94 \n\ndesigned to secure to the departments of agriculture the power to co-ordinate the activities of local authorities (paragraphs 172-174).\n\n(2) The chief veterinary officer should only be appointed or dismissed by the local authority with the approval of the departments of agriculture. Eventually, all veterinary officers in public employment should be required to have taken a diploma in veterinary state medicine (paragraphs 175–177).\n\n(3) The veterinary officers of local authorities who are responsible for veterinary inspection should also be responsible for duties in connection with eradication (paragraph 178).\n\n(4) Close co-operation should be established between the veterinary service and the sanitary authorities. But the functions of sanitary authorities under the milk and dairies orders should not be diminished (paragraph 179).\n\n(5) Certain boroughs, other than county boroughs, are constituted local authorities under the diseases of animals acts. Their duties in this connection should be transferred to the appropriate county councils (paragraph 180).\n\n(6) The testing of herds with tuberculin for the purposes of the milk designations order should be transferred to the expanded veterinary service. The granting of licences for the production of designated milk should also be made a function of county councils (paragraphs 181, 182).\n\n(7) Only whole-time officers should be employed in the veterinary service, except where, by reason of the difficulty of securing adequate veterinary facilities, the agricultural interests of the district would be likely to suffer if a whole-time officer were appointed. The employment of part-time veterinary officers should also be permitted as a temporary measure during the period of expansion (paragraph 183).\n\n(8) A full veterinary service with the above duties cannot be established immediately, as it would require about 300 veterinary surgeons. Steps should be taken to provide these (paragraphs 184, 185).\n\n## A scheme for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis.\n\n(9) The scheme for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis will require the active supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, and should provide for:-\n\n(i) the institution of a list of tuberculosis-free herds (accepted herds), tested with tuberculin from time to time under official supervision, and declared to be free from bovine tuberculosis;\n\n(ii) the provision of free advice and free tuberculin-testing for owners of herds who agree to make bona fide efforts to free their herds from tuberculosis, or who have established free herds;\n\n95 \n\n(iii) financial help, where necessary, by way of loans or the guarantee of loans, to approved owners for the purpose of undertaking expenditure required by the veterinary inspector as necessary to eradication;\n\n(iv) the securing to owners of disease-free herds of a higher price for their milk than that obtained by other owners;\n\n(v) the taking of administrative measures designed to secure that tuberculosis-free cattle from accepted herds should be moved about the country and exposed for sale without running the risk of being brought in contact with other cattle;\n\n(vi) the adjustment of regulations governing the production of graded milks and the grades of milk officially approved, and the making of regulations relative to the compulsory pasteurisation of milk with a view to increasing the incentive to farmers to eradicate tuberculosis from their herds (paragraphs 186-204).\n\n(10) The functions to be performed in England and Wales in regard to eradication by the Ministry of Agriculture should in Scotland be performed by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland (paragraph 205).\n\n## Regulations governing the grading of milk and pasteurisation.\n\n(11) All milk sold for consumption in liquid form should be required to be sold under an official designation. The designation of the milk should be clearly marked on the vessel in which it is sold to the public, a distinctive colour being prescribed for marking each designated milk. No liquid milk should be sold that does not attain a fixed standard of cleanliness, or pre-pasteurisation standard, at the farm. This standard should approximate to that at present required for Grade A milk. In addition, all milk should conform to the definitions of one of the following designations:-\n\n(1) Certified milk, namely, milk which has not undergone any process of heat-treatment and is derived from tubercle-free herds. (This milk should not be required to be bottled on the farm.)\n\n(2) Pasteurised milk, namely, milk which has undergone, once only, a process of heat-treatment approved for this purpose by the Ministry of Health or the Department of Health for Scotland, and has undergone no other process of heat-treatment. Pasteurisation should be permitted only in a plant licensed for the purpose.\n\n(3) Sterilised milk, namely, milk which has been raised to the boiling-point or higher in a plant licensed for the purpose, and which has undergone no other process of heat-treatment.\n\n102", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-562-12 Dysentry epidemic- recommendation to enforce compulsory pasteurization of milk 7-6-1937 - 17-8-1937.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 554263, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-562-12 Dysentry epidemic- recommendation to enforce compulsory pasteurization of milk 7-6-1937 - 17-8-1937", "page_number": 61, "title": "CO129-562-12 Dysentry epidemic- recommendation to enforce compulsory pasteurization of milk 7-6-1937 - 17-8-1937", "content_text": "## 107\n\n100\n\nVeterinary officers are so restricted that their lives must lack the interest necessary to attract the best men, and the incentive to them to keep up to date in all necessary branches of their profession.\n\nThat if a state service was formed to do the whole of the work at present divided, the opposite result would be obtained.\n\nIn time it should be made obligatory for a man to hold the diploma in veterinary state medicine before he could join the state service. The best men would be required and attracted for they would have a definite, responsible, and assured future, and pension. This in its turn would attract a higher standard of recruits to the veterinary profession.\n\nIt is argued also that the efficient and economical control of diseases of all domestic animals and fowls must be looked upon as one problem of vast importance to the nation, that it cannot be split up into compartments and men trained and allocated especially to one compartment without human and financial waste. And great emphasis is laid on the necessity, if any real measure of success and an adequate return for the money spent is to be obtained, for the right men to be attracted to the veterinary profession and every opportunity afforded them to become proficient. Examples have been given us, such as the persistence of sheep scab in this country, to show that diseases are not efficiently controlled when left to local authorities, and the high incidence of bovine tuberculosis cannot be denied.\n\nThe formation of a state service would have the advantage that in the event of a sudden flare-up of some serious disease, a large number of specially trained men could be concentrated on it with a minimum of delay.\n\nThe men could be allocated to the districts where they were most wanted, instead of the numbers appointed in any county being determined by the whim or the wealth of that particular county.\n\nAppendix 13 shows the anomalies which exist between counties with a large animal population, and therefore needing large expenditure on veterinary officers, but having a low rateable value, and rich counties with few animals.\n\nTo balance these financial differences fairly would be very difficult, especially as regards money spent on the control of bovine tuberculosis. The milk produced in the more rural and more sparsely populated areas is consumed chiefly in the denser populated areas, and it is already a grievance in the former that they should have to pay in working the various milk orders for the benefit of the latter. If all work amongst the dairy herds was a state function all these difficulties would disappear.\n\nIt is not suggested by those advocating a state service that local authorities should lose all influence. Conditions vary so much up and down Great Britain that it would be necessary for any national scheme to be sufficiently elastic as to take advantage of the local knowledge and advice of the county council animal diseases committees. Through these the chief veterinary officer in each area would seek the assistance and co-operation of the police and agricultural organisers. If financial arrangements could be made to give the chief veterinary officers and their staffs office and laboratory accommodation in the county buildings it would have the great advantage of keeping them in close touch with the chief constables, medical officers, and agricultural organisers.\n\nIt is recognised that local authorities may object to relinquishing so much control over animal diseases, but it is held that they could not be in opposition once they understood that to be so was being an obstacle to a new, determined, and co-ordinated national attack on all kinds of diseases of farm animals and fowls.\n\nIt is impossible to arrive at exact figures, but it is held that a state service would for various reasons actually cost less than a local authority service, overlooked by state veterinary officers for the sake of co-ordination, plus the present 100 veterinary officers already employed by the Ministry of Agriculture. And it is argued that through smoother running and greater efficiency the lower cost would achieve the greater success.\n\n[9837]\n\nE 3\n\n## 108", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-562-12 Dysentry epidemic- recommendation to enforce compulsory pasteurization of milk 7-6-1937 - 17-8-1937.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 555767, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-563-5 Macao- relationship with Hong Kong 6-7-1937 - 13-12-1937", "page_number": 76, "title": "CO129-563-5 Macao- relationship with Hong Kong 6-7-1937 - 13-12-1937", "content_text": "## \npromised to see that word was sent to Hong Kong, though the Acting Governor would certainly wish to discuss with his colleague the position of the two colonies in relation to the present hostilities between China and Japan; in fact, the visit had probably been arranged with that object. A letter has now been addressed to the Colonial Office accordingly.\n\n5. As regards the situation generally, it was unsafe to prophesy, but it did appear unlikely that either the Japanese or the Chinese would wish deliberately to create trouble with third parties. It is natural that each should warn neutrals against the other, but it did not seem to be necessary to take these warnings too tragically.\n\nOf course, if there was a collapse on the Chinese side a state of confusion might ensue, necessitating adequate protection for foreign possessions, and the precautions being taken by Portugal might be desirable - and effective - from this point of view.\n\n6. Moreover, in the case of Macao at least there did not appear to be any immediate incentive for interference by either side. Communications with the interior were not good. If Japan wanted a footing on the Chinese coast there were a hundred other places they could choose without antagonising Portugal.\n\nI am, with great truth and respect,\nSir,\nYour Excellency's obedient Servant, (For Mr. Neville Chamberlain)\n**(Sd.)** C. W. ORDE", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-563-5 Macao- relationship with Hong Kong 6-7-1937 - 13-12-1937.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 558544, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-568-10 Government Marine Surveyors- petition for increase in salary 30-12-1937 - 6-11-1939", "page_number": 7, "title": "CO129-568-10 Government Marine Surveyors- petition for increase in salary 30-12-1937 - 6-11-1939", "content_text": "X\n\nPerhaps we had better refer to this when we reply to H.K. P.R.\n\nLad... *They said that they found the staff approved this arrangement was the better prospects of promotion gave greater incentive to them on a slightly higher rate of pay for junior staff.\n\n7\n\nthe senior ones. that we knew of no such suggestion.\n\nX\n\n(2) That there was no possibility of considering Government Marine Surveyors in the Colonies as eligible for consideration in connection with appointments to the higher posts in the Board of Trade itself; they pointed out the obvious corollary to such an arrangement, viz. that the Hong Kong senior posts would have to be regarded as open to officers of the Board of Trade; we could only agree with them.\n\n(3) That in general it would be better and more in accordance with home practice to have a larger number of senior grade posts even if the salary scales for the two grades were slightly lower; although they thought that the minimum of the junior scale should not be less than £650 as proposed by the Governor.\n\nWe suggested that we should put up to them alternative proposals which, subject to their concurrence, would be put to the Governor as an alternative to his own. The present establishment and salaries are:-\n\n1 Government Marine Surveyor. £860 x 40 - 1100 (plus rent allowance).\n\n14 Government Marine Surveyors. £550 x 25 - 825.\n\nThe Governor's proposals are:-\n\n1 Government Marine Surveyor. Not less than £1300.\n\n2 Senior Assistant Government Marine Surveyors. £1000 x 50 - 1100 with residential allowance of £100.\n\n12 Assistant Government Marine Surveyors. £650, 650, 700, 740 x 30 - 950 with residential allowance of £50 from £740 inclusive and £100 from beginning of thirteenth year of service.\n\nOur", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-568-10 Government Marine Surveyors- petition for increase in salary 30-12-1937 - 6-11-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 559463, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-569-3 Matron and European Sisters- Medical Department- petition for revision of salaries 22-11-1938 - 18-4-1939", "page_number": 28, "title": "CO129-569-3 Matron and European Sisters- Medical Department- petition for revision of salaries 22-11-1938 - 18-4-1939", "content_text": "lifetime career has not the incentive to remain in \n\nHong Kong as there are few senior positions and no \n\nprospects of reaching those appointments until after \n\nmany years service. \n\n4. The present salary of the Nursing Staff is as \n\nfollows:- \n\n \n Principal Matron\n £475\n £25\n £600\n \n \n Matron\n £380\n £20\n £460\n \n \n Senior Sister\n £300\n £15\n £360\n \n \n Nursing Sister\n £220\n £15\n £295\n \n\nThe salary of the Malayan Nursing Service converted at 2/4 to \n\nthe Straits dollar is as follows:- \n\n \n Special Grade Matron\n $450 p.m.\n = £532\n £630 p.a.\n \n \n Grade I Matron\n $380 p.m.-$10-$420\n = £462-£518 p.a.\n \n \n Grade II Matron\n $330 p.m.-$10-$370\n = £294-£448 p.a.\n \n \n Nursing Sister\n $210 p.m.-$10-$320\n \n\nThe provision of free quarters, servants, fuel, lighting and \n\nhouse linen are the same in both Services. After allowing for \n\nthe higher cost of living in Malaya, the salary of the Hong \n\nKong Nursing Sister is disproportionately lower. \n\n5. Your Petitioners humbly submit that a more equitable \n\nscale of salary for the Nursing Staff in Hong Kong would be:- \n\n \n Nursing Sister\n £220\n £15\n - £355\n \n \n Grade II Matron\n £360\n £15\n · £420\n \n \n Grade I Matron\n £430\n £20\n £490\n \n \n Principal Matron\n £500\n £25\n - £600.\n \n\nThe holders of Specialist positions (i.e. Dietetic \n\nSister, V.D. Sister and Tutor Sister) in addition to the scale \n\nsalary should receive a specialist allowance of £30 per annum. \n\nThe X-Ray Sister should be brought up on to the scale \n\n£20-£460, with the same privileges and allowances \n\nof salary of Masseuses, namely £380. This is a specialist position with \n\nno opportunity of promotion above the scale.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-569-3 Matron and European Sisters- Medical Department- petition for revision of salaries 22-11-1938 - 18-4-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 559585, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-569-7 Revision of salaries 6-7-1938 - 11-10-1938", "page_number": 74, "title": "CO129-569-7 Revision of salaries 6-7-1938 - 11-10-1938", "content_text": "72\n\n· 3 -\n\nloss of 250 instead of no change, but the ultimate loss on the Assistant Director of Public Works' grade would be £150.\n\n6. Incidence of Losses.\n\nPromotions from Engineer to Executive Engineer involve the greater losses and affect far more officers than promotion from Executive Engineer to Assistant Director of Public Works.\n\n7. General Effects.\n\nIt will be seen from the above that the proposals involve a drastic reduction of salaries, allowances and pensions, and would destroy all incentive to accept the greater responsibilities which promotion brings.\n\n8. Acting Pay.\n\nWe have been unable to establish the effect the proposals would have on acting pay as the method of calculating deductions for quarters is not known at present. It would appear, however, that no augmentation of salary is proposed to compensate for the increased responsibilities attaching to a higher post, and there might even be a reduction.\n\n9. Expectations.\n\nWith each year of service an officer becomes increasingly dependent on Government for the realisation of his prospects and it is submitted that Government has a moral obligation not to destroy his legitimate expectations.\n\nFor many years now we have had every reason to expect that emoluments on promotion would be in accordance with the existing salary scales and have accumulated liabilities and based our financial future, both during our service and on retirement, on these expectations. The application of the proposed scales to us would have serious consequences.\n\nMost officers would be faced, after many years service, with the choice of accepting increased responsibility without an adequate increase in salary or sacrificing their chances of", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-569-7 Revision of salaries 6-7-1938 - 11-10-1938.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 560077, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-570-1 Sino-Japanese War- arrangements for refugees from Shanghai 2-2-1938 - 2-11-1938", "page_number": 16, "title": "CO129-570-1 Sino-Japanese War- arrangements for refugees from Shanghai 2-2-1938 - 2-11-1938", "content_text": "K. I.\n\nfunds,\n\nbe\n\nless\n\notherwise\n\nincentive for Hong Kong\n\nmake\n\nway further\n\nefforts\n\nThere\n\nwill be 16\n\nto\n\nto effect\n\nrecoveries\n\n1. Tremer\n\n2.1.39.\n\nI find it difficult to maintain with the requisite restraint...\n\nTo, letter in No. 31,\n\nI refrain from direct comment\n\nTake the matter up to\n\nwith the Secretary of State for the Colonies via the Treasury\n\nproposed by Mr. Sergeant,\n\n3.1.39\n\nON\n\n32 for.\n\nTel. 397\n\nORIGINAL\n\n53838/28/38\n\n23/12/38\n\nReport's continuance of influx of refugees\n\nsuggests action\n\ntaken\n\nthat should be\n\n3.\n\nMy. 35 To Pg. Inch (w/e 32). 50. Cons\n\n11.1.39", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-570-1 Sino-Japanese War- arrangements for refugees from Shanghai 2-2-1938 - 2-11-1938.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 563994, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-575-16 Tung Wah hospital 9-2-1939 - 17-11-1939", "page_number": 17, "title": "CO129-575-16 Tung Wah hospital 9-2-1939 - 17-11-1939", "content_text": "## 2\n\nwww \n\n17 \n\nto approve them only if Government were prepared to give an undertaking to make up any deficit incurred as a result. I found it impossible to give a blank cheque to the Directors in that way, particularly as such an arrangement must eventually deprive them of any incentive to increase voluntary subscriptions, which still form a substantial part of the income of the hospitals. It was recognised, however, that a substantial increase in Government assistance would be necessary if the hospitals were to maintain the improvements effected in them. After prolonged discussion, I agreed with the advice of my Executive Council and, subject to your approval, to the Government grant in respect of 1939 being increased from $121,000 to $320,000 and to the reimbursement by Government of any special expenditure actually incurred as provided in the draft estimates up to a maximum of $80,000 as stated above. In addition, it was recognised that the Government was morally committed to the reimbursement of the whole, or substantially the whole, of the deficit actually incurred during 1938, for which it was understood during the negotiations last year for the reorganization of the hospital that Government would assume liability. That deficit amounted to $106,000. I have therefore agreed, also subject to your approval, to an additional grant in respect of the year 1938 of $100,000.\n\n5.\n\nIt is proposed that payment should be made as follows:-\n\n| Payment Description | Amount |\n| --- | --- |\n| An immediate payment in respect of 1938 deficit | $100,000 |\n| A further payment due in respect of 1939 in addition to the $121,000 provided in the estimates | $199,000 |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-575-16 Tung Wah hospital 9-2-1939 - 17-11-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 565371, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-577-8 Junior Clerical Service- petition for improvements in salaries and conditions of service 6-7-1939 - 19-12-1939", "page_number": 36, "title": "CO129-577-8 Junior Clerical Service- petition for improvements in salaries and conditions of service 6-7-1939 - 19-12-1939", "content_text": "## Enclosure No.3\n\n5. The demand to the present Class II, Class I and Higher Class scales. A final decision on this must, however, depend on the examination of the exact posts to be included in this grade.\n\nProvisionally I would propose the following proportions on the basis of the present establishment, i.e., Class II 550, Class I - 100, Special Class- 70 but here again the precise proportions might be varied after examination.\n\n8. The advantages of this scheme are that it provides advancement up to a reasonable salary i.e. $1800, subject only to an efficiency bar and not to a series of promotion bars as at present; and a maximum salary in Class I, i.e. $2600, which is a not unreasonable figure for officers who are not selected for appointment to a specific post. The creation of a class of specific posts, appointment to which will be by selection, will, it is hoped, act as an incentive to the more ambitious and able members of the service, and will in some ways facilitate the work of the Promotions Board in deciding upon their recommendations for appointment to the higher grades, since it will now be a matter of selecting an officer for a specific post rather than on grounds of general ability. Promotions will continue to be made on the recommendation of the Subordinate Staff Board: but in considering appointments to specific posts, the views of the Head of the Department concerned will naturally have considerable weight.\n\n9. I enclose for convenience a complete statement of the suggested salary scales on the above basis, but would again point out that the salaries of the sub-divisions of the Special Class are provisional.\n\n10. It will admittedly be difficult to settle the precise allocation between departments, but I do not think the task is impossible. On the creation of such a", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-577-8 Junior Clerical Service- petition for improvements in salaries and conditions of service 6-7-1939 - 19-12-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 565380, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-577-8 Junior Clerical Service- petition for improvements in salaries and conditions of service 6-7-1939 - 19-12-1939", "page_number": 45, "title": "CO129-577-8 Junior Clerical Service- petition for improvements in salaries and conditions of service 6-7-1939 - 19-12-1939", "content_text": "## Standard Establishment\n\nIt will be seen from Appendix C that 360 men out of a total of 719 officers drew maximum salary on 1st January, 1938. Of these 360 men, there were 86 who had no increase of salary for four years or more. In January 1929, the number of officers drawing maximum salary was 11% of the total Establishment. Since then, the percentage has increased nearly five-fold as follows:\n\n| Year | Percentage |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1930 and 1931 | 19% |\n| 1932 | 35% |\n| 1933 | 34% |\n| 1934 and 1935 | 40% |\n| 1936 | 47% |\n| 1937 | 51.7% |\n| 1938 | 51.8% |\n\nThe following figures show how the existence of eight classes (instead of the usual four or five classes) has resulted in men drawing salaries which offer them little or no incentive beyond that of necessity to remain in Government Service:\n\n(i) Taking the Establishment as consisting of 719 men, there are only four persons who, after six years' service, are receiving more than $100 a month, i.e., 31/3d a week (at exchange $1 = 1/3d, which exchange rate will be used throughout this Petition).\n\n(ii) There are 209 men who have completed six years' service and are receiving less than $100 a month (i.e., 31/3d a week).\n\n(iii) There are 332 men with six years' service, drawing less than $150 per month or 47 shillings a week.\n\n(iv) There are 248 men with eight years' service, drawing less than $150 per month or 47 shillings a week.\n\n(v) There is no officer with less than six years' service drawing more than $150 per month or 47 shillings a week.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-577-8 Junior Clerical Service- petition for improvements in salaries and conditions of service 6-7-1939 - 19-12-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 567603, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-580-2 Sino-Japanese War- British policy and reactions in Hong Kong and Malaya 27-7-1939 - 3-2-1940", "page_number": 82, "title": "CO129-580-2 Sino-Japanese War- British policy and reactions in Hong Kong and Malaya 27-7-1939 - 3-2-1940", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]\n\nFrom:\nJAPAN.\nSir R. Craigie, (Tokyo).\n4th September, 1939.\n\nD.\nR.\n1.40 a.m.\n2.10 a.m.\n5th September, 1939.\n5th September, 1939.\n\nNo. 1162.\n1 Your telegram No. 556.\n\nI am grateful for full outline of your views and submit my own observations as follows:\n\nGeneral situation.\n\nThis appears to be at first sight less favourable for successful resumption of Tientsin negotiations than it was before the fall of the late government (i.e. the moment at which I sent my telegram No. 1095). First and foremost outbreak of war should, in the opinion of many Japanese, provide Japan with the opportunity which she has awaited for driving a large part of our interests from China. Secondly, the new cabinet does not impress me very favourably and in any case it lacks the personal incentive of its predecessor to conclude conversations satisfactorily.\n\nWe must avoid the joint danger of appearing over-anxious to renew conversations and missing a favourable opportunity to do so. If the new cabinet were to decide in favour of Japan making common cause with the Democracies, everything would of course be simplified, but there is nothing which could at present justify reliance on any such decision (in such matters Mr. Edwards and even Mr. Shigemitsu may prove dangerous guides), and my observations are based on the assumption that for a time the cabinet will remain on the fence.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-580-2 Sino-Japanese War- British policy and reactions in Hong Kong and Malaya 27-7-1939 - 3-2-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 567978, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-581-10 Control measures to be adopted for local mines- report by senior Inspector of Mines 1-1-1939 - 31-12-1939", "page_number": 26, "title": "CO129-581-10 Control measures to be adopted for local mines- report by senior Inspector of Mines 1-1-1939 - 31-12-1939", "content_text": "25\n\nthe upper levels and were not large enough to warrant the installation of modern plant, so the method of mining described above was adopted. Based on the proved ore reserves, the mine has a life of approximately 14-2 years and provided production and price of metal remains at present levels, the company should just about recover the capital invested.\n\nRECOMMENDATIONS.\n\nDuring the inspection of the property, I noticed some very fine and expensive coolie lines in course of erection, which are far above the standard in use in the Federated Malay States, and other places in the East. The expense of such costly and permanent coolie lines is a heavy item on the charges of a mine of this nature and will undoubtedly militate against any incentive of miners to take up leases on a low-grade proposition. It is suggested, therefore, that the medical authorities cut down their requirements to a minimum, particularly in connection with a mine in its development stage or one with a short life, where a temporary building would appear to be more reasonable.\n\nThe supervision and running of the mine is satisfactory and the labour force is experienced, having worked on the mine for many years. The ground stands up well and the small size of the stopes reduces the necessity of timbering to a minimum, but for the greater safety of the miners employed it is recommended that the following rules in Chinese be posted up at the office and entrance to each adit which is in use: (i) Miners are recommended to wear crash helmets when working underground. These are available at the mine office.\n\n(ii) All tracks and manways shall be kept clear.\n\n(iii) Sub-contractors shall inspect and maintain all ladder ways and platforms in a safe condition and have props placed in stopes where necessary. (iv) The names of shot firers shall be registered at the mine office and only such shot firers shall carry out blasting operations.\n\n(v) In fixing fuse to detonators, only pliers of an approved type may be used. (vi) After blasting operations, the shot firer and timber boss of any particular working place shall bar down any loose rock, and timber where necessary before permitting coolies to enter the working place.\n\n(vii) No coolies may enter a working place after blasting operations until permitted by the shot firer and timber boss.\n\n(viii) Any loose ground shall be reported immediately to the timber boss.\n\n(ix) Any person committing a breach of the rules shall be liable to a fine of 3 days' pay.\n\nPlan of workings is attached marked C.*\n\nLin Ma Hang Mine.\n\n(iii) HONG KONG MINES LTD.\n\nThe ore carries an average of 2.5 ozs. per short ton of silver and 10.4% lead. Working a galena deposit for silver and lead by underground methods on the adit system and held under a lease of 75 years over 150.15 acres at a rent of $2 per acre, a mining lease over an additional 1196.45 acres adjoining has also recently been approved to the company, but not yet issued.\n\nA labour force of 500, 350 underground and 150 on surface, with plant of 575 H.P. is employed. Production to date amounts to 5,526 short tons of concentrates carrying 15.8 ozs. per short ton silver and 69% lead, at a cost of £12 per ton.\n\nThe management of the property was taken over by Neilson & Co. during January 1937, at which time there were some 7,000 feet of tunnels and raises, and approximately 80,000 tons of ore blocked out. Construction of a 150 ton per day all flotation type of mill, buildings, and development work were then put in hand, since when 2,800 feet of capital and 1,760 feet of development work has been done.\n\nThe mill commenced operating during October, 1937, the probable ore reserves as on 1st January, 1938 amounted to 111,700 tons and the tonnage milled to date amounts to 38,358, from which 5,526 tons of concentrates have been produced and shipped to Europe. Additions to the mill are now in hand which will increase the capacity by 100 tons per day. Supervision under eight Europeans or Americans is good and the mine, which is run on standard lines, is in good condition. The fatal\n\n*Not Printed.\n\n31", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-581-10 Control measures to be adopted for local mines- report by senior Inspector of Mines 1-1-1939 - 31-12-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 568081, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-581-16 British propaganda in Hong Kong 18-4-1939 - 29-10-1939", "page_number": 33, "title": "CO129-581-16 British propaganda in Hong Kong 18-4-1939 - 29-10-1939", "content_text": "33\n\nSecret Defence Devices.\n\nFor a long time Britain was the world pioneer in the practical application of scientific knowledge and technique in industry, and British inventions helped to change the face of the modern world. Then there was a tendency for the nation to rest on its past achievements, and in certain countries it was gleefully announced that Britain's day was done and the British people were decadent.\n\nDevelopments during the past year or two should help to dispel this dangerous illusion. Since Britain entered the rearmament field her advance has been phenomenal, not only quantitatively but qualitatively as well. The inventive faculties of her scientists and technicians are as keen and vigorous as ever, and the British Navy and the British Air Force testify to the superb qualities of the men whose business it is to produce new devices to meet new dangers.\n\nThe Admiralty recently let it be known that they have a secret apparatus for defeating the submarine peril. Under ordinary conditions, with this apparatus, British warships can hunt out and make certain of finding enemy submarines. \"The chance of the submarine surviving has been reduced by thirty per cent during the last six months.\"\n\nThe British Air Ministry scientists produce one invention after another with astonishing and indeed embarrassing rapidity, for it is most impossible to standardise any system of defence in detail. Production methods \"must be kept fluid so as to be able to incorporate into our system each new device as it materialises.\"\n\nIn the recent large-scale air exercises some marvellous machines took part; but impressive as these machines were, there are still better ones now ready for action should the need arise.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-581-16 British propaganda in Hong Kong 18-4-1939 - 29-10-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 568302, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-581-6 Government grants to vernacular schools 30-1-1939 - 6-2-1940", "page_number": 11, "title": "CO129-581-6 Government grants to vernacular schools 30-1-1939 - 6-2-1940", "content_text": "OBSERVATIONS ON THE PROPOSED REVISION\n\nOF THE GRANT IN AID CODE\n\nMay 8th 1939\n\n2.\n\n3.\n\n4.\n\n5.\n\nImprovement of Educational Standards.\n\nWe gratefully endorse the proposal to make adequate provision for improvement in educational qualifications of the school staffs and in their remuneration.\n\nCalculation based on Expenditure.\n\nWe also agree emphatically that the Grant in Aid should be proportionate to expenditure rather than to income, and we welcome the recognition of the value of the school buildings and the necessity for building funds.\n\nFundamental change in system.\n\nWe submit that the Report, if accepted, would change fundamentally the relationship of proprietary schools to Government.\n\nThe present grant-in-aid relationship, which is similar to that in vogue in proprietary schools in the British Isles, and which we wish to retain, recognizes the value of the public service rendered by a voluntary educational corporation, and makes to it a Grant in Aid, which is only a fraction of the real value of the service rendered.\n\nA system in which the final total of the financial assistance given depends on the margin of balance or loss in the working of the institution is, we contend, fundamentally different. The change proposed would give financial security, but destroy initiative and remove the incentive to economy.\n\nA true Grant in Aid system, on the other hand, tends:-\n\nto encourage initiative on the part of the school authorities;\n\nto leave opportunity and incentive to private beneficence;\n\nc) to promote variety in educational development.\n\nb\n\nNo mention of Correspondent.\n\nIn this connection we note with concern the absence of any reference in the Report to the person of a Correspondent. We consider it essential that the Correspondent be retained as the representative of the Governing Body of the school.\n\nReligious Orders.\n\nWe contend that the great service rendered to education by celibate religious orders is such that any system so calculated as to give to the taxpayer rather than to the Order the financial saving", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-581-6 Government grants to vernacular schools 30-1-1939 - 6-2-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 569012, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-582-7 Taxation 6-6-1939 - 5-2-1940", "page_number": 188, "title": "CO129-582-7 Taxation 6-6-1939 - 5-2-1940", "content_text": "189\n\n190\n\n10\n\n(h) Class VIII. Death Duties: A well-established Estate Duty exists in the Colony. We have considered its extension beyond the present limits and the possibility of an increase in the rates and of the introduction of Legacy and Succession duties.\n\n(i) Class IX. Income Tax: We have considered at length the possibility of the introduction of an Income Tax or of various analogous Profits Taxes into the Colony.\n\n(1) Class X. Miscellaneous Revenue: We have considered whether increased revenue could be derived from public utilities—transport, electricity, gas, telephones, etc., having due regard to the possibility of the public being involved in increased charges. We have also discussed the possibility of securing revenue from the introduction of other monopolies.\n\nChapter VI.\n\nPossible Increases or New Sources of Taxation.\n\nWe wish to preface the particular conclusions arrived at in this chapter with certain general considerations which have guided our discussions:\n\n(a) We consider it inadvisable to add to the existing forms of taxation a multiplicity of new forms, which must be irritating and harmful to the freedom of trade and business which is so important to the Colony. Our recommendations accordingly advise either increases in the present forms of taxation or the introduction of new forms only when their advantages, whether by way of ease of collection, equity of incidence or probable yield, seemed to outweigh those general objections.\n\n(b) We assume, from the very fact that a Committee has been appointed for this purpose, that the additional revenue, if and when it is needed, would be of substantial amount, and that we should accordingly direct our minds to indicating whence, if necessary, really substantial revenue could be obtained.\n\n(c) We further assumed that the appointment of this Committee indicated an entirely proper desire to make plans in advance, not to wait for an actual immediate need to arise, and that we could, therefore, justifiably include in the scope of our consideration taxes whose imposition would require a preparatory period of some length and need not consider only those which could produce results at short notice.\n\nA. Suggestions Considered and Rejected.\n\nOn the above basis we propose first to set out certain proposals for new imposts or the increase of existing taxes which we have considered and rejected; then to list certain increases which we do recommend and which, although individually small, may aggregate to a considerable sum; and finally to list certain measures any one of which appears to us capable of producing the substantial revenue which we assume was in mind.\n\nCustoms Duties.\n\n(a) The question of a general customs tariff was considered and rejected as being, in view of the peculiar economic and commercial situation of the Colony, impracticable. We also rejected any increase in the tobacco duties, the largest item in this group, which bear mainly on the poorer classes. Experiments have already been made with an ad valorem duty on cigarettes, but we do not believe that any practical benefit could be obtained from a further application of this principle to the liquor and tobacco duties generally. Nor do we recommend any attempt to include other semi-luxury articles of consumption (among which radio sets have been suggested) in the present\n\n11\n\nsystem of import duties. We were informed that the possibility of a tax on salt had been considered previously, largely as a measure to assist the Chinese Salt Administration in controlling smuggling. The conclusion then reached, with which we concur, was that it was not worth while as a revenue measure, having regard to the cost of collection and the nature of its incidence on the poorer classes of the Colony.\n\nSurcharge on Rates.\n\n(b) We considered the charging of a \"super\" rate on domestic premises of more than a certain annual value, as a method of directing an increase of taxation towards the wealthier members of the community. Such a scheme would have the theoretical advantage of representing an approximate income tax, on the assumption that the value of a man's residence varies with his income. This assumption, however, is only very roughly true, since wealthy persons frequently live in modest dwellings. An obvious method of evasion by means of the sub-division of dwelling houses presents a further disadvantage. We considered approximate figures and finally agreed that, in view of the small addition to revenue likely to be secured in practice, the imposition was not worth the general irritation it would cause.\n\nInternal Letter Rate.\n\n(c) We considered the question of raising the internal letter rate from 4 cents to 5 cents. The Postmaster General submitted a memorandum on the subject which caused us to reject this possibility, though we believe that an attempt to increase the already considerable profit shown by the Post Office is not, in general, undesirable.\n\nMarine Surveying Fees.\n\n(d) We observed that the Government Marine Surveyor's fees were low as compared with the fees for similar services charged by private firms. Since the former, however, are based on Board of Trade Standards, we cannot advise any adjustment locally.\n\nMotor Licences.\n\n(e) We are unable to recommend an increase in the taxation of motor vehicles generally. The purchase of motor-cars should not be impeded. The appropriate increase in this sphere, if increase be indicated, should rest on motor spirit rather than on the vehicle: the effect of this on the owner being a more economical use of the vehicle which he is not discouraged from buying.\n\nDeath Duties.\n\n(f) Any further revenue under this head should be obtained by an increase in the rates of Estate Duty rather than by the introduction of other methods of taxing property on death, e.g., Legacy or Succession Duties; but we consider the present rates, which were fairly recently increased to a maximum of 20%, high enough in the circumstances of Hong Kong, where the much higher rates prevailing in, e.g., the United Kingdom would add greatly to the incentive to evasion.\n\nBusiness Licences.\n\n(g) A general system of business licences was rejected because of the difficulties of collection, the hindrance it would present to freedom of trade and the unequal incidence of any flat-rate imposition of that kind.\n\nPassenger Landing Fee.\n\n(h) A passenger landing fee would bring in an immediate revenue but was rejected because it would be an irritation to visitors and tourists and would curtail the freedom of movement which is at present one of the attractions of the port.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-582-7 Taxation 6-6-1939 - 5-2-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 569389, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-583-4 Creation of post of surgical specialist 9-10-1940 - 14-2-1941", "page_number": 6, "title": "CO129-583-4 Creation of post of surgical specialist 9-10-1940 - 14-2-1941", "content_text": "No. 435.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE,\n\nHONG KONG,\n\nRECEIVED 9th October, 1940.\n\n16 DEC 1940\n\nC. O. REQY\n\nEND\n\nI have the honour to recommend the inclusion in the Medical Department's Estimates for 1941-42 of a post of Surgical Specialist at a salary of £1,200 per annum with free quarters.\n\n2. I understand that such a post is a usual one in the larger colonial dependencies and I consider that such provision would act as a valuable incentive to younger medical officers who at present can only look to a transfer to another colony if they acquire specialist qualifications of this nature.\n\n3. The post now proposed would of course be open to all officers of the Colonial Medical Service but in the first instance I would recommend the appointment of Dr. I. Newton whose qualifications are well known to Your Lordship.\n\nHe happens to be the senior of the medical officers and would in the ordinary course have been recommended for the post of Senior Medical Officer now made vacant by the retirement of Dr. J.T. Smalley. If the present proposal has your approval I will address Your Lordship further on the subject of the latter vacancy.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nMy Lord,\n\nYour Lordship's most obedient, humble servant,\n\nLORD LLOYD OF DOLOBRAN,\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE\n\nOfficer Administering the Government.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-583-4 Creation of post of surgical specialist 9-10-1940 - 14-2-1941.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 569447, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-583-8 Recognition by General Nursing Council for England and Wales of nurses trained by Hong Kong... 20-9-1940 - 20-9-1940", "page_number": 8, "title": "CO129-583-8 Recognition by General Nursing Council for England and Wales of nurses trained by Hong Kong... 20-9-1940 - 20-9-1940", "content_text": "THE OVERSEAS NURSING ASSOCIATION.\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF ATHLONE, K.G., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., D.S.O.\n\nLady Wilson.\n\nPresident\n\nChairman, Nursing Committee\n\nLADY MA\n\nTelegraphic Address:\n\n\"Reparative, Southkens, London.\"\n\nTelephone: Kensington 3556.\n\nHon. Secretary LADY ANTROBUS, D.B.E.\n\nSecretary\n\nMISS GAWAN TAYLOR.\n\nIMPERIAL INSTITUTE,\n\nSOUTH KENSINGTON,\n\nS.W.7.\n\nRef: 53524/40.\n\nRECEIVED 11 FEB 1941 C.O. HEGY\n\nPage 3\n\n10th February, 1941.\n\nAus.d. (++)\n\n30/3/3.5\n\nx\n\n20465/35\n\nPesomáce\n\nSir,\n\nThe letter from the Colonial Office of the 9th of January enclosing a despatch on the proposal to set up a local cadre of Nursing Sisters in Hong Kong, has been placed before the Executive Committee of the Overseas Nursing Association.\n\nThe Committee consider that the proposal should be beneficial as it offers an incentive to the daughters of British residents to take up nursing training for service in the Government Hospitals of Hong Kong. The Committee wish, however, that the attention of the Governor be drawn to the fact that though there is reciprocity for general training between the Hong Kong Nurses Board and the General Nursing Council for England & Wales, there are not, at present, reciprocal arrangements between Hong Kong and the Central Midwives Board of this country.\n\nThe C.M.B. certificate is an essential qualification for Nursing Sisters appointed through the Overseas Nursing Association for the Colonial Nursing Service in Hong Kong. In 1938 a circular was addressed to the Colonial Governments explaining that the Central Midwives Board had amended their rules so that in future the training for the C.M.B. certificate would take twelve months for a State Registered General nurse (two years for an untrained woman). General trained nurses now sit for the examination of the First Certificate at the end of six months midwifery training and most of the Colonial Governments have accepted this Certificate for general Nursing Sister posts, and have said that special instructions will be given in particular cases where the full C.M.B. certificate is required. The Hong Kong Government has limited recruitment for every Nursing Sister post to candidates possessing the Certificates of both the First and Second Examinations and the Overseas Nursing Association is therefore more restricted in its selection of Nursing Sisters for Hong Kong than for Malaya and other Colonies.\n\nI am, Sir,\n\nYour obedient servant,\n\nM. Gowan Taylor\n\nSecretary.\n\nThe Under Secretary of State,\n\nColonial Office,\n\nDowning Street,\n\nS.W.1.\n\nPage 9\n\nMr. E.R. Edmonds 4/2/41\n\nor st\n\nMr Jeffries\n\n6/\n\nAnd 3.\n\nMiss Gowen Taylor 0.0.\n\nThe Secretary,\n\nOverseas Nursing Assoc.\n\nMadam,\n\nI am directed to transmit to you, to be laid before the Committee of the Overseas Nursing Association, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, containing a proposal to set up a local cadre of Nursing Sisters by recruitment among the daughters of local resident British families\n\nIt will be observed that it is suggested that the local cadre of such nurses should not exceed one-fifth of the establishment of posts now filled by members of the Colonial Nursing Service in Hong Kong.\n\n2. The Secretary of State sees no reason to dissent from this proposal, but he considers that, at any rate until some experience has been gained of the standard of training and performance of these nurses, it should be made clear to intending candidates for the appointments that they are required for local service in Hong Kong, and that no mention should be made in any advertisements of the prospects of service elsewhere, in the Colonies\n\n3. Before replying to the despatch, Lord Lloyd would be very grateful if he could be furnished with the views of your Committee on the proposal.\n\nI am, etc.\n\nPage 10\n\nPage 10\n\nPage 11", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-583-8 Recognition by General Nursing Council for England and Wales of nurses trained by Hong Kong... 20-9-1940 - 20-9-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 569738, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941", "page_number": 10, "title": "CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941", "content_text": "10\n\nAn analysis of the yield obtained by the special war taxation on salaries, property, and corporation and business profits (the three combined being intended to cover the field ordinarily covered by a straight income tax measure) has shown that the yield from business profits has been exceedingly disappointing, and the War Taxation Commission, which was the father of that substitute form of income tax, has been reconstituted to think again and devise some better system of taxing business profits.\n\nThe printed draft Estimates provided for a deficit of $7,500,000, but since then additional and new duties have been agreed to which reduce the Estimated Deficit to $3,800,000. If further unprovided expenditure has to be met during the year certain items of P.W. Extraordinary and other special expenditure will, as explained to the Legislative Council, have to be curtailed. It is satisfactory to note that it has been possible to meet the urgent representations of Hong Kong University by an increase of the Government grant by $100,000.\n\nThe criticism of the Unofficial Members has shown a certain distrust of the Government's intention to stir up again, as they, the furious controversy about income tax by reconstituting the War Taxation Commission to look into the matter of the failure of the Profits Tax; and the Senior Chinese Member, Mr. M.K. Lo, warned the Government particularly of the dangers of following up the previous suggestion of that Commission that estate duty rates should be increased if further revenue were needed. His representations about the importance of family inheritance in Chinese family life were regarded by the Government as sufficiently weighty to call for a responding statement from the Financial Secretary both on that matter and on Mr. Lo's other warning as to excessive inquisition by Government examiners into Chinese partnerships. The whole question of income tax in relation to Chinese companies, semi-companies, and business associations has always been recognised to be fraught with every difficulty and incentive to evasion, and it would be unprofitable to offer any advice from here in the local circumstances.\n\nNow telegraph approval of the Estimates; and I should follow up with a despatch by air mail regretting that it was not possible to telegraph earlier, and saying that the S. of S. has no comments on particular items of Revenue or Expenditure for which provision has been made, but he welcomes the decision recorded in paragraph 2 of No. 6 to obtain further revenue to reduce the estimated deficit, and the decision to re-examine the matter of the failure of the business profits tax to yield the estimated revenue from that source. Finally, say that the S. of S. recognises the heavy burden of special war expenditure which has to be borne by the Colony in present circumstances, and that he takes the opportunity of warmly acknowledging the generous assistance which Hong Kong has contributed not only for local defence expenditure but also to H.M.G. for general war expenditure.\n\nGant\n\n5.6.41.\n\nPage 10\nPage 11", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 569772, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941", "page_number": 44, "title": "CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941", "content_text": "45\n\nThe Honourable the Financial Secretary said: \"Although the War Revenue Ordinance has secured considerably more revenue than was anticipated it has failed to secure enough to meet the revised war expenditure either in the current year or in 1941/42.\"\n\nOpposite Position\n\nPausing here I should like to point out that the position he now takes up is fundamentally opposite to that taken up by Government hitherto. As I pointed out in this Council on March 14, 1940,\n\nHis Excellency Sir Geoffry Northcote, in his speech in this Council on November 16, 1939, made it quite clear that Government did not determine to raise budget revenue in any pre-determined sum: in other words, the Government's attitude was that as regards war expenditure, that expenditure was to be limited to the sum obtainable by the War Revenue Ordinance, and not that the Colony had to find a specified amount.\n\nThe Financial Secretary points out that according to the revised estimate, salary tax will bring in $1,000,000 as was anticipated: property tax $2,300,000 as against $2,000,000 was anticipated: whilst corporation and business tax should bring in $6,400,000 as against $3,000,000 anticipated. But he adds, as regards the latter item: \"This figure includes not less than $5,500,000 in respect of corporation profits and only $900,000 in respect of business profits, which is disappointingly small.\"\n\nSir, this is the whole case for suggesting that the principles on which taxation is based should be reconsidered. I can see no ground for surprise that the business profits tax should yield something just under one million, as against the unexpectedly larger yield of corporation profits.\n\nNo Accurate Data\n\nMr Caine never attempted anything more than a guess of the combined yield of the corporation and business profits tax, for the simple reason that there were no accurate data available. Nor can I see how the yield of the taxes as above indicated can afford any evidence that the incidence is not spread fairly over the community. It may well be that, in order to produce more revenue, some alterations will have to be made in the Ordinance. As I do not wish to anticipate in any way the findings of the Committee which His Excellency has reconstituted I abstain from further comment.\n\nI regret that I now come to a point of serious criticism against the administration of the War Revenue Ordinance. In the Report of Mr Caine, to which I have referred, he made it quite plain that \"Partnerships will be assessed as a whole and no enquiry whatever will be necessary into the division of profits between partners.\" The Honourable the Financial Secretary himself, in introducing this Bill in March 1940, said:\n\n41\n\n\"The third and fourth taxes are respectively a corporation profits tax and a business profits tax on profits made in the Colony which is levied on the business and not on individual persons so that no enquiry as to the ownership of the business and the division of the profits is involved.\n\nThere is, in circumstances, no deduction in respect of personal and family allowances.\n\n\"\n\nFundamental Violated\n\nIn spite of the history of this matter, and of the official declarations to which I have referred, I am sorry to have to state openly in this Council that examiners have sought to get Chinese firms to disclose the names of the partners constituting the firms. I should have thought it impossible that any Government official would proceed counter to one of the fundamental bases of the taxation, and I look to the Honourable the Financial Secretary, as the Commissioner under the War Revenue Ordinance, to see to it that his subordinate officers do carry out completely the spirit of the framers of the legislation, in accordance with the solemn declarations of Government.\n\nThe Honourable the Financial Secretary has intimated that Government proposes to increase the Death Duties. I appreciate that Honourable Members will have an opportunity of discussing this question when the necessary amending Bill is before this Council. But in the meantime I wish to make a few general observations.\n\nThe Report of the Taxation Committee published as Sessional Paper No.2(1939) contained the following observation on the question of Death Duties:-\n\n\"Any further revenue under this head should be obtained by an increase in the rates of Estate Duty rather than by the introduction of other methods of taxing property on death, e.g. Legacy or Succession Duties; but we consider the present rates, which were fairly recently increased to a maximum of 20 per cent, high enough in the circumstances of Hongkong, where the much higher rates prevailing in, e.g., the United Kingdom, would add greatly to the incentive of evasion.\"\n\nEvasion of Death Duties\n\nThat report was dated April 5, 1939, and I am not aware of circumstances which have arisen between then and now which render that deliberate expression of view no longer sound.\n\nAs to how far evasion of death duties exists I do not feel competent to speak. But of this I am quite certain. If evasion could be prevented by zeal and vigilance it would have been effectively stopped by now, because I can imagine no one possessing greater zeal, and exercising greater vigilance, than the present holder of the office of Superintendent of Inland Revenue and Estate Duty Commissioner, for whom, if he will allow me to say so, I hold a high regard. Indeed, I go further and say that it is the deliberate view of the legal profession as a whole that the zeal and vigilance exhibited by this conscientious officer have been so excessive in many cases as to occasion unjustifiable delay, inconvenience and expense to bona fide applicants for legal representation.\n\nThe powers conferred on the Estate Duty Commissioner for investigating every estate are necessarily wide. But I suggest that in wielding such great powers regard should be had to the presence or absence of grounds for suspicion of evasion of duty, and that under normal circumstances the Estate Duty Commissioner should not attempt to reopen and resuscitate matters adjudicated upon a long time ago.\n\nHarsh Administration\n\nIt should be well known to Government that family inheritance has always constituted a very important part of Chinese family life, and I do submit that excessive rates of levy, undue delay in obtaining legal representation, and harsh administration of the Estate Duty Ordinance, all constitute great incentive to evasion.\n\nSir, the Unofficial Members of this Council, as well as the Chinese Members of Councils, have had occasion to make various representations to Government on certain aspects of Government Administration during the past year. Pending their final outcome I feel it my duty to make a few general observations.\n\nTo begin with I wish to say a few words on the question of Food Control.\n\nThe task of a Food Controller is obviously one of very great difficulty, and due allowance must be made for the fact that many things would have to be done in a hurry. I submit that the indispensable qualification of any Food Controller must be some commercial knowledge and experience, and, however well qualified in the theory of economics and conscientious in the discharge of his duties, the present Food Controller has had no commercial experience. The record of his administration has not inspired confidence that in an emergency all will be well as regards the question of food supply, and I record in this Council my grave doubt as to his ability in turning over certain reserve food stocks—though the quantities purchased are infinitesimal to the quantities originally proposed—without very serious losses arising.\n\nWe know that the Food Controller has now delegated his powers in regard to rice to a business man more conversant with the subject.\n\nQuestion of Firewood\n\nI understand that Government has at long last taken, or is taking, definite steps for the importation of firewood into the Colony. The Chinese Members of Councils had urged Government to take such step even before His Excellency Sir Geoffry Northcote left the Colony on leave. On August 3, 1940 a memorandum on this question was sent in to Government, wherein it was urged that Government should requisition steamers for the purpose of importing firewood.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 570070, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941", "page_number": 342, "title": "CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941", "content_text": "408\n\n20\n\nSUB-HEAD 68. This expenditure will not be incurred unless it seems likely that the new Infectious Diseases Hospital will be completed during the year.\n\nSUB-HEADS 69 and 71.-These sub-heads have been transferred from Head 60, Air Raid Precautions, in order to ensure better administrative control.\n\nSUB-HEADS 78, 79 and 80.-These sub-heads formerly appeared under Head 5, Charitable Services, and although they swell the expenditure under Head 16, it is considered more fitting that they should be shown under that Head. The only increase is in the case of the grant-in-aid to the Tung Wah and Associated Hospitals. In the 1940-41 Estimates the amount provided was $350,000 but this was a token sum because when the Estimates were framed it was not possible to estimate accurately the anticipated deficit of the Tung Wah for the fifteen months ending 31st March, 1941. It was later estimated that the deficit would be $749,011 for the fifteen months and a further sum of $399,011 was provided by supplementary vote in Finance Message No. 10 of 1940-41. Government's total subventions to the Tung Wah in 1939 and 1940-41 have been $400,000 and $749,011 respectively and although it has not yet been possible to estimate the exact amount of the anticipated deficit of the Tung Wah for the twelve months April, 1941, to March, 1942, it is proposed to earmark a maximum subvention of $750,000 in respect of that period.\n\nPersonal Emoluments.\n\nIncreases of staff for the purpose of new or increased activities have been provided for in the Estimates. The most important of these new posts are:—\n\nA. STAFF.\n\nHospital Division.\n\n1 Surgical Specialist. It is proposed to institute this post at a fixed salary of £1,200 per annum. Such a post is a usual one in several Crown Colonies and would act as a valuable incentive to younger medical officers who at present can only look to a transfer to another colony if they specialize in surgery.\n\n1 Chinese Ophthalmic Surgeon. The need for this post has been stressed by the University authorities and by the Inspecting Officer of the General Council of Medical Education. It has been ascertained that ten per cent of the population suffer from trachoma, an infectious condition often attended by serious consequences when left untreated.\n\n1 Chinese Dental Inspector. One of the main duties of this officer would be the enforcement of the Registration of Dentists Ordinance, 1940. It is estimated that the fees from the registration of dentists would more than cover his emoluments.\n\n1 Probationer Masseuse.\n\n1 Radiographic Assistant.\n\nThese additional appointments are needed in view of the heavy demands made upon the Radium, X-Ray, Electro-Therapy and Massage Department; such officers require four years' training before they become really useful.\n\n1 Senior Nursing Sister.-This post is required so that an additional Tutor Sister can be appointed to assist the present Tutor Sister in the training of nurses.\n\n2 Nursing Sisters. These two posts are required for the tuberculosis wards which it is proposed to erect on the roof of the Queen Mary Hospital.\n\n5 Probationer Nurses. One of these is required to assist the Home Sister who is responsible for the welfare of the 140 Sisters and Nurses living at the Queen Mary Hospital. The other four are required for the new tuberculosis wards and (like the 2 Nursing Sisters mentioned above and any other staff for the tuberculosis wards) will not be appointed unless these wards are erected.\n\n21\n\n2 Probationer Dressers.-Required for the new tuberculosis wards.\n\n1 Female Clerk and Storekeeper. The work in the linen store, Queen Mary Hospital, has increased considerably in recent years owing to the expansion of hospital activities in Hong Kong.\n\n1 Hospital Indian Warder.-One Hospital Indian Warder was transferred from the Prison Hospital to the Victoria Remand Home in the old Victoria Gaol premises and the vacancy in the Prison Hospital has been temporarily filled by the secondment of one Prison Warder who will be paid from Medical Department funds as from 1st April, 1941.\n\n3 Warder Dressers.-These appointments have already been made for the isolation block for lepers outside Stanley Prison which was opened on 1st April, 1940; they now appear in the Estimates for the first time.\n\n2 Assistant Almoners. In view of their extended activities the Out Patient Departments at the old Government Civil Hospital and at Kowloon Hospital have now been brought under the vigilance of the Almoner Department; two additional posts are required to cope with this work.\n\n5 Probationer Dispensers.-Owing to the expansion of the Medical Department it is considered essential that five Probationer Dispensers should commence training as soon as possible so that trained Dispensers can be released for work in the various sub-departments.\n\nChinese Hospitals and Dispensaries.\n\n2 Tutor Sisters.-The Medical Committee of the Tung Wah Hospitals was anxious to improve the nursing and care of the sick in the three Chinese Hospitals and therefore recommended the improvement of training facilities. As one Tutor Sister was considered to be inadequate for the proper training of all the Probationer Nurses and Dressers in these hospitals two more have been appointed on a salary scale of $1,440 to $1,740 by $60 annually. The title of the originally appointed Tutor Sister has been changed to Senior Tutor Sister and the salary scale reduced from $2,600 to $3,000 by $200 annually to $2,000 to $2,500 by $100 annually.\n\nAs the present holder of the post of Interpreter and Assistant has been on the maximum of her scale ($780 to $1,020 by $60 annually) for the last four years the scale has been revised to $780 to $1,320 by $60 annually.\n\nHealth Division.\n\n1 Superintendent and Training Officer for Health Visitors and Welfare Nurses. This appointment is considered necessary because Chinese Health Nurses, though fully trained in nursing and midwifery, have no training in health visiting. No training facilities for the Health Visitor's Certificate exist at present.\n\nThe following staff has been transferred to the Health Division of the Medical Department from the Sanitary Department (Head 26):-\n\n2 Chief Inspectors.\n\n5 Senior Health Inspectors.\n\n37 Health Inspectors.\n\n39 Chinese Health Inspectors.\n\n10 Foreman Cleansers.\n\n2 Engineers at Disinfecting Station.\n\n155 Cleansing Coolies.\n\n21 Members of the Junior Clerical Service.\n\n(Health Inspectors were formerly known as Sanitary Inspectors).\n\n409", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 571616, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-586-8 War Taxation 2-2-1940 - 11-5-1940", "page_number": 90, "title": "CO129-586-8 War Taxation 2-2-1940 - 11-5-1940", "content_text": "## axation of businesses, such as shipping businesses registered in the Colony and to remove the incentive for the transfer of registration and control from Hong Kong to Shanghai or other ports of China. At the same time it is obvious that the restriction to profit made in the Colony would give rise to considerable difficulties in practice. These are well set out in the enclosed copy of a comment on the point made by H. J. Huxham, now Financial Secretary, Ceylon, who was, as you probably know, formerly in the Inland Revenue Department and eventually went to Ceylon in charge of their Income Tax.\n\nThe people who are directly responsible for administering this tax in Hong Kong are rather perturbed on this point and have asked if we could get as soon as possible the reactions of the experts here. I have myself a good deal of responsibility in the matter as I was Financial Secretary in Hong Kong until December last, when I was recalled\n\nPage 90\nPage 91", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-586-8 War Taxation 2-2-1940 - 11-5-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572025, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-587-19 Colonial Secretary's Office- vacancy for chief clerk 13-9-1940 - 30-5-1941", "page_number": 19, "title": "CO129-587-19 Colonial Secretary's Office- vacancy for chief clerk 13-9-1940 - 30-5-1941", "content_text": "19 \n\nof His Majesty's Government is, as it has always been, to \nencourage those in its service by the hope and incentive of \nobtaining more senior and more responsible positions to put \nforth their best and most serious endeavours in any work which \nthey may be called upon to do and they humbly submit that such \nhas always been their understanding and that their endeavours \nand the results of those endeavours have been such as would \ntruly merit your most serious and grave consideration of this \ntheir Petition.\n\nAND \nyour Petitioners will ever \npray as in duty bound etc.\n\nThe signatures of your Petitioners of the Senior Clerical and \nAccounting Staff.\n\nWelling. W.R.N. Anandet \nDa Usion. \nCeus. \nL.W.J. tum & M. Leonard Ruith \nDa Chitt \nRakuten. \nSobrawley Merdin 1.a. Avem. \nD. B. Smith \nMaar Smitt \nAhloba \nThenfeste Budder \nY Brabb. \nHarown Andring \nEndau T.E.A.L.A.A. \nDanin Aun. \nHennara \nShang. \nBickford", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-587-19 Colonial Secretary's Office- vacancy for chief clerk 13-9-1940 - 30-5-1941.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572096, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "page_number": 2, "title": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "content_text": "## 1. Col sec.\n\n`23/395/1940` \n`9-440` \n2\n\nIs Telephone Ardt. Coderance No 4. 1940 (12 copies) \n`29/4/40` \n\nIn de to see fully \nmals reentice \n`26/4/40` alouce.\n\n2. you.\n\n183 \n`16.4.40` \nGeneral.\n\nZo. seated as of order. If report by Attorney- \nes.\n\nSubject to my doors ha megron \nmay have \nand \nto tegne oborus. \n\"Shavelgoldc. \n? signify non \ndist allowance mals recutiv \n`30/4/40` \n\nThis is an important measure. Formerly the dividends of the Company were limited to 15%, the Government taking a share of any excess profit and the remainder going to the reduction of charges. Now the Hong Kong Government will get 500 telephone lines free, a reduction of 25% on the standard rates in respect of any lines above that number and an additional royalty of half the profits over and above the amount required to pay a dividend of 12%. \n\nThe Government seems to have done very well; public telephone subscriptions are admittedly reasonable and the argument that the old system gave the Company no incentive to earn further profits by greater efficiency or economy has been removed. So the whole arrangement seems admirable.\n\nNoct \nlui) re \nJmegson \nCopsign \n`2/5` \n`9.5.` \n1st May, 1940.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572101, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "page_number": 7, "title": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "content_text": "## developments if it were in danger of being dispossessed in a few years. The Hong Kong Company has a 50 year term. The Telephone and General Trust asked for a 35 year term. The latter term might be susceptible of slight reduction, but this would depend on the other conditions in the agreement.\n\n4. The shareholders would require a reasonable return on capital with the prospects of higher dividends if increased net profits were made. There must be an incentive to earn higher profits through greater efficiency and economy, and it therefore seems clear that no maximum limit should be placed on dividends. On the other hand, in view of the monopoly rights granted to the company, it does not seem necessary or desirable that the whole of any increased net profits should be distributed to shareholders. Apart from the need for building up reserves there is a good case for devoting part at least of any increased net profits for the benefit of government and for telephone subscribers.\n\n5. In the Hong Kong agreement shareholders were guaranteed a minimum return of 8% per annum. Presumably if shareholders are to be deprived of the full benefit of higher profits they should be compensated by a guarantee that telephone charges will be maintained at a high enough level to give a reasonable return on capital invested. It may, however, be doubted whether shareholders need now be guaranteed so high a dividend as 8% per annum.\n\n6. The subscribers would want to be assured against exploitation under monopolistic conditions. They require the telephone service to be cheap as well as efficient. It seems desirable that rates should be fixed (and revised from time to time) by agreement between representatives of the company, subscribers, and...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572106, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "page_number": 12, "title": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "content_text": "## \n(c) Subscribers.\n\nIf net profits exceeded 12, half the excess up to 18, and the whole of any excess over 18, was to be used for reducing subscription rates; but rates not to be reduced below what was necessary to provide minimum dividend of 8 per annum to Shareholders.\n\n4. By 1940 the Company had got into the position of making profits considerably in excess of amount needed to pay dividend of 12%, but wanted to devote excess profits to payment of higher dividends rather than to reduction of subscription rates since those rates were considered low enough. In ensuing discussions between Company and government it was agreed that:-\n \n(a) Government royalty was inadequate; \n(b) Maximum dividend of 15 gave Company no incentive to earn profits by greater efficiency and economy after that maximum was reached; and \n(c) Subscription rates (117 per annum flat charge covering unlimited number of free local calls) were already low and did not need reducing.\n\nIt was therefore decided to revise the existing arrangements by giving the government a greater share, by removing the maximum limit for dividends, and by repealing the provisions for devoting certain excess profits to reduction of subscription rates.\n\n## 1940 Financial arrangements.\n\n5. As a result of Ordinance No. 9 of 1940 :-\n \n(a) Government retained royalty of per line and in addition obtained free telephone service up to 500 lines plus 25% reduction in charges for lines in excess of 500. Also obtained an additional royalty of half any net profits exceeding 12 per annum.\n \n(b)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572128, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "page_number": 34, "title": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "content_text": "# HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n\nThe telephone subscription rate compares favourably with the lowest to be found elsewhere and that the modern service provided is of a high standard notwithstanding the exacting climatic conditions. The interests of the subscriber have, therefore, been well served. I would remark in passing that the Telephone Committee, 1922, appointed to report on the telephone service in Hong Kong recommended an annual rate of $120 for the year 1926 under the old manual system and expected that the cost of a modernised system would necessitate a further substantial increase in that figure. That the charges had been kept down to the present rate has been due to a combination of two factors: the good fortune and the good guidance of the Hong Kong Telephone Company. The Company was fortunate in that its equipment was purchased during a period of keen competition among manufacturers at about one-third of what it would cost to-day, and it has shown its foresight in providing a large margin of plant for future growth at the favourable prices which then prevailed. The Company has been run economically and the premium at which its shares were issued was utilised to write off old plant, while no bonus shares have been issued at any time.\n\nAs the Taxation Committee remarked, however, there are certain features in the Ordinance under which the Company functions which are not satisfactory to the Company; for instance, it is argued that the absolute limit of 15 per cent. dividend is inequitable because the high rate of profits is due largely to the efficiency of the Company and to the Canton line which was not in existence when the original arrangement was made. An absolute maximum gives the Company no incentive to earn further profits by greater efficiency and economy after that point has been reached.\n\nMoreover, the present system of contributing to a reserve fund for the redemption of the Company's capital is not entirely satisfactory. A fixed sum of $170,482 is put aside yearly, which is sufficient to amortise the whole capital by 1975, but interest on investments of that fund goes into general profit and loss account, while there is no provision for dealing with depreciation of these investments.\n\nThe present Bill gives effect to negotiations with the Company which were initiated and practically brought to conclusion by Mr. Caine, with a view to removing those objectionable features in the Ordinance and at the same time securing higher royalties and other advantages to Government. The arrangement incorporated in the present Bill is as follows:-\n\nThe Company provides Government free of charge with a telephone service for Government purposes up to 500 lines and arranges for the necessary branch exchange in a place sufficiently protected from possible air raid damage. This exchange has been constructed in the basement of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Building.\n\nThe modernisation of the Government system, which is obsolescent, would involve considerable expenditure and on technical grounds it is desirable to amalgamate the Government with the Company's system.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572130, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "page_number": 36, "title": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "content_text": "# HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n\n45\n\nin connection with the foundation of the Telephone Company of which he was a promoter and is the managing director, and I should like to record that the Government representatives in the present negotiations with Mr. Taggart have again met the same high qualities of vision and breadth of judgment, to which testimony is borne by the success of the Company and the service it has rendered to the Colony.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.\n\n## Objects and Reasons\n\nThe \"Objects and Reasons\" for the Bill were stated as follows:-\n\n1. The terms of the concession granted to the Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited are contained in the Telephone Ordinance, No. 9 of 1925, as amended by the Telephone Amendment Ordinances, No. 9 of 1930 and No. 27 of 1933.\n\n2. Under these Ordinances the company's dividend was restricted to 12 per cent. plus half of profits up to a further 6 per cent., the other half going to reduce subscription rates and in no case was the dividend payable to shareholders to exceed 15 per cent. (See Ordinance No. 9 of 1925, s. 36). Thus one half of the profits between 12 per cent. and 18 per cent. and all profits above 18 per cent. was to be devoted to reducing the rates payable by the subscribers.\n\n3. The Company's directors have argued, in discussions with the Government's Financial Advisers during recent months, that the absolute limit of a 15 per cent. dividend is inequitable because the high rate of profits which the Company has been able to earn has been due largely to its efficiency and partly to the profits on the line to Canton which was not in existence when the original arrangement was made.\n\n4. A reasonable objection to an absolute maximum is that it gives the company no incentive to earn profits by greater efficiency and economy after that maximum is reached.\n\n5. Moreover the existing subscription rates are regarded as reasonably low and further contribution to the public revenue by way of royalty and a contribution of certain free lines for Government purposes has been considered a reasonable basis for settlement in existing circumstances.\n\n6. The proposed amendments are shown in greater detail in the attached Table of Correspondence.\n\n7. The Bill is to be introduced as a Government measure; but its terms have been agreed to by the directors of the company.\n\n## ADJOURNMENT\n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR.—Council stands adjourned sine die.\n\n46", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572133, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "page_number": 39, "title": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "content_text": "# Objects and Reasons\n\n1. The terms of the concession granted to the Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited are contained in the Telephone Ordinance, No. 9 of 1925, as amended by the Telephone Amendment Ordinances, No. 9 of 1930 and No. 27 of 1933.\n\n2. Under these Ordinances the company's dividend was restricted to 12 per cent. plus half of profits up to a further 6 per cent., the other half going to reduce subscription rates and in no case was the dividend payable to shareholders to exceed 15 per cent. (See Ordinance No. 9 of 1925, s. 36). Thus one half of the profits between 12 per cent. and 18 per cent. and all profits above 18 per cent. was to be devoted to reducing the rates payable by the subscribers.\n\n3. The Company's directors have argued, in discussions with the Government's Financial Advisers during recent months, that the absolute limit of a 15 per cent. dividend is inequitable because the high rate of profits which the Company has been able to earn has been due largely to its efficiency and partly to the profits on the line to Canton, which was not in existence when the original arrangement was made.\n\n4. A reasonable objection to an absolute maximum is that it gives the company no incentive to earn profits by greater efficiency and economy after that maximum is reached.\n\n5. Moreover the existing subscription rates are regarded as reasonably low and further contribution to the public revenue by way of royalty and a contribution of certain free lines for Government purposes has been considered a reasonable basis for settlement in existing circumstances.\n\n6. The proposed amendments are shown in greater detail in the attached Table of Correspondence.\n\n7. The Bill is to be introduced as a Government measure; but its terms have been agreed to by the directors of the company.\n\nMarch, 1940.\n\n**C. G. ALABASTER, \nAttorney General.**\n\nPage 49", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572140, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940", "content_text": "## \ntwo factors: the good fortune and the good guidance \nof the Hong Kong Telephone Company. The Company was \nfortunate in that its equipment was purchased during \na period of keen competition among manufacturers at \nabout one-third of what it would cost to-day, and it \nhas shown its foresight in providing a large margin \nof plant for future growth at the favourable prices \nwhich then prevailed. The Company has been run \neconomically and the premium at which its shares were \nissued was utilised to write off old plant, while no \nbonus shares have been issued at any time.\n\nAs the Taxation Committee remarked, however, \nthere are certain features in the Ordinance under which \nthe Company functions which are not satisfactory to the \nCompany, for instance, it is argued that the absolute \nlimit of 15 per cent dividend is inequitable because \nthe high rate of profits is due largely to the efficiency \nof the Company and to the Canton line which was not in \nexistence when the original arrangement was made. An \nabsolute maximum gives the Company no incentive to earn \nfurther profits by greater efficiency and economy after \nthat point has been reached.\n\nMoreover, the present system of contributing \nto a reserve fund for the redemption of the Company's \ncapital is not entirely satisfactory. A fixed sum of \n170,482 is put aside yearly, which is sufficient to \namortise the whole capital by 1975, but interest on \ninvestments of that fund goes into general profit and loss account, while there is no provision for dealing \nwith depreciation of these investments.\n\nThe present bill gives effect to negotiations \nwith the Company which were initiated and practically \nbrought to conclusion by Mr. Caine, with a view to \n\n## Page 56", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-587-7 Telephone Amendment Ordinance 1940 9-4-1940 - 16-4-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 573532, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-588-9 Hong Kong University- relief work 11-8-1942 - 19-11-1943", "page_number": 17, "title": "CO129-588-9 Hong Kong University- relief work 11-8-1942 - 19-11-1943", "content_text": "# statutes\n\nThe discussion arranged in the minutes above was held in Mr. Paskin's room this morning. Professor Channon, Dr. Kauntze, Mr. Roberts Wray, and myself being present.\n\nProfessor Channon stated at the outset that he regarded the proposal put in the G.M.C's letter enclosed in `39`, as a retrograde step in medical education since it involved virtually the recognition by the G.M.C. of Chinese degrees and might, if pressed to its logical conclusion, remove incentives of Chinese students to study at Hong Kong in future. Dr. Kauntze thought that the G.M.C. were relying on Dr. King's advice in the matter and that we could, for our part, leave the Executive Committee to raise this point if they so thought fit. What we had received so far was, in fact, only the views of the Registrar.\n\nMr. Roberts-Wray advised us that the legal position of the University in present circumstances might be summed up by saying that it existed but did not operate. Professor Channon pointed out that Universities in this country had, in wartime, practically been given carte blanche to dispense with their statutes by Order in Council, and it was suggested that a preliminary Order in Council, `SRO.1855`, might be made, which would allow for the modification of the Hong Kong University statutes and the constitution here of a Committee which could confer medical degrees on the lines suggested in the G.M.C's letter. Academically, the Committee would have to be guided by the advice of Dr. King, but it would be useful to include on it other interested persons, such as Sir William Peel and Mr. Morse. The Committee might also, I suggest, relieve Mr. Morse of some of the financial responsibilities he has assumed in respect of the University.\n\nMr. Roberts-Wray pointed out that there was already a statute which allowed that persons granted a degree in medicine and surgery need only spend two out of their five years' course at the University of Hong Kong, and Professor Channon strongly urged us to maintain this stipulation for two years' attendance in any regulations we might make for deferred degrees in free China. The problem of the student...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-588-9 Hong Kong University- relief work 11-8-1942 - 19-11-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 573535, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-588-9 Hong Kong University- relief work 11-8-1942 - 19-11-1943", "page_number": 20, "title": "CO129-588-9 Hong Kong University- relief work 11-8-1942 - 19-11-1943", "content_text": "## Page 20\n\nHong Kong University authority were reconstituted it could grant degrees to these students on completing their courses and if such an authority would take the responsibility of saying that the courses in China were equivalent in standard to those in Hong Kong they might be prepared to consider admission of such students to the Register.\n\nThe arguments against such a step appear to be (1) that it would involve the G.M.C. in the recognition of Chinese degrees and hence would be a retrograde step in medical education as the standard is probably lower than most Universities whose degrees are at present recognized. (2) It might remove the incentive in future for Chinese students to study medicine at Hong Kong with a view to admission to the Register. (3) To draw a discrimination between these Hong Kong students and the Chinese students who are working side by side with them might lead to chagrin on the part of the Chinese authorities who have been most generous in letting these unfortunate young men and women continue their courses.\n\nIn favour of the proposal are the following arguments (1) that it will make these Hong Kong students feel that we have not lost interest in them or their future and that they can look forward to practicing in Hong Kong or other British Territories in the East, and will so not turn to China. (2) It will help in some degree to preserve an existence of the University during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. (3) The body formed to administer the scheme would also be of assistance in considering the administration of University funds in this country. There are considerable balances in the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, the Acting General Manager of which has been making disbursements\n\n## Page 21", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-588-9 Hong Kong University- relief work 11-8-1942 - 19-11-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 573862, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-589-12 War Revenue Ordinance 1941 8-5-1941 - 19-6-1941", "page_number": 55, "title": "CO129-589-12 War Revenue Ordinance 1941 8-5-1941 - 19-6-1941", "content_text": "## 6 \n(c) One year's experience of the working of the present Ordinance had disclosed inequities which it was desirable to smooth out and loopholes for evasion which it was desirable to close.\n\n6. To reduce the possibilities of evasion and ensure equal incidence, we first considered the advisability of recommending the complete repeal of the present War Revenue Ordinance and the substitution therefor of a full Income Tax enactment; we decided, however, by a majority that in view of the opposition which the suggestion to introduce Income Tax had called forth in 1939, we would re-affirm in this regard the recommendation of the original War Revenue Committee. We decided to appoint a Sub-Committee composed of Mr. A. G. Clarke (Chairman), Mr. E. M. Bryden, Mr. L. Kadoorie, and Mr. C. van Langenberg to examine in detail the present War Revenue Ordinance with a view to smoothing out its inequities and increasing the yield from War Taxation. This Sub-Committee held twelve meetings and presented a most comprehensive report which was gratefully adopted by the full Committee and which formed the basis for our conclusions and recommendations. Our conclusions have been incorporated in a draft War Revenue Bill which is attached to this Report as an Appendix.\n\n7. We felt that the charge of inequitable incidence could not be avoided unless we devised some means of taxing the one broad source of unearned income at present untaxed—namely, interest on loans and mortgages. We have therefore devised a scheme for the taxation of certain classes of interest which we have included in the draft Bill under a new Chapter entitled \"Interest Tax\". This tax is practically limited to interest on mortgages, bills of sale, debentures, and loans made to corporations or firms who are liable to Profits Tax; we found that the yield to be expected from taxing interest on bank fixed deposits, savings bank accounts, etc., would be too small in relation to the cost and trouble of administration to the banks concerned.\n\n8. With a view to increasing the yield from Business Profits Tax, we considered that the exemption limit should be reduced from $10,000 to $5,000 and that the limit for the lower rate of taxation should be reduced from $100,000 to $50,000. The reduction of the exemption limit would greatly increase the number of firms paying this tax and would minimize the incentive to the splitting of businesses. We considered the question of whether a loss by a business or corporation in one year should be set off against profits in succeeding years, but in view of the temporary nature of the Ordinance and the urgent need for revenue, we have not recommended such a provision. For similar reasons, we consider any provision for depreciation in respect of the expiry of leases to be undesirable. We have not recommended that payments such as charitable contributions and donations to war funds or expenses incurred in connection with Air Raid Precaution measures should be exempted from Profits Tax.\n\n9. We came to the conclusion that in view of the rise in the cost of living, some relief should be afforded to those payers of Salaries Tax who have wives and children. With this object, we have recommended that the scale of allowances for a wife and children should be revised as follows:\n\n| Category | Now | Recommended |\n|---------|-----|-------------|\n| Wife | $2,000 | $3,000 |\n| 1st child | $1,000 | $2,000 |\n| 2nd child | $1,000 | $1,000 |\n| 3rd child | $1,000 | $500 |\n| 4th child | $1,000 | $500 |\n\nWe consider, however, that no allowance should be made for children in excess of four, or for dependent relatives. At the same time, we have recommended that the lower rate of Salaries Tax be brought into line with the lower rates of the other War Taxes.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-589-12 War Revenue Ordinance 1941 8-5-1941 - 19-6-1941.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 574942, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-14 Newsletters from Sir Geoffrey Northcote- Governor of Hong Kong 21-4-1941 - 24-11-1941", "page_number": 12, "title": "CO129-590-14 Newsletters from Sir Geoffrey Northcote- Governor of Hong Kong 21-4-1941 - 24-11-1941", "content_text": "(2)\n\n₤ \n\nالسورية \n\n11 \n\nevidence. Now it seems to be a case of \"One damned thing. I feel sure that in Downing Street you will agree that, now that the chance has shown itself, these stables should be swept as clean as possible. I fear that the other disturbing outcome from the Commission report is going to be the revelation of serious laxity in the control of Government Expenditure, at any rate on defence works. For instance, I discovered during the week prior to sailing that the tunnelling arrangements made with Marsman Ltd. last September on a cost plus percentage basis were not only subject to the sketchiest supervision but had been reduced to a formal contract and still rest on a few letters exchanged between a P.W.D. Senior Officer and Marsmans, being subject to termination at one month's notice by either side!! \n\nNow, we are spending millions on these tunnels and, as you know, a 'cost plus' basis calls for a regular 'tiger' in the way of a resident engineer. There seems to be good reason to think that Marsman & Co. have been unnecessarily dilatory and which, of course, is to their advantage; unquestionably they have charged Government up with all sorts of expenditure which was not warrantable - for example, they charged 10% on the purchase cost of machinery which was paid for by Government itself! And I fear that a great deal of expenditure may have had Treasury covering approval without proper scrutiny. I hope that I am wrong.\n\nI learned most of this aboard this vessel between my official good-bye and up-anchoring, having asked Cressall to come to see me after my perusal of the morning's paper. I could do no more than request him to see Smith at once, tell him what he had told me and urge upon him (a) to have the contract with Marsman & Co. drawn up by the Crown Solicitor without delay and (b) to see to it that supervision of a strict kind was improved by the P.W.D. over the contractor.\n\nYou may imagine that all this leaves me with a nasty taste in my mouth on my departure hence and I feel somewhat culpable myself. \n\nBut when I got back here in March and found tunnelling and other defence works in full swing, it did not occur to me to \"dig down\" and find out what the Treasury and Audit seemed content with. I do not wish, however, to exculpate myself unduly in a matter in which I must bear responsibility.\n\n## THE CADET SERVICE \n\nWe spoke of this while I was at home and I promised to send you a despatch on the subject in relation to Hongkong. But I found myself so immersed in Civil Defence problems on my return that I did not get the chance to consider it at all fully. On one point at least I am clear in my own mind, viz. that cadets do not make as good Heads of technical departments as do technically-trained men. They have not the expert knowledge which would lead them to innovate or keep up to date: their technical subordinates, denied access to the topmost rung of their ladders and often resentful of subordination to men who do not know their job, have little or no incentive to suggest progressive action or re-organization - such measures represent hard work for those who have to put them through and so stagnation results. A shining example of the converse is the Education Department in Hongkong, which had languished lamentably though in the hands of able men such as N.L. Smith and G.R. Sayer: caution, lethargy and promotion by seniority were its most notable...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-14 Newsletters from Sir Geoffrey Northcote- Governor of Hong Kong 21-4-1941 - 24-11-1941.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575926, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943", "page_number": 79, "title": "CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943", "content_text": "79\n\nThere is no doubt but that the Japs are making this appear to be a racial war, and they are playing on the Chinese and Indians along this line. They say they must fight Russia, and some day Germany. But it appears that the fly in the ointment is now China. They are of the opinion that without the settlement of their affairs in China, they will be unable to make any appreciable strides in regard to India, and it appears that if they could withdraw from the picture, in so far as China is concerned, gracefully and without loss of face, they would be happy to do so, taking a chance on their hoped for key position in this part of the world to hold the big stick at some future date. Certainly they are not deriving any benefit from the occupied territory (at least South China) but on the other hand from personal observations and conversations with people in the occupied area, it is costing them a good deal of money and material apart from that used for war. Their puppets in the occupied territories are ready to turn on them at a moment's notice, and there is a considerable amount of anti-Jap feeling in the air. It is claimed by the Japs that their crack troops are on the Manchuria Russian border - well seasoned and used to fighting under cold conditions. They have been worried lately by the loss of some ships coming from Japan to Canton.\n\nThe Japs say that they must take Australia to complete their ... This sounds plain, but they may take a crack at North America first. ... fantastic but was put forward as a possible ruse to divert attention and ... from Canada and the United States,\n\nIn all sections of the army and navy they use suicide squads for all hazardous jobs. There is some ceremony connected with such work which seems to give the Japs the incentive to do it properly and efficiently.\n\nThe Jap plan now seems to endeavour to take Hongkong in a make or break campaign. They were attacking with some success from Canton along the old Kowloon Hankow railway with Shiukwan as their objective about a month ago, but they are not too confident of success for they have made similar progress on more than one occasion in the past few years only to be thrown back to the outskirts of Canton.\n\nThe aviators appear to be all quite young men, a wild and crazy type with a vicious lust for killing.\n\nThe Japs appear to be using a lot of small two-man tanks in and around Canton and claim to have a standing force of 300,000. They do not seem to be strengthening Hongkong defences and from observations it does not appear that they have as many soldiers as we had during peace time. However, they are working at something on the Peninsula and are using British war prisoners for manual labour. They seem to have the opinion shared by us all, namely, that the defence of Hongkong is solely dependent on the defence of the Peninsula.\n\nAfter my escape, I had the unique opportunity of meeting most of the principals of the Jap administration - civil, army and navy - for I was staying in the house of the late Mr. Eu Tong Sen, O.B.E. His son was reputed to be the wealthiest man in the Far East. In my section of the H.K.V.D.C. On account of its beauty and the rarity of its contents (and perhaps a little monetary consideration), this house was spared by the Japs, but they subsequently made frequent visits without invitation. In fact, they were treating it like a huge club with a restaurant and bar attached.\n\nIt was these contacts ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 576169, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-27 Ex-employees of Hong Kong Government- relief payments and allowances 27-3-1942 - 16-8-1943", "page_number": 109, "title": "CO129-590-27 Ex-employees of Hong Kong Government- relief payments and allowances 27-3-1942 - 16-8-1943", "content_text": "107A\n\nthat any such officers should be retired before their cases have been considered by the Colonial Office, and meanwhile they will remain entitled to full salary.\n\n(b)\n\nNon-pensionable staff.\n\nIt is hoped that alternative employment on reasonable terms will be found, and Colonial Office are anxious to have names in order to explore possibilities. Colonial Office agree that, until it becomes clearer to what extent it is possible for such officers to be moved to other places where employment is available, notice of termination should not in general be given, and instruction in earlier telegram should be regarded as permissive only.\n\n3.\n\nIt is emphasised that Colonial Office wish to have names of any officer reaching Free China as soon as possible.\n\n4.\n\nAs regards Chinese officials, Colonial Office do not have the same opportunity for placing them elsewhere in the Colonial Empire, but they hope that employment could be found for some of them as far as possible in British organisations in China, e.g. under Mr. Sedgwick. We agree that in any case they should look to His Majesty's Government and not Chinese Government for assistance, and paragraph 4(3) of my telegram No.470 of April 5th was intended to convey authority for you to grant such assistance where claim to salary had expired, or where pension etc., to which officer was entitled, was insufficient for livelihood. No time limit is placed on period concerned, but it would seem preferable not to relate \"relief\" to pre-occupation salary since, having regard to Japanese policy of expelling large part of Chinese population from Hong Kong, \"escapes\" may not necessarily be meritorious in themselves, and it would appear equally open to criticism to regard officers as entitled to Hong Kong salary in whole or part for duration of war, thereby removing incentive to take up other remunerative employment of war importance.\n\nINDIV.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-27 Ex-employees of Hong Kong Government- relief payments and allowances 27-3-1942 - 16-8-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 577949, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-591-3 Education Department- revised grant code 24-10-1945 - 11-12-1945", "page_number": 88, "title": "CO129-591-3 Education Department- revised grant code 24-10-1945 - 11-12-1945", "content_text": "This, however :- \n\n(a). \n\ndestroys initiative. \n\nFor if there is never any margin whatever on the working of a school, if Government pay only just enough to keep it running and not a cent more, then no addition or improvement of any kind is possible without going hat in hand to the Government Education Department. The entire initiative is in the hands of one man, the Director of Education.\n\n(b). \n\nremoves all incentive to economy. \n\nFor where is the incentive to economy if, whether the school is well run or ill, whether it is highly efficient or only moderately so, Government always makes up the difference? Indeed, we would go further. These proposals mean that the lower the school's income (e.g. from fees) and the higher its expenditure (which might easily occur from less efficiency) the more Government will have to pay to keep it afloat; the less deserving the school, the greater the Government help. This destroys the incentive to economy.\n\n-- \n\n(c). lessens the opportunity and incentive to private beneficence. For if those from whom we ask assistance are told and in common honesty they must be told that, whether they subscribe or not, Government will always make up the difference, they are unlikely to say the least, to be powerfully impelled to generosity.\n\nWe proceed to develop in greater detail one or other consideration which will illustrate what we have in mind:-\n\n(a). \n\nIncome from Fees.\n\nIf the Income from Fees is taken into consideration for the calculation of the Grant it follows:\n\n1. that Government will have to insist on a Minimum Scale.\n\n2. that if the Grant is the Difference between Income and Expenditure no School will have any interest in maintaining its Fees above the Minimum Scale.\n\n3. that Fees will not only be standardized, a uniformity which the Grant System has always aimed at avoiding but also standardized at a figure lower than is economical; and the sum which is at present paid by the parents will have to be met by the taxpayers.\n\nThe right to determine the Scale of School Fees is inherent in the Freedom of the Managers. This, in the proposed Grant Scheme, is taken away, not by direct order, but by financial arrangements which would make any deviation from the Minimum Scale prejudicial to the School.\n\nStandardization of School Fees has been fully discussed by Grant School Representatives and has always been strongly opposed.\n\n(b). Number of Pupils. Similarly, if the Fees go to the Grant Schools, the natural tendency will be to teach as many pupils as are consistent with efficiency, whereas if the Fees go indirectly to Government, the schools will naturally tend to teach as few students as possible. Why should a teacher be asked to teach a class and correct the essays of, say, thirty or forty pupils, when Government will not only pay him the same salary for teaching twenty, but will also pay the same salary to another teacher to teach.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-591-3 Education Department- revised grant code 24-10-1945 - 11-12-1945.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 581475, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-594-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee- minutes of... 18-1-1946 - 9-4-1946", "page_number": 43, "title": "CO129-594-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee- minutes of... 18-1-1946 - 9-4-1946", "content_text": "## \nMr. Sloss said that was his position. But he did not want to press the Committee.\n\nThe Chairman saw danger in telegraphing to Hong Kong to ascertain the one point on which Mr. Sloss would like corroboration of his own estimate. As Sir Herbert Eason and Dr. Venn had pointed out, the estimate would depend on the belief that the university was going to be re-opened. He was a little afraid that the making of such enquiries would in themselves give rise to the general expectation that the university was going to open in September next and to disillusionment later if this proved to be out of the question.\n\nDr. Priestley put the suggestion that it might be better to pay for students to go to Chinese universities for a year rather than start too soon.\n\nMr. Sloss said that unfortunately the Chinese universities were themselves in a state of turmoil and confusion at present.\n\nMr. Smith said any promise to re-open the university would have a substantial effect on secondary education in the Colony. They had to get the schools up to a certain standard; the university was an added incentive. But he hoped that the education of the Colony would not depend on any promise of a university education at the end.\n\nProfessor Hinton thought it would be better to make up their minds that they could not start until at least 1947.\n\nThe Chairman said the history of the University had been a history of makeshifts. He believed that if they telegraphed an enquiry now they would probably receive an inflated estimate in view of the number of people anxious that the university should be started as soon as possible. He expressed the opinion that if only in relation to the engagement of staff, they could not advise starting in September 1946. If that was the Committee's view, they should be rather cautious about encouraging the return of optimistic estimates. Could they formulate provisionally their wishes, as a result of the discussion, with regard to the broad central issue of re-starting the University of Hong Kong with the general purpose envisaged by the Founder, and at the next meeting consider the main categories of difficulties or objections to that course - the financial aspect, the political complication of Malaya, etc., that had come up during the present meeting. Was it the view of the Committee that they could safely defer till the next meeting the question of telegraphing to Hong Kong?", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-594-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee- minutes of... 18-1-1946 - 9-4-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 581486, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-594-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee- minutes of... 18-1-1946 - 9-4-1946", "page_number": 54, "title": "CO129-594-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee- minutes of... 18-1-1946 - 9-4-1946", "content_text": "# \n\n## \n\n54 \n\n35. Mr. Sless said he would not like to countenance any depreciation of Chinese universities. When one considered what they had achieved in the most difficult times, it was one of the wonders of educational history. The best of them were remarkable.\n\n36. Dr. Venn wondered whether the Committee could make up their minds in the absence of further factual information. Personally, he thought they could.\n\n37. Mr. Sloss said there was the question as to whether there was likely to be a sufficient number of new entrants adequately qualified to justify a beginning as early as September, 1946.\n\n38. Dr. Vean asked whether that did not depend on knowledge that the university would resume.\n\n39. Dr. Priestley thought that it was out of the question to re-open the university in 1946; 1947 was the earliest possible date.\n\n40. \n41. Professor Hinton agreed: to 1947. Mr. Sloss said that was his position.\n\nThe history of the University had been a history of makeshifts. He did not want to press the Committee.\n\n42. But he... Dr. Priestley put the suggestion that it might be better to pay for students to go to Chinese universities for a year rather than start to... open.\n\n43. Mr. Sloss said that unfortunately the Chinese universities were themselves in a state of turmoil and confusion at present.\n\n44. Mr. Smith said any promise to re-open the university would have a substantial effect on secondary education in the Colony. They had to get the schools up to a certain standard; the university was an added incentive. But he hoped that the education of the Colony would not depend on any promise of a university education at the end.\n\n45. The Chairman believed that if they telegraphed an enquiry now they would probably receive an inflated estimate in view of the number of people anxious that the university should be started as soon as possible. He expressed the opinion that if only in relation to the engagement of staff, they could not advise starting in September 1946. If that was the Committee's view, they should be rather cautious about encouraging the return of optimistic estimates. Could they formulate provisionally their wishes, as a result of the discussion, with regard to the broad central issue of re-starting the University of Hong Kong with the general purpose envisaged by the Founder, and at the next meeting consider the main categories of difficulties or objections to that course - the financial aspect, the political complication of Malaya, etc., that had come up during the present meeting. Was it the view of the Committee that they could safely defer till the next meeting the question of telegraphing to Hong Kong?\n\n/46.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-594-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee- minutes of... 18-1-1946 - 9-4-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 581702, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-594-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee- minutes of... 18-1-1946 - 9-4-1946", "page_number": 270, "title": "CO129-594-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee- minutes of... 18-1-1946 - 9-4-1946", "content_text": "263 \n\nMr. Sloss reminded the Committee that the people on the spot at the time of the collapse in Hong Kong had made the best arrangements possible for those to whom they had definite commitments, and took considerable risks in doing so.\n\nDr. Priestley put the suggestion that it might be better to pay for students to go to Chinese universities for a year rather than start too soon.\n\nMr. Sloss said that unfortunately the Chinese universities were themselves in a state of turmoil and confusion at present.\n\nMr. Smith said any promise to reopen would have a substantial effect on secondary education in the Colony. They had to get the schools started up to a certain standard. If they could go on to the university that was an added incentive. But he hoped that the education of the Colony would not depend on this promise of a university education at the end.\n\nThe Chairman believed that if they telegraphed now for an estimate they would probably receive an estimate in view of the large number of people anxious that the university should be started soon, and possibly, who knows, those who supplied the information might themselves be very keen to make out the best case.\n\nMr. Sloss remarked that whatever estimate they received it would be optimistic.\n\nThe Chairman expressed the opinion that if only in relation to the engagement of staff, they could not advise starting in September 1946. If that was their view, they should be rather cautious about encouraging the return of optimistic estimates.\n\nCould they defer the enquiry until the next meeting, but formulate provisionally their wishes, as a result of the discussion, with regard to the broad issue of...\n\nPage 270\nPage 271", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-594-3 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University. For extracted photographs see CN 3-45- Advisory Committee- minutes of... 18-1-1946 - 9-4-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 582421, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-595-6 Building Reconstruction Advisory Committee Report 9-4-1946 - 10-6-1947", "page_number": 44, "title": "CO129-595-6 Building Reconstruction Advisory Committee Report 9-4-1946 - 10-6-1947", "content_text": "# APPENDIX 8.\n\n## REPORT ON SUPPLIES MISSION TO OKINAWA.\n\n1. The Hong Kong Government Mission to Okinawa consisted of Mr. A. H. Hutchison, Mr. A. V. Skvorzov, and Lt. Col. J. Forbes. The Mission left Kai Tak Airport at 08.00 hours on Thursday, 7th February, by U.S. Army plane and arrived at Okinawa at 14.30 hours local time. The Mission was accompanied by Cdr. Langevin, U.S.N., and Capt. Nuzum, U.S.A., both of whom are attached to the F.L.C. (Foreign Liquidation Commission), Shanghai.\n\n2. On arrival at Okinawa, the Mission was introduced to Capt. W. E. McCain, U.S.N., Officer in charge of the Naval Supplies Depot, and his Officer, and spent the next two days inspecting the stores available for disposal and studying the lists of Surplus Property Board Forms available. It is understood that all S.P.B. returns for the whole of the Pacific area are to be completed by the end of February.\n\n3. Attached is a list of abstracts made from these Forms. It is to be understood that these are abstracts only and are not by any means a complete list of stores available. It should also be noted that the prices on the lists are stated to be new cost prices in the U.S.A. and that to this is to be added 25% for packing and freight to the Pacific, plus a delivery charge, the amount not yet fixed, for freight to Hong Kong from Okinawa.\n\nIn the case of used materials, a deduction based on an approved formula will be made, but it is the opinion of the Mission that prices generally are high. It is also worthy of note that the trucks available in Okinawa are all army-type trucks and are not very suitable for civil purposes.\n\nParts of Lots can be purchased, but cases cannot be broken.\n\n4. The Mission left Okinawa at 10.00 hours on 10th February, again by U.S. Army plane, and arrived at Kiangwan, Shanghai, at 12.30 hours local time, and proceeded to the residence of Mr. H. Kadoorie. Cdr. Langevin and Capt. Nuzum remained in Okinawa.\n\n5. On the 11th of February at 14.45 hours, a meeting was held with Brig. General Johnson, U.S.A., who is in charge of the F.L.C., Shanghai, at which Mr. H. Kadoorie was also present.\n\nBrig. General Johnson made it clear that materials required (for example, lugging and craft) but not available in Okinawa are available elsewhere, and that we should prepare our lists of requirements at the earliest possible moment on the assumption that all kinds of materials will be available.\n\nHe also indicated that Dodge Commercial Trucks can be made available. He stated further that the question of freight to Hong Kong, which was stated at Okinawa to be U.S.$15 per measurement ton, can be reconsidered. It was suggested that Hong Kong might be able to supply the necessary shipping. He also stated his intention to visit Hong Kong in about five days' time.\n\n6. Difficulty was experienced in fixing transportation back to Hong Kong as the U.S. Army could not supply a plane. Through the efforts of the British Consul and Mr. Kadoorie, arrangements were made with the R.A.F. who would take the party back on Friday, the 15th.\n\n7. The thanks of the Mission are due to all Officers of the U.S. Navy and Army contacted during the journey for the courtesy and help, and also to Mr. H. Kadoorie for his untiring efforts to help the Mission and for accommodating the party in his house during the stay in Shanghai. Thanks are also due to Mr. Kadoorie's staff for typing the various lists and memoranda for the Mission, work which involved a considerable amount of overtime.\n\n8. In conclusion, it must be emphasized that it is essential that complete lists of Hong Kong's requirements should be prepared at the earliest possible moment, and that in the event of purchases being made, a representative must be sent to Okinawa to supervise selection and shipping of materials.\n\n# APPENDIX 9.\n\n## HOUSING\n\n## FINANCE-\"A\".\n\n1. It has been made abundantly clear from the detailed reports received from individual members of this Committee and during the course of our deliberations that there is a very serious shortage of dwelling accommodation and that, unless immediate steps are taken, this shortage will become acute on an increasingly rapid scale.\n\n2. It is likewise clear that there are three alternatives if sufficient housing is to be provided:\n\n3. (1) Government to go in for new construction.\n(2) Government to undertake the repair of private property themselves.\n(3) Government to give sufficient encouragement to property owners to provide the necessary accommodation.\n\nIf the first alternative is adopted,\n(a) It would appear that Government would have to go in for large housing schemes, development of new areas, and the construction of suitable houses for various sections of the community. In England, Government expenditure of over £240,000,000 was envisaged for the construction of 165,000 temporary houses.\n(b) As in England, it is probable that houses could only be produced at a substantially higher cost than would be justified by the rentals obtainable for the accommodation provided. This would mean a very low return on the capital outlay, or, alternatively, a capital loss by their sale at well below cost.\n\n4. If the second, a partial solution of the problem might be found in the following suggestion which combines private ownership with Government control:—\n\nGovernment to lease large blocks of damaged property, such as apartment buildings, terraces of houses, and tenements, for a period of say five years. Government would then repair this accommodation and sub-let the same; the repaired property to revert to the owners at the end of the period of the lease.\n\nThe advantage of this scheme is that Government, whilst not entering into competition with property owners, retains control of letting and may give preference to that section of the community employed in the essential work of rehabilitation.\n\n5. If the third alternative is adopted,\n(a) Money for reconstruction should be provided at a low rate of interest, say 2%.\n(b) Government should purchase building materials in bulk both by importation and by utilizing to the fullest extent local production potential. Such materials should be made available to property owners, conditional on their repairing their houses.\n(c) Prices of building materials have risen steadily since 1938, thus discouraging construction. If reconstruction is to be encouraged, costs of materials must be subsidized at least to a level not exceeding pre-war prices.\n(d) As an additional incentive, landlords who spend a minimum sum (to be fixed in relation to the size of their property) should be allowed to increase their rentals for such property by 50% over and above 1941 rentals.\n(e) Crown leases due to expire within a short time should be renewed for a period of several years at a nominal fee.\n\n6. This memorandum is submitted for consideration with a view to formulating policy.\n\nShanghai, 14th February, 1946.\n\nNOTE:- Stores List not attached to Interim Report.\n\n(Signed) J. FORBES, \nLt. Col. A. H. HUTCHISON. A. V. SKVORZOV.\n\n(Signed) LAWRENCE KADOORIE.\n\nHong Kong, 11th February, 1946.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-595-6 Building Reconstruction Advisory Committee Report 9-4-1946 - 10-6-1947.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 583311, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-597-2 Estimates 1949 1-3-1948 - 14-7-1949", "page_number": 7, "title": "CO129-597-2 Estimates 1949 1-3-1948 - 14-7-1949", "content_text": "# X \n\nGovernment offers them additional facilities. As to the need for revenue, it is true that there are plenty of useful projects on which Hong Kong could spend money, but I feel very doubtful whether the present actual budgetary position justifies advice of an exceptional or dubious character. The last financial year closed with a quite handsome surplus and the Estimates for the current year seem to me to suffer to an exceptional degree from that besetting sin of Colonial Treasurers, the under-estimation of revenue. I have gone through the revenue estimates and the comments on them in some detail and it is remarkable with what monotonous regularity the comments explained that revenue for 1948-49 has been put at a lower figure than for 1947-48 for no other reason than that there could conceivably be a trade depression during 1948. There is, in fact, no sign of any such depression and there could equally be a further increase in trade. I suspect, therefore, that it will be found that the Estimates will, in practice, have been put considerably too low, and that the current year will show a further handsome surplus.\n\nNor is it clear that there has been any thorough examination of other possible sources of revenue if additional revenue is immediately required. I should not disagree that it would be difficult immediately to increase the rates of income tax, but that is not suggested as a permanent objection so that it is not a good reason for establishing as a matter of permanence an alternative source of revenue in the shape of lotteries. I cannot trace that the alternatives of further increases in the taxes on liquor and tobacco have been fully examined. Looking to the social effects of taxation, and accepting that on balance both drinking and gambling are activities which ought to be discouraged rather than promoted, it is an important difference that a tax on liquor to some extent acts as a deterrent, whereas the organisation of a State lottery can only act as an incentive.\n\nFinally, if there really is more money to be got from the gambling field, I am still not convinced that it could not be done by encouraging the Jockey Club, or possibly other local organisations, to organise more or bigger sweepstakes.\n\nIf you agree that we should try if possible to avoid the extension of this expedient in Hong Kong, I should propose to discuss further with Mr. Follows on the above lines.\n\n30. 6. 46.\n\n... `77/468`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-597-2 Estimates 1949 1-3-1948 - 14-7-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 583562, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-597-2 Estimates 1949 1-3-1948 - 14-7-1949", "page_number": 258, "title": "CO129-597-2 Estimates 1949 1-3-1948 - 14-7-1949", "content_text": "## INWARD TELEGRAM\n### TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES\n\n2 APR\n\nFROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)\n\nD. 30th March, 1948, R. 30th March, 1948, 14.40 hrs,\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\nNO. 350\n\nYour telegram No. 157.\n\nEstimates. This telegram was only received just before the first reading of the Appropriation Bill was due to be taken. It was of course realised that it would have been greatly preferable for expenditure to have been covered by normal revenue and for arrears of earnings and profits tax to have been utilised to build up reserves. This was not, unfortunately, possible on the present occasion, but it must be borne in mind that expenditure for the coming year is swollen abnormally by certain non-recurrent items such as $5,000,000 in respect of Kai-Tak (Hong Kong) compensation. `54281/98`\n\n2. I am much concerned by the scale of expenditure generally and it is my intention to review all departmental expenditure very carefully when the Efficiency Expert (see my telegram No. 230) arrives. Over 60% of our personal emoluments bill is in respect of menial staff and it seems, however, that this is a relic of the days when human labour in the East was cheap and there was no particular incentive to economise in staff. Now that salary scales for the public service have been improved, I propose, in conjunction with the Efficiency Expert, to examine establishment carefully with a view to cutting out all staff which is not strictly necessary. This was particularly stressed by the Financial Secretary in his Budget speech.\n\nAs regards the desirability of increasing the standard rate of earnings and profits tax, I have already in paragraph 3 of my confidential despatch No. 57 of 18th March explained that I should be reluctant to take such a step at the present juncture. `54307/48`\n\nSo far, evasion appears to have been on a smaller scale than was expected, but if the rate is increased, there is little doubt that evasions will become widespread. The greatest difficulty is being experienced in checking assessments, even under present conditions, and owing to lack of progress in the recruitment of staff, a little less than half the estimated tax to be assessed for the year has so far been collected from large taxpayers.\n\nEven to collect this amount, it has been necessary to resort to provisional assessment in many cases.\n\nIn addition to efforts being made to bring assessments up to date, present very inadequate staff to combat large-scale evasion, the position will become hopeless, and I would strongly recommend that nothing in the nature of an increase in rate should be attempted until the establishment of assessors is brought up to strength. As I explained in a previous paragraph in my despatch No. 57, the possibility of providing an ordinance for taxation of incomes such as remittances to parents in China has been considered, but such a step is impossible while the Department is seriously under-staffed at present.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-597-2 Estimates 1949 1-3-1948 - 14-7-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 585335, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-600-4 Salaries Commission- comments on report 12-10-1947 - 15-12-1947", "page_number": 14, "title": "CO129-600-4 Salaries Commission- comments on report 12-10-1947 - 15-12-1947", "content_text": "## Colonial Office, The Church House, Great Smith Street, S.W.1. November, 1947.\n\nDear Dr. Cruikshank,\n\nDr. Bloss asked me before he left for Hong Kong to let you know in reply to the comments which you raised about the proposals for the Medical Department:\n\n(a) It is suggested that a fee (honorarium) should be fixed having in mind the advantage to the doctor of the additional external work that a specialist properly should do on the assumption that by his appointment he is a full-time Government Officer. The incentive should not be fee-hunting. Regularization is badly needed in order that discipline may properly be enforced among locally recruited Medical Officers.\n\nDR. J.B. CRUIKSHANK. \n\n(b)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-600-4 Salaries Commission- comments on report 12-10-1947 - 15-12-1947.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 586137, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-603-1 Education Department- revised grant code 5-2-1947 - 14-4-1948", "page_number": 38, "title": "CO129-603-1 Education Department- revised grant code 5-2-1947 - 14-4-1948", "content_text": "(c) We should like to know more about the present terms of service for teachers. Do they receive (i) Higher Cost of Living Allowance, (ii) Residential Allowance or (iii) any other allowances in addition to their salaries?\n\n(a) Paragraph 7 of the Code sets out that only income from fees is taken into account in determining the amount of grant. Is there any reason why all income should not be so treated?\n\n(e) Since the grants are purely deficiency grants, there seems to be little incentive to economy on the part of schools and a great responsibility for seeing that the Government is not being imposed upon rests with the supervision and inspection duties carried out by the Director of Education.\n\n(f) In paragraph 25, there appears to be no provision for reducing the \"other charges\" claimed in respect of absent pupils, unless (which is not stated) the average attendance is calculated after the end of the school year.\n\nI am returning the enclosures to your letter as requested.\n\nYours sincerely,\n\nS.J. Chork,\nfor W.R. Sepell.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-603-1 Education Department- revised grant code 5-2-1947 - 14-4-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 586383, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-603-3 Education Department- revised grant code 24-1-1949 - 28-12-1949", "page_number": 29, "title": "CO129-603-3 Education Department- revised grant code 24-1-1949 - 28-12-1949", "content_text": "c) \n\n5. \n\n6. \n\n7. \n\n2 \n\nMagazine, and to pay the expenses of Speech Day and Entrance Examinations. How much will be available even for Major Repairs? When it is realised that the School, in addition, has to meet other obligations, such as repayment of the principal of loans, the finding of half the cost of new furniture and equipment, and the laying aside of a sum sufficient for the re-building of the School within a foreseeable number of years, it is quite plain that a sum of £2-2-0 per child per annum, so far from giving the Managers any freedom, does not even enable them to discharge their normal obligations. Most schools also find it necessary to subsidise the salaries of their office staff, as the Code provides salaries for a typist and a bursar which are at least 50% less than any business house would pay.\n\nFurther, even if the Managers can raise from subscriptions half the cost of some desired new equipment or building, they cannot have it without the Director's approval, and the latter may be compelled by the Treasury to refuse grants for equipment and buildings which he may agree are desirable on educational grounds. It follows, then, that the Managers must either forgo the desired improvement or else find the total cost instead of half. The Anglican Schools have been, and would be, willing to take the latter course as far as possible, and thereby save Government money, but they cannot do this with the present proposed limitation on additional school charges.\n\nIn regard to the last part of this paragraph, I must again repeat that I regard it as both morally wrong and, in fact, psychologically impossible to appeal for donations to Grant-aided Secondary Schools (except for the orphan children boarders at the Diocesan Schools). What is wise and moral is that parents who can pay should pay fair fees, and that appeals for charity and donations should go for scholarships; for vernacular schools under the Subsidy Code; for Boys' and Girls' Clubs, summer camps for street children, etc. Mr. Rowell has misunderstood my use of the word 'incentive'. The incentive is: freedom to require parents who can pay to pay reasonable fees; freedom to give more than 10% free places; freedom to spend more than £2-2-0 per child per annum on making each School a school indeed, independent, characterful, and different, and not just one more unit in a centrally directed system. The Director fails to point out that the highest fees in any Anglican School (£7 per term) are not more than twice the 1941 figures. The purchasing power of the dollar is anything from 1/3 to 1/5 of its pre-war value. The number of children granted reductions and total remission of fees further disposes of the contention that poor children are debarred from entry.\n\nMy contention in London stands, and as a citizen of Hongkong, I shall not cease to strive to secure it, that in a city where normal modern taxation is not possible, fair fees should be charged to those who can pay. School Managers can then give to the poorer children more than the 10% free places allowed by the Code.\n\nThe Director has ignored the offer of an immediate cut of 10% in the Grants to Anglican Schools. This would amount to less than £10,000 per annum, but it would go a long way in increased subsidies to primary vernacular education. I was informed that it was my action in initiating workers' children's schools which \"compelled the government\" to erect two new vernacular schools this year. I propose to go on using every ounce of my strength to \"compel\" the government to increase the amount of money spent on the education of Chinese workers' children in Hongkong. One way of doing this is to reduce the grants to Grant-in-Aid Schools, and this can only be fairly done by giving freedom to the Managers who accept a reduced grant. I regret that my calculations do not agree with the Director's.\n\nIt is, in a sense, a gamble. If it is as generous as he suggests, naturally all schools would accept. But he has no right to offer us, for 'other charges', minor repairs, etc., a larger sum than would normally be necessary for this purpose.\n\nI think this point is adequately met in my comments on 2 and 4 above. But at this point, I might recapitulate why this issue is a life and death matter for Anglican Schools.\n\na)\n\nIn order to give security and reasonable salaries to teachers, the Draft Grant Code is both very generous and also very tightly regulated.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-603-3 Education Department- revised grant code 24-1-1949 - 28-12-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 586385, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-603-3 Education Department- revised grant code 24-1-1949 - 28-12-1949", "page_number": 31, "title": "CO129-603-3 Education Department- revised grant code 24-1-1949 - 28-12-1949", "content_text": "EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, \n\nHONG KONG. \n\n7th Sept. 1949. \n\n8 \n\n30 \n\nThe Rt. Rev. Bishop R.O. Hall, Bishop's House, \n\nHongkong. \n\nSir, \n\nI have for acknowledgement your letter of 15th August, 1949 on the matter of changes in the Grant Code. I am afraid that there is some misunderstanding as to the form of agreement reached in London where you stressed that the main objections were to Clauses 3 and 37 of the revised Code. Clause 3 we are already agreed upon. With regard to Clause 37 it was (a) the close scrutiny of items of expenditure on minor repairs which your Council found irritating already and (b) the limitation of subscriptions which took away even further the sense of responsibility which your Council desired the Managing Committees to retain. \n\n2. \n\nI then agreed to find measures within the Grant Code to reduce to a minimum the necessity of obtaining prior approval for items of minor repairs, provided Government retained the right to scrutinize accounts annually. In addition you agreed that if Government thought the school subscriptions were unduly high it would be open to it to consider reduction of grant. \n\n3. \n\nI am, therefore, unable to agree that my proposals do not, in fact, cover the agreement reached in London. \n\n4. \n\nI have to stress the fact that under my proposals the Management Committees will have very considerable financial freedom. They will exercise complete control in the spending of Block Grants for Other Charges for the five Anglican Schools amounting to $77,455 per annum, and also in the spending of subscriptions totalling $132,111 per annum. The half cost of Major Repairs can be reasonably met from the subscriptions allowed and there should still be a considerable margin. I think we are agreed that the Code unfortunately removes the incentive for school managers to make efforts to raise funds which are outside fees or extra subscriptions and I am sure that additional funds could be raised in this way. \n\n5. \n\nThe fees and subscriptions charged in the Anglican Schools are, to my mind, such as to debar many children from the poorer sections of the community from entry. When very large grants from public funds are being made to these schools this is a serious matter, and likely to justify claims from the poorer workers that the major portion of public funds for education is being given to the children of the wealthy classes. \n\n6. \n\nI deliberately mentioned that the Block Grant was very generous since it is based on the average of requirements when much war damage was being made good and consequently is higher than would normally have been the case and higher than similar 'Block Grants' in other Colonies. \n\n7. There is no intention of exact balancing of accounts; when the Block Grant and approved subscriptions are paid to the Council or Managers the money remains in their hands and, as far as I can see, there can be added to it any moneys donated or collected in any way whatsoever. The only stipulations are that items of expenditure are scrutinized and extra fees above a certain amount are used to reduce government grant. \n\n8. \n\nThe proposals contained in my letter of August 3rd will therefore be put before the Board of Education at its next meeting and will then come into force. \n\nI have the honour to be \n\nSir, \n\nYour obedient servant, \n\ns/a. -F.R. Rowell \n\nDirector of Education.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-603-3 Education Department- revised grant code 24-1-1949 - 28-12-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 586671, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-604-2 Crown Leases 23-2-1948 - 6-11-1948", "page_number": 36, "title": "CO129-604-2 Crown Leases 23-2-1948 - 6-11-1948", "content_text": "5051/48\n\nCode\n\nNo. 12\n\nOUTWARD TELEGRAM\n\nFROM THE SECRETARY OFSTATE FOR THE COLONIES\n\nRaped (3)+(4)\n\nTO HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)\n\nSent 14th May, 1948. 17.15 hrs.\n\n36\n\nYour despatch No. 3 of the 23rd February.\n\nRenewal terms for holders of certain Crown Leases.\n\nParagraph 4 of statement dealing with Crown rent gives two bases agreement which are prima facie contradictory. I assume, however, from paragraph 6 of your despatch that it is, in fact, intended to charge Crown rent at the conventional rate normally charged by Government for new leases in the same district and not on the alternative basis of the full and fair value of the land. Indeed, it is difficult to reconcile the basis of full and fair value for rental with the proposal in paragraph 5 for charging a premium also based on current land values, since that would appear to be charging for the value of the land itself twice.\n\n2\n\nI take it, therefore, that the operative proposal is to charge a rent in accordance with current practice at a conventional figure and require payment of a premium which will represent the balance of the undeveloped value of the land over and above that rental.\n\n36\n\nThis involves a complete withdrawal of any claim to a premium based on the developed value of the land, to which it has previously been held that Government is entitled. I am inclined to think that the concession suggested in paragraphs 4 and 5 of Lord Moyne's despatch of 17th March, 1941, was unnecessarily generous to leaseholders, since whatever is done in the case of these leases is bound to be a precedent when question of renewal of the 99-year leases and 75-year renewal leases comes up. I feel that paragraph of Lord Moyne's despatch referred to understated the importance of the issue. I should, therefore, be glad to know the reasons for the further concession proposed to leaseholders and to know, if it is possible to make such an assessment, how the terms now proposed under which the premium will be based solely on the undeveloped value of the land will compare in practice with those proposed in Lord Moyne's despatch under which in effect 50% of the total premium on the developed value was to be remitted.\n\nConcession offered in 1946 was approved specifically on the basis that it would encourage quicker redevelopment of damaged properties. I do not think, therefore, that it should be regarded as a precedent for permanent concessions to all leaseholders and available information suggests that there is in any case no need at present to offer any special additional incentives to building development in the Colony which present conditions make so exceptionally profitable.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-604-2 Crown Leases 23-2-1948 - 6-11-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 586673, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-604-2 Crown Leases 23-2-1948 - 6-11-1948", "page_number": 38, "title": "CO129-604-2 Crown Leases 23-2-1948 - 6-11-1948", "content_text": "a premium which will represent the balance of the \n\nVELOPED \n\nvalue' of the land over and above that rental. \n\n3. This involves a complete withdrawal \n\nof any claim to a premium based on the developed \n\nvalue of the land, to which it has previously been \n\nheld that Government is entitled. I am inclined \n\nto think that the concession suggested in \n\nparagraphs 4 and 5 of Lord Moyne's despatch of \n\n17th March, 1941, in any case was unnecessarily \n\ngenerous to leaseholders, and, since whatever is \n\ndone in the case of these leases is bound to be \n\na precedent when question of renewal of the 99-year \n\nleases and 75-year renewal leases comes up, I feel \n\nthat paragraph 4 of Lord Moyne's despatch referred \n\nto under-stated the importance of the issue. I \n\nshould, therefore, be glad to know the reasons \n\nfor the further concession proposed to leaseholders \n\nand to know, if it is possible to make such an \n\nassessment, how the terms now proposed under which \n\nthe premium will be based solely on the undeveloped \n\nvalue of the land will compare in practice with those \n\nproposed in Lord Moyne's despatch under which in \n\neffect 50% of the total premium on the developed \n\nvalue was to be remitted. \n\nConcession offered in 1946 was approved \n\nspecifically on the basis that it would encourage \n\nquicker redevelopment of damaged properties. I \n\ndo not think, therefore, that it should be regarded \n\nPERMANENT \n\nas a precedent for Concessions to all lease- \n\nholders and available information suggests that \n\nthere is in any case no need at present to offer any \n\nspecial additional incentives to building development \n\nin the Colony which present conditions make so \n\nexceptionally profitable. \n\nSECRET. \n\nCorrected version in HTML as per the instructions:\na premium which will represent the balance of the \n\nDEVELOPED \n\nvalue of the land over and above that rental. \n\n3. This involves a complete withdrawal \n\nof any claim to a premium based on the developed \n\nvalue of the land, to which it has previously been \n\nheld that Government is entitled. I am inclined \n\nto think that the concession suggested in \n\nparagraphs 4 and 5 of Lord Moyne's despatch of \n\n17th March, 1941, in any case was unnecessarily \n\ngenerous to leaseholders, and, since whatever is \n\ndone in the case of these leases is bound to be \n\na precedent when question of renewal of the 99-year \n\nleases and 75-year renewal leases comes up, I feel \n\nthat paragraph 4 of Lord Moyne's despatch referred \n\nto under-stated the importance of the issue. I \n\nshould, therefore, be glad to know the reasons \n\nfor the further concession proposed to leaseholders \n\nand to know, if it is possible to make such an \n\nassessment, how the terms now proposed under which \n\nthe premium will be based solely on the undeveloped \n\nvalue of the land will compare in practice with those \n\nproposed in Lord Moyne's despatch under which in \n\neffect 50% of the total premium on the developed \n\nvalue was to be remitted. \n\nConcession offered in 1946 was approved \n\nspecifically on the basis that it would encourage \n\nquicker redevelopment of damaged properties. I \n\ndo not think, therefore, that it should be regarded \n\nas a precedent for Concessions to all lease-\n\nholders and available information suggests that \n\nthere is in any case no need at present to offer any \n\nspecial additional incentives to building development \n\nin the Colony which present conditions make so \n\nexceptionally profitable. \n\nSECRET.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-604-2 Crown Leases 23-2-1948 - 6-11-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 586917, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-604-6 Immigration- control over entry from China 1-1-1947 - 4-1-1950", "page_number": 124, "title": "CO129-604-6 Immigration- control over entry from China 1-1-1947 - 4-1-1950", "content_text": "428\n\nTHE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.\n\n126\n\nSUPPLEMENT No. 3, AUGUST 19, 1949.\n\n127\n\n429\n\n2. In these circumstances and because of the incentive to enter which is presented while unrest prevails in China, the Colony has at this date a population greatly in excess of what it is capable of absorbing.\n\n3. The necessity is therefore presented of providing legislation which would enable action to be taken to expel persons who constitute undesirable elements in the surplus population and as such present serious problems in the maintenance of public order, safety and health within the Colony. The object of this Bill is to provide such legislation.\n\n4. The scheme envisaged by the Bill is that a competent authority after a summary inquiry and recording a finding that an individual is undesirable, may make an order expelling such individual from the Colony, (clause 3) unless he satisfies the competent authority that he is a British subject or that he has been ordinarily resident in the Colony for ten years or more.\n\n5. The prescribed inquiry will be a summary inquiry following the general lines of the summary procedure employed by a magistrate in the trial of summary offences but with certain modifications. (See clause 5 of the Bill.) The inquiry will be held at any authorized place, an expression which is given a wide interpretation by clause 2 of the Bill. (See the interpretation given to \"place of detention\" and \"accommodation camp\".) This is necessitated by the fact that in order to proceed with despatch it will be necessary to collect and detain suspected undesirables in camps or houses of detention. Power to establish camps is given to the Governor in Council by clause 6 and power to detain and remove undesirables and suspected undesirables is given to a police officer by clause 7. Further provision for detention and remand pending the prescribed inquiry and pending expulsion pursuant to an order, is made by clause 10.\n\n6. The grounds upon which a competent authority may declare an individual to be undesirable are set out in clause 4. They incorporate the grounds upon which a prospective immigrant can be refused permission to enter under section 11 of the Immigrants Control Ordinance, 1949. But additional grounds are provided for by the last three paragraphs of clause 4.\n\n7. An order of expulsion will be final and conclusive subject to revocation by the Governor. (Clause 11, which is so worded as to enable the Governor to revoke generally when the situation permits.) An order of expulsion, if not revoked, will be valid for five years (clause 8), whether or not the Ordinance continues to be in operation.\n\n8. A competent authority will be any justice of the peace and any person declared to be such by the Governor. A justice of the peace is, by clause 11, empowered to authorize, by warrant, entry and search of premises upon which there may be undesirables or suspected undesirables.\n\n9. Power to make regulations in relation, inter alia, to the management of and conduct to be observed in accommodation camps, is given to the Governor in Council by clause 13.\n\n10. The need for legislation as envisaged by the Bill is, as stated, related to conditions of over population of the Colony. At times when such conditions do not prevail such need would be diminished or disappear. For this reason the Bill (clause 14) gives power by resolution of Legislative Council to suspend the operation of \"the Ordinance\" and thereafter, as and when necessity to employ \"the Ordinance\" again occurs, to terminate such suspension.\n\nJ. B. GRIFFIN, Attorney General,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-604-6 Immigration- control over entry from China 1-1-1947 - 4-1-1950.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 586955, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-604-6 Immigration- control over entry from China 1-1-1947 - 4-1-1950", "page_number": 162, "title": "CO129-604-6 Immigration- control over entry from China 1-1-1947 - 4-1-1950", "content_text": "Press Extract from \n\n\"Times\" 9/6-8-49.\n\nPOWER OF EXPULSION IN HONGKONG\n\nRIGHT TO IMPOSE DEATH\n\nPENALTY\n\nFROM OUR CORRESPONDENT\n\nHONGKONG, AUG. 15\n\nA Bill to give power to expel undesirables from the colony will be introduced in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. It will not apply to British subjects, or to other persons who have resided in the colony for more than 10 years. Another Bill to be introduced on Wednesday will provide for the authorization of the death penalty for a number of offences hitherto punished by imprisonment.\n\nIn the Bill dealing with the expulsion of undesirables these are listed in 14 categories and include persons suspected of being likely to promote sedition or cause disturbance to public tranquillity, and those unable to support themselves. Expulsions may be ordered, after summary inquiry, by a magistrate or other competent authority appointed by the Governor. Camps will be set up for the examination of people arrested as suspected undesirables. An explanatory memorandum accompanying the Bill states that the colony has traditionally allowed free entry to all Chinese and that, in these circumstances and because of the incentive to enter which prevailed while unrest prevailed in China, the colony now had a much bigger population than it could absorb.\n\nPage 19\n\n166", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-604-6 Immigration- control over entry from China 1-1-1947 - 4-1-1950.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 587042, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949", "page_number": 20, "title": "CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949", "content_text": "HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\n233\n\nNow, Sir, the need for such re-inforcement of legislation would, of course, greatly diminish or disappear when peace returns to China, but on the teachings of history, it may be that the need for legislative re-inforcement on this topic will occur again in future. For this reason, Sir, clause 14 of the Bill makes provision for suspension and revival of the legislation by resolution of this Council as conditions in the Colony from time to time may dictate.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a First time.\n\nObjects and Reasons.\n\nThe \"Objects and Reasons\" for the Bill were stated as follows:—\n\n1. Hong Kong has traditionally allowed free ingress to Chinese except in times of emergency and the situation of the Colony's land frontier and the ease with which small water-borne craft can move in and out of the Colony's waters render control of such movement difficult and incomplete.\n\n2. In these circumstances and because of the incentive to enter which is presented while unrest prevails in China, the Colony has at this date a population greatly in excess of what it is capable of absorbing.\n\n3. The necessity is therefore presented of providing legislation which would enable action to be taken to expel persons who constitute undesirable elements in the surplus population and as such present serious problems in the maintenance of public order, safety and health within the Colony. The object of this Bill is to provide such legislation.\n\n4. The scheme envisaged by the Bill is that a competent authority after a summary inquiry and recording a finding that an individual is undesirable, may make an order expelling such individual from the Colony (clause 3), unless he satisfies the competent authority that he is a British subject or that he has been ordinarily resident in the Colony for ten years or more.\n\n5. The prescribed inquiry will be a summary inquiry following the general lines of the summary procedure employed by a magistrate in the trial of summary offences but with certain modifications. (See clause 5 of the Bill.) The inquiry will be held at any authorized place, an expression which is given a wide interpretation by clause 2 of the Bill. (See the interpretation given to \"place of detention\" and \"accommodation camp\".) This is necessitated by the fact that in order to proceed with despatch it will be necessary to collect and detain suspected undesirables in camps or houses of detention. Power to establish camps is given to the Governor in Council by clause 6 and power to detain and remove undesirables and suspected undesirables is given to a police officer by clause 7. Further provision for detention and remand pending the prescribed inquiry and pending expulsion pursuant to an order, is made by clause 10.\n\nPage 20\nPage 21", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 587059, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949", "page_number": 37, "title": "CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949", "content_text": "Order of expulsion to be final and conclusive subject to revocation by the Governor.\n\nPower of entry and search.\n\nPower to make regulations.\n\nPower to suspend operation of the Ordinance.\n\n6\n\n37\n\nas shall in the opinion of the competent authority be necessary for holding in respect of such suspected undesirable the prescribed inquiry.\n\n11. An order of expulsion shall be final and conclusive for all purposes whatsoever : Provided that it shall be lawful for the Governor in any particular case to revoke an order of expulsion or to declare generally that all orders of expulsion made hereunder with such exceptions (which may be expressed by reference to a class or classes of individuals or to grounds of undesirability) as he shall specify, shall be revoked.\n\n12. It shall be lawful for any justice of the peace or police officer duly authorized by warrant of any justice of the peace with such assistants as may be necessary, to enter and, if necessary, to break into any place in which it appears, from information given to such justice or of his own knowledge, there are undesirables or suspected undesirables.\n\n13. The Governor in Council may make regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance providing for-- (a) the management, control, hygiene, and sanitation of any accommodation camp;\n\n(b) the conduct to be observed by undesirables and suspected undesirables whilst they are detained in any accommodation camp;\n\n(c) the manner in which and the conditions under which any order of expulsion is to be carried into effect;\n\n(d) the forms to be used for any of the purposes of this Ordinance; and\n\n(e) generally for carrying this Ordinance into effect.\n\n14. (1) It shall be lawful for Legislative Council by resolution-\n\n(a) from time to time to declare the suspension of the operation of this Ordinance from the date named in the resolution; and\n\n(b) from time to time to declare that any suspension declared under paragraph (a) hereof shall terminate as from the date mentioned in the resolution.\n\n(2) The suspension of this Ordinance under paragraph (a) of sub-section (1) shall, until the termination of such suspension, without prejudice to section 11, have the same effect as the repeal of an enactment.\n\n(3) The termination of the suspension under paragraph (b) of sub-section (1) shall have the same effect as if the Ordinance had been re-enacted and come into operation on the date as from which the suspension is declared to terminate, save and except that any regulations which were in force at the date when the suspension, which has thus been terminated, came into effect, shall revive and continue to have full force and effect.\n\nObjects and Reasons.\n\n1. Hong Kong has traditionally allowed free ingress to Chinese except in times of emergency, and the situation of the Colony's land frontier and the ease with which small water-borne craft can move in and out of the Colony's waters render control of such movement difficult and incomplete.\n\n2. In these circumstances and because of the incentive to enter which is presented while unrest prevails in China, the Colony has at this date a population greatly in excess of what it is capable of absorbing.\n\n3. The necessity is therefore presented of providing legislation which would enable action to be taken to expel persons who constitute undesirable elements in the surplus population and as such present serious problems in the maintenance of public order, safety, and health within the Colony. The object of this Bill is to provide such legislation.\n\n4. The scheme envisaged by the Bill is that a competent authority, after a summary inquiry and recording a finding that an individual is undesirable, may make an order expelling such individual from the Colony, (clause 3) unless he satisfies the competent authority that he is a British subject or that he has been ordinarily resident in the Colony for ten years or more.\n\n5. The prescribed inquiry will be a summary inquiry following the general lines of the summary procedure employed by a magistrate in the trial of summary offences, but with certain modifications. (See clause 5 of the Bill.) The inquiry will be held at any authorized place, an\n\n39", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 587061, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949", "page_number": 39, "title": "CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949", "content_text": "EXPULSION OF UNDESIRABLES ORDINANCE, 1949.\n\nExplanatory observations in accordance with Article XXVIII of the Royal Instructions.\n\nThis Ordinance was passed with two amendments on the 31st August, 1949.\n\n2. The reasons for enacting this Ordinance are set out in the Objects and Reasons to the Bill. A copy of such Bill is attached as Annexure 'A'.\n\n3. The enactment of legislation such as that under report has long been contemplated. At an early date following the liberation of the Colony, a heavy incursion of population into Hong Kong commenced. In 1947, there were large numbers of Chinese, newcomers to the Colony, having no regular employment or prospect of obtaining any, nor any hope of adequate living conditions. Such conditions naturally produced serious danger to health and incentive to crime. In these circumstances, a scheme for voluntary repatriation at Government expense was put in force in 1947. The scheme, which achieved only very moderate success, was ancillary to the employment of the Vagrancy Ordinance, 1897, which applies to Chinese only to the extent provided by amendment of the Ordinance (No.41 of 1939), and the Deportation of Aliens Ordinance, 1935, whereby expulsion or deportation of persons coming within the ambit of that legislation can be effected. For a time, the measures above described sufficed to keep the position reasonably in check, but events in China in this year have created a refugee problem and an added incentive for incursion into the Colony. At this date, there are large numbers of Chinese, unemployed and unemployable, living in conditions of great squalor as squatters on any available space in or about the cities of Victoria and Kowloon. The resultant gross over-population of the Colony at the present time seriously overtaxes the resources of the Colony as regards food and water and presents a constant menace to health, the maintenance of law and order, and defence.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 587080, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949", "page_number": 58, "title": "CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949", "content_text": "428\n\nTHE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.\n\n66\n\nSUPPLEMENT No. 3, AUGUST 19, 1949.\n\n429\n\n2. In these circumstances and because of the incentive to enter which is presented while unrest prevails in China, the Colony has at this date a population greatly in excess of what it is capable of absorbing.\n\n3. The necessity is therefore presented of providing legislation which would enable action to be taken to expel persons who constitute undesirable elements in the surplus population and as such present serious problems in the maintenance of public order, safety and health within the Colony. The object of this Bill is to provide such legislation.\n\n4. The scheme envisaged by the Bill is that a competent authority after a summary inquiry and recording a finding that an individual is undesirable, may make an order expelling such individual from the Colony, (clause 3) unless he satisfies the competent authority that he is a British subject or that he has been ordinarily resident in the Colony for ten years or more.\n\n5. The prescribed inquiry will be a summary inquiry following the general lines of the summary procedure employed by a magistrate in the trial of summary offences but with certain modifications. (See clause 5 of the Bill.) The inquiry will be held at any authorized place, an expression which is given a wide interpretation by clause 2 of the Bill. (See the interpretation given to \"place of detention\" and \"accommodation camp\".) This is necessitated by the fact that in order to proceed with despatch it will be necessary to collect and detain suspected undesirables in camps or houses of detention. Power to establish camps is given to the Governor in Council by clause 6 and power to detain and remove undesirables and suspected undesirables is given to a police officer by clause 7. Further provision for detention and remand pending the prescribed inquiry and pending expulsion pursuant to an order, is made by clause 10.\n\n6. The grounds upon which a competent authority may declare an individual to be undesirable are set out in clause 4. They incorporate the grounds upon which a prospective immigrant can be refused permission to enter under section 11 of the Immigrants Control Ordinance, 1949. But additional grounds are provided for by the last three paragraphs of clause 4.\n\n7. An order of expulsion will be final and conclusive subject to revocation by the Governor. (Clause 11, which is so worded as to enable the Governor to revoke generally when the situation permits.) An order of expulsion, if not revoked, will be valid for five years (clause 8), whether or not the Ordinance continues to be in operation.\n\n8. A competent authority will be any justice of the peace and any person declared to be such by the Governor. A justice of the peace is, by clause 11, empowered to authorize, by warrant, entry and search of premises upon which there may be undesirables or suspected undesirables.\n\n9. Power to make regulations in relation, inter alia, to the management of and conduct to be observed in accommodation camps, is given to the Governor in Council by clause 13.\n\n10. The need for legislation as envisaged by the Bill is, as stated, related to conditions of over population of the Colony. At times when such conditions do not prevail such need would be diminished or disappear. For this reason the Bill (clause 14) gives power by resolution of Legislative Council to suspend the operation of \"the Ordinance\" and thereafter, as and when necessity to employ \"the Ordinance\" again occurs, to terminate such suspension.\n\nJ. B. GRIFFIN, Attorney General.\n\n67", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-604-7 Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance 1949 19-8-1949 - 16-12-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 589227, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941", "page_number": 151, "title": "CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941", "content_text": "2\n\n1\n\nThere was a definite lack of incentive to be troublesome for the benefit of the Port; in other words, their present job suffered for their prospective one. It followed that successors, knowing previous schemes had been allowed to fizzle out, were encouraged in a policy of laissez-faire for their short term of office. This would be disheartening and a check on the initiative and, consequently, on the efficiency of the whole Port staff, both senior and junior.\n\nDevelopment of the Port. This would be more likely to be proceeded with on properly regulated lines, and its various adjuncts would be better co-ordinated to a smoothly working service, if it were regarded as essential that its affairs should be in the hands of experts with prospective long terms in the Department, where improvements installed by them would be proved to the advantage of the Port under their own administration.\n\nTo emphasize the stultifying effect of lack of a settled policy in Harbour matters, I quote a case in my experience, where an owner of a valuable undeveloped marine lot has been unable to bring any of his schemes for its improvement to fruition because of four factors depending on:\n\n(a) Old 75 years lease. Terms of renewal undecided by Government until recently. Government schemes mooted but still in abeyance.\n\n(b) Government scheme to fill in his sea frontage by reclamation has been proposed.\n\n(c) Silting of frontage allowed to continue, possibly with (b) in mind.\n\n(d) Government scheme for a great new arterial road to Canton, which proposes to cut through his lot.\n\nIn consequence, his two piers have fallen into disuse, and the development of the site, whether in Marine Godowns, Factory buildings, or flats, cannot be planned.\n\nHarbour Police.\n\nI can see no advantage in a division of responsibilities here and believe shore and harbour police should be interchangeable, even if this might lead to less efficient work through lack of experience. Change of personnel would be a preventive to irregularities.\n\nFinance.\n\nIt is recognized that Harbour facilities are of the utmost importance to the Colony, but there is no certainty that revenues derived from the Port will not at present be diverted to objects other than the maintenance of the Port at the highest degree of efficiency by timely spending in development and the most modern equipment.\n\nThe Port Authority touches the outside world more closely than any purely domestic Government Department and, like a business firm, is affected by the competition of others; for instance, the neighbouring Port of Manila with its modernised equipment.\n\nS\n\n(Continued)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 590012, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-610-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 3-1-1947 - 29-12-1947", "page_number": 51, "title": "CO129-610-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 3-1-1947 - 29-12-1947", "content_text": "Note on present position regarding\n\nHong Kong University.\n\n(20th December, 1947)\n\n56 se\n\nThe Secretary of State last saw this file between the 15th and 20th August (see minutes), soon after we had received the Treasury's letter of 11th August at No.37, saying that the question of the grant of direct financial assistance from the United Kingdom to the scheme for rehabilitation of the Hong Kong University on an extended basis should be deferred owing to the crisis.\n\nWith the Secretary of State's approval, this view was accepted here, but in accepting it at No.40 we asked the Treasury to give assurances (a) that favourable consideration would be given to the proposals as soon as the financial situation should improve, and (b) that if we were able to find funds from sources open to the Hong Kong Government towards meeting part of the cost of the re-establishment of the University, which was to have been met from United Kingdom funds, any such expenditure would be repaid from United Kingdom funds at a later date. The Treasury replied on 12th September that they were unable to give such assurances (No.44).\n\nIn September-October, Dr. Sloss, the Vice-Chancellor of the University was in this country, and as a result of discussions with him the personal telegram at No.45 was sent to Hong Kong offering to approach the Treasury for a small token grant towards the cost of re-establishing the University on the 1941 basis, since Dr. Sloss had expressed the view that even this limited assistance from the United Kingdom might attract considerable local Chinese contributions.\n\nThe Governor replied (No.46) that he did not think such a token grant would provide a greater incentive to local contributors.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-610-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 3-1-1947 - 29-12-1947.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 590041, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-610-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 3-1-1947 - 29-12-1947", "page_number": 80, "title": "CO129-610-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 3-1-1947 - 29-12-1947", "content_text": "REGIS IERCU INO.\n\nGreat\n\n3.\n\nLETTER\n\nBY HANDSENT\n\nDATE\n\n78\n\n19th October, 1947.\n\nDear Sloss,\n\nDRAFT\n\nMR. Mayle\n\nMR.\n\nMR.\n\nENCLOSURES\n\nFURTHER ACTION\n\nHong Kong University\n\nAfter your talk with Sir Thomas Lloyd, we sent a telegram to the Governor of Hong Kong, who has now replied, as regards the token grant proposal, that he is of the opinion, as are members of the Council, that such a grant from the United Kingdom Treasury would not serve as an incentive to induce local Chinese to make more contributions than they otherwise would.\n\nSir Alexander Grantham goes on to say that he agrees that it would be a great mistake to wind up the University which he considers should be continued on a pre-war basis until such time as it is possible to expand it.\n\nTo close the gap between present revenue and the revenue which it will be necessary to obtain in order to resume pre-war scale activities, it is proposed that the Legislative Council should be asked to vote an annual sum estimated at $1½ million. As regards rehabilitation costs, Sir Alexander Grantham considers that there should be a capital grant from United Kingdom funds to cover this expenditure, which he estimates at $4 million. He asks for a reply on the latter point before the end of the month, as he considers it essential that an announcement of policy regarding the future of the University should not be further delayed.\n\nDR. D.J. SLOSS\n\nO.B.E.\n\nPage 80\nPage 81", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-610-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 3-1-1947 - 29-12-1947.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 590043, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-610-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 3-1-1947 - 29-12-1947", "page_number": 82, "title": "CO129-610-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 3-1-1947 - 29-12-1947", "content_text": "INWARD TELEGRAM\n\nTO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES\n\n80 46\n\nCOPY FOR REGISTRATION\n\nCode\n\nFROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)\n\nD. 9th October, 1947 R. 9th\n\n14.10 hs.\n\nRef: \n\n(45) Your telegram No. 1553 of 27th September, 1947.\n\nHong Kong University.\n\nFollowing for Malaya. Begins.\n\nI am of the opinion, as are the members of the Council, that a token grant from United Kingdom Treasury would not (repeat would not) serve as an incentive to induce local Chinese to make more contributions than they otherwise would.\n\nI agree that it would be a great mistake to wind up the University. University should be carried on as pre-war basis until such time as it is possible to expand.\n\nTo close the gap between present revenue and revenue which it will be necessary to obtain in order to carry on University on its pre-war scale, it is proposed that Legislative Council should be asked to vote an annual sum estimated at one and a half million dollars (Hong Kong) which may vary slightly more or less.\n\nThe figure given in this connection by Sloss of Hong Kong $700,000 is an underestimate.\n\nThere remains the question of rehabilitation. As you know, it was largely destroyed during the War. It seems only reasonable that this is a proper charge on H.M. Government, especially as this Government has not the funds to meet the cost. I must therefore ask that the Treasury be approached to make a capital grant of HK$4,000,000 which is the estimated cost of restoration.\n\nEnds", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-610-1 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 3-1-1947 - 29-12-1947.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 590387, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949", "page_number": 189, "title": "CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949", "content_text": "215\n\nThe return to the status of 1940 should mean that development then in progress will be taken up at the point then reached. This means that Honours courses in various subjects within the Faculties of Arts and Science will again be offered from September, 1948, that an increased number of medical students will be admitted and that provision for post-graduate studies in medicine will be made. Provision may have to be made for pre-clinical studies in Dentistry. Training of teachers of English for China can easily be combined with the training of teachers for the schools of the Colony. In place of the degree courses in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, which the University in 1939 had decided to relinquish, provision may possibly be made for the training of architects.\n\nThe purposes for which the University was founded are not forgotten, and as already indicated the question of developing it to the standard recommended by the Committee will be further considered as soon as practicable.\n\nIn the meantime, the re-establishment of the University on its 1940 scale will in itself provide an opportunity for growth, not necessarily in numbers but in maturity and in diversity of activities.\n\nThe incentive towards growth will come from within the University and from the desire of the people of Hong Kong that the University should reflect, in realms of science and intelligence, the success of the Colony in the realms of trade and industry. The interest of the Colony is shown in the generous measure of immediate help given by the Hong Kong Government.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 590417, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949", "page_number": 219, "title": "CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949", "content_text": "245\n\ndecision of the Government of Hong Kong to undertake the greater part of the financial burden of restoring the whole of the University buildings and equipment. The University is, therefore, in a position to assume that by the year 1952, by successive stages, it will be able to do all the work that it was equipped to perform in the year 1940.\n\nAs soon as the University authorities have been appointed and are able to meet, measures can be taken to fill vacancies in the staff of the University caused by deaths and retirement. Immediate steps will be taken for the selection of men for the Professorships in Medicine, Surgery, Pathology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and for Lectureships in some of these subjects. Recruitment of suitable men at this time will be difficult but it is confidently expected that the kind of work that can be offered to men will attract them to the Colony.\n\nThe return to the status of 1940 should mean that development then in progress will be taken up at the point then reached. This means that Honours courses in various subjects within the Faculties of Arts and Science will again be offered from September, 1948, that an increased number of medical students will be admitted and that provision for post-graduate studies in medicine will be made. Provision may have to be made for pre-clinical studies in Dentistry. Training of teachers of English for China can easily be combined with the training of teachers for the schools of the Colony. In place of the degree course in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, which the University in 1939 had decided to relinquish, provision may possibly be made for the training of architects.\n\nThe purposes for which the University was founded are not forgotten, and, as already indicated, the question of developing it to the standards recommended by the Committee will be considered as soon as practicable. In the meantime the re-establishment of the University on its 1940 scale will, in itself, provide an opportunity for growth, not necessarily in numbers but in maturity and in diversity of activities. The incentive towards growth will come from within the University and from the desire of the people of Hong Kong that the University should reflect, in realms of science and intelligence, the success of the Colony in the realms of trade and industry. The interest of the Colony is shown in the generous measure of immediate help given by the Hong Kong Government; help from outside will be the more easily achieved as the result of a demonstration of a local faith in the University's power in the future to serve the needs of the Colony and to aid in the rehabilitation of China.\n\nfor ove", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 590426, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949", "page_number": 228, "title": "CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949", "content_text": "254\n\nThe return to the status of 1940 should mean that development then in progress will be taken up at the point then reached. This means that Honours courses in various subjects within the Faculties of Arts and Science will again be offered from September, 1948, that an increased number of medical students will be admitted and that provision for post-graduate studies in medicine will be made. Provision may have to be made for pre-clinical studies in Dentistry. Training of teachers of English for China can easily be combined with the training of teachers for the schools of the Colony. In place of the degree course in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, which the University in 1939 had decided to relinquish, provision may possibly be made for the training of architects.\n\nThe purposes for which the University was founded are not forgotten. It was not merely to be a training ground for the people of the Colony, but was to be a centre from which the light of a distinctively British culture might permeate into South China. Immediately the means for the achievement of this end are not available, though with the goodwill of the Colonial Universities Grants Committee a modest provision for development may become available once the University is restored to its pre-war status. The Government has decided that the University must continue, but an inevitable consequence of healthy continuance is growth, not necessarily in numbers, but in maturity and in diversity of activities. The incentive towards growth will come from within the University and from the desire of the people of Hong Kong that the University should reflect, in realms of science and intelligence, the success of the Colony in the realms of trade and industry. The interest of the Colony is shown in the generous measure of immediate help given by the Hong Kong Government; help from outside will be the more easily achieved as the result of a demonstration of a local faith in the University's power in the future to serve the needs of the Colony and to aid in the rehabilitation of China.\n\n2nd January, 1948.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-610-2 Rehabilitation of Hong Kong University 9-1-1948 - 18-1-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 591625, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-612-1 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 21-1-1947 - 17-2-1948", "page_number": 101, "title": "CO129-612-1 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 21-1-1947 - 17-2-1948", "content_text": "that in a letter from the Secretary of State, dated 26th February 1946, selected experienced Civil Officers were asked to return to the Colony to assist in the \"taking over process\", but when application was made to the Secretary of State on a specific matter, the reply received left no doubt in the mind that the \"asking\" was tantamount to an order.\n\nNow it seems that those self-same selected experienced Officers have deteriorated during the past nine months, so much so, that it is now necessary to warn them of the factors involved.\n\n8.(a) \n9. However, the paragraph on the whole can be most readily summed up by saying \"to make the Police Force successful it will be achieved by making the 'experienced Officers' train those locally recruited and do double work while teaching the experienced officers recruited from other forces\".\n\nNo signs are evident of retrenchment amongst the newly recruited officers who are still totally inexperienced in local conditions, an experience which will only be gained by many years of service. It would appear certain that the system under which these Officers were recruited became a failure by the reappearance of the Pre-War Officers from internment, but having been planned it was put into effect irrespective of cost and to the detriment of the Pre-War Officers.\n\nThis certainly opposes the economic system which brought about the reorganisation plans of pre and post-war.\n\nThere are many issues arising out of this **Memorandum** but the two most important are :-\n\n1. **SALARY**.\n\nThe scale laid down in the Memorandum when suddenly thrust upon one, with the minimum of time to accept, appears to be an improvement, but, when analysed it has been noted that no one will receive any increase other than that which would have been expected had times remained normal.\n\nAt present there is little or no incentive for all to...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-612-1 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 21-1-1947 - 17-2-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 591626, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-612-1 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 21-1-1947 - 17-2-1948", "page_number": 102, "title": "CO129-612-1 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 21-1-1947 - 17-2-1948", "content_text": "## F 6.\n\nor no incentive for all to give their best since a feeling of uncertainty exists. To offset this, a revision of salary, which will restore or rather banish the unhappy feeling, is essential. However, such a revision has to be one which can be fairly applied to existing and prospective conditions.\n\nWe feel that notice should be taken of the public expressions and we quote from the \"public pulse\", the Leader and contributed articles in the local press. Their first and foremost attribution is that the Police Force, the guardians of the public, the corner stone of peace and security, are underpaid, also that an inference is cast where the underpaid, by corruption, make ends meet. This may not be entirely the truth, for the Police Force as a body has not yet been convicted for corruption. This is a reflection and a most damning obstacle to honest economy. Nevertheless, public opinion is one to be carefully studied and it more or less demands that its Police Force receive a remuneration which will lift its name, and the name of the Colony, out of the rut in which it now reposes.\n\nDuring internment, the public in general got a chance to see its Police Force in another light, especially the non-gazetted ranks who by their endeavours made life in the camp really bearable. Tasks, no matter how hard, were overcome by their work, so much so, when liberties of gatherings were permitted, we had many leading members of the Hong Kong business and social communities in their lectures, talks and addresses, praise the Police Force and made promises that they would be failing in their duties if they did not see to the welfare of the Police Officers when hostilities ceased. Today, they repeat those sentiments and are aghast at the idea that after 16 months of freedom the Pre-war officer is still on a Pre-War pay as compared with newly recruited men drawing much larger salaries and who have no local experience. Those who have heard of the proposed new scale of salaries and seniority roll, and how it affects the Pre-War Officers are left with amazement. Their murmurings are unprintable.\n\n101", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-612-1 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 21-1-1947 - 17-2-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 591859, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-612-2 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 29-1-1948 - 22-7-1949", "page_number": 154, "title": "CO129-612-2 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 29-1-1948 - 22-7-1949", "content_text": "# \n\nIn mind the factors previously enumerated, we would like to point out that in a letter from the Secretary of State, dated 26th February 1946, selected experienced civil officers were asked to return to the Colony to assist in the \"taking over process\", but when application was made to the Secretary of State on a specific matter, in the reply received, left no doubt in the mind that the \"asking\" was tantamount to an order.\n\nNow it seems that those self-same selected experienced officers have deteriorated during the past nine months, so much so, that it is now necessary to warn them of the factors involved.\n\nHowever, the paragraph on the whole can be most readily summed up by saying, \"to make the Police Force successful it will be achieved by making the 'experienced officers' train those locally recruited and do double work while teaching the experienced officers recruited from other forces.\"\n\nNo signs are evident of retrenchment amongst the newly recruited officers who are still totally inexperienced in local conditions, an experience which will only be gained by many years of service. It would appear certain that the system under which these officers were recruited became a failure by the reappearance of the Pre-War officers from internment, but having been planned, it was put into effect irrespective of cost and to the detriment of the Pre-War officers.\n\nThis certainly opposes the economic system which brought about the reorganisation plans of pre and post-war.\n\nThere are many issues arising out of this Memorandum, but the two most important are:-\n\n1. **SALARY**\n\nThe scale laid down in the Memorandum when suddenly thrust upon one, with the minimum of time to accept, appears to be an improvement, but, when analysed, it has been noted that no one will receive any increase other than that which would have been expected had times remained normal.\n\nAt present, there is little or no incentive for all to", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-612-2 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 29-1-1948 - 22-7-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 591912, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-612-2 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 29-1-1948 - 22-7-1949", "page_number": 205, "title": "CO129-612-2 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 29-1-1948 - 22-7-1949", "content_text": "## 8a \n\n9. Bearing in mind the factors previously enumerated. \n\nWe would like to point out that in a letter from the Secretary of State, dated 26th February 1946, selected experienced civil officers were asked to return to the Colony to assist in the \"taking over process\", but when application was made to the Secretary of State on a specific matter, the reply received left no doubt in the mind that the \"asking\" was tantamount to an order. \n\nNow it seems that those self-same selected experienced officers have deteriorated during the past nine months, so much so that it is now necessary to warn them of the factors involved. \n\nHowever, the paragraph on the whole can be most readily summed up by saying, \"to make the Police Force successful it will be achieved by making the 'experienced officers' train those locally recruited and do double work while teaching the experienced officers recruited from other forces.\" \n\nNo signs are evident of retrenchment amongst the newly recruited officers who are still totally inexperienced in local conditions, an experience which will only be gained by many years of service. It would appear certain that the system under which these officers were recruited became a failure by the reappearance of the Pre-War officers from internment, but having been planned, it was put into effect irrespective of cost and to the detriment of the Pre-War officers. \n\nThis certainly opposes the economic system which brought about the reorganisation plans of pre- and post-war. \n\nThere are many issues arising out of this Memorandum, but the two most important are:- \n\n1. **SALARY** \n\nThe scale laid down in the Memorandum, when suddenly thrust upon one with the minimum of time to accept, appears to be an improvement, but when analysed, it has been noted that no one will receive any increase other than that which would have been expected had times remained normal. \n\nAt present, there is little or no incentive for all to", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-612-2 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 29-1-1948 - 22-7-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 592678, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-614-1 Commission of Inquiry into fire at West Point- report 26-5-1949 - 22-12-1949", "page_number": 72, "title": "CO129-614-1 Commission of Inquiry into fire at West Point- report 26-5-1949 - 22-12-1949", "content_text": "51. 72 \n\nBe assured, it would be useless to make plans in advance based on their cooperation. Training would be arduous and would make considerable demands on time, whereas the incentive to achieve efficiency would be lacking owing to the rare occurrence of fires at which their services could be utilised. These same arguments may be used against the establishment of any auxiliary disciplined force, but we think that they are of particular cogency in regard to an Auxiliary Fire Service. An Auxiliary Fire Service would of course be of value if a state of emergency were declared, and if it were held in mobilised reserve.\n\nRecall of Firemen who are off duty at the time of a big fire: \n97. \n\nAlthough we do not recommend the formation of an Auxiliary Fire Service, we suggest that attention should be given to devising a scheme for recalling in emergency firemen who are off duty, if the watch which answers the call has to remain on duty for more than eight hours. It is clearly impracticable to provide accommodation for all firemen and their families at their duty-station, so that their absence from the station area when off duty is inevitable. We see no reason however why in a real emergency an outgoing watch should not return to duty after 8, rather than 24 hours' rest. If such a scheme had existed before the Wing On Fire, the watch which went off duty after nine o'clock during the fire could have been instructed to report back at 5 o'clock in the afternoon if not to the fire area itself at least to the Police Station nearest their homes, whence further instructions could be issued to them. There are other practical difficulties connected with recall whilst off duty, but we do not consider these to be insurmountable.\n\nWorks Fire Brigades: \n98. The Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company and a small number of factories have their own Works' Fire Brigades, who are available to deal with fires on the spot in their own work places and to render trained assistance to the Fire Brigade on its arrival. The formation of such brigades was welcomed by the Chief Officer, who advocated their extension. The training resources of the Colony's Brigade were at the disposal of firms who wished to form their own Works Brigade, and we", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-614-1 Commission of Inquiry into fire at West Point- report 26-5-1949 - 22-12-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 593238, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-615-2 Income tax 10-3-1947 - 6-2-1948", "page_number": 69, "title": "CO129-615-2 Income tax 10-3-1947 - 6-2-1948", "content_text": "# HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n## 151\n\nthe greatest amount of revenue will be derived. If it were to be replaced completely by some form of business licence, the position would be very different and the licence fee would have to be fixed at quite a high figure in order to produce the necessary revenue. Obviously, the smaller businesses could not afford to pay a high licence fee of this kind and it would be necessary to create administrative machinery to consider hundreds - or more probably, thousands - of applications on their merits with a view to scaling down the fee to an appropriate figure to meet the circumstances of each individual case. This would be a formidable task. Considerable extra staff would be required and whether each case was considered on its merits or the alternative and equally difficult method was adopted of fixing a graduated scale of fees and attempting to classify the various businesses accordingly, the results would, I fear, be far from satisfactory. How much simpler it will be to tax these concerns according to their actual profits as is now proposed! And how much more equitable will be the results! For it must not be forgotten that a business which actually made a loss would, under the scheme which has been proposed, still have to pay some form of licence fee.\n\nThen there is the Sales Tax. This proposed tax was not introduced in the United Kingdom primarily as a revenue-producing measure but rather to restrict the demand for consumer goods at a time when they were in very short supply. The tax is normally collected through the wholesalers, but this would not be practicable here, and it would be necessary to rely on collection through retailers. The opportunities for evasion would be extensive, and there would be far more incentive than in the case, say, of the restaurant meals tax, in respect of which large-scale evasion is nevertheless taking place. Moreover, if a general rise in the already extravagantly high cost of living were to be avoided, it would be necessary to exempt a long list of articles which could be regarded more or less as necessities. If Honourable Members will consider for a moment what proportion of their normal purchases are not really necessary and can be regarded purely as luxuries, they will, I think, agree that the range of goods which could reasonably be taxed without affecting the cost of living would not be very extensive. The luxury of yesterday is always tending to become the necessity of today, and if the range of goods taxed were very wide, the burden would fall more heavily on the man with a large family and on those with modest incomes than would the tax payable under the Bill which is the subject of this debate. Indeed, the effect of the Sales Tax would be that the amount of tax paid would be proportionate to the amount which the unfortunate individual was forced to spend to maintain his family.\n\nThe proposal that Customs Duty should be levied on luxury goods has not been so widely supported, and as the Hon. Mr. Watson has remarked in the course of his speech, the suggestion seems rather to have faded out. Unless the range of goods affected extended beyond the real luxury class into the necessity class, the nett yield would be unlikely to be very great. A considerable increase in the staff of \n\n## 68", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-615-2 Income tax 10-3-1947 - 6-2-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 593487, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-615-3 Income tax 24-2-1948 - 12-8-1948", "page_number": 55, "title": "CO129-615-3 Income tax 24-2-1948 - 12-8-1948", "content_text": "## Code \n\nFROM HONG KONG (31st A. Grantham) \n\nD. 30th March, 1948, R. 30th \n\n14.40 hrs, \nNo. 350 \n\n54 \n9 \n\nYour telegram No. 357(8) \n\nEstimates, \n\nThis telegram was only received just before first reading of Appropriation Bill was due to be taken. It was of course realised that it would have been greatly preferable for expenditure to have been covered by normal revenue and for arrears of earning and profit tax to have been utilised to build up reserves. This was not, unfortunately, possible on the present occasion, but it must be borne in mind that expenditure for the coming year is swollen abnormally by certain non-recurrent items such as $5,000,000 in respect of Kai-Tak (Hong Kong) compensation.\n\n(1)on 54281/140 \n\n2 \n\nI am much concerned by the scale of expenditure generally and it is my intention to review all departmental expenditure very carefully when Efficiency Expert (see my telegram No. 230) arrives. Over 60% of our personal emoluments bill is in respect of menial staff and it seems, however, that this is a relic of the days when human labour in the East was cheap and there is no particular incentive to economise in staff. Now that salary scales for the public service have been improved I propose in conjunction with the Efficiency Expert to examine establishment carefully with a view to cutting out all staff which is not strictly necessary. This was particularly stressed by the Financial Secretary in his Budget speech.\n\n30 \n\nAs regards the desirability of increasing the standard rate of earnings and profits tax, I have already in paragraph 3(7) of my confidential despatch No. 57 of 18th March explained that I should be reluctant to take such a step at the present juncture. So far evasions appear to have been on a smaller scale than was expected, but if the rate is increased there is little doubt that evasions will become widespread. The greatest difficulty is being experienced in checking assessments, even under present conditions, and owing to lack of progress in the recruitment of Assessors a little less than half the estimated tax to be assessed for the year has so far been collected, mostly from large taxpayers.\n\n40 \n\nEven to collect this amount it has been necessary to resort to provisional assessment in many cases. As regards efforts being made to bring assessments up to date, present staff are very inadequate. If, in addition, they have to combat large scale evasion, the position will become hopeless, and I would strongly recommend that nothing in the nature of increase in rate should be attempted until establishment of Assessors is brought up to strength. As I explained in last paragraph of my despatch No. 57,(7) the possibility of providing in Ordinance for taxation of income such as remittances to refugees received in Colony has been overlooked, but such a step is impossible while Department is seriously under-staffed as is the case at present.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-615-3 Income tax 24-2-1948 - 12-8-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 593490, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-615-3 Income tax 24-2-1948 - 12-8-1948", "page_number": 58, "title": "CO129-615-3 Income tax 24-2-1948 - 12-8-1948", "content_text": "`(2/230/47)`\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\nSir,\n\n`PC(34) on 147 file (12)` \n`54307/48 C/A Banarse(14)-Sandwain(15)`\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE, \nHONG KONG, \n18 March, 1948.\n\nI have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential despatch No. 40 dated 7th February, 1948, regarding the Inland Revenue Ordinance, No. 20 of 1947, and to note that the power of disallowance will not be exercised in respect thereof.\n\n2.\n\nThe initial difficulties encountered in setting up the organisation for the administration of this Ordinance have been acute and, as you are aware, from the numerous staff telegrams that you have received, the Inland Revenue Department is still labouring under great disadvantages in the matter of staff. As the work of assessment has fallen into arrears because of lack of qualified staff, the collection of tax in respect of the year 1947/48 will by no means be completed by the 31st March, 1948. From such returns as have already been received and listed for assessment as and when staff becomes available, it is expected that the total tax to be assessed in respect of the year 1947/48 will be over $30,000,000 as compared with the token estimate of $16,000,000 which was included in the budget before the standard rate of tax had been fixed. Actual collections, however, during the year are expected, according to the latest estimate of the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, to be in the neighbourhood of $14,000,000, this amount having been made up to a substantial extent by provisional assessments subject to review when adequate staff is available.\n\n3.\n\nIn view of the difficulties under which the Department is labouring, I am glad to note that you do not consider it necessary that steps should be taken at present to increase the revenue from this source. The levels of the allowances and of the rate of tax at the moment are such that attempts to stimulate yield by altering these levels would undoubtedly provide the incentive for large scale evasion, and I should be most reluctant to take this step until the Department is adequately staffed and equipped for dealing with any such development. At present it is emphatically not so staffed.\n\n4.\n\nYou have in paragraph 3 of your despatch under reference referred to the lack of any provision in the Ordinance for the exemption of certain societies and organizations. No statutory or registered building or friendly societies or local authorities exist in the Colony, and it has not therefore been necessary to provide for their exemption. The question of charitable organizations has already arisen and the necessary provision is being made in an amending Ordinance which is now in course of preparation. The amendment suggested in paragraph 5 of your despatch will be incorporated in this Ordinance.\n\n5.\n\nThe question of providing in the Ordinance for taxation of income received in the Colony from abroad is not being overlooked, but again staff shortages alone render any such widening of the basis of taxation impracticable at the moment. This matter is to some extent bound up with the question of introducing arrangements with other Governments for relief from double taxation, and I propose that Mr. Pudney, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, should take the opportunity that will be afforded by his presence in England on leave later in the course of this year to discuss these points with you and with representatives of the United Kingdom Inland Revenue Department. Subject to your approval, therefore, I propose to defer consideration until his return.\n\nI have the honour to be, Sir, \nYour most obedient, humble servant, \nC. O. REGY\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE \nA. CREECH JONES, M.P. \n`COMFOR.` \n`No 57` \n`Page ...` \n`RECEIVED`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-615-3 Income tax 24-2-1948 - 12-8-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 594024, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-616-6 Hotels Ordinance- 1949 21-2-1949 - 21-2-1949", "page_number": 37, "title": "CO129-616-6 Hotels Ordinance- 1949 21-2-1949 - 21-2-1949", "content_text": "37 \n\nhotels might very well make little or no profit and they were generally apprehensive. Mr. Fitzgerald went on to say that he doubted whether the Ordinance would achieve the desired object of helping the Hong Kong resident. Any ex-Shanghai refugee who intended to stay in Hong Kong at least six months could qualify as a resident; a hotelier could pick and choose which residents he would have, although there would of course be no financial incentive to discriminate.\n\nMr. de Comarmon said he imagined the Quartering Authority would know the number of 'declared' Hong Kong residents and whether the reserved accommodation corresponded.\n\nMr. Fitzgerald again emphasised his clients' objection to the very wide powers taken in Section 4 (which went far beyond the Advisory Committee's recommendations) and the importance they attached to there being a right of appeal. He remarked that the privilege of making representation to the Governor against the working of control was not very comforting, particularly if accounts had first to be worked out to show that the hotels were working at a loss. He referred again to the \"Lucky\" and \"Tuck Lin\" Apartments, which he contended had wrongly been excluded from the exempt category of Chinese boarding houses, with the result that takings had dropped about 30%. Mr. Cudden added that it was suggested that the two Chinese boarding houses had been singled out for control so that the provisions of the Ordinance should not appear to benefit only Hong Kong residents using European-type hotels.\n\n5. Concluding, Mr. Sidebotham said there was no indication that hotels in Hong Kong were being ruined or that control was working harshly or unsatisfactorily. We would", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-616-6 Hotels Ordinance- 1949 21-2-1949 - 21-2-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 594155, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-616-6 Hotels Ordinance- 1949 21-2-1949 - 21-2-1949", "page_number": 168, "title": "CO129-616-6 Hotels Ordinance- 1949 21-2-1949 - 21-2-1949", "content_text": "# Hong Kong Hansard\n\n## Report of Hong Kong Legislative Council\n\n### HOTELS BILL, 1949\n\n**THE ATTORNEY GENERAL** moved the First reading of a Bill intituled \"An Ordinance to make provision for the control of accommodation provided by and charges made by hotels.\" He said: Sir, it will be recalled that in August last year, Your Excellency appointed a Committee to enquire into and advise Government concerning the rates to be charged in Hotels. This Committee, after considerable deliberation and work, reported and a copy of that Report has been laid before this Council. The Bill which is now before Council for First reading has two main objectives.\n\nFirstly, it seeks to provide ordinary legislation to enable, where necessary, measures of control to be imposed in respect of accommodation and charges made by hotels, and to do this by way of legislation by ordinance, rather than by perpetuation of the method of control by use of Defence Regulations. Thus, this legislation will meet the desire which has often been expressed in this Council that in time of peace, the law of the Colony should be the law as enacted by this Council and should not be law enacted by defence or emergency regulations.\n\nThe second objective is to enable control by way of enforcing a reservation of accommodation in hotels. Such form of control could not, in fact, have been imposed by way of defence regulations.\n\nSir, it will be seen that the Bill before Council is, in the main, an enabling measure to enable regulations to be made under it. It will be seen that by clause 4, power is given to the Quartering Authority to make regulations and to make regulations on the matters enumerated in that clause. A safeguard is, however, included in that any regulations so made will require to be submitted to the Governor and would not be enforced until approved by resolution of this Council.\n\nAs I have indicated, the main incentive to this legislation has been afforded by the Report of the Committee to which I have referred, and it is obvious that it is necessary that regulations should be made to conform with the recommendations of that Report sooner rather than later. Thus, it will be observed that Regulations have, in fact, been drafted and appear as a Schedule to this Bill. Thus, it will happen that upon enactment of this Bill, regulations will also have been made.\n\nThe main recommendations of the Committee's Report were that percentages of accommodation as set out in the Report should be reserved in hotels named in the Report, such reservation to be in the interests of resident guests. Secondly, that the charges for accommodation so reserved shall be restricted to the amounts mentioned respectively in the Report. Thirdly, that electricity charges other than for electricity supplied for lighting purposes shall be controlled to the extent of the charges again named in the Report.\n\nAccordingly, the Regulations give effect to such recommendations; the Regulations, I mean, as they appear as a Schedule to the Bill. It will be seen that in so doing, however, there has been one departure...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-616-6 Hotels Ordinance- 1949 21-2-1949 - 21-2-1949.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 594476, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-617-7 Development- possible implementation of CD and W Committee recommendations 18-2-1948 - 12-10-1948", "page_number": 56, "title": "CO129-617-7 Development- possible implementation of CD and W Committee recommendations 18-2-1948 - 12-10-1948", "content_text": "# My Mayhe \n\n56 \n\n6 \n\n(3) \n\n(3) a '47 file \n\n(2/2571/48) \n\nOry. on `19888/17/48` \n\nNo. 116. \n\nSir, \n\n`19888/17/48` \n## GOVERMENT HOUSE, HONG KONG. \n### 21st May, 1948. \n\nI have the honour to refer to your despatch No. 107 of 10th April, 1948, forwarding a copy of Dr. Miclling's report on the fisheries of Hong Kong, and in compliance with your request in the last paragraph of the despatch to forward for your consideration my comments upon the contents of the report.\n\nThere is an apparent misunderstanding of the position of the Hong Kong fishing fleet with regard to mechanisation manifested by the report of a meeting of the Colonial Fisheries Advisory Committee forwarded with your despatch under reference. Mechanisation is not a thing of the future: it has already begun. Applications have been received from various business interests for permission to operate from the Colony powered fishing trawlers and other fishing vessels to a number exceeding fifty. I have felt unable to refuse these applications because to do so would be in my estimation a repressive if not actually a retrograde step. There is in any case no legal authority at present existing under which I could refuse such permission. It is important, therefore, in the interests of the local fisherfolk that such development should take place under control and that the operation of powered fishing vessels from Hong Kong should be subject to guidance so far as this is possible, were commercial interests permitted at once to embark upon unlimited and uncontrolled mechanised fishing, the effect upon the welfare of the fishing population might well be disastrous. These people have already, during the Japanese occupation, suffered severe privations and it has been the prime object of the fisheries organization established since the war to attend to their welfare and to improve their lot. It would be foolish to cast away the benefits of these exertions by exposing the local fisherfolk to a threat with which they would not have the power to compete. There is little doubt that, given the necessary incentive, many of the local fishermen will be keen to adopt mechanisation. Money expended in this cause will be well spent and I feel sure that the Colonial Fisheries Advisory Committee may rest assured that there will be no reckless use of Development and welfare funds but that money devoted to the mechanization of the local fishing fleet will contribute directly to the continued and increased prosperity of the fisherfolk. I find it difficult to accept the view of the Committee that this scheme is one which should more properly be financed from Hong Kong Government funds than from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds. There are very many calls upon the Colony's revenue, particularly in this post-war period of reconstruction and projects even as worthy as that of mechanizing the fishing fleet run the risk of deferment until funds are more copious. Certainly there is at present no prospect of a sum of the magnitude required being found from the Colony's revenue for this purpose and it is unlikely that the financial position of the Colony will improve within the next few years to such an extent that funds will become available. I therefore reinforce the recommendation made in my despatch No. 244 of 23rd October, 1947, that £250,000 should be allotted from the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund for the purpose of mechanizing the Hong Kong Fishing Fleet.\n\n## THE RIGHT HONOURABLE \n### A. CREECH JONES, M.P.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-617-7 Development- possible implementation of CD and W Committee recommendations 18-2-1948 - 12-10-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 594582, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-618-3 University of Hong Kong- grants and financial assistance 6-5-1948 - 10-6-1948", "page_number": 17, "title": "CO129-618-3 University of Hong Kong- grants and financial assistance 6-5-1948 - 10-6-1948", "content_text": "## Re-establishment of the University\n\npart of the University buildings, laboratories and equipment, it could only reconstruct an institution of University status by building up, as it were, from the bottom, and therefore admitted in 1946 students to first year classes, and in 1947 students to first year and second year classes. So, year by year, the student body of the University is being re-established. Buildings have been restored as they were required and equipment ordered (mainly in the United Kingdom) has come to hand, but very much more slowly than was hoped, and at greater cost.\n\nThe success of these extemporized measures has been such that it is now believed that the time has come formally to restore the University by the re-establishment of its governing authorities. This has been made practicable by a generous decision of the Government of Hong Kong to undertake the greater part of the financial burden of restoring the whole of the University buildings and equipment. The University is, therefore, in a position to assume that by the year 1952, by successive stages, it will be able to do all the work that it was equipped to perform in the year 1940.\n\nAs soon as the University authorities have been appointed and are able to meet, measures can be taken to fill vacancies in the staff of the University caused by deaths and retirement. Immediate steps will be taken for the selection of men for the Professorships in Medicine, Surgery, Pathology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and for Lectureships in some of these subjects. Recruitment of suitable men at this time will be difficult but it is confidently expected that the kind of work that can be offered to men will attract them to the Colony. The return to the status of 1940 should mean that development then in progress will be taken up at the point then reached. This means that Honours courses in various subjects within the faculties of Arts and Science will again be offered from September, 1948, that an increased number of medical students will be admitted and that provision for post-graduate studies in medicine will be made. Provision may have to be made for pre-clinical studies in Dentistry. Training of teachers of English for China can easily be combined with the training of teachers for the schools of the Colony.\n\nIn place of the degree course in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, which the University in 1939 had decided to relinquish, provision may possibly be made for the training of architects.\n\nThe purposes for which the University was founded are not forgotten, and, as already indicated, the question of developing it to the standards recommended by the Committee will be further considered as soon as practicable. In the meantime the re-establishment of the University on its 1940 scale will, in itself, provide an opportunity for growth, not necessarily in numbers but in maturity and in diversity of activities. The incentive towards growth will come from within the University and from the desire of the people of Hong Kong that the University should reflect, in realms of science and intelligence, the success of the Colony in the realms of trade and industry. The interest of the Colony is shown in the generous measure of immediate help given by the Hong Kong Government.\n\n17", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-618-3 University of Hong Kong- grants and financial assistance 6-5-1948 - 10-6-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 594611, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-618-3 University of Hong Kong- grants and financial assistance 6-5-1948 - 10-6-1948", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-618-3 University of Hong Kong- grants and financial assistance 6-5-1948 - 10-6-1948", "content_text": "part of the University buildings, laboratories and equipment, it could only reconstruct an institution of University status by building up, as it were, from the bottom, and therefore admitted in 1946 students to first year classes, and in 1947 students to first year and second year classes. So, year by year, the student body of the University is being re-established. Buildings have been restored as they were required and equipment ordered (mainly in the United Kingdom) has come to hand, but very much more slowly than was hoped, and at greater cost.\n\nThe success of these extemporized measures has been such that it is now believed that the time has come formally to restore the University by the re-establishment of its governing authorities. This has been made practicable by a generous decision of the Government of Hong Kong to undertake the greater part of the financial burden of restoring the whole of the University buildings and equipment.\n\nThe University is, therefore, in a position to assume that by the year 1952, by successive stages, it will be able to do all the work that it was equipped to perform in the year 1940.\n\nAs soon as the University authorities have been appointed and are able to meet, measures can be taken to fill vacancies in the staff of the University caused by deaths and retirement. Immediate steps will be taken for the selection of men for the Professorships in Medicine, Surgery, Pathology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and for Lectureships in some of these subjects. Recruitment of suitable men at this time will be difficult but it is confidently expected that the kind of work that can be offered to men will attract them to the Colony.\n\nThe return to the status of 1940 should mean that development then in progress will be taken up at the point then reached. This means that Honours courses in various subjects within the faculties of Arts and Science will again be offered from September, 1948, that an increased number of medical students will be admitted and that provision for post-graduate studies in medicine will be made. Provision may have to be made for pre-clinical studies in Dentistry. Training of teachers of English for China can easily be combined with the training of teachers for the schools of the Colony.\n\nIn place of the degree course in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, which the University in 1939 had decided to relinquish, provision may possibly be made for the training of architects.\n\nThe purposes for which the University was founded are not forgotten, and, as already indicated, the question of developing it to the standards recommended by the Committee will be further considered as soon as practicable.\n\nIn the meantime the re-establishment of the University on its 1940 scale will, in itself, provide an opportunity for growth, not necessarily in numbers but in maturity and in diversity of activities. The incentive towards growth will come from within the University and from the desire of the people of Hong Kong that the University should reflect, in realms of science and intelligence, the success of the Colony in the realms of trade and industry. The interest of the Colony is shown in the generous measure of immediate help given by the Hong Kong Government.\n\n46", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-618-3 University of Hong Kong- grants and financial assistance 6-5-1948 - 10-6-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 594797, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-618-7 Port Adminstation Inquiry Committee- report and minutes of meetings 1-1-1945 - 31-12-1946", "page_number": 67, "title": "CO129-618-7 Port Adminstation Inquiry Committee- report and minutes of meetings 1-1-1945 - 31-12-1946", "content_text": "## 2 K\n\nThere was a definite lack of incentive to be troublesome for the benefit of the Port; in other words, their present job suffered for their prospective one. It followed that successors, knowing previous schemes had been allowed to fizzle out, were encouraged in a policy of laisser faire for their short term of office. This would be disheartening and a check on the initiative and consequently on the efficiency of the whole Port staff, both senior and junior.\n\nDevelopment of the Port. This would be more likely to be proceeded with on properly regulated lines, and its various adjuncts would be better co-ordinated to a smoothly working service, if it were regarded as essential that its affairs should be in the hands of experts with prospective long terms in the Department, where improvements installed by them would be proved to the advantage of the Port under their own administration.\n\nTo emphasize the stultifying effect of lack of a settled policy in Harbour matters, I quote a case in my experience, where an owner of a valuable undeveloped marine lot has been unable to bring any of his schemes for its improvement to fruition because of four factors depending on -\n| Factor | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| (a) | Old 75 years lease. Terms of renewal undecided by Government until recently. Government schemes mooted but still in abeyance. Government scheme to fill in his sea frontage by reclamation has been proposed. |\n| (b) | Silting of frontage allowed to continue possibly with (b) in mind. |\n| (c) | Government scheme for great new arterial road to Canton which proposes to cut through his lot. |\n\n(a) is repeated, likely in error.\n\nIn consequence, his two piers have fallen into disuse and the development of the site, whether in Marine Godowns, Factory buildings, or flats, cannot be planned.\n\n### Harbour Police\n\nI can see no advantage in a division of responsibilities here and believe shore and harbour police should be interchangeable, even if this might lead to less efficient work through lack of experience. Change of personnel would be a preventive to irregularities.\n\n### Finance\n\nIt is recognized that Harbour facilities are of the utmost importance to the Colony, but there is no certainty that revenues derived from the Port will not at present be diverted to objects other than the maintenance of the Port at the highest degree of efficiency by timeous spending, in development and the most modern equipment.\n\nThe Port Authority touches the outside world more closely than any purely domestic Government Department and, like a business firm, is affected by the competition of others; for instance, the neighbouring Port of Manila with its modernised equipment.\n\n(Continued)\n\n## 67", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-618-7 Port Adminstation Inquiry Committee- report and minutes of meetings 1-1-1945 - 31-12-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 597667, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-624-8 Immigration control- expulsion of undesirables 1-8-1949 - 31-1-1951", "page_number": 45, "title": "CO129-624-8 Immigration control- expulsion of undesirables 1-8-1949 - 31-1-1951", "content_text": "Secretariat 16/323 VINGRAM\n\nTo the Secretary of State for the Colonies.\n\nFrom the Governor, Hong Kong.\n\nDate 8 May, 1950.\n\nNo. 507 CONFIDENTIAL.\n\n13.\n\n436.\n\nYour confidential despatch No. 64 of 15th March, 1950, and your confidential telegram saving No. 322 (4) of 28th March, 1950.\n\n12 MAY 20 REGISTR\n\n1.\n\nExpulsion of Undesirables Ordinance, 1949.\n\nI note the importance which you attach to the fact that this legislation should be reserved for use in an emergency and not employed as a convenient method of effecting deportation. I share this view subject to what is said below.\n\n2.\n\nWhen this Ordinance was introduced, there seemed every likelihood that it would need to be put into immediate operation. Action was, however, deferred for two main reasons; one being that following the fall of Canton the situation in Hong Kong did not at once appear to be as serious as had been expected, and the other that the only camp which would have made possible action on a large scale had to be set aside to meet the needs of the reinforced garrison.\n\n3.\n\nSince last autumn, as you are aware from other correspondence in which I have reported the continued alarming increase in population and the consequent intensification of the squatter problem, the situation has gradually deteriorated. Unofficial estimates place the population at well over two million; weekly returns of railway passengers show a continual excess of inward over outward passengers consequent upon the worsening of conditions in Canton and Kwangtung generally. The number of potential criminals and destitutes who have gained admission to the Colony has seriously increased and there is positive evidence that, while the Chinese authorities do what they can to prevent their able-bodied nationals from leaving China, they place no obstacles whatever in the way of the infirm, destitutes and other undesirables who wish to enter this Colony.\n\n4.\n\nThere is every reason for thinking that, in the absence of positive preventive measures on our part, the situation will deteriorate still further in the coming months. The plain fact is, therefore, that the emergency to which I have referred in paragraph 2 above is virtually upon us.\n\n5.\n\nAs you are aware, steps have recently been taken to remove the exclusion from the Immigrants Control Ordinance formerly enjoyed by Chinese entering from the mainland of China or from Macao. This measure gives the Police power to control the influx of Chinese from these areas but it is not to be supposed that effective control can, in fact, be imposed for some time to come, and then only at considerable additional cost in material and personnel and at the risk of some economic disruption. The position is, therefore, that we now have the means whereby unrestricted entry from the mainland and from Macao can be limited. There is no doubt, however, that unauthorised entry will continue and that the incentive to evade controls will increase proportionately with the deterioration of", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-624-8 Immigration control- expulsion of undesirables 1-8-1949 - 31-1-1951.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 598253, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-625-6 Hong Kong University- endowment fund 1-5-1951 - 30-9-1951", "page_number": 7, "title": "CO129-625-6 Hong Kong University- endowment fund 1-5-1951 - 30-9-1951", "content_text": "7\n\nwas informed of the position.\n\nIn Hong Kong's reply at (46)\n\nthe Governor agreed that it would be a mistake for the University to close and it should carry on on a pre-war basis until such time as it was possible to expand it. It was suggested however that H.M.G. should make a capital grant of £250,000 (i.e. £250,000) to restore the University to its 1941 level. The Treasury again turned this down and Hong Kong were informed accordingly see (52) on 1947 file though it was agreed that the capital and recurrent charges on this project should be borne on the Hong Kong estimates (Hong Kong was then under Treasury financial control). The note at (56) on 54147/47 summarises the position up to 20th December, 1947.\n\n8. The savingram at (2) on 54147/48 shows clearly that Hong Kong were not prepared to accept the recommendation of the Hong Kong University Advisory Committee that the University should close unless it could be developed on the lines recommended by the Committee. In fact the Hong Kong Government were prepared to meet the costs of rehabilitation and recurrent charges from its own resources knowing that assistance from the United Kingdom was most unlikely. A copy of a statement made by the Governor on the future of the University is behind (24) on the 48 file.\n\n9. The Hansard extract column 20 at (42) on the 1948 file shows that H.M.G. did, after all, agree to make a free grant of £250,000 for the Hong Kong University and the telegram at (44) shows that this amount was in addition to and not in place of the funds made available by the Hong Kong Government itself.\n\n10. (c) of paragraph 2 above has been covered in paragraphs 6 to 9 and although it will undoubtedly have a serious effect on British prestige if the University's activities have to be curtailed, the Governor and the Hong Kong Government and the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Sloss, were all fully aware that further assistance from H.M.G. was unlikely to be given. The grant of £500,000 (£250,000 in 1948 and £250,000 in 1950) is surely an answer to allegations that the refusal of a further contribution \"would be taken as a clear sign that H.M.G. did not intend to stay in the Colony\".\n\n11. As regards (a) of paragraph 2 that a contribution from H.M.G. would make it easier to raise money in Hong Kong, a somewhat similar suggestion was made in 1947 - see paragraphs 3 and 4 of (45) on 54147/47. At (46) the Governor replied \"I am of the opinion, as are members of the Council, that a token grant from U.K. Treasury would not serve as an incentive to induce local Chinese to make more contributions than they otherwise would\". The present proposal is slightly different in that it is a \"matching\" proposal, i.e. similar amounts will be contributed by the Colony and H.M.G.\n\n12. To sum up.\n\nThere is no doubt that if the activities of the University have to be curtailed it will have an adverse effect on British prestige in the Far East. It will probably be impossible to raise sufficient money locally to establish an endowment fund for the University unless H.M.G. also agree to assist. On the other hand H.M.G. having granted £500,000 for the University in recent years and having made it clear that it was not prepared to accept full financial responsibility for the University, Hong Kong have been very slow in trying to help themselves. The Endowment Fund proposal was made in April, 1950 and efforts could have been made in Hong Kong during 1950 and even early 1951 to raise some money before the present restrictions reduced the Colony's trade and prosperity. The level of taxation in Hong Kong is extremely low.\n\n13. I think the previous minutes on this file make it clear that H.M.G. should not be asked to give any more money to the University and that the U.K's financial position would not justify an approach to the Treasury during the present difficult period this country is passing through.\n\n/unless", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-625-6 Hong Kong University- endowment fund 1-5-1951 - 30-9-1951.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 598276, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-625-6 Hong Kong University- endowment fund 1-5-1951 - 30-9-1951", "page_number": 30, "title": "CO129-625-6 Hong Kong University- endowment fund 1-5-1951 - 30-9-1951", "content_text": "NOTE OF A MEETING IN MR. PASKIN'S ROOM AT 11.0 a.m. ON 16TH AUGUST\n\nPresent:\n\nMr. Paskin in the chair\n\nSir Arthur Morse) Members of Executive Council, Hong Kong\n\nSir Man Kam Lo\n\nMr. Sidebotham\n\nMr. Hall\n\nMr. Paskin opened the meeting by referring to Hong Kong telegram No. 858 (32) and suggested there were two points for consideration:\n\n(a) How the proposal would be accepted in Hong Kong as it would leave so much less of the Japanese assets for other things; and\n\n(b) the proposal would seem on the face of it to do away with any incentive for private subscriptions. There was a feeling here that some of the more wealthy Hong Kong inhabitants should assist by contributing to the upkeep of such institutions.\n\nSir A. Morse said that there were other things which could be supported by local contributions. For example, there was the need for a decent library. The Jockey Club might be prepared to assist in establishing one provided it could be used by the public in general (i.e., its use would not be restricted to any particular section). This would cost about 1 million. The Jockey Club had also been interested in endowing scholarships rather than in contributing directly to the University Endowment Fund. He thought we could say that having agreed to $16 million of the Japanese assets being used for the creation of the Endowment Fund it was still up to Hong Kong to do more.\n\nSir M. K. Lo said that one of the difficulties about raising money for the University was the uncertainty about its future. Sir A. Morse agreed that the setting up of an Endowment Fund would have an enormous effect on public opinion. Both Sir M. K. Lo and Sir A. Morse thought that once it was clear that the University was on a sound financial footing, people would be prepared to help it. There was already a proposal to endow three research scholarships. The University would provide for two and the business community would provide the third. There had, however, been some opposition to this as it was argued that while the future of the University was so uncertain it would be foolish to waste money on it. There was another aspect. When the Japanese occupied Hong Kong they did all they could to remove all traces of \"Western culture\". It would be a good gesture to put the University on a permanent basis by using Japanese assets for this purpose!\n\nSir A. Morse thought that it should still be possible to raise more money locally for the library and for further scholarships but in the latter case it would be wrong to specify any particular number of scholarships as experience had shown that funds set aside for particular scholarships had proved inadequate at a later date when the rise in costs had exceeded the income. He thought sums should be set aside for the provision of scholarships but the actual number should depend on the circumstances prevailing at the time.\n\nMr. Sidebotham proposed that a sentence should be added to the proposed announcement after \"boys and girls\" on the lines \"and the other urgent needs of the University such as a new library, and provision for further scholarships will be met by local subscriptions\".\n\nSir A. Morse and Sir M. K. Lo welcomed this suggestion.\n\nSir M. K. Lo enquired when the money was likely to become available.\n\nMr. Paskin\n\nPage 30\n\nPage 31", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-625-6 Hong Kong University- endowment fund 1-5-1951 - 30-9-1951.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 598395, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-625-8 Hong Kong University- institute of Chinese studies; includes a report on the death of John... 1-2-1950 - 30-4-1950", "page_number": 28, "title": "CO129-625-8 Hong Kong University- institute of Chinese studies; includes a report on the death of John... 1-2-1950 - 30-4-1950", "content_text": "2\n\n28 End\n\nI consider that it is of the first importance that an Administrative Officer should be able to speak the language of the people he serves and that, save in exceptional cases, he will not be able adequately to perform his duties if he has not that ability. The groundwork of a sound knowledge of the language is laid in the First Devonshire Course and I suggest for your consideration that to add an incentive to Cantonese studies, 50% of the marks awarded on the Course as a whole should be allotted to that study, a division which in my opinion correctly reflects its importance in relation to the other subjects in the Course.\n\n5.\n\nI would also venture to suggest for your consideration that more time during the Course be allotted to Cantonese studies. I understand from Professor Dora Edwards of the London School of Oriental & African Studies that the proposed syllabus consists of 10 hours a week of Cantonese studies and 11 hours a week devoted to other subjects, plus occasional visits to courts, etc. It is, I understand, impracticable for additional instruction in Cantonese to be given during the University vacations and I therefore suggest that such instruction might be given in place of the periods now allotted to Anthropology and Social Structure, and the study of Society, subjects which I consider to be of less importance in Hong Kong than a knowledge of the language.\n\n6.\n\nIt is appreciated that the revision now proposed would involve extra expense to the School of Oriental and African Studies. In your Savingram 12013/3/48 No.794 dated 11th August, 1948, you enquired whether this Government would consider increasing the contribution made to the School and, should these proposals be accepted, I would be grateful if you would suggest a sum commensurate with these additional commitments.\n\n7.\n\nTo sum up, the proposals recommended are:\n\n(a) that an annual contribution of $50,000 should be made to the University of Hong Kong to support an Institute of Chinese Studies and Chinese Language School;\n\n(b) that the First Devonshire Course should be revised to provide for increased tuition in Cantonese;\n\n(c) that fifty per cent of the marks given on the First Devonshire Course should be allotted to Chinese study.\n\nI should be grateful for your approval of these recommendations, which have been approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient, humble servant,\n\nMacandrew\n\nGOVERNOR\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE ARTHUR CREECH JONES, M.P.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-625-8 Hong Kong University- institute of Chinese studies; includes a report on the death of John... 1-2-1950 - 30-4-1950.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 598595, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-626-3 Labour Department- report to Labour Commissioner 1-3-1951 - 30-6-1952", "page_number": 30, "title": "CO129-626-3 Labour Department- report to Labour Commissioner 1-3-1951 - 30-6-1952", "content_text": "I \n\n- 3 - \n\nnor by its own rules.\n\nIn such circumstances I feel that the Registrar should be in a position to exercise a very close supervision over the expenditure of union funds, and to this end should frequently investigate the union accounts to satisfy himself that all expenditure was both lawful and properly authorised by the rules of the union. Supervision of this nature would, to a great extent, be similar to placing the union on probation, but it would have the additional advantage that it could be applied equally well to an established union as to a newly formed one. It would not be popular and would undoubtedly give rise to a certain amount of resentment, but there is no doubt that if the power was wisely exercised, it would be a strong incentive to unions to conduct their affairs properly.\n\nPara. 8. Sub-trade formations:\n\nI do not think there is room for sub-trade unions in Hong Kong having regard to the present stage of union development in this Colony.\n\nI agree entirely that the best training ground for sound trade unionism is the small workers' group and, had it been possible to organise on these lines in Hong Kong, I think that our present trade union structure would be far more healthy than it is. It must, however, be remembered that trade unionism in Hong Kong has roots which go back not only to the ancient guild system of China but also to the mass organisation of labour on a political basis which has been one of the features of modern Chinese unionism since 1911 and even earlier. Furthermore, the Colony is physically so small that it is virtually impossible for any small group whether based on a workshop or on a district to remain self-contained for any length of time. It is bound to be affected by its neighbours and to be drawn into combinations which would remove it from the category of a sub-trade union.\n\nParas. 9-11.\n\nCriteria of Registration.\n\nI agree generally with the substance of these paragraphs, which are in point of fact already mostly covered by our Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Ordinance.\n\nAs regards the last part of para. 11; that provision should be made for the political fund of a union to be kept separate from other funds, this will certainly be highly desirable when we allow the funds of local unions to be used for political purposes. At the moment our trade union legislation does not permit their use in such a manner either inside or outside the Colony and, in view of the fact that the trade unions of Hong Kong are a battle ground for the rival political\n\n·\n\nPage 30\n\nPage 31", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-626-3 Labour Department- report to Labour Commissioner 1-3-1951 - 30-6-1952.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 598620, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-626-3 Labour Department- report to Labour Commissioner 1-3-1951 - 30-6-1952", "page_number": 55, "title": "CO129-626-3 Labour Department- report to Labour Commissioner 1-3-1951 - 30-6-1952", "content_text": "44\n\n57.\n\nIn submitting this report containing various proposals I am well aware of the fact that there is no complete cure for industrial dissatisfaction. The problems of \"Industrial Relations\" are more difficult and complex than they appear to be. With relative wealth on the one hand and comparative poverty on the other, unhappiness and dissatisfaction are readily engendered. It is because of this that it is so easy for agitators to stir up trouble and cause hostility which so readily develops amongst those who are, in the material sense, unsuccessful. Various strata with progressive wage or salary scales are essential to encourage those who are capable of contributing more to the material success of the community or of assuming higher responsibilities. The prizes of life, even the minor ones, are said to humiliate those for whom they are not intended.\n\n58.\n\nGreater equality would tend to destroy initiative and discourage ambition in those capable of doing the most good in the public interest. Greater parity between the wage rates of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers would inevitably reduce the incentive which exists for young men to learn a trade or develop higher skill. On the other hand, low wage rates leading to unsatisfactory living standards for an appreciable number of the population and an absence of security rely create conditions in which communism can thrive.\n\n59.\n\nThe proposals I have made regarding Joint Consultation, Works Committee, Whitley Machinery, an Interim Joint Council for Government employees and training within Industry, are useful measures in themselves and are well worth adoption. They should develop efficiency, increase output and improve harmony. Such schemes tend to remove those doubts and suspicions which pervert the worker's outlook and alienate his sentiments and good will towards his employers, but I do not put them forward as a cure for industrial discontent; they are merely palliatives.\n\n60.\n\nIn this connection, however, it cannot be too strongly emphasised that a happy and contented labour force develops under firm and enlightened management, and there is a limit to what any Government can do to ensure contentment in industry.\n\n61.\n\nThe majority of the workers in Hong Kong who are in wage-earning employment are indeed fortunate in that their wage levels and living standards are higher than those enjoyed by the peoples of most adjacent territories, but there is still much to be done by way of improvement in conditions of employment. The achievement of those very desirable ends, uniformity and stability of wage rates and conditions of employment, should be a constant aim of policy; without these industrial tranquillity is improbable.\n\n62.\n\nIn putting forward various proposals in this report for improving conditions of employment and instituting security for the workers I appreciate that, in these days of financial stringency, first things must come first and such matters as adequate educational facilities, housing and water supply must have the priority which they warrant and deserve even if this means that other desirable reforms and improvements have to be postponed. On the other hand, I feel that it would be unwise unduly to defer commencing action directed towards social security merely on account of financial considerations. Adjacent countries are progressing along these lines and Hong Kong cannot afford to lag behind.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-626-3 Labour Department- report to Labour Commissioner 1-3-1951 - 30-6-1952.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 598838, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-626-5 Crown Lands 1-1-1950 - 31-8-1951", "page_number": 12, "title": "CO129-626-5 Crown Lands 1-1-1950 - 31-8-1951", "content_text": "SAVINGRAM\n\nTo the Secretary of State for the Colonies.\n\nOffice Administering the Government\n\nFrom the Governor, Hong Kong.\n\nDate 21st July 1950\n\nNo. 778\n\nIn your telegram No. 832 of the 24th July 1948 you approved the proposals set out in the third and fourth paragraphs of Sir Alexander Grantham's despatch No. 138 of the 18th June 1948, and granted authority, for a period of two years from the 1st August 1948, to dispose of Crown land by private treaty for the purpose of comprehensive workers' housing schemes.\n\n2. That period is now about to expire and I recommend, with the concurrence of Executive Council, that it be extended for another year as from the 1st August 1950.\n\n3. The considerations mentioned in the third paragraph of Sir Alexander Grantham's despatch referred to above still obtain. The population has greatly increased since 1948 and the influx of new industries has continued since the concession was made public. There are, therefore, some factory managements who may be unaware of the concession or whose plans to make use of it have not yet matured. It is only within the last 18 months that the Labour Department has stipulated, when dealing with building plans for factories, that quarters for persons living on the factory premises should be provided.\n\n4. It is a deplorable fact that, because of the shortage of accommodation and the high rents prevailing, many employees of large factories and utility companies continue to live in squatter settlements, which are now larger and more numerous than ever. Although there has recently been a fall in building costs which may tend to induce some employers to provide adequate housing, that incentive might prove to be insufficient if the opportunity of obtaining land by private treaty were to be withdrawn, and promoters had to compete with other more speculative bidders at public auction.\n\n5. If you approve I shall be grateful for an early reply in order that the necessary public announcement may be made as soon as possible.\n\n28 JUL 1951 REGISTRY", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-626-5 Crown Lands 1-1-1950 - 31-8-1951.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]